Dear Readers...

My boyfriend and I got into a huge fight last week.  We almost never fight but when we do it's usually about work.  The problem is that we work for the same company and he doesn't get along with my boss and vice versa - they are both department heads.  It puts me in a very awkward situation.  It was tolerable before but now, I hear my boss complain about him to other employees.  It is very unprofessional and very hurtful to hear.   I feel trapped between the two of them.   I don't know how to deal with this situation anymore. 

In the meantime, I daydream about the day I will be my own boss... {sigh!}

In an attempt to change my mind, I decided to re-decorate my apartment.  I am starting with the living room.  I bought new curtains, new lamps and a bookcase.  I moved all the furnitures around and I will paint the walls in the following weeks.  I always wanted an apartment with a 60's style so I decided that it was time to do it.  I will take pictures to show you guys when I am done.

By the way, I am very sorry about all the English mistakes I have been doing lately.  The person who edited my blog can't do it anymore.  I hope it's not too annoying.


A FEW WORDS TO MY READERS...
Thank you to  Caro P.,  Plami,  cristina petre and  Mademoiselle Lala - my very loyal readers - who comment on almost all my posts.  You are the reason why this blog exist.  Thank you for being so loyal and for taking the time to share your thoughts with me. 

A lot of you guys commented on my post: "How do you feel about outfit suggestions?"  Thanks to you all!  I would like to share 3 comments with you...
Thanks to GothBarbie for this wonderful comment that felt like chicken soup for my soul.
"I agree with your feelings about your outfits and styling being an expression of your ART. I've always felt that my hair, makeup and wardrobe were MY ART! I don't think it makes sense for people to offer suggestions on how your outfit could have been "better". You obviously know how to dress and look good and you're not asking for opinions. Keep "doing YOU" I'm enjoying seeing your artwork!"

Thanks to smalltownbigwardrobe for helping me see the situation from a different angle.
"If people ask for comments on outfits, and I have something to contribute, I say it! But if not - if it's just a post where someone has pictures of their outfit, I don't add my $.02. But I would also not be offended or bothered by this comment. Think of it like this: your cute outfit made him think and consider the fashion elements, and he was inspired to comment on how he would have styled it. It's great that you're inspiring people to contribute like that - thank him for the comment and don't worry about it!"

Thanks to  Raquel Fernandes for making me laugh.
"It's my blog, my looks. If you don't like, close the page, don't Rachel Zoe me."

Have a nice week!
- Marie

The Minimal Style of Angelina Jolie

 "Minimalism is not about abandoning pattern or print.  I see minimalism to be a philosophy that involves an overall sense of balance, knowing when to take away, substract.  It's an indulgence in superbly executed cut, quiet plays of color tones and clean strong shapes." - Calvin Klein

A minimalist style is about looking perfectly chic in an understated look.   The woman who embraces this style likes any solid colors, but mostly black, grey and white. She wears very few accessories and jewelry. Her make-up is very natural. She doesn't like prints but from time to time, you might see her in a polka dot blouse or a small floral print.  She doesn't scream for attention, yet everyone notices her.

My favorite celebrity with a minimal style is Angelina Jolie.   She exudes simple elegance and doesn't look like she is trying too hard.  This style suits her perfectly because her outfits never outshines or distracts from her natural beauty.  In other words, her beauty is her best accessory and she doesn't need anything else.
- Marie

i-D Magazine • Pre-Fall 2011

 

i-D PRE-FALL 2011

Photographer: Josh Olins

Model: Raquel Zimmermann

Via Fashion Gone Rogue

My Favorite DVF Story

I read this anecdote a couple years ago and I absolutely loved it. 

I thought to myself: "How French and modern of her!"
- Marie

My Lookbook • The Sgt. Pepper's Cardigan

CARDIGAN - Forever21

SKIRT - Mexx

SHOES - Aldo

This is the only pair of flats that I own.  There are very simple black ballerina flats and I always feel very European when I wear them.

For some reasons, this look reminded me of Audrey Hepburn's in Roman Holiday.  It must be because of the full-circle skirt, the button-up shirt and the flats... If only I had her tiny little waist!

- Marie

How do you feel about outfit suggestions?

(Artist: Ceal Floyer)

Have you ever received suggestions about your outfits on your blog? It is very important not to mistake outfit suggestions and bullying. Bullying is a comment left anonymously saying that you look like sh*t and that your blog sucks. Outfit suggestions are different. First of all, it's not an anonymous comment. Second, the person is often another blogger. Third, it’s meant to be a constructive criticism about one of your outfit. Usually, the reader writes about what you should change in the outfit to make it look better.

It happened to me last week. The comment was: “I like this look a lot. Classic, professional and sleek. However, I would make a couple of accessory suggestions:

1- Pearls instead of that chunkier H&M necklace

2- Brown belt

3- Stronger color on the shoes. They blend into your feet and for a moment I thought you were barefoot and wondering why your toes seemed cut off”

If he liked the look so much, why does he need to make all these changes?

My post was about the 60’s pink skirt that I had just purchased. Being a huge fan of the 60’s, I styled it accordingly to the era. For the record, pearls would have given the outfit a very different vibe and this is not at all the look I was going for. I wanted a look that said “young, fun and Mod” not “ladylike, Jackie Kennedy”. I tried it with a belt and I didn’t like it. I wanted to keep the focus on the skirt and a belt was too distracting. Same thing happened with the brighter shoes so I decided to go with nude heels.

After reading the suggestions I felt really misunderstood. I know this blogger didn’t mean to be hurtful but he was. Why did this reader feel like he had to make a constructive criticism? I don’t even ask my boyfriend or my friends what they think of my outfits.  Because I honestly don’t care. Fashion is an expression of who I am. Asking them what they think would influence my way of dressing and it would become an expression of who they are.

I see fashion as an art form. Do people visit art blogs and tell the painter:” I really like your female nude, however I would have painted a tree”. This is how ridiculous it sounded to me. Am I overreacting? I have been blogging for a year and a half and these types of comments only happened a few times. But it made me wonder about blogging etiquette. So am I asking you: do you like these types of comments? Are you as annoyed as I am when you read one? Do you make outfit suggestions to other bloggers? Can a constructive criticism ever be constructive?

- Marie

FYI - I deleted the comment I mention in this post because I didn’t want to give a bad reputation to a blogger that didn’t deserve one.

Rodarte for Opening Ceremony • Fall 2011

"The collection was inspired by the Nordic romance of Scandinavia and mixes billowy silk dresses with touches of ruffle, lambskin stripped leather skirts, printed shirting and Fair Isle-patterned knits. A soft palette of tones like mint, blush and ochre dominates both the men's and women's looks."

Opening Ceremony.us

Via Fashion Gone Rogue

The Voice of the Super Bloggers

A couple weeks ago, Barbro Andersen – my favourite blogger ever – spoke for the very first time on video for the delight of her readers.  She has the cutest accent and the softest voice I have ever heard.  It made me realized that we may know a lot about the super bloggers but the vision we have of them is very one-dimensional.  With this post, I wanted to see their personalities.   I wanted to see the way they moved and hear them laugh.

- Marie

GALA DARLING

THE CHIC MUSE

THE GLAMOURAI

STYLE SCRAPBOOK & THE BLONDE SALAD

BARBRO ANDERSEN

I couldn't embed her video but here is the link.

Stylish Canvas Totes Starting at $30

Do you have to carry around as much stuff as I do? Magazines, camera, books, note books, etc... I love the look of a small bag but I can’t put anything in it. So I came up with the perfect solution: the stylish canvas tote! I have all my essentials (wallet, iphone, sunglasses and keys) in my cute little bag and I keep all my other stuff in my tote. With so many options for a stylish tote, there are no reasons to keep walking around looking like a nomad!


My favourites are the faux Hermès Birkin bag, the bunny tote, the Harajuka Lovers and the hot dog tote. Let me know on Twitter which one you like the most.
- Marie

More Juicy Couture...

Is Hailee Steinfeld too young for Miu Miu?

Marc Jacobs is not the only who named a promising teen actress (Elle Fanning) as the face of his fall 2011 campaign. (see related post).  Miu Miu had the same marketing idea and is featuring Hailee Steinfeld - the 14-year-old Academy Award nominee - in its latest campaign shot by Mert & Marcus.  Miu Miu - considered the younger, hippier version of Prada - has been criticized for using a very young girl as a model.  Daily Mail Style Director Liz Jones said: " I find it obscene that a child of 14, no matter she is a star, no matter how sophisticated, is used to peddle designer fashion, surely as bad for teen girls as smoking or underage sex. Even 16 is too young to peddle designer fashion. I'm shocked."

I found this statement very hypocritical.  Don't get me wrong.  I think it is healthy that we ask ourselves why teenagers are selling clothes for grown women.   But the fashion industry has been using models in their teen years for ages.  Why is the sudden critic towards Miu Miu only and not towards all the designers?   I hope that Hailee Steinfeld will not become the poster child for this issue.  Whether if she was too young or not, I think the campaign is lovely and that she looks adorable.

Let's discuss it on Twitter!

- Marie

For some reasons, the last photos really reminded me of the poster for the movie Lolita.  Do you think Mert & Marcus did it on purpose or was it bound to happen with any 14-year-old model?

Photos Credits: Miu Miu.com

THE SIXTIES • F/W 2011

I love the 60's!  It's one of my favorite era in fashion.

If you love it too, get ready for a treat because a lot of designers found inspiration in the 60's for fall.

It is hard to resist the girlishness, mini shifts dresses, monochrome outfits and patterns of this style.
- Marie

More Asos...

Talking Back

It has been a wonderful week for MAKE THE WORLD A PRETTIER PLACE and I would like to thank you all for your support.  First of all, my post about Jean Paul Gaultier was chosen by IFB (Independent Fashion Bloggers) as one of the bests of the week and I couldn't be happier about it.  There are so many great bloggers who submit a post - 88 bloggers for last week's Links à la Mode - and only 20 were chosen!  Thank you again IFB!

Another good news - a blogger decided to feature my Look No.9 - The Red Dress - on her blog.  It was a very simple feature but it made me really happy.  Here is the link. The blog is called Ruby-Eyed Okapi and promotes modesty in street fashion.  

Now, here are the comments/questions that I would like to share with you...

My Lookbook 2011 • No. 9 (The Red Dress)

Thank you all for your amazing comments for this outfit.  It has been a while since I posted a picture that I was proud of.  I could have smiled more but being in front of the camera is so hard for me.  I don't feel comfortable at all.  I liked the result of this photo and I am glad that you guys liked it too. 

I love this dress because the material is so soft and the cut is very comfortable.  When I don't feel like dressing up, this is the dress that I choose to put on.  But of course, there is always someone at work who will have the brilliant idea to sing "Lady in Red".  This makes it kind of annoying sometimes :)

Mademoiselle Lala asked me: "Please, oh please make a tutorial of how you do your hair in such a great bun!"  I have good news for you sweetie!  I did a post a couple months ago about the technique I use to make my bun.  It is very easy, perfect for people with thin hair like myself and it takes less than a minute to do it.  Here is the post: How to Make the Perfect Bun in Less Than a Minute.  I hope it will help you.

Caro P. wrote: "btw... that backyard looks adorable!"  This is the view I have from my kitchen window.  It is a very small backyard but I love all the greenery and how untamed it is.

If you wonder who MiMi is - the girl who thinks I look like a princess - it's my sister.  She is the sweetest!


GIVENCHY • Couture Fall 2011

cristina petre wrote: "amazing collection! thank you so much, you made my day prettier!"  It was a very sweet comment because this is exactly what I am trying to do with my blog - bring beauty into your life.

simply frabulous said: " I think that the right word to describe the collection is dramatic, unworkable but super stylish!"  But is a the purpose of couture to be "workable"? What do you guys think?

Mademoiselle Lala  made this cool observation: "Loving Givenchy designs for the past couple of seasons. This collection reminds me a little bit of Alexander McQueen."

I hope you guys took the time to watch the video I included with the post.  The designer explains the techniques and materials that were used to make the dresses and we get to see close-ups. 

When I see these magnificient couture dresses, I always wonder if I will ever get the chance - I doubt it - to put on a couture dress.  Wouldn't it be amazing - to wear such a piece of art?  I wonder how I would feel wearing it...  Do you day dream about such things too?

Elle Fanning& Helena Bonham Carter • MARC JACOBS

Kionon wrote: "I enjoy the framing in these photographs."  I do too!  I really like the photo with the legs that are sticking out - like the Wicked Witch of the West.   He also wrote: "I also have one of those smile on stick things..." I always wondered who had these...:)

Mademoiselle Antonova tried to explain me that the concept of the campaign: "As for the 'ugly is the new beautiful' aesthetic in photography- I have always liked and maybe even loved it. It's not just ugly. It's ugly with a twist." I think that I understand what you mean. I just always had the feeling that a campaign had to be appealing to the customer - not the opposite.  As a customer I am supposed to think: "I want this, right now!" and this campaign doesn't create this urge.  Okay I guess it means that I still don't get it...anyone else would care to explain it to me again?

- Marie

Links à la Mode {The 20 Best Posts Voted by IFB}

Good news!  My post about Jean Paul Gaultier was picked by Independent Fashion Bloggers for their weekly roundup! Thanks IFB for your support! 
I also highlighted the posts that I enjoyed reading the most.  My favorite one was from Dress Code: High Fashion about how Hitchcock's blondes have been inspiring fashion for many years. 
Good reading,
- Marie

No matter how many trends sweep through the fashion world, the timeless looks of fashion's most beloved icons are always in style. This week's Links a la mode gives a nod to iconic visionaries and brands--both old, new and on the rise. Can you think of anyone else you'd rather hang out with... or have in your Google+ circle?

LINKS À LA MODE: AUGUST 4Te

• An Old Story: The 90's Are All That
• Best of Bklyn: Giving Back Fashionably
• Castle Fashion: Shoe profile for All Saints Heels
• Cosmolawlitan: The Kate Effect? Fashion Icons and Their Influence on Consumer Behavior
• DignityZine: Iconoclass: Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday. Get the modern day look for under $100!
• Dress Code: High Fashion: Inspiring fashion since over 50 years: Alfred Hitchcock`s blondes
• Dressful: It's not WHAT you wear, it's HOW you wear it
• Fashables: So... I think She's a Model
• Fashion is Evolution: This new installment of my favorite feature (Fictional Fashion Icon) is all about Margot Tenenbaum.
• Fashioned by Love: Fashion legend: Jeanne Lanvin
• Fumiko Kawa: [inspiration] Alexander Wang F/W 2011 shoe
• Heather Fonseca: Balenciaga and Spain
• Her Majestys Glam: How to: Make-Up Like Marilyn
• IFB: Google+ for Fashion Bloggers
• Kyoto Maiko: The Absence of Ivy
• Lady In Lycra: Everybody Talks About My Blog. A tribute to my new fave t-shirt
• Make the World a Prettier Place: Jean Paul Gaultier • Retrospective
• Simplyfrabulous: Shoes and art, when a heel become a "chef d'oeuvre"
• Sometimes Almost Always: LA DJ Fashion
• Style Ceviche: The beautiful Sasha Pivovarova

Blank Magazine - August 2011

I usually post very colorful editorials but I loved the simplicity of this shoot.  It looks so calm and peaceful.

The model is so young and beautiful.  I wish I had her perfect porcelain skin!

Designs by Lanvin, Alexander McQueen, Stella McCartney, Kiki de Montparnasse, Vivienne Westwood, BCBG by Max Azria and others.

- Marie

 

BLANK MAGAZINE - AUGUST 2011

Photographer: Paul de Luna

Model: Daria Zhemkova

Via Fashion Gone Rogue