Upon reading my previous post (chiffon skirt, oversized sweatshirt), a (not-totally-fashion-versed) friend asked me what the hell I meant by just needing ‘Bambi on my chest’.

And heck. Trying to explain Tisci’s genius (in what was one of my favourite collections for the upcoming season) gave the ‘a picture is worth a-thousand words’ expression a whole new meaning.

So I am hoping an illustration-age (illustration meets collage) will do the trick.

Call it the ‘deer in the headlights’ effect, but I fell for Bambi (for the second time in my life) fast and hard back in March.

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deserted. Working like a (happy) dog at the moment might leave little time for play and games, but during this past (Mexican) labor day we packed our bags, along with a good old-fashioned picnic (and of course pup Dedal), and headed to the countryside where I spent a great deal of my childhood.

Memories (and nostalgia) aside, there is something about the Mexican countryside during this time of the year. The blinding light, smothering heat and parched landscape, all make for some truly spectacular sunsets.

And on the fashion side of things? Tisci’s fall ’13 Givenchy (one of my favourite collections)(pretty much ever), inspired me to dig out this (previously photographed) outfit from fall.

Now I just need some Bambi on my chest.

wearing: (kashmir) sapphire ‘n black diamond ‘S’ ring | Paola van der Hulst (here), silk chiffon skirt | Paola van der Hulst, sweatshirt | supermarket (as in Wall-Mart), white flats | BCBG

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black ‘n blue. Allow me to formally introduce you to the latest addition to ba(sic) by Paola van der Hulst, the (kashmir) sapphire ‘n black diamond S ring.

I hope to tell you more about the design process soon enough, but let me start by saying that with these pieces it was all about the Kashmir sapphires from the start. The square cut, the perfect hue (not too dark, not too light) (and with just a touch of violet)… these babes had me at hello.

And on the colour mix? Black ‘n blue has been one of all time favourite colour combos. A hard one to beat I find, particularly when said black comes from one of my other favourite stones: the black diamond.

Having said that, the new pieces are also available in an olive green sapphire (which dear-mom went ga-ga over)(and with mother’s day just around the corner… you fill in the blanks), and also soon enough in (an unbelievably bright) canary yellow.

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Finding a balance between work and play this month means allowing more time for The PvdH Journal, so lets start with what seems to be my current uniform.

While last year was all about the pencil skirts avec tucked in t’s, this year I am digging the oversized-t. Draped over, with the skirt just peeking through.

It may be the spring heat, but I find myself in what is generally deemed as relax-mode.

wearing: (chalcedony) silver spiked earrings | Paola van der Hulst (here), silk shantung pencil skirt | Paola van der Hulst, (mega) oversized white-t | Gap (similar here), electric blue pumps | Christian Louboutin (similar here), blue mirrored aviators | ASOS 

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Daria #Céline. I call this pure (inspiring) magic.

Simple, yet oh-so alluring.

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Semisumo has been a blessing with my short hair (although I plan on adding it to my permanent hair repertoire, no matter the length). A light hair pomade, that adds just the right amount of hold and shine. Genius, I say.

And on the lips. It seems that I (along with a fair amount of women out there) am on a quest for the perfect lipstick, particularly when it comes to the reds. With red hues that range from day to night and from summer to winter, this Armani matte lipstick-meets-lipgloss is called The Red for a reason.

Highly recommend these to you guys.

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batik 2.0. Because version 1.0 came about a year ago… but during a recent bout of some stereotypical spring cleaning this batik bustier saw its (rather inevitable) resurrection.

Fact is, I am somewhat of a fashion hoarder. Incapable of throwing out clothes of which I envision a future (however distant it may be). A personality trait which has caused a few dilemmas while moving countries (thrice).

But the thing is, I love resurrecting clothes. I may grow tired of them one year, only to find myself swooning all over them again one, two… (ten?) years later. Take this (pretty much entire) outfit.

A batik bustier (fished out of my mother’s 80s wardrobe), an original pair of Ray-Bans (again courtesy of dear mom’s 80s awesomeness), my boarding-school blazer (which goes to show that good clothes do last), Armani trousers from my finance years, and a ripping Juicy Couture cherry-t underneath (which is totally inline with my current disintegrating-tshirt love)… all items previously forgotten, only to be (re)treasured.

wearing: Paola van der Hulst (ruby) silver chain earrings (here), vintage batik bustier, Armani Collezioni trousers, ASOS white heels, Ray-Ban Clubmasters (here)

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Photographing it was the obvious (and if not a tad bit cliché) choice.

Head over to #gnom-gnom for the recipe (highly recommend it). And this way for the (ruby) ringlet (ring-meets-bracelet).

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suit (up). Because sometimes a good suit is all it takes.

And while for the past year it felt like I had suited up enough throughout my stint in finance for a lifetime, I have had a recent craving back for the good old uniform. (Which may have something to do with a recent bout of business meetings… but still).

I find there is an unequivocal feel good factor in a well-cut suit. Particularly when paired with a quirky accessory (be it funky heels or an emerald ‘n black diamond fly necklace).

I have been asked “what I was thinking” upon conceiving flies as fine jewelry. Well, I was conceiving a certain irony. Beautiful stones and shape to be worn on occasions just like this, a little token to break sobriety.

wearing: emerald ‘n black diamond silver fly necklace (here), emerald sterling silver ba(sic) necklace (here), black diamond silver wrapped ring (here) | all Paola van der Hulst Jewelry,  Armani Collezioni suit, ASOS white heels (much better option by Wang)

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