My Modeling Debut: A Blend of Casual T-shirt Culture and Italian Elegance

I made my debut as a stylist/model doing a photo shoot for the “Not Interested In Being A Fashion Icon” slogan tee sponsored by an Italian designer, Alessia Caliendo for LittleBlackDress. It was certainly a fun and fruitful experience for me. Instead of pairing the tee with a pair of average blue jeans, I stylized the look with a pink monogram fedora, a polka dot scarf and a floral bubble skirt, adding a romantic touch and a retro Italian elegance to the overall style. I enjoyed feeling pretty and sweet in the photo shoot. Do I have model potential?



On Vicki Victoire for GV Miao fashion blog:
“Not Interested In Being A Fashion Icon” slogan tee sponsored by LittleBlackDress
Floral bubble skirt from iBlues
Pink monogram fedora from Furla
Polka dot scarf from Kookai
Pink suede ankle boots from InNIU
Gold large hoop earrings from Juicy couture
Grey faux crocodile skin handbag with pink ribbon embellishment sponsored by Alison B. Bags (stay tuned for my blog's next gift giveaway campaign to win this adorable handbag)

Styling, modeling & make-up: Vicki Victoire for GV Miao fashion blog

Venue: Stanley, Hong Kong (the Victorian-era Murray House exudes European colonial charm, elegance and style, a perfect venue for my debut fashion shoot)


Alessia picked her favorite shot and featured it on LittleBlackDress' official website/online store (pg. 5). If you haven't joined my GV Miao X *LittleBlackDress* – Christmas Gift Giveaway Campaign 2011: T-shirt Slogan Design Contest, I hope my photo shoot will help inspire you to think of your life's slogan which means something to you. Come join the contest!

Freya Rose LONDON - Super Clearance Sale!

Freya Rose will be holding a super clearance sale, with all bridal and NON bridal shoes between 50 and 70% off.

This will include samples from the latest 'Boudoir' collection, older classic styles and one off designs.

Come and enjoy a glass of wine, find a beautiful pair of shoes and Freya will also be on hand for advice and customisation. Freya will also be offering 20% off non sale stock and customisation service. So come and treat yourself this Christmas.

The SALE takes place on Wed 14th and Thurs 15th December from 12-8pm
at Freya HQ - The Business Design Centre, Islington, London.

To avoid disappointment, book an appointment as soon as possible. If you are unable to attend on these dates please contact Freya www.freyarose.co.uk/showroom/

A Huge Shout Out to Alessia Caliendo for *LittleBlackDress* Our Sponsor for Christmas Gift Giveaway Campaign 2011: T-Shirt Slogan Design Contest

Alessia Caliendo is the sweetest girl I have ever met. Graduated from Accademia della Moda in Naples, Alessia set up her brainchild, LittleBlackDress in 2007. She is an expert in creating modern girly chic style whose designs are a vivid and artistic representation of her personality. In addition to her sunshine smiles, what I miss most about the LittleBlackDress booth at FashionCamp Milano 2011 was a wide range of fashion items designed by Alessia exhibited ranging from the signature slogan and print tees, the colorful tribal print dresses and adorable bikinis to gemstone and gold jewelry. They were all witty and humorous designs yet lovable for girls.

My young Italian designer friend, Alessia Caliendo and her African print dress, I especially love those ethnic patterns and bright and uninhibited color combinations. Alessia is best known for her cheerful and colorful designs which are a true reflection of her personality. Her lively spirit is beautifully reflected in all of her ingenious creations.
Photo taken at FashionCamp Milano 2011



I have got my “Not Interested in Being a Fashion Icon” slogan tee as a gift from Alessia. Slogan tees are one of LittleBlackDress' signature items. Now you get a chance to win your one-of-a-kind slogan tee. Read on.











Many young jewelry designers of Alessia's age are keen on creating collections of fancy, bling bling jewelry intensely embellished with colored crystals or faux expensive diamonds. Alessia's jewelry pieces, nevertheless, are unique in the way that they are made of gold with a simple and clean design. How can't you not fall in love with these cute purse pendant bracelets? I reckon they are the best gift idea.








The designer Alessia herself is the best image girl for her own brand.


LittleBlackDress' brief brand profile: first launched in 2007, the brand represents simplicity, versatility and cosmopolitan elegance. It offers all the must-have items for every modern girl's wardrobe, from slogan tees and sartorial etiquette dresses to accessories of the Italian innovative design tradition, all are designed by the fabulous and talented designer, Alessia Caliendo. After the successful exhibition at FashionCamp Milano 2011, Alessia expands her business into the flourishing market in Dubai while sustaining an outstanding sales performance in Europe.


This Christmas, we are honored to have LittleBlackDress to be our sponsor for the t-shirt slogan design contest. Alessia will award you, the winner the most heart-warming festive gift – a LittleBlackDress slogan tee with your winning slogan printed on it and acknowledge and sell your design on LittleBlackDress' official website. For full contest details, please click to read 3 STEPS TO WIN GV Miao X *LittleBlackDress* – Christmas Gift Giveaway Campaign 2011: T-shirt Slogan Design Contest. We cordially invite you to a creative Christmas experience with us. Take action now!

Photos by LittleBlackDress

Joan Collins selects a Heidi Mottram bag for her Macmillan Celebrity Christmas Stocking

The Macmillan Celebrity Christmas Stocking Auction is one of the most glamorous events in the London Special Events calendar. Each year Macmillan ask fifteen celebrities to tell them what they would like to find in their dream Christmas stocking, which are then auctioned off to an exclusive audience to raise funds for the vital work of Macmillan Cancer Support. Joan Collins has created her dream stocking for the event this year and included a Heidi Mottram bag in her wish list.

Heidi Mottram is renowned for her covetable bags and purses which are designed in London and made out of luxurious, exotic, eco eel and salmon skin leathers.

The celebrities’ stockings include an outstanding assortment of gifts ranging from luxury holidays to fabulous designer handbags, diamond jewellery and the latest in hi-tech gadgets and mobile phones.

For Joan Collins a Heidi Mottram bag makes the most perfect gift for Christmas! So ladies there is still time to put a Heidi Mottram bag on your wish list.

Available to purchase at artistspringboard.com

Artistspringboard Gift Vouchers

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We know Gift Vouchers may sound like a very simple, practical present. But, anyone that's received one usually appreciates the sensitivity and thoughtfulness of the giver. If you give an artistspringboard Christmas gift voucher, you are immediately offering your recipient the individual choice of their fashionable Christmas gift. The voucher represents your impeccable taste in high quality, style and value.

A Christmas gift from artistspringboard rates at the top of my list. The online store offers everything from clothing and handbags to jewellery and accessories! To make it even better, your decision to shop at artistspringboard makes you a supporter of upcoming fashion designers who have a passion and drive to create unique pieces for all to enjoy each season.

You have the option to purchase a £5.00, £10.00, £20.00 Christmas gift voucher online at www.artistspringboard.com and you may use the online service to quickly send your Christmas Gift Voucher to the recipient. They can then choose a Christmas gift, from a wide range of products, from emerging designer brands on the online store!

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Happy Shopping!

Put On Your Denim Armor and Be a Peaceful Warrior – MAGGIE Will Save the World!

Studying Gender Studies did not turn me into a feminist, yet it does make me have faith in the power of women to change the world. When I first got to know about this Italian fashion denim brand Maggie at FashionCamp Milano 2011, I was exhilarated by its brand mission statement “women will save the world” that I found in line with my beliefs and values which shape the way I live my life in a way that I think will make me become an independent empowered woman. Maggie originated in Urbania, an area in Central Italy also known as the “Denim Valley” in the mid-1990s. To create a typical Maggie who is courageous, confident, conscious of her self-identity, unafraid to change ways and thoughts, and has high self esteem, Maggie has used super stretch denim, a strong and durable fabric combined with luxurious leather, viscose denim, high gloss black denim, etc. to design a smart urban chic collection offering a range of contemporary trendy pieces from perfect fit jeans and smart casual tops and jackets to urban chic trenches and denim jumpsuits, which exudes a daring and heroic quality of the tough modern women who struggle to overcome challenges in life every day.

Maggie Fall/Winter 2011 runway, featuring an urban chic, Maggie combined the modern cosmopolitan style with romantic feminine elements, giving birth to Maggie's signature image which has character and strong personalization, yet stylized with a sense of feminine grace. Women choose to wear Maggie to show off their attitude and create a statement that seems to say “hey look at us! Yes, we are women, and we are conscious of the power of femininity and not afraid of showing it and of displaying our sexiness. Let's dress ourselves up with Maggie and we are ready to conquer the world!” Isn't it cool? Are you one of them?




The Maggie booth at FashionCamp Milano 2011


Denim cell phone covers as promotional event giveaways, I've got one for myself.






This Cubic Lorena jacket with a shiny effect from the luxurious Extremely Maggie line is the perfect companion for any evening occasions.


This pair of leather coated denim jeans also belonged to Extremely Maggie line once worn by Lady Gaga in her concert tour.


My most favorite military trench coat “Renata” made of heavy 21 oz denim from Maggie Superior line allows women's persevering spirit to shine in their everyday lives.








Maggie held a contest in July to select a blogger who is being sponsored to travel around Europe for one year to explore and report stories about women saving the world. Maggie has been looking for its new Maggie all over the world, and Maggie(s) are just right there. Three remarkable women's effort and perseverance striving for the safety of women and for women's rights by non-violent means in their countries where women's social status is rather low have paid off. Africa's first female elected head of state, Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Leymah Gbowee, a Liberian peace activist, and Tawakul Karman, a leading figure in Yemen's pro-democracy movement jointly won the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize. It is absolutely the best example of women displaying courage and faith to change the status-quo. I cordially suggest Maggie to sponsor our three heroines to celebrate their fearless spirit and everlasting faith for women's rights to live in dignity and equality. What a marketing strategy! It can't ever get better than this. Think about it.


The 2011 Nobel Peace Prize Winners, Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Liberian Leymah Gbowee, and Tawakul Karman of Yemen. Photograph: Alex Wong/Getty, Frederick M Brown/Getty, Khaled Abdullah/Reuters

That's What the Dream Combination is Meant to be

At FashionCamp Milano 2011, I saw the dream combination of style and artistic creativity, which was Giulia Boccafogli's contemporary leather jewellery, Annapaola Rapacciuolo's exquisite miniature jewellery with a vintage flavour, and Chiara Salvioli's high quality, detail oriented fashion pieces being proudly shown off in one go. The three brilliant and enthusiastic designers from different parts of Italy got together in Milan to pursue their dreams of getting known to the world with their one-of-a-kind designs which illuminate with expertise, uniqueness, and craftsmanship. I have so http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifmuch respect for you guys!

Being an architect-turned-designer, Giulia has designed jewellery collections which fully reflect proportional beauty, strive for aesthetic and structural harmony, and play around with the use of materials. Her latest collection of exclusive leather jewellery showcased at the camp is called “Leaves.” Producing this signature flower leather necklace required a lot of hand quilting and collage techniques, which took a long time to complete according to the designer and therefore no two pieces are exactly the same. Customers do not only pay for the design which is uniquely theirs, but also for the designer's passion for perfection and handcraftsmanship.
Accessorizing Chiara's one-piece dress with Giula's flower leather necklace was the best way to manifest the gracefulness and tastefulness of European women.


I have got my necklace like this one as a gift from Giulia. It goes perfectly well with my white beaded tunic top. Thanks Giulia!




Le Chou Chou adorable miniature jewellery by Annapaola Rapacciuolo can absolutely capture every girl's heart. Inspired by Marcel Proust's Swann's Way, the designer named each item from the "La Petite" collection after the characters and places in the novel. The vintage teacup and cookies bracelet, the most darling whimsical little teacup ring and pendant, the classy teapot bracelet, and the heart shaped chocolate cake ring (yummmm!!!) all reminded of the good old days. How can you not feel the sweetness of wearing any of them?






Chiara's collection is classic, elegant and timeless featuring deluxe fabrics and refined details, and this style is most evident in the design of this printed silk lined jacket made of upholstery fabric. The multicolored printed silk lining and earth-toned furniture fabric used as the face fabric created the most distinct contrast possible in texture and color, which best represents the designer's thoughtfulness and sensitivity which bring creativity stimulation in the fashion world.


Having the chance of meeting face-to-face with the local Italian designers during this memorable fashion trip to Milan made me realize that what really won my applause and eternal respect for these three talented designers was the way they show their devotion and commitment to fashion. They are not in a hurry to quickly design and produce that they sacrifice quality for quantity as a result, nor do they ever go for the second best. Their creativity and originality overflow with abundance; they would only give their customers the best of their designs which are unique and extraordinarily special with typical Italian design flair. Trust me, you'll surely get addicted to the Italian designs like I do after reading this post.