BELLE
for art lovers
HOW IT ALL STARTED
The journey
I'd say it began with my mother, who has always been my support and inspiration. She's harboured an interest in fashion and style since she was sixteen years old, when she started making dresses for herself because the shops in Latvia were empty.
As a child, she dressed me in the most gorgeous little outfits. I look back at them and think they're all so sweet and precious!
Sometimes, when my mum comes home from work, she does a rough sketch of an outfit or outfits that struck her that day. She's also bought my clothes for me throughout my childhood (and still does occasionally), and whenever I go shopping it has to be with my mother. She's the one person I go to without fail when I want advice on what to wear or what to buy, and I'm so grateful to her for that.
WHY I LOVE FASHION
I love fashion because it's beautiful, and as humans, we can all appreciate beauty. Fashion allows one to don a piece of artwork, and it allows one to stand out. I'm particularly passionate about Haute Couture. I'm blown away by the rough sketches which become intricate designs which transform into the beautiful creations that we see on the runway. The dedication, effort and hours of hard work put in by everyone involved sometimes overwhelm me, as I struggle to fathom how this is even possible.
I study English Literature and History as Pre-U subjects, as well as Maths A level. I draw on my love of literature and my historical knowledge for inspiration, so check out my Literature and Inspiration pages on this blog!
'Elegance is the only beauty that never fades.'
Audrey Hepburn
MY STYLE
How would I describe it?
I wouldn't say I have a specific style or that I aim to have one. But what I would say is that it's affordable. I purchase most of my clothes from Zara. A lot of my wardrobe is also hand-me-downs from my sister or mum. Honestly, I'd say that 90% of my wardrobe is either from Zara or second-hand from these 2 lovely ladies.
I really really love feminine clothing- something that makes me feel glamorous and beautiful. I love dresses and skirts, as well as suits. My fashion icons are Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly. I love elegance, and something well fitted and understated. I also love unique outfits, and something that is different and stands out from the crowd.
I have a long way to go in terms of fashion, and my style is constantly evolving as I figure out what I like and what suits me. I know it's hard to dress how we want to with a budget, but I think focusing on what flatters your body and what fits you best is key. Check out My Fashion Top Tips blog for more pieces of advice!!
SPRING/SUMMER LOOKBOOK (2021)
My top 20 outfits
AUTUMN/WINTER LOOKBOOK (2020)
My top 20 outfits
PARTYWEAR
My top 4 outfits
FASHION PHOTOGRAPHY
Every time I go out, I see outfits that I love. I can't stop looking at the person wearing it, and I want to analyse the whole outfit (although that makes for a bit of awkwardness which I tend to avoid).
I would love to take photographs of these outfits, because they look amazing, and are a great source of inspiration. You can really learn a lot from what other people wear! However, it is very hard to capture a good photo because it's so awkward, and sadly I only have one photo, and this was taken by my sister when we went to London last Sunday.
I'll try to gain some confidence and take more photos of people's outfits when I see some that I like, but I can't promise anything because it really is quite awkward!! It's a shame how much I've already missed, because every time I go out to London I see around 3/4 outfits that I genuinely love and think are amazing, like the other day when I went to Westfield in Wood Lane and I saw a lady wearing this amazing coat. It was a sort of patchwork of different patterns and materials but it didn't look tacky or bad in the slightest. She was in Tiger by Copenhagen though, and it would just have been too awkward to take a picture of her with others around.
Also, (little sidenote) sometimes you are literally passing a person in the streets, and you catch a glimpse of this incredible outfit. How are you supposed to take a photo of that? I guess you could turn around and slowly follow them from a distance like a stalker. Or approach them? I don't know.
Personally, I don't mind if the photo is staged- that even makes the photo more useful, because you can see all aspects of the outfit. So in this sense it's different from street photography, which is unstaged and completely natural. I would LOVE to do that too, but we'll see how things develop. I'm aware of people being sensitive to their photos being taken, and I don't want to seem like a creep.
Well, enough said, hopefully there'll be less talking and more action, and a lovely photo gallery will form.
FASHION VIDEO RECOMMENDATIONS
I found this video on Youtube and ended up watching the whole thing. Here it is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAXksLhLFAA
This video is an analysis of Scarlett's costumes in the film Gone with the Wind. I've read the novel, but haven't watched the film and really really want to!! Here is the link to the Youtube video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzeHOHOQQbg
This video is on films with the best costume design!! I'm desperate to watch all of them!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8Nym4bQgWI
Dolce&Gabbana Alta Moda Corset Dress- The Making Of-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygHDehT2oiA
Dolce&Gabbana Alta Moda, Valley of the Temples, July 2019:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FW0DSGxs8WA
How a Dior dress is made, from Sketches to the Runway| Vogue:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFdi95YTDys
Dolce&Gabbana Alta Moda- Palermo, July 2017:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNDJHRcbQZk
THE FASHION CHALLENGE
I ask my friends to either describe an outfit that I should wear- a different one everyday for 5 days of school, or I choose a different funky item each day and they have to tell me how to style it and I have to wear it to school for a week. We do vice-versa.