Talking Gibberish @ CHATBOX

I did it again!
And this time it was waaaayyyy more fun. Maybe because I wasn't so nervous (last time I was shaking like a leaf) and also, because the audience was way more involved. Asking questions, laughing and all that. Yep, I love it!

At the same event, the other speaker was Sebastian Cojocaru aka. Dj. Sebuh. He talked about the life of a dj, with all its ups and downs (we all know that's how it is). Jokes, music talk, adventure talks...it was great fun.

Me, I told my story. The big one and then my every-day story (that's the little one). I talked about my cats, my obsesion with the internet, this blog, facebook, the #100happydays project etc. You know me, I can talk and talk and talk. Especially when it's about fashion and my job!
I'm pretty sure some of the people there might think I'm crazy...but hey! What's a girl supposed to do?! Act natural and hope for the best (and believe me, it's always great). Smart talk aside, I really enjoyed myself. The people were incredible and the ambiance was friendly!
Yep, I would do it again in a heart beat!

And now, Ladies and gentleman, for your enjoyment, I give you 'ALIENS'!!!!

Yep, I do love to talk with my hands!!! :)))

Photos: Sergiu Daniel Photography
Event by CHATBOX

Come Take a Shower With Me!

You'll never guess who invites you for a shower and a conversation about vegetarianism...
Awkward silence!
Ohhh...just watch and I'm sure you'll enjoy it!

Happily Ever After...

I can't really say I've been dreaming about my wedding dress ever since I was little. That simply is not the case and it shouldn't be a problem.
Maybe some of you did and some didn't. Even so, we can all agree that the wedding dress is THE dress.

Me, I'm more on the 'making the dress' side. Because of my job. Oh...well, I never thought I would enjoy making them as much as I do. It's simply a magical experience every time I make one and I'm always as nervous as the bride about how it will turn out.

Believe me, making the dress is an experience in its self!

It all starts with meeting the client.
I don't like pre-making wedding dresses and then simply waiting for a girl to come along an love it. I make them unique, just like my clients! Because I believe that's how they should be. I mean...you'll wear it only once (if all is good) and it should be really special!

So, first I meet the client and we talk. We talk for a few hours. Get to meet each other. I like to know my bride's hobbies, music preferences, adventures and so on. All this things, believe it or not, really help me in making a wedding dress.

After that, I start sketching. More then one model, so she can chose the one she loves most. BUT!!! But I keep in mind her body shape at all times. She must look fabulous on her wedding day, right? :D From those illustrations, together we choose the perfect one for her. The IT dress.

Then we pick fabrics and the process of making the dress begins!

If you ask me, the essence of a perfect wedding dress is in the details!
The small things that will simply make it yours. That's why I love making unique embroideries for them, or other special things. I remember I've once read that the wedding dress is the closest dress to couture!...and I couldn't agree more!

In the end, after many fitting, meetings and so much more, the end result is THE wedding dress.

Now, here is some information about wedding dresses and body shapes. Maybe it will help you. Even so, from my experience, take this as a guide line, not as a must. In order to know what fits you best go see a specialist, or simply try as many types of dresses as possible!

Images: all but the last one Atelier Arina Varga & the last one from SweetPotatas

Animal Print Obsessions...

Well...when it comes to prints and colors I have a lot of them...but I guess you got used to all this. :D

Yep, the animal print! You didn't expect that! Or did you?
I absolutely love this print. Now, there are a few rules when it comes to wearing such a loud type of print (keep in mind, all animal prints follow the same rules: leopard, zebra, snake skin etc. etc.) They are big, wild and in your face. So, pay attention!

1. find how much of a animal print (or even simply print) person are you. Me, even if I like it a lot, I usually wear it on my accessories. Like shoes, belts, scarfs...but mostly shoes. Yep, more then 10 pairs in animal print and still counting.

2. be sure to get a quality animal print. The more realistic, the better. I'm telling you this because I'm against real fur or skin! No need for pain and suffrage, when it comes to our style, right?

3. at some point you might decided to buy a piece of clothing in full animal print. My advice is to wear it with almost nothing (meaning: nude, neutral, basic pieces. So that IT will stand out as it should)

4. remember: the animal print is almost as eternal as the little black dress. You just have to know 'how it's trendy to wear it': in the details, full, neon etc. The styles are endless...

5. for the courageous ones! The animal print looks fantastic when mixed with other prints. Yep, I'm talking about the print-mix, that (when done correct) looks absolutely fantastic! My favorite!!! So. For this, I recommend the zebra print (being monochrome, it is the easiest one to mic with other prints). So, add a detail in full strong color and a detail in a completely different colors and type (if a print is in lines, the other one will look fantastic if it has rounded shapes). You get it!

For more inspiration, take a look at the examples below. I used 3 dresses made by me form the Missy Messy Roots collection and the Entitles Bully collection.
The rules are the same for when wearing pants, or skirts. I just used dresses as an example, because it is a more simple presentation :). Remember: Like in all fashion, less is more when it comes to animal print. But sometimes...more is simply more and better!
It all depends on how you fell, your personality and your style. Don't ignore them!!!

visual examples made with the help of polyvore

the Crazy Cat Lady

It's been a while now since everybody noticed cats invading the internet. No secret here. No secret that fashion people are absolutely going crazy about cats and NO SECRET in the fact that I am going to become a crazy-cat-lady (maybe the Redhead will join me...actually, pretty sure about that)

Even so, I like to believe that petting a cat a day, keeps the doctor away! They are better then therapy and when you pet a cat while eating nutella, well...that's just haven my friend!

As a future CCL (Crazy-Cat-Lady!!!) I have my obsessions when it comes to my 2 pets (2 Russian Blue cats, Mitzi and Boris) and also to cats in general. Just take a look at my Instagram album!
Cat, over cats, over cats...and then some more cats. I work all day, and sometimes even nights, but still...the only think I seem capable of snapping a picture of, is a cat (or two...)

maybe I'll be a fashionable CCL...

Crazy as it may seem, the cat-mania is here and it will stay for a long time.
If you are looking for someone to blame for that, I give you: the fashion world!!!
All designers have a soft spot when it comes to cats and I think it's mostly because of the way a feline acts. I too see great inspiration in the way cats look, walk, sleep. No wander one of the most popular words in fashion involves cats: catwalk!!!
Just so we can miau-miau all the way to a greater style!

Karl Lagerfeld - looking purrrfect

Helmut Lang catsuit, Reinaldo Lourenço ss2012

Now, I like cats and I like fashion...why wouldn't I love cat-inspired fashion?!
I don't simply like a blouse with a cat on it! Even if this one...oh...I don't even know what to say...it's sooo bad, that I love it!!!
Mostly I like to be catty when it comes to the accessories. And if they get to be a little naughty, well...all for the better!

As The Aristocats said: Everybody wants to be a CAT!
And whom am I, to disagree?!? :)) Because a cat's the only cat who knows where it's at ;)

Images: Pinterest, Catwalk to the Moon

Mitzi & Boris. My cats.

For the Easily Distracted

Well, I don't know about you, but this video is surely for me!
Just watch the video and I'll see you a little down the post :D

So? To you tend to get easily distracted?
What are your distractions? Mine are: the laptop and the phone (of course), cigarets and (this is only available when I am really busy) cleaning the house! :))Different poisons for different people, I guess. And even if at first I found the solution incredibly disturbing, being a fashion designer and all that, after a while it makes sens.

So, I guess that Miu-Miu dress that I love so much is in great danger!

the Shooting

Well, I do love to go shooting!
Shooting as in Snap! Snap! Not Bang! Bang! :)))

And so, tomorrow we'll have the photo shoot for my newest collection. And I'm very excited about it :))) I'm just going to tell you a few things about it, because I want it all to be a big surprise!

Here we go:
1. the name (without a name, it would be nothing): the Entitled Bully.
2. the season: well, guess what? No season! Or, all the seasons! :)) It's more of a capsule collection. A story, as I like to make them.
3. the team: me (ofc), Sabina Mladin (foto at by Sabina Mladin), Monica Popmark (hair & make-up), Anamaria Foltean (model), Rada Ureche (J'amais by Rada Ureche), Karina ( Flowers by Kari), Ancuta Ciortea (manager at Forward Models) and Brigitte Popa (cakes and sweets).

Aaaand, that's all you get to know right now! :P
Don't be hating! I know you like great surprises as much as I do!
ook, ok! One more thing: it's going to be the story of a girl, in 4 acts!

Now, back to work! Uh, I'm so excited about tomorrow, I simply can't stand still! Even so, you can be sure I'll be back with some pictures! :***

Golden-Flea Market

Last Sunday I went with my parents to this huge flea market that takes place at the end of every week in Arad. We all call it 'Obor', but my parents and grandparents have a different name for it...but, as you might notice, I can't remember it.

Why did I go with my parents? Well...my dear friends can't get up that early, especially if it's the weekend! And I really wanted to get out of the house.
How was it?
Fantastic!
There are just so many things there! Useless and useful, it doesn't really matter! I want them all! I know, I have a problem...maybe when I'll be older I'll turn out to be a closet hoarder (really hope not). What did I buy? Well...I got 2 summer dresses and a shirt, a ashtray shaped like a fish and the lower part of an old sewing machine, that I am planing to turn into a table at one point...
I guess I got a lot. Also, my mom got some plates and funky looking glasses. Pretty cool!

It was a great-fun morning! Also, if you take into consideration I only spent the equivalent of 30 euros! :))
Now I have your attention!!!

So, why not give your local flea market a try? You don't know what treasures you might find!

Images: Davorka Požgan

Talk! Talk!...Chat!

Date: March 27th
Time: 7:00 pm
Place: Republica, Arad

If in Arad and you want to meet me, come! I'll talk about fashion (ofc), more exactly about what I do, how I came to do it, what inspires me...plus trends, what to buy, what not to buy and so on. It will be fun, believe me!
Hope to see you there!

Another Day...

...more events!

Oh, the month of December is one of the hardest and most beautiful ones. So much work to do, so many clients, plus other events (tv shows, radio shows, shootings and so on). But I'm not complaining! Love it!!!

Today I was on the set on a tv morning show, right here in Arad. Together with me were Ioana Predescu (make-up artist) and Bianca Pilan (hair stylist) and we talked about outfits, hairstyles and make-up for special events, like the up-coming New Year Party! Yuu-huuu!

So, what do we think it's hot right now? Well, we all agreed that girls should take into consideration where the event takes place. Other then that, they can start building an outfit starting from the hair, the make-up, the shoes, the jewellery or (as we often do) the dress/outfit.

My advice:

Wear something crazy!
Something you wanted to wear all year long, but didn't really had the opportunity to. Now it's the perfect time to do it!
+remember to kiss a man at midnight! ;)))

This is what I wore today!

the blouse: Missy Messy Roots a/w Collection
the skirt: I made from the leftover fabric from my loved one everyday jacket (I'll show you ass soon as he lets me take some pictures of him wearing it)
the necklace: is from Jamais by Rada Ureche.

That's about it for today! Kisses!
*sorry about the blurry face...I just didn't have time for more photos.

Absolutely Fabulous - X-mas Edition

Yes, the weekend that just went by, was an Absolutely Fabulous one! I told you all about it on facebook but didn't had the time to chat about it here.
But most of you came to see me and I was sooo happy with your surprise! :***

Sadly I don't have many images (yes yes, I'm getting old and lazy) so I'm using the ones that Fabian Tatomirescu took. Also, the few ones I took, here! I promise next time to put more effort into all this. ;))

Well, beside the fact that I was crazy tired and cold, it was great! I got to meet a few new and talented designers, I chatted with the older ones that I get to see so rarely and (my favorite part) I got to meet with my clients! Oh, love them all so so much because they are (BELIEVE ME) adorable!

Home, it snowed a lot. So, winter is here, Christmas is almost here and the deadline to all those holiday dresses is getting closer! So, back to work! :***And an image with the two of us, tired and hungry:
Images: Fabian Tatomirescu

Fashionable Mail

I'm not talking about that mail that needs 'internet connection'. No, now we'll be talking about the good-old-fashioned mail, that needs paper, a pen, an envelope and...a STAMP!

Why? Well, Johnson Banks have designed a set of postage stamps that celebrate the last 60 years of British fashion. I'm just wondering, are they trying to make the postal office cool again?! Joking...but, really now, I wouldn't mind getting (or writing) a real letter from time to time. Actually, one of my favorite activity while on vacation, is sending postcards!

Now, start planning how in your life is cool/nice/sweet/good enough to deserve a letter from you! I know I am doing the same thing!Text from Johnson Banks (pretty cool, enjoy!):

The great British fashion stamps have been created by London-based graphic designers Johnson Banks, who commissioned highly respected fashion photographer Sølve Sundsbø to photograph 10 outfits chosen to summaries the last 60 years of British fashion. live models – as opposed to static fashion mannequins – were used to achieve dynamic postures and a sense of movement. the models had to embody the ideal silhouettes of the various fashion eras and fit perfectly into the surviving existing garments.


The two-day photo shoot took place at Sundsbø’s London studio. some of the clothes were obtained directly from the designers, whilst others were sourced from specialist vintage fashion stores. Johnson Banks worked closely with the photographer and his assistants, stylists and hair and wig artists. Following the shoot, the features of the models and the background were erased from the images in order to focus the viewer’s gaze upon each of the distinctive British fashion designs.

'It’s hard to make clothes look interesting if no one’s wearing them,' explains Johnson Banks creative director Michael Johnson. 'on a tailor’s dummy they seem flat and lifeless. on the other hand, we didn’t want models or celebrities to distract from the design, which is what we are celebrating.
For example, there’s a great photo of Ringo Starr wearing a classic Tommy Nutter suit in the 1970s, but you just think, ‘there’s a great photo of Ringo’ and don’t look at the suit.'
 
Johnson and co-designer Kath Tudball decided on a radical compromise: shoot the clothes being modelled for real but then digitally remove the faces and hands. First, however, they had to actually get hold of the precious artifacts, which meant the long process of persuading the designers or their estates to loan them out for a few days or sourcing them from obliging vintage stores (a task that took over three months).

The striking images finally came together during a two-day shoot June 2011. afterwards, judicious cropping and retouching were used to bring out the lines, textures and movement of the garments – for once, it was the clothes that were striking a pose.

From: Designboom

Skirt Bike - Arad

Yeee!
I'm incredibly happy that this event is going to take place in Arad!...yeah, even if I don't know how to ride a bike. :| yeah...

Bleah! Even so, I still have a few days left to learn...learn how to ride a bike while wearing high heals?! Now that's a challenge I'm ready to take! You can find more on the event here!

Now, here is the image on the event poster. The photo was taken by my favorite photographer: Bogdan Iorgovan, and the model is wearing a dress from the Knotted&Dotted ss 2012 collection, by Arina Varga.
Needless to say, I just LOVE IT!

Project: Skirt Bike Arad
Photographer: Bogdan Iorgovan
Dress: Arina Varga

A Chance to WIN

Instructions:
1. like the Atelier Arina Varga fb page
2. like this picture, on fb
3. share this picture, on fb

*the winner will be announced on May, 8th! Good luck! :)

Absolutely Fabulous Fashion Fair @ Cluj-Napoca

Saturday, 21 April 2012
From 12:00, until 20:00
At Magazinul Central Cluj-Napoca, et. 4
It was high-time for the Absolutely Fabulous Fashion Fair to go West-Side! Don't you agree? It's going to be so much fun, I just can't wait. And as a plus, a lot of great designers (of fashion and jewellery) are going to be there.

So, book you Saturday for this great event!

What will I be bringing? Well, the new collection! Of course!

Because we LOVE the West Side,
Because we are from the West Side,
Because West Side si the Strong Side...

More images (as usual) soon! Until then, be sure to check the facebook page!

How it Was @ AbFab - Spring Edition

It was painful and beautiful, at the same time!

Maybe some of you know I have to travel almost across the country to get to this fair, in Bucharest. Well, the road was hell this time! It took longer then expected, we had to take a detour and we got lost. Finally, we got to Bucharest after 11 pm.

During the night, the clock changed to the spring time. So, we lost an hour! ;((( At the fair I was like a zombie, mesmerized by all the beautiful things around me! Everybody was so beautiful, I can't even describe it!...me, well, I didn't even changed into the outfit I prepared for the event.

After it was all done...we went on the road again, back home! CRAZY WEEKEND!
I promise never to do this again! I want to enjoy the Absolutely Fabulous Fashion and Vintage Fair! I want to talk to people, laugh and have a fantastic time ( just like everybody else...).

The loveliest fair ever!
But, something super-duper is going to happen to the West Side of the country! And I'll be there. West Side - Strong Side! ;))))

In the end, sorry if I acted funny (not in the 'ha-ha' way) at the fair! I was dead tired. But, I promise next time I'll be on the top of my game! ;)Images:theFword