Oh Layla

'Layla, you've got me on my knees

Layla, I'm begging, darling please.

Layla, darling won't you ease my worried mind' 
(Lyrics from Eric Clapton's Layla) Click on link to hear song
The song was apparently Inspired from a romantic Persian love story.  The tale of a young man who fell hopelessly in love with a beautiful woman but is forbidden by her father to marry him and hence he went crazy.

On that note.....introducing my "Layla." Standing at 50cm tall with close to 20 hours in the making, Layla is ready for the world and like in the romantic love story....is beautiful(in my eyes). For those that hadn't seen Esmeralda or Little Miss Sunshine please click on the links to view past posts on these other mannequins.
My inspiration for Layla came from the exotic forests of South America - hence the use of orange and turquoise feathers, flowers, butterflies, snakes as you will see in detail below. Layla is quite glamorised with her gold tassel skirt and beaded bust as I tend to love doing with all my ladies. Again like the others, every detail is hand stitched or glued on.  She is for sale!!  If I could keep them all, I would.....but it is important they spread their wings and travel the world. Unlike the hopeless case of the young man in the tale....my Layla can be married off.   For information please see bottom of post.

In her full glory: three types of feathers, two gold skirts, flowers, butterflies, snakes, birds...the lot. 

Feather detail.....colours of exotic South American birds

Her glamorised bust adorned with beads, jewellery, diamanties. Notice the fine lace flowers pasted on the gold painted bust as a base before applying all the beading. It is layering upon layering. 

The golden snake......

A little birdie told me......

The back of her: large flower, more feathers and of course my signature 'butterflies" that I can't live without.

The base has an arrangement of blue and orange flowers attached....like on her neck. And look at that gold dazzling skirt!! If you look hard enough, you will also see another shorter skirt which is gold cut under it all.  Again, layering upon layering. 

As mentioned above, Layla is for sale.  Please make all enquiries to stylebygessica@gmail.com

I custom make the mannequins and also make lifestyle - 2m high!!!  They make eye- catching art decor in your home, shop, hotel foyer,bar, restaurant, party.  If you would like one of these ladies in the colours of your choice, that is not a problem.  You may also have special jewellery, fabrics you've collected over the years that you'd like me to add.......I can work with these too. Email me with any enquiry. 

I am ready to make another one..........keep you posted

Love Gess X

P.N. Just a reminder that for those that have signed up to receive my posts via email, if you find you can't open images or videos, then simply click on the "title" of the post at the top of the page and it will automatically take you back to my blog. From there you can open files.

Let's Go Bohemian

According to the dictionary, the term "Bohemian" is applied to people who live unconventional, usually artistic, lives. The original Bohemians were travellers or refugees from central Europe (hence, the French bohémien, for "gypsy").
I have loved this spirited, feminine style since I was a little girl and in fact was nick named "zingara" in Italian by my family which translates to "gypsy".  It is the seemingly effortless elegance of  combining flowing fabrics, bright prints, flowers and eclectic jewellery that has somehow weaved in and out of my life in various ways over the years. Contrary to the general perception on bohemian style, it is not necessarily all about flowery skirts, flop hats, barefoot and headscarves. In my opinion, there are many different aspects to bohemian fashion and in fact is one of the only fashion movements that does lend itself to a vast range of looks. For example.... It can be elegant or casual....lace or velvet.....multi prints or plain silk.....semi precious crystals or feathers.......sandals or wedges.....maxi dresses or flair pants. What does seem to remain the staple for achieving this look however is interesting colour mixes and plenty of bling: whether it be on your arms, shoes, handbag  or garments. There is no formula to dressing Boho. It is a style that needs to be your own, and not copied from magazines: to be unconventional, hence why it is given that special name. Below are "my" thoughts on the bohemian way. 

Quirky elegance with an interesting mix of feathers, beads and sequence on any garment can become a stylish cocktail number for night or worn with boots for a day event. 

The classic Maxi dress with plenty of jewellery is a lovely summer feel. 

A luxurious long silk Grecian style dress with some sparkling is certainly a sophisticated formal affair. It gives the illusion of "freedom" . 

Printed wrap dresses and skirts, sandals or wedges...........casual chic. I want to dance around the house when dressed like this. 

Short Tunics, skirts with wedges or boots are seriously cute. 

The elegance of Maxi dresses in divine prints paired with wedges/ sandals and chunky jewellery are a classy affair: Day or night.  Very ME. 

Boho winter......no need for black. Wide-legged or flair pants are fun. For those that believe you have to be model tall and size 8 to wear wide-legged....I tend to disagree. It is true they don't suit everyone, however you'll be surprised what a great fitting pair of flairs to "suit" your body shape that are super long worn with super high wedges or boots can do to give the illusion that you are tall and skinny!!  It is a case of experimenting to see for yourself if they are you or not. 

 

Accessories: bangles, tassel's, beaded bags and shoes, crystals, long earrings, large rings. 

What is not to love about going Bohemian

Love Gess

Should you desire some bohemian style or any other and not sure how to put it all together, as a fashion consultant, I'd be more than happy to help you.

Please email me on stylebygessica@gmail.com for all consultation enquiries.

P.N. Just a reminder that for those that have signed up to receive my posts via email, if you find you can't open images or videos, then simply click on the "title" of the post at the top of the page and it will automatically take you back to my blog. From there you can open files.

Travel to Milan in 2014 and sleep In Style

2014 has arrived....Happy New Year to everyone 

I wanted my first post for the year to start with one of my passions.....Travel......and a place I know very well....Milan.
If you're travelling to Milan in 2014 it's not only about where to shop, it's also about where you're staying. Fashion hotels span the globe now, I believe there are over 25 of them. However it was the famous Milanese fashion designers like Versace and Armani, that began this movement to get their own hotels. Having lived in Milan I found it to be a super chic city oozing with quiet confidence and elegance: famous for it's designer fashion houses and innovative interior design. So what better place to experience both. Whether you're visiting for a night or several why not stay in one of these fashionable hotels....Armani, Bulgari or Moschino......take your pick.

Armani Hotel

Maison Moschino

Bulgari Hotel

If shopping at designer boutiques and staying in their hotels aren't enough to get your fashion fix, you can always eat at their restaurants too or dance at their nightclubs.

Try Dolce and Gabbana's restaurant Gold or Roberto Cavalli's Just Cavalli Club

Just be sure to pack your sexy cocktail dress, as the Milanese really do everything with style even walking down the street.

Buon Viaggio .....Love Gessica