Mademoiselle Robot

SS2010 - I want candy!

2010-01-07T09:00:00.001Z

As London Fashion Week approaches once more, I finally went and delved into my lookbook pile from September. For a while, I thought I wouldn't start writing about Spring/Summer as we were just entering snow  and chocolate log territory, but now, despite the heavy snow, I can only think of one thing: spring is a-comin'...

And this year, Spring is bringing an array of beautiful candy coloured clothes I can't wait to put my hands on! I am all over the silky soft tailoring and the ultra feminine hues.

Here are a few looks that made an impression on me and will no doubt inspire my outfit choices come Spring. I like Minimarket's and Goodone's take on pastels, injecting a bit of strong colours here and there. For a more effortless/timeless style, I would go for Lehee or F+F version of pastels: powdery colours worn with gray or black.

From top to bottom:

❤ Goodone

❤ Minimarket 

❤ Lehee  

❤ F+F at Tesco (from the press day)

Video - How to hide your fringe while it is growing out

2010-01-06T09:37:00.000Z

A few of you have noticed that I haven't had my full fringe on display in the past few weeks... There hasn't been a miracle of nature and my hair hasn't magically grown 5 inches, I have just joined the ranks of the comber-overers! Yep, just like a balding middle-aged man, I have started combing over... and it works! I thought I'd make a quick and easy video tutorial to show you how I do it.

Warning - It is stupidly easy.

All my videos are filmed and edited by me.

If there is anything you would like me to do a tutorial about, just leave a comment below or email me.

The lovely Hello Tiger featured me in her inspiring blogs list for 2009. Click here to read more.

Mademoiselle Robot loves Garfunkel & Oates

2010-01-05T10:02:00.003Z

It's been a long time coming, but finally I am pleased to present to you the wonderful, cute and funny Riki Lindhome and Kate Micucci aka Garfunkel & Oates.

from Bust Magazine - photo by Verity Jane Smith

R - We met in the lobby of the Upright Citizens Brigade.

K - A friend of ours was doing a show there. We had seen each other at auditions before but we got to talk after that show and became friends.

K – We started the band a whole lot later, I guess a year and a half ago now? Riki was writing a short film called “Imaginary Larry” that she wanted to make into a musical, so we wrote a few songs for that and then we decided we liked playing together and writing together.

R - … and that’s it, we kept going! The band kind of happened almost by accident…

K – And also it’s only been a year or so we have officially been going with the band, doing shows etc.

R – Things that happen in our relationships, in our friendships, things about our lives that annoy us, that we find irksome. And sometimes we will just find something that makes us giggle and we will write a song about it.

K – I’d say Riki is kind of the idea machine and she’ll say “oh we have to write a song about this!” So usually I’d sit at the piano and come up with a little melody and we’ll just go from there.

K – We both do. I started classical piano when I was 4 and did it and competed until I was 18. I was always writing little songs here and there.

R – Same with me, I played the flute and I was always writing songs. I started guitar when I was 18 or something.

K – It helps when we write our songs, so we can say, “this is a D minor or something" and understand each other.

R – It gives us shorthand to learning songs, which is cool.

R – Yes, we both were.

K - … and we’d both always been writing funny songs on our own!

R – We both were in little short-lived projects, never in bands that lasted more than a few months or a year.

K – It wasn’t a foreign thing for us to get together and play. Although I would say, from writing with other people, Riki and I just work so well together, we have a bit of shorthand, so it is a lucky thing!

R – We also generally think the same things are funny, that helps!

MR - Yes! Imagine if one of you thought “pregnant women are smug” and the other one was like “no they are not!”

R – Actually that happened! (Laughs)

 

K – I was like “Riki this seems so mean! I don’t know…” and Riki was like “No we are writing it!” So we wrote it, but I don’t know why, the minute you put a melody to the words, it just seems less offensive and kind of awesome I guess!

R – He is super cool.

K – He is one of the nicest guys, so sweet.

R – He gave us a lot of advice as far as musicianship goes. About really being a pro. He is incredible.

He gave us tickets for the last Hall & Oates shows.

K – We played "Man Eater" with him, I played the trombone and Riki did this striptease from one dress to another dress and as that was happening I thought “I have to remember this moment forever”, it was such an amazing time.

R – He just found us on Myspace and sent us a message!

R – It is two guys that have been in duos. But they are the unsung heroes of these two groups. Sort of like the silver medalists. We do love those bands.

K – The name has brought us a lot of exciting things that we wouldn’t have got if we weren’t called Garfunkel & Oates... You know, opportunities like playing with John Oates!

R – We got a gig once because someone thought we were Art Garfunkel and John Oates, and it was an amazing gig.

K – Stuff like that happens and you know it is a good name. I had to be convinced at the beginning, Riki came up with it.

R – I am so pushy!

R – I really love Hall & Oates and Simon & Garfunkel! They are two of my favourite bands. I love Joni Mitchell, I am old school. But I also love Beyonce. I would say I am a mix between folk, top 40 pop songs and show tunes.

K – I am the same. I am a sucker for Broadway musicals and I am into any good singer/songwriter. Joni Mitchell, Carly Simon, James Taylor, all those guys.

K – Yes in high school.

R – I did some community theater musicals.

K – I was a really shy kid and I didn’t think I could sing for anything so I was always in the chorus and I would lip sync along with everybody else.

R – We want to write a musical someday, we really want to do that.

R – Right now, mine is Chris Rock, without a doubt.

K – I don’t have one at the moment, but I was really obsessed with Maria Bamford and her Comedy Central specials for a while, I’d watch them over and over…

R – That’s a great comparison. They are great at what they do so that’s really cool!

Lyrically our stuff is really different. Ours is more structured like pop songs and theirs is more like jokes interspersed. They have a story.

K – I think it is also of the moment. If it was 10 years ago people would say we are like Tenacious D. I just think there is something happening in musical comedy.

K – I am working on Scrubs, Till Death…

R – I just worked on Bones.

K – I am in a movie called “When in Rome” that’s coming out this month.

Acting is still our main thing. And when we are not doing that we are writing songs.

R – We are just auditioning and writing and playing. We are taking it week by week really.

I really want to do more directing. I am writing a feature right now. I love writing and directing.

K – I guess I was pretty much the same… I was always making things, always in my room drawing and painting; I had train sets and stuff. I guess I was a homebody, I didn’t socialise that much. I was in school plays, so I had this performance side to me but mainly I was just practicing the piano, doing homework, I liked to play outside a lot. I don’t know I am pretty much the same kid as I was then I guess.

R – I was very type A and very social. I am kind of the opposite. I was very perfectionist, I had to have As, I was in every activity, very social. In some ways I am still the same, but I have definitely mellowed out since I was that age. Life happens, things go wrong that you can’t control, so you have to be more flexible as you get older. And in the business Kate and I are in, you have no control whatsoever, we have no idea what’s going to happen at all. We do our best and then other people decide of our “fate”.

R – I love it. I love the weather; I love the friends I have made. I think it is a town where if you meet the right people you can have a good time. The people Kate and I are friends with a super nice, creative, fun people so we have a great time here; we take advantage of the city, definitely.

K – I have never questioned living here. I moved out here for college so maybe I had a bit of an easier time. I love it so much. I love that you never know what the day will bring because of what we are doing, you never know when you are going to get a phone call that says “be here at this time and that will lead to this and that”.

R – It is also kind of a small town, we run into people on the street all the time! The other night we ran into 3 different people we knew.

K – Hollywood is like high school in a way, everybody knows everybody, so it makes it feel much smaller.

MR - It is nice to see there is more to LA than just boob jobs and starlets.

R – I don’t think I have a friend with a boob job! We don’t run in those circles. It really is choose your own adventure out here. There are so many people here that if you want to be a gold digger boob job person, you can, but we don’t really know those people.

K – You didn’t know I have a boob job?

R – No I didn’t know… Who’s your sugar daddy?

L.A. is very specific.

K – I saw a hipster the other day in Silverlake and he had a handle bar moustache, cowboy boots and a sailor outfit on.

R – I saw a guy that had on a geisha outfit and combat boots. Geisha lips, the whole geisha dress and a moustache. So yeah they are around…

K – I think as Garfunkel & Oates we are still figuring out how we want to dress…

R – ...but I’d say we like dresses.

K – We like little floral dresses, we like quirky things. I like boots. I just got these navy blue boots at the flea market the other day.

R – I would describe my every day style as pretty classic with a little bit of a hipster edge to it. If I could afford it I would dress probably very trendily, but because I spend all my money on a new guitar and things like that, the pieces that I wear are very classic, timeless things.

K – If I could afford it, I would only wear Marc Jacobs!

R – Lately, both of us have been so busy we go on dates in whatever.

K – I just wear what I wore on the day.

R – I will usually wear jeans and a tee shirt. I don’t have time to worry about it.

K – I am too tired to worry about it.

Also, dates are so few and far between because we are so busy.

R – Our schedules are really hectic so we have to be really selective about who we go on dates with. It has to be someone worth giving up a full night of time to be with!

K – I like to think we’d date guys who wouldn’t be like “oh why are you wearing a tee-shirt on our date?”

R - … well I went on a date with a guy who asked me why I had such an ugly purse. I have this really cute green Tory Burch purse and he really went for it. Anyone who doesn’t like my outfit I’d be like “we are just going to be friends”. I don’t like guys who are too into themselves, clothes wise. I like funny guys.

R – I have never broken up with someone in person, so probably sweatpants because I’d be on the phone!

K – I broke up with one guy in person and I was wearing whatever I was wearing that day.

R – Matthew Gray Gubler and Steve Damstra (giggles)

K – I’ll second that!

… And maybe Zac Ephron.

Matthew Gray Gubler, Steve Damstra and Zac Ephron, if we could put them together, it would be the hottest guy ever.

(Both giggle)

You can get Garfunkel & Oates album here.

Innerspace - My bedroom

2010-01-04T10:41:00.001Z

In 2009, I added an interiors feature called "innerspace" to MademoiselleRobot.com to add a bit of decoration joy to this site. From small decoration tips to home visits, it is now a feature I consider as important as outfit posts or designer focus. This site isn't so much about fashion as it is about personal style... and personal style is multifaceted and touches every single aspect of someone's life, which is why, after showing you only bits and pieces of my house in outfit posts, I have decided to open my door and show you where I live, little by little. I am sure it will give you a better understanding of who I am as I am convinced that interiors are actually a better reflection of someone's personality than clothes.

My flat has evolved a lot since we moved there in 2007. Our bedroom started off as the living room, we had a different sofa etc. A few months ago, we swapped bedroom/living room again as we didn't need all the extra space in the bedroom (since Mila had been in her own room for a while!). Some of our bedroom features are actually remains of its former life as a living room (like the bookshelves) but I like it!

On my side of the bed, I dedicated a space to good memories that constantly remind me of who I am I call "happy shelf". When I wake up, one look at this little space is enough to make the day a bit brighter.

I hardly keep it a secret that I love animals. And I love surrounding myself with animals in any form. I have two real live furry pals, and a whole lot of ceramic, wooden, plastic and fluffy ones. Birds seem to be predominant in the bedroom, possibly because it is where my own nest is.

I like my bed to be like a nest, with soft sheet and layers of duvets. It is the place I go if I want to feel safe and it is Mila's favourite adventure playground!

On the walls, more animals, giant love notes and some accessories...

I hope you enjoyed the tour, next time I will show you another room.

Do you have a safe/happy place in your flat or house?

Updated -

❤ The pillowcases are a limited edition illustrated by Miranda July.

The books are:
❤ Sinh Sang Ho exhibition catalogue (I did some translations for it)
❤ Diane Arbus: An Aperture Monograph
❤ The Book of Shrigley
❤ Unknown Bown
❤ Curb Your Enthusiasm, the Book

❤ My Wonderful World of Fashion: A Book for Drawing, Creating and Dreaming

❤ Learning to Love You More

❤ A Penguin Story

❤ Bubblebum Music is the Naked Truth

❤ The Haunted Tea Cosy

❤ Bride of the Far Side
❤ The Doubtful Guest
❤ Mistakes in the Background

❤ Cat Getting Out of a Bag

❤ Max (Penguin edition)
❤ BonBon on the Go go
❤ Emily Strange

❤ Wallpaper guide to Stockholm
❤ Vice Photo Edition

❤ This is For you

twentyten

2010-01-01T14:54:00.000Z

I hope 2010 brings you even more joy and puppies than 2009. Actually, don't worry about it, I know it will!

I also hope I get a flying car by the end of the year, twentyten ffs it is the FUTURE.

No resolutions for me, I am not really a planner. All I know is that this year is set to be awesome (possum).

My perfect coat

2009-12-31T09:14:00.001Z

I like to think a lot about what I buy. Especially if it is on the expensive side. I had my eye on this coat since it arrived in Liberty's in September. I needed a replacement for my old Primark coat and something that wouldn't be a vintage one. I wanted to own my first "grown-up" coat. One that would last me for the next 30 years. This Luella one was perfect. From the colour to the cut and embellishments, it is typically a piece that won't go out of fashion. The ultimate investment piece (even though I hate that term).

I went browsing in Liberty's on the first day of the sale, and miracle of miracle, there was one left in a size 12. It fit like a glove, so I promptly decided to spend all my Christmas money on it. It is without a doubt my best purchase of the year!

What's the biggest extravagance in your wardrobe?

I hope you have a fabulous evening tonight!

just added - little interview with me here

MRtv - My Beauty Routine

2009-12-30T14:49:00.001Z

It's been weeks, months even since I have done a video post, I still can't believe I finally found the time to film one today!

I thought I'd do another video about my beauty routine as I have changed my hair colour since last time, so it has changed a little bit. I also got a few questions about how to apply eye-liner and the products I use, so you know, sharing is caring.

The video quality should improve once it is completely processed by YouTube. Don't forget you can subscribe to my channel. I have also started using ChicTopia, so if you are on it, you can add me by using the button on the right sidebar.

If there is anything you'd like me to show you how to do, just leave a comment below or email me and I will try and video it!

My Christmas traditions & what I wore.

2009-12-29T13:48:00.002Z

I am back and had a lovely Christmas. I hope you did too. It was so good to be off for a few days... It made me eager to get back to the blog and I feel more inspired than ever which is great news to start 2010. I thought I would start by showing you what I wore on Christmas Eve. In my family, we normally have our Christmas dinner on Christmas eve, and then mooch around on Christmas day, mainly hanging out and having a good time. Since I have met Justin, however, we tend to spend Christmas with his family so we celebrate it on Christmas day with a big lunch where everyone opens their presents etc. This is all very new for me! To keep up with my own traditions though, I still like to have dinner on Christmas Eve, but with my "adopted" family: my friends. So on Thursday night Mr Robot and Dr Handsome came over for dinner and fun times with us. Mila opened some of her presents, we had a simple-but-nice dinner and we talked about stupid things.

I wore my vintage blouse from Strawberry Koi vintage, a vintage skirt from Clever Nettle and shoes from Modcloth (with shoe clips from Urban Outfitters, hello two pairs of shoes in one). It is a very simple outfit, but I found it suitably festive! Last winter, I was all over sequins for my birthday, but this year I didn't feel like looking like a disco ball so I chose simplicity.

I was really spoiled this year, I got an all-in-one printer (desperately needed one), iTunes store vouchers so I can catch up on music and films--yes!, cute bits and pieces and I saved the best for last... the Luella coat I had been coveting since September. It is the one below, but no doubt it will soon make an appearance on me on here soon! I have been on a crazy Luella collecting spree this year, I must admit and I won't say enough how sad I am that this brand is no more.

What did you do for Christmas? What are your traditions? What did Santa give you?

If you have a bit of time, please check my facebook page and leave a comment on the wall to let me know what you would like to see more of on this blog in the new year... I am opening the suggestion box :). I have just redesigned the header too, tell me what you think! 

Merry Christmas

2009-12-24T08:44:00.000Z

I would like to wish you all a wonderful Christmas. I will be taking some time away from the blog till the 29th. If you want your daily dose of Mademoiselle Robot, feel free to delve into the archives...

I leave you with a Christmas classic!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Be careful on the road, make snowmen, eat chocolate, stay in your jammies and cuddle your family!

MR Crush on Nicole Lindner

2009-12-23T09:38:00.001Z

A couple of months ago, Steve Damstra sent me the link to Nicole Lindner's Etsy shop, telling I should check her out. So I did. I saw a lot of jersey dresses and stuff I liked but that didn't make me do cartwheels - and not just because I can't do cartwheels to save my life.

And then it happened: I stumbled upon her more eccentric stuff, the things that lit up the "young Jeremy Scott/young Castelbajac" alert in my head.

I have seen it done before (and mostly liked it) by girls out of costume or fashion school, playing with codes and turning food into dresses, but there is something about Nicole that I like even more. Maybe it is the fact she started making and selling her clothes at 16, maybe it is because everything is handmade and one of a kind, maybe it is just because she is awfully cute and passionate about her stuff. Either way, I hope she will take the very coveted place of "new Jeremy Scott" - not that I am putting good all JayJay "all caps on Twitter" Scott in a corner, of course.

All her stuff is really reasonably priced too so it is definitely worth checking out and why not treat yourself to a new dress as well? I particularly like her Black & Gold mini and the pin up polka dot bow skirt.

Photos Nicole Lindner/Collages by me

Innerspace - A bit of birthday decoration (and some birthday presents)

2009-12-22T10:12:00.000Z

My birthday is well and truly over (I know that because it was Justin's birthday yesterday) and so this is the last post I write about it... I will show you my birthday dress when I wear it next time (which will be very soon). Today, I wanted to share a bit more of my living space because I haven't posted anything about interiors for a while. I tried to make the flat look its best for my little birthday party so I thought I'd take some snaps to remember it. It is also kind of festive so it fits in perfectly this week... 

Top to bottom: Christmas tree & Customised vintage chair (living room) - Bevelled mirror & customised vintage teak dresser (hallway) - Russian dolls & antique dolls photo from 1930s (living room) - Dala Horse carrousel & poodles (living room) - Party table on my desk (living room).

My dresser broke last week and now lives in the hall. I got this pink one from Ikea as a birthday present to myself. In this mirror and in the hallway mirror, you get a peek of my birthday dress. It is from Luella.

Here are some of my presents: cute notebooks & postcards, external hard drive (I desperately needed one), The Sartorialist & a Colette Penguin book, a Bow Bow clutch, horses on a tea cup, my fawn necklace and more... You get it, my friends & boyfriend totally spoiled me this year.

It was so nice to have everyone around at my house. I went to bed thinking I must have done something very good in a former life to deserve such an amazing group of friends. Now I just wish one day I will be able to have a birthday where I have all my amazing Paris friends and my amazing London friends in the same room. I love you guys!

/sappy.

Wish List / tba SS 2010

2009-12-21T10:47:00.000Z

It is so cold outside, I feel like my hands are about to separate from my body every time I step out of the flat and yet, here I am, day dreaming about the beautiful collections slowly arriving in store for the Spring. To start my SS 2010 lust / wish list, I had to show you one of my faves. tba has been on my mind a lot recently as you may have noticed! 

I discovered the brand through Urban Outfitters but bought my first tba piece from ASOS. It is a beautiful butter soft mustard yellow silk blouse with scalloped edges in contrasting fabric and colours. The whole thing is so delicate, I feel extremely precious each time I wear it. Then came my lovely tunic dress... In between, I had a glimpse of the new collection at the UO press day and fell a little bit more in love with Binbin's designs. I've had the lookbook for a few weeks now and waited till now to share it with you as unveiling a collection too early is sometimes bad news for a small brand... if you catch my drift...

The good news is that tba also has a website and a beautiful one at that, showcasing SS 2010 goodies to the music of Serge Gainsbourg's Couleur Café.

This dress is my absolute favourite from the collection. I think it definitely will be up there on my shopping list for Spring!

I just love the way Binbin takes very simple shapes and mixes them with amazing embellishments and luxurious fabrics to create cute yet edgy pieces.

This is another wonderful dress, for sailor/flapper girls. You should go and have a look at the collection now, it is utterly perfect! Then come back here and tell me what you think...

IT R MY BIRTHDAY

2009-12-18T10:19:00.003Z

It's my birthday today so I am taking the day off!

See you all next week.

Snowmance

2009-12-17T12:15:00.000Z

Yesterday, I treated myself to a day off, sort of. I had lunch with a friend, then went to review a spa with Cate, then did a spot of Christmas shopping before meeting another friend for dinner and drinks (and eat my first birthday cupcake of the year). I didn't intend to have a birthday week this year, but somehow, it is all happening anyway.

Why am I telling you all that? I know you don't care. It is just a bit of context for what I wore. Because I did all that on foot, in the sleet/snow. So I needed to be warm and fuzzy, but still look half decent.

indoors

introducing Brak!

outdoors

polar bear pimpmaster flash

Skirt - H&M
Jumper/dress - Louche at Joy
Tights - Tabio
Socks - no idea!
Shoes - Office
Coat - vintage (belonged to my grandma)

I should really own some snow shoes by now, since it seems to be snowing every year, but I can't find any decent ones. There is no way on Earth I would ever get near a pair of Ugg boots (the name alone makes me vom) and wellies are not warm enough. If you have a solution that works, let me know, I don't want to destroy all my shoes in the snow!

Mademoiselle Robot's online global vintage shopping mini guide

2009-12-16T11:04:00.001Z

A while ago, I wrote a little guide of vintage in London, with a few links to online shops as well. Obviously, when I do something like that, I can't list all the shops I go to and all the sites I visit, or the guide would be endless. I like to share only the best of the best, places I visit and actually shop at, or at least consistently want to buy stuff from.

Today, I have selected five online stores that I particularly like, for various reasons. They all get the Mademoiselle Robot seal of approval and you can shop there for your vintage gear knowing you will get only beautiful pieces.

Vintage Secret

Vintage Secret is a little internet gem. The shop owner is my lovely friend Naomi, who has the most impeccable vintage style (always mixed in with very, very naughty shoes!). She got her passion for vintage clothing from her grandmother and it shows. She knows her stuff so well, it is sometimes overwhelming! If you are in a pickle, she will either come to you or invite you in her style boudoir, where you will be able to dive into her selection of dresses while drinking tea (out of vintage cups, of course).

Recently-ish, she branched out and also organizes vintage tea parties and special events, such as Tart at the amazingly decadent 40 Winks.

Click here to see my review of Naomi's vintage styling advice. 

Naomi wearing a swimsuit from her impressive collection of 50's swimwear.

Liebe Marlene Vintage

I don't think I need to introduce Rhiannon's shop. She makes all sorts of delightful American estate sale finds available to the world, and I can't thank her enough for that! Her blog is an absolute treat as she always has the cutest outfits and the best stories about classic Hollywood starlets and silent film stars. A must for those of you with a penchant for film glamour and modern vintage.

Rhiannon wrote a few tips on Thrifting for me here.

Rhiannon showing off her cute take on vintage.

Barton and Barton

This online vintage shop is owned by a beautiful French lady named Sophie. She works closely with her maman to source the best vintage both in France and England. They sell clothingm of course, but also ceramics, kitchenalia and decorative objects, all from times past. They have a special Christmas sale on at the moment too (till Sunday 20th). To make for a more personal experience, they have recently launched a blog that you can read here.

Photo from a recent at home sale organised by Barton and Barton

Natasha Bailie

Natasha is a former fashion buyer and stylist who started her business out of a desire to offer vintage clothing that's better than what's available on the high street. As a result, her pieces are always on trend while staying unique and vintage. She also sells vintage inspired clothing, for those who are not quite ready to step into previously owned dresses, or who simply want an easier shopping experience. Natasha also offers Vintage styling advice.

Here is me wearing a dress from Natasha Bailie.

Natasha (left) with Bogey and Marylin.

Nasty Gal Vintage

Sophia Amoruso started Nasty Gal in 2006. Based in San Francisco, she scours the country looking for the best vintage pieces, with a very strong fashion appeal. All her products are totally on trend right now, even when they are 30 years old. That's definitely her strong point. This is more of a rock chick vintage shop than a cute 50's dress one. But it is perfect for mixing and matching and when you are feeling too lazy to run from shop to shop to find the perfect batwing jumper. The selection is always really edgy at Nasty Gal.

From Nasty Gal Vintage

If you have any favourite online vintage shops or if you have an online vintage shop you think I should check out, either leave a comment below or send me an email!

Eye Candy or Arm Candy?

2009-12-15T12:21:00.000Z

I love Peter Lindbergh, so when I heard he had directed a series of short films starring Nora Arnezeder to bring to life Dior's New Lock bag, I thought I'd give it a peek.

Nora is beautiful, the films are (obviously) very pretty and poetic. My favourite is "Light". The only thing that bothers me is that the films steal the show. They do feature the bag, but since it is not my kind of bag, I just forget what the shorts are about. I am really on board with the concept of a moving catalogue, I am also totally in with brands trying to be more editorial in their online content. But somehow, the fact the product becomes invisible seems a little strange. I know it is Dior, and that they don't need to work  as hard on advertising products  since they are selling a lifestyle as much as they are selling actual objects, but still. I think maybe I am not comfortable with the idea of selling a lifestyle. I want to own clothes because they are well made, because they look good on me and because they will last for a long time. I don't want to own them to buy into a life that isn't mine. Maybe I am reading too much in a few innocent short films!

You can watch the mini shorts here, and then tell me what you think.

Also, if you have time, go and watch Habillées pour l'Hiver, by Loïc Prigent presented by the ever goofy Mademoiselle Agnès (hero of my youth). I watched it after a friend who works for Canal + sent me the links, and the subtitles are by another buddy of mine! Susie posted the videos yesterday and I watched it AGAIN! Seriously, watch it, it is amazing.

Super Secret Project Unveiled...

2009-12-14T13:26:00.004Z

Follow this link to the first webisode on Living Tv website.

And you can read more about it at The Online Fashion Agency or visit Fashshot.tv
Also just added an article from Drapers about the Fashshot Studio and my participation to it in my press section. Click here to read it.

My birthday came early this year!

2009-12-14T12:41:00.000Z

Last week I wrote my wishlist for both my birthday and Christmas (since I had the great idea to be born a week exactly before Christmas..). I had put on my list this dress from tba and it appeared at my door at the weekend. Well not completely magically, but I will leave it at that for now, for the sake of Christmas magic and all.

It is so pretty I didn't even take time to iron it, I just had to put it on, even if it is just to spend the day at home nursing a bad cold. Nothing like a pretty dress to make me feel half human again. It really is a shame to wear it to stay home, as I wish to show it off all the time now, but it will have to wait till later. For now, I get to share it with you - and I know you will appreciate it more anyway :).

If you plan on buying it and are on the slightly tall side like me (I mean over 5'7"), it is definitely more of a tunic (as it says on the site) than a dress as it is super duper short, even for me! But you can easily wear shorts underneath to preserve your modesty!

Dress from tba at Urban Outfitters

Denim cut offs (vintage)

Tights from Accessorize

Shoes from Office

Bow necklace from Paraphernalia

Locket Disney Couture

Glasses Oliver Peoples

What I am wearing / Day to Night

2009-12-11T19:49:00.000Z

Well well well, this is another of my "I meant to write this for ages but didn't have the time" posts. I have just emptied my camera and finally uploaded these pictures that were meant to show you how I build my outfits, since I got a few emails and even an interview question recently asking me about that.

For this particular experiment, I started from a very simple base: high-waisted skirt + black tee-shirt combo. The idea is to take this outfit from day wear to evening wear, bearing in mind I don't dress up loads when I go out, so if you tend to dress up a lot, this won't really be much help!

Day

This is a very basic outfit, as you can see, with a focus on the accessories. Skirt from Kimchi & Blue (at Urban Outfitters), Uniqlo tee-shirt, very old H&M cardigan (I replaced the original buttons by hearts), black opaque tights with heart tights over them (for a super opaque look + texture), shoes from ASOS (these ones).

Since it is cold at the moment, I added a sleeveless denim vest over everything (vintage, from my maman's closet) and cinched in the waist with my favourite woven leather belt (also vintage, thrifted). The necklaces are from Disney Couture (the locket) and the fawn is a present from my sister. 

To finish off the outfit, I am wearing a Primark coat I bought a couple of years ago (and that lasted that long, surprisingly enough). I sewed on it a vintage fur collar I had lying around and a ribbon tie. Brooch from Vivienne Westwood and bag from Luella.

Night

I kept the same base (skirt + black tee shirt) and added a slightly dressier cardigan from Topshop and shoes from Office.

Bag from Marc by Marc Jacobs

Accessories up close and personal...

How do you decide what to wear in the morning? How do you select your clothes? Do you have a go to outfit? 

Special Book offer: $10 off!

2009-12-09T23:39:00.000Z

I have just received an email telling me there was a $10 off all orders of m"My Crushes Book" till December 31st for those of you who are interested.

You will find the book here. 

To use it just enter the code corresponding to your currency at checkout:

Orders from the US (using US $):  GREATGIFT

Orders from UK (using UK £):  GREATGIFT2

Orders from EU (using EU €):  GREATGIFT3

Orders from AU (using AUD $):  GREATGIFT4

This means the Softcover is now $25.35 and the hardcover $36.50 till the end of the year, which is pretty neat.

If you have bought it already and received it, let me know what you think!

Paris + London = My Fashion Limbo ❤

2009-12-08T22:39:00.000Z

Everytime I go back to Paris it brings back a ton of fashion memories and images of personal style past. I love taking the time to really observe people in the street and analyze the different styles I can spot in Paris and London.

As a Parisian ex-pat in London, my style is both distinctively Parisian and British. I can be sometimes a bit too "out there" for conservative Paris (even though my usual outfits are pretty tame) and at the same time I am fairly conservative for London, even at my most outrageous. Somehow I don't belong in either of those cities anymore, but I like my little fashion limbo. I used to have a trouble dealing with the gap between two very different styles, but now I take immense pleasure in having the best of both worlds.

I am in Paris this week on a work/pleasure trip, and since I have been spending a lot of time in various shops with a client, it prompted me to finally write this post about London and Paris fashion. I think it must have been sitting in my "drafts" section for about 18 months now, since it is obviously a topic dear to my heart. I am pretty tired right now, so I am barely touching the surface of what I originally wanted to cover, but I will most definitely get back to it very soon as I have a lot to say about it as you can imagine.

For today I thought I'd leave you with a few examples of Franglais style, via Swedish outfit making guru Looklet.

Paris in London

London in Paris

Good news on a Monday: Awesome Possum Giveaway Winners AND Giles Deacon Scarf Winners!

2009-12-07T10:30:00.000Z

I have been SO impatient to pick the winners for my Awesome Possum Giveaway, and finally the day has come! Using Random.org and taking into account all your various extra entries, here are the three winners of the Christmas Giveaway:

Angel Cutsforth

Mademoiselle à Paris

Natalie Mermaid

I will be getting in touch shortly about the prizes, don't forget that if you won and you are outside of the UK you might have to participate in the postage as the prizes are quite big!

Now for the rest of the good news, here are the three winners of a Giles Deacon scarf:

Adeline

Leia

Hayley Minn

Still saving Luella...

2009-12-04T20:45:00.000Z

Today I went to Bicester Village who had invited me and a few fellow bloggers for a special day.

You know how a couple of weeks ago I was saying we had to Save Luella? Since I am a bit obsessed with Ms. Bartley's designs it only made sense that I would focus my energy on the Luella shop at Bicester. Despite the fact her witches collection from AW 2008/09 wasn't my favourite, I still managed to fill a bag I could actually fit in myself (and maybe a friend too, or a collection of small dogs).

I am not showing you what I bought right now because at this very moment I am in my jammies, busy packing my suitcase for Paris. I will be there all of next week to work with one of my clients. Also, excellent timing, it happens to be my BFF's birthday on Wednesday, so I get to spend it with her which is making me very happy.

While I am in Paris, you should go to Bicester and snap yourselves some Luella bargains as there are quite a few in the shop (bags for £150, dresses for £75, scarves for £40 etc).

Very soon, my purchases will make their big debut on these pages...

My birthday and Christmas wish list

2009-12-03T15:58:00.000Z

As usual, when everyone (including me) starts getting excited about Christmas, I also get excited about my birthday (on the 18th I will be 31). 

Here is my dream wish list anyway, who knows, it might inspire you when you go shopping for your friends and family!

Jurgen Teller Go-Sees - I bought it when it first came out and lost it in one of many moves. It is now extremely hard to find apparently and I long for it back. 

Most beautiful bag ever from Bagonia. I have been lusting after these for a long time now.

The Rio glasses from Prism. These have been in my bookmarks pretty much since the website launched and I finally accepted the fact that I NEED a second pair of glasses.

This dress from TBA, which is fast becoming one of my favourite brands. The navy version is only available from Urban Outfitters.

A Bunny lamp and an Owl money bank because you can never have too many animal themed objects at home.

I also need:

- a whole bunch of tights from Tabio

- Enchanted on DVD

- everything from Monki 

- Laura Mercier Rich Perfecting Water

And approximately a million books that are all on my Amazon Wish List! 

What have you asked Santa? What are you giving your friends/family?

Mummy, Mummy, I went and published a book!

2009-12-02T12:20:00.000Z

Some of you may have noticed the itsy bitsy Blurb button on the right sidebar, at the very top. Some of you may even have clicked it. Some of you may be following me on Twitter and read my tweets yesterday. Some of you might not.

Well here's the deal: Mademoiselle Robot is now 2 years old.

It has been the best two years ever, I have met wonderful people, been to cool places, started new adventures, launched a business - all that thanks to a little blog started on a whim to keep busy and keep writing while watching my baby grow.

Knowing that this website evolved so much, went through a few redesigns, a few editorial directions and is now nominated for Best Fashion Blog in the Handbag Online Fashion Awards makes me really proud of myself, and also really thankful of all the support from every single one of you who reads my ramblings every day, takes time to comment, to add the the discussion. I have discovered lots of great blogs as well, through your comments, through twitter etc. So thank you for staying by my side all that time, and welcome to all my new readers.

This is turning into a cheesy Oscar speech here, so let me go straight to the point: I made a book, I made my very first book.

To celebrate my blog being 2, I wanted to do something special for you and for me. So I made a book. It is called "My Crushes Book" and it is a compilation of interviews I have done in the past couple of years. It is available online here and you can preview it here.

It is available as soft or hard cover, 10×8 inches and printed on Premium silky paper. It has interviews with The Belles of Black Diamond Field, Matthew Gray Gubler, Steve Damstra, Nubby Twiglet, Pippa Brooks, Minna Parikka, Caitlin Shearer and many many more!