satchel love.

                                                                                  

 Due to a hectic few days, I will admit that have been neglecting my blog duties. Sorry guys! But I'm back. This week will be stressful, busy and extremely tiring, but with my friends to keep me laughing, I'll hopefully look back and think it wasn't such a bad week after all! Anyway, back to the topic of tonight- my favorite bag in the whole world. The satchel style is going no where and is definetely an investment piece, with this being so versatile as it can be used as a clutch (as seen above) or you can use the strap for over your shoulder or body. It's slouchy enough for a casual edge to a formal outfit but can also add a more structured look to something more casual. Lastly this bag would put Mary Poppins' to shame. It literally holds EVERYTHING. And for someone who brings their whole life with them everytime they leave the house, it's pretty useful.

Much love

Danie B

treasure chest

"The jeweler allows me to wear the sapphire blue lake on my finger, the emerald green leaves around my neck, and take the citrine sunset with me wherever I go.  Jewellery has become my daytime link to nature in an office with no windows.  And if I have to work late, there's nothing like diamond stars and a pearl full moon against an onyx night sky."  ~Astrid Alauda

In our hectic lives, we don't often get time to appreciate what is right outside our windows, and if we can use beautiful and eclectic gems to help with that- well I'm not complaining!

Hope you all had a productive week and have a relaxing weekend!

Much love

Danie B



the roaring 20s....

The 1920s are back with bang and here to stay! Gatsby fever is sweeping the nation with the gorgeous Leonardo Di Caprio playing one of the most romantic and enigmatic characters in literature, Fitzgerald's "Jay Gatsby", in one of the most eagerly awaited films this year. The 20s was the age of indulgence, care-free fun and a lack of inhabitions. The ultimate era for glitz and glamour and a time when anything was possible.

Not only is Gatsby back, but 20s fashion was storming down the catwalks this season. Flappers were a new culture of women that emerged in the 1920s. With more freedom came higher hem lines (above the knee for the first time, how shocking!), drop waists, red lipstick, bobbed hair and a whole lot of sequins and sparkle. Yes this truly was the age of excess and we are going to be seeing a lot more of it trend-wise. I wore this dress to a wedding a few months ago and I found it the zebra print and style just quirky and different enough to stand out and shake off any misconceptions of what is considered to be mandatory wedding attire. I love the beautiful beading and intricate detail and the fringing danced in time when I swung my hips to the music, making me feel very fabulous indeed. While I'm not brave enough to get my hair cut short, I do have a great and very simple way to cheat a bob, which I'll do a post on later. So with a red pout and matching nails, get ready to channel your inner Flapper and be fierce, free and most of all, fabulous! Mwah! 

Much love

Danie B

designs and doodles

I'm not going to lie, today has been a rough day. Between the early morning, exam results and the looming prospect of a dentist appointment tomorrow- it hasn't been an ideal start to the week. But after a piece of hot apple pie, a cup of tea and cosy pyjamas, maybe this week won't be so bad after all. Anyway, here are some of my favorite prints that I thought you might like to see, they always make me feel so inspired everytime I look at them and they instantly take me back to the memories of day I took them. Looking at that last picture reminds me how hauntingly eerie and beautiful trees look without their leaves, and how even the most simplistic of designs can still be a thing of beauty. Hope you had a bearable Monday!

Much love

Danie B 

finally...

Today I finally succumbed and jumped on the Twitter band-wagon. But I made a promise to myself that I wouldn't become someone who tweets every detail of their lives- because no one wants to hear what color of socks you have on today! So to celebrate I drank one of these extremely fabulous limited edition Karl Lagerfield Diet Cokes-with the pretty bottle making it taste so much better! 

Follow me @DanieBann for blog updates and random little glimpses into my life- please and thank you! 

ps- Hope you all had a very lazy Sunday! x

Much love

Danie B 

up-and-coming artist

Todays blog is not so much about me, but rather about a wonderfully talented artist (who also happens to be one of my best friends in the world) the lovely Miss Hannah Clegg. I adored doing the photoshoot for these pictures with her and it was so fun not only to dress up and prance about in front of the camera, but to have a catch-up and a giggle with my bestie. These pieces show the personification of the different seasons, how it would look if Summer, Autumn, Spring or Winter had a face or a style. Truth be told it took a bit of coaxing for her to let me use these pictures but (despite me being the subject!) I think they turned out rather beautifully! I'm proud to be able to say that I gave Hannah her first public showing, the first of many in her incredibly bright future. Congratulations on your fabulous work Miss Clegg, and I'm sure it's not just me that can't wait to see what see does next.

Much love

Danie B  

wise words

Quote of the day:

"Money can't buy you happiness... but it can buy you shoes!"

Much love

Danie B

colour crazy

Is it Spring yet? I don't know about you but the cold, the dark and the general lack of colour in the sky (unless you count grey, which frankly I don't as the sky is capable of such beauty, cornflour blue, burnt orange, heather purple...grey is simply insulting). This year colour is set to explode all over the fashion scene, just the thing to chase away the January blues! Neon colours were huge last year and are set to continue, with yellow popping up EVERYWHERE. But the new colours on the block are scrumptious pastel shades. Peppermint, lavender, candy cotton pink- maybe we can binge on them instead, so cute and no calories guilt while wearing them! So if this riot of colour doesn't inject some life into your wardrobe, nothing will!

Pretty pink? check. Pleats? check. Mid-length? check. Is there any trend this dress doesn't cover? A serious multi-tasker from H+M.

A basic vest from Primark. These juicy neon colours clash perfectly and everyone knows the sleekest way to clash this season is a two-tone stripe. Keep the rest of your outfit pared some with neutral colours to let this ferocious shades do all the talking.

 Lace is back yet again. (Has it ever left?) Except this time this sumptious lilac shade has moved in as an alternative to Christopher Kane's heart-attack inducing neon lace as see on the catwalks. So think about channeling your inner granny-chic, but remember that a material that contains see-through panels can be anything but prudish when you want it to be...

These Topshop powder blue shorts remind me of cloudless days and calm seas and...the blueberry macaroon I ate the other day. Bliss. Balance out the short shorts with and oversized jumper and pointed heels for a comfortable yet glam look. 

Ok I do understand that this trend isn't for the faint-hearted. Especially after all these months of dullness. But here's something to ease you in gently. Satchels are still going strong and you won't be able to stop yourself from smiling when you are carrying this little ray of sunshine.

Something to remember when experimenting...

"All colors are the friends of their neighbours and lovers of their opposites" ~ Marc Chagall

Much love

Danie B

wardrobe wonders...

Here are some of things lurking in my wardrobe. Including the perfect structured satchel that smartens up any outfit, some of my favourite jewellery that I wear religiously on rotation, some patterned socks that I designed that I WISH were in my wardrobe and of course my little black dress that I absolutely adore, but have not, as yet, found anywhere to wear it to. Sigh. But who knows what the rest of January holds and hopefully I can rectify that very soon...

Much love
Danie B

treat time

This, has been a stressful week. The pressure of exams finally got to me last night- one minute I was crying, the next laughing and then I started singing "auld lang syne"! It's safe to say that I am totally relieved that this day is over, after doing 2 exams and practically writing a novel for each, I am completely exhausted. So I came home to some comfort food. I know croissants are meant for breakfast, but eating food at the wrong time of day makes it seem even more indulgent and well... a bit rebellious. And everyone loves a rebel...

Much love

Danie B

SURPRISE!

Me and the birthday girl. There is nothing like a surprise party, the scheming, the excitement, the planning, and most of all, the moment of, "SURPRISE!" I adore making cakes and this one turned out quite well considering the time restraints of revision. I had a fabulous time with Aimee, Rachel, Kian, Gemma and Louise (I promised them they would all get a mention and as loyal fans of "what will she wear", how could I refuse?) and I can't wait to plan the next one! Who will be next I wonder...

Much love
Danie B

Chanel No.5

The last few days have been, well, a nightmare truth be told. Exams have well and truly arrived and it seems like they will never leave, but exams fall under the catergory of being unpleasant, something which I try to avoid in conversation at all times. So to take a break I am going to share with you some of the widom, advice and downright inspiring things one of my icons have said. A woman of true style, grace and poise. Coco Chanel.

1. A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous.

2. In order to be irreplaceable, one must always be different.

3. Fashion fades, only style remains the same.

4. As long as you know men are like children, then you know everything!

5. Success is often achieved by those that don't know failure is inevitable.

Hope that helped! ( Number 4- I'm sure every girl agrees that truer words have never been spoken!) x

Much love

Danie B

Inspiration hits...

 I'm going to share with you some of the images I love and that inspired me today. I just adore looking at old photographs, life looked so indulgent and simple back then. I feel like a day is wasted without a fabulous outfit and those ladies knew a good dress when they saw one. Some of the snaps are from my mood board, everytime I look at it I see something different! It never fails to surprise, or inspire me! And that sparkly nail polish is glam enough to make it feel like a party, even on a Tuesday. But of course, none of this would have been possible without a delicious breakfast. Hope you had a fabulous day! x 

"The best stories are not just about living out your fantasies; they are inspiration for living up to your dreams" 

Much love

Danie B