Deep in Vogue

Indian Summer

2011-11-10T01:39:00.004+01:00

Dress: J Crew; Coat: Made by me

Well, we're well past summer.. or fall. This photo was taken on the last warm fall day. My coat and I have been inseparable since as the temperatures have dropped to freezing.

Anyway, I've been meaning to make a post for so long, but life keeps on getting in the way. Thank you to everyone for the emails, I'm still around and still visit your blogs. Oh how the blogosphere has changed in the past three years!

♥

P.S. See the coat in my Etsy store.

Vegas Nights

2011-08-11T04:38:00.004+02:00

For a while now I've meant to share more photos from my trip to Vegas back in June. I've mentioned it before, it's one of my favorite cities and it never fails to deliver.

I'll be updating the blog with photos from my summer travels, so stay tuned. Some new designs to follow as well :o).

♥

V

Sleeveless Mummy Dress

2011-07-12T03:10:00.003+02:00

Summer always gets in the way of blogging, but I finally got around to posting these photos I've been meaning to share for a few weeks now. Forgive the quality of the photo before last, but I desperately wanted to showcase the tulle layers that make the mummy dress so special.

Hope everyone is enjoying a fine, summer weather wherever you are!

♥

V

P.S. See the dress here

Skyline

2011-06-20T01:16:00.003+02:00

I made this dress back in February and there was still snow on the ground when I first took pictures of it. I've been meaning to showcase it in a more appropriate environment and finally had the chance to do so during my trip to Vegas two weeks ago. I had the most wonderful time celebrating my birthday, enjoying the warm weather and the stunning views from the suite. More pics to follow soon..

♥

V

P.S. Check out the dress here.

Back Mesh

2011-06-11T06:01:00.006+02:00

Here is something new. Backless, but not quite!

♥

V

P.S. see it here

Striped Dress

2011-06-05T05:09:00.005+02:00

Remember this dress? Finally got enough fabric to be able to make some for my Etsy store.

♥

Vera

Feel free to check it out here.

Weave Bodycon Skirt

2011-05-30T05:31:00.006+02:00

As much as I love the rain and what it does to the prairie, it's made it very difficult to take photos. I've been meaning to post about this skirt for two weeks now. Today the clouds finally broke, so I'm happy to share the last thing I made. What drew me to this fabric was the pattern, it's fun and very different. Hope you like it as much as I do! I paired the skirt with a simple white tee and a silk J. Crew jacket I've been stalking online and managed to snatch as soon as it went on sale.

♥

Vera

P.S. Check it out in my Etsy here

Sheer

2011-05-23T05:05:00.005+02:00

Here is a sneak peak of a dress I've been playing with this weekend. Just a bit more work and it will be done!

♥

Vera

P.S. Thank you for the sweet feedback on the striped dress!!

Red & Blue

2011-05-16T02:09:00.004+02:00

I truly dislike neglecting the blog for longer than a few days, but at time real life gets in the way. So thank you once more for sticking with me despite the sporadic posting schedule :o). Anyway, the semester is finally over. Now if the sun would just come out behind those clouds, life would be perfect!

So here is my newest dress. It's obvious I'm yet again gravitating toward bodycon pieces. I'm trying to lighten my summer wardrobe with a couple of easy-to-wear, throw-on-and-forget-about-it dresses. Stripes, of course, rarely disappoint, especially when done in such vibrant hue. It's like the sailor dress I did last year, only this time around, I decided to add ruching on both sides. And I made it longer.

How do you like it?

♥

Vera

White layers & Idaho scenery

2011-05-05T02:48:00.002+02:00

Here is something else I've been playing with. I really like wrap-around dresses, they are so flattering. Adding a few layers at the bottom doesn't hurt either, as they soften up the bodycon silhouette and make the dress more wearable.

Hope you like this!

♥

Vera

Lace Skirt

2011-05-02T06:20:00.004+02:00

The weather today was absolutely spectacular! I very much hope spring is here to stay (last week was rather unpleasant). So thanks to the bright sun, I was able to take some photos of my newest piece - a bodycon lace skirt. I was very excited when I found this beautiful, dense & stretchy lace fabric at the store and was happy to see the skirt turn out as I had imagined it in my head.

What do you think?

♥

Vera

P.S. Check it out in my Etsy here

Bhutan

2011-04-27T21:23:00.003+02:00

The Kingdom of Bhutan is one place I am absolutely anxious to visit. Tucked in the Himalayas, it is one of the least touched by modernity countries on Earth. Bhutan, known as the "Last Shangri-La" is also the only remaining Buddhist state in the area (Tibet having been taken over by China and Sakkim by India). Its government is very serious about preserving the country's cultural integrity and tourism is strictly regulated - last year less than 25,000 tourist visas were issued. In its capital of more than 100,000, there are no traffic lights, no plastic cups, no ATMs, no smoking, no advertising. What there is plenty of, is color..

Credit: Pixdaus

Happy Easter!

2011-04-25T22:35:00.003+02:00

I hope everyone enjoyed their Holiday! I had such a great time, got together with some friends and enjoyed an authentic Bulgarian Easter, complete with all the traditional dishes, desserts, and drinks. I also had the chance to premier a new piece I had been working on - the ruffle organza top pictured below. It's so airy and dreamy, I'm quite excited about it. Promise to post more pictures of it soon!

♥

Vera

Ripples

2011-04-22T21:06:00.002+02:00

This is something else that I got done last week. I've become somewhat fascinated with Vera Wang's Lavender Label and its tiered organza dresses. And as you see, I'm having fun experimenting in that direction.

♥

Vera

P.S. Thank you for the sweet feedback on the gray tutu!!

Gray Skies

2011-04-18T05:04:00.008+02:00

I love, love, love this skirt! A tutu.. of sorts, but much more wearable. It will see lots of wear as soon as the weather warms up. And I'll definitely have to make myself one in black and one in white as well.

So what do you guys think?

♥

Vera

P.S. See it in my Etsy here.

London Randoms

2011-04-15T05:28:00.003+02:00

Last London post, I promise! Just wanted to share of my random shots. Next post will be fashion-related, I'm finishing a gray tutu as we speak!

♥

Vera

London 2

2011-04-12T03:50:00.005+02:00

Here are a few more photos from London.. a night in retrospective. Dinner at the Mandarin Oriental and dessert at Ladurée. Their teas are fantastic, as are their macaroons, but that pink cake definitely took the prize. Yum.

♥

Vera

P.S. The dress is H&M :o)

London

2011-04-10T01:38:00.004+02:00

London used to be my least favorite European city. Too big, too cold, too busy, too expensive.. there was no end to my list of grievances. This trip, however, helped change my perspective. My aversion to Oxford Circus and all its hustle and bustle remains, but I was able to discover a backstreet charm to the city that completely enchanted me. The fine Edwardian & Victorian architecture, beautiful squares, snug breakfast nooks, and dainty French patisseries are few of the reasons that will keep me coming back.

For next time.. I really want to go to the London zoo to see the bears. And to do some more lounging around Hyde Park.

♥

Vera

Winner

2011-04-04T18:08:00.002+02:00

This giveaway ran for a bit longer than I originally planned. I took a few days off for a quick escapade to London and had no internet where I was staying. Anyway, great times were had. Will post more about it in the next few days.

Back to the order of the day. The Random Number Generator @ random.org picked Clau as the winner. Thank you so much to everyone for your participation and sweet words! I got a bit overwhelmed by all the kindness and support. I wish I could give a skirt away to everyone who took the time. I promise to do another giveaway very soon!

♥ ♥ ♥

Vera

Giveaway

2011-03-24T17:18:00.007+01:00

It has been such a long time since I've done a giveaway.. a couple of months at least. So this is a token of appreciation to my readers, your support truly means the world!

If you would like to participate..

(1) leave your email in the comment section
(2) click on the facebook "like" button on the bottom of this post

The winner will get a custom-made organza polka-dot skirt, like the one in this post, but tailored to her exact measurements and specifications.

♥

Vera

P.S. A big Thank You to Veronica who sent me this beautiful illustration the other day. She is an extremely talented artist. Feel free to check out her blog and store here.

Shades of Green

2011-03-21T02:28:00.002+01:00

I finally got it ready! The original version (see previous post) underwent a serious revision. It ended up being too structured and lacking in movement, and I redid it. I'm looking forward to playing with similar designs, so expect to see lots of frilly skirts & dresses. As for the fabrics of choice - chiffon, silk & organza.

♥

Vera

Green Emerald Organza Dress

2011-03-16T23:55:00.003+01:00

This is the other piece I worked on last week. I really hope I can finish it this coming weekend, in time for my upcoming trip. Obviously there is plenty of work left. It's a thin line between whimsical and theatrical. I don't want it to end up looking like a forest fairy costume :o)).

♥

Vera

Polka Dot Organza Skirt

2011-03-14T04:12:00.004+01:00

I'm going on a trip in less than two weeks and I decided to try and make myself some skirts and dresses. Here is a sneak peak of one of the pieces I've been working on this weekend. As you can see, organza is the fabric of choice. The more of it, the better. I love the light look, the intangible feel, and the full volume. It's still a work in progress, I'll post some photos wearing it as soon as I have it ready.

♥

Vera

Stella McCartney Resort 2011

2011-03-10T04:23:00.003+01:00

Two weeks ago when I posted about Vivienne Westwood's Fiona Rose Print dress, a reader pointed me in the direction of Stella McCartney's latest collection (thank you Cristina @FujiFiles). The silhouette is a bit too boxy for me, but I am dying for the beautiful botanical prints. The perennially chic floral trend never fails to excite me, especially when spring's just around the corner..

♥

Vera

White Tulle Skirt

2011-03-07T05:40:00.003+01:00

Isn't white such an unexpected choice for a bodycon skirt? I had never really thought of making one until I got a custom order for it. It's definitely more flattering than I expected it to be. It would be such a great piece for summer... with a loose t-shirt and a fun pair of sandals.

Hope you like it!

♥

Vera

P.S. 3rd photo is the view from my patio. One of the advantages to living in the middle of nowhere.

Puppies and Temples

2011-03-03T09:40:00.002+01:00

There were so many things that made an impression on me during my stay in Taiwan. One was people's pets! There were so many pet stores filled with perfectly groomed cats and dogs. And the dogs were oh so tiny and perfect. I seriously considered buying a puppy (like the brown one in the photo) and was deterred only by the very complicated procedure of getting it back to the States with me once it was time to leave. Still, just getting to play with them for a while was such a treat!

♥

Vera

Green Tulle Overlay Dress

2011-02-27T09:40:00.002+01:00

I got this dress ready a few weeks ago, but never got around to posting it. I have been meaning to play around with a sweetheart neckline for a while. I need to work on the construction more, but for now I'm content with the way it turned out. I hope you like it!

♥

Vera

Alsace, France & Westwood Fiona Rosed Print Dress

2011-02-25T02:40:00.004+01:00

Can you believe such an idyllic place actually exists? It looks like it came straight out of a fairytale. I haven't visited it yet, but it's high up on my list of upcoming trips. The region is home of about four dozen picturesque cities and villages, filled with churches, cloisters, half-timbered houses, gables and flowers...

(Credit: Pixdaus)

And what is one to wear in such a perfect place as this? Only the perfect dress would do. This beautiful Vivienne Westwood creation nearly made me weep. I love the design and the beautiful print as much as I dislike the $4000 + pricetag.

Flowy, silk-blend spring and summer dresses with cinched waists and full skirts is all I'm thinking of these days.

♥

Vera

Bodycon Skirt

2011-02-21T03:39:00.007+01:00

I found this really interesting fabric in the store the other day and bought it unsure of what to do with it. I try to push my creative boundaries, especially in terms of the fabrics that I work with. As much as I love tulle, once in a while it's nice to switch it up. So I made a skirt! And I paired it up with my orange blazer, because I've been overdoing the all-black ensembles as of late.

Skirt: Made by me

Blazer & Top: Banana Republic

♥

Vera

Jiufen, Taiwan

2011-02-18T03:39:00.004+01:00

While in Taiwan last year, I managed to make a trip to a little town called Jiufen. It's nestled up in the mountains and in addition to offering some truly spectacular views, the town is filled with cafes, restaurants, gift shops, and tea houses. I visited one of those tea houses and spent a few hours (!) snacking on edamame and drinking some of the best tea I've ever had. The experience wasn't heavily orchestrated. It was pleasurable and leisurely, yet without lacking the ritualistic attention to detail and beauty. It certainly gave me much room for thought on the virtues of grace and patience :o).

♥

Vera

Mesh & Sagebrush

2011-02-13T22:27:00.004+01:00

Thank you for the kind comments on the Taiwan post! I will post more photos from my time there soon! A reader asked about my background, where I am from and so on. I am Bulgarian, but have been living in the U.S. since I was 13. I spent three years going to school in Vienna, Austria and now I'm back in the States finishing my degree. In my free time I travel, travel, travel :o).

I posted about this dress a few months ago and now I've come back to it. I sometimes wear it over jeans, but for these photos I decided to brave the cold barelegged. I wanted to showcase the side-ruching of the dress. Thankfully I had the coat to keep me warm.

Dress: Made by me.
Coat: Made by me.
Shoes: Brian Atwood

♥

Vera

Taipei, Taiwan

2011-02-10T06:30:00.003+01:00

In a previous post I mentioned that I spent some time in Taiwan last year. Taipei is such an amazing city, and the food... the food was spectacular. Just thinking of the incredible variety of Asian cuisine I had the chance to sample makes me so hungry! I can not wait for the chance to go back and have beef noodle, Korean bibimbap and some Shabu Shabu. As you can see, I didn't neglect my sweet tooth either. These photos are from an afternoon of high tea at the Shangri La Taipei.

Cardigan: Muji
Blouse: Banana Republic
Skirt: Made by me

♥

Vera

Shag

2011-02-06T21:03:00.006+01:00

This post is a bit more weather-appropriate. This coat has been my savior these past two weeks, it's so warm. I cannot wait until the temperature gets into double digits!

Mesh Dress: Made by me. Will post more photos of it later.

Heels: Brian Atwood

Faux Fur Coat: Made by me.

♥

Vera

Nicole in Blossom

2011-02-02T19:24:00.005+01:00

Oh how I wish it was Summer! Or at least Spring! Cannot wait until the blossoms bloom. As you see the Nicole is back. I was able to find a bit of the crepe fabric I use for making it. It is the same like the one I used last time, but the shade is different, more lila than blue.

♥

Vera

P.S. Cardigan is J Crew, Shoes are Brian Atwood

White Mummy

2011-01-30T18:56:00.005+01:00

My best friend Marlene asked me to send her a white mummy dress for a project she's working on. I am very excited to see what the final result will be and to hopefully get a set of photos that would do the dress justice. I've never quite succeeded at capturing its beauty.

♥

Vera

Uniqlo Top & Tulle Skirt

2011-01-26T03:56:00.004+01:00

Last year I spent few months in Taipei, Taiwan. During my stay there one of the more impressive events was the opening of the first UNIQLO store in the city. It was mayhem. The line for the store stretched for a about.. a kilometer. I am pretty sure I'm not exaggerating. Anyway, I lived pretty close to the store location, which why I got to witness all the excitement. I didn't venture into the store until a month after it was opened and I have to say, I appreciated the simplicity and quality of its items. I got only one piece - this thermal top. It's fantastic - goes great with pants, jeans, skirts and keeps me warm.

The skirt is made by me. I've been meaning to make a longer tulle skirt for a while, one that sits at the waist and hits above the knees.

♥

Vera

Scotland

2011-01-22T05:42:00.002+01:00

Thank you so much for the warm response on the Nude Diosa! Posting new (albeit reinvented) designs and getting your feedback has always been my favorite part of blogging. Anyway, as those of you that have been following my blog for a minute know, whenever I get a free minute - I travel. I just got back from a quick trip to the UK where I was finally able to make it to Scotland. While there I visited Edinburgh and stayed at a beautiful inn in the country. So magical!

♥

Vera

P.S. The coat is from J. Crew

Nude Diosa

2011-01-17T03:37:00.008+01:00

Here's the reincarnation of the White Diosa Dress. I've always been very attracted to the nude palette and wanted to try the Diosa design in a softer shade. I thought about doing it all-nude, but felt too naked in it and went with the black lining. I feel it makes the dress more wearable. I am very happy with the way it turned out and hope you all approve as well!

♥

Vera

Happy New Year!!!

2011-01-03T06:40:00.006+01:00

Happy New Year, everyone! I am incredibly thankful of so much that happened to me in 2010. Got yet another academic year under my belt, traveled to Seattle & Vegas a few times. Did some international travel as well - England, Austria, Bulgaria, Mexico, Taiwan, Malaysia, Dubai & Turkey. Unfortunately my blog suffered a bit in the process, but I've resolved to balance my travels, studies & sewing better in 2011! Thank you so much for sticking with me and for your constant encouragement. It keeps me focused and it keeps me going.

♥

V

P.S. Starting the year off with some photos from Dubai. Hands down the most impressive place I visited this past year. Did some skiing in a mall.. enough said.

Knit

2010-12-28T04:03:00.003+01:00

Here is a little sneak-peak of the knitted wrap dress I am working on. I'm hoping to be able to finish & post the final version very soon! It's getting me very excited about experimenting with some sweater designs I've had in mind for a while.

Hope everyone had a great Christmas!

♥

V

Kuala Lumpur

2010-12-21T04:13:00.002+01:00

A few pics from my trip to Kuala Lumpur at the end of September. Malaysia is such an incredible place. There is something to be said about Asian food courts in general, but the selection at the ones in Malaysia was truly outstanding. Anyway, next post will be about a new design I've been working on. Hint: Knitwear!!!

Jacket: J Crew
Tank top: Bought from a street vendor in Taipei
Pants: Tahari

♥

V

The Coat

2010-12-15T21:14:00.008+01:00

Two years later the coat that got me started making clothes is here again! I hope you like these photos and the beautiful model - my friend Elitza. I had a lot of fun working on it, its a great winter piece. It's volumous, cozy and so warm.

Let me know what you think!

♥

V

Foxy

2010-12-13T03:31:00.008+01:00

I just returned from a long trip and I'm back to blogging! I have so many new pieces to share, including a take on the mohair coat I will post about and list on Etsy later this week. Thank you so much for your sweet emails, comments and still checking on my blog throughout the hiatus of the past months!

Coat: J Crew
Blouse: Ralph Lauren
Mummy Skirt: Made by me

Faux Fox Fur Shawl: Made by me

♥

V

Gleam

2010-11-01T05:15:00.007+01:00

This post is long overdue, but here it is to commemorate the last sunny days. Not much longer before the scenery changes to white.

Top: J Crew
Tulle Skirt: Made by me.
Pumps: Brian Atwood

♥

V

Barra de Navidad

2010-10-07T08:37:00.002+02:00

I have never taken a month off blogging before and don't intend on doing it again. My life has been pretty.. saturated these past few weeks and I have been savoring each and every moment of it. There is much I would like to share with you and will do my best to alternate the travel photography with introductions of my new designs.

I realize most of you are comfortably easing into fall, but as a memento of the summer days past, here are some photos from about a few weeks ago, Barra de Navidad, Mexico.. the quintessential mexican sea-side village.

In a final note, I would like to thank you for your warm feedback on the Diosa. Thank you for your comments and emails, I can not express how much they mean! This particular dress is all sold out, but there are a couple of new designs that will be make an appearance on the blog soon. Working on a few mohair jackets as well :o).

♥

Vera

La Diosa

2010-08-25T10:49:00.010+02:00

It might look like another mummy reincarnation, but do not be fooled! A different layering technique and plenty of thought (and tulle) went into making this beauty NOT see-through. And as you can see by these photos taken in broad daylight, mission accomplished :o). I'll call it La Diosa, because I'm still on Mexico time and because this little number is just what you need to feel as a goddess (this and a pair of pretty heels). Speaking of heels, I'm very happy with this latest purchase. Towering yet oddly comfortable.

La Diosa White Dress: Made by me

Heels: Balmain

♥

V

P.S. Oh yeah, and I got a new haircut!

Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico

2010-08-19T02:46:00.003+02:00

Here are some photos from my time in Guadalajara this summer. The city is amazing and the people are incredible. I have so much love for Mexico, it's one of my favorite countries.. if not my favorite. It's a special, special place.

Hope you enjoy this little glimpse!

♥

V

Black Long Sleeve Mesh Dress

2010-08-12T05:51:00.003+02:00

Took some time away from the blog, but since my summer traveling is almost done I plan on getting back to regular posting very, very soon. Thank you once more for bearing with me! I promise to share pics from my travels in the next couple of posts.

This is my latest piece: tulle, bodycon, side ruching & long sleeves. It's easy to wear, very comfortable and very form-fitting.

And do let me know what you think!!

♥

V

Istanbul 2

2010-07-29T07:18:00.002+02:00

A couple more pics from my stay in Istanbul. Not very fashion-related, but I hope you enjoy the photos nonetheless. Thank you for your sweet comments on the last post and for the birthday wishes! Quarter of a century old.. whew!

♥

V

Istanbul

2010-07-20T04:22:00.003+02:00

Skirt: Made by me. Brilliant ruby shade.

Shirt: Ralph Lauren.

Jacket: Alexander Wang. Had to get it, it's perfect.

This post is so overdue, but the past two weeks left me with very little time to spare. I know most of you are in the same boat as me and trying to enjoy the summer as much as possible.. it goes by so, so fast!

Here is post #1 of the days I spent in Istanbul this summer. I celebrated my birthday there and despite the rather.. antagonistic weather, I had a fantastic time. Istanbul is a brilliant place and I can't wait to visit again next summer.

♥

V

Blue Stripes

2010-07-09T05:04:00.004+02:00

Here is the latest addition to my Etsy store! A long-sleeved boatneck sailor dress with side ruching. I like the idea of simply throwing something on and being ready for the day.. or night. It's a pretty versatile piece. I wore it as a top in Istanbul a couple of weeks ago.. will post pictures soon.

How do you like it?

♥

V

P.S. Thank you so much for the sweet feedback on the Aneta Rose!! Unfortunately I had only one for sale, but I will certainly be coming back to this design in the future. I have been dreaming of an Aneta in white silk chiffon. Will probably have to lighten up on the layers so it turns out more fun and less.. bridal :o)

Aneta Rose

2010-07-06T03:53:00.008+02:00

About a month ago I ran into this incredible hand-painted silk fabric, and I couldn't resist making myself another Aneta dress. I've already worn in about 5 times. For some reason it feels a lot more versatile than the blue version. At first I wore it with a belt, but then I began tying some of the loose layers around my waist. Feels more natural.

These pictures are from Sofia, Bulgaria. Taken about.. 3 weeks ago. I don't much like the capital of Bulgaria, but there is one part of the center - around the National Theater (last picture), I love.. especially in the summer. It's where I always happen to run into friends and acquaintances.

♥

V

P.S. Обичам те, Крис!

Flora

2010-07-02T03:54:00.003+02:00

Anthropologie Jacket

Ralph Lauren Sailor Shirt

Linea Pelle belt

DIY skirt

Easy, breezy summer day

♥

V

Bulgaria

2010-06-29T02:23:00.007+02:00

Tulle Vest: made by me; Dress: made by me; Belt: no idea

I promised more pictures of the vest I made and here they are! I practically didn't take it off for the last week I was in Bulgaria. Not only does it work great on its own, but it happens to be a fantastic layering piece. I was hoping to be able to make a few for sale, but I was only able to make two. One is for myself and the other one will make it up in my Etsy store in about a week.

I took these pics during a walk around my neighborhood about two weeks ago. Yes, there's a beautiful Orthodox church close to my grandparents' place. How time flies.. today I'm on the other side of the world, as as usual, missing my hometown dearly.

Hope you are enjoying your summer wherever you are!

♥

V

6.22.10

2010-06-23T05:57:00.004+02:00

And a tanktop mesh version.. it reminded me of a playful Robert Graves poem that begins like this..

For me, the naked and the nude
(By lexicographers construed
As synonyms that should express
The same deficiency of dress
Or shelter) stand as wide apart
As love from lies, or truth from art.

I am working on a couple of these nude beauties for my Etsy store, will be up in the next couple of days alongside some white mummy dresses.

♥

V

One Shoulder Tulle Dress

2010-06-15T05:54:00.005+02:00

I took the last month off to catch up on orders, play with new designs and travel a bit.. ok a lot :o). My schedule is not shaping up to be any less demanding, but I've vowed to make time to share it all with you, guys. On top of a couple of new dresses I have prepared for my Etsy and will be listing in the following weeks, I'm set to visit a couple of exciting places I haven't been to yet. Yay!

First thing's first! Here is my newest piece - a one shoulder tulle dress with side ruching. That pattern took a while to get right, mostly due the fact that tulle is so tamperamental. At the end, I'm really happy with the way it came out.

♥

V

P.S. I tried doing this exact design in white as well, but it ended up being a bit see-through, so I'll have to come back to it later and see how many layers it would take to achieve opacity.

Sneak peek

2010-05-31T19:07:00.003+02:00

It's been quite the hiatus since the last time I posted, but here's a little peek at a little something I've been busy with. This gorgeous Emporio Armani design had me at a loss for words when I first spotted it on my last trip to Vegas.. unfortunately the $900 pricetag was a bit much to bear, so I simply had to give it a go. Leather and tulle were meant for each other! Will post more photos soon.

♥

V

Ridges

2010-05-14T04:22:00.003+02:00

Skirt: Made by me; Shirt: J Crew; Heels: Celyn B.

I like to go for walks around my neighborhood, and last time I had the chance to, I made sure to take my camera along. There is something so conciliatory about Victorian architecture, strolling around my neighbors' beautiful houses always eases my mind and lifts my spirits.

Anyway, I was touched by the emails I got about my lack of post updates as of late. I've been really busy with school and orders. Finally got done with the last of my finals yesterday, so happy to have the semester over with! In the following weeks I am looking forward to relaxing a bit and beginning work on a couple of new designs I have in mind.

♥

V

Marlene

2010-05-03T04:51:00.004+02:00

I've been wanting to make some sort of a mesh-insert dress for a while, I experimented with this look a couple of months ago but at the time it felt a bit too bare. So I took my time to dress it up with tulle (surprise!) and I'm pretty happy with the way it came out.

Hope you approve!

♥

V

What happens next

2010-04-29T03:04:00.004+02:00

The semester is nearing its end and very soon I'll get go back to Bulgaria for a couple of weeks. I'm so much looking forward to seeing my family and friends. And of course, to begin work on some new pieces.

Top: Banana Republic. The ruffles, the cut, the flowy silk.. so much to love..

Belt: Benetton

Skirt: Made by me

♥

V

Not for long

2010-04-26T05:30:00.004+02:00

Thank you for the sweet words on the last post. As some of you have noticed, I'm moving this blog more and more towards what it was originally supposed to be - a platform to showcase my designs. There are so many things that occupy my mind and I've been toying with the idea of making another, personal blog to share my traveling and random musings.. Anyway, an organic progression is always best, so I'll let things evolve as they may.

Vest: Made by me. I've been getting emails about the boyfriend blazer, unfortunately they sold out a while ago and the bit of fabric I had left, I used to make this vest.

Tulle Skirt: You all know.

Heels: Camilla Skovgaard Saw Pumps. I've been looking for a nice nude pair forever, and finally went for these gray beauties. The rubber platform makes them super comfortable despite the towering height.

♥

V

Nude

2010-04-19T04:46:00.002+02:00

Here is something new, a tulle-layered tube dress. The outer layer is camel, the bodice is black. I thought about doing a nude bodice, but adding a bit of contrast seemed like a better idea. I'm looking forward to playing a bit with different colors and layering techniques for this look, to make it into something fun and easy for summer. I would love some comments and suggestions.

What do you guys think?

Shredded Panels

2010-04-14T06:23:00.005+02:00

Here is the white shirt I got form Arlie (UrbanRevisions on Etsy). I have never been a great fan of oversized t-shirts, they tend to swallow me up. As charmed as I am by the concept of just throwing something random on, my body structure demands a bit more consideration. This one, however, is simply perfect. And so white. I paired it with my red Prada pumps from the previous post. These darlings don't get very much wear, unfortunately.

Thank you for the sweet comments on the Nicole dress, so glad you liked it!! The dresses I listed sold out pretty quickly, so I've listed one more, check it out here.

♥

V

P.S. Tuesday night = LOST night :o)

Nicole

2010-04-12T05:46:00.007+02:00

Here is my newest design! About time I make something new, haha :o). This draped piece is something of an organic progression of the mummy dress. I've named it Nicole after a friend of mine that has a very special day coming up. The dress is draped with crepe. Do let me know what you think, I would love to hear it!

♥

V

The spider that stings

2010-04-10T05:55:00.003+02:00

Here I am finally jumping the shredded t-shirt bandwagon.. just when the weather is finally getting warm enough for chopped attire in my part of the woods. I got this beautiful top from the lovely Arlie - UrbanRevisions on Etsy. Check out her store here. I also got a white one and can't decide which one I love more. In either case both will get plenty of wear this summer.

♥

V

Day and Night

2010-04-08T06:43:00.002+02:00

If you've noticed a similarity between this dress and the floral one in the previous post, you've got a great eye! I actually used the pattern from this dress to make the other one. I love flowy silk goddess dresses, they are so ethereal! And they make a great transition from day to night.

Dress: Bought it in Milan.. about two years ago. Such a lucky find.
Belt: Benetton
Flats: Louis Vuitton
Bag: Prada

♥

V

Vegas

2010-04-06T09:41:00.002+02:00

I try to visit Vegas at least once a year. As I've mentioned before, it's one of my favorite places. I know it carries a certain stigma, but there's so much more to the city than gambling. The shows, the food, the shopping and the non-stop rhythm is what keeps me coming back. Granted, I've never spent more than 4 days there, but it just seems like such an exciting place to live. Maybe I'll get the chance to try it out for the long term someday :o).

Jacket: Anthropologie. Wore this to death the few days I was there.

Dress: Aneta, made by me.

♥

V

P.S. I finished the dress in the previous post and wasn't super happy with the way it came out. I didn't have time to redo it before I left, but hopefully I'll get around to it this weekend.

Sleepless in Seattle

2010-03-30T04:54:00.005+02:00

My friend Lisa came up to Boise on Friday to celebrate her birthday. At around 2:00 a.m. which is when bars/clubs close around here, we went home. At which point I suggested we head to Seattle. And four of us did. I drove all night and got us there at around noon the next day. We settled in a hotel and made our rounds around the city. We visited Pike Place, Pioneer Square, went shopping, had a fantastic dinner and celebrated her birthday again. Then spent the night and headed back the next day.

The 36 hours of no sleep were absolutely worth it. Seattle is such a fantastic place. I may have found my perfect city! The green spaces are seamlessly integrated into the urban infrastructure. There are lakes, and rivers, and of course, the Pacific Ocean. The air is so fresh, the mountains so near, and the seafood.. yumm the seafood! It's hard to list everything I loved about this place in the short time I was there. The only downturn was having the camera battery die on me few hours after arriving. Hopefully I'll get the chance to go back soon to make up for it!

♥

V

Bubble Skirt Tutorial

2010-03-23T20:05:00.006+01:00

Kaleidoscope

2010-03-22T03:58:00.003+01:00

I get a lot of requests for tutorials and every time I start preparing one, I end up making it too complicated to follow. Most of the materials I work with are stretchy, and finishing stretchy fabrics requires a serger. So I decided to make the simplest skirt I can think of: a paper-bag bubble skirt. Not much of a construction, the belt to keeps it together, but it has a cute shape and can be finished in about an hour!

So this is the finished product! I took pictures along the way and I'll do my best to organize them in a proper tutorial. I'll try to have it ready to post by tomorrow.

♥

V

Anchromatic

2010-03-16T04:31:00.003+01:00

Turtleneck: Banana Republic, Belt: Etro, Mummy Skirt

I'm so touched by the sweet feedback on the skirt! Once I perfect my technique, I might make some for Etsy, thank you to those of you who asked. And thank you for the suggestion, I'm definitely thinking about making a gray/silver one!

The last couple of days were really fast-paced, but that's what life is about, right? I even managed to steal a day and go to Salt Lake City. It was so much fun getting together with some old friends. This is what I wore out for dinner, there is something sensual about turtlenecks - the black-er and snugger, the better. This one's not very tight, but it does the trick. (Nothing beats Wolford in that department)

Anyway, I'll post some random pictures from my trip later, they're pretty arbitrary and I hope you won't mind the randomness :o).

Loves,

V

Light to hold

2010-03-11T06:28:00.001+01:00

Here it is!! Naturally, there's room for improvement, but I'm pretty happy with the way it turned out, especially considering I have never worked with sequins before. It was fun to get out of my comfort zone material-wise and try something new.

Hope you approve!

Loves,

V

Folklore

2010-03-09T21:35:00.009+01:00

Photos by George Zdravkov

I can't go a month without posting about one of my favorite places in the world - Shiroka Luka. Unfortunately I wasn't around in Bulgaria last week to be there and join in the yearly festivities. Last year I was lucky enough to be able to go and posted about it here.

My brother went and took some fantastic photos. He is so talented with the camera, I wish I could take pictures as beautiful as his. When he sent me these I got very nostalgic. I miss Bulgaria, my family and friends there, and can't wait for May when I will go back for a few weeks.

♥

Vera

P.S. I was able to take some pictures with the sequin skirt today and I'm so excited about the way it turned out! I'll post them tomorrow.

Soft Shimmer

2010-03-07T21:18:00.003+01:00

Regis says hi! My mom and I are always watching game shows when we're working, either Millionaire or reruns of Deal or no Deal.. or the occasional I Shouldn't be Alive on Animal Planet.

So this is my latest project! I've been toying with the idea of experimenting with sequins for a while, and Jackie's post from a couple of days ago inspired me to go ahead. Sparkles are not really my thing, but I thought I could tone down the glam by layering the flakes with tulle. I'm really excited about how it's coming along. Should be ready with it very soon, can't wait to try it on.

xo

V

Bloom

2010-03-05T19:37:00.004+01:00

When I first introduced the bareback dress here I received some questions concerning its versatility. It could be worn many ways - on its own, with jeans (as shown by Chloe) and with a voluminous skirt (as suggested by Jacqueline). And the other day, that's what I did. I had completely forgotten about this skirt, but now that I'm cleaning my closet random things keep on popping up.

Lace-trimmed Bareback Dress: Made b y me

Ruby Bubble Skirt: Made by me

xo

V

Thorns and thistles

2010-03-04T05:29:00.002+01:00

Thank you so much for the sweet comments on the previous post! I'm very glad you liked the new skirt. I'm a sucker for gray, it's a fantastic shade and so versatile. I'm looking forward to playing with it more in future projects.

This little flower number is from Urban Outfitters, I bought it a couple of months ago because it was on sale for $10 I think.. The cut is not my favorite. The waist is sits awkwardly at the rib cage, I wish they would've either settled for an empire silhouette or better yet, had it hit at the natural waistline so I could cinch it and be done with it. I'm pretty sure this dress will soon become a skirt :o).

Gray

2010-03-02T21:00:00.006+01:00

And here I present to you the latest member of the mummy family. This gray is such a soft, beautiful shade.

x

V

Seriously?

2010-02-28T09:10:00.004+01:00

I've finally gotten started on a long-delayed project - cleaning my room. It's shaping up to be a long journey, mostly because random little things keep on popping up that make me stop and wonder in amusement. Things I have long ago forgotten.

One of these is this minuscule Abercrombie number. I laughed so much when I found it, I had to share. My early teenage years were marked by A&F. Later, as my tastes flourished beyond the brand's scope, I gave most of my clothes away. For some reason this little thing stayed put. The fact that not many of my friends would have been interested in a 10" skirt probably factored in. I don't remember wearing it much, and judging by the condition I probably didn't. But I do remember being so excited about buying it. I guess the fashion rebel in me was well and thriving back then :o).

Perfection is in the detail

2010-02-24T23:42:00.004+01:00

I stumbled upon an incredible book a couple of days ago. It's called Fashion in Detail and it's actually part of a series, each volume focusing on a specific time period. The one I am reading right now covers the 17th and 18th Centuries. The illustrations and the accompanying text are just incredible, as is the opportunity to closely inspect the intricacies of historical dress. Craftsmanship on this level is hard to come by these days, especially in the apparel industry, even in Haute Couture.

Shadows

2010-02-23T20:36:00.005+01:00

I've been meaning to scan this Fendi advertorial for a couple of weeks now. It holds such an appeal for me. Too often designers take the distressed look so far it becomes wretched. This, on the other hand, is delicate and wispy. Lagerfeld transformed Anja Rubik into a vision, a creature of the fog. Then again, he has the technical ability to do so on both the design and photography front. Talk about taking your idea full circle - from conception to delivery.

Anyway, this sort of.. soft distressed glamour, is something I have been wanting to experiment with for a while. Time to put those scrap pieces of tulle and crepe to use :o).

Wildlife

2010-02-20T08:07:00.005+01:00

Thank you for all the sweet words! Whenever I do a giveaway I am sorry I don't have more pieces to gift. The winner of the green tea leaf skirt (the post title sort of stuck) this time around is Punkie, a very stylish blogger from Italy!

On an absolutely fashion-unrelated note, I had to share this fierce-looking squirrel. I love how it's holding the branch with it's little hand.. well.. paw. Boise's abound with little animals running around everywhere. I am pretty awful behind the wheel and have been working really hard at changing my driving habits in order to accommodate all the various creatures randomly crossing streets and intersections. Ducks, foxes, and.. yeah.. squirrels.

xo

V

Tea Leaf

2010-02-17T06:05:00.002+01:00

As promised, here are some pictures of the skirt in its finished version. I'm really happy with the way it turned out, it's got such a sweet shape. And of course, as many of you noted, the soft shade is just fantastic. I really lucked out in finding the fabric, especially considering that it came from different stores!

Thank you so much for the lovely words on yesterday's post. I am very happy you approve of the skirt and I would love to custom-make it for one of you! Just comment on this post, I'll announce the winner on Thursday. I will also include the comments from the previous post. Your continuing support means so much.

Loves,

V

Cocoon

2010-02-15T18:10:00.000+01:00

I have been wanting to make this sort of a tiered, ruched tulip skirt forever. I'll post pictures wearing it tomorrow, there is still some minor work to be done. I just couldn't wait to share :o).

Loves,

V

Superwoman

2010-02-12T17:54:00.001+01:00

I've been meaning to make a post on one of my favorite collections ever (Thierry Mugler Haute Couture, Fall-Winter 1997). You can/should watch a video here. Mugler is a master of the fantastical, untouchably precious and intensely exaggerated as was McQueen, may he rest in peace.. The two definitely shared an appreciation for reptiles.

The craftsmanship and brilliance it takes to morph leather into beetle armor.. to combine opalescent scales and feathers and create your own chimera - here a fusion of bird and fish. The "Insect" and the "Chimera" dresses, respectively named after the design influences behind them, are masterpieces, pure art.. and from what I've read - extremely painful for the models to exhibit. But then again, "form follows function" never applied to Haute Couture.

Soft ecru

2010-02-11T02:03:00.002+01:00

Since the range of my dresses and skirts so far has been rather restricted to black and white, throughout the past year I've had many people suggest I try working with colors. More often than not the request was to do them in nude. I was finally able to make a few skirts (available here) and I hope you like the result.

Loves,

V

P.S. I don't know why I look so serious in the first picture, but since I cut my head off in the previous post I decided to include a face shot this time around :o).

Where the sidewalk ends

2010-02-09T08:26:00.007+01:00

So happy to get your nod of approval on the dress from the previous post, thank you for the great suggestions! I am planning on listing a few in my Etsy, once I'm done. Hopefully by early next week.

Loves,

Vera

Wayside flower

2010-02-05T21:56:00.001+01:00

I made a post about this dress a couple of months ago, you can see it here. Now that spring is around the corner (or so I like to think), I thought it was time to revisit it. You can see what came out of the original design and for the most part, I do like it.

Could probably use a little more volume in the skirt and few inches off the length?

Village verse

2010-02-04T02:01:00.002+01:00

I took these pics last month, while I was in Bulgaria, in the village where my grandmother lives. A bit gloomy, I know, but it happens to be one of my favorite places in this world.

Thank you for the sweet feedback on the skirt. I've been wanting to experiment with draping tulle for a while. As I said in the previous post, I can't wait to take better pictures of it. The light in the living room did not do it justice.

Loves,

V

The blossoms on the trees steer up the honey bees

2010-01-30T07:56:00.003+01:00

Ralph Lauren Blazer, Karl Lagerfeld Shirt

Speaking of the weather.. a friend of mine sent me these pictures a bit ago and I had to share. They were took in April of last year and reminded me of just how much I can't wait for Spring to come around. I appreciate the present for all its gifts, but the future's always more appealing :o).

These were actually taken in Vienna. One of the many reasons why I love the city is being able to go from a downtown restaurant to a meadow in the outskirts in about 15 minutes.

Lyrics of Sunshine and Shadow

2010-01-28T05:50:00.003+01:00

Top: Max Azria. Lace and crepe..

Skirt: Made by me. Tulle body and silk lining. As you can tell, I did my best to make it move :o).

I'm very glad you liked the skirt in the previous post. It's one of my favorite pieces and it's super versatile, it works year-round. I've been receiving requests to do a DYI guide for quite some time and I promise to deliver soon. A skirt would be a fun little project to do a tutorial on.

Loves,

V

P.S. Listed a couple of black mummy dresses in my Etsy store.

Polar

2010-01-26T06:04:00.004+01:00

This series of pictures is almost like an action sequence, if you go through it fast enough you'd see me move :o).

Blazer: Banana Republic. It's my newest blazer, and I love, love, love its black velvety richness and tailored fit.

Shirt: Ralph Lauren. Crisp. Slim. Fit.

Skirt: Made by me.

Sneak peek

2010-01-21T17:28:00.005+01:00

I've been staring at this for the past half an hour. And I'll probably go without the blue tulle peaking above the decolletage. Not just because I gravitate toward the simpler solution, but also because I go to Boise State and the school colors are orange and blue. Making the dress appropriate for a football game would be sort of silly. And super fun..

So what do you say, should the blue stay or go?

Bare

2010-01-20T06:48:00.004+01:00

Thank you so much for the sweet words and constructive commentary on the dress! Special thank you to everyone who took the time to let me know of their concerns regarding this particular design.

I do agree, this is mostly an evening piece as it is rather daring. This being said, I made sure the dress would not be overly revealing. The demure front and long sleeves are meant to balance off the provocative back. The form-fitting shape is very forgiving and slimming. The high quality cotton viscose is opaque. It held up really well keeping me covered, especially considering I took the pictures with a couple of light sources and an external flashlight. Because I know that much about light.

I think this covered most questions :o). I have listed few dresses in my Etsy store. Check them out by clicking here.

Loves,

V

Lace

2010-01-19T04:41:00.003+01:00

Remember this sketch? This past month I've been working on bringing it to life. So the only question is.. what do you guys think?

Bright Red Wall

2010-01-13T17:34:00.002+01:00

Tuxedo Shirt: Ralph Lauren. Love the tailored fit.

Lace Skirt: Made by me. I've been meaning to make myself a high-waisted lace skirt for a while and I'm happy with how this one turned out.

Heels: Bally

I've been busy working on and finishing some pieces for my Etsy store. Skirts and dresses!! Can't wait to get them ready to hear what you guys think.

Loves,

Vera

P.S. Frankly, I'm scared to perm my hair. I know that ironing it so often does plenty of damage, but I'm under the impression that perming will dry it out. I guess I'll have to talk it out with my hairdresser.

Plovdiv

2010-01-09T19:50:00.004+01:00

Wool Jacket: Ralph Lauren
Wool Dress: Random brand. Got it at a sale in NYC two years ago.
Studded Belt: Celyn B
Leather Boots: YSL

Back in Bulgaria! This is my last week before I have to fly back to the States and start the next semester. I've been wanting to post more pictures of my country, mainly my city. I post pictures from everywhere else, but I haven't given my hometown its proper due. The city of Plovdiv is one of the oldest in Europe, there is so much history. I used to miss the place terribly whenever I was gone. I haven't been as emotional about it as of late, now that almost all of my loved ones have moved away. However, it still is a very special place.

London

2010-01-08T14:20:00.004+01:00

London is one cool place. The only downturn to my visit was the weather. I reinforced the hoodie with a fur scarf and bravely braced the cold. I was very happy that I even got the chance to make my rounds around the city since there was some snow and reports of flights, schools and roads being closed. I barely, barely caught my flight yesterday. If I don't have to bargain with them to let me in I feel that I've gotten there too early. I don't much care for airports :o).

I think I managed to maximally stretch the two days I was there. I visited the Pop Life exhibition at Tate Modern and stole a picture of Jeff Koons' bunny. My friend thought it was inflatable and I dared him to touch it, which triggered an awful alarm haha. We also saw a musical, since that's the London thing to do. And we stopped by the Victoria & Albert museum. That one has been on the top of my list for quite some time and it did not dissapoint. The second image from the top down is from the Fashion exhibition. Such a treat :o).

No trip to London would have been complete without some fish and chips, although as you can see, my fish looked much like schnitzl. Mm and the cupcake was delicious. The bakeries all over London were exceptional. The only thing I didn't manage to do is have an afternoon tea at a tea room. See, I'm so particular about the places I visit :o). Something to do for the next time I'm in town.

Loves,

Vienna

2010-01-04T22:28:00.002+01:00

Mmm.. maroni :o)

I missed Vienna so much and now that I am here everything is as familiar as ever. As if I never left. I am having a wonderful time acting as if I still live here. I'm visiting all the places that used to be part of my routine. Well.. there are some spots I am deliberately avoiding. Those that would get me too nostalgic for my own good.

Tomorrow I am flying to London to visit my best friend. I haven't seen him in six month and I can not wait.

Loves,

V

Happy New Year!

2010-01-01T10:49:00.009+01:00

Hope everyone had a blast greeting the New Year 2010 and that it's a great one for all of us :o).

Loves,

V

Not that far

2009-12-30T21:04:00.004+01:00

Blouse: Banana Republic

Skirt: Made by me

Reversible Fur Hoodie: here

How do you like the curly hair?? I was a bit hesitant when the hairdresser suggested it, but now I love it. No hairpins.. I hope I can figure out a way to maintain it once I'm back in the States with no time for biweekly trips to the salon.

These past two weeks have been a crazy hiatus. Got stuck in Chicago for three days because of the big snowstorm, forgot my laptop at the Munich airport and my luggage got lost. On a brighter note, I got to spend a couple of days with my cousins in Chicago, managed to get my laptop sent to Vienna and my luggage and I eventually got reunited (ten days later). So all is well when it ends well :o).

Hope you have an amazing time greeting the New Year tomorrow night!

Loves,

V

P.S. Happy Birthday to the beautiful & super stylish Anjelica @ Mode Junkie!