Because its Monday: Good vibes & Words of Wisdom

Hello loves, I trust you all had a wonderful weekend despite some of us losing an hours beauty sleep!

 via Dreams-in-fashion

I often come across words of wisdom or quotes that inspire, motivate or that I can just totally relate to & it's often when I'm lacking in the inspiration department or feeling a little bleh, that I like to re-read and go back to some of my favourite quotes (of which there are waaaay to many).

Glistening Hong Kong in the rain via here.

“I’ve learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow. I’ve learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights. I’ve learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you’ll miss them when they’re gone from your life. I’ve learned that making a living is not the same thing as making a life. I’ve learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.

Tommy Ton shooting for Harpers Bazaar March 2012 ft. Hanne Gaby Odiele & Ming Xi. Via here 

  I’ve learned that you shouldn’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw some things back. I’ve learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision. I’ve learned that even when I have pains, I don’t have to be one. I’ve learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back. I’ve learned that I still have a lot to learn.  I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” - Maya Angelou (- American Author & Poet)  Even the most rational person can act or react irrational when life throws a few curveballs, just remember that random acts of kindness are always unexpected and will forever put a smile on someones face.

“You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.” – Zig Ziglar.  I think about this one when I get stuck in a rut and overthink things too much. 


“There are no short cuts to any place worth going.” – Beverly Sills. This is just so true, for pretty much everything I have ever achieved or learnt in life, mistakes are there to be made, being focused helps and at the end of the day I'm always learning. 

"Some people dream of success, whilst others wake up and work hard at it." No idea who said this - Pinterest??? "Good things come to those who work their asses off & never give up!"


Despite all the good vibes and quotes about life, nothing else is as important as your own happiness & health.

I hope you enjoyed some of these! I'm on a bit of a quotes roll at the mo, especially since finishing Steve Jobs' autobiography, which was amazing btw and now I'm reading "The Jimmy Choo Story". I guess what I'm hinting at is that it's always good to have a little bit of constant life re-inforcement action going on. I'm going to sound a bit cheesy when I say that I love Tony Robbins acronym: CANI, what does it mean? Constant and never-ending improvement, sounds tiring just thinking about it, no? Well it's a good motivational saying you can apply to any area of life.

via here 

Thank you for stopping by, reading, commenting or even following - the whole shebang really. You guys mean the world to me. I know I haven't been around much lovelies, but I'm not going to try and beat myself up about that. When I'm done with most of my projects I'll be back in full ABG force, right now I'm not going to be able to respond to all your wonderful comments or catch up on blog reading, just yet...

Gorgeous Isabel Lucas in Prada Resort for Vogue December (Australia) 2012 via here

Wishing you a wonderful sunny week ahead! 

x.o.x.o

 

via here

Colour Me Happy!

Colours of the season via Club Monaco/Glamour mag

I don't think you can get more colour than this! Totally in the mood for colour, anything bold, and anything bright... I kinda wanna be wearing all of these hues this spring/summer! Colour is one of those things that has a major effect on mood, and for me it definitely resonates Happiness!

Always had a soft spot for pink
via seed design blog

LOVE Miroslava Duma shot by Tommy Ton for Symphony store (Dubai Mall) in UAE -wearing Jason Wu frock!
via celebinspire.tumblr.com

Siri Tollerod rocking shades of tangerine and raspberry at Cacharel SS11

I need this dress in my life! Someone please tell me which collection/designer it's from -also refer to the Gemma Ward in lime pic below! Answers on a postcard please! - Comments section is fine too! ;)

via SweetCaroline-a.tumblr

Elie Saab, Me thinks I'd like to wear all of your SS12 RTW collection, including the amazeballs cobalt frocks! Backstage, Green goddesses.

Another pop of neon/lime for spring... it's everywhere! Plus Gemma Ward looks amazing in this dress too. Found this on Tumblr, but no reference to designer! Please share!
(Don't you hate it when peeps don't credit images properly? via tumblr)

I think most of us have seen this eye-popping neon acrylic painting or versions of it everywhere, I LOVE this artist - Maya Hayuk for those who didn't reference this artists brilliant work.

via Kate Spade


Finally...

Bring on warmth, sunshine, laughter, smiles and SUMMERRRRRR!

Have a great weekend sugar pops!
x.o.x.o

"I Want This Job": Luxury label Senior Womenswear Designer

Hey everyone!
Who's been excited & blown away by fashion week so far??? I'm loving everyone's highlights of either their fave collections and overviews of AW12/13 rtw... Pretty much fell in love with Jason Wu, Temperley, J Mendel... sigh. There's so much gorgeousness that makes me actually love the winter season more. Been catching up slowly with what the fash pack wore too over at Lee's blog - LeeOliveira & also Tommy Ton on style.com.

I've been dying to share this next "I Want this Job" feature for a while now, but since I can't exactly reveal who she works for (- I don't want her to get in trouble with PR/HR folks!), perhaps I can mention the prestigious luxury label is showing today at LFW. Today's feature is on Senior Womens Wear Designer & style maven Tanya. She is about to give us the low-down on one of the most-wanted jobs around!

Camille Miceli, Jewellery/Accessories designer at Dior via Nowness

What do you actually do?
I design a second line for a luxury fashion brand based in London. On a day to day basis I spend my time drawing, doing fittings, preparing research boards, communicating with our factories and product development team. I travel both internationally and in the UK visiting factories and fabric fairs. I am also involved in lookbook photoshoot, critical path planning and print direction.

What's your typical working day like?
See above. I start at 8.30-9am usually and have breakfast at my desk! I am away a lot and also work at home on days I have lots of sketching to do. I also tend to have meetings scheduled in most days for range planning, print direction, fabric sourcing, design hand over, fitting and sales & marketing direction, plus feedback. I try and eat lunch away from my desk and I tend to finish around 7pm ish.

What core responsibilities do you have as a Senior womenswear Designer?

• Critical path planning & range planning
• Direction for the season including concept and theme
• Print direction
• Mood and colour boards
• Designing the collection including detailed specs (aka flats: technical drawings of the garment showing stitches, measurements & info) for handover to the pattern and product development teams
• Fitting: both prototypes and production fits
• Fabric selection
• Trim selection
• Pricing structure ensuring fabric and CMT prices for for retail structure
• Strike off (product sample) approvals
• Trim specs
• Showroom set up
• Seasonal presentations to sales/ press
• Model selection/castings
• Lookbook styling and direction on the shoot

What are you working on at the moment?
I am currently working on RTW for SS13 putting together colour palettes/research boards and initial design concepts

Yohji Yamamoto's sketches in progress via Nowness

Does the preparation of a season's collection take a lot of time?
It should do but I often find I spend most of my time travelling and in meetings and increasingly spending less time actually designing the collection. I have recently taken on an assistant designer and that is helping to spread the load!

What do you love about this job & why is it so fabulous?
I love the fact everyday is different and I have control over my working day.

Is it as glamorous as it sounds being a designer?
Absolutely not!!! There are always great perks but the travelling and long days are exhausting and I regularly miss social invites as I am away!

Designer's Inspirational sketches for SS12 via Instyle.com

Do you design digitally or the old school way, sketches by hand?

The brand I work for favour the old school sketching by hand which works for me as I am definitely not an illustrator girl. I still illustrate my designs on the figure as I think it is really important to think about how they will move when worn.

When designing a range/collection, are you very aware of the competition and what's out there? Do you design with the The brands signature style in mind? What's going through your mind when creating something?

I am very aware of price points and what is happening in the market. I work on a second line and I think you have to be to make a collection successful as what retails well is often not the obvious! I have to make sure everything works for the brand identity but I am always informed by price/manufacturing constraints etc as well as wanting to create something new.

How 'hands on' are you in terms of overseeing samples get made to the final product being manufactured?

Very! See above, I am involved through to production sealer samples.

Emma Cooks research mood board, via Nowness

What piece have you been most proud of that you designed & have you seen anyone in anything that you specifically designed?
It is often the pieces you don't want to see! Amy Winehouse was photographed in one of her famous court appearances in a piece I had designed which greatly amused me and the rest of the team!!!

Have you travelled anywhere exciting with this job?
I travel quite a lot, mainly Tokyo, Hong Kong, China, Paris, Portugal and across the UK!

What's not so great about this job?
The fact I work on a whole collection which includes all product areas.

What do you do to get inspired when you have those blah days?
Sometimes you just have those days and you have to step away for a few hours! If not, I wander round Portobello followed by Dover Street or liberty!

Which trade shows, prediction fairs, fabric fairs etc do you visit/go to regularly?
PV Paris. (Première Vision - World's leading fabric & textiles fair held twice a year - I remember those horrid 4am starts to get to the Eurostar then having to spend all day concentrating on fabrics then catching last train back to London - tiring stuff!)

What (technical) skills are required to be a great Designer?
I think you have to know how things go together and have a wide knowledge of machinery and finishes. I don't think you can expect a good product at the end if you do not have a good idea how the process is achieved. The best designers I have ever met are technically very gifted too.

What's the career path like (Education - courses you took, work experience & training to get to where you are now)?
I did an art foundation followed by a BA at Kingston University in Fashion Design. From there I had several roles as design assistants at luxury brands in London before landing this role.

How did you find your dream job as a Designer?
Through an agency. Design jobs only tend to get filled through design agencies or word of mouth!

Would you ever like to set up & launch your own label in the future?
I don't think so. I think success is not always down to the amount of work you put in, especially when it comes to fashion, and I wouldn't want to risk everything for that. I also love working in a team so I would find it hard working on my own in the beginning.

beautiful illustration by Elisa Mazzone

What advice & what do you have to say to the next ambitious graduates or anyone, particularly for those hoping to follow in your footsteps as a designer?
Think about why you want to work in fashion. It can be incredibly rewarding but it is also relentless and cut throat. It is not the glamourous lifestyle most assume. You have to love clothes but more importantly the mechanics of how they work.

Huge thank you to Tanya for sharing this with us!
x.o.x.o

BeSPECtacular Beauties

Well hey there gorgeous people! How was your week?

Yup, if it weren't for glasses I'd be walking into walls and hugging random people on the streets thinking they were my friends! (I have done that by the way - waving and saying hi to strangers that is.) For a while now (and that's a long while ago mind), ever since I took my driving lessons at the tender age of seventeen, I thought my eyesight was perfect but me squinting and trying to read the number plate 20.5 metres ahead told me otherwise.

Anyhoos, I've worn all kinds of frames in my time, but haven't found the perfect pair of slight cat-eye frames. I need a change of frames people. In the meantime, i'm loving these beauties...

Brigitte Bardot looking super sexy and stylish in her frames

Not sure which campaign this is for, but I'm going with Tom Ford or Gucci because it's tres sexy - answers on a postcard please as this was found on good ole Pinterest.

Geek style chunky black frames - seeing more and more of this trend nowadays, will they ever go out of fashion?

Yeah, this are kinda gorgeous, but also kinda pricey too, sigh!

Wishing you all a wonderful week, Be Spectacular, spectacular!!!
A warm welcome to new readers who found me via Zumba!!!

Thanks for your patience over this past week, I'm catching up with you all slowly but surely and being inspired!

images via: Bella185 tumblr, Bardot Gallery, Pinterest & Tom Ford

"I Want This Job (Badly)": Cosmetic Product Designer

Well hey there lovelies, how goes your week so far? I know I haven't posted about a feature like this in a while, but believe me, you're all gonna love me for this "I want this job" feature!
Frankly, I would swap lives and careers for this talented bloggers job, whom I'm sure many of you are already familiar with.
Anyhoos, ever since I discovered Dawns inspiring blog "The Alternative Wife", I've been living in 'happily ever after land', getting drawn into snippets of her life as a New Yorker & the dreamy, uber feminine and just plain gorgeous imagery. It was through our mutual love of beauty products and probably my addiction to perfume that I discovered that she had the coolest jobs in the world. So cool I have to share with you all!

I want this job: Cosmetic Product Designer

What's a typical day in the life of Dawn of The Alternative wife?
Well let me first start out by telling you all a little bit about cosmetic product development or cosmetic innovation. It's a separate function from marketing or Research & Development (R&D). Basically a cosmetic product developer comes up with new concepts or products ideas. We work hand in hand with marketing on strategy and then we work with R&D on development, ie how each product should look, feel, smell and taste like and also what the function should be including what ingredients we want them to include.

That being said it's hard to say a typical day. Some days I'm at the office in meetings working with various team members to ensure that a product will be launched. Other days I'm meeting with fragrance houses or raw material suppliers to see the new trends. Other days I'm off at a lab or production facility somewhere working on site with the chemists to approve products. Then some days I'm meeting with clients to present new products. And I always squeeze in a little competitive shopping time when I can. It's important to know what's going on in the industry.


What do you love most about your job? Were you always passionate about beauty/cosmetics?

I love that I basically get to play with makeup all day and what girlie girl doesn't like that? I've always been a pretty creative person. I have a passion for art and illustration and I just love to create things and I'm fortunate enough to have a job that marries my passions. Creating and beauty. I've always been obsessed with beauty and cosmetics since I was a young girl. I used to play in my mother and grandmother's cosmetic drawers. And I managed a cosmetic boutique while in high school and majored in Cosmetic Marketing in college. I knew what I wanted to do at a very young age and just went after it.

Is the job as glamourous as it sounds?
There are aspects that can be incredibly glamorous, working with perfumers to develop new fragrances, the travel to find new and exciting things, the launch parties, working with celebrities and designers and such but day to day working in the office it's not all that glamorous. At the end of the day it's a job. An incredible job but it is work.


What area of the cosmetics/beauty industry do you enjoy designing & coming up with new concepts for most & why?
I've worked on all aspects of the beauty industry...color cosmetics, skin care, bath and body and fragrance. I honestly love each and every part of it. From the visual and textural aspects of it to the innovation and technology. They're all equally intriguing and rewarding.

What's not so great about your job?
It's hard to complain about my job. The only thing I can think of is the frustration of wanting to launch a product and not being able to for some reason.

What is the most exciting thing you've ever developed?
Oh this is a hard one! They're all my babies, really. I never launched a product that I didn't love and believe in. I wouldn't launch it if I didn't believe that it was incredible. If I had to think of one thing I guess I'd go way back to my first job right out of college. I was working at Revlon and I was lucky enough to work on Ulltima IIs Lipsexxy, the predecessor of Revlon's ColorStay lipcolor which was a major breakthrough in the industry at the time. Also I worked on LipFusion Lip Plumper which was another major breakthrough in the industry a few years ago.


What is it like working on a fragrance? How do you research and come up with a successful scent?
It's truly incredible. And such an art form. I work with all of the major perfume houses and really all the credit has to go to them and the perfumers. They're the artists. I can just evaluate and decide what I like and what I think will be successful.


What actually goes into an anti-ageing cream? What makes it reverse or improve the skin? (sorry very random, but I am curious!)
There are so many ingredients and new technologies that it's hard to focus on just one. There are a few different ways to address aging. One is prevention and another is reversing the damage that has already been done. I work with all of the raw material suppliers out there and various R&D teams and I have to tell you that there are things that truly do work, retinols and peptides being some of them.


What tools are required to help you with your job on a day to day basis?
You definitely have to stay on top of trends from a fashion, lifestyle and color standpoint as well as from an ingredient standpoint. The industry moves very quickly and you have to have your finger on the pulse. Also it's always good to look back to see what's been successful before and to see how you can update it and improve on it. I work with various trend and research agencies, raw material suppliers, I read industry journals, fashion and lifestyle magazines constantly, and I always keep my eyes open when I'm out an about. You never know what will inspire you! Often you can find a concept in a different industry and then it can be applied to beauty.

What's the career path for anyone wanting to get into the cosmetics industry? (Education, training etc) -Do you have to have to be a genius in the science department & have a knowledge about molecules and cells?
I just happened to go to school specifically for cosmetics marketing but that's not the only way to get into the industry. It really depends on which part of cosmetics you're looking to get into. If you're going for marketing or product development a marketing degree and an internship or job in the beauty industry will help you get your foot in the door. Even if you work retail at a counter that will show you have an interest and passion for the industry. And you definitely do not have to be a genius in science unless you're looking to go into R&D. I happen to love science and formulation so that's helped me have a better understanding of the workings of a formula but the formulators are the geniuses.

Have you ever come up with a concept for a huge cosmetics/beauty brand? If yes, can you share what it was?
I'd go back to LipFusion. I was being presented with a new technology meant for skincare to plump out wrinkles and I thought wouldn't it be great to put this in a lip formula to plump up lips. The chemists I worked with formulated an incredible product that truly works!

What are your thoughts on lotions, potions and creams that claim they can reduce wrinkles or can improve the texture of your skin to creams that reduce the appearance of cellulite?
Cellulite is a tough one. Anti aging creams definitely can and do work but I've yet to find a product or technology that truly works on cellulite. We've been searching for years now and nothing yet. I mean some can help temporarily but nothing long term. I'll let you know when one is discovered!


Can a $20 face cream be just as good and have the same or better results than a face cream costing $100?
Absolutely. Well I'd go up to $30 but there are definitely drug store formulas that work incredibly well.


Are there any beauty products you'd like to recommend?
I would but I wouldn't want to get in trouble or offend anyone. If any one would like some recommendations, feel free to email me :) via The Alternative Wife

I hope you all enjoyed this feature! I sure learnt a lot through the answers... all very fascinating! Dawn, thank you again, it's been a pleasure having you over on A Brit Greek! Smooches x.o.x.o

Stunning Images via my newest Photographer Love addiction: Kenneth Willardt - Some of the images are from the 2011/2012 calender for Maybelline, other via his site
Perfume lab image via designsponge

Because it's Monday: Barbie Mania by Miles Aldridge

Happy Monday gorgeous people! I hope you've had a terrific weekend? The busy season is finally over for moi and I now have a moment to take in the New Year and new projects/challenges coming my way. It's been a little difficult, since working flat out the past month... each day blended into the next... I'm just so glad I popped all important dates into the phone to buzz and remind me of what I might be forgetting! Anyhoos, time for some amazing photography love by the extremely awesome and talented Miles Aldridge, he's one of my faves.

I love this Barbie Mania shoot he did for Vogue Gioiello 2009, it's such an imaginative way to shoot accessories, no?

I loved the styled up Barbies and bling, gimme some!

images via Miles Aldridge

I'm really excited... I can't wait to share with you an "I Want This Job" feature this week from a legendary blogger who just has the best job in the world... More soon!

Have a great week peeps!

Wishing you a Happy New Year!

Ok, be honest, who hasn't seen Crazy, Stupid Love or doesn't love Ryan Gosling?

(image screenshot, words by ABG)

I'm posting this now as I'll be hitting work early tomorrow!

So, 2011 was an interesting year... Looking back, so many great, amazing awesome things happened, some battles with health are still yet to be fought, Greece took a massive kick to the teeth and fell deep into recession again & yet I'm still standing. More than anything else I want to say goodbye to 2011, you've made me stronger!

Anyhoos, I 'm so ready for 2012! It's time to say goodbye to procrastination, 'I don't think I can...', comparing your life to everyone else's (yours is just good, they just don't share the rubbish bits & all their problems in their life with you) and when something bad happens, you have 3 choices... You can either let it define you, let it destroy you or let it strengthen you.

Remember:

There was a point in blogging time that I thought I'd give up, not really knowing where this little blog was going to go... I'm so glad I didn't, you guys are always such an inspiration and your comments/tweeting/sharing always make me smile (and lol)! So...

PLUS:

Words to Live by...

So what will 2012 bring for you? Are you setting yourself any new goals? Gonna try new things?
If there's one thing I try not to stop doing is 'CANI' - Constant And Never-ending Improvement. You can apply that motto to anything in life and just remember, whatever you wish for, or want to change, you don't have to wait til next year or tomorrow, you can start NOW!
With each passing minute is a chance to change your life! So do it!

Wishing you all a very Happy New Year kittens, may next year be better than the last!
x.o.x.o

images via Pinterest - some edited by A Brit Greek, Goodbye by Michael Phelan, You are Amazing via Yayeverday.

OMFG, I must have been so tired and monged that I actually wrote about 2010 twice in this post and actually typed it in the Ryan Gosling pic, for real! LOL! Thank you to those of you who pointed out my Super Blind typo! Finally finished work for the day... feet are killing me.

Christmas: Guest Posting at Decadence for Divas

Hey there & Happy Monday to you all! I hope you've all had a well rested weekend - especially if you've been partying non-stop.

I managed to contract a a pretty bad virus earlier last week, which left me dead as a Dodo, then my laptop power adaptor died only having bought after 8 months ago... and my consumer rights have left me with a faulty (expensive) product... apparently I have to return a faulty item before 6 months from date of purchase. So here's to a better week! Ready to rock on now!

Dream big this week guys!

I am so excited to say that I'm guest posting about my Christmas over at the lovely Vanessa of Decadence for Divas check it out here.
I love this girls blog, an expat like me but residing in Spain, Vanessa has such great taste in jewellery and style... everytime we comment on each others blog, it's like talking to an old friend, even though we haven't actually met or known each other that long in blogosphere!

images: Theberry.com & Just Be Splendid