♪ Amy Winehouse- Back to Black ♪ (& blogging)

I really thought I would post more often this summer, especially because I'm still on vacation, but in the last two weeks I've been lacking photographers (friends, my cousin, my mom, anyone??) and good weather. So there I was, trying my new number from SheInside, dying to blog about how I found my perfect little black dress and with no options whatsoever. Then it hit me: Why don't I go back to my first routine as a blogger? When I started this blog, it was just me, this white wall and my camera on self-timer mode.

I admit I got a little nostalgic and that I wasn't so content with the results, but maybe this way you get to see better the intricate lace work on my marvellous dress and its great cut. I chose to go for a punk chic style by adding my statement necklace from Zara, golden cuffs and flatforms. I love how versatile it is, I plan to wear it at a future party in a classy/feminine way.

And, since these photos are so simple and clean, maybe it's the right post to share my super exciting news: I got my driving licence on the 14th of August!! Two days after my birthday, it was one of my biggest dreams. I know it comes with a great responsibility, but we all have to admit it's a pretty awesome feeling, to be driving.

This is one of those posts when I feel like analyzing every single detail. You might think I don't know how the aquamarine shade looks like, but that's not the case. I've struggled to show you how this dress actually looks but we had no satisfying results- we even took photos on two different days, and yet this shade of blue stuck, if you want to see the  huge difference, you can find the dress online here , it's exactly the shade you see in the 4th picture and I love it!  The dress is from Sheinside and my, how I love their shop, they make such perfect dresses, with a top quality and cut! (Remember when I was the Gatsby Girl? )

And talking about the dress, it took me quite a while to decide whether I should order it or not. How so? You must have noticed that I mostly wear clothes which emphasize my waist, because of my body type. I love the Empire effect, but I jusn't wasn't sure I could wear this type of dress. Still, I'm happy I took the risk, I feel so amazing wearing it, it reminds me so much of the elegant Greek goddesses.  As we're on the Greek mythology topic, I felt like naming my post after Penelope because ever since I was a child I've admired her strenght and determination to wait for her husband for so many years and I've always pictured her wearing a similar dress.

Now , the background you see, that's a whole different story- I wanted to pose in this enchanting dress  in the park near the Palace of Culture in Iasi, it seemed so romantic and right. Unfortunately, I got a call  and I had to take care of buying a gift for a dear friend. Imagine me, running around dressed like this and having no clue on what I should buy! Once I was satisfied with the gift, I ran to the park only to have the most unpleasant surprise- the sun was up! There were no shadows or places for a shoot in the park. I spotted this corner, a restaurant which was facing the Palace and I got an idea- use the mirror effect. In the end, I got my shooting at the Palace, right?

"I was crazy about The Great Gatsby. Old Gatsby. Old sport. That killed me."

"The Catcher in the Rye"- J.D. Salinger

 I've always loved F. Scott Fitzgerald's work and when I heard of the glorious movie in the making, with such an incredible cast, Prada outfits and the soundtrack by Lana del Rey, I couldn't wait for its release! The movie was artistic, with all the memorable quotes from the book emphasized, the opulence of the Gatsby-esque parties (okay, maybe Gatsby's house was a little too Disney Palace for my taste!) and with a Carey Mulligan who knew how to shape the affected, delicate yet shallow Daisy. I loved their take on Jay Gatsby, although it's not what I've imagined while I was reading the book. The end was a little too long and the use of dubstep and rap songs at the parties was certainly interesting, although I would have loved more music from that period.

I wanted to wear something which would remind of the fabulous period of flapper dresses, short hair always worn with extravagant tiaras and pearls as the number one choice in jewellery. I think I managed pretty well with my hairdo and that bracelet with little pearls. I love my new SheInside dress so much and somehow the pastel shade reminded me of the easiness in Daisy's life until she met Gatsby again. And while we're on dresses and Daisy, please search online (if you can't make it to the movie) all of her Prada outfits, Miuccia Prada will always be my favourite designer!

Now..why name the post "Gatsby Girl" ? Because while I watching the movie, it striked me that I had a few things in common with the optimistic, hopeless romantic Gatsby :
I'm a dreamer. I imagine so many scenes and I analyze the past events a little too much.
I'm ambitious- Although it takes me a great amount of time to decide what I want, once I set my mind to it, it's hard to stop me.
Perfectionist- Okay, I laughed a lot when Gatsby took care of the tea party where he was going to meet Daisy after almost 5 years- the macarons, the anxiety, the overthinking.
I don't like tragic ends in a book, especially when they happen to such an incredible character like Gatsby, but this book is one of my favourite ones and I felt like paying a tribute here.

♪ Tracy Chapman- Give me one reason♪

No, these pictures weren't taken last autumn, as one would think! In fact, Saturday was the day, there were 0°C and it was even supposed to snow . Well, it is snowing as I am writing this and it feels like December again. Maybe you find it weird that I always have to blog about the weather and I figured in this post I might as well share the reasons behind my choice.

First of all, I have a super sensitive skin and cold always damages it. I am also the first one to catch a cold and the last one to get over it.  But the must important effect weather has on me is the mood swing. Don't you just feel fabulous when you see blossoms everywhere and you can wear whatever you want? Or mad when it's so hot you can't breathe?

This super long winter is something I haven't dealt with before and I have noticed in my outfits two directions: the first one is that I choose to wear clothes vividly colorful and I keep saying to myself that spring can't be so far if I'm wearing this and the second one, where I am pessimistic and just throw black clothes on.

I figured that I might as well find some fabulous black clothes to wear as lately I have been leaning towards the second option. This SheInside coat is the perfect addition to my closet!  The shape, the cut, the layering are everything I could have wished for a coat and I love the idea of a leather vest combined with a jacket.

The message on my white loose T-shirt is : "I am Prêt-à-porter" , I bought it last summer and I just think is so fresh and easy to match with so many clothes and styles.

Giveaway: Chiffon & Summer Dreams by marylu1 featuring christian louboutin shoes

I try to host a giveaway every season (remember the April-May one, with the necklace Bianca won?) and I was really nervous about what I should get for my favourite season. Needless to say, the SheInside brand totally saved me! They want to offer one lucky reader this amazing chiffon dress! What's not to love about it? The tangerine colour, the golden&sparkling epaulets and that fancy cut!!

The giveaway runs: 6th of July- 6th of August  and it is internationally open.

So, what do you have to do in order to win the dream dress, perfect for summer? Just follow these 3 easy-peasy steps: