The Lazy Girl's Guide to Packing

Well, a few days ago, I came to you all with a post about the difficulties and hardships of packing. And while I do really really hate packing, I am not a damsel in distress. And so, today I want to talk about how exactly to master the challenge, that is packing.

Me, writing my plan...

1. Plan

It is so easy to get overwhelmed when packing. The easiest way to stop this from occurring, is by planning. Make a list of everything you will need to bring, which you can check items off of as you pack. Go as far as to plan out what you are going to wear each day if it will help you. Just make sure that you know exactly what you need to bring, even before you start packing. 

2. Know your destination

Don't bother looking at guide books, but do check the weather forecast. You can then pack accordingly. Oh, and if, for example, your destination is cold and it's the middle of winter, don't bother packing shorts and skirts. You'll just be wasting space. It is good to be prepared, but sometimes that preparation can lead to wishful thinking and unrealism.

I think I'm doing pretty well on my packing, so far.

3. Work your clothes

Overpacking is always the worst thing you can do. (I once heard someone say that you should always lay out everything you want to pack, and then pack half of it). The best way to avoid overpacking, is to make sure that every item of clothing you pack can go with multiple outfits. That way, you can take less clothes and you will be less tempted to overpack.

4. Pack for where you're going, not where you wish you were going!

This links back to what I said before about packing and wishful thinking. It is so easy to pack for a holiday you wish you were going on, instead of a holiday you are actually going on. I am excellent at doing this, and I waste a lot of space, packing clothes that I am unlikely to wear. This being said, do pack to the requirements of your holiday. If you are going to be attending some formal event, then bring  a nice dress. However, don't bring four fancy dresses, if you are only going to one event

And finally... Don't forget to leave room for any purchases you make while on holiday!

And that's basically all you need to know. Packing can be easy if you just tackle it in the right way. A lot of being good at packing is down to good organisation skills and planning. Oh, and resisting the temptation to bring your entire wardrobe! ;)

Kajsa x  

Packing...

Well, this is kind of an impromptu post, and I'm still not entirely sure where I'm going with this. This post could turn out to be life-changing (pretty unlikely), or it might turn out to be a rant which is, although interesting- completely pointless (very likely). Oh well! We'll see, I guess...   
           When I was a kid, I used to love packing to go on holiday, because it meant that we were leaving soon and it made the holiday seem all that more real. I have memories of myself, walking around the house, dragging my little pink suitcase around with me, and pretending I was leaving right then. 
            Unfortunately, as I've gotten older, packing has become more of a chore. I'm still always incredibly excited before I go on holiday, but no more do I get any joy out of packing. This is probably because, as I've gotten older, packing has become more difficult. When you're little, and don't really care about your clothes, you can pretty much just pack anything because you don't really care that much about what your wearing. On the other hand, at my age, I do care about what I'm wearing. Which means that I can't just throw anything into my suitcase because I have to be bringing clothes that I actually want to wear. 
             On top of that, you have to make sure that you don't pack too much, which means that you need to choose clothes that are versatile and will go with many outfits. However, I'm going to be gone for a month, and a month is a long time to be wearing the same things. I'm always bored of my clothes by the time I'm coming home! 
              You also need to deal with the inevitable reality, that you're probably going to do some shopping while you're away, so you need to leave space in your suitcase for that. After all that, you then need to think about what the weather is going to be like. Can you really be certain that it's going to be 30 degrees celsius everyday, or is there a risk of the temperature dropping? 
               Then there's shoes to think about, makeup, accessories, swimsuits, toiletries and the list goes on and on and on...  And with so many things to remember, there's always the risk that you might forget something (I'm pretty good at forgetting my toothbrush) and it's just the worst feeling, when you realise that you've forgotten something you need for your holiday. 
                Holidays are supposed to be relaxing, but there is nothing relaxing about packing. And so, as I sit here writing this and procrastinating on my packing, I can't help help thinking that life would be so much easier if we had robots to pack for us. Of course, they'd have to be fashionable robots! and then I think of I, Robot, and that whole thought process goes out the window. 


Kajsa x  

Fall Fashion Trends

It's funny thinking that we are already half way through summer. For me, it feels like summer's only just begun- probably because in England, summer has only just begun. We have sun! Sorry, I'm just so excited at the prospect of being able to go out in the sun (although that makes me sound like a vampire). I can finally bear my legs without having to wear tights! I can finally wear sunglasses and not look desperate! I can finally get some semblance of a tan... Okay, rant over. Anyhow, what I was trying to say, before I got distracted is that very soon, summer will be over and fall (or Autumn as we call it here in England) will be fast approaching. The runways have already bared their fall collections, and I'm here to tell you about some of the trends for this fall.

Gold

Gorgeous gold dress by Prabal Gurung.

The runways were filled with the colour gold. This fall, it seems that flowing gold clothing, studded with sequins, paillettes and glittered sheen is the way to go. Designers from Michael Kors to Paco Rabanne were embracing this flashy trend. Gold is definitely the colour of this fall!    

Pretty structured dress from Paco Rabanne.

Beautiful dress by Jill Sander.

Wax

Unique styled coat by Fendi.

It's time to find that old pair of wet look leggings because a laminated- waxy finish to clothes and accessories is a big trend this coming fall. This trend has been spotted on the runways of designers such as Acne, Fendi and Jill Sanders

Military Style

Military style suit combo by Salvatore Ferragamo.

The military jacket is definitely popular this coming season. Designers brought a fresh and new appeal to the military style, using luxe fabrics and fitted silhouettes. Now this doesn't mean that women should start wearing cargo pants. I don't think that quite fits into any trend at any time...

Stunning coat by Burberry Prorsum.

Suit up

Beautifully bright orange suit by Prada.

Forget the statement skirt, this season it's all about the pantsuit. Whether it's a cropped and flared retro pair, or a modern layered ensemble, the suit is the trend of this fall. Suits aren't just for work anymore. This trend has been spotted in the collections of every designer, from Prada to Chanel and is definitely the trend to rock this fall.

I love the coat in this piece by Bottega Veneta.

The Renaissance Spirit

I love this top by Dolce & Gabbana. 

This fall, think designs that mimic tapestries. Think, patterns with an ornate baroque swirl. Think of the free period that was the Renaissance and you will have worked out the sort of pattern and style of this fall. A more oriental twist, something with large flowers, also fits into this trend. 

This dress by Giles is just amazing!

A truly elegant coat by Emporio Armani

Velvet

This clothing piece by Kenzo,
fits the velvet, military and suit trend, all into one!  

Once considered the fabric of the rich, velvet is making a big comeback this fall. Velvet is beautiful and soft to the touch, so it is definitely about time that it came back into fashion. Amazing velvet pieces have been found in the collections of designers such as Gucci and Kenzo this fall.

Authors note: All the pictures on this post came from Elle

Lets make some macarons!

Well, as I am sure you have all realised at this point, my blog is called 'Macarons and Miniskirts'. Now, I can't have 'macarons' in my title without sharing a macaron recipe that I use with all of you on this blog. So, I thought that it was about time that I did.
        Macarons make for a delicious and light snack or desert and can be perfect with a hot beverage. You can eat them at any time during the year, and most importantly, they look great! Also, being French, macarons are one of the many cakes that we take great pride in having invented and they are definitely one of my favourite foods in the whole world! 

       I'm sure that I am not the only person to have queued for an hour at Ladurée on the Champs-Élysées, just to get the chance to buy (and spend a fortune) on a few of these delicious treats. Luckily, with the recipe below, you can learn how to make your own macarons without the hassle and for much cheaper than if you were to buy them in Paris. 

       Unfortunately, macarons are slightly difficult to make and granted, your first attempt, as was my first attempt, is not going to be great. However, as with anything, practise makes perfect.

 

Ingredients

1. 
   
2. 175g icing sugar
3. 125g ground almonds
4. 3 large free-range egg whites
5. 75g caster sugar

For the Filling

1. 
   
2. 150g butter, softened
3. 75g icing sugar

Method

1. 1. Preheat the oven to 160°C/fan140°C/gas 3. Whizz the icing sugar and ground almonds in a food processor to a very fine mixture, then sift into a bowl.
2. 2. In a separate bowl, whisk the egg whites with a pinch of salt to soft peaks, then gradually whisk in the caster sugar until thick and glossy. (At this point you can stir in flavour extract, such as peppermint or lemon, and corresponding colouring such as blue or yellow, to your meringue mixture, depending on what kind of macarons you want to make – see chef's tip. Or divide the meringue among different bowls if you want to make more than one colour).
3. 3. Fold half the almond and icing sugar mixture into the meringue and mix well. Add the remaining half, making sure you use a spatula to cut and fold the mixture until it is shiny and has a thick, ribbon-like consistency as it falls from the spatula. Spoon into a piping bag fitted with a 1cm plain nozzle.
4. 4. Line 2 baking sheets with baking paper. Pipe small rounds of the macaroon mixture, about 3cm across, onto the baking sheets. Give the baking sheets a sharp tap on the work surface to ensure a good ‘foot’. Leave to stand at room temperature for 10-15 minutes to form a slight skin. This is important – you should be able to touch them lightly without any mixture sticking to your finger. Bake for 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool.
5. 5. Meanwhile, make the fillings (unless making chocolate macarons – see chef's tip). In a bowl, beat the butter until light and fluffy, then beat in the icing sugar. (You can now add flavouring or nuts, and colour – see chef's tip.) Use to sandwich pairs of macarons together.

Chef's Tip

Macarons taste wonderful plain, but why not add flavouring and colouring? Flavour extracts – such as raspberry, lemon and peppermint – and colourings are available in supermarkets and cake shops. 
        To add flavour and colour to your macarons, in step 2, add around ½ tsp flavour extract, then add the appropriate colouring, a drop at a time, until you reach the desired intensity. Flavour and colour the buttercream in the same way. For chocolate macarons, replace a quarter of the icing sugar with cocoa powder and use Nutella as the filling. For pistachio macarons, replace half the ground almonds with ground pistachios (whizz in a blender or finely chop by hand), and use green food colouring to achieve a pastel green. Fold chopped pistachios through the filling, if you see fit.

Get to know me...

An unattractive photo of me rock climbing.

So, I've had this blog for about two months now and yet you all know very little about me. So, I decided that it was time for you all to get to know me.
         My name is Kajsa and I'm fifteen years old. I'm of French nationality, although I live in England, and am half Indonesian. If I'm going to complicate things even more, I was born in Sweden, hence my name, which is Swedish. I'm fluent in both English and French and I am learning German.

Me and my friends looking pretty terrible,
on the second day of our DofE expedition.  

         I love fashion a lot and it is definitely one of favourite passions in life. However, I am a musician by heart and my love for music might just bypass my love of fashion. The viola is my primary instrument, although I can play a little piano, the violin if I'm trying and I am also a singer. I'm also planning to start teaching myself the guitar at some point.

An old photo of me and my best friend.

Friends! Again, it's a pretty old photo.

        As well as music and fashion, my hobbies broad out into sport. I love netball, basketball, tennis, rounders, hockey and I was a gymnast for many years. I also strongly like rock climbing and hiking. At this point you're probably thinking that I just like doing everything, considering the myriad of hobbies I have. Well, I believe that there's nothing wrong with being a well-rounded person. ;) Anyhow, I live in a town in the South-East of England, about an hour's drive from London. A lot of people would consider myself lucky to live in the location that I do, because the town I live in is peaceful, there's a sense of community, and there isn't much crime. However, it's not like the town's dead, it's still quite lively. I on the other hand, really dislike living in my town. I've always just felt so much more alive in big cities, surrounded by lights and action.

Me and my friends at a netball tournament.

         At school, I am just starting my final year of GCSE's. I   plan to continue on to do my A levels next year and would like to go to Uni, in the future. I would love to be able to be a musician as a career, although I realise that the likeliness of succeeding in that career path is minimal. Next, I would like to do something in the fashion industry. Although, honestly I don't know what my plans for the future are.

A picture from my trip to Italy last summer. 
This peer was next to a restaurant we ate at. The view was gorgeous!

          If my friends were to describe me in three words, it would probably be: determined, enthusiastic and a good friend. Okay, 'a good friend' isn't one word, but let's pretend for the sake of things that it is. Anyhow, I try and live life to the max, I'm always out-going and I try and see the good side of every situation. I could be considered overly cheerful at times, but really I'm just spreading the happiness. And that's... just about everything there is to know about me...


Author's note: All the above pictures are from special moments in my life :)

Moschino Obsession- Review!

Well I've recently discovered the Moschino brand, and completely fell in love with them. I'd known of Moschino before hand, but I hadn't really payed much attention to them, until now, and I have to say that I am crazy to have not taken any notice of them in the past, because Moschino is a really nice brand.
           The Autumn/Winter collection has recently came out and some of it is really amazing, however I do have to say that I prefer the spring/summer collection (although that might just have to do with my hatred of the winter). Everything in the collection seems to be either really simple, or really complex with distinctive patterns and there really doesn't seem to be a middle ground.         
           As usual, they have a lot of graphic pieces, which appeal to the younger age, (I know it appeals to me) as well as a lot of more conservative pieces, such as plain jumpers or plain blazers. One of my favourite graphic pieces from the collection, is a white jumper with a heart in the middle that looks like it's been coloured in. It is so cute! 
           I'm unfortunately not a fan of the colours in the collection. They are mainly dark neutrals such as different shades of grey and navy blues or blacks. I understand that it is the autumn/winter collection, but I would have still liked to see some more colour. I also feel that in the cases where there are colour, it feels very lacklustre and dull, and I really feel like the whole collection just needs a little more vibrance. Nevertheless, even if I am not a fan of the colours, the clothes the colours are on, are fantastic. There is a slight fifties feel in a lot of the pieces, which I really like and I could imagine making some really great outfits by paring some of the more extravagant pieces in the collection, with much more simple clothing items.
          I love the bags in this collection! They all have a slight comical feel to them and, although I think they could be quite hard to pair with actual outfits, they are extremely adorable bags- the sort of bags that you feel yourself wanting to buy, even though you know that you're going to have a really difficult time finding things to wear the bag with.
          The accessories in the collection are also gorgeous, and a lot of them have quite a glamourous-like feel to them. A lot of the accessories are statement pieces, and simplicity doesn't seem to fit into them anywhere.
          All in all, I do really like the collection. I'm not a fan of the colours of a lot of the items, and some of the pieces are too normal for my liking, but overall the collection is quite extravagant and I do think that it is going to do really well. 






Disclaimer: All the pictures are taken from 'The Telegraph' website. This post is not sponsored. All opinions are my own. 

The High-end Low-end Game!

Having the perfect wardrobe does not means having a wardrobe filled to the brink with overly expensive designer items. The perfect wardrobe has a perfect balance between both High-end and Low-end fashion. What I am talking about, is that there are some items which it completely makes sense to invest money in. On the other hand, there are many items that it is not necessary to invest money in.


High-end Splurges


Shoes- Designer shoes are always a great investment. Having an expensive pair of shoes means that they will normally last longer, and will be more comfortable and give more support for your feet. I think that the best type of shoe to buy, is something classic, like a simple black or nude pump. Basically, something that suits everything and will never go out of style.

Picture from Christian Dior Fall 2012 fashion week 

Coat / Jacket- A jacket can be worn with almost any look and can turn any look from casual to formal or vice-versa. Also, coats are something that are worn every year, and investing in a good, classic style of coat, for example a trench, will last you years to come and will never go out of style. In the winter,  your coat is often all that you will see of you're clothing, while you're outside (or at least that is the case with English weather), so you may as well have a nice coat to show off.


Classic Jewellery- A classic watch, diamond stud earrings and a simple heart necklace or bracelet from tiffany's are all pieces that can finish off any outfit, and will remain in you're wardrobe for years to come. Something as simple as a good quality watch can make you're whole outfit look a thousand bucks, even if the watch is the only expensive item that you are wearing.


Handbags- Every girl needs a handbag and for those who can afford it, a designer handbag is definitely a worthy purchase. If you were to invest in nothing else, then at least invest in a designer handbag. A good handbag made out of a good material will last you forever and as long as it is a classic style in a neutral colour such as nude or black, it will go with absolutely every outfit, and will complete absolutely every look. 




Low-end Saves


T-shirts- Let's be honest with each other. Does a £100 t-shirt look any different from a £5 t-shirt? The answer is no. T-shirts are items which you can find anywhere and they will be just as nice as if you spent a lot of money on them.

Picture from the Versace for H&M
spring/summer 20012 fashion show

Statement Jewellery- Often statement jewellery will be difficult to piece with a variety of outfits and will only go with certain outfits. Also because it is making a 'statement', what classifies as 'in-style' for statement jewellery, often changes very quickly. If you look in the right shops, you can often find beautiful statement pieces, at a reasonable price, and if you buy the right ones and pair it with the right outfit, then they can look just as expensive as if you'd spent a lot on them.


Jeans-  Well this one is slightly controversial. For some people, jeans are absolutely a great investment, and if you're the sort of person who literally only wears jeans, then maybe they are. On the other hand, I find that there isn't any point in investing in jeans because cheaper jeans, in my opinion, are just as good as more expensive jeans. On the other hand, designer jeans will tend to be more comfortable and last longer.


Trends- There is no point in investing in trends, because a trend is just that- a trend, and by next season, it won't be popular anymore. Sure, some trends last a whole year, maybe even two, but trends aren't permanent, and there is no point in spending a lot of money on clothing which you will wear for one season and then have to store away in the back of you're wardrobe, and wait a decade before the trend comes back. 

Songs of the Month

Here it is guys, my favourite songs of the month!

Let the countdown begin...

10. This is Love- will.i.am feat. Eva Simmons


9. Where is the Love?- Black Eyed Peas 


8. California- Phantom Planet


7. Lights- Ellie Goulding

6. Icing- Charity Vance


5. Read All About it- Professor Green feat. Emeli Sande  


4. Video Games- Lana Del Rey


3. Drive By- Train


2. My Kind of Love- Emeli Sande


1. Pumped up Kicked- Foster the People