A la Russe

As you might have noticed, Russia is very à la mode at the moment. With Chanel doing the Paris-Moscow collection and Abramovitch's girlfriend all over the pages of Vogue, the country is bound to draw some attention.

But I have actually been intrigued by Russia for quite some time. I have relatives over there, so I'm primarily drawn for practical purposes.

Aside from the beautiful architecture and vibrant ambiance of Moscow and St. Petersburg, Russia has an immense and interesting history that one can easily draw from.

Literature...

Don't be daunted by the size of most of the classical Russian novels. Wading through War & Peace can take a while, but one often gets caught up in the story and forgets that it's supposed to be difficult.
The same goes for more of Tolstoy's books. Anna Karenina, though tragic, is completely engrossing and at times quite pleasant and entertaining.
For those who are looking for something a bit shorter but a little darker and more sinister, Dostoevsky also has unbelievable novels.
Hint: if you want to go a bit more modern and humorous, try Nabokov. Lolita is psychologically complicated and completely wrong in many ways, but nevertheless a great read.

Culture...

Not many people know that it was the Russians who were at the origin of ballet. In fact, some of the best ballet dancers today are still Russian. If you get the opportunity, go and see a production of the Russian Ballet Theater. It is not to be missed.
Otherwise, Russian art is currently flourishing. The avant-garde artists are becoming more and more known, and the prices of their work is rising. It would make a very good investment at the moment...

Gourmet...

The cliché is correct: caviar, caviar, caviar. To be served in a chilled bowl or on little blinis or mini buttered toast and to be accompanied by champagne on ice. Nothing more classy.
Impress your guests with Beluga caviar (which is the little black one and the best you can buy) or with the less expensive salmon variety (which is large, pink and delicious).
Easter is the most important Russian holiday, and they take advantage of the occasion to develop delicious deserts to go with it. A lot of the cakes, cookies and mousses involve honey, and this can be a good tip to pick up when cooking. Even adding honey to a simple glaze or batter can give it a delicious tang.

Style...

In general, Russian women have quite good taste.
Granted, their style may be a little more ostentatious than that of the French (makeup a little heavier, logos a little more on display, colors a little darker and/or more prominent, heels a little higher, skirts a little shorter, etc.) but it's still a certain type of confidence and dignity that can be admirable.
Adopting something a little more daring from time to time can add personal flair to any style.
(Besides, it's perfect for a night on the town, especially if you're going dancing.)

Drinks...

To re-evoke the cliché: vodka, vodka, vodka. But not just plain - lemon, cherry, apple, anything goes. Absolut (which is not Russian, but is still delicious vodka) even makes a pepper vodka, which has quite a kick.
Some people, like myself, enjoy throwing back a straight shot, but for the slightly less daring, a cocktail is the perfect way to go (which I happen to love almost as much as the straight).
Light and icy drinks being more appropriate for summer on the beach, one should go with something darker and with a deeper taste. A perfect example that I found is a White Russian.
**You pour a shot-glass full of vodka into a martini glass, then add two shots of Kahlua (coffee liqueur). Finish off with a considerable amount of whipped cream (or even liquid cream) and voilà! I admit, this drink sounds quite strange to those who haven't tasted it, but it's absolutely fabulous.**
Otherwise, you can go with the classic vodka martini or other drinks like it.

So there you go, ladies. Some tips for living it up à la Russe.
Enjoy!

Nouvelle Elegance

Bonjour, les amies!

I have recently had an inspiration for a new style for this season.
It actually started when I took up ballet again - I used to do a lot but then I stopped for a while, forgetting how much I loved it (something that I regret horribly now). The grace and elegance you witness during a ballet class or performance is unequaled by anything else. But the aesthetic effect of black leotards going up and down in unison and pink tights gently curving into pliées is truly something remarkable.
So we should take inspiration from this phenomenon invented by the Russians centuries ago.

Attitude:

A teacher of classical dance always demands perfect posture: one is told to imagine that there is a string extending from the base of the spine to the top of the head and being pulled by something in the sky.

This, as well as the light, controlled and breezy way of moving, is something that can give us grace in our daily lives, especially when trying to walk without stomping in a pair of four-inch heels.

But the most important thing that I have learned from ballet is confidence: think that you are beautiful and gifted, and other people will thing that, too. Ballerinas make it look easy when it actually takes an unbelievable amount of effort and muscle-work: that's where the true beauty is.

Reflections on clothes:

First of all, let it be noted that I am not in any way condoning pink tights in daily life. It's all right up until the age of ten, but after that it just starts to look bad.

But the contrast between an attractive shade of pale pink and the sensual mystery of black creates a striking effect.

A black-based outfit with a splash of pink (for instance adding a pink scarf to a simple black dress and boots) is one of the easiest and most simply chic things you can do in this season. According to the October issue of French Vogue, fire-engine red is the color-of-the-month, but that is something that will eventually go out of style, so spending money on an expensive silk scarf in bright red is not the best possible investment.

A pink-based outfit with black additions (like a pink shirt or suit with a black belt) can also be beautiful, but it isn't quite as universal as having the greater part of your outfit be black, or as having an equal balance of the two (for instance black pants or a skirt with a pink shirt).

Nota bene: be sure to choose the right shade of pink. If it's too bubble gum or two fluorescent, it just looks tacky. Also, avoid bows in pink at all costs. A discreet black hair-ribbon can add just the right touch, but pink hair accessories are very difficult to wear correctly.

Je suis désolée!

All right, ladies, I get it, I haven't updated forever.
I'm truly sorry about that, but in my defense, I've been unbelievably busy.
Now if you're wondering what could have kept me occupied for almost a month, don't worry, I'll fill you in.

Not that I'll have time to tap out all of the things I have to say at once, but I hope you'll all forgive me. I'm finally adjusting to the unpleasant ordeal of getting back to work, which has been taking me a while.

I'm sure you've all had that sensation at the end of the day - the one where you feel too tired to do anything besides eat, shower and go to sleep. I have recently discovered that this is mainly because I have trouble dealing with the three things that make me exhausted, which I will tell you how to make easier.

1. Dragging yourself out from under your duvet at six in the morning.

We've all had trouble with this - all you want to do is hit the Snooze button of your alarm clock and go right on sleeping, especially when it's colder outside.
What I do now, is that I keep a small (and surprisingly inexpensive) heater right next to my bed. I set the alarm ten minutes early, then when the beeping sound that everyone dreads wakes me up, I simply hit the snooze for no more than ten minutes and slowly coax myself out of bed while making sure that I'm not too cold.
Otherwise, I sometimes set my alarm up to half an hour earlier to give myself the time to wake up gradually while being reminded that I eventually have to get up by the alarm that goes off every ten minutes.
You should also give yourself something to look forward to when you wake up, for instance some sort of breakfast muffin that you bought the night before, or a book that you're dying to read more of. (I find that this last thing is the best way to get me away from the comfort of my pillow.) Unless you find something that's perfect for you, vary your routine every morning, that way it will be more enjoyable.

2. Not having any time for myself.

Work, phone calls, plans with friends... It all fills up so fast that you lose track of it, and before you know it, you never spend any time alone anymore, which is quite sad.
So during lunchtime or any other free time you might have, excuse yourself from social engagements and do something for yourself. Sit in a nice cafe and treat yourself to a pastry with your coffee or just wander around town window-shopping. It will make you feel really good, and you'll go back to work feeling refreshed.

3. General exhaustion

This can come about in several ways, and it also manifests itself with various signs. Whether you worked late, had a few too many glasses of wine at dinner or just had a trying day, it can result in headaches, dark circles and many more unpleasant things.
A headache being the most common sign, it's always a good idea to have some Aspirin in your make-up bag, just in case. Just slip it in next to your lipstick and you'll be a little reassured, even if you don't end up using it.
Another way to combat this is the classic - coffee. Try having it different ways every morning for a week - for instance an espresso on Monday, a latte on Tuesday, a cappuccino on Wednesday, and so on - and see what's most effective for you.
Very important: establish a good routine for the morning. Whether or not you take a shower at this time of day, you should have a good beauty routine. Do this before you get dressed and before you have your coffee, because it's what usually takes the longest in the morning. You should also pick out the clothes you're going to wear the night before, that way you save a considerable amount of time. (Even if you change your mind, at least you'll know what not to wear!)
But remember: the best cure for these things is beauty sleep. I know it sounds cliché, but it works. You may not have the opportunity to get enough sleep during the week, but that's what weekends are for. Whether or not you go out on the town with friends (which is actually quite a good idea, as it releases you) allow yourself to sleep in. It really helps.

Extra tips:
-eat a lot of fruit and vegetables
-drink a lot of water
-drink orange juice before/after/with your coffee in the morning
-do stretches or some yoga in the evening when you get home

(It may sound like a health infomercial, but it makes you feel fantastic.)

There you are, ladies, I hope you'll forgive me for taking so long to write it.

I promise to be more regular in the future - once a week at the least!