This apron will make you smile and...

...save the fish. At least it aims to. Kitchen apron by Greenpeace to raise awareness on the subject of inappropriate and harmful early fishing. Produced locally, 100% organic cotton.

So how big is yours? No baby-pike on this dish baby.

Suggesting a good read

Illustration by Lena Corwin - source

I found this very interesting piece of writing by Brooklyn-based author Elizabeth Cline at The Etsy Blog. It was published back in May '11 but it will be relevant for months to come. Here's an extract:

"We now only make 3% of our apparel in the United States, down from 90% in 1955. The prices of these imports are so low that we have long since abandoned our sewing machines and deserted our dressmakers. Our clothes have also become increasingly casual and simplified, another reason for lower price tags.

As clothes have become cheaper, our clothing consumption has gone through the roof. In 1930, the average American woman owned an average of nine outfits. Today, we each buy more than 60 pieces of new clothing on average per year. Our closets are larger and more stuffed than ever, as we’ve traded quality and style for low prices and trend-chasing".

The whole post is worth reading, you'll find it here. Looking forward to her book 'The Good Closet' on responsible shopping in the age of cheap fashion, expected this Spring. Till then, I'll be following The Good Closet blog.

This beanie's got a beard

Came across it on Etsy.com, had to post it. Creative genius behind it, user taraduff, mother of three, who according to profile learned to crochet by step grandma while she watched Dallas and Dynasty.

Kids version: super-cute!

Xmas shopping online

Greek eshops are on fire these days. Setting the prices on fire might be more accurate. Here are three spots I most recently visited, with amazing discounts and great variety:

buldoza.gr
Clothes and gift ideas, literally for all. Topped up with a recipe for Christmas sweets.
pinkcaro.com
Stocks Greek designerwear and even though its Christmas bazaar just ended, the sales section is going strong.
ninebelow.gr
Greek eshop, mostly filled with international, hand-picked brands, currently on a Christmas -50% off mode.
*Two days to Christmas.

Red is growing on me

It started off as a pink year and I think it's gonna end in red . Fabric shred necklace by Stripes'n'Buttons. If you are still gift hunting, click over, she's got some interesting stuff on display.

Just the pair I was looking for

Went to a private bazaar the other day and scored a very pretty pair of earrings by Los Angelinos. I've been looking for quite a while for an interesting black pair but they all seemed too dark/heavy/busy. It must be the little pearls and light fabric on this one that do it so nicely. Otherwise, I was meant to be Christmas shopping for others. Why can't it be simple for once?! Three days to Christmas.

Fresh Line revelation

My skin is what you'd call 'combination' which translates to 'very hard to please'. Fresh Line's Lemon and Jasmine face cleanser was such a revelation to me. Skincare is something very personal but do try it if your skin is demanding. Against animal testing, natural ingredients, my skin clean and happy. Happy price too at 3.17 euros. Also just tried this body milk sample. It was all that so I'm preparing a space for the real deal on my bathroom shelf. In general, I think sample testing at home is the only way to know if a product suits you. Wish it worked like that with shampoos too.

- Who is Amphitrite (besides my cleansing milk)
- Who are Orpheus & Euridice (besides the body milk)

Diagnosis

Last night's winner:

I thought about cornering the guy who wore this t-shirt and snapping a close-up but I chickened out. Paying my respects here. If you've got a friend who is a doctor or could practice medicine anytime thanks to House tv series, this so scores as a Christmas present.

Cook you very much

Top Chef/ Master Chef/ Lord of the Chefs era it is, and lately I keep noticing fun kitchenware in eshops I usually visit for wardrobe top up. I came across this snowman baking tray for cakes whilst gift spotting at buldoza.gr and I must say for 9.1o euros this ain't bad at all. Not to mention that in the right hands it may return to me as a delicious, edible 'thank you' some day (ok, cheeky).

I have something similar that occassionally spices up my... eggs cooking:
I'm often asked where I got it from but it was so long ago, I'm only guessing it was Urban Outfitters when I was still living in London. Best I could find at UO now is these ninja shaped cookie cutters (11 euros or so?).
Anyways, browse around. This stuff is affordable and another name could be off your list soon.

Sublime Stitching

Since we are all in the search for some unusual yet affordable pressies right now, let me suggest... stitching embroidery patterns. The one above is currently featured at Tatty Devine's* devine eshop, for 4 quid. You can check it out or go for a hella lot more at Sublime Stitching, including stitching kits and tools. If in Athens, you can always walk in at one of the many shops opposite Syntagma square (direction Monastiraki) for a blast-from-the-past (yet so now) experience.

I'm sure this crosses out at least one name off your list...Does it?!

*Reads 'Art jewellery handmade in England' right at the top. English stuff handmade in England. You know how excited I go about declarations of local production:)

Twinkle twinkle little star

SHOP concept store says Shopping Has One Place for a Cause this jolly season, referring to the tree ornament it's launched to support the touching work of Medecins Sans Frontieres. Star shaped yet abstract, it was designed by architect and jewellery designer Bela Louloudaki. Her intention was that once it's done serving your xmas decs, it can also be worn as a jewel. A gift that goes both ways, as all profits will benefit the missions of MSF.

Available at SHOP concept store Ermou 112A, SHOP's concessions in Attica Athens and Golden Hall as well as Holmes Place Athens and Maroussi.

Cyber Monday at Tsantilis

Today is not any Monday, it's Cyber Monday*, and Tsantilis eshop has sent me a reminder, as well as the announcement that they are joining the concept with a 20% off all e-sales. Sharing:
*Piece of stats for you: Cyber Monday started in the U.S. in 2005. It was first used in France in 2008, then Portugal followed in 2009. German version of Amazon is giving it a go this year and I guess Tsantilis is the first to introduce it in Greece.

FF Thought #12

There must be so many boutiques I've never walked in in Athens. This one I came across because there was a very rare... parking spot right outside it at Anthimou Gazi street. Obviously a very old tailor shop, with six digit phone number still at the window. And a half price sign. There must be so many boutiques I've never walked in in Athens.

If only I had £40,000

The first Christmas shop windows are already flashing and so is the length of my gifts list in my head, followed by stuff I’d like to shop or do for myself, that trip I want to start the New Year with. If only I had let’s say… £40,000?

Well that’s the amount one lucky PayPal user wins each week until December the 5th simply by paying via PayPal for her online shopping - the more times she buys, the more chances she gets, it’s a weekly draw! What would you do with £40,000?! Would you blow it or grow it? Go on the holiday of a lifetime, or save it for a lifetime of holidays? Buy Liverpool FC, a vintage car, or an extraordinarily large meal for everyone you know?

I’ve been a PayPal user since 2005 and I’m getting excited at the idea of finally seeing a 5 digit amount credited on my account – my ebay earnings never had a chance;)

Sadly I am not aware of any Greek websites offering this payment method, if you do, please comment below. U.K. websites though have long been featuring PayPal at checkout and I know you are all regulars - at least the UK residents to whom this draw is open to! A gift from Asos for a curvy friend, a stylish dress for your little cousin/ friend’s baby from Next, that lace t-shirt from Karen Millen, a bow-tie from Topman or a pair of crystal earrings from Ted Baker, are all potential tickets to winning a year’s salary if bought using PayPal.

Oh well, if you go any richer because I shared this, forget me not!

If I go, see you next year dahhhling!
I’ll be touring the fashion weeks of this world;)

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Olga Mergou's anticrisis managment

No way.
If only I had this clutch last Sunday.

Olga Mergou is presenting her anti-crisis series at WhiteBox on November 27th and promises a strong dose of anti-crisis management. Olga, you had us at hello:)

Any ideas on shaking this desease?

At the corner of Iroon Politechniou & Omiridou Skilitsi, Piraeus.

Bumped into this mess in the morning, some of it was still there when I drove past it late in the evening. Embarassing and frustrating. If you are a regular reader, you know by now that I have a serious issue with clothes being thrown away like garbage.

Give them to people in need, ship them to Africa, make cleaning towels out of them. But garbage? Then again they may have cost less than trash so why bother...(?)

With tonight's OZON event 4FashionShake themed 'Shake the Disease', I am thinking What About This Disease? Because designers and stores are the smallest part of the ill approach towards fashion, even beyond the borders of this country. The true disease is how us, the consumers perceive what we wear and respond towards it.

Cheap so we can buy more, fast-changing so we can own variety, of poor quality so it can be cheap. Is today's wardrobe tomorrow's garbage?
Are we really ok with it?

Dressing the wall

"I never saw the sign", sexy removable graphic your wall can wear.
By David Bray*, spotted here.

*Some of his corporate clients include Harvey Nichols, H&M, Canon, Vodafone, BBC Television, Nokia, Puma, Virgin, Sony, Kickers and Charles Worthington. His work for magazines include Carlos, Elle, Flaunt, The Sunday Times and Time Out.

Originally fake

With the Chanel logo's edible version still on the screen from the previous post, here's an interesting follow-up:A top featuring Chanel's CCs, shouting FAKE. Fake Chanel it may be, but it's an original...something. So would it be safe to get the message 'if you can't have the original wear an obvious fake'? Then again, why on earth can't you have an original Chanel if you can afford this**? Interesting confusion going on, just wanted to share.

*currently at the window of Eleins, Piraeus.
**judging from the usual price range of the store, this original-Chanel-fake must cost something close to... an original-Chanel-original.

There's no place like

Spending too much time online lately?
Got just the tee for you.

That dress

Not even sure if this is a dress. But do you remember those fringe summer dresses that were oh-so-summer-fever once upon a time? This is as close as it gets. I used to have a pink one as a kid. It's only kid sizes you get at souvenir stores these days. I swear I'd buy them in every colour of the rainbow had they made a come-back.

Random tip: aegean winds tend to be quite strong this time of the year. If your hair is long like mine, it will fly like mad all over the place. So you clip it. But then it flies with the clip on it and that wasn't the effect you were looking for. Clip it safely on your strap then! There. Now it's gonna stay nicely in place. Looks interesting too.

Random emergency: my skin must be sun-proof. Mid-August and where is my tan? I've switched sunblock to baby oil and I am eating enough carrots to put Bugs Bunny to shame. Any ideas? Urgent.