The Reading Habit Tag

 Firstly, so sorry for the lack of posts (again). The whole posting schedule thing isn't really working out :/ The irony of summer is that you have no school, essentially nothing to do...yet you can't get a couple of posts up :P This week has been quite busy because a few of my old friends from abroad have come back to visit so I've been hanging out and catching up with them!  Also, on a super duper happy note that I haven't mentioned on the blog is that...I AM GOING TO UNIVERSITY! I'm so happy that it deserves a blog post on its own so look out for that :D

 Anyway, I saw this tag on Hayley @ Water Painted Dreams and decided that it'd be a fun thing to do, especially since I really do love reading.


1. Do you have a certain place for reading at home?
My bed. It's the cosiest place in my whole house.

2. Bookmark or random piece of paper?
Umm...I'm guilty of folding down the page corners :/

3. Can you just stop reading or do you have to stop after a chapter or a certain number of pages?
If it's a really good book then I'll tell myself I'll stop after I finish the current chapter...but I rarely listen to myself.

4. Do you eat or drink when reading?

I'll admit I do that sometimes - when the book is too interesting to put down :P

5. Do you watch TV or listen to music whilst reading?
Nope. When I read, it just has to be me and the story world.

6. One book at a time or several at once?
I like reading one book at a time because I dislike having the different plots jumbled together and I hate having to read a few pages back to refresh my memory.

7. Reading at home or everywhere?
Everywhere and anywhere. Reading keeps me entertained.

8. Reading out loud or silently in your head?

Silently for sure - I'll probably lose my voice if I try to read a novel out loud. Also, people might think I'm weird.

9. Do you ever read ahead or skip pages?
Not really...although I do skim read through the boring bits.

10. Breaking the spine or keeping it new?
My books never end up looking new and the spine always ends up breaking :/ I will admit that I'm not one for taking extreme good care of my books...although whenever I borrow someone else's, I do try my best!

11. Do you write in your books?
Not even a bit.

12. What are you currently reading?
I'm actually not reading any new books at the moment because I can't seem to get my hands on any good ones. I do want to read the Game of Thrones series and see how it compares to the TV series, but I still want the element of surprise and don't want it to ruin the show for me so...maybe not just yet.


Not tagging anyone specifically so if you did the tag, be sure to comment and leave the link below!

P.S: Check out Darcy Clothing's 70% sale for summer & get a 10% off with 'darccy10'

Guest Post // Top 5 Fashion Books

Image is everything. The truth is only our perception of it, to quote Berkeley. And nothing is more concerned about perception than fashion and all it encompasses; from lavish runaway show with their stunning visual experiences, to fashion-related coffee table books that tie together the entire design of your living room. Now, if in the former case, us mere mortal may encounter some logistical difficulties to get the full experience; the latter is much more democratic and available to all. We now present you the top 5 fashion books of all time; books that will not only look good on your coffee table, but also might give you some inspiration in your day-to-day life. Who knows, maybe after reading some lines you might find yourself wandering along some luxury Christian Dior boutique in Cannes, or strolling along vibrant showcases in London Harrods.

 Chanel-A Woman of Her Own, by Axel Madsen

It would be hard for any biographer to truly capture Chanel’s spirit and philosophy in a book, since the designer was notoriously know to conveniently forget details about her life when it came to more touchy subjects. The author doesn’t give us an image of Chanel as the sweet little ingénue that we might expect, instead focusing of her cut-throat approach when it came to getting what she wanted. In addition to this, we get to see the derivation of all the items that we now take for granted, namely the little black dress, the long strand of pearls and the masculine inspired suits; all things that Chanel made mainstream by simply sticking to her guns and taking risks. It is the perfect read for a non-obsessive Chanel fan, and it goes well with an afternoon glass of wine, in front of a fireplace.

Chic Savages, by John Fairchild

If you are one of those people that pray at the altar of Ralph Lauren, Yves Saint Laurent and Calvin Klein; then this is definitely a book that will be a page turner. Not getting very in-depth into the business side of the industry, the book describes the opulence of the 1970’s and ‘80s; when designers bumped tails with the crème-de-la-crème of the high society of New York (think Jackie O. and Donald Trump). While there is some name-dropping, Fairchild is unapologetic about all the mentioned people; and the history lessons and the exquisite photos make it a worthy purchase, not only for its looks, but also for its personality.

The End of Fashion, by Teri Agins

Teri Agins, a senior reporter at The Wall Street Journal, most definitely put all of her journalistic skills at use when writing this book on the slow decay of fashion. The leitmotif of this entire book is how prêt-a-porter overtook couture and became the driving force of all the fashion houses. One of the few books that actually focuses not on the clothes, but how they are presented; meaning you will get a comprehensive view of the various marketing strategies that contributed to the rise of “cheap chic”. Think of it as a fashion dystopia, and it will most definitely make for an interesting read.

D.V., by Diana Vreeland

Now, if you do not know who Diana Vreeland is, you may as well have been living under a rock for the past couple of decades. Written in a style that makes it seem as if the legendary editor of Harper’s Bazaar and Vogue is speaking directly to you, this book is a veritable page turner. Some of Vreeland famous witticism and catch phrases might make her seem shallow, but it is all compensated by her confession that she has always loved artifice. Ultimately, this particular description of her life is nothing short of fabulous; making this book is a must read for anyone who wants to work in the fashion publishing business or simply is looking for a female role model.

The Beautiful Fall, by Alicia Drake

If you are fed up with the never-ending stream of tabloids describing the starlet of the day’s struggles with substance abuse, this book will be a welcome break. With a slights moralistic undertone to it, Alicia Drake describes in great detail the demons that plagued Yves Saint Laurent and how ultimately it leads to his early demise. This glamorous yet rotting-from-the-inside atmosphere is only accentuated by the parallel story of Yves Saint Laurent’s friend turned nemesis- Karl Lagerfeld. Structured as a parallel story of the designer’s lifestyles, it showcases the apparent shyness of Yves Saint Laurent in public and his abuses in private; while Karl Lagerfeld expressed his egomaniac nature trough outrageous statements. Now, one of them is dead, while one of them is alive and kicking. You make your own conclusions.

*This was a paid post

My Reading List #1

Just a quick post today because I've been busy moving and unpacking to my new place! I'm officially in my new room! There are still bits and pieces that are not fully done, but I will definitely share the pictures once it is!

Anyway, during the Christmas break, I managed (finally) do get some joy reading done, i.e read books that are not compulsory for school. *cough*Antigone*cough* After I've watched The Mortal Instruments - City of Bones (yes, I watched the movie first) starring Lily Collins & Jamie Campbell Bower, I loved the plot and the whole concept so I didn't to read the book. And it definitely did not disappoint! I think it made me understand the plot better and I really want to read the other books in the series!

I also heard that the movie Divergent is coming out, but since it hasn't yet in the cinemas here, I decided to read the book. I thought it was quite Hunger Games-esque but still a great idea - dividing into factions based on qualities and things. I'm really intrigued as to how some of the scenes will be like on the big screen now! Again, I'll definitely try to get hold of the other books!

Oh and, after a few meh episodes of How I Met Your Mother, I really really liked the latest one! I hope it keeps going uphill from there because the previous series has kinda been a let down :/ Also, currently downloading the latest episode of Pretty Little Liars! They sure know how to keep the viewers on the edge - I'm actually really keen on finding out what will happen!

What have you been reading/watching lately? Any recommendations? (:

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This & That Tag : Book Edition

Please excuse my bookshelf that is extremely cluttered & consists of more than just books :P Trust me, the one in my study room is more book-filled :D

Saw this tag on Claudia's blog at Beauty and the Chic & since I haven't done a tag before... this would be my first! And since I'm such a bookworm, I thought: Why not? (:

Anyway, here goes:

Audio books or book in hand?

Book in hand. For me, books are meant to be read by yourself instead of being read to. If it's audio books, I would not concentrate and nothing will go in. Plus, with books in hand, I can imagine the voices in my head :D

Soft or hard cover?

Really don't have a preference (:

Fiction or non-fiction?

I'm definitely more of a fiction person because I like being immersed somewhere else. But, I do read non-fiction from time to time - but it has to be written in a SUPER interesting way. 

Fantasy or real life?

Both! I like fantasy because it's a whole new world where you have no idea what happens which is pretty cool - like Harry Potter, Hunger Games, Percy Jackson. However, I also like real life stories because it's relatable which is nice (:

Harry Potter or Twilight?

HARRY POTTER! I'm a huge huge huge Potterhead.  Read the whole series about 7 times...I'm such a Harry Potter nerd it's not even possible - I can rave on about Harry Potter for days. I'm not a huge fan of Twilight... not very keen on the plot, movies and I couldn't finish reading the books.

Kindle, iPad or other?

I have a Kindle which is handy when you want to travel without carrying a bookshelf with you. But I still prefer flicking through actual pages than reading digitally.

Borrow or buy?

I always borrow unless there's a need to buy. Books are timeless. You can read the same stories whenever so borrow (:

Book store or online?

Book stores are nice for the authenticity and I often go to bookstores but I think online is just as good if you can't get the book you want near you.

Standalone or series?

Don't mind. I like series for continuity but in reality, series are just a huge ass standalone story divided into parts.

Monster read or short and sweet?

As long as it's interesting, I don't mind. (:

Starry-eyed or full of action?

I'm a sucker for romantic stories! But I like both ends of the spectrum and a bit of both too (:

Curl up in your snuggie or lay in the sun?

Curl up! I can't read in the sun. My favourite reading spots is on my couch or in my bed under the blankets. So peaceful (:

Hot chocolate or latte?

Ohhhh both! Can't decide!

Read the review or decide for yourself?

If I don't understand the plot, I read the plot summary and then re read the book to gain a better understanding. Never read reviews though. Different books appeal to different people

And... that's it! Hope you have fun reading that! If you do do this tag, do leave a link in the comments below! (:

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Mrs Midas by Carol Ann Duffy - Stop Motion

For English, my friend and I made a stop motion video to accompany the poem 'Mrs Midas' written by Carol Ann Duffy. It took her hours of drawing & filming! Tell me what you think in the comments below!

Background song: Radioactive - Imagine Dragons