Table Setting Ideas

By Elma B.

Good morning fashonistas! Recently, I came across some gorgeous table settings and thought to write a post for inspirational ideas. Unfortunately, it is not often that we set the table to our liking. Often, we are busy so we only see beautiful chinas and flowers on special occasions such as on someone's wedding. I advise not to wait for a hallmark moment like a wedding. Why not set a table for yourself and your loved ones for a simple dinner or a weekend lunch? 

Angelina Jolie Humanitarian Work: in Congo and Rwanda

By Elma B.

Angelina Jolie was in Congo earlier this week with UK's Foreign Secretary William Hague to raise awareness of the gravity of rape being used as a weapon of war.  Rape can be strategically executed that it wipes out a substantial part of an ethnic group as thoroughly as widespread killing. 

Sexual violence has been used against women by soldiers in Africa, e.g., in Rwanda and Congo.  Jolie is no stranger to the subject of rape as a tool in a genocide. Jolie wrote and directed "In the Land of Blood and Honey," which is a movie that depicts the Bosnian War during which an estimated 20,000 to 50,000 women were raped, often ganged raped in front of their family members. 

"It's been going on in every war, in every crisis....and it's due time to end this," said Jolie. Below are some photos documenting the efforts of Jolie and Secretary Hague stop rape being used as a weapon of war. 

The Little Black Dress (LBD)

By Amra B. 

Is there a dress that looks great on everyone, works for every occasion, and never goes out of style?!?! YES: it is called the little black dress (lbd). Whether I am running to a cocktail party, going dancing, having dinner with friends, or going out on a date, the little black dress never fails to impress. It makes me feel glamorous, edgy, daring, sexy, skinny, mysterious and much more. It is my staple piece that I wear almost every week. I can pair it with any jacket and it always looks nothing short of AMAZING! This weekend go for an LBD! XOXO Fashionistas!  

Ryan Barrett Interview

By Aless Gibaja

Helloooo Fashionistas!!!! Desde hace mucho tiempo queríamos hacer esta entrevista con el top model internacional Ryan Barrett! Ryan ha trabajado con los mejores fotógrafos, diseñadores, y modelos del mundo! Nos encanta! Thank you RYAN! YOU ROCK! No te puedes perder esta entrevista! 

For a long time, we wanted to do an interview with the  international top model from Great Britain: Ryan Barrett! Ryan has worked with some of the most respected photographers (e.g., Adriano Russo and David Bradshaw), internationally acclaimed designers (e.g., Dolce & Gabbana, Versace, and John Galliano) and ultra top-models (e.g., Gisele Bundchen and Kendra Spears). We adore his style, natural beauty and chameleon like looks. Ryan, thank you for taking the time to do this interview! 

Healthy Drink Recipes

By Amra B. 

A friend of mine has been suffering a flu recently and asked if I had any suggestions on how she could regain her strength. Well, my father is a doctor, and he has always been telling me that the key to combating a flu is to drink as plenty of liquid. In addition to combating a cold, drinking plenty of liquids makes your skin look noticeably better and prevents you from consuming too many calories throughout the day. Either way, I like to sip healthy drinks throughout the day that increase my energy, support my immune system, and keep me hydrated. Here are some healthy hot beverage recipes:

Ginger spiced tea recipe

Ginger is another powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory and has been shown to have soothing effects on cold symptoms. Green and black teas are also rich in antioxidants and help keep the immune system in top fighting shape. For a video tutorial on how to make this tea drink, click here.

Serves 2 

Ingredients:

3 cups filtered water

1-1/2 inch piece fresh ginger

1 (heaping) tablespoon green or black tea leaves

1/2 cup whole milk

2 tablespoons honey

Dash of cinnamon

Instructions:

Peel and slice ginger into thin rounds. Bring water to a boil, add ginger and let simmer for 10 minutes. Lower heat, add tea leaves and let steep for 10 minutes.

Strain into a blender. Add in milk and honey and blend well. Return to pot and rewarm over low heat. Serve topped with a dash of cinnamon.

Halle Berry Body

By Amra B.

There are many people who are nostalgic for their bodies from high school. I am a big believer that you can look even BETTER as you age! So, I say not to let yourself “age gracefully”, but to maintain and IMPROVE your physicque as you age!

I adore Halle Berry and believe that she looks even better now than she did 20 years ago! Her body is simply amazing! And, how nice would it feel to be able to wear a same tiny bikini almost all your life?

Some people may argue that great genes may have something to do with our pysique. I say, it is the TIME and EFFORT that determine how you look like in the end! XOXO Fashionistas!

Timeless Fashion: The Trench Coat

By Amra B.

I am a huge fan of everything that is practical and chic. I am a huge supporter of not buying anything that you cannot wear, well, all the time!

Weather or not you can afford to purchase multiple items of the same color, there are some pieces that are timeless and go well with everything! I travel a lot, and I am always searching for things that can reduce my bag size. So, naturally, I am a huge fan of the trench coat: it goes amazingly well with my entire wardrobe! 

Vintage Trench Coats

The trench coat is perfect for the school, office, party, and even a weekend out in the country. It is especially amazing for spring because it is not heavy and gives us some protection from the wind, rain, and other weather elements. 

Sarajevo Skiing Reviews My Video

By Nerina Hodzic

Cold weather, rainfall, a winter jacket and warm boots are the reasons for which I do not like the winter. With that said, my life  in the winter is comforted by by the fresh air I catch while skiing on the Olympic Mountain Jahorina. In fact, the sun is closer when we are on the mountain top and the pure white snow glistens. Moreover, I love socializing after skiing with hot cup of tea in a mountain lodge. 

Here, we are lucky because Sarajevo has three Olympic Mountains: Igman, Bjelasnica, and Jahorina. Each of the aforementioned Olympic mountain is 30-40 kilometers away from the city center. Thus, it is possible to spend every weekend on a different one.  Please note that  Winter Olympic Games in 1984 took place on Igman, Bjelasnica and Jahorina. 

Last weekend, I decided to enjoy the charms of the beautiful Olympic Mountain of Jahorina, which has the longest paths and the highest number of ski lifts. Therefore, I decided, with a bit of help, to make a short video clip for all my dear followers, please see it below!

What do you think of the gorgeous Mount Jahorina, its white snow, continuous sunshine and the long and spacious slopes? Leave us a comment below or email us at info@clubfashionista.com. 

In Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian:

Hladno vrijeme, padavine, zimske jakne i tople cizme su one stvari zbog kojih ne volim zimu. Ono sto moj zivot zimi cini ljepsim - jeste skijanje. Planinski svjezi zrak, sunce koje nam je blize kada smo na planinskim vrhovima, cisti bijeli snijeg, druzenja nakon skijanja uz topli caj u planinskim kolibicama-sve to nudi zima. Imam srecu sto u blizini Sarajeva se nalaze 3 olimpijske planine, svaka udaljena 30-40 kilometara, tako da je moguce svaki vikend provesti na nekoj on njih: Igman, Bjelasnica, Jahorina. Napominjem da su se na ovim planinama odvijala takmicenja 1984. godine u sklopu Zimskih Olimpijskih Igara.

Prosli vikend odlucila sam uzivati u carima olimpijske ljepotice Jahorina, koja ima najduze staze, te najveci broj vertikalnog prevoza. Kratki video clip, napravljen za sve drage fashioniste, pogledajte u nastavku! 

Luxury Yachts

By Elma B.

The word luxury yacht refers to highly expensive and privately owned yachts that encompass professional crews. I have never been fascinated or infatuated by yachts; with that said, after living in Miami and visiting places like Cannes and St. Tropez in French Rivera, yachts were brought to my attention several times. This post is for you yacht enthusiast. 

The lovely yachts in the photos below look like a dream transport while cursing the Mediterranean or other calm waters.  Which one is your favorite? If you know a lot about yachts, and would like to share with us, please send us an email at info@clubfashionista.com. We would love to learn from you! 

Bird of Paradise by Dior

By Nerina Hodzic

• Dior Five Color Eyeshadow Palette- Limited Edition

There will be two eye palettes available, one that includes water colors like gray-blue, turquoise and light blue and the other will feature khaki, pale pink, light green, nude, and a bluish grey.

• Dior Skin Nude Tan BB Cream- New & Limited Edition

The active "tan beautifier" ingredient preparation enhances and extends your natural tan. It provides a light and fresh texture for hydrated skin while correcting and illuminating glow of your natural complexion. It will be available in two universally flattering shades.

• Paradise Tan Nude Blush- New & Limited Edition

This new blush brightens your natural summer tan. It will be available in two harmonious shades.

• Looking Dior lip pencil- New & Limited Edition

This lip pencil has a hydrating balm formula, has a sheer color and shines; it will be released in three luscious shades.

• Diorshow Liner Waterproof- Limited Edition

It will be released in just one shade: a beautiful turquoise. 

• Addict Lipstick

There will be two shades available that look like an intense pink and peachy pink.

• Le Vernis- Limited Edition 

There will be four colors featured in this collection: a beautiful rosy pink, turquoise, light blue green, and a bluish green that seems to have a metallic touch.

Dior Summer 2013 Bird of Paradise Collection will be released in early May. We can hardly wait!

Daria Strokous is the face of the Summer 2013 Campaign of Christian Dior cosmetics line called Bird of Paradise. 

The collection will consist of:

 

Carolina Herrera Fashion Designer

By Elma B.

Carolina Herrera, who is 74 years old, is a Venezuelan fashion designer. She is elegant and well known for dressing First Ladies like Jacqueline Onassis to Michelle Obama. Ms. Herrera's track history in fashion is long and reputable. From 1965-68, she worked for her friend Emilio Pucci in his Caracas boutique. She married Reinaldo Herrera Guevara whose father was a prominent sugarcane plantation owner and who inherited the Spanish title The 5th Marques of Torre Casa in 1962 upon his father's death. 

Young Carolina Herrera

After marrying Reinaldo, she became known for her jet-set lifestyle, dressing in the latest designs of likes of Yves Saint Laurent, Valentino and Armani and for associating herself with Mick and Bianca Jagger and Andy Warhol at Studio 54.

Her luxury clothing line is classic. The cuts are sharp and feminine. The Carolina Herrera brand has produced sunglasses, purses and fragrances. Ms. Herrera has dressed many celebrities like Renee Zellweger and Lucy Liu. Ms. Herrera remains iconic for her style and grace. 

Pants for Spring

By Nerina Hodzic

If you are amongst those who are not afraid to try new trends and different styles, then you surely have already purchased at least one pair of floral pants. While shopping in Split, Croatia, I bought black shorts covered with yellow, orange, and pink flowers. Honestly, it is not so easy to combine them with other clothes, especially if you want to wear it to work. Just for you, dear fashionistas, below are a few suggestions on how to wear trendy spring floral pants at work, casual-style while out with friends, and for a crazy night out!

Outfit for a Crazy Night Out

In Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian:

Ukoliko ste od onih koji se ne boje isprobavanja novih trendova i razlicitih stilova, onda ste sigurno vec nabavili barem jedan komad cvijetnih hlaca. Ja sam bas u nedavnom shopping u Splitu (Hrvatska) kupila crne hlacice duzine 7/8 posute cvijecem u bojama proljeca: zuta, narandzasta, roza. Iskreno, nije bas jednostavno kombinirati ih uz ostalu odjecu, posebno ukoliko ih zelite odjenuti na posao. Samo za vas, drage fashionistice, u nastavku nekoliko prijedloga kako nositi proljetne trendovske cvijetne hlace na poslu, u casual varijanti i za ludi nocni izlazak!

Floral Print Pants

Business Look

Casual Look

Stylechat with Nino Eliava: More is Love

By Aziza Soliman 

Club Fashionista ("CF"): Dear Nino, thank you for taking this opportunity to speak to Club Fashionista. You are our very first Georgian, and we are so delighted to have a chance to chat with you. We have been fans of your style for quite some time and are always excited to see new pieces from your online store at www.moreislove.com. 

Nino: Thank you for such pleasant words.

CF: What is the typical day in the life of Nino Eliava? What are life's little pleasures that you especially enjoy?

Nino: My typical day starts early, I am up at 9am. I do all the usual morning rituals and go either to the gym or our office. Usually my days are very hectic as More is Love requires special attention to every detail. All the work diminishes by 7pm; there are days when we work non-stop until very late. When the working day is over by 7pm, I usually go out with my husband and friends for dinner or stay at home and read. My life is pleasant, excluding moments when something bad happens. I try to smile as much as possible and joke around when faced with difficult situations; this attitude helps me overcome everything that life brings.

CF: We are big supporters of different, innovative, and dynamic approach to fashion and style! Do you incorporate any elements from your culture or other cultures in your looks?

Nino: I am a big fan of travelling and exploring different cultures. Combining styles from various cultures is something that I love the most. To me an outfit is boring and unattractive if it is very matchy and tidy. I like to mix something quite unexpected together. I am a huge fan of taking an innovative approach because I feel invigorated.

CF: We adore jewelry, and we are especially fond of the new trend of wearing "statement jewelry." What do you think about fine jewelry or jewelry in general? Which pieces do you consider important to have?

Nino: To me jewelry is a form of art. When a piece is sophisticated and beautiful enough to be an art object, it is quite inspiring. I think that every woman should have her own taste in costume jewelry. It can define who you are and what you represent. I love statement pieces, especially when they are made using new approaches. I think jewelry can change the whole look, and I can totally wear one dress twice if I accessorize it differently. 

CF: We are always on the hunt for new beauty trends from around the world! Also, we enjoy hearing what many men and women do or the products they use to look their absolute best! What is your beauty routine and what secrets/tips could you share with our readers? 

Nino: As a woman, I like to take care of myself and my health. I try to eat more healthy food, drink a lot of water, and visit a beautician from time to time. My most precious beauty tip is a smile; without it, nothing is beautiful.

CF: Although we are certainly looking forward to traveling there in the near future, we have never visited Moscow or Tbilisi. Could you tell us a little bit about the unique style of fashionistas there? How does this style differ from other places where you have lived? 

Nino: Moscow and Tbilisi differ from each other in terms of everything. These are two completely different cities. Moscow has become super trendy lately with the help of exceptional ladies living in this city. People living in Moscow pay much attention to the way they look. You can instantly tell that these people spend hours at beauty salons and luxury boutiques. As to Tbilisi, it is the other way around. Women barely use make up here and rarely wear high heels. With that said, Georgians have extremely good taste.

CF: Can you please tell us more about your online boutique. How hard was it to make it work?

Nino: More is Love is a very special boutique. We hand pick our jewelry and take care of our valued customers. Thinking about our customers, we try our best to treat them as we would like to be treated. Getting where we stand now was really hard to do; but without obstacles, no victory is sweet enough. I am very thankful for the dream team I have. Without Ani and Tamara, this project would never work because I would have given-up. 

CF: Lastly, can you please tell us a a bit about your future plans and what amazing things we can expect from you? 

Nino: We are working hard on our e-store www.moreislove.com. We have numerous amount of cool projects coming-up with some young, talented and inspiring people. Our choice of costume jewelry is growing from day to day, and we are planning to introduce range of tiaras made out of semi-precious stones. This online destination is definitely worth keeping an eye on.

CF: Again, thank you Nino for taking this time to speak to Club Fashionista. We wish you the best in the future and eagerly await to see more amazing things from you.

Nino: Thank you for your interest in me and my projects. Have an amazing day.

Everyday Makeup

By Amra B.

It is hard to feel inspired and beautiful when it is raining, windy, and cloudy outside. During those days, you usually just want to stay home and wait until the weather changes. However, I am getting used to the idea that you just have to dress for the occasion, and I do the same with my beauty routine. I have adapted my beauty routine to include a creamy cleanser for extra moisture, a serum, and a lotion. My skin is dry, and if you have oily skin, I would recommend using a gentle cleanser and a serum and skipping the face lotion during the day.  

As for the makeup, I brighten up my makeup by adding highlighter daily. I sometimes mix the highlighting powder with foundation and this gives me a healthy glow. I also use a touch of bronzer every day on my forehead and cheeks. It warms up my skin tone and give me just a little color. 

Below is a photo of my recent look. I used my pink blush as an eye shadow and really liked the effect. I also added a strong pink lipstick. What is your beauty routine like Fashionistas? XOXO

Couscous Recipe

By Natalie Dedic

You do not have time to cook but still want to eat something healthy which is yummy as well? Couscous is your answer!

Ingredients (for 2 people)

1 medium cup of couscous

1 medium cup of water

1 teaspoon Ras-el-Hanout (Moroccan spice)

a pinch of bouillon

vegetables (e.g. pepper, carrots, cucumber, spring onions, tomatoes, sweetcorn, etc.)

Feta cheese

Fresh herbs (mint, Italian parsley, coriander, etc.)

2 tablespoons of Olive oil

Further spices (pepper, salt, etc.)

Mixed seeds (pine nuts, sunflower seeds, etc.)

Method:

Place the couscous in a shallow bowl and add the Ras-el-Hanout and bouillon. Then pour boiling water into the bowl, and stir it quickly. Cover the bowl with a plate and a towel. Let it sit and prepare the vegetables in the meantime.

Toast the seeds in a pan or alternatively in the microwave (with the grill function). Chop the vegetables and Feta cheese into small cubes and hack the herbs. Mix everything together, and sprinkle everything with spices and olive oil. Stir and enjoy!

You can add anything you like to change the flavour of the salad, e.g., give it a Mediterranean touch by adding dried tomatoes and olives or add some lemon juice for a fresh flavor.

If you like you can serve the salad with grilled chicken breast or lamb chops, it is super healthy and a really delicious meal!

In German:

Ihr habt keine Zeit zu kochen, wollt aber trotzdem etwas Gesundes Essen, was dazu auch richtig lecker schmeckt? Dann aufgepasst, es gibt Couscous!

Zutaten (für 2 Personen):

·       1 mittlere Tasse Couscous

·       1 mittlere Tasse Wasser

·       1 TL Ras-el-Hanout (Marokkanisches Gewürz)

·       wenig Bouillon-Pulver

· Gemüse (z.B. Peperoni, Karotten, Gurken, Frühlingszwiebeln, Tomaten, Mais, etc.)

·       Feta-Käse

·  frische Kräuter (z.B. Minze, Petersilie glatt, Koriander, etc.)

·  Weitere Gewürze (Pfeffer, Paprika, Salz, Streuwürze, etc.)

·       2 EL Olivenöl

·       Pinienkerne, Sonnenblumenkerne, etc.

Zubereitung:

1 Tasse Couscous in eine genügend grosse Schale füllen.

danach in derselben Tasse einen Teelöffel Ras-el Hanout und ein bisschen Bouillon-Pulver vermischen; mit dem aufgekochten Wasser übergiessen und umrühren, die Flüssigkeit über das Couscous geben und kurz anrühren

Die Schale mit einem Teller und einem Tuch zudecken, ziehen lassen.

Solange das Couscous zieht könnt ihr das Gemüse, den Feta sowie die Kerne vorbereiten:

Die Kerne kurz in der Pfanne anrösten oder in der Mikrowelle mittels der Grillfunktion für ca. 3 min “grillen” bis sie schön angeröstet sind

Das Gemüse, den Feta-Käse und die Kräuter waschen und in kleine Würfel schneiden bzw. hacken

Danach alles in die grosse Schale zum Couscous geben, mit ein wenig Olivenöl und verschiedenen Gewürzen abschmecken; Umrühren und geniessen!

Ihr könnt je nach Belieben Zutaten dazugeben oder weglassen und den Geschmack des Salates verändern – gebt ihm eine mediterrane Note und fügt getrocknete Tomaten und Oliven dazu oder gebt etwas Zitronensaft rein und der Salat schmeckt richtig frisch

Nach Lust und Laune könnt ihr den Salat mit gegrillter Hähnchenbrust oder mit einem leckeren Stück Lamm servieren – ein super gesundes und richtig leckeres Essen!

Happy Spring

By Nerina H.

Greetings fashionistas! The sun has begun to shine more, and flowers begin to protrude into meadows. Spring is here! Yeaaaaaah! Also, I hope that you are happy because of warmer weather, which in turn permits us to wear outfits in pastel colors, floral prints, bright colors, light dresses and  playful pieces of jewelry.

Fashionistas, happy first day of spring! Kisseeeeees ****

In Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian:

Lijepi pozdravi za sve fashioniste! Sunce je pocelo jace grijati, cvijece pocinje izvirivati na livadama, proljece zvanicno pocinje! Jupiiii! Nadam se da se i vi radujete toplijem vremenu i lijepim odjevnim kombinacijama u pastelnim bojama, cvijetnom printu, svijetlim tonovima, laganim leprsavim haljinicama i upadnim komadima veselog nakita.

Fashionisti, sretan vam prvi dan proljeca! Puseeeeeee ****

Why Macaroons Are the IDEAL Dessert

By Elma B.

Some of my favorite times in the day are when I have a chance to drink my morning coffee and afternoon tea. What a better way to sneak a little slice of heaven with your warm drink than a mouthwatering macaroon or your other favorite dessert. 

I am a fan of macaroons and other small desserts because I like to watch my figure and be healthy. Moreover, macaroons and a small dessert are perfect ways to satisfy your sweet tooth yet not feel heavy afterwards. Here are some photos of my favorite types of desserts. What is your ideal dessert and when do you have it? Leave a comment below, I love hearing from you! Xo. 

Karen Mulder

By Amra B. 

I long for the time when the supermodels were women with amazing curves and extraordinary natural beauty. Karen Mulder is one of those remarkably glamorous supermodels who graced the catwalks in the 90s and early 2000s. This Dutch born beauty was one of the favorite models of Guess, Gianni Versace, Victoria Secret and many more brands. For me, she personifies the glamazon supermodels of the 90s, the age when models were not only tall and slim, but also had amazing curves to match their extraordinary bodies. What do you think about Karen Fashionistas? How does she compare to today’s models? XOXO

Where to Dine in London--Reviews

By Elma B.

Where to dine in London? We met at the Daylesford Farmshop & cafe; the place is delicious with great organic and locally grown food. I wanted to share with you some photos while I was dining in Notting Hill with friends. Although it was raining cats and dogs in London, we decided to make the best out of it and meet for lunch. 

Lunch is one of my favorites as it is time to relax, eat great food, and catch up with friends. What is your favorite lunch spot in London? Leave a comment below, I love hearing from you!