by Candice DeVille | Jan 3, 2015 | Community
I’m not a resolution maker; I like to question myself all the time. I’m also a hoarder, a dreamer, a hedonist and an impulsive decision maker. Some of these things are good, some are not.
As a vintage lover and collector, it is so hard to let go of anything in my collection. Every piece comes with an imagined memory and is part of a romantic tale I have made up for it somewhere in my mind. Each piece of ceramic or pink poodle adds to the nostalgic landscape that requires constant dusting. Days are spent scouring shops, markets and rummaging in dusty old containers all in the name of treasure hunting. What a wonderful time it has been.
Remember I told you that when I went away on this last trip to Dubai and New York, that I had come home a different person? It was while I stood watching the sunset across the Dubai desert that a thought occurred to me.
Here I am, a vintage collector of more than twenty-five years, with closets full and shelves overflowing. Yes, I have this wonderful little blog as a visual testament to many of the beautiful finds in the last few years, but I have something that not many vintage collectors do and I have barely let it see the light.
I have the ability to tell stories.
Where fabrics may perish and lustres may fade, I know I have the untapped ability to tell the stories of these pieces, their owners and their context in words that won’t grow old. I am able to tell these tales from every culture I visit, from the past to the present, each of them clothed in their unique fabrics of love, loss, adventures and bravery.
All of the things I first sought to express when I began writing this blog way back when, centred on my own experience of life and art as expressed through fashion. Of wearing on the outside the way I felt on the inside. Nothing has changed there and I continue to use style as both armour and a pair of wings. I’d just like to do more.
I want to be able to share with you all of the stories and the moments that may hold a nugget of inspiration for you, things that will help to make us all braver. From the day to day to the big life changing moments, I want to be able to share with you more of what makes this life possible for me.
I hope to give you more insights into how I see the world and how I’m able to live with confidence and freedom. Not that they are always unwavering, but they are qualities that for the most part, a prize I keep my eyes on. I’d like to share more time “behind the curtain” with you, and why I still struggle with having thirty-something towels in the closet.
None of this means I’ll be changing the sorts of posts I share or all of my outfit creations; it simply means I hope to write more for you and to chat together. If you’ve never met me in person, you may not know how much I love a good chat, which is one of the reasons I need to write more for you. I’ve realised that when given the chance to speak, I can hardly stop for all the things I want to share and I should do more of that here.
So while it seems that the Internet is being over run with flashy statements, bright lights and everyone talking at you; I’d really like to avoid that noise and instead just invite you in to spend some time and share our stories. It’s nice to meet you.
by Candice DeVille | Dec 31, 2014 | Community, Self
Like every year, this year seems to have taken place at warp speed. Barely a moment to pause and reflect, barely a moment to take stock of where life is taking you.
Over the last month I have stopped to ask myself one question; are you headed to where you want to be? And it seems so many of you are asking the same question.
Every day I am again on Pinterest, seeking things that excite and invigorate my creative self. It is when I see so many of the quotes I’ve pinned being liked and shared around with gusto, that I realise we are all in the same boat. The boat that is trying to stay the course, to avoid the rocks and to often even find the map in the first place.
Do you remember where you were going, or has your map become dusty and torn, missing the ‘X’ your soul so deeply needs.
How easy it is to distract ourselves from what really matters, from finding ways to express ourselves or from having the bravery to express it in the first place. This is the 2015 I want us to have. I want us to find that part of ourselves that makes us better, that inspires and changes others for the better. That energises and fulfils us. That we have silenced for fear, for insecurity or for simply not knowing how.
Maybe it seems odd to you that as a lifestyle blogger, these are the things I care about; but truly it is at the heart of it all. I blog because I need to create. I blog so I can talk to you through all these different ways, about the things I find joy in and hope to share with you. I blog to find those who can expand my understanding of the world, my perspective and my appreciation of what we have. I blog to find others who give a damn.
There is strength in numbers you see, and the more we join our thoughts and experiences across this little corner of cyber space, the braver we become.
I lost my bravery for a while there. I began to think that no one actually cared beyond a pretty picture or a nice new dress. That everything I wrote or thought would only open me up to criticisms, barbs and antagonism. I forgot about all of the times you did care, that those of you who have been here from the beginning, understood the story and it helped you to tell your own.
Here, red lipstick is not just another fashion statement; it is a red badge of courage in a sea of grey. Here, the travel story of an afternoon in a Middle Eastern souk is not just another log, it is my hearts song. Everything I write for you, photograph for you and even hope to humbly share my skills through, is an act of bravery. It comes from a place that is uniquely me; my authentic self who believes in romance, dreams and the impossible.
And this is what 2015 will be for us. It is the year of living bravely, in which we shall take this journey together and find your long buried treasure map.
by Candice DeVille | Dec 29, 2014 | daily outfit
Do you know what this picture means? It means we’ve finally finished our pool project!
Yes, there is still quite a bit to be done on the landscaping front, but the epic project that has been removing the old garden and putting in a fabulous, classic style pool is finished! So today’s outfit (well poolside outfit) is in celebration of this big occasion. Finally I have somewhere to wear my twelve pairs of swimmers and use them as they deserve to be.
I’m always a fan of retro styling in swimsuits. I don’t like the itty bitty kind of things, and I certainly prefer that they stay where they are supposed to when pulling yourself out of the water! This pair by Jets came out a few years ago, but have been such a popular style that they are available again this year in Navy. They wash and wear beautifully and also have a great power mesh support system. No wardrobe malfunctions here! And if you’re into the very retro option of over skirts, these work just brilliantly!
Outfit Details
Retro styled swimsuit – Jets (Australia)
Black and silver Haori top – Vintage Japanese find
Bangles – Vintage Op Shop find
Shoes – Melissa
Sunglasses – Tom Ford
Lip Colour – Lime Crime Velveteen
by Candice DeVille | Dec 23, 2014 | Community
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Happy Holidays my friends!
While it seems the year has passed almost too quickly (once again), it has been a particularly memorable one. One in which I’ve learnt a lot about myself, about how we all see each other and how much farther we all have to go in finding common ground, love and respect. It is so easy to live in bubbles; bubbles of our social groups, families, cultures or even loneliness, forgetting that everyone experiences life so differently. We become wrapped up in busy, in commitments and deadlines, not giving our hearts and minds enough pause to hear themselves. These holidays my wish for you is the gift of reflection and paying it forward.
So many of my friends have found themselves without loved ones this year, losing the most important people in their lives. Other friends are a world away from those they care about most, not knowing when or where they may see them again. Then there are those who despite being surrounded by people, feel their most alone at this time of year. If you, like me, have an abundance of love to give, this is the time to spread it around.
If you’re not sure where to start, these ideas should help you.
- Help someone carry their groceries to the car.
- Offer to drive elderly neighbours to the mall.
- Make a holiday meal for a single parent who could really use a break.
- Organise play dates for friends children to give them the day off to connect with each other.
- Pick up the phone and hear the voices of faraway friends and relatives.
- Think of all the pictures we post on Instagram and print some out for your grandparents so they too can get a look into your daily life and what you love.
- Put your hand up to host a get together for online friends who may have no one to share the Holidays with. Organise a picnic, a coffee catch up or something else where you can make real connections.
- Ask your local refugee advocacy centre how you can help struggling families in your neighbourhood.
Once you put your mind to it, opportunities to pay it forward present themselves all the time, so make sure your eyes are open.
For me, I’d very much like to share my Holiday time with you. Especially those of you who read this blog but never comment, those who feel alone or isolated, those who’d just really like to hear a friendly voice and some crumby jokes. So I will be hosting a Google+ Hang Out!
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Join Me for a Holiday Get Together!
Yes, all you need to do is log into your Google+ account and you’ll be able to join this live hangout. You can send in any questions you have for me prior to, or during the event, or you can even request and invitation to join the video call! You’re welcome to come and chat, just hang out and listen or view the hangout later on on our YouTube channel. But really, I’d love it if you came and joined my little party, everyone is welcome!
You’ll find the details for the Live Hangout listed here and I’ve scheduled it at I time I hope many of you are able to come along. Feel free to wear ugly sweaters, glitter, antlers, or other festive accoutrements. You’re also welcome to leave me any questions or special requests in the comments section of this post.
Happy Holidays my Friends!
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by Candice DeVille | Dec 19, 2014 | sponsors, Travel
The Dubai Aquarium and Zoo is a place of wild things and wonders.
I am a bit odd when it comes to water. I love to look at it, I’m obsessed with aquariums and sea creatures, but I absolutely cannot dive. In fact I can’t even really snorkel. I do try, but there is a subconscious gear that kicks in and stops me from breathing so it isn’t the safest option for me. This is probably why I’ve developed such a love of aquariums.
Watching everything swim by as if flying, free and elegant, fins billowing in the currents. I will take any opportunity to sit for hours and contemplate my existence in such surrounds. I sitting in the dark listening to music and watching iridescent jellyfish pulse by is bliss to me.
When I knew I was coming to Dubai, a visit to the aquarium and underwater zoo was very high on my agenda. Seeing the huge expanse of water filled with sharks, parrotfish and leopard stingrays with the cheeky grins, made me insanely happy. While everyone else walked through the inside of the tunnel, I wanted to sit on the floor, with my cheek pressed to the glass and have a bit of a chat with the occupants.
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You may think me a little bit crazy, but there is such a sense of serenity in this I wanted to try and capture a little piece of it for you.
It doesn’t matter if you’re a grown up with a thing for the otherworldly, or a wide-eyed child, this is an experience that everyone can enjoy. I highly recommend you take the time to not only see this beautiful display, but also just to be. In the oversized glitz and glamour of The Dubai Mall, this small piece of serenity will make you hold your breath for all the right reasons, as you stop and let this clear blue world float by.
