New Blog!

Have you been wondering where I am? My fashion blog is now on my website at daniellesponder.com! Just click the link here: http://daniellesponder.wordpress.com/blog/

Trooping the Colour

This weekend was the Trooping the Colour in celebration of the Queen's birthday (even though it was actually her husband the Duke's birthday recently, not hers). The Trooping is an understated celebration and great opportunity for Brit's (who didn't want to deal with the masses during the Royal wedding) to see the Royal family up close and personal. Not only did I get to stand in the front row to watch (I do apologize to the shorter people behind me, sometimes I am just not willing to be that selfless...) but I also experienced one of the few moments when I got excited to see a celebrity. For whatever reason, the entire time I lived in New York and went to Fashion Week and photo shoots I didn't get that excited about 'famous' people. They are all much smaller and more average in real life. But there were a few times I was legitimately excited: when I met Tim Gunn and Patricia Fields, and when I saw the Royals just recently. What is it about royalty? Is it as simple as every little girls infatuation with becoming a princess? Or the dream of having Dutchess Cathrine's access to McQueen and Philip Tracy? Who knows. I suppose for my anti-birthday husband the excitement came from knowing more people would be talking about the Queen's birthday than his own.

After the Trooping the Colour and lunch in Covent Garden for someone specials birthday.

Look at all the soldiers...

The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh

Marching Band on horseback.

Catharine and Camilla

Prince Harry and a Duke (Sorry Duke for not remembering who you are...)

The Cousins.

London Green Fair Fashion Show

This last weekend I lead a workshop through 'The Flourish Approach' at the London Green Fair. It was fun and relaxed. Then afterwards I modeled in the fashion show which was fast and intense! I have worked with models in the past, but being in this show gave me new appreciation for how quickly they have to change! I am hoping to get some of the official photos once they are out, but until then here are some that I have. They aren't the greatest because my cameral has been acting up, so sorry!

Marrakech shopping iNsPiRaTioN

As is to be expected, I greatly enjoyed the souks in Marrakech. They had amazing leather, spices, and hand detailed metals. I didn't take pictures of everything I bought but I did get some amazing things including:

A beautiful dark brown (almost black) leather backpack with a beautiful print inside
A handmade ceramic bowl in yellow with a red, blue, and brown design on it.
Some great silver bangles.
Silver earrings (you can see pictures of these on facebook!)
Spices!!
Rose Clay powder to use as a face mask with rose water - so soft!

Morocco

This is Nick and I looking at the great metal pieces.

I think this skirt was the best choice of my trip. I wore the 'skirt' with a black tank top and JCrew tunic in the day and then at night I wore the 'skirt' as a strapless dress with a open jacket over it. Perfectly versatile!

How much fun we had having tea with Radwaun. I think we were here for hours... I bought my fair share of spices! I am ready to get cooking!

So many cute kittens in Marrakech!

The second floor of our riad (meaning guesthouse). Each riad has an open square in the center. The picture below is the main floor of that open air space and also where we ate breakfast each morning.

 Tying my hair up in a scarf was perfect for the day we walked through the villages within the Atlas mountains. It was windy, but I didn't have hair blowing in my face!

Hassan was explaining the different farms across the valley.

 This is in the house of a Berber family that made us lunch. It was an amazing and filling meal! This room is reserved for when guest visit, they don't use it otherwise. Talk about saving something for good!

Not quiet summer?

I haven't really gotten used to London weather yet. I love heat; hot summers are ideal. Obviously that isn't what I get in London though... none the less, learning to dress for such weather has been a fun challenge! Well, fun when I figure out something that works, not fun when I start the day hot and end cold...

The quality of these photos isn't ideal, I didn't have time to photoshop them and I think I accidently deleted some of the good ones while I was trying to clear memory space for my Morocco photos, you get the idea though right? :)

Centre for Sustainable Fashion blog

Since I was on holiday I didn't have time to post this sooner, but I wrote a piece for the blog of the Centre for Sustainable Fashion on May 25th. If you read this blog often you already know most of it, but still, feel free to check it out!

http://www.sustainable-fashion.com/the-bulletin/

color oh color

You ever have those days when you just really feel like wearing a lot of color or prints or just anything interesting? Today is one of them for me. I am in the mood for zig zags and mixed colors... what do you think?

Military Remake

I have an army green military jacket I bought last year on sale that I wore many times last summer, but the sleeves are too short so I only wear them rolled up. I just decided I think I am going to cut off the sleeves and make it into a vest.
Thoughts?

Inspiration for Morocco

I am still constantly thinking about what to pack for Morocco... I have recently learned we are doing an excursion into the Mountains too. Does that change what I should wear? Here are some of the outfits I am taking as inspiration for packing.

xo

And here are some outfits I tried on last night. Still have to get them just right... but its a start!