Women - Inspired Living SA

My Fashion File – Temperley London by Alice Temperley

I saw a fashion show, on style TV, the other evening, featuring a range of Alice Temperley designs and instantly fell in love with her work. Her ultra-feminine designs and romantic flair appeal to my sense of fashion.

Alice Temperley was born on 22^nd July 1975; she grew up in Somerset on her parent’s cider farm before moving to London to study. She graduated from the Royal College of Art and Central Saint Martins before setting up her company “Temperley London”. She launched her fashion label “Temperley London” in 2000, along with her then boyfriend, now husband, Lars Bennigsen.

She cleverly crafted a niche for herself in the fashion industry with her attention to detail; focusing on beautiful fabrics and hand-finishes. She was hailed as “the designer making the biggest waves in British Fashion” by “American Vogue”.

Her designs, for me, are effortlessly elegant, creating a long-lean silhouette – with a side of goddess glamour!

“Temperley” produces four collections a year: Autumn/winter, Cruise, Spring/Summer, and Pre-fall. They have four stand-alone boutiques in London, New York, LA and Dubai. Their designs are also sold in 300 stores, in 37 different countries. They also ship items world-wide, yes even to South Africa – who knows I could be wearing an “Temperley London” design to my brother’s wedding in December! Well – maybe not, as the dresses start at around £800 pounds – it’s ok to dream!

For those of us with a smaller budget, the company launched a sister range called “Alice” in 2010. This more affordable, easy-to-wear range, inspired by the London girl of the moment, already has an international following. For a look at the current collection, go to “Alice by Temperley”.

Alice Temperley has also written and published a book called “True British” which catalogues the past ten years, which she has spent building the “Temperley brand”. The book includes mood-boards, detailing the colours and fabrics used to create the designs, along with pictures of the finished items. In the book she has also combined snippets of her personal life, along with the evolution of her fashion brand.

All the designs I have featured, in this post, are from the “Temperley London” Spring/ Summer 2012 collection. You can see more of the collection on the “Temperley London” website.

Image Source: Temperley London

Be Inspired, FAR Photography, Flowers, Life, Love

Please Buy Me Flowers

Someone once told me that if you want a man to buy you flowers all you need to do is ask; I thought that this was a ridiculous idea! Why do I need to ask? Surely men realise that we need to be romanced and wined and dined to feel loved!

Needless to say, I was wrong, most men do not seem to realise these things for themselves (yes I am generalising) and if you expect them to just get it you could be waiting a very long time! Thinking that your man knows exactly what you want, can lead to immense disappointment, so you need to speak up and voice your needs. We all feel loved in different ways, which I wrote about in my “Love Languages” post; so its important to express what makes you feel loved!

It was quite amazing that once I realised where I was going wrong and decided to just ask for the things I wanted or needed ( not that I always get them – but at least I put it out there), it did become more spontaneous and I now get flowers whenever my man does the shopping. (which is usually every Saturday!)

Some people might feel that this method lacks spontaneity but at least I now feel special and loved, because I have articulated what my needs are. As my hubby once pointed out to me, as talented as he may be, he cannot read my mind!

So come-on girls if you really want flowers or whatever it is that makes you feel special, all you need to do is ask!

Images: Super Mom & Pinterest

Be Inspired, Family, Life, Mothers

My Woman's Day Tribute

The meaning of being a woman….

Dictionary Definition: “An adult human female”

It was quite amusing, when my 10 year old daughter asked me what the “Woman’s Day” public holiday, was celebrating and then she went on to ask; “when do you become a woman, Mom?” Needless to say I had to choose my words wisely. On the first matter of what the holiday celebrates, I tried to explain that many years ago, woman had no rights and the holiday celebrates “our” independence. This was met with a look of absolute horror.

The next question was trickier; both my daughters are of the mind-set that being a teenager, makes you a woman. I guess that the dictionary definition above says it all; you are a woman when you become an adult but that is somewhat subjective. I went on to say that what defines a woman is more than a word or her age and that she would understand more, when the time comes.

Words that describe, what being a woman means to me:

Strength, Courage, compassion, selflessness, power, knowledge, wisdom, patience, beauty, elegance, grace……

“One life is all we have and we live it as we believe in living it. But to sacrifice what you are and to live without belief, that is a fate more terrible than dying.” — Joan of Arc

My top 5 Inspirational woman (in no particular order):

“These women represent to me what it means to be truly inspirational,to stand up for what you believe in and not be afraid of failure or criticism.”

1) Mother Teresa (26 Aug 1910 – 5 Sep 1997)

She was a Catholic, Albanian, nun who founded the Missionaries Charity in Calcutta, India. She is well known for the humanitarian work and encouragement of rights for the poor and helpless. She was the recipient of many awards including the Nobel Peace Prize, in 1979. This was a woman that regardless of her circumstances in life stood against adversity and fought for the basic human rights of those in need. We could learn so much from her, especially in the cut throat “each man for himself” world we live in.

2) Florence Nightingale (12May 1820 – 13 Aug 1910)

She was a celebrated, Anglican, English nurse, writer and statistician. Her belief was that God called her to be a nurse. She is renowned for her pioneering work in nursing, during the Crimean war. Her nickname was “the lady of the lamp”, as she carried a lamp during her rounds at night. In 1860 she established her nursing school at St Thomas Hospital in London.

“She was a favourite historical figure of mine, in my studies at school and my eldest daughter has just been learning about her at school and has also found her most intriguing.”

3) Helen Adams Keller (June 27, 1880 – June 1, 1968)

Helen was born on June 27, 1880, in Tuscumbia, Alabama. She was an American author, political activist, and lecturer. She was the first deaf blind person; to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree. Her teacher, Anne Sullivan, broke through the barriers imposed on hearing impaired people, allowing Helen to blossom as she learned to communicate.

Helen was a prolific author and was well-travelled, she was outspoken in her opposition to war. As a member of the Socialist Party of America and the Wobblies, she campaigned for women’s suffrage, workers’ rights, and socialism, as well as many other leftist causes. So she is pretty much a hero in most people’s eyes.

4) Amelia Earhart (born July 24, 1897; missing July 2, 1937, declared legally dead January 5, 1939)

She was a celebrated American aviation pioneer and was the first woman to receive the ‘US Distinguished Flying Cross’, which she was awarded as the first Aviatrix (female pilot) to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. Amelia went on to set many more records, became a renowned author and was an early supporter of the ‘Equal Rights Amendment’. She played a vital role in the establishment of ‘The Ninety Nines’, an organisation for female pilots. In 1937 during a flight, attempting to circumnavigate the globe she disappeared over the Central Pacific Ocean.

She was an amazing woman, who showed the world that we are not living in a ‘man’s world’ – as woman we can do and be anything we set our minds to.

I know I have focused on a fairly serious group of woman until now, all pioneers for womans rights and the establishment of many great institutions and I am truly left in awe of all their achievements. So the next inspirational woman is not quite as serious, in a manner of speaking and still very much alive:

5) Sarah Jessica Parker (Born 25 March 1965)

She is a renowned American film, television and theatre actress and producer. Her most acclaimed acting role, is as Carrie Bradshaw, in HBO’s TV series ‘Sex and the City’. Sarah is a multi-award winning actress; amongst these awards she has won four Golden Globe awards. In 2008 she played the same role, Carrie Bradshaw, in the feature film; ‘Sex in the City – the Movie’ and again in the sequel ‘Sex in the City2’, in 2010. Her next movie due to hit the box office next month is ‘I don’t Know How She Does It?’ The movie is based on the book by Allison Pearson, which I mentioned in a previous post.

My all-time favourite movie of hers was Footloose in 1984 (yes I am probably showing my age), which became a rather iconic movie, at the time.

She lives in New York City with her husband Matthew Broderick and their twin girls. In addition to motherhood and her acting career, she is a prominent member of ‘Hollywood’s Women’s Political Committee’ and a ‘UNICEF’ representative.

She is most certainly my favourite fashion icon; to me she epitomises grace and elegance. I would love to own just a fraction of her wardrobe!

These women are but a few, of many wonderful examples of amazing icons throughout history that represent what it truly means to be a woman.

Happy Woman’s Day!

Quotes to Inspire:

“You educate a man; you educate a man. You educate a woman; you educate a generation.” — Brigham Young

“Love, the poet said, is woman’s whole existence.” — Virginia Woolf (Orlando)

This quote is for my man – he said I had to include something from “Maggie”:

“In politics, if you want anything said, ask a man. If you want anything done, ask a woman.” — Margaret Thatcher

Information Source: Wikipedia

Image Source: Pinterest and Sarah Jessica Central

Main Content: Supermom