Lilly vs. Emma - the Cute-Off

Let's face it – Brits are just too adorable. It's as if the UK celebrities emerge into the spotlight knowing how to be sexy and subtle at the same time, and you can't deny the coolness factor - it comes with the accent, which I normally can't resist. So, I was thrilled to find two of Britain's most cupcake-like ladies, the recently un-retired Lilly Allen and the newly grown-up Emma Watson, competing for our attention this month with two new magazine covers. Who did it better (and cuter)?

Watson, whose new epic film Noah is coming to the theaters next month, is starring on the cover of Wonderland, a new British fashion magazine. Two versions of the it – jokingly named “Afro Prada Bruiser" and “Elf Alien Queen” on her Twitter account – are accompanied by a whole bunch of pages we're supposed to believe she guest-edited. Her favorite people are Pharrell, Lena Dunham, Lorde and her Perks of Being a Wallflower co-star Ezra Miller to name a few, demonstrating a very varied (albeit a tad mainstream, in a hipster sort of way) taste in popular culture.

On the other corner of the pond, the ever-so-bitter-sweet songstress Lilly Allen got herself a cover as well, with Elle Britain. The beautiful photo shoot (just how pretty are the logo letters, in tune with Allen's Miu Miu dress?) is very much in the spirit of her upcoming single "Air Balloon" and proves Lilly is back big time, and her interview is supposedly peppered with comments about feminism, media brainwashing and motherhood. Here's a teaser: "Of course I’d rather look like Kate Moss than look like myself,” she admits. “I wish I didn’t feel like that, and I think the reason we feel like that is because of the imagery we’re fed all the time. Women are still expected, in some weird way, to kind of… sit there and look pretty. And not talk.” I wouldn't guess from this video:

Emma's editorial debut hits the stands on Feb. 7, while Lilly's issue is expected in early March. So who do you prefer? The wise, tongue-in-cheek Allen or the bubbly, fun-lovin' Watson? Or should we just have a tea party with both of them? What a great idea! 

Easy Living

January turned out to be surprisingly busy. I do, however, find the time to pick up random finds in second-hands across the universe. This was taken on the way to somewhere, driven by the candy-stripe background matching my pumps and dress. Oh, and have I mentioned winter never came?

Dress - American Apparel

Jacket - same as here (so useful!)

Leggings - I Heart Ronson

Shoes - Zara

I can't wait for real summer to wear this dress to the beach, with my new pole-dancing-improved body (there, I said it...). In the meantime, it's paired with my best friends in the whole world, leggings (if someone would ask me what to pack for a long journey, this would be my only answer), made my this cute diffusion line for JC Penney, and a very useful jacket I picked from a free file somewhere. Life is full of surprises. 

14 Ways to Start 2014 Right

Three years ago, working for a magazine I now work for again, I was assigned to write a lightweight article about "starting the year". I wrote it, but my editor back then wasn't feeling it – it's too young, too silly, she said. Did you forget we aim for an all-inclusive demographic? So it ended up on my blog, and you loved it. Today I woke up inspired and felt like recreating that list. I love beginnings way more than ends (hardly original, I know ) and I often find myself dreaming, reflecting, plotting and planning, all in January. So – bear with me and let's begin 2014.

1. Upgrade your sports wardrobe: I bought purple leopard-print Nike running shoes this year and never looked back.

2. Make this. It's a yummy, easy, healthy dream of a dish.

3. Make friends with pants – yesterday when a pole in my closet collapsed from dresses overweight, I realized I have a problem.

4. Make friends with TV comedies – I recently started watching Subrgatory (so fashionably late) and now you can find me laughing in bed at 2 a.m. Other truly funny comedies: New Girl, Parks and Recreation and Party Down (please watch it).

5. Find a new esoteric crush – I got my eyes on Alex Ebert. Who? Have you watched the Golden Globes?

6. Stay in bed all day and finally browse through your new cookbooks, magazines and fan mail (I'm going to be cuddling with this one).

7. Discover a Portuguese or Cape Verde singer – for some reason, it's my favorite language of all times. Mayra Andrade, Mariza, Lhasa, just take a pick - and prepare to fall in love.

8. Watch those Oscar-nominated movies! I especially enjoyed the humble Nebraska but no way it's going to win.

My FAVORITES - you shall be mine

9. Treat yourself to a piece of Peter Pilotto for Target (bribe a friend if you're outside the US) - it's just so damn pretty.

10. Decide RIGHT NOW what festival you want to go to this year and perhaps buy the ticket. This is the last year I miss Coachella and Sundance, but it's not too late for this magic.

11. Learn how to ice skate. My own personal resolution and dream. Check this place out – they offer lessons for challenged adults such as us. Besides, have a Winter Olympics party!

12. Go have brunch at a Tel Avivian hotel – you can't afford staying there but you sure can pretend.

14. Try the blue eyeliner - I know you've been wanting to. And Scarlett's retro hairstyle. 

14. Count how many countries you've been to so far – and set a new bar in 2014 (stupidly staring at Google Maps, inspired by this video of a Russian dude I know, I counted 17). Get out there. Go to Greece, it's about time. Just go. 

The Swans

Some fashion-loving ladies out there call themselves "curators" - they "curate" clothes. Sometimes I think I accidentally curate dresses with animal prints on them. Not leopard prints, but little tigers, horses and donkeys. Adding to the collection - swans!

Dress - Silence and Noise

Sweater and Jacket -H&M

I love this flattering dress paired with a Christmas-y sweater. I'm also partial to modular, layered looks, which fit perfectly into the fickle climate. And next time - different boots, I swear. 

Happy accidents

Happy 2014 everyone. I have a vague feeling this year is going to be good - or at least intense and interesting. I will continue mixing new and old, crazy and appropriate, and I got a couple of surprises up my sleeve for the blog's future. Stay tuned!!  And in the meantime: I surprised myself by accidentally wearing something that might have been Isabel Marant for H&M. None of which I bought when the collection was still available.

Dress - H&M

Shoes - Zara

Coat - JC Penney

A silky dress with a messy print? Check. Boots with fringe? Check. The coat may not be oh-so-Parisian dark blue, but the boxy cut is quite accurate. It's not that I didn't like Isabel's collaboration, but the overall hysteria around it put me off a bit. And here I am, prancing around SF's beautiful Duboce Park in a cheaper tribute - my old favorite boots and my new favorite dress. Life is strange indeed

Made My Year

Lets just say 2013 was quite busy and meaningful for me - more on the personal level, less on the media, fashion scene and everything else level. Nevertheless, I decided to turn yearly summaries into a welcome tradition. Here are my choices for 2013, in fashion and culture.

1. Julia and Sandra wearing color

I loved watching how, slowly and gradually, two of Hollywood's most understated leading ladies begun to realize the power of red-carpeting. I can't be sure what exactly happened, but both Bullock and Roberts finally started to look fantastic – Sandra in tight, hip dresses, Julia in purple and red. Both of these actresses have a "next door" charm that got them this far – but our hyper-visual world demands more, and they delivered.

2. Fashion going places – Missouri, Texas

December was marked by the "Paris, Texas" extravaganza, courtesy of Chanel, and earlier this year a huge fashion exhibit moonlighted in Missoury Chess Hall of Fame, no less. I kind of like this turn of events – fashionistas in Dallas, headlines in the Vogue featuring flyover states – it's fresh and interesting, and makes me wonder where this is going next. What quiet, un-hip town Karl Lagerfeld is going to devour next – that sort of thing.

3. Scandal and Suits do preppy right

Ever since my year-and-a-half long stint in advertising, I swore off office spaces. No more pencil skirts and "clients" for me, thank you very much. This is why Scandal and Suits, two shows that do office so well, are my guilty pleasures. I look at the cubicles and office politics (Suits) and Olivia Pope's sharp outfits (Scandal) and marvel at the clean, ruthless office aesthetics. Two of the best shows of 2013, for my inner secretary.

4. Israeli celebrities got the memo

On the other side of the globe, where celebrities go to the same grocer as you, it seems like the Israeli stars finally got the message – black and blah is not a dress code. Young starlets discovered color and local designers, local designers discovered PR – it didn't happen overnight, I know, but it's slowly arriving. Toda la el, amen.

5. Touchy indie comedies

As the blockbuster relationship dramedy is slowly disappearing from the screen, the indies take over. I enjoyed "Frances Ha" and "Drinking Buddies" immensely, especially the latter – Olivia Wild finally wasn't annoying and the premise of the subtle screen really got to me. As for Frances, a.k.a Greta Gerwig, needless to say it was the hipster favorite of the year. I loved it, despite the over-thinking and the mumbling. Hopefully, more to come in 2014.

Trashy Love

After a long journey into Vintage Land, here's a brief comeback of the "new". Busy times are all around - guests, work, big birthdays and New Year resolutions, but I had a burning desire to pair these items I bought recently and to play around with proportions and even, dare I say, styling. 

Shorts - Free People

Jacket - H&M

Shoes - vintage

This is the mood these days - big puffy "baseball" jackets, fringe (the shorts - on sale, in a forgotten isle, in a flurry of winter coats), crazy shoes and yes, knee-high socks. "Clueless" meets trashy, and that's the way I like it.