This Month In Pictures

What I've been up to during the past month, via my instagram @swiczeniuk!

Top Left - I spotted this AMAZING headdress on Liv Free's facebook page and realised I absolutely must have it! It's just so unique and beautiful, I love how it looks like Catholic Iconography.

Top Right - Shooting said headdress with the awesome Willie Nash! Can't wait to show the photos!

Bottom Left - As you may know, Markabre and I, as DJ Duo The Roustabouts, run cabaret club The Burning Beat. We were previously on at a venue in Islington each Saturday, but have sinced moved out and are searching for a venue that would allow us to expand the show! We threw a free Bank Holiday Special party at Concrete in Shoreditch, and boy was it a party. This is a shot of us both just before we begun playing!

Bottom Right - And this was at the end of the night, with Florian Brooks, who is not only an amazing juggler but a very bad influence (I've never had a 3 day hangover before)! This was after an awful lot of gin, tequila, sambuca, rum and vodka.... oh dear.

Top Left - One friday night we met up with Aurora Galore and headed off to the Playboy Club for fellow performer, Coco Dubois' birthday! We decided to dress in red, gold and black - and yes this is an awful photo thanks to the flash.

Top Right - Along with Coco singing with a live band, they also had performances from Pippa The Ripper, a contortionist (I'm afraid I don't know her name!) and the amazing Heather Holliday. Heather is pictured here SPINNING A PLATE ON A SWORD WHILE HULA HOOPING. She also does sword swallowing and is basically badass.

Bottom Left - And this is how I look at the office! I love this green dress from ASOS... I'm trying to put more colour into my everyday wardrobe.

Bottom Right - I had the pleasure of shooting with the wonderful Ravenblakh Photography again (I think this is the third time now!), this time in a beautiful location. Bizarrely, this place is slap-bang in the middle of skyscrapers and office buildings. Here's one of the beautiful shots from the shoot, but I thought I'd instagram a behind the scenes of the other outfit.

Details of Home

 

I thought I'd take a few detailed shots of the flat and objects that my boyfriend (Mark) and I own!

We can't really decorate much, so we just collect a LOT of stuff. These images are just tiny parts of the living room.... the less messy parts!

I love books. Some of my favourites here include The Master & Margarita, Everything is Illuminated and 1984.

Book Review: Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

I make no attempt at hiding the fact that Everything is Illuminated is one of my favourite books (and one of my favourite films), and I've read it 3 times in the 4 years I've known of it (the film was one of the first that my boyfriend showed me, and I read the book not long after). I find it the most beautiful piece of writing contrasted against a heart-breaking plot (seriously, cascades of tears every time). So I'm somewhat surprised it took me so long to read another book by Foer. Perhaps I felt it couldn't possibly live up to Everything is Illuminated, and it didn't, but I've already come to the conclusion that little will do for me. 

Some people consider Foer overrated, but I just cannot believe that the themes in his books are written with anything but passion and care. I'm no writer, and I'm no snob, and if his work moves me then I'm going to allow myself to move with it.

Much like Everything is Illuminated, Extremely Loud... is also about a rigid search, a delve into history of the protagonist's family. Specifically, the story is told through the eyes of 9 year old Oskar Schell, whose father dies in a terrorist attack. Oskar finds, inside a vase belonging to his father, an envelope with a key inside. On the outside of the envelope is written the name Black, and Oskar decides to contact every person in New York by that name, to try to discover more of his father. In typical Foer style, there is also a narrative that runs alongside in the form of letters from Oskar's Grandfather to Oskar's Father and from Oskar's Grandmother to Oskar. 

I've read reviews that describe an issue with the book being the unsympathetic main character, however I feel that doesn't take into account that Oskar is incredibly special. Although I don't think it's directly referenced, it's evident that he possibly has some sort of autism, being incredibly intelligent for his age, but unable to understand social boundaries. Or perhaps that's just the case of being a 9 year old child that has suffered the trauma of losing someone important in his life.

It was actually the side story, which is essentially about Oskar's Grandmother and Grandfather that made me most teary (although obviously Oskar's desperate attempt to understand his father's death is also heart-breaking). I won't go into details. 

Jonathan Safran Foer's work is possibly best for those who are sentimental about history and the way humans interact. His sub storylines are usually pieced together from letters or diary entries, something that has been left in the wake of trauma, or used as a way of dealing with grief. 

On a side note, I also loved the use of images and experimental layouts that were in my copy of the book. Beautiful and haunting.

Image via 

Femme-Dandy Finds: Blazers

 I've previously put together some femme-dandy finds regarding tailored trousers - this time, blazers!

A good, fitted blazer is perfect for smartening up an outfit. If you are concerned about clashing prints, keep the bottom half to a single colour.

ASOS - £55

I'm very partial to red, and I just love this pattern! I probably wouldn't wear this with the matching trousers, as I sometimes feel that pattern can be overkill. Wear with black trousers with braces or oxblood peg trousers.

River Island - £40

There are plenty of floral blazers around, and perhaps you'd prefer to go for something with a lighter colour palette. But dark florals are very un trend, and I particularly like this strong digital print! I'd wear this with some tweed or grey trousers.

Romwe - $64

I LOVE this, although it's very verging on the edge of Del Boy territory. I thought the lining was a cravat at first, which would go amazingly well with this (either red or blue).

New Look - £29.99

The cropped style of this jacket is easy to throw on, and the folded over cuffs give a touch of colour. Go with a simple print for the trousers - these Plum Jacquard Slim Leg Trousers would be perfect.

 

SheInside - $62.40

 Another simple blazer with some nice detail. If you feel that you can go a whole day without ruining a full white suit, go for it. If not, go for black trousers, or a wild pattern like this Bird Print or these very Lynchian trousers!

Daily Outfit: Burgundy and Gold

 

I've been meaning to get around to actually photographing my day to day outfits, that I wear to work etc. 

My daily style is obviously a lot more toned down than when I'm DJing. Miss Miranda describes it as "Victorian Street Orphan" (thanks :P) - I love to wear dark reds and golds, although I'm trying to put more colours into my wardrobe.

This outfit is fairly simple for a slightly humid rainy day. 

Bodysuit - Hella by Playful Promises

Bra with chain - Opulence by Playful Promises

Jacket - H&M

Skirt - New Look

I put together that "bookcase" out of apple crates... I needed somewhere to display some of my favourite books! 

This weather is great for just wearing jackets/blazers rather than coats, and I've had this jacket for a while. I love the gold stitching.