FAIIINT

Archives for May 2017

Arura

Style

Dark style fashion blogger Stephanie of FAIIINT wearing Arura cable knit t-shirt jumper, H&M skirt, Rick Owens wedge boots. All black street style outfit. Dark style fashion blogger Stephanie of FAIIINT wearing Arura cable knit t-shirt jumper. Street style outfit details. Dark style fashion blogger Stephanie of FAIIINT wearing Arura cable knit t-shirt jumper, H&M skirt, Rick Owens twill drape jacket, Rick Owens wedge boots. All black street style outfit. Dark style fashion blogger Stephanie of FAIIINT wearing Rick Owens black leather wedge boots. All black street style outfit details. Dark style fashion blogger Stephanie of FAIIINT wearing Arura cable knit t-shirt jumper, H&M skirt, Rick Owens twill drape jacket, Rick Owens wedge boots. All black street style outfit.

Arura ‘Sofiya’ Cable Knit Tee * / Rick Owens Twill Jacket / H&M Skirt / Le Lou Ula Necklace / Rick Owens Wedges / Bracher Emden Bag

Arura is a newly launched luxury knitwear brand based in Leicester. Their pieces are made in the UK, crafted from the finest quality yarns and produced in limited numbers, making these real forever pieces. Leicester has a long and rich history of knitwear production, so it’s really wonderful to see a new label emerge here and breathe new life into this sadly dwindling scene in the city.

This ‘Sofiya’ tee is knitted from the softest charcoal merino wool and features a unique geometric cable knit pattern to the front. I don’t think I’ve ever owned a short sleeved jumper before, but I definitely feel like I’ve been missing out now. It’s perfect for this inbetween kind of weather we’re having right now, where I can never seem to decide if I’m too cold or too warm. It’s also ridiculously snuggly, with a tight but comfy fit, which makes it feel like I’m in a cozy little cocoon that I never want to take off.

Naska

Style

Dark style fashion blogger Stephanie of FAIIINT wearing Rick Owens Naska blistered lamb leather jacket, Helmut Lang drape skirt, Kurt Geiger saturn boots, Balenciaga city bag. All black street style outfit. Dark style fashion blogger Stephanie of FAIIINT wearing Rick Owens Naska blistered lamb leather jacket, Helmut Lang drape skirt. All black street style outfit details. Dark style fashion blogger Stephanie of FAIIINT wearing Rick Owens Naska blistered lamb leather jacket, Balenciaga city bag, Le Lou Ula & Birds N Bones silver claw rings. All black street style outfit details. Dark style fashion blogger Stephanie of FAIIINT wearing Rick Owens Naska blistered lamb leather jacket, Helmut Lang drape skirt, Kurt Geiger saturn boots, Balenciaga city bag. All black street style outfit. Dark style fashion blogger Stephanie of FAIIINT wearing Rick Owens Naska blistered lamb leather jacket, Helmut Lang drape skirt, Kurt Geiger saturn boots, Balenciaga city bag. All black street style outfit. Dark style fashion blogger Stephanie of FAIIINT wearing Rick Owens Naska blistered lamb leather jacket, The Silver Cafe druzy topaz crystal necklace. All black street style outfit details. Dark style fashion blogger Stephanie of FAIIINT wearing Rick Owens Naska blistered lamb leather jacket. All black street style outfit details.

Rick Owens Blistered Lamb Naska Jacket / Helmut Lang Skirt / The Silver Cafe Topaz Necklace /
Le Lou Ula ‘Theurgy’ Ring / Birds N Bones ‘Taxidea’ Claw Ring / Kurt Geiger ‘Saturn’ Boots / Balenciaga City Bag

If you were to ask me when I first fell in love with this jacket, I’m not sure I could tell you. It has been this almost mythical, holy grail piece ever since I first became interested in fashion and it was the first item I ever deeply longed to own. I would spend hours pouring over photos of off-duty models and celebrities wearing theirs, giving off this effortless kind of cool, and sit thinking of all the things I would do if only I owned that jacket.

After years upon years of wanting, I can finally say the Rick Owens Naska jacket in buttery, blistered lamb is mine. Since it arrived I’ve dreamily touched it and tried it on more times than I can count. Yesterday I sat in my bedroom editing these photos in it, just because.

There’s something about the cut of this jacket that has always captivated me. The relaxed wide collar, elegant tails, super slim fit and asymmetric fastening create a piece that is both edgy, but classic too. A go with anything staple that will instantly add a little flair and drama to any outfit without being too overt.

The blistered lamb leather is also one of the most gorgeous finishes I have ever come across. It feels almost more like cloth than leather, and the crackled, textured finish catches the light so beautifully. It’s much lighter and thinner than I had imagined, but yet it doesn’t feel delicate either. It has this softness and a relaxed, slouchy kind of drape that moulds to the body and hangs so perfectly that its as if it’s been cut especially for me.

Banteay Srei

Adventure

Banteay Srei Citadel of Women beautiful carved pink sandstone Hindu temple in Siem Reap Cambodia. Banteay Srei Siem Reap Cambodia beautiful forest countryside with buffalo. Banteay Srei Citadel of Women beautiful carved pink sandstone Hindu temple in Siem Reap Cambodia. Banteay Srei Citadel of Women beautiful carved pink sandstone Hindu temple in Siem Reap Cambodia. Banteay Srei Citadel of Women beautiful carved pink sandstone Hindu temple in Siem Reap Cambodia. Banteay Srei Citadel of Women beautiful carved pink sandstone Hindu temple in Siem Reap Cambodia. Banteay Srei Citadel of Women beautiful carved pink sandstone Hindu temple in Siem Reap Cambodia. Banteay Srei Citadel of Women beautiful carved pink sandstone Hindu temple in Siem Reap Cambodia. Banteay Srei Citadel of Women beautiful carved pink sandstone Hindu temple in Siem Reap Cambodia.

Banteay Srei / Siem Reap, Cambodia

Banteay Srei is a small, but breathtaking 10th-century temple complex built from solid pink sandstone and nestled within the Cambodian forest. Dedicated to the Hindu goddess Shiva, it’s also known as the ‘Citadel of Women’ and is renowned for the beauty of the intricate carvings which cover the walls like a tapestry. It’s considered by many to be a jewel in the crown of Angkorian art and architecture, and features some of the most beautiful and detailed carvings from the ancient world.

As we made our way through the trees along sandy paths, we passed buffalo roaming next to the baray. We reached Banteay Srei just as the sun was beginning to descend, bathing the pink stone in a beautiful golden hour glow. We hadn’t expected it to be so small. It looked like a perfectly formed miniature of the others, as if it had come straight from a fairytale. I can only imagine how magical this place must have looked and felt as a place of worship, before it was abandoned and left to the forest.

The crumbling structure, blackened from years of weathering still holds some magic though. The delicate carvings depicting Hindu epics and tales have been so beautifully preserved, and the detail they contain is completely enchanting. It’s often said that this place was named ‘Citadel of Women’ not only for its beauty and grace, but also because these delicate carvings could only have been created by female hands.