It's now raining again (how predictable), but a few days ago it was finally summer dress weather. Of course that was the perfect opportunity for me to don my Lucky dress replikate I got on ebay last year (unfortunately no longer available) and my new Imperia D wedges, which are quickly becoming my favourite summer shoes!

Also I got new hair! (Well not 'new' of course, but you know, different looking :-P), so it's a bit shorter and a bit more mahogany. What do you guys think of it? 

Sorry for being a bit quiet last week. I booked a short trip to Sicily in early July, but finding that perfect little Italian hotel is actually more difficult than it sounds :-P Good news is I'll have the opportunity again to showcase more replikate summer outfits! And to practise my Italian.....  Arrivederci, everyone!

I would almost say I'm sad the weather is getting better, because that means my awesome new Black Watch tartan coat will be too warm to wear.....

.... Just kidding! I am absolutely looking forward to summer :D

The statue is of the Dutch admiral and privateer Piet Hein, who was born in Delfshaven (now part of Rotterdam), where I live (pictures were taken in front of my house).

P.S:  T.G.I.F!

When my closet doors refused to close I knew it was time to do something about it. Especially because there were a lot of items that didn't get the attention they deserved. So this week I found out that if there ever was an activity that is:  
1. soothing (folding and ironing clothes becomes meditative after six hours),
2. exhausting (it takes forever photograph and write about all items), and
3. exhilarating (I discovered treasures in my own closet), it must be organising the first Shop My Closet event of Tatiana's Delights!

So how does it work? 
Hop over to the Tatiana's Delights - Shop My Closet shop on Tictail and see if there is anything there you like! Most pieces are new or hardly worn. A lot of pieces are originals or replikates of pieces worn by Kate or Pippa Middleton, but also several items that are 'just' Tatiana ;-) 

PS: All prices are including shipping (to everywhere in the world). This shipping option will be without tracking code and at your own risk. You can also choose for traceable shipping at the checkout for an additional USD 10. 

When it is cold outside and you have to bicycle to get anywhere, it so tempting to go for the cozy and forget about the classy. So if there is one wardrobe 'area' that Kate has been a real inspiration for me, it definitely is my casual winter wardrobe. This mainly means that I welcomed some great (faux) shearling jackets as additions to my cozy AND classy wardrobe.  But this sounds much easier than it actually was....

It has been a bit of a thing for me really, the quest for that perfect L.K. Bennett Darwin jacket replikate. The trouble is that real shearling often is way too pricey, and that faux-shearling often is, well, way too ' faux'.... either looking or feeling very cheap. I have been searching for my Darwin replikate for more than a year before I found the right one.

The end of my quest finally came a few months ago in the form of a chocolate brown faux shearling jacket from TU at Sainsbury's (a UK supermarket chain). It originally cost £60, but I managed to snap it up for only 

£15 on Ebay UK. The original jacket actually had two hook-and-eye fastenings, but I had those replaced for two large brown buttons. It also ran rather large, so I had it taken in at the waist, which also gave it a bit more fitted look, similar to the original Darwin jacket. 

On the outside the jacket is made of a dark brown faux suede of 100% polyester. The entire jacket is lined with a faux fur made of 68% acrylic and 32% polyester that doesn't look cheap (always my main concern with faux fur!). The hairs on the cuffs and the oversized collar are considerably longer than the lining, which gives the jacket the same cozy and warm look that I love so much about the original Darwin jacket.

If you would like to get the same jacket, it is unfortunately no longer available at Sainsbury's, but it is regularly listed on Ebay UK! With this jacket you can easily dress up (with a pair of brown suede high heeled boots) or dress down (with a pair of wellies), so you can't go wrong, really!

Finally it is getting a bit colder here in Holland. No snow yet, but I have had it up to here with this dreary rainy weather we've had up till now!  What happened to a good old-fashioned winter?! It seems America stole it... 

Luckily, now I have the opportunity to wear my most amazing fashion buy of last year's visit to Bicester Village Outlet: my brown Hobbs Celeste coat. We have seen Kate wear this coat on three occasions already. First on Valentine's Day 2012 while visiting Liverpool, then again with a red scarf while attending a Christmas service in Berkshire with William and her family, and then lastly last March while she was pregnant, during a visit to Grimsby. I really like the way she styled it the first time in Liverpool, with the turtleneck dress and black tights. What's your favourite? 

Currently I am totally in love with everything tartan, both for my clothes and for my house, so when I saw Pippa rocking a scarf with the Isle of Skye tartan I couldn't resist buying a similar one for myself, as I also recently bought a 'RepliPippa' of her purple cashmere dress. But I think the scarf works really well too with the brown coat. The dark brown suede boots I already have for many years, but they make a nice replikate for the Stuart Weitzman Zipkin boots. 

Last year Ayvee from DianasJewels.net identified a pair of UFO earrings of Diana as the Venus earrings from the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I have loved them ever since, and last December, when my parents visited New York, they brought a pair back for me as a Christmas present ( I have the BEST parents!)

The earrings are inspired by the painting Venus In Front Of A Mirror by the Flemish painter Peter Paul Rubens. 
This painting, made in 1615, shows the Roman goddess Venus with blonde hair and naked, with a fat, rounded figure in the usual style of Rubens.  She is sitting with her back facing the viewer and her face only partially visible, but she is aware of the viewer in a mirror that frames her face like a portrait. The only things she is wearing is a bracelet and the pearl earrings. 

More information about the painting you can find here. 

So, what do you think of the painting? Who wears them better, Venus or me? ;-)

Yes, I know, I just went to Dublin, and now I am already on a new trip. Maybe it is a bit much, but I do love visiting other places so much! 

This week I have been on a skiing holiday with a group of friends to La Joue Du Loup, a small town in the French Alps. 

I tried skiing on the first day, but as I dislocated my knee a few weeks ago, it hurt too much and I didn’t feel comfortable to ski anymore, so that was a bit of a disappointment. But I had such a great time nonetheless!

Just before Christmas I caved and bought the black furry Oscar snow boots that Kate has been wearing during several skiing trips over the past few years. I bought them at The Alpine Room and I must say: I couldn’t wish for a better customer service! As they weren’t sure they would be able to send me the boots in time for me to enjoy them during this holiday, they offered to send them directly to the hotel in France. As I never stayed there before, I decided not to do this and just take the risk, but it is so great if people think along with you. They shipped the boots the very same day and they arrived just 3 days later. Definitely recommend ordering at The Alpine Room! 

Regarding the Oscar boots, they are SO great! As soon as there is even the slightest bit of snow on an entire area of ice, you have amazing grip. Felt very safe walking on them. They were a bit of an investment piece, but they will also be great use to me when I am going to Iceland later this year!

Hello everyone! Currently, I am celebrating Christmas with my family and I just wanted to wish everyone a very happy holiday! 

Also, I want to thank all of you you so much for following Tatiana's Delights throughout the year. Your support has been such a gift to me! 

The Vandersluis family is a family filled with cats (5 of them at the moment), so of course they had front row seats during the present unwrapping... 

I hope Santa brought you everything that you wished for, and that your day is filled with warmth, laughter, and lots of food!