As an art buff, I appreciate most artistic efforts. However, I will forever be obsessed with abstract art in particular. The vibrant colours, outrageous shapes, exaggerated lines, original themes and insane ideas are far more interesting then those of perfectly normal, classic and traditional influences from fine art. Don’t get me wrong; as I said; I appreciate and have been inspired by the classics, but abstract art is definitely more me.

Following the F word you will also know….Continue Reading!

VFTT hits 300!

July 30, 2016

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VFTT 292 Tile Series 1.3

Across 2 years, 13 countries and 4 seasons, The View From The Top reaches over 300 posts. What started as an inspired photo challenge, has now become a visual journey of my travels as well as day to day living captured in squared snapshot views from the top!

Focused around imagery of the waist down (legs and feet), often featuring specific items/ objects (exotic fruit/ entry tickets) and more so, my surroundings (the beach/ landmarks); The VFTT takes on the same basic layout in every shot to express consistency across foreign settings and to explore a sense of creative consensus of different views. In other words, and something I picked up on my travels; Same Same but Different; The VFTT series could not be described any better!

View 1-313 Here!

Another Day, Another Smoothie…

June 11, 2016

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A Smootie A Day Keeps the Doctor Away…

May 16, 2016

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As summer approaches, so does the urgent desire to have that “bikini bod” and the need to look “summer-time-fine”; so I am sure I’m not the only one who is eating healthier, detoxing and exercising more with the promise of feeling good!

Although I am yet to start (maybe) the completely green detox juices/smoothies, I have jumped on the green drink bandwagon- I’m just mixing it slightly more and cutting out the kale! I know, I know, its a superfood and all and probably one of the most vital ingredients but I can’t- It’s just tastes awful. I’ll stick to the spinach and banana for now thanks! #GoingGreen

Unique Vision: D&G’s One of a Kind Sunglasses!

May 2, 2016

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Inspired by ancient traditions and the Sicilian Cart, Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana have created a special Sicilian Carretto eyewear collection. With only 100 numbered pieces, the mixture of both optical and sun glasses have been individually crafted by hand; representing the definition of “One of a Kind”; as no two glasses have been decorated the same – making each one completely unique!

Made from canaletto walnut, each frame has been delicately hand-painted with images, symbols and iconography of Sicilian folk culture and history of the Italian island’s famous artistic mode of transport; the Sicilian Cart! Just like the original Sicilian Carretto, every one of the 100 limited edition pieces in the special eyewear collection, reflects Sicily’s tradition and culture through the ample use of of bright colours, multiple layers of paint, Carretto motifs and a great attention to detail!

Personally, I think this is amazing! Dolce and Gabbana have out done themselves in terms of creative inspiration, but on this occasion I have to compliment the artists/decorators for the precision, time consumption and delicate craftsmanship. The results are truly beautiful. I only wish I could afford a pair and be one of the lucky 100! The pieces from this special eyewear collection are definitely collectable pieces, worth treasuring. Like any high-end limited edition fashion piece, I’m sure these glasses will increase in value and be considered a stylish investment!

D&G Sicilian Carretto inspired Sunglasses

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Re-runs on the Runway: From Gallery-to-Catwalk!

April 20, 2016

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When fashion is inspired by art and art is inspired by fashion; its just one big cycle; and it will continue to go around, then come back round again!

d630bab9e4f51e3908a2bf4abf5c561e_f61 mondrian-day-dress

A contributor to the De Stijl art movement, Piet Mondrian was (and still is today), known for his abstract compositions of primary colours (red, blue and yellow) in a black grid of vertical and horizontal lines, against a white background; Mondrian !

His classic compositions were also used as backdrops in the fashion industry, before taking the catwalk in 1965 in the form of an A-line shift dress by Yves Saint Laurent. This iconic “Mondrian dress” was debuted in the Autumn/Winter ’65 season in both a jersey and wool knee length style shift dress.

Since then, similar dresses and other garments alike have been re-inspired and reproduced. Some taking the runway like the infamous YSL piece and others straight to high-street stores or street fashion.

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The VFTT Takes Asia

March 22, 2016

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VFTT 266 Sunnies on Deck 2.0

…Well some of it. It may have been Bali, Cambodia and briefly Malaysia last year, but this year it was time to revisit Thailand and take my first trip to China. Honestly, with weather as cold as it is in Beijing at this time of year, I never saw myself visiting China anytime soon, but as a stop over destination en route to/from Thailand, I thought why not. After choosing the longest layover time, I looked into things to do with eight hours to spare in the capital of China and lo-and-behold I found myself at one of the “New 7 Wonders of the World” – The Great Wall of China! – And The View From the Top came too! Before jumping to The Great Wall, let’s not forget the craziness yet awesomeness that is Bangkok, along with the amazing sceneries of one of Thailand’s beautiful islands; Koh Tao! The VFTT tells all…

VFTT 233 Smoothies on the beach

VFTT 237 Boat Bound

VFTT 232 Wat Po

VFTT 241 Wat grounds!

VFTT 235 Pennies and Wish making

VFTT 234 Shake it like a polaroid picture!

VFTT 236 Fresh Fruit…

VFTT 259 Chang Chang Chang

VFTT 239 Pretty in Pink!

VFTT 240 Passion fruit pud!

VFTT 242 Bubble tea 🙂

VFTT 243 “Street” Fruit Juice

VFTT 249 Sunkissed Waters

VFTT 238 Coconut Ice cream- YUM!

VFTT 247 Corn on the Cob on the beach

VFTT 246 Blue Breeze!

VFTT 245 Iced Coffee..

VFTT 244 Elephant Imprints

VFTT 252 Oh Foam

VFTT 257 “PINEAPPLES!!!”

VFTT 253 Wahed Up!

VFTT 254 A Rocky Climb

VFTT 255 The Secret Island!

VFTT 265 The Gulf of Thailand.

VFTT 256 Longtail boats and clear blue waters!

VFTT 250 Walking the Plank…

VFTT 260 Green with Envy!

VFTT 263 Mini Cupcake 🙂

VFTT 275 Fisheye and the Great Wall

VFTT 248 Sunnies on Deck

VFTT 268 Shadow game!

VFTT 266 Sunnies on Deck 2.0

VFTT 261 Florals and Shadows

VFTT 262 Rocky Views

VFTT 272 The Great Wall of China!

VFTT 273 Chair Lift to The Great Wall

VFTT 258 Free Tea

VFTT 251 Fisheye and a Hike

VFTT 264 Floor 23!

VFTT 270 Elephant Imprint 2.0

VFTT 269 Fisheye on Deck!

VFTT 267 Sunkissed Waters 2.0

VFTT 276 Taboggan Ride @ the Great Wall of China 2.0

VFTT 274 Taboggan Ride @ the Great Wall of China

VFTT 277 Wall Ruins!

VFTT 271 Beijing Bound.

Colour me surprised.

March 3, 2016

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When they talk about fashion and being alternative they mean the David Bowies, Lady Gagas, Susie Bubbles and Jeremy Scotts but when they talk about food and being alternative this is what they mean…

…And if they remade Breakfast at Tiffany’s I’m sure this multicoloured bagel would make its Hollywood debut!

Admittedly, these bagels looked rather odd at a first glance; (just like alternative fashion) for the obvious reasons of confusion (also like alternative fashion), but with that second (or fifth) look, it really is something spectacular! Its hard to tell what the baker (and fashion designer alike) was going for. Is it sweet or is it savoury? (is it cool and quirky?) Is it flavoured and artificial? Full of E numbers or super foods? (Statement making, attention seeking, or just out right fashionable and trendy?) And the underlining question; how? How did they do it? Just, how? Quite literally; “food for thought” -wouldn’t you say? (The same goes for fashion and how certain looks get pulled off? Especially the weird and “alternative” ones?)

But back to bagels, I still do not have an answer to that questions, however I can tell you that all the colourful swirls aside, it tasted like a regular plain bagel. No added flavours (to which I was happy about) and no confusion of taste nor an imprint of colour(s) left on my tongue. So all in all a pretty amazing bagel, considering it looked super cool! Far from your average bagel yet it tasted exactly like your average bagel-its a win, win! This is where my inner nerd meets my inner fatty- I mean foodie! And I love it! I mean how can you go wrong when food looks and tastes so good! (At a second glance, that is!) #FoodPorn

VFTT 219 Multicoloured Bagel Series .2

VFTT 221 Multicoloured Bagel Series .4

VFTT 223 Multicoloured Bagel Series .6

Click here for more from The View From the Top (VFTT) and the Multicoloured Bagel Series…

Somewhere over the Rainbow!

February 1, 2016

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VFTT 207 Somewhere over the rainbow 2/3

VFTT 208 Somewhere over the rainbow 3/3

VFTT 206 Somewhere over the rainbow 1/3

Adding to the collection…VFTT shots on a very grey yet extremely colourful day!

The View From the Top continues….

May 20, 2015

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So I know its been a while (a long long while) but I’m back and so is the VFTT. After almost a year of not having travelled any where, I thought it was time for a break a way- in the Sun of course. A lover of all things exotic, culture and beautiful landscape, I spent 10 amazing days in Bali, Indonesia. After my trip to Thailand in 2013, I know i’d be back to South-East Asia in no time and with only 10 days to spare this time, I know i’ll be back again.

Capturing moments, experiences and tropical element; through vibrant colours, nature and pre-summer time vibes; these View From the Top shots are just a snippet of my first trip to Bali.