“And in the end, the universe tends to unfold as it should”- Albert Camus

I was going through my old files and saw a journal that I had 5 years ago. It wasn’t a normal journal , in fact it was my dream book. In this book are cut-outs from magazines of what I want to achieve, places I want to see, things I want in life… (both deep and shallow)

And flicking through this journal, I had images of which I thought was impossible to achieve 5 years ago… things such as:

1. Study at the University of Western Australia
2. Visit Paris, Milan & Barcelona
3. Own lots and lots of shoes
4. Get a dream job as a Marketing Coordinator
5. Own a shiny red sports car

To launch the birth of my online shop, FassionCave, we decided to host a family and friends event in a form of a Shoe Party. I have never heard of this word myself, in fact I envisioned that it would be a perfect idea to hold a party that includes food, drinks, music and shopping.

We were lucky to find a venue in Perth at Oxford Hotel that accomodated 50 guests in a beautiful sunken cellar. The feeling that I  got from this venue is “cave-like” with its stone walls and that feeling of discovery as soon as you go downstairs. It was the perfect venue albeit the weekend band and dim lighting – it gave such a fun and vibrant atmosphere.

Check out our sweet video that sums up the event. Fantastic video courtesy of Daniel Ng of Visual Formation.

FassionCave Shoe Party Video

We were able to showcase the selection of boots, high heels , ballet flats and wedges from our brands: Perth local designer -VanGoh Shoes and Brazilian Brands- Ramarim,Vizzano, Moleca and Beira Rio.

Here are some of the photos from the night, with happy faces from the ladies.

Fashionistas – Panda & Ann

My fellow shoe lovers & friends – Natalie, Jasmine and me

Shoe enthusiasts – Reena and Ling

Trend setters – Christina , Felicia (fashion blogger) & Eunice

Where fashion is timeless

The team at FassionCave

Special guests from the venue

Co-founders of FassionCave

FassionCave hopes that this is a start of something great. I would like to extend my thanks to the guests, friends and family that supported us and made it such an event to remember.

We had a great party and looking forward to having more celebratory events in the future.

It has been a while since I posted something on my vercess.com. Apologies, I have been quite busy starting my own business!

That’s right! despite having a full time job, planning my wedding, managing investment, I was able to start an online shoe shop.

My dreams of owning a fashion empire has come alive. I would like to share with you my online shoe store. FassionCave!

FassionCave is Australia’s boutique online shoe store specialising in comfortable shoes that do not compromise on style and quality.

We source the best suppliers in Australia to bring high quality shoes without the price tag of high end labels. We also have a 360 degree view on product images to bring your online shopping experience to the next level.

Me, Don and Fredy have worked hard for the last 9 months to bring this baby to life. My website is now fully functional and went live for 2 weeks and had 25 sales in just 2 weeks! I am very excited and priviledged to share this with you and hopefully we will do well in this industry!

Now, I have been quite busy organising a VIP Shoe Party happening this weekend! Will keep you posted!

I’ll be another year older in a day. That’s right. One day.

If there is a new year resolution, why don’t we have a birthday resolution??

I have planned to change a few things this year now that I will be 26.

1. I will remember people’s name especially the ones I just met.
2. I will try a new food every time I go out and eat.
3. I will do the things I like and enjoy doing: writing , drawing, photography, dancing, singing.
4. I will eat food that is good for my body.
5. I will exercise not because for any other reason but for my own health.
6. I will listen to my instincts.
7. I will spend quality time with the people that matter to me.
8. I will be more aware of the people around me and their needs.
9. I will talk to strangers.
10. I will rejoice in my achievements and keep positive at all times.

I have learnt a lot this year and will continue to improve myself and be a better person.

I have always dreamt of going to Paris. The dream of croissants for breakfast, macaroons in hand as I stroll along Champs Elysees, seeing the Eiffel tower lit up at night, seeing lovers from every corner walking hand in hand, see the beautiful people in their most elegant yet subtle beauty. Ohhh…. I have always wanted to see Paris… and I have finally seen it.

When I was a young girl, my dad went to Paris and brought back a small Eiffel tower figurine.

I loved it a lot.

He said that Paris is very beautiful, it is a place of love, art and fashion.

He said that one day, I will get to see it too.

And after 15 years- after studying, getting a job, and saving enough money to go for a decent trip, we decided to make the dream a reality…

My fiance decided that we book a flight to Paris! My heart raced to a million times per second.

I have never been happier. I really want to see it with my own eyes, is it really that magical of a place – and what the movies and literature depicts it to be? I just had to see it for myself. And oh, It was love at first sight.

These are some of the things I love about Paris.

Call it cliche- It is a lover’s paradise, Everywhere you go there are lovers. The place itself is very romantic, the language is so eloquently spoken… When french fight it still sounds like sensual whispers , there are artists, painters, singers all living for love of life.

It has one of the world’s most beautiful Art Galleries. I’m a the entrance of the Louvre. It is one of the biggest museum in the world and it holds the famous Mona Lisa, egyptian relics and beautiful renaissance paintings and greek sculptures.

Every building is picturesque

The buildings like like artworks

A place full of cute little things – (this is a handmade puppy made of strings)

It is the city where Amelie was filmed ( my favourite french film!) I was at the restaurant where she worked as a waitress in that movie. Shame, it has become a bit commercialised. 

Paris has beautiful skyline. This is the view from the second highest level from the Eiffel tower.

Its a place to explore your creativity and be inspired by artists. This is Montramarte- a place where artists/ student/ family paint and sing and play musical instruments.

It is a place where great artists have lived.

Paris holds one of the world’s biggest and must luxurious gardens for the aristocracy. This is in Versaille, about 40 mins train ride from Paris CBD.

And how can I forget the romantic Seine river. It was dusk, love songs on the background, cool breeze, beautiful views and the bridges that you will cross when you cruise. Once you go under the bridge it will be jet black, it was a perfect time to steal a kiss. :-*

I would have liked to stay more than 4 days, and explore the culture of France more but I had to go to other cities in Europe too. But so far, Im happy to have seen and been to one of my dream places in my lifetime.

Oh Paris… One day, I will come back for you.

He said that Vercess sounds like a brand more than a name.

This made me smile.

At the Paris airport, one of the staff said that my name has a “french ring” to it.

This made me even happier.

I googled my name, Vercess, and there is no one else with the same name as me, except a surname with a different spelling. But that doesn’t count.

I am happy to get a unique name that my dad invented.

Although the downside, is that some people call me Versace or Versus or Versession.

Otherwise, I think I will use my name to establish a brand in the near future.

I always wanted to be a Fashion Designer or Illustrator. But, it seems like my life didn’t end up that way.

I enrolled in a Fashion Design course and I got in. But, I couldn’t afford it at that time, and I was advised that it was not a practical idea to do. So I decided to do Communications and Marketing. Something close to it, that eventually I can use for my entrepreneurship or to build my Fashion empire!

I still kind of regret not pursuing my dreams…

But it has kept coming back to me, and as I go through my ordinary life, I wonder …

What if I chose to do a different path?

Where will I be today?

I hope that this blog serves as my salvation for my creativity. So I can share my talents to the world. Here are some sketches I did. Enjoy!

Vercess Couture Collection 2012

Vercess Couture retro-inspired dress

Dance the blues away with V Couture cowgirl outfit

The Vercess Couture cooler-than-cool winter outfit

The Vercess Couture futuristic fashionista

The Vercess Couture glamourous goddess

These are just previews for the Vercess Couture designer collection for 2012.

Will keep you posted for more Fashion Illustrations!

]]> http://www.vercess.com/blog/2012/01/14/my-fashion-designer-dreams/feed/ 0 http://www.vercess.com/blog/2011/12/31/2012-and-my-good-life-in-2011/ http://www.vercess.com/blog/2011/12/31/2012-and-my-good-life-in-2011/#comments Sat, 31 Dec 2011 15:15:13 +0000 Vercess http://www.vercess.com/blog/?p=279 It has come to the end of the year already and with the New Year comes new hopes, new dreams and new goals.

Somehow I have a feeling that 2012 will be my year. It is the year of the Dragon and that means luck, prosperity and new goals and dreams to achieve.

Looking back into 2011, here are the milestones that I have achieved so far.

1. I made more new friends and maintained solid friendships.

2. Got back into shape and lost 5 kgs in 1 month by joining Fat Fighters – an idea that my friends invented to motivate each other and explore fun ways of keeping fit

3. 2011 is my year of Travel – went to Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, Malaysia, Paris, Venice, Milan, Rome, Barcelona, Zurich, Malaga, Cadiz, Gilbraltar, Lisbon, Alicante, Genoa.

4. Year I got engaged and organised an unique and memorable Engagement party

5. Year I was able to turn my first property into investment and became a landlady at 25.

6. Year we moved to new place in East Perth and see the beautiful Swan river everyday.

7. Year I turned a quarter of a century old and learned to celebrate my talents.

So I’m quite happy with what I have achieved, but I am not stopping there. They said shoot for the stars, If you fail atleast you have reached the sky!

So here it is, I made a short list of my 2012 New Year’s Resolution.

1. Look after myself and my health

2. Launch my online venture : Fassion Cave

3. Update my Blogs weekly and do more fashion illustrations

4. Be more Career focused and learn to Network

5. Organise wedding well and design my wedding dress

6. Save a deposit for my second property

7. Meet 5 new friends

8. Read more- books, blogs

9. Learn to Bake!

10. Think of creative ways to make extra cash

I am super excited for the new year. There’s so much more things to look forward to.

So many good things to foresee. I cannot wait to fill you in with my 2012 New Year’s resolutions!

Go for a BREAK or ESC

I know life is something i cannot CTRL

There’s things in the past i wish i could DEL

And Insert a better End

And no I cannot SCROLL

Page Down and see whats below

Or Tab and see whats next

Feel like ive wasted years in Num Lock

Of days of just 9 to 5

Go Home and do the same

CTRL + C and CTRL+V

Sometimes i just want to RESTART

And Enter a life full of U and I

No more Y’s

Just want to Insert and C

A better life, a better F8.

By: Vercess

So I made a few illustrations for my bridesmaid’s dresses.

I have decided that the theme will be lilac and because I am obsessed with Greek mythology, I would like a Grecian Inspired dresses. Very feminine, very chic and romantic.

Presenting the Vercess Couture Bridesmaid collection !

I will be designing my wedding dress and too and getting it handmade but I will keep it a top secret for now so will let you in a sneak peak of my bridesmaid dress illustrations.

Day 20: today we are taking the train to Zurich. We were in transit in Milan for a quick shopping. We had issues with our luggage because when we were going to leave our bags at the drop off point they had a 20k limit for the bag. Be careful when you go next time because we had issues repacking and unpacking right at the door as the guy won’t let us hold our luggage. It’s only 4euro for less than 5hrs so that was ok. I didn’t end up seeing the shopping centre in Milan, it became a useless trip and have caused an issue with me and fiance as I went shopping in the train station and have promised to meet him back at a certain hour but lost track of time and didn’t end up seeing him at the time I promised. Big big mistake , he thought I got robbed or got lost or got mugged. It was a bad day altogether and our trip went downhill from there. Arrived Zurich  at almost midnight and it is a beautiful place- big city, but cold. Coming from
Summer in Spain to cold 5 degrees in Zurich I got a bit sick again.. Sudden change in temperature and not enough sleep+ alcohol is never a good combo. We just went to bed for a good night sleep.

Day 21: today is exploring Zurich day, the guys had to get up at 6.30 am to pick up the car because we will be driving from Zurich to Paris the next day. We then decided to go to bahnhofstrasse the best shopping area in Zurich , we also tried the baby macaroons . It’s so good and seriously much much better than French macaroons as it’s not too sweet and better ganache! We then went for lunch and it was awesome- we had Swiss food and it’s normally a pub food but much much better than what we have in Australia. I had a jumbo steak with cheese and their salad dressing is also so yummy.

We went on a boat cruise to the other side of Zurich to see the castles , it was a nice afternoon and very relaxing. The boat ride was great and we were able to see the picturesque scenery and see the sunset. We went to the grocery store to get some movenpick ice-cream and also some meat carpaccio.Didn’t know that it was actually horse meat until our friend Scotty told us after we have finished it all.

We were going to hit the nightclubs in Zurich because apparently they have the best nightclubs there but we didn’t end up going, although we had the nicest cocktails in town at the outdoor alfresco called “movie”. We had dinner at bahnhofstrasse again but just next door to where we had lunch. Back to the hotel for some more drinks and next day we plan to visit the alps..

Day 22: woke up early today to visit the Alps- we went for a ride at around 6.30 am and checked out, it was so cold and hazy. We had to drive up The mountains of Zurich and get up to 10,000 ft high to see the alps. It was 80 euro per person to go up the 4lifts to see the glaciers . It was spectacular; the best view in the world. Being so high up the Swiss alps we were literally on top of the world..!

We then had to drive fromZurich to Paris to get to Orly – 8 hrs of driving for the guys but it was all worth it. The experience was amazing, the views were beautiful and we sat in the car, listing to some French songs. The guys did very well to cross two countries and not get lost. Arrived at Orly airport ibis hotel to stay for one night before our flight back- and we had dinner at ibis hotel and food was horrible. My steak felt like it was microwaved from frozen. Never had a Medium rare steak that tasted very well done. So I suggest that if you can, do not eat at airport hotels. Had to repack again tonight and flying back to Perth tomorrow.

Day 23: Woke up at 6 am to get to the airport and get some tax back! It’s ok I received about 65 euro all together- claimed10% off with every purchase above 150 euro- my big purchases were my Lancel clutch, Zara and hmm clothes and Italian bags. Not the best day today.. Tired and emotionally draining. 12 hour flight to Malaysia and then to Perth- we now will lose 6 hours so we will get to Perth on Monday afternoon.. There are so many things I learned on this trip, being more aware about the people around me. The art of packing, different ways of life, different languages and cultures, importance of being organized, time management, and there is really no place like home. There are still so many things and places I want to see, maybe when I travel again next time – I will
not be so young and naive anymore; I want to be well versed, I want to be able to know my role in this life.

After standing on top of the Swiss alps- I just realized I am at the prime of my life : there really is nothing that I cannot do, nothing else missing in my life, traveling is a journey and a cultural learning experience. Today – I have come to realize that I am not an island, but an oasis yet still to be discovered.