I got to know Martha through her sister, as we used to be colleagues and today good friends. I actually got to know Martha through the items and accessories her sister used to borrow from her which always caught my eye … it was our joke – every time I commented that I liked one of her accessories she used to tell me it’s actually my sister’s 😉

Then I met Martha in person… a beautiful, confident person with a big heart. Her posture, style and the way she interacts with people emit class, confidence and sophistication, yet fun!

This blog is not about me, it is about style and fashion and how it can be adapted to everyone. I asked Martha whether she would be willing to participate in a photo shoot, as I believe her style and fashion sense can inspire other people – thankfully she agreed:)

I asked Martha to choose three different outfits (from her vast collection😉), casual, smart and elegant.

Have a look at the pictures, taken by Kenneth who very patiently followed all my (sometimes difficult) requests:) Another big thank you goes to Vinaccia restaurant for allowing us to take the pictures at this extraordinary venue – which by the way serves exquisite food!

Finally a big thank you to Martha, for accepting this invitation. You will also find my interview to her in this blog post.

So here goes…. My Blog, Your Story! And as Dior’s fashion Director says, Fashion is not an image, it is an experience.

Happy Easter everyone and enjoy this special blog post!

Yan

X

Casual look

Martha chose a coral pair of trousers paired up with a striped top and a denim jacket. She wore her Jimmy Choo nude pumps to complement the outfit. Nude shoes are a must have in ones wardrobe, as you can dress them down or up as you wish.

Smart outfit

I loved the selection of clothes for this look, as she did not shy away from colours. The green highlighted the colour of her eyes and the Versace black coat and hat changed the outfit to give it a more smart and playful look.

Elegance

I knew Martha would not disappoint 🙂 She went for a classic little black dress and we added a fur stole for some of the pictures. She dressed it up with classic accessories and a fuchsia clutch bag – one item in a different colour which made the outfit more vibrant yet still very elegant.

Selection of clothes and accessories

When chatting with Martha, she told me that the clothes she brought with her varied from designer items (both local and foreign) to high street stores and she complemented her looks with different accessories, some of which had been passed on to her from her grandparents and mum. This mix of new and old and the creation of such lovely combinations resulted in one fun photo shoot!

Interview with Martha

Favourite designer/s:

I dream of having a Marchesa gown accompanied by Lorraine Schwartz or vintage Bulgari jewellery. Christian Louboutin‘s red soles or the classic beauty of a pair of Manolo Blahnik slingbacks would complete the look. And who would not like to have one of Hermès iconic Birkin or Kelly handbags? 

Favourite model/s …. reason? 

Iman (Zara Mohamed Abdulmajid). When I met her I was in awe with the elegance and grace she exudes. Her confidence made me believe that she knows exactly who she is and where she wants to be. I also like Gisele Bündchen’s laid back surfer look.

If you had to pick 3 items related to fashion which you cannot stay without, what would these be? 

Hmmmm difficult question: I would say scissors, shampoo and underwear … but I guess that’s not the answer you were looking for. Right? But I think I can live without lots of things. In such a consumerist society it is actually a very relieving feeling. But, to answer your question I would say: black dress, jeans, nude shoes.

Your favourite possession today? 

My grandma’s wedding ring. She had two rings – one to wear on a daily basis and one for special occasions. I have the latter. 

Your favourite accessory? 

My smile … it is always in fashion haha. And once again, I got sidetracked. My favourite accessory would be sunglasses. I once went to a local designer and told her to design a dress based on a pair of sunglasses I had just bought. You can imagine the designer’s expression. Thankfully she knows me well!

Your best quality?  

My heart. I want to help everyone and go out of my way to try to make those around me happy.  Unfortunately, sometimes, my kind and generous disposition are construed as a weakness and some do take advantage. However, I choose to forgive and forget. It helps me sleep better at night.

As a person and even during the photo shoot, you emit confidence and you feel very much at ease around the camera. Any tips on how to boost one’s confidence? 

Confidence … I do not view myself as confident. I might give that impression and if that is the case it is a mask to protect the ‘child’ in me. Very few people get to see who I am and how I am feeling. In my eyes, I am never enough. I should/could have done more, said more (or nothing at all), listened more … it is a very tiring state of mind. To counter this, I constantly try to invest in loving myself more by dedicating more time to myself and by changing the negative script that inhabits my subconscious. I tell myself: would you do/say this to a friend – then I should not be doing/saying it to myself. To be honest, sometimes my impulse takes over my good intentions towards myself.

During the shoot, we spoke about your passion for theatre and the ‘mask’ one gets to wear or remove. You stated that having a theatrical script you feel in a safe position that you are not hurting anyone. These words really resonated – how do you adapt to the different roles and characters? And how does acting help you in your day to day life?

Although, unfortunately or not, I am not a professional actor, I am blessed to be surrounded by fantastic artists. Together we create a safe space in which to shed the layers created by life’s experiences. The deeper we study ourselves the more we can delve into the characters we play, and vice versa. When playing a character and/or relying on a script, nothing you say or do can hurt the people around you (if one is true to the character/script). In life, however, one look, one remark … can hurt someone or add to a person’s self-doubt. I could be standing next to someone who is completely broken and I would never know. I keep in mind that everyone I meet is fighting a battle I know nothing about. Thus I try my best to be kind to others … and also to myself.

You clearly have a passion for fashion and a very elegant and classy style – how do you create your outfits? 

Style is a way to say who I am without having to speak and thus is fluid as much as my vision of myself. Vivienne Westwood once said: “Fashion is life-enhancing and, like everything that gives pleasure, it is worth doing well”. I usually start by looking at my diary for the day. Based on that, I choose what shoes to wear. Then I build on that. My final accessory is always a scarf. 

How often do you change your look? 

Daily. I am not someone who experiments with hairstyles, colour or wardrobe. I love some items too much. Yet, like most women nowadays, I go from sportswear to smart wear and then loungewear in just one day.  I have curly hair but sometimes I blow dry it straight. I also like wearing a tight bun or ponytail. I can sport all styles in just one week.

Do you plan your shopping sprees, or do you go on a whim and shop? 

When I plan to shop, usually I make a very specific list and end up going home with nothing in hand. Thus, I gave up doing this. I constantly try to convince myself: I don’t need anything, but then I walk in the street and spot a lovely dress and at that point, I just need to have it!

Any tips from Martha to the readers of the blog? 

My daily mantra is to act in an “easy and relaxed manner, in a healthy and positive way”. This also applies to fashion.

Credits

Photos – Kenneth Azzopardi

Model – Martha M. Gauci

Hair – Xar Hair & Nails, Ibragg

Venue – Vinaccia Restuartant, Rabat

Behind the scenes collage