Beauty Break: Huge Beauty Review!

Long-awaited review I promised my side-kick on a Sephora trip I did before I left to go back to the UK. Enjoy, and sorry for the long hiatus! University has been kicking our asses to a life not kind to blogging. x

OOTD: Vampy Verma

Hi ladies! I think it's been long due that we actually did our styling off of what we have in our closet. I have always thought it such a hassle because I'm a) without a good camera and b) without a willing photographer. However, I think we can slide imperfections in this first attempt at a Outfit Of The Day post. Today I was inspired by the new Arsenal captain, Tommy V. While I have nothing to gush about his personal off-duty style, or lack there of, I do always associate him with plaid shirts and dark colours. 

Verma's vampiric good looks and chiselled features always overwhelm whatever outfit he seems to be wearing so let's be real now, it doesn't really matter what he puts on because he seems to pull it off. So this outfit was pretty easy to put together especially after I found this fun take on the lumberjack shirt from Zara. The rest just fell into place. Military green trousers as a spin on the amount of cargo shorts the man seems to own. Wedge trainers in place of his trusted kicks, and assorted arm candy as he's often spotted with trinkets around his wrist. The bag adds toughness - representative of his playing style, and the delicate scarf is added to give a bit more flair to an otherwise tough outfit. 

Shirt, Zara, £53

Trousers, James Jeans, £100

Bag, Alexander Wang, £730 (colour unavailable)

Shoes, Topshop, £80

Scarf, Alexander McQueen, £380

Wrap-around bracelet, Hermès, price upon request

Silver bracelet, ChloBo, £325/set of five

Woven bracelet, local Thai market, price unknown

Safe Hands: If We Can't Get It, Then We'll Wear It

Hi ladies! Though Safe Hands has been on hiatus for a while, we know we can quickly get over that sad truth with this beautiful gold-green shade from O.P.I. off of their The Amazing Spider-Man collection that consists of six beautiful shades and a shatter.

I'll let you in a little secret here: I was a huge Spider-Man nerd. And I mean, huge. So when this collection came out, I was definitely more than a little excited. I haven't seen the movie myself; mainly because I still cannot accept anyone else but Tobey Maguire as Spidey. I'm just being obnoxious, I realise. Guilty as charged. 

I went to my local O.P.I. nail bar today to get my regulars and decided it would be the perfect chance to try one of the shades that has been constantly compared to Chanel's Peridot. After a bit of reading on various nail blogs, it's safe for me to say that Just Spotted The Lizard is a flawless dupe of the former. 

I love the idea of the scaly, slimy, yet slick feeling this shade gives off. It's a beautiful combination of gold, olive green, and a tint of blue when reflected and I am absolutely hooked. Painted on, it's a lot more gold than I imagined, but I still love it nonetheless. Feeling a bit bold today, I decided to play the gold-green against Arsenal's yellow monstrosity from the 2006/2007 season - our first away kit playing in the Emirates. A bit of bling looks good against our kit doesn't it? Now if only we can get the real thing.

Just Spotted The Lizard.

2 coats applied over base coat, covered with top coat. Lighting indoor; full blast. 

Lighting darkened.

In the shade. 

Beauty Break: Get ready with me!

Come see how I get ready on a day to day basis, especially when I'm somewhat "on the run" and have only a short while to get ready. By no means that this is the quickest or easiest routine I do, but it is a routine I try and make time for as it takes just a little over 15 minutes including hair (yes, I admit, I do have the perks of having short hair!). The look is also very simple and is my version of make-up-without-looking-like-you're-wearing-make-up. Enjoy, and I do hope you find some use to it!

Products in order of use:

1) Shu Uemura depsea water facial mist (in Mint)
2) STEAMCREAM all-in-one natural moisturiser
3) NARS Pro-prime pore refining primer
4) Mamechiyo for Shu Uemura UV under base BB mousse
5) Shu Uemura face powder matte (in Medium light)
6) Sweet Lei Lani finishing powder (in Sun)
7) MAC powder blush (in Melba)
8) Urban Decay eyeshadow (in Buck) - off of the NAKED palette
9) MAC Prep+Prime eye (in Medium)
10) MAC mineralize eyeshadow (in Making It Easy)
11) Urban Decay eyeshadow (in Virgin) - off of the NAKED palette
12) Benefit They're Real! mascara
13) Apotek Hjärtat lip balm
14) Make Up Store sheer lipstick (in Gate)
15) Urban Decay by Skindinävia All Nighter long-lasting makeup setting spray

Applicators in order of use:

1) Shu Uemura press powder puff
2) MAC 182 "kabuki" brush
3) MAC 129SH brush
4) MAC 266SE brush
5) MAC 275SE brush
6) MAC 227 brush
7) Shu Uemura eyelash curler

Hair products in order of use:

1) Kérastase Resistance Volumactive amplifying perfecting mousse (for fine and vulnerable hair)
2) Label.M soft wax for light to medium control

Beauty Break: Curl Control (Product Review)

Hello all! Kay and I have decided to expand our Beauty Break section and dip our toes into the world of beauty product reviews. The product I'll be reviewing today is Miss Jessie's Quick Curls ($32 for 8 oz.), which is described to be a "weightless styling cream, which enhances hair’s natural bounce and shape without any heaviness" while it "does away with frizz and dryness."

Now, as one of the few Asian girls born without naturally pin-straight hair, I have struggled to find products that will help my curls stay in place and not expand/frizz out into a giant mess in Houston humidity. As my hair is also extremely thick, I find that many products simply do not have the strength to hold my hair in place without turning it into a helmet of gel. (Gel dandruff? Definitely not sexy).

Enter Miss Jessie's - a smooth, non-sticky cream that goes straight on your damp hair that smells absolutely lovely as well (think citrus and ginger, mmm). The smell isn't overpowering but lingers throughout the day. I find that it does weigh my hair down slightly, but it isn't noticeable enough for me to complain. I've allowed my hair to air-dry after applying the product.

Without any products in my hair:

With product (apologies for the lighting/quality of these 2 pictures!!):

As you can see, the top half of my hair hasn't poofed up, while the rest of my hair has a nice tousled, wavy look. Miss Jessie's is definitely becoming a permanent member of my makeup/beauty collection!

Transfer Talk: Robin van Persie

It seems that summer happened and everything else comes to a stand still - especially around here. First and foremost we'd like to apologise for the lack of activity on the Colney Chic. There has been a massive amount of travelling in my part, and a lot of Lia things and shenanigans in hers. (You can ask the details of that to her yourself). Euros came and gone, and so did the Olympics. Now here we are closing in to the end of summer and the start of another football season. 

The months between the seasons are often gruelling, but fear not - transfer rumours will relentlessly keep you company whether you like it or not. As expected, one player will sickeningly dominate the transfer activities during the break. Arsenal seems to be quite good at providing said players (see: Cesc Fabregas, Samir Nasri) so why should this year be any different? This summer, we witnessed the classic will-he-won't-he saga provided by the Arsenal frontman and (now ex) Captain, Robin van Persie. 

I have an unhealthy relationship with Robin van Persie. And by relationship, I mean obsession. And by obsession, I mean a sickness. He was plastered on my walls, downloaded to my laptops, and on my lips 24/7 for the past 5 years. Maybe it was the amount of time I spent talking about him to the point of nausea that helped me cope through this summer or maybe it was the fact that I just couldn't care less anymore. Ever since he released that bordering on megalomania statement, I knew I wanted him to pack his shit, give back the keys, and out the door. 

In the words of Whitney Houston: it's not right, but it's okay. 

Now I'm not the football fan blessed with the talent to write a witty thought-provoking article with tactics thrown around like it's Jaeger on a Saturday night, but I'll attempt and give my two cents in the best way I know how. I tend to liken a player's stay at a certain club to a relationship. Many football fans do use this allegory, though I like to think I take it further and better. The Cesc case is easy - he was still head over heels with his first love whose relationship he had ended prematurely, being young. The Samir case was a regrettable one night stand, and Henry's is the 'we know we're each other's love life even if we're not together'.

Robin is the one you waited for so long to be good to you. Robin is the one you loyally stood by while he went out to prove himself a man. Robin is the one who showed you off to his friends and made you sure he was yours. Robin is the one who endlessly hinted a proposal. The one whose closet you dare ransack to prove there's a ring only to realise, he's nothing more than the one that could have been. A dream. A postcard promise. A lie. A disappointment. A waste of time. 

Like the rest of them he leaves you for the neighbourhood whore - famous for all the wrong things. 

These two looks are created inspired by the philosophy of the two reds Robin van Persie has painted his career in. We attempt to embody the spirit of both Arsenal and MU in the context of the transfer through both outfits. The Arsenal look is unique, fashion-forward, and a little on the quirky side. We chose a draped silk dress with a twisted bust that spits out fabric to the knees, calf-hair pumps, and wooden box clutch with a matryoshka as a charming accent. The Man U look is strong, time-tested, and in your face. A rouched snake-skin print lacy dress showing skin in all the desired places, strappy sandals, and a solid black clutch completes the man-catcher look. 

Dress (Arsenal), Prabal Gurung, £789.25

Shoes (Arsenal), Alexandre Birman, £345

Clutch (Arsenal), Charlotte Olympia, £480

Dress (MU), Roberto Cavalli, £1690

Shoes (MU), Rupert Sanderson, £543

Clutch (MU), Bottega Veneta, £1125

Country Costumes: Poland

It's almost a shame that it's taken us so long to feature one of the host countries of this summer, but shhh, we won't tell if you don't! Aside from automatically qualifying this year as one of the host countries, Poland have only appeared one other time in the Euros, four years ago in 2008, and did not make it out of their group. It'll be interesting to see what they can achieve this time on home soil, in Group A with Russia, the Czech Republic, and Greece as their opponents.

There are really only three Polish footballers (who chose to play for Poland) that I can immediately think of. Of course, as an Arsenal fan, the two Polish names that come to mind are our two Poles in goal, Szczesny and Fabianski. The third? None other than my favourite foul mouthed, corn-hating* crazy, Artur Boruc. Needless to say, I don't have much knowledge of the Polish team, or even Poland in general, apart from the fact that I find their names horribly hard to spell and pronounce.

It seems that every time I've seen Poland play, they're up against Germany and either stone-faced Podolski or Klose are the goalscorers. Not exactly the most flattering memories, I know. Ignoring those memories, I've chosen to use Poland's red and white as my main inspiration in assembling this outfit.

With simple black skinnies, a white clutch, and a draping white tank top, the loudest part of the set are the accessories. The swirling bracelet set with blood red crystals, silver pumps, and red teardrop earrings all serve to add a bit of glamour and sophistication to the look.

*speaking of course in reference to Dirty Tackle's weekly rage list parodies.


Tank top, Elizabeth and James, £125;
Jeans, Liberty, £165;
Pumps, Nine West, £50;
Clutch, Valextra, £842;
Bracelet, 1928 Jewelry, £15;
Earrings, Max&Chloe, £18

Country Costumes: Denmark

The Danish Dynamite may well be the dark horse of Group B this summer. Tossed in the group of death along with Holland, Germany, and Portugal, many have already written Denmark off as the bottom of the four. However, Denmark are a solid, competitive side - not every member of the team is as disappointing as Nicklas Bendtner - and, in my opinion, should not be underestimated.

Having one major title to their name, the European Championship of 1992 where they defeated defending champs Holland in the semifinals, Denmark have fared much better in Europe than they have on the world stage, with only 4 total appearances in the World Cup, having never made it further than the quarterfinals in 1998.

I had the pleasure of visiting Denmark last summer during a roadtrip of sorts that also included stops in the Netherlands, Sweden, and Norway. Sorry, Finland! It's a gorgeous country with adorable houses and lovely architecture in general, and has wonderful summer weather to boot. I've kept some details of my visit to Denmark, along with the national team, in mind as I put together this look.

Starting with a fun printed skirt, I've paired it with a simple black vest and a minimalistic handbag and wedges to keep from shifting attention away from the skirt. The accessories in the form of the spiked ring and lightning bolt earrings add some excitement into the look, an unsubtle reference to the nickname of the Danish Dynamite.

Vest, Ted Baker, £42;
Skirt, Marni, £203;
Wedges, Miu Miu, £402;
Bag, Phillip Lim, £478;
Ring, Tom Binns, £95;
Earrings, ASOS, £7

Country Costumes: Greece

We probably all know Greece best for its lengthy history (I could go on and on about all of the beautiful art and architecture of years past in Greece, but I'll spare you the details), as an economic hot mess in more recent times, and football-wise, as the dark horse champions of 2004.

On the world stage, Greece has only made it to two World Cups, exiting after the group stages both times, and had qualified for the Euros only once, 24 years prior to becoming champions in 2004. Euro 2008, as defending champions, wasn't so great for the Greeks - they became the first defending champions to go home without having earned a single point in the group stage, losing to Sweden, Russian, and Spain, scoring a lone goal in their last match. It surely won't be hard to improve upon their last tournament this summer. (One would hope, at least).

There is one small detail I can't wait to see from Greece this coming tournament, and that would be their names on the backs of their shirts. Nearly every man on their team will be the Vennegoor of Hesselink of Greece. Aside from that, I can't really say I have much interest in their team and will wait for them to either surprise me, or prove me right in my expectations for them this tournament.

For this outfit, I've chosen a more neutral palette, focusing on the simple, yet elegant style of the Greeks. Pastel jeans are in this season and this pale blue-green pair is perfect paired with a floaty, nude blouse. I had to go with gladiator style sandals for footwear and delicate gold bangles and earrings as the accessories. A plain white messenger bag completes the look.

Blouse, Phillip Lim, £306;
Jeans, J Brand, £190;
Sandals, Steve Madden, £36;
Bag, Ralph Lauren, £539;
Earrings, Kenneth Cole, £20;
Bangles, J Crew, £20

Country Costumes: Netherlands (Lia)

There are four main details about the Dutch that come to mind when giving a summary the team. Conflict between the divas - with each other or their managers (Gullit vs Advocaat, Davids vs Hiddink, Van Nistelrooy vs Van Basten, Van Persie vs Sneijder), horrible penalty taking skills (Cocu's spooky ability to always hit the post), a permanently weak defense, and muscles/bones made of spun sugar (Van Basten, Van Persie, Robben, Vlaar to name just a few mainstays in the treatment room).

Look in the dictionary and you'll probably find a picture of Oranje under the definition of "(forever a) bridesmaid." We don't really like to count the number of times we've appeared in the World Cup finals (1974, 1978, 2010) and failed to win. Aside from being champions in Euro 1988, the Dutch side have little to show for their collective talents in terms of silverware.

There are of course at least two Dutch names that probably every football fan has heard of, the first being Johann Cruijff. Total football. Under manager Rinus Michels and led by Cruijff, the Dutch dazzled in 1974, defeating both Brazil and Argentina before falling to West Germany in the final. Anyone that's old enough to have watched that final still experienced the magic of Dutch football first-hand, with the Dutch scoring before a single German had touched the ball. The second name? Marco van Basten. His stunning volley against the Soviet Union is unforgettable.

Every tournament comes with two certainties. A stunning goal that's a contender for goal of the tournament, and tears. Van Persie's free kick against Côte d'Ivoire in 2006, Robben's goal against France in 2008, and Van Bronckhorst's long range shot against Uruguay in 2010 that silenced Jabulani critics for half a second are forever etched in my mind. I also remember the tears clearly, but of course they're not nearly as nice to discuss in this case. I've infused a tough edge to the traditional orange, represented by the clutch and heels, with a lion printed tee along with zipper detailed jeans, chained wrap bracelet, and a spiked headband. The drop earrings bring just a touch of delicacy and balance to the outfit.

Tee, Dorthy Perkins, £13;

Jeans, J Brand, £223;

Heels, Hervé Léger, £143;

Clutch, Givenchy, £795;

Bracelet, Pret a Beaute, £82;

Earrings, Macy's, £68

Country Costumes: Portugal

I have to say, Portugal is a team I love to maturely make faces or pretend-gag over every time they're mentioned. Every time I think of them, I get flashbacks of that match - dubbed the Battle of Nuremberg - during the 2006 World Cup and have nightmares of drowning in grease, courtesy of Cristiano Ronaldo and his love for hair products.

Having first qualified for the World Cup in 1966 and the Euros in 1984, Portugal have made five appearances in each tournament, having won in neither. Portugal have a rather tumultuous early history in terms of results in the time between forming in 1914 and their first qualification for a major tournament. Between the two World Wars all but putting the sporting worlds on hold and overall lack of experience and consistency, it wasn't until the 1990s, with the help of Portugal's golden generation (think of names like Figo, Couto, and Costa), that they became a more difficult team to face.

The closest Portugal have come to glory was back on home soil in 2004, where they lost to dark horse and eventual champions, Greece, in both the opening match of the tournament and the final. Following 4th place in 2006 and being eliminated in the quarterfinals in 2008 and round of 16 in 2010, they started off their Euro 2012 qualifiers poorly, drawing with Cyprus and falling to Norway. However, they survived the play-offs, winning 6-2 on aggregate against Bosnia and Herzegovina, and were placed in the group of death along with Germany, the Netherlands, and Denmark, which will surely provide for some entertaining football at the very least.

With many different civilisations having influenced Portugal's culture for thousands of years, it can be said that Portugal is a melting pot of of culture. They have a great appreciation for the arts - music, dance, theatre, painting/sculpture, so I chose to compile an outfit with a relaxed, artsy feel. With the asymmetrical maxi skirt as a centrepiece, I've paired it with a nude zippered vest, white flats, and a two-tone clutch. I've accesorised with accents of green, bypassing the Christmas-on-steriods look of the Portuguese flag for a more subdued one, with only a simple green and gold ring and a cluster necklace with different shades of green/grey.

Vest, Warehouse, £16;

Skirt, Romwe, £16;

Flats, Topshop, £20;

Ring, Astley Clarke, £47;

Necklace, Econe, £93;

Clutch, Phillip Lim, £252

Country Costumes: England

There's a feeling of both being choked and humiliated all while attempting to nurse a mad hangover when one thinks of the English team. You don't know whether to cry or laugh, cringe or scoff, and worst of all - they're not even your team. A part of you wants them to do well because you follow the league, your team is English, you have an assortment of players that you rate who are English and oh yeah, they invented the sport. But then you turn the channel to England vs. whoever-it-doesn't-really-mattter-they'll-screw-it-up-anyway and you have that nagging thought in the back of your mind that even you could do better than that. They hold on to their sole 1966 World Cup win and have a tendency for the attitude that they have the God-given right to win everything in football*.

Now I'm not one of those England haters without a reason, but after an arsenal of off-pitch horseplay (i.e. John Terry) you can't help but wonder why they still have the loyalty of their fans. Their performance in South Africa left an unbelievably bitter taste, drawing 1-1 to United States and losing 4-1 to Germany. Their abysmal campaign caused the nation to more or less abandon their own team. They lost the financial backing of Nationwide, Carlsberg, and National Express with only chocolate giants Mars left as their sponsor. Manager Fabio Capello was forced to resign but stayed on as he refused and the FA had no choice but to keep him as the Euro 2012 qualifying was too soon. And so England carried on with having little more than a glance from the country and ended their "worst season ever" losing 2-1 to historical rivals France in a friendly as the players were booed off the pitch by its fans.

The England national team is joint oldest with fellow home nation Scotland in the world of international football. They played their first match in 1870 which ended in a draw and it was not until November 1872 that their first FIFA-recognised match was played which also ended in a draw. There is no doubt that the English team has a long, rich, and often turbulent history. In 1938, the team played their first European tour match against Germany in Berlin. The team was ordered to make the Nazi salute during the German national anthem and while the dressing room exploded in uproar, the team had no choice but to obey. The order had come from the British ambassador as relations between the two countries were shaky. The match ended 6-3 to England. A year later, England declared war on Germany.

England entered their first World Cup in 1950 which saw their infamous 1-0 defeat to the United States. They exited in the quarter finals in 1954 after being eliminated by defending champions Uruguay. While the country hopes for success in the 1958 World Cup, the Munich air disaster ended those hopes as the incident took the lives of their most important international players. Bobby Charlton, then future English and Manchester United legend survived the crash after being rescued by teammate Harry Gregg. In true English style, their 1966 World Cup win was not without its drama. (West) Germany today still protests on the issue of whether or not Geoff Hurst's goal crossed the line. Nevertheless, the goal was given and Bobby Moore became the first and only English captain as of today to lift the World Cup.

England's record in the continental stage is rather poor. They have yet to reach a final, and we all know what happened in 2008. Nothing.

My own thoughts on the English team is largely unsure. While I truly have so much respect for their history, the team of today leaves little to be desired. The team are filled with prima donnas and their form is inconsistent. Their focus is rocky and off-pitch gossip fills their campaigns (see WAGs in Germany). So I chose to ignore England of today and focused on the Charltons, Moores, and Greaveses. Passion wins the game, and while England has a hoard of skills - their guts are empty of spirit. To pay tribute to the 1966 team, I chose a sharp outfit with historical references. A peplum top with rich velvet patterns, sleek leather pants, and a tailored blazer brings a strong classy look. Finish with a simple black clutch, army green scarf to beat the windy English air, lion ring, and bold red pumps.

*As said by Johnny Haynes, then England inside forward after their elimination in 1958.

Trousers, Burberry Prorsum, price unavailable
Top, Alexander McQueen, £1195
Blazer, Stella McCartney, £943
Clutch, Mulberry, £450
Ring, Alexis Bittar, £137
Scarf, Mulberry, £225
Shoes, Charlotte Olympia, £595

Country Costumes: Croatia

I have always respected Croatia and see them as a strong side with a lot of potential. I believe they deserve more recognition as their debut in the 1998 World Cup for the first time as an independent country saw them leap from the 125th spot to the 3rd in the World rankings (they also reached 2nd upon beating Germany in the semis). The dramatic leap saw them winning their second FIFA Best Mover of the Year award after winning their first in 1994. Their French campaign was certainly captivating to watch as a small Soviet bloc breakaway took the competition by storm, gunning to third place as they defeated tough sides Netherlands and Germany in the process. Davor Šuker also bagged the top scorer award that summer.

It has been 19 years since Croatia gained membership in both FIFA and UEFA yet they can still be considered newcomers in the continental stage. Both their pre-Yugoslavian and Yugoslavian records are nothing but a starting point as the new Croatian team sought to make their own history. While they have yet to show the same class as their 90s Golden Generation, each upcoming competition becomes a chance for Croatia to find their initial success once more. Their last Euros appearance saw them exiting in the quarter finals to Turkey in a penalty shootout and the nation certainly hopes in making it further this time when they attempt to garner attention as they did in France 14 years ago.

The arrival of Slaven Bilić in 2006 certainly had the ball turning in the invigoration direction but it has been six years since and only this year's Euros can tell whether the now dubbed 'Bilić boys' deserve the credit. Despite their poor form in the 2010 World Cup, Bilić remains in charge and brought them to qualify for this year after a 3-0 revenge on Turkey in the qualifying play-offs. I believe Croatia is about revival, potential, and hope. Taking this into consideration, I decided to create an outfit that takes inspiration from the Balkans as a melting pot of the cultures of Christianity, Islam and Greco-Roman civilisation. A strong Hungarian and communist influences also exist.

The skirt is a take on the elaborate baroque style that became prominent in Croatia after reunification of the country with her occupied parts. The colour black and white is representative of the coat of Dalmatians, which hail from the country. The top is structured, in a soft blue-ish hue reminiscent of the ocean. A statement necklace of feathers, wool knots and other trinkets is a tribute to the rich culture of the Ottoman Empire. The clutch and shoes are by Croatian-born designers, representative of modern Croatia while the ring is a fun take on football and art combined.

Top, Carven, £180
Skirt, Balmain, £5395
Necklace, Dior, price unavailable
Bag, Lei Lou by Aleksandre Dojčinović, £267.20
Ring, Trina Turk, £43.40
Shoes, Damir Doma, £512

Country Costumes: Germany

Ah, Die Mannschaft. Traditionally one of the most successful teams on an international level, Germany have three World Cups and three European Championships under their belts. I don't have very strong memories of the team until 2006, when they played on home soil. Although the first time I'd watched them play was back in 2002, I was barely 9 at the the time and the only memories of the final against Brazil I have are both of the latter side. I only remember Ronaldo's strange hair and the nickname we Chinese had affectionately given him - Alien. (And of course their performance at Euro 2004 was less than impressive).

Starting from 2000, Die Mannschaft have had a bit of a rollercoaster ride in the major tournaments - crashing out in the group stages of Euro 2000, reaching the World Cup final in 2002, and again crashing out in the group stages of Euro 2004. Their talent has finally seemingly reached a steady level with third place in 2006, second in 2008, and again third in 2010. The newest talents like Müller, Özil, Kroos, and Badstuber came in and melded almost seamlessly with the first wave of new talents that had arrived a few years earlier in the form of Podolski, Schweinsteiger, and Lahm, together phasing out the aged (or injured) "old guard," as I like to call them.

I found myself pulling for Germany in the third place match back in 2006, deeming it the lesser of two evils as I was bitter as hell over Portugal having knocked my precious Oranje out of the tournament. Everyone probably still remembers the Euro 2008 final, where a lone goal by Fernando Torres (what is he up to beside flopping like a fish out of water these days anyways?) was enough to bring Germany down, and of course Spain again triumphed over a psyched out Germany in the 2010 semifinals.

In recent years Germany have morphed from a nation that once played effective, boring football to one that plays beautiful, effective football. I remember being shocked by the change in the group stages of 2010, as I watched Germany take apart Australia's physical side with little effort, bleary eyed in the early hours of Beijing. I've taken this shock into account with the white printed dress, the black print resembling a chaotic field of wildflowers and paired it with red pumps, a red clutch, and yellow retro shades, much like the standard German kits of white accented with yellow, red, and black. Accessories include the asymmetrical white and pale gold two-toned bangle and eagle charm necklace, a reference to the DFB eagle.

Dress, Dorthy Perkins, £43;

Pumps, Steve Madden, £50;

Clutch, Lanvin, £860;

Necklace, Lanvin, £1120;

Bracelet, Marni, £249;

Sunglasses, Mango, £20

Country Costumes: Spain (Lia)

Kay and I felt it would only be right for us to both create our own looks for Spain, as they are defending champions of the Euros. Although the fans that are lucky enough to attend the matches in person will be having the times of their lives and have beer coursing through their veins, I will most likely be streaming the matches silently during my Organizational Behaviour and Management lecture, trying to pretend I'm paying attention to the course.

Like Kay, I still remember the heartbreak of the World Cup final like it was yesterday, although I was watching from my living room instead of the stadium. I still remember crying at Gio van Bronckhorst's substitution, and of course again at the final whistle. But most importantly, I remember the hurt etched across the face of each and every Dutch player, reflected across every Oranje fan's face, including my own. I respect Spain as a talented side that plays beautiful football, but that doesn't lessen the hurt.

I honestly can't come up with much outside of football when I think of Spain. I can't even pull up any personal memories, as Spain is one of the few countries in western Europe I have yet to visit. I can't paint a very complete image of the country, as all I have are past World Cups and past European Championships to go on.

Ashamedly, as even my knowledge of Spain's history is spotty, I took the easy way out in creating this outfit. I've focused mainly on the Spanish flag, and as an extension, the easily recognisable Spanish kits. Casual, comfortable outfits are the staple of my daily outfits so I started with a pair of bright red skinnies. However, instead of a yellow top, I've chosen a simple white silk tunic, cream flats, and a cream tote to avoid that horrible ketchup/mustard combination. I've accessorised with a simple yellow bracelet with gold spikes and a pair of ruby and gold crown earrings, similar to the crown on Spain's coat of arms.

Flats, Otte, £164;

Tunic, Hôtel Particulier, £89;

Jeans, Paige, £221;

Earrings, Butler & Wilson, £52;

Tote, Prada, £1150;

Bracelet, Ettika, £23

Country Costumes: France

Les Bleus was my first love. I watched them lift the World Cup as a bemused 7-year old who stayed up until the early morning with her older brother to watch Brazil and France go head to head 7 hours behind our time zone. Being young, I didn't understand much, but I did remember a player that went to pave his way as a French legend and soon became a household name, Zinedine Zidane. His head was still full of hair back then... not so much Fabien Barthez. Though at the time I've yet to discover my love for football 8 years later, I remembered the summer of 1998 to be exactly in three colours: bleu, blanc, and rouge. 

France's 0 - 3 win against favourites Brazil in Stade de France cemented their place as the top footballing nation entering the new millennium. In true French style, they greeted the summer of the year 2000 by winning the European championship in Belgium. They went to win the Confederations Cup in 2001 but followed with a disastrous campaign in South Korea as they exited in the group stages of the 2002 World Cup having been predicted a contender. Collecting another Confederations Cup in 2003, their less than attractive performance in the 2006 World Cup had no one believing they were going to reach the finals.

Everybody certainly remembered the dramatic end to France's hope of winning a second title. One incident overshadowed the whole event: Zidane vs. Materazzi and a little move called the headbutt. Though Zidane was clearly wrong to rise to the provocation, everyone, especially France watched in agony as Zidane walked out the pitch, passing by the trophy he once won almost single-handedly. This would be the last time the world watched Zidane play football professionally as he announced retirement afterwards.

France fell to what I call a post-Zidane syndrome afterwards. They exited in the group stages of both the 2008 Euros and the 2010 World Cup. They were criticised for holding on to ageing players, but when the younger players came to offer their services - a generational conflict unfolded led by the two headed demon, Karim Benzema and Samir Nasri. Stories of unrest within the French camp filled their South African campaign and the players went into what the Frenchman does best: a revolution.

Unlike 1789, 1830, and 1848 - this coup had obvious results: punishment. The squad was suspended, the instigators fined, and the captain questioned by the president. The team regrouped from the drama and managed to qualify for the 2012 Euros. As someone who has a tiny piece of her heart reserved for Les Tricolores, I'm looking forward to see a much-refreshed French squad. With that in mind, this look invokes new beginnings in a parisian chic packaging. Simple, strong, clean lines with classic French icons such as the Hermès Kelly bag and Chanel clip ins. The outfit itself is understated yet packs a punch - burgundy trousers, floral top, and a luxurious smoking jacket. Add a tough minimalist sandal to show that you're here with a point to prove and you might just be ready to win something.

Trousers, Isabel Marant, £195
Top, Vanessa Bruno, £280
Blazer, Balmain, £653 (on sale)
Bag, Hermès, price upon request
Earrings, Chanel, price unavailable (vintage)
Shoes, Givenchy, £636 

Country Costumes: Spain (Kay)

With the Euros looming over us in less than a month, the Colney Chic is shifting gears for the duration of the competition in bringing you looks and features inspired by the 16 teams that will be fighting for the title of Head Bitch In Charge - boots polished, kits pressed, sexual abstinence and everything. The fans will be front and centre, lager in hand, hair dyed and face painted. While the Euros are rather young (established in 1960) in comparison to the World Cup, it certainly doesn't lack the passion and sense of togetherness that its global counterpart envisions.

With the European continent being at the heart of the game, the Euros is sometimes used as a prerequisite in predicting the World Cup contenders. This was certainly true for the Spanish football team, whose success in the 2008 competition cemented their true potential in reaching their first World Cup win. And win they did, as Italy handed down their crown to La Roja in the cold Johannesburg winter. I attended the match myself, and while I blanked out and fell to tears after witnessing my team (Netherlands) lost in such an unforgiving manner I did remember the red fireworks surrounding the stadium when the world was at Spain's feet at that night.

I could never truly forgive Spain, and neither could my mother. She complained about Spain's undeserved win, arguing her case passionately for months. (To this day, she still talks about the obnoxious Spanish fans she pretty much drove out of the Holland box we were sitting in). However, my bitterness can't overwhelm the fact that I respect Spain as a team. As defending champions of the Euros, it's only right that we kick off our Team Togs special, dubbed 'Country Costumes' with the Tiqui-taca enforcers.

When I think of Spain, I think of conquistadores, paella, and Philip II. I think of the long nights I slaved away in front of my laptop writing about the often misunderstood, though undoubtedly fanatical Spanish king for my professor. I think of painting my faces in the German colours as I sat down with my housemates in the common room rooting against those darned Spaniards and waking up our housemistress who in turn, yelled at us to go to sleep. The point of all these anecdotes are collective memories. A country is a bank of memories, full of stories and experiences that may be sweet or sour.

Coming to terms with the idea of memory - especially repressed memory - Spain comes to mind with its blackened history post-Civil War. Taking off from a heavy topic, I thought about the histories that do remain - memories that are more fiery than it is cold and dark. The team is called La Furia Roja for a reason and my take on the Spanish look is represented in the spirit of Spain and its iconic red. The bustier and skirt set with chilli peppers as a print is a fun take on vintage summer dressing. Think lunch on the deck in Lake Como. We pair it with modern items such as a red-hot python envelope clutch and black chunky gladiator heels. Accessories are more traditional, using a gold rosary to represent the strong Roman Catholic tradition in Spain to wrap around your wrist, a cocktail ring based on crown jewels and Catholic iconography, and to finish a retro yet modern cat-eye shades to fight that summer sun.

Bustier, Dolce & Gabbana, £535
Skirt, Dolce & Gabbana, £580
Bag, Lanvin, £825
Shoes, Elizabeth & James, £217
Ring, Virgin Saints & Angels, £138
Rosary, Heather Gardner, £217
Shades, Miu Miu, £225

One True Look: Cesc Fàbregas/Gerard Piqué

To my horror, Kay insisted I do an OTL of the anomalously* popular "Fabrique." Although I must have accidentally-on-purpose forgotten about this assignment at least three times when we discussed our to-do lists for the blog, it would be safe to say that it never slipped her mind. So here I am, still grumbling about having grabbed a straw so short that it's in danger of permanently popping out of existence, but having accepted my fate. You may think I'm saying this like it's the end of the fashion world - well, it is.

I admit I don't even know much about the much hyped Fabrique. Now, I'm not one of those disillusioned Gooners that declared undying hatred for both Cesc and Barca once he made his transfer back to Barcelona (although I do think he could have handled the entire situation a bit better, the media is a hard pack of drama llamas to control), so my aversion to the pairing really has no standard explanation. The only impressions I have of Piqué are his (to me) donkey-like appearance and his unfortunate habit of bleeding more easily than Sharpie through printer paper, and the only memory I really have of him is of him and Puyol pulling a Barcelona shirt on then-Gunner Fàbregas. Not a very popular overall view of him, to say the least. On the other hand, I know everything from Cesc's love for doughnuts to his almost irrational aversion to mushrooms.

Pluck any five random Spanish footballers out of a line and what will they have in common? Horribly greasy hair, the belief that they've got impeccable taste in clothes while actually having an abomination of a "sense" of style. Gerard Piqué and Cesc Fàbregas are no exceptions to the rule, and I would be lying if I said I wasn't initially stumped over what route I should take for their outfit. I avoided searching the Fabrique tag on tumblr like it was the plague, so I eventually settled on choosing the exact opposite of what I thought would match within the outfit. Pretty much the equivalent of closing my eyes and pointing at a random article of clothing or piece of jewellery from their respective piles.

I started off with the fringed fading sunset cropped tee - something, along with the brash "sexy" ring, only a fashion-challenged Spaniard could  pick up thinking they could rock it, and paired it with standard boyfriend jeans. Add a hipster mustache tote and braided bracelet and they'll think they're keeping up with the trends. A pair of distressed wannabe-biker boots rounds off the mismatched look.

*Sorry, my maths is showing. 

Tee, Monki, £16;

Bracelet, Emanuele Bicocchi, £159;

Jeans, H&M, £30;

Tote, Etsy, £7.50;

Ring, Deb, £7;

Boots, Pierre Balmain, £944

Team Togs: Hertha BSC

Back again to the Bundesliga! This time we’ve headed over to the German capital and are bringing you an outfit inspired by Hertha Berlin. Although some of the first things that may come to mind about Berlin may be the Berlin airlift, the fall of the Berlin Wall and reunification of Germany, or JFK’s iconic “Ich bin ein Berliner” gaffe to name just a few iconic events, we’ve forgone the rich history of the city in favour of the equally action-packed history of the club.

Hertha were an inaugural member of the Bundesliga back in 1963 but the decade following was less than memorable, wrought by a bribery scandal that resulted in relegation and being several million euros in debt. The 70s brought a fair amount of success (bar a match fixing scandal) but more than half of the next 20 years were spent in the II. Bundesliga. Fast forward through some more debt and countless ups and downs and you've got a pretty good summary of the past 60 years for Berlin's favourite football team.

After reading the quick sparknotes version of Hertha’s recent history and still keeping in mind their origin of being named after a steamship by one of the founding members of BFC Hertha 92, we just couldn’t resist creating a slightly insane look with sailor-inspired elements. Think of it as something you could put together if someone put you in a shop after you've had a few beers.

There's no true centrepiece to this outfit, just individual elements that come together to create a whole. We've paired an anchor embellished pullover with nautical-striped pants, two strong sea-inspired elements but not quite overboard*. Add a bright blue bag and chained black trainers and we take the look up another notch. We accessorise with only a chunky seed bead bib, further enhancing the strong presence of blues in this outfit.

*Please don't sue us for any injuries inflicted from facepalming over our brilliant punnyness.


Pullover, L'Eclaireur, £78;
Bag, Givenchy, £1500;
Necklace, Charm & Chain, £60;
Trainers, ASOS, £113;
Pants, AX Paris, £30

Team Togs: West Ham United FC

A friend of mine or shall I say an unpaid advisor on our beloved Colney Chic has harassed and threatened me to writing about West Ham since a conversation we had about West Ham's underlying paedophilic sub-text. Before I'm jumped by some Frodo-looking punk from Green Street*, let me redeem myself by saying that I wasn't the one who appointed Pedobear as your bloody mascot, and named him Bubbles out every darned choices in the world. Don't even try and turn this around on me by calling out on how ignorant I am. I know I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles. By heart too, bitch what? You're forever blowing Bubbles. Never took West Ham fans for furries but hey. 

Then came the new mascot, an anthropomorphic... hammer. Hammerhead, you call him. Shaking our heads forever in your direction, West Ham. Bet we know where you'd like that hammer -... well, let's scrub things a bit cleaner here and move on to the fashion before I scar you girls for life. The friend had mentioned on using West Ham's poor excuse for a mascot as inspiration and the only thing that came to mind was lolita-inspired fashion but feeling sorry for the team, I decided to go to an entirely different route but thought I'd start with that mental image for you ladies. 

Known for its hooliganism that started in the 60s and escalated in the 70s to 80s, West Ham United are still infamous for playing a significant part in organised football violence. A history of violence and racism are also well known in Upton Park. While it's irresponsible to pay tribute to this disgusting display of 'loyalty' - I did want to concentrate on the history of West Ham being associated with the iron and shipbuilding industry. Added with the hooliganism culture ever present in the Hammers' reputation, an anarchy-inspired outfit came to being. 

Our look is all about accessorising, the outfit itself consists of a simple nautical striped tee, coloured denim shorts and a structured biker waistcoat. We toughen up the look again with black studded biker boots and a statement necklace. Pile up some arm candy with different strand-based bracelets with charms associated with ships such as anchors and compass arrows. We finish the look with a claret-coloured throw around bag that can hold both your knuckle duster and Jack Daniels. Throw on a pair of 50-s inspired shades and you're good to go to fight those rotten Millwall tools. 

*A/N: In all honesty, Green Street Hooligans was a great movie. 

Tee, Nicole Farhi, £75

Waistcoat, Givenchy, £925

Shorts, Current/Elliott, £96

Bracelet (Red & blue), Alex Woo, £59.06/each

Bracelet (Yellow), ASOS (sold out) 

Bracelet (Black), M. Cohen, £108.20

Necklace, Jean Paul Gaultier, £674

Boots, Ash, £280

Shades, Dior, £430

Bag, Givenchy, £876.54 (colour not available)