Repeats out and about.

On a Saturday…..

Nice prints and a therapeutic sewing session………more to come!

N x

DVF and summer.

This summers catwalk trends are out and the high street window displays look amazing. Colour blocking is everywhere and the prints are bolder and brighter. This brings me to Diane von Furstenburg’s Spring/Summer 2011 collection which I love. This is a woman renowned for her iconic prints and the wrap dress. Off the catwalk she recently launched a Home wear collection at Bloomingdales in NYC, inspired by nature and art. You can see it in full by clicking here. Some are wilder than others and I would prefer to use some of her dinnerware in a more subtle way rather than mixing it altogether. We are seeing more and more designers applying their fashion prints to products and interiors so this is nothing overly new, nonetheless I think the marriage between the two is inspiring and DVF’s printed fabrics are fabulous!

N x

Through Today’s Lens.

Just a few nice snaps while wandering around town…..

N x

La Casa Batlló de Gaudí.

More of Gaudi’s delightful creations taken from his home, La Casa Batlló de Gaudí. More colour,texture and wonderful compositions creating a beautiful myriad of images…..

N x

 

 

 

BCN style.

When it comes to fashion, I am realising that Barcelona is not just about the mullets, the grunge and that look that I would call ‘wearing-everything-but-the-kitchen-sink’?! I am slowly coming across more and more stylish shops and I am noticing a good deal of the sophisticated shoppers in Barcelona. Some people look far too cool! El Born, an area in town reminds me of Shoreditch in London. It has a similar feel, although in my opinion ‘fashion and style’ is subtle here and you just feel less pressure to conform if you catch my drift?! When walking along Pasej de Gracia, la avenida principal (the main street) it is hard not to notice all the beautiful, well dressed people. I am pleased to see just as many individuals with a good sense of style, as those sporting all black attire, DM boots and a matted mop of hair! Spain makes chic clothes, amazing handbags and I don’t think I have ever seen so many shoe shops in one place (except Argentina!). They are all so well made and with the softest leather making it tough to choose which shop to go in to first. The window displays are beautifully dressed, and whether they sell locally made garments, shoes, accessories or labels sourced from around the world they know how to make it look good, draw you in and wanting more…..

These are a few of the shops I’m talking about……Hakei, Ailantro, Room, Notenom Born, Tascon…..and not to forget the more well known…Mango, Zara, Womens Secret, Oysho.

My next post on ‘The shopping Night Barcelona’ which kicked off  in town yesterday will follow shortly so stay tuned! I’m hoping this will get all the ladies in my life to come and visit me sooner than later!!

N x

 

‘Love’-YSL.

A friend of mine was on holiday recently in Marrakech, Morocco and I am very jealous! I went to Tangier a few years ago which gave me a taster of this wonderful and interesting place. Now that I am not too far away I really, really want to go!!!! I have a hidden ‘love’ to visit Marrakech. The colours and culture I find to be a never-ending inspiration. For those of you who do not know, Yves Saint Laurent, one of the greatest, well-known designer names in 20th Century Fashion regularly visited Marrakech, to find influence for his own work.

In 2008 Yves Saint Laurent  died. He was cremated and his ashes scattered in the Majorelle Garden, a botanical garden in Marrakech. Created by french artist Jacques Majorelle, and bought and restored by Yves Saint Laurent and his partner Pierre Berge in 1980. The bright blue walls of this museum of Islamic Art was where he would find refuge at times, a home away from Paris. On each visit to this striking and amazingly colourful backdrop he would create a design and leave it in the villa. Since his death there is a permanent memorial dedicated to the designer in the gardens. A wall showcases each of these unique designs including the year of his visit and the word ‘ LOVE ‘, which is widely known as the YSL signature. I can’t wait to visit for myself! This was a man who introduced the tuxedo suit for women and the first designer to use ethnic models in his runway shows, referencing other cultures in his work! Legend.

N x

Pierre Berge and Yves Saint Lauren at the entrance of the Majorelle Gardens. Marrakech, Morocco, 1982. Photography source: http://snobish.com

A few more of what Morocco has to offer…..and Thank you to SC for the photos!

 

 

 

 

 

Barcelona.

I spent last week in Barcelona, a city soon to be my new home. Beautiful, full of people, noise and gorgeous architecture (a post on Gaudi’s finest ‘Sagarada Familia’ will follow soon!) and here is what I saw………

N x

The blue sky, along with Barcelona’s contrasting lines and buildings of new and old made me a little snap happy…..