VIR MECH!(Shoes are my drug of choice ... seriously..) GOOD LORD!! I almost fainted .... I MUST. GET. THESE!!
I know, I know they look very ELVIS PRESLEY during his Las Vegas period but they are simply awesome. Keep everything else simple, straightforward and monochromatic, your accessories to a minimum and let them (literally) shine. Pair them with skinny pants, an INHABIT cashmere sweater and a Burberry coat.
ALL MENSCH GEET OP D’SCHUEBERFOUER! (Ticket to ride ..)
Ever since I was a kid, August has been my favorite month of the year. It meant celebrating my birthday (and my brother's) (read: gifts, cakes and parties), unadulterated time with my Beloved Boma at her vacation house (read: pure happiness), eating copious amounts of ice cream, enjoying long summer days with
no alarm clocks and most importantly a temporary escape from the drudgery of school.
But the incontestable highlight of every August was a visit to the “Schueberfouer” (Shoo-ber-fhour), a large folk fair that takes place in the heart of Luxembourg City. This popular festival
(originally a shepherd's market) was founded by
John the Blind in 1340. You read correctly: this is the 672nd
Schueberfouer! Talk about a long-standing tradition.
The “Fouer” for me was a veritable wonderland consisting of live pony carousels, antique merry-go-rounds, endless roller coasters, a giant Ferris
wheel, novelty games, implausible carnival acts, a mesmerizing luna park, persistent street vendors, and too-numerous-to-count food merchants and restaurants, in other words, heaven!
Today it hosts over 270 attractions, is spread over 3.5 km (2 miles) and attracts
about 2 million visitors.
A trip to the fairground was never complete without indulging in the regional specialties like “Gebakene Fesch” (baked fish), “Gromperkichelcher” (fried potato
cakes), “Waffelen” (waffles with strawberries and whipped cream) and the ubiquitous nougat.
This funfair, emblematic of the
city and the country, was an exciting, magical place for me as a child and even after all these years, I am happy to say, it has lost none of its luster. Schueberfouer 2012 August 23 - September 11 Place du Glacis Luxembourg-Ville
Video courtesy of Superjams featuring eXemo (all musicians from Luxembourg) "All Mensch geet op d'Schueberfouer" (Everybody goes to the Schueberfouer)
Thursday, August 9, 2012
DEI SINN FLOTT! (Sweater matter ..)
Washington, DC is not my fashion nirvana but it definitely has its share of new and
upcoming designers.
One of my very favorite is Pico Vela, a high-end knitwear
company founded by Nicole Alfieri. Nicole is no stranger to the fashion industry;
before launching her own label, this Parsons School of Design graduate, has
worked with national and international brands (I am very partial to the lovely
tops and exquisite dresses she designed for PUA Naturally but more on that later).
Venturing into the knitting world was a natural
move for this talented artist with her minimalistic approach and unfussy esthetic.
The same sensibility she brought to designing her ethereal tops she now applies
to her knit line.
Calling Pico Vela’s creations mere sweaters is
not doing them justice. Not only are they beautifully crafted (knit on hand
machines by a collective of artists in the US) with a real woman’s body in
mind, they are also expertly executed, fashioned from the highest quality, natural-fiber yarn available (merino wool, linen, cotton, bamboo, etc). The easy-to-wear tops drape
effortlessly and have just enough detail without being overly ornate or
busy.
I don’t know about you, but I lust for one of her
cocoon jackets (my love of cardigans is well documented ...) and for a boxy sweater from the
Fall/Winter collection.
A great place to
cool down and relax! Sample the Fro-yo (the best of both worlds – delicious AND
low-cal), have an Italian Soda (complete with retro-looking labels), sip a
coffee, indulge your inner child with a healthy fruit smoothie or
curb your sweet tooth with a nutritionalKINDenergy bar.
Summer is not just about sun, surf and the sea it is a state of mind. This most relaxed season is for us a time for experimentation, veering from the classic, incorporating a little whimsy and most of all for having fun.