Four Days in Piedmont Italy

 By: Unknown    01:10  No comments

Last Tuesday at 6 a.m., I hopped on a plane ride to  Italy,  I landed in Turin and spent a day sampling the divine Gianduia chocolates, eating delicious food cooked using the slow food philosophy and drinking in all that this lovely city has to offer. The day was warm and sunny, about 24 degrees celsius.

The next three days were very different, I travelled up to Courmayeur, and was greeted by a much colder climate and lots of snow, rugged scenery, craft shops and chalets rather than hotels. All Italy is beautiful but the scenery in the North is simply to die for..those mountains, that snow, those trees, I spent 4 days feeling like I was living in a postcard.

These trusty boots served me well on the mountains - no snow leaked in !!!




Check out my spring nail colour - the new gellish 'Tiffany Blue' at Femme Beauty



Up on Mont Blanc - this nearly didn't happen as the mountain was closed for four days due to too much snow and strong winds.



Gran Paradiso National Park

All Photos above by Kurt Paris

Some Trip Highlights 

• The Egyptian museum in Turin is impressive, definitely worth a visit. 
• Gianduja or gianduia  chocolate was invented in Turin - need I explain ?
• Chalet Plan Gorret in Courmayeur - the sweetest chalet on earth and the best seafood past ever.
• Trattoria Al Dente in AOSTA - ask to sit in the cave room at the back and order the chocolate pudding.
• The village Chamois - a traffic-free alpine village only accessible by cable car
• Craft shopping in Cogne
• Carriage ride and lunch in Valnontey

Various Outfit Details

Watch : SWATCH Andy

Shoes : Panama Jack at Stivaletti

Bag : Bling Bling Boutique

Waterproof Jacket : Trespass

Hair : Toni&Guy Hilton

Nails : Femme Beauty (Attard)

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A Day at London Fashion Week

 By: Unknown    00:43  No comments

This past week, everyone I've met in Malta has asked me 'What Was Fashion Week Like?' Not 'What did you see?' or 'Which designer did you like most?' but 'What is it like?'. It's not really a question you can just answer on the spot. it requires a bit of thought and it's difficult to explain so I thought, the best way to answer this is to give you a breakdown of a day at London Fashion Week. I'm breaking down the very first day- the longest one of the lot.

As most of you know I went there with the hubby who is a fashion photographer so there's two of us to talk about :p

Early Morning

 ***On other days there'd be extra time needed to also write a blog post or two.

• 6:00 a.m Alarm Clock Rings - Jump out of bed but to be fair I was already awake, too excited to sleep.
• 6:10 a.m. Right, shower, couple of chocs for a sugar rush, hit the hubby a few times so he wakes up and lets get started. 
• 6:30 a.m Time to sort out invites - check dates of physical ones, check e-invites, check emails and see if there any I missed.
• 7:00 a.m Outfit Planning Time - check list to see what was planned for today (Yes I pre-planned them), damn it those Kenzo trousers are a bit tight shouldn't have eaten chocs. Wonder if it'll be too warm in the tent, maybe I should forgo the Proskins base layer...have my new coat anyway, that should be warm enough..hmmmm Nero Giardini boots or Tosca Blu..- Tosca Blu it is.
• 7.15 a.m Makeup Time - lets go for something a bit natural, my face is still recovering from an unfortunate episode of 'Caroline left a deep cleansing mask on for too long'.
• 8:30 a.m Hair Time - Toni&Guy blowdry got a bit ruined in the rain but thank god I remembered to pack my LABELM straighteners....now just to find another plug in this hotel room.
• 8:00 a.m All dressed and handbag packed with everything I need - time to sort out transport options using CityMapper
• 8:15 a.m Breakfast Time
• 8: 30 am. Leave Hotel - bleh it's way colder than I thought.
• 9:00 ARRIVE AT SOMERSET HOUSE

Morning

• 9:15 Picked up mine and hubby's accreditation passes and checked out press room - it's got pink this time and lots of sweets - yippee. Right, first show J. JS Lee starts at 9.30, better start queuing.
• 9.30 Hmm still queuing, guess it's running late ..it's cold...ooh those girl's shoes are amazing..should take a snap.. but that would require removing gloves ..and it's cold.
• 9.40 Still waiting, still cold
• 9.45 Ok they're letting us in - wohoooo
• 9:50 Show starts - love the structured tailoring, beautiful fabrics
• 10:00 Great, next show is at 12.00 ..might write a post in the meantime
• 10:15 Press Room, transferring photos
• 11.00 Post Up - read J. JS Lee review here, let's check out some street style
• 11:20 Let's find hubby - time to get to Fashion scout for Jamie Wei Huang and his Nymphomania Show
• 11:45 In queue ...still really cold..please let us wait inside..please ? Oooh check out that coat..love London, oh and that hat...too fun!
• 12:00 Yey we can go in..walk through the long fashion scout corridors..get to hall..right, time to find my seat..great second row..great view and Kurt is taking photos.
• 12:20 Show starts ..oh wow ..these are brilliant..I HAVE to own that hide bag...perfect. Photo on Instagram..no internet connection..weird..restart phone..
• 12:40 Right, Bora Aksu next at 13:30 - back to Somerset House. Photos of prev show on EVERYTHING.  

J JS LEE / JAMIE WEI HUANG (RIGHT  PHOTO BY KURT PARIS)

Afternoon

• 13:00 No need to queue for at least another half hour , this is a standing ticket so makes no difference when I get in. I know - let's make an appointment for makeup and eat some sweets, I'm a bit hungry.
• 13:25 Queuing for Bora Aksu..should check emailS ..and post some photos.
• 13:45 Show is starting...oh the prettiness..love this designer - Twitter time - read Bora Aksu review here
• 14:00 Find Kurt, we need to run to Manuel Facchini,  reporting for #OMY Magazine, GPS says only 15 mins away if we don't get lost
• 14:30 Arrived, okkk maybe we got a bit lost and shoes are hurting now..and yes I'm cold. Yey they've got food and alcohol ..happy bunny..oh I love these clothes.. those voluminous dresses and this grey and monochrome palette ..brilliant. Post photo on Instagram - bleh mobile running out of battery.
• 15:15 Ok time to run back to Fashion Scout to go backstage with Toni & Guy for James Kelly Merit Award.
• 15.30 Love the way they work backstage, so efficient, so organised ..everything is orderly....ok need to charge battery and check email and tweet & instagram pictures. 
• 15:40 Email from Burberry - WHAT??? Arghh.. where's Kurt /...I'm going to Burberry- crap - erm what am I going to wear ??
• 16:00 James Kelly Show

BORA AKSU / MANUEL FACCHINI / JAMES KELLY BACKSTAGE - PHOTOS BY KURT PARIS

• 16:15 RUNNN to Somerset House - Jean Pierre Braganza.., no Kurt, need to take photos, need a good place.
• 16:50 This is reallyyy late and have Paul Costelloe at 17:00, at least it's close.
• 17:00 Right run
• 17:05 Inside ..quarrel with PR seems like they've over booked and given my seat away.
• 17:10 Agree to stand near photographers.
• 17.30 This is running late as well and I have another show at 18:00.
• 17:50 Right, time to runn again..but hmm where do I go..switch on GPS..battery suffering
• 17:55 Ok confused, compass not working..wait those ppl have tickets in their hand..let's follow them.
• 18:10 Why do I bother hurrying ? Queue outside. Not fair this is tooooo cold. I'm sad now but VIN+OMI are one of my faves..can't miss this
• 18:20 Wow this club is amazing - Drury Club - great - have a place front row
• 18:35 ..Ok VIN+OMI was spectacular...hmm this goody bag is heavy..late for GYUNEL now....must run again...
• 18:50... Lost
• 19:00 ..Arrived and no queue..in search of warmth.
• 19:30 That was a lovely show, another goody bag..definitely heavy now.. ME Hotel next for after party and PPQ show.....battery and power bank almost dead...need to msg Kurt...ooh there's popcorn in my goody bag.
• 19:45 At Me Hotel ..time to beg receptionist to charge phone.

JEAN PIERRE BRAGANZA / PAUL COSTELLOE / VIN +OMI / GYUNERL

Evening

• 20: 00 Ada Zanditon Couture After Party before next show..still no sign of Kurt..I spot food on that tray.
• 20:30  Nice party..love the jewellery..let's instagram a pic...ahh here's Kurt.
• 20:50  PPQ show ..the amount of people here is insane
• 21 :30 Didn't get to see that much in this last show, too many people...ok PPQ afterparty at one of my favourite London clubs - Mason House...
• 21:35 Step Outside..it's insanely cold ..I refuse to walk ...taxi time
• 21:45 Get in club...pizza ? wohoo PIZZA HUT sponsored party +cocktails..definitely my kind of party
• 22:15 Starting to crash..both me and Kurt need to transfer photos and I need to write...time to say bye.
• 22: 35 Arrive at Hotel...my poor, poor feet..eye Kurt's Panama Jacks and seemingly not tired feet jealously..maybe I should have brought mine.
• 23:00 Time to work and plan for tomorrow and eat some chocolate.
• 01:30 Bedtime - set alarm for 5:45 a.m - 4 hrs 15 mins sleep ..ah well it's fashion week.. who needs sleep?

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Outfit Post : At Alta Roma Day 1

 By: Unknown    02:26  No comments

This weekend was mostly spent indoors - the hubby has a nasty case of food poisoning and all my countless weekend plans went straight into the 'rubbish bin'. However, last weekend was a brilliant one - I spent it in Rome for AltaRoma, watching beautiful haute-couture, AltaModa fashion, eating too much food, shopping (any doubt ?) and meeting with the other members of the Chamber of Fashion Malta to discuss upcoming projects.

Here's what I wore on Day 1 - first of all it was freezing - freezing and fashion don't go well together, and then to make matters worse, inside the show locations was of course, heated and hot and stuffy. It's also impossible not to need to walk, even if you use taxis, you need to walk to the taxi stand and Rome is full of cobbles, some broken....I think if I lived in Rome I'd retire all my heels...

Below and Above - at the show in the Alta Roma official show tent.



Back onto the streets.................I'm in love with this Enrico Coveri coat - a very recent birthday present from the parents - in Rome I realised it's also very, very warm since it's made of 100% wool.





Thank the heavens for sneakers / trainers and their current return into the fashion world.

Because it was so cold I ended up wearing two pairs of thermal tights and socks on top of each other - my walk felt a tad bit restricted..






Outfit Details 

Shoes : Laura Biagiotti @ Stivaletti 

Tights : Thermal Tights  

Skirt : River Island (last year but similar here and here ) 

Black Poloneck : Zara 

Bolero : Jane Norman  (last year but similar here and here ) 

Leather Gloves : Nasty Gal

Bag : COACH

Coat : Enrico Coveri

Hat : Coccinelle

Necklace : Promod

All Photos by Kurt Paris

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AltaRoma Weekend Diaries - Bella Roma

 By: Unknown    12:49  No comments

If you missed all of my 101 Instagram Rome posts - I spent last weekend in Rome. I traveled to Rome for the AltaRoma Haute Couture shows and some meetings related to the Chamber of Fashion Malta.


Apart from fashion, there was time spent walking around Rome, shopping the beautiful boutiques and of course eating lots of amazing food. I simply love Rome, I can't get enough of that city - the people are friendly, the fashion is fabulous, the food is extraordinary and there's something interesting to see at every turn. When I'm there all I want to do is walk, walk, walk and eat.

Here's some photo highlights from my trip

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Outfit Post : Travelling with Tamara Webb

 By: Unknown    23:29  No comments

After spending the hot summer months brainstorming new ideas for the blog, it's time to release some of them and first up we have the series of outfit post with a difference - twice a month I will be featuring a special outfit post (not of myself) but of different people. The idea is that you get the chance to see and learn from different styles and people not just mine. The focus will be mainly on Maltese people but there will be some international guests at some points too.

First up is Tamara Webb - Tamara is a Maltese twenty-something who works as both a fashion photographer and a fashion designer/marketing manager for local jewellery design house Mvintage. Her style is amazing, it's a mix of vintage, quirky, eclectic..all rolled into one..she's brilliant at mixing different things together and making them her own. 

For this outfits showcase she picked two outfits which both use the same white slogan tee on different days  - this is how you pack light when travelling and use mixing and matching techniques! As I couldn't fit in her luggage, she took these photos herself with her mobile whilst holidaying in Greece. 

 

As a side note, I am utterly and completely in love with her denim pinafore dress. Which is your favourite?

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Outfit Post : Pink Flamingos at Alta Roma and Giada Curti

 By: Unknown    02:44  No comments

Last Saturday in Rome, as Ferramoda Malta's stylist and representative, I attended the Giada Curti fashion show at AltaRoma. It took place at the Hotel Excelsior on Via Veneto in the grand ballroom, a truly beautiful and stunning room that really fit the concept of these luxurious intricate pieces and Arabic theme. Giada Curti's designs are heavily influenced by the beauty of Dubai and the Arabian landscapes and fashion style.

The capsule haute couture collection was titled Shukran, thank you in Arabic. She presented long dresses made with luxurious materials such as satin, chantilly lace, muslin and silk and draped to flow and skim across the body. . The colours of the pieces were muted and dreamy, in a reference to the Dubai desert landscape.
Beautiful turbans with intricate detailing were worn by each of the models and added to the exotic feeling the show evoked.
Photos by Kurt Paris

Before this show, I also attended an exhibition (more on that to come) so I was out quite early on and as such needed an outfit that would work for both. I decided to wear a knitted dress I had purchased a couple of years previously from an Italian independent designer Ilaria, her brand is called Flamingo Therapy. Funnily enough, I had found her in London at Old Spitalfields Market....she has some truly wonderful stuff. I also took my brand new vintage Chanel earrings (bought in Rome) out for their frist outing, they were very appreciative :)

These shoes from Zara are one of my best 204 purchases, I've been wearing them a LOT, simply because they are really comfortable and easy to walk on.



 Outfit Details : Dress Flamingo Therapy / Earrings : Vintage Chanel / Bag : Coccinelle / Shoes : Zara

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Travel Post : Snapshots from ROME

 By: Unknown    01:48  No comments

Besides attending AltaRoma, there were other things I did in ROme, like walk on those pretty cobbled streets for hours on end, eat lots of ice cream, eat lots of spaghetti carbonara, visit some beautiful buildings, go shopping... lots of fun stuff. Rome is a wonderful city, this was my third time visiting and it was lovely because there wasn't the usual hustle of trying to cram all the important sights in a few days, this time I had time to just walk around, people watch, absorb the pulse of the city and absorb the food..lots and lots of delicious food. 

Some interesting highlights were - visiting the Colosseum underground tour, it is now possible to visit down below in the pits from where the gladiators once entered the arena and also walk up to the very top (a tour must be pre-booked by phone). The Andy Warhol exhibition was a great insight into the life and art of this man as was the adjoining Terry O'Neil one. The Monti neighborhood has some excellent up and coming designers that create some really great stuff, dodging the various Roman drivers intent on running you over as you cross the road on zebra crossings is always fun. Last but not least, shopping around Piazza di Spagna is always a highlight and of course just simply having a coffee in one of the many piazzas and soaking it all in..

Some snapshots I took whilst roaming around the Eternal City.

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Outfit Post : AltaRoma - Pink Shoes and Red Hair at Carlo Alberto Terranova

 By: Unknown    03:13  No comments

The first night of AltaRoma brought lots of excitement, hair frustration (it simply refused to look good whatever I did - where's Toni and Guy Malta when I need them) I attended Carlo Alberto Terranova's show at Palazzo Braschi, Piazza Navona, another stunning Palazzo. Speaking of Toni and Guy - what do you think of my new hair colour? It's a purplish red stain, I love the way the curls look multi-coloured when they catch the light.

I took this dress, by Custo Barcelona, up to Rome with me specifically for the occasion but I still needed the perfect shoes which I found in Zara, I had had my eye on these shoes ever since I saw them in Zara in Florence last March but I stopped myself buying them..they were marked down now ...and well ....I needed them for AltaRoma right ?..They're so pink and pretty.... and so HORRIBLE to walk with on Rome's cobbled streets..definitely lost some ankle lifetime that night.

Outfit Details : Dress : Custo Barcelona /  Shoes, Hairband : Zara / Bag : Coccinelle

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Outfit Post : Alta Roma Outfit - Hearts & Fringes at Grimaldi

 By: Unknown    08:33  No comments

My trip to Rome and AltaRoma was a bit of a spur-of-the moment decision (thanks Ferramoda)  and I didn't really have time to properly plan outfits etc. Not to worry, there a lots of shops in Rome. As you must have heard me mention a few times already, when possible, I do like to wear a piece the designer has created when I attend said designer's show. For Antonio Grimaldi's show, I visited his boutique in central Rome (Via della Vite) and bought one of his tees with his signature heart logo emblazoned on the front. It has a nice fit and I think the pattern logo is lovely.

I'm also sporting a brand new Coccinelle bag, a leather skirt from Zara which I also bought from Rome and my also brand new Dolce and Gabbana shades from Solaris Malta and a vintage Chanel necklace I treated myself to also from Rome.

Pics by Kurt Paris

With Antonio Grimaldi himself

Read the review of the show here

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