Mark Tungate

one of the most interesting videos I watched online lately

flower power

Ouaah, time flies! Well, for the last couple of months I think and rethink about this blog, and it always comes to my mind a certain interview that I once gave along with other fellow bloggers. Then they had asked us, when do we find the time to blog. And the answer was 'a minute during the day or at night'! Well, goodbye old me, now I can't find the time to even respond to my mails! So as this blog was never a 'personal style' one or a 'fashion news' other, I find that I'm lacking of the time that I once had for finding interesting things around the wwweb. -not that they don't exist, or that I don't find them, only that I don't find the will to post them!

Some days ago I turned 26. And one of the things that I promised myself was to not let down of this 'baby'! So...until I find my rhythm and as summer vacations are across the corner, I leave you with these beautiful images of the Raf Simons' DIOR couture show. Some said that the setting was of no need but for me it was a certain dream that finally came true thanks to the new circumstances and possibilities...and to dreams we trust!

source: bureaubetak blog

al di la di

As mentioned in the previous post, AL DI LA DI is the newly born vintage brand of friend Aggeliki Kotroni that is also a resident in Florence.

Aggeliki is a great collector of vintage clothes and accessories and will participate in tomorrow's event. The pictures above were shot the previous days in Florence and will accompany the vintage clothes sold as a proposal of how to wear these pieces.

All pictures are taken by me, if used please credit. For the complete photo album visit the al di la di facebook page

Fashion Festa at NOF

Finally, the day has come! After months and months of complaining, proudly saying to everyone I met  how fashion forward Athens is (yes it is sure it is) and how I couldn't believe the fact that nothing interesting was happening in Florence, together with Rachel and Imma (NEW KID) we decided to organize this festa!

the RECYCLO girls and the newly born AL DI LA DI vintage brand will be there as well.

For one evening, young designers and the young crowd of Florence will finally meet! People in Florence prove how fashionable you are, share and be there!

the Pretiosa

Well, living in Florence for more that a year makes me realize more and more how proud the fiorentini  are for their rich leather technicians heritage. The leather goods of all the major brands are produced here. "The Row" a pure-american-marketed-brand,even though produced in New York factories, have their handbags produced in Italy but this is not the only example.

More than three are the famous leather bespoke shoe makers here in Florence(among them Roberto Ugolini mentioned in my last post) and if you happen to walk by their stores, you will see them create shoes and bags with their own hands every single day.

So when I read about "La Pretiosa" bag, I thought that if I wasn't living here maybe I wouldn't appreciate this bag as much as I do now. It is a special edition, 100% handmade (only created in 99 pieces) and it is based in Leonardo Da Vinci's Atlantic Codex (yes apparently he designed fashion items as well). The bag is created by the Florence-based Gherardini brand and what is even more impressive is the fact that Lisa Gherardini is said to have been Leonardo's inspiration as the famous model for the "Mona Lisa". She was living in Florence's San Lorenzo area, only steps away from the leather markets.

click here to see how "La Pretiosa" was crafted and visit the Gherardini site for more info about the bag.

Alan Buanne Q&A

I met Alan almost a year ago as we practically lived next to each other. Well the fact that we both studied at Polimoda made it all easier to know each other better.


This interview was nothing but easy for me as we spent hours and hours discussing his first collection. I was there during the creation and editing of his book and even though now we live in different cities, we still find time to discuss our fashion careers (...in the making). So, this interview is my way to introduce you to his work as I was lucky enough to have as a neighbor one of the most talented shoe designers of polimoda.

1. Alan, you are quite international. Born in Australia then moved to Italy, Dubai and now London. How has all these years of experience in different job positions have formed your professional personality? 

 The benefit of being able to experience different parts of the world has allowed me to develop an innovative approach to my work and philosophy. For example, it now makes more sense for me to design collections for multiple seasons and break the traditional rules of sticking to Autumn/Winter and Spring/Summer. Half of the world is never in the same Hemisphere and is always in the oposite season, this gives me a chance to think for the modern day man and woman - the kind who wakes up in the morning in Sydney and is working later that night in LA. 2. Why a shoe designer? I love the world of shoes - maybe it's in my DNA, as I am the third generation of shoemakers now or maybe it's just because I choose to. There are many things i like about my work but far from any end result, I seem to be at my best when I am creating shoes.

3. While in Florence you interned at Roberto Ugolini's - a very well known bespoke shoe maker- where you created shoes with your own hands. Do you believe that bespoke is the future or is it just another trend? 

I have to say nothing tops the experience working alongside Roberto Ugolini and being able to make my own shoes. The world is developing so quickly, and as mass luxury brands saturate the market, the interest in artisans and new luxury products are offering a refreshing option to customers and it's an incredibly exciting time to be part of that recognition. It might be a cycle, a come and go thing but what people are simply appreciating is the real value and craftsmanship from a pair of well fitting handcrafted shoes.

4. What are you working on now and what are your plans about the future? 

At the moment I am in London Interning at Nicholas Kirkwood, so I am learning in a really great environment and experiencing a new way of working. 2012 will be the start of building my professional career,vehicular is a very exciting and adventurous stage to be at in a career - anything can happen. For the time being, however, I am concentrating on what is here and now in front of me and taking on the challenge of the new city.

all pictures courtesy of Alan Buanne

Fashion Live!

On February 4, Ozon Mag organized the first Fashion Live! event involving various students in the process of creating fashion editorials along with real field professionals.

One of the people who participated in this event was stylist Soultana Papaioannou/ my personal eyes and the ears as I couldn't attend the event! She was part of the "Street team" and thanks to her camera I got to see a small preview of what the editorial photographs look like!

Fellow bloggers Elena LFOF, Thalia Life In Athens and Oh So Chic! Maria and Eleni presented their blogs so don't forget to click their pages for more pictures as well as the usual suspect Fashion Architect!

all photos courtesy of Soultana Papaioannou

a matter of colors/seasons/places

Today while checking my +1500 photos on iphone I found these two snapshots of my closet taken in two different seasons of last year.

Well..."I can't help but wonder"...what the %&@ happened to my closet?! It's true that I hate Winter season and that I can barely handle the cold weather but this drastic color range change I think reflects it much better than said. Also Florence is a very "monochromatic" city as well so...

the conclusion of my thoughts for tonight is that not only seasons but also cities reflect on our clothes and our moods. Oh and I forgot to tell you for the first time ever, I got dressed in  black head-to-toe! Definitely an accomplishment not to be proud of...

Angelos Bratis for YOOX

Well, I must confess this was a SO well written press release that I was really tempted to leave it the way it was sent to me!!

"To celebrate the launch of the Greek version of the virtual store, yoox.com unveils a unique collaboration with Greek designer Angelos Bratis, debuting online his Spring/Summer collection, alongside an exclusive caftan-dress designed exclusively for yoox.com and available online starting from today.

 The Spring/Summer collection - ECHO LOVES NARCISSUS, is inspired by the famous Greek myth. According to Angelos Bratis this legend is more contemporary than ever in today’s digital age. Hi-tech Romanticism permeates Angelos Bratis’ collection: algorithmic design blends with softness and fluidity – geometric shapes like the triangle and rhombus in ‘Facebook’ blue and Narcissus yellow create seamless color block dresses, crafted from natural materials and cut directly on the mannequin like traditional Greek peplums.

Greek tradition fuses with the future in the exquisite Y-caftan dress, created exclusively for yoox.com: “The Y-caftan came to mind when I was looking at the yoox.com app on my iPhone: the letter Y - a beautiful Greek symbol” affirms Angelos Bratis. A strong graphic silhouette combines with the geometry of the letter "Y" in bright yellow against a simple square of grey silk cut in four pieces. Bias-cut side panels drape against the body and give the garment a sense of fluidity.

 Angelos Bratis for yoox.com is the first collaboration between yoox.com and a Greek designer, and the perfect way to celebrate the launch of the Greek version of the website."

discover the collection here

image courtesy: yoox.com

Suspenders

..and the above picture proves that stylists are lucky enough to be able to wear after shooting, the model's clothes!

Stylist Emily Rusby transformed a "magazine shoot" look into something totally streetstyle approvable and wearable. The red shocks are THE detail of the look!

sources: vanessa jackman, emily rusby's personal webpage

Firenze4Ever 4th Edition_the party

Well words are not enough to describe this season's edition of Firenze4Ever Luisa Via Roma bloggers party! The store and upper restaurant floors were emptied of clothes and full of pink-worn fashion and music bloggers, friends, photographers, fiorentine stylish residents and even some people that traveled from other Italian cities just for this event! 

Of course everyone was excited to meet the "star bloggers" behind the blogs Fashion Squad, Bryan Boy, Style Scrapbook, Fashion Toast and The Blonde Salad (blogs mentioned in the order that you get to see them in the first pic)! Other than that, people were coming up and down, Joan as Police Woman rocked the party with her amazing voice and songs and the cute Pug Dogs were exposed in the walls of Luisa!

Definitely one of the best editions I've frequented so far as the place was full and everyone seemed to enjoy the music, the drinks, the food, the outfits and of course being photographed by so many bloggers around!

Firenze4Ever 4th Edition_the outfit

Luisa Via Roma organized yesterday night  for the 4th time the single most important international bloggers reunion party and this time the dress code was "Pink Carpet" (last time it was animalier check post here)!

Luckily I already had in my closet my Sparkle & Fade shirt-dress bought from Urban Outfitters when in London last June that I combined with my favorite (but very few times worn) shoes from Fullah Sugah!

Stay tuned because the next post features more photos of the party and a "bloggers family" photo that I'm sure you'll love!!!