Europe Counts For Fashion And Travel

Romantic Fashion for Valentine’s Day

Wednesday, February 1st, 2012, by Pete, Fashion tips, Lingerie, Womens wear, No Comments

Valentine’s Day is all about the romance and it is undeniable that fashion can help set the mood for the most romantic night of the year.  When the day set aside for bouquets of red roses and heart-shaped boxes of candies comes around on the calendar each year, women start thinking about what to wear on their big night—in and out of the bedroom!

Tried and true colours like a deep, sensual red are always a hit in the romance department sexy little dresses and camies work well why not take a look at clothing from Vila for Valentines.  Many fashionable women turn to stunning red lace dresses that suit their complexion and hint at the sensuality buried just beneath the surface.  Pinks are also fashionable in all of their many tones, marking a turn towards feminine and yet soft and classical.  High heels give a woman a little lift in height and accentuate the curves of her legs.  This year a favourite is the lacy red dress by Erdem, which whispers Valentine’s romance.

Inside the bedroom, fashion is just as important as outside of it on this most romantic of nights.  That’s why lingerie and underwear is a must for anyone looking to both look and feel sexy and sensual!  Lingerie is both classy and sexy, both beautiful and comfortable, and they have styles and designs that will flatter women’s best features and accentuate them.  There’s nothing sexier than a beautiful woman who feels confident, fashion that provokes that in any woman who wears them.

Clothing for Valentine's Day

The two desserts of Milan

Sunday, January 29th, 2012, by Pete, Food, Holiday, Travel, No Comments

The tasty treats of Milan are sure to seduce even the most disciplined traveller. Every pasticceria or café will usually have its own in-house specialty. The desserts range in taste from the really sweet to the slightly bitter. However, they will never be so sweet that the unique ingredients are lost in the process – such is the care with which they are created. The desserts in Milan are best enjoyed with a glass of wine, as that will bring out the full flavour of the sweet dish. Here are the two most beloved desserts of this city for you to try out during your next visit here:

The Cannoli, which is the queen of all Sicilian desserts, can be found in every pasticceria or café in Milan. It is a hollow pastry shell filled with sweetened ricotta, pieces of chocolate or candied fruit. The ends of the shell are sealed and dipped into bits of pistachio and served.

Cannoli

Picture courtesy of johnrudolphmueller

The Panettone is the best of Italian Christmas cakes. It is so popular that well-preserved boxes of these cakes can be found in select shops throughout the year. The cake tastes best when eaten with either mascarpone cheese or Zabaglione custard and washed down with a good dessert wine.

Panettone

Picture courtesy of Daniel Ngu

Denim trends for spring/summer 2012

Friday, January 27th, 2012, by Pete, Fashion tips, Womens wear, No Comments

The ‘must have’ denim trends for this season are:

Coloured jeans – A pop of primary colours, you should really get a pair of coloured Republic jeans for this season. You don’t need several pairs, just a colour which suits your style and works with your skin tone and what you already have in your wardrobe. You can be really greedy though and go for a rainbow collection of coloured jeans! If you’re wondering what to wear with coloured jeans then I suggest you follow the designers and go for colour blocking, really simple and really effective.

Printed jeans – Jeans with a light pattern printed on top of them have such a vintagey feel to them, cute and whimsical and perfect for this season. Clashing prints were high on the fashion agenda so having a pair will make a change to your normal denims, plus you can really work the double denim look too! Patterned shirts and blouses may seem a bit too much with patterned jeans but I find they add to the overall look.

Bleached jeans- These remind me of the nineties, many thought they would have been long forgotten, but it seems designers have other ideas! Perfect for the summer months keep a look out for nearly white bleached jeans and cut offs for that retro feel. As its summer anything white works well with bleached denim, faded t-shirts, cut off vests and a bit of fringing will give you the perfect summer look.

Best of British – the UK’s Top Designers

Monday, January 23rd, 2012, by Pete, Designers, No Comments

Julien Macdonald

Inspired by his mothers knitting circles that she held at their home in Merthyr Tydfil, Julien Macdonald’s sophisticated knitwear was what landed him a scholarship at London’s Royal College of Art.  Graduating in 1996 with an impressive collection, Julien had already designed for Karl Lagerfeld and Alexander McQueen.  In 1997, Julien’s knitwear was spotted by Lagerfeld and he was appointed as Chanel’s head knitwear designer.

Julien has gained a vivacious reputation for his designs.  Truly devoted to the form of the female body, his glitzy and glamorous red carpet creations of revealing crochet slips made from crystals, shocking furs and frocks has drawn attention from celebrities worldwide.  In 2001, Julien Macdonald won the British Glamour Designer of the Year award, and he went on to work as creative director of Givenchy. 

Julien Macdonald

Paul Smith kick started his career when he opened his own store in his native city of Nottingham, where he sold designs that were inspired by the type of clothing that he loved but was not able to buy elsewhere.  During the evening, he took classes in fashion design, and worked closely with his wife Pauline Denyer.  By 1976, he had developed a full range of menswear that he showed in Paris.
His traditional English attire combined with witty and unusual prints, is what makes Paul Smith’s designs so distinctive.  With 300 stores in Japan alone, and wholesaling his designs to thirty-five countries across the globe, Paul Smith’s commercial accomplishments are world-renowned.

Paul Smith

In 1995, Stella McCartney graduated from Central Saint Martins, where her final year collection was picked up by some of the biggest names in retail, including Bergdorf Goodman and Browns.  Her trademark style can be seen in her trouser suits, jet-setting holiday wear, and vintage inspired dresses.

After working as creative director for Chloe, McCartney decided to focus on re launching her own line.  She opened her first store in New York, shortly followed by stores in Los Angeles and London.  Passionate about animal rights, Stella refuses to work with leather or fur, and she has been acknowledged for winning a Women of Courage Award due to her involvement with cancer charities. 

Stella McCartney

European cruise holidays

Thursday, January 19th, 2012, by Pete, Cruises, Shopping, Travel, No Comments

There is so much that can be discovered on a European cruise holiday, it’s a great was to visit different destinations that you may have never been to before and get a taste for then to visit in the future. Europe is also good if you’re looking for last minute cruises, there are hundreds running throughout the year to destinations all across Europe.

Looking at Mediterranean cruise holidays you can find itineraries which hit popular destinations such as Monaco, Cannes, Santorini, Naples, Rome and Barcelona to name but a few! On here fashion is important to us and you will be amazed at some of the top fashion destinations you can visit. One option is to book a cruise and stay holiday, which offers you the chance to cruise to a number of different ports of call for a week and then stay at your final destination for a week before flying home.

How amazing would it be to see the sights of the Western Mediterranean such as France, Spain, Portugal and Italy before stopping off in one of these fabulous countries for a week, or the Western Mediterranean taking in Greece, Turkey, Malta and Israel and stopping off to sunbath or take in the scenery for a week.

If I’ve tempted you a little bit to look into taking a cruise holiday then why not check out Imagine Cruising to see what last minute deals they have for spring!

Santorini

Picture courtesy of photographerglen

Ralph Lauren

Tuesday, January 17th, 2012, by Pete, Designers, No Comments

Ralph Lauren, a designer brand name known everywhere, is also a fashion designer of classic and elegant fashion.  Ralph Lauren has designed for both men and women as well as for home products.  Ralph Lauren really is the epitome of success within the fashion world, and this article offers you more information about him.

Autobiography

Ralph Lauren was born on October 14th in 1939 in the Bronx in New York.  He was born into a poor family, and had to share his bedroom with two of his brothers.  His mother raised him and his brothers in a Jewish family home, whilst his father painted houses. 

Ralph Lauren attended both fashion design school and business school at City College in Manhattan.  He did not manage to reach the end of his business degree, dropping out soon before it was awarded.

Before he entered his career in fashion, Ralph Lauren served in the US army between 1962 and 1964.  He married Ricky Low-Beer, and has three children, Andrew, David and Dylan.

Fashion

Ralph Lauren was interested in fashion from an early age, and he would often buy expensive suits with the money he earned from his after school job.  He had a desire to look stylish and wear expensive clothes. 

It was Ralph Lauren’s job at a tie manufacturer named A. Rivetz & Co which led to his sparkling fashion career.  Ralph Lauren started to design wide ties.  He then took these designs and a loan of $50,000 and started the company Polo Fashions in 1986.  Bloomingdale’s advised that Ralph Lauren make the ties thinner, but Ralph refused.  Once the ties became successful elsewhere, Bloomingdale’s later came back with a view to buy the ties for the department store.

Soon Ralph Lauren designed a line of women’s clothing, and following this a line of sheets, towels and furniture.  This was in the early 1980s.  Soon Ralph Lauren had a company that was worth $900 million, and he was the founder, designer and chairman of the company.  He was selling a lifestyle image that many people wanted, as it was one of sophistication and class.

It is fair to say that Ralph Lauren’s collection of clothing has become timeless.

A Guide to Holidays in Waterford – Ireland

Saturday, January 14th, 2012, by Pete, Travel, No Comments

The town of Waterford in Ireland is located two hours southwest of Dublin It sits on the banks of the River Suir and is an ideal holiday destination.

History lovers will want to visit the medieval structure known as Reginald’s Tower, which was constructed in the 13th century as part of the town’s defences. It has been used as a mint and a prison and is now fully restored and open to visitors. Another point of interest is the ruins of a Franciscan monastery located at French Church. Explore the past at the Granary Museum and then try an historical walking tour of the town. 

Any holiday in Waterford should include a visit to the grand Christ Church Cathedral, which was constructed in 1773 and the Waterford Crystal Factory, founded in 1793, where you will learn about moulding and engraving crystal glass. Stroll along the Mall and take in the Waterford City Hall or spend your time exploring the waterfront quay with its clock tower. 

The town abounds with dining establishments, live theatre and music. The Spraoi Festival, in August, is a display of street performers, live music, food and fun for the whole family. For a day trip, head out to Tramore and take in the sandy beach and amusement park.

Waterford is reached by the Bus Eireann national service, while trains arrive directly from Limerick, Rosslare and Dublin. Finding a holiday property in Waterford will be simple, given the large selection available. Accommodation ranges from castles to boutique hotels and bed and breakfasts.

A sporting style

Thursday, January 12th, 2012, by Pete, Fashion tips, Menswear, Sports, style, No Comments

Sportswear doesn’t necessarily need to be consigned to the gym, in fact more and more designers are creating sportswear styles for their clothing lines which can be worn as every day wear and they still look stylish and smart rather than casual.

When talking about sportswear style, we don’t mean going out in trackie b’s, hooded top and trainers. No you need to look for clothing which has a sportswear cut but still style which is smart, Jack & Jones clothing have a great choice of clothing which fits perfectly into this style.

Trousers, chino’s and cargo trousers in slim cuts are a must have. T-shirts and vests as well as light fitting track tops will be a welcomed addition to your wardrobe. Smart trainers, pumps and plimsolls will work for footwear. Finally a holdall style back or backpack can also be handy, plus many have had a stylish upgrade since you were at school.

Sports style

Dressing for Skin Tone

Sunday, January 8th, 2012, by Pete, Fashion tips, No Comments

Every man has a skin tone. Regardless of the colour of the skin, the tone will be warm, cool or neutral. The best way to determine skin tone is to view skin in natural light and compare it to warm and cool objects. Darker skin tends to have warmer tones while lighter skin tends to have cooler tones.

Once the skin tone has been determined, it is easy to play to it using colours. Warm skin tones will respond to warm colours. A man with a warm skin tone who chooses a warm colour, such as red or brown, will see that this colour visibly complements his skin. Similarly, a man with a cool skin tone who chooses a cool colour, such as blue, green or purple, will see that this colour complements his skin nicely.

Some men have neutral skin tones and this is actually an advantage. Men with neutral skin tones can choose warm or cool colours and will look great either way.