Fashion Fun PARIS! Red Valentino Bodysuit, Karl Lagerfeld Wool Coat & Chanel Goat Slingbacks at Paris Fashion Week

Paris Fashion Week March 2023 

Ça va Paris? C’est un plaisir de participer à la fashion week et je suis invité au Untitled Showroom Paris. Je travaille comme journaliste indépendant mais heureusement, je retrouve mon ami Tibétain près de la GALERIE LAFAYETTE et au café LE RELAIS PARIS OPERA. 

 

It is the fashion week under March chilly wind alongside with the strike movement of RER and Paris Sanitation Department; while it is a pure luck where my stay HOTEL MOGADOR locating at the neighbourhood of Galerie Lafayette, Airport shuttle bus station and UNTITLED SHOWROOM. By foot there is no doubt to reach JUSTE Restaurant for the late evening fresh seafood or the grocery shopping at FRANPRIX. 

 

My outfits of the day to visit Untitled Showroom are RED VALENTINO 100% wool Bodysuit, KARL LAGERFELD 85% cotton and 15% wool belt cardigan with ZARA 100% cotton high waist jeans in pastel indigo blue. As for my favourite accessories, SAINT LAURENT D-frame acetate sunglasses, decorated with mini YSL logo on side, made in Italy, with 100% UV protection in shaded lenses, already become one of my travelling essentials since 2022 Turkish tour; CHANEL goat skin slingbacks with patent leather are highly durable during the interview and shopping schedule at Paris Fashion Week.

 

Launched in 2003, RED is the MAISON VALENTINO contemporary and more accessible-priced diffusion line for ladies, an acronym that stands for Romantic Eccentric Dress. As Founder and Designer Valentino Garavani suggested, that for VALENTINO, red is not just a colour. It’s a non-fading mark, a logo, a value and an iconic element of la maison. My 100% wool body suit, made in Italy, owns its sensual crossover stripes, offers sexy open back as well the lightweight knit gives the warm and comfort touches with ZARA jeans; therefore, even walking together with rather chilly March wind in Paris, my tummy catches almost impossible any cold.  

Monsieur Karl Lagerfeld, as in mandarin industry nicknamed as老佛爺，has been outstanding one of my most admirable fashion designers/photographers. Born in Hamburg, 1933, Lagerfeld carries the careers with CHLOÉ, FENDI (1954-82) and CHANEL (1983-2019) as well the casual brand under his name in December 2006, KARL LAGERFELD. 

The keen length 85% cotton and 15% wool coat with reversible black-and-white belt knitted with bold KARL LAGERFELD resembles Chanel SS 2021 Ready-to-Wear collection, as seen German model ANNA EWERS gracing the cover of VOGUE PARIS FÉVRIER 2021. The double chest and below-waist pockets are convenient for inserting lipsticks, sunglasses or tissues, with the KARL LAGERFELD carved buttons show the cute details of the designs, and for the full open as a casual coat, while complete closed can be styled as a little black dress. KARL LAGERFELD collections are surely my bargain investment from the legendary boutique Della Marga in Helsinki. 

 

The Casual wears mix and match with the formal accessories, business trip or shopping spree are never so effortless ever since at Paris Fashion Week. 

 

TOP TIP 1: Contrast the rather colorful bottoms while putting the darker outwears on

TOP TIP 2: Lightweight knits prevent the chilly wind at night and allow the skin to breath at daytime during the spring in Paris 

Special Thanks: QingCuo

Tea Time & Art Attack PARIS! Café DIOR Avec La Galerie DIOR Sur L’Avenue Montaigne 30

Paris Fashion Week March 2023

30 Avenue Montaigne

75008 Paris

 

Bonjour Montaigne! Á part la rue Cambon et Galerie Lafayette, ma nouvelle découverte est le 8ème arrondissement. Prendre le métro ligne 1 ou 9 à la station Franklin-Roosevelt, c'est un plaisir visuel d'apprécier l'art des vitrines. 

 

Boutique Dior on 30 Avenue Montaigne is a breathtaking visit, from the off-white atelier visual merchandising, the seasonal collection pour femme and pour homme to the cute courtyard of Café Dior. The springtime in Paris is slightly chilly during the daytime, for the calm and fresh teatime, I have my pleasure to enjoy the spacious table under the Dior parasol. 

 

Afternoon tea selections at CAFÉ DIOR are pleasant, from Japanese sencha, British Earl Grey to African Rooibos; especially fruity Rooibos hot tea is perfect together with DIOR chocolate étoile: the rich milk chocolate spongy cake is piled up with creamy layer inside along with golden crusty balls, dazzled with tiramisu powder atop. Completed with a cup of espresso added with a slim bag of crane sugar printed 30 MONTAIGNE, Bonjour, chilly March of Paris, after the lovely tea moment, La Galerie Dior surely I am coming. 

Featuring a unique scenographic narrative, LA GALERIE DIOR embodies the spirit of Parisian Haute Couture while perpetuating the memory of this historic address. LA GALERIE DIOR is behind this emblematic façade designed in the purest French style of the second half of the 19th century, with its elaborate balconies, volutes and mascarons, that more than seventy years of collections were born. 

 

Invited and guided by the lovely sales associate Christine to the separate entrance from Rue François, my voyage is warmly welcomed by the contemporary works sculptured under British artist MARC QUINN (1964-) and Franco-Chinese artist Yan Pei-Ming 嚴培明 (1960-) at the hallway. 

 

Taking the elevator and smoothly spiraling down from the third floor, the detailed history of Monsieur Dior and the family prepare the fashion connoisseurs the chronicle concept. Outstandingly and inevitably, from the eye-catching visual display, the magnificent off-white staircases surrounded by over 1,500 miniature objects from the world of Dior, with the most striking colour shades and elegant models; which; seem to float in the air, in a 2,000 square meters area on both third and second floor. 

 

The complete history of the House of Dior is revealed in the 13 thematic rooms of LA GALERIE DIOR, Monsieur Dior’s office, the live show atelier for visitor to request the further knowledge, the magazine archives and the glamorous exhibitions: from the New Look to the iconic Corolla skirts of Christian Dior, from Yves Saint Laurent in youth to the extravagant John Galliano, from Raf Simons to Marc Bohan, Gianfranco Ferré and Maria Grazia Chiuri. Alongside the revolution of classic fragrance, from DIOR POISON to J’ADORE, together, the history of legend has been written through the most talented Art Directors as well through the strong females, from Marylin Monroe to Grace Kelly, Princess of Wales, Diana, to Hollywood red-carpet favourite Charlize Theron and Nicole Kidman. 

 

Last but not the least, the lumière runway grand finale show plays the rays of the beauty, presents the most dreamy, delicate and dazzling gowns, in order to tell a repository of fashion memory, over which the spirit of Monsieur Dior has seemed to float since 1946.

 

Merci Beaucoup, pour la richesse des connaissances et la belle exposition. Je t'adore, je t'aime. 

Special Thanks: Christine & L'équipe de DIOR Paris

For live videos of Café Dior & La Galerie Dior ->@missymindyyuan

Fashion Fun Málaga! Chloé Cashmere, By Malene Birger Wool Wears & Chanel Espadrilles at La Manquita Málaga

Año Nuevo Chino 2023 en Málaga 

 

Hola y Qué tal Málaga! Departure from Helsinki by NORWEGIAN AIR, the direct flight takes approximately 4h45m to arrive. C1 rail line connects MÁLAGA AIRPORT (AGP) with downtown within 12 minutes, easily through the station gate with contactless card payment, there is no need to queue at ticket counter or rush to the vending machine. 

 

After checking at SOHO BOUTIQUE EQUITATIVA, La Manquita Cathedral is at walking distance. As full name Santa Iglesia Catedral Basílica de la Encarnación in Spanish, the North Tower is 84 meters high, standing the second tallest in Andalucía after Giralda of Seville. In order to defray the enormous expenses of the construction, after the War of Succession in 1714, the Crown of Spain imposed an excise tax on the ships that called in Málaga; therefore, in 1776, the work progressed rapidly until the drought of budget at the end of the 18^th century. The South Tower remains unfinished, which led to the cathedral being nicknamed ‘LA MANQUITA’, meaning ‘The One-Armed Lady’ in English. 

 

Ranging between 5-15’c during the late January, mostly sunny but yet slightly chilly at nighttime, the outfits of the day during Chinese New Year in Málaga is mix-and-match of layering. 

 

CHLOÉ lightweight knit cashmere in antique rose hue, with embroidered logo, easy to slip on, perfectly matches with BY MALENE BIRGER woody brown puffy wool cardigan and black long coat, both composed in RWS/RMS 34% wool, 34% mohair, 27% polyamide and 5% elastane. The tie-neck design from CHLOÉ cashmere performs an extra colourful bandeau, in addition of VIVIENNE WESTWOOD 100% wool scarf in dark grey. AMERICAN APPAREL high waist leggings are just my forever essentials; though made in U.S.A in slightly shining 100% polyesters, they are durable and comfortable during the city walk. My AW outfits usually tend to choose bleak tones, from 2023 Chinese New Year, the rather too conservative routine meets the new light. 

CHANEL espadrilles in black raffia outer soles, warm denim sewn with golden threads in CC logo complete seized my gazes at CHANEL VENEZIA in November 2022. The rather thicker inner and outer soles of new version of espadrilles enable me to walk smoothly without hesitation in snowy Helsinki, also prevent me from the slippery marble pavement in Centro Historico Málaga. 

 

The barcode ticket is available to scan to have the audio guide on mobile phone. Walking in the cathedral, built on a rectangular plan, is composed of a nave and two aisles. The façade of La Manquita is in Baroque style and divided into two levels; on the lower level are three arches, inside of which are portals separated by marble columns. Above the doors are medallions carved in stone; those of the lateral doors represent the patron saints of Málaga, Saint Cyriacus and Saint Paula, while that over the centre represents the Annunciation. I especially adore the wood artworks sanctuary; among the other wonders, are Gothic altarpiece Chapel of Santa Barbara and the 16th century tombs of the Chapel of San Francisco. 

 

After meeting La Maquita, now it’s time to devour some delicious helado, again, in CASA MIRA!

TOP TIP 1: Layering with lightweight cashmere and then puffier wool wears during the winter season in south of Europe

TOP TIP 2: Bring along a pair of hotel shower caps in case of sudden rains to avoid the soak-in tragedy of espadrilles 

Cuisine Crush Málaga! Gelato Crujiente y Chocolate Caliente en Casa Mira

Málaga, España

Enero, Año Nuevo Chino 2023 

 

¿Qué comemos durante las visitas al museo? Sí, gelato crujiente y chocolate caliente! Dimas Mira e hijos, tan conocido como CASA MIRA, de donde ofrece la el gelato chocolate más delicioso y decoración más linda desde 1890. Caminé por La Manquita y lo encontré.

 

Gelato in Italian, helado in Spanish, derived from 1295, Marco Polo returned to Venice from China with a recipe similar to sorbet. Cosimo Ruggeri, from Firenze, created the first gelato—fior di latte—at the court of Medici, soon Catherine de Medici took gelato to Paris in the 1530s. Circa 1565, Bernardo Buontalenti, an innovator in ice conservation, made a sorbet with ice, salt, lemon, wine, milk, sugar, egg, honey, plus orange and bergamot flavours—gelato alla crema—therefore, Buontalenti is credited the precursor to modern Florentine gelato.

 

Severino Mira Cortés, the nougat manufacturer, arrived in Málaga in 1890 from Jijona, Alicante, over a century CASA MIRA has been avoiding to adopt the artificial flavors or sweeteners, emphasizing natural production process of gelato. By applying milk fat and fresh cream to create the dense taste and help the air dissolve in the gelato; as for my milky chocolate flavour, CASA MIRA bestows the whole milk (3.5%) as the raw material. Crunchy waffle cone with smooth icy chocolate…..winter time in Málaga is never cruel. 

 

Archaeologists have found evidence that Mayan cocoa consumption occurred as early as 500 BC; Maya ground cocoa seeds into a paste and mixed it with water, cornmeal and chili peppers. Circa 460-480 AD Mayan tomb from the site of Rio Azul, Guatemala, had vessels with the Maya glyph for cacao on them with residue of a chocolate, while not until 1502 on Columbus’ fourth voyage that Europeans have first contacted with the hot cocoa drink. 

 

In the 1560s, the Italian version of cioccolata calda, as known as hot chocolate or cocoa drink, was first born in Turin. Emmanuel Philibert, Duke of Savoy, asked for a new beverage in order to celebrate the capital of the Duchy of Savoy moved from Chambéry to Turin; therefore, the milky, thicker, creamy version was created.

 

The Spanish began to tinker with the recipes by using spices such as cinnamon, black pepper, anise, and sesame. As for the further studies in the 21^st century, conducted by Dr. Norman K. Hollenberg, professor of medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, that Flavonoids found in hot chocolate are beneficial to our cardiovascular health, since they reduce blood platelet buildup and balance levels of compounds called eicosanoids. Even my cup of chocolate at CASA MIRA does not adapt the black pepper to replace Mayan chillies and mecaxochitl, still, by the process of dissolving the milk chocolate bar, mixing with cinnamon, honey and cream, the hot cup gives a luscious taste of sensibility and satisfaction. 

 

Calle Císter 8

Málaga

Magazine Madness UK: Harper’s Bazaar Women of the Year 22-23: Anya Taylor-Joy Riding High

Harper’s Bazaar UK

December 2022-January 2023

 

Who, in 2022, have brought us joy, jubilance and jubilee? With her unwavering commitment to creativity, this mesmerizing and multifaceted star now has flick stardom and fashion world under her feet. 

 

Anya Taylor-Joy’s compelling performance as an innocent girl gradually succumbs to the forces of evil around her in Robert Eggers’ The VVitch, garnered critical acclaim at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival. Her vivacious turn as Emma Woodhouse, in Autumn de Wilde’s colourful film adaptation of the Jane Austen novel, proved that she is indeed a comic actress as well. But it was in the depths of lockdown that Anya’s fame went viral, when Anya concertized an orphaned chess prodigy, Beth Harmon, grappling with drug addiction and teenager confusion, immediately received rave reviews, media interviews and brand affiliations.

With Director Scott Frank’s brilliant adaptation from Walter Tevis’ novel, Anya Taylor-Joy’s agile yet innocent eyes, crimson and curvy bob hairstyle, alongside with pastel vintage set design, from The Queen’s Gambit to DIOR Ambassador, Anya’s steadfast attitude and exotic sensibility, as Her Majesty of the Queen, VINI, VIDI, VICI. 

 

Therefore, HARPER’S BAZAAR UK Holiday issue awards Anya Taylor-Joy the cover star and Women of the Year 2022-23. Under the lens of Georges Anton and styled by Jillian Davison, Anya wears DIOR poppy red silk taffeta top and skirt, lamb-skin gloves and calf-skin boots, has photographed together with a shining black Arabic stallion, on the set of peachy pinkish manoir wall.

To my great visual surprises of this holiday issue fashion campaign, is that the Harper’s Bazaar editorial team combines Anya’s Argentinian background and DIOR Cruise show 2023 in Seville—the traditional embroidered tulle jacket, skirt and fan in crimson reddish—defines the confident still girly attractive artist, who, still, ‘stepped on enough to stand up and say no’ to this male dominated industry. 

To echo Anya the DIOR International and Beauty Ambassador, for the photography shooting, I adopt DIOR 2022 Calendar Nöel de l’Avent to enhance holiday merry with the Harper’s Bazaar issue. Annually treats the beauty enthusiasts with three major categories—fragrances, makeups and candles—DIOR surprises completes La Collection Privée exclusive 30 Montaigne candle in 85 grams. In order to contrast the magazine flat lay vision, the elegant shape of the miniature bottles from DIOR J’adore Eau de Parfum, J’adore Parfum d’Eau in 5 ml march accordingly, on the left hand side of the photography, with Sauvage Eau de Toilette in 10 ml and La Collection Privée Gris Dior in 7.5 ml. 

 

For the mirror and balance purposes, I place DIOR classic fragrance collection—Miss Dior New Eau de Parfum and Blooming Bouquet in 5 ml—on the right hand side of the holiday issue. Dior Prestige La Crème in 15 ml, with its golden cap carved with CD logo, is the best color tone as the 2022-23 limited edition Lucky Star decoration. The square shape form the bird view, that Rouge Dior Vernis 999 in 7 ml is in harmony mood with La Crème and Miss Dior. 

 

Diorshow Iconic Overcurl mascara and Maximizer 3D in 4 ml, Rouge Dior lipstick 999 velvet finish and Rouge Dior Baume 000 Satin in 1.5 g are the most welcome travel essentials, the light weights and never-gone-wrong hues save up loads of my restock budgets. 

 

Dior Prestige La Micro-Huile de Rose Advanced Serum and Capture Totale Super Potent Serum in 10 ml with rosy pinkish tinges not only promote the peachy and crimson touches of the Anya Taylor-Joy cover shoot, but also instantly become one of my favourite late night beauty regimes. The micro rose buds from Turkey and light purple chamomiles decorate the whole flat lay photography, so as to present that Miss Dior and Privée Gris Dior offer their unique blend of roses, oakmosses and warm spicy accords. 

While pamper myself with Dior holiday goodies, flip over the Harper’s Bazaar UK pages, amongst Women of the Year, we honestly gather the British rapper LITTLE SIMZ, the brave super model LAUREN WASSER, the late Queen Elizabeth II and indeed Dior Creative Director, MARIA GRAZIA CHIURI. Hooray Holiday! 

@anyataylorjoy

Special Thanks: DIOR Helsinki