And read her book: The beautiful People’s Beauty Book…I still have not gotten round to it….Some pearls of wisdom from the 1970′s book:
Yawning
“My yogi, Grant Muradoff, Russia’s loss and Rome’s gain, was pleased I felt like yawning. He believes that, far from being a sign of boredom, yawning charges the batteries and give you strength. It is one of the simplest rejuvenators anyone can find.”
Trade men in for a meal
“When you have to watch calories, it is much easier if you eat alone. This does not mean you should give up men’s company, but ideally, you should have a man who is not always around.”
Honey
“Many Romans do swear by honey. It is said to improve stamina and boost virility.”
Sports
“Consuelo Crespi observes that girls are never more glowing than when they have just come off the tennis courts.”
The Homosexual Facial
“The rage a few years ago with the chic Paris homosexuals is this: Take the white of one egg, a teaspoon of the best olive oil, beat, and apply for 20 minutes. Remove with hot face towel, lace trim optional.”
Live a peasant’s life
“Hair reflects the way you live,” according to Rome’s leading trichologist, Edward Goodman. “Peasants working in the fields have stronger, better hair. So do certain types of manual workers. The reason is less nervous tension.”
Age-appropriate hair
“The one rule with hairstyles is that when one is over a certain age, hair should be worn short. Short hair seems to lift the lines of a face better than longer hair. Chignons and twists are an alternative for older women, but if all that can be achieved is a dreary bun, you might as well cut it off.”
Hot vs. Cold
“Hot baths should never contain water higher than pelvic level. Above all, the bosom must never soak in the tub. Hot water only drags it down, and no woman wants that. After a warm bath, aim a good blast of cold water on the bosom and thighs. They need it.”
Flat on the sides, full on the top
“Asked how he cared for his hair, a Roman businessman said he washed it at home. ‘I wash it every two days. I like the sides flat, so I put on a net before I dry it. Don’t write this down, I’ll sound ridiculous.’”
Massages
Designer Emilio Pucci: “I swim and ski and I have a very strong nervous system, but when I’m tired, there is nothing like a half-hour massage. It is my drug. In Rome, I have two Filipino girls who come to the house. I would never be massaged by a man—I find it distasteful.”
Carbs and booze…because what else is there?
“Surely, a woman’s warmth and charm depend on at least a minimum of self-indulgence. Drink that wine, eat that pasta!”

Timeless elegance-Recently I had the immense pleasure of watching the Loro Piana Carribean Super Yacht  Regata in Virgin Gorda, the British Virgin Islands.  The boats are complete masterpieces;  with the smalllest boat being 23 meters and the largest 61 meters you can imagine the atmosphere!  At dinner I was sitting next to the truly inspirational visionary-  Mr. Loro Piana, the CEO of  the Loro Piana Group. The  Loro Piana family started working with textile fibers in the valleys of Biella, Italy in 1812. Now into their third generation they have around 132 stores worldwide and  are the leaders in the luxury market.   As a great fan of the Loro Piana clothes  I wanted to find out more about the brand’s philosophy and how they came to the idea to organise superyacht regatas

1) As one of the top leaders in the luxury market and a 100% family owned business- what is luxury for you?

Luxury is uncompromising quality. Precious, functional items that will last forever.

2) Would you say that your clients are loyal to you as they are looking for the best quality, timeless design, rather than following trends? You follow the desires of your clients- How would you describe your typical client and what is essential to him/her?

Our customers are quality addicts, constantly searching for uncompromising quality and yes! they prefer to enjoy and invest in timeless elegance products which are classic- contemporary. They are men and women aged 30+, have a sound experience of wealth, professionally and socially active who travel the world both for business and leisure. Our clients go for the best in each and every aspect of their lives, and treasure our products that last a lifetime and more. Moreover, they are fond of outdoor sports and nature, just like us!

 3) What are the essentials for any man’s wardrobe?

A double breast blazer, a white shirt and of course a super soft Baby Cashmere sweater.

4) I know that you are a passionate sailor. When did you come to the idea to organize Superyacht Regattas and how come? What is the minimum size of the boats that can participate and tell us which has been the largest so far ?

We hosted our first Regatta in 2002 called the 3 Golfi in the picturesque sea of Capri in the Mediterranean. Sailing and the sea have always been two of my family’s greatest passions and I do actively participate in regattas. In line with the family’s authentic enthusiasm and company values, sailing represents the search for technical perfection in harmony with nature. For us, the sponsorship is about communicating the philosophy of our Company. It brings together people who truly love nature and yachting. Moreover these regattas are also great test-grounds for our products, as well as moments of joy and the occasions of meeting some of our customers and friends. Through a deep understanding of this activity, we design and produce garments that seek to satisfy the specific needs of the sportsman: always searching for the perfect union between aesthetics and functionality. Boats that participate to our Regattas are super yachts measuring no less than 80 feet, it’s hard to say  what has been the largest boat so far but I can tell you that Twizzle, which participated to the last edition of our Regatta in Porto Cervo, impressed me for its huge size: 57,5 meters. It is undoubtedly the biggest boat of the last 3 Regattas we hosted.

5) Investing in one clothing item that lasts a lifetime over buying many lesser quality items. Is this your philosophy? Would you say that Loro Piana clothes last a lifetime?

Loro Piana clothes are made to last. We are not a fashion brand, of course we provide our clients with a contemporary style but highest quality thanks to the best raw materials, comfort, elegance and functionality are the key aspects we pay attention to. They are made to last but one has to take care of them!

6) Is a Loro Piana look “low key” or is it becoming a recognizable statement of less is more – understated luxury?

We never liked to show off, so we prefer to maintain a low yet exclusive profile. We always pursue timeless elegance and discrete luxury.

 7) You had an exclusive contract with the Peru government in 1994 to buy Vicuñias, a relative of the llama that live in the high altitudes of the Andes . They were near extinction and you were chosen by the government to reintroduce the fabric into the international market to give incentive to breed the animals.

Indeed and we are really very proud f it. For many years, Loro Piana has been developing a relationship with the Peruvian government.

In 1967, the Peruvian government created the first 6,500 hectares re-population area in Pampa Galeras for the first carefully controlled restocking program.

In 1976, the CITES, the Washington bureau that regulates trade of endangered animals, categorized vicuna as one of the vigilantly protected species in which any trade was forbidden. Since the 1980’s enlivened by the desire to bring the Fibre of the Gods to the market, we made the first contact with the Peruvian Government and the communities of Campesinos. In 1987 Peru successfully requested that CITES earmark several vicuna populations for the international fabric trade, making use of the fibre obtained from live animals. At the same time the local Campesinos were granted a life interest in the vicuna and received an income from legal shearing.

In 1994 the ‘Sociedad Nacional de Criadores de Vicuna’ in its search for reliable partners to implement the project, under the aegis of the Peruvian Government, called an International Competition of merit. Loro Piana, at the head of a consortium, gained the honour to re-introduce the monitored and legally sheared fibre in to the world market, it was an exclusive right valid for 10 years.

Even if the species is now no longer in danger and the repopulation has been successful, we still have to take care of these rare and delicate animals and our involvement keeps on growing over the years.

This material is so special because, besides being beautiful, it is extremely fine (between 12 and 13 microns compared to 14/15 of the best cashmere; 1 micron = one thousandth of a millimetre), soft and really rare (each animal produces no more than 250 gross grams of the fiber) and that makes it also very exclusive and precious.
How do you go about looking for the best materials? Any other countries where you do similar things?

Our secret is the selection of the best raw materials available which we painstakingly source and select directly from the local breeders. Loro Piana has a direct presence in all the major markets where raw materials originate – such as China and Mongolia for Cashmere and Baby cashmere, Australia and New Zealand for fine Merino wools, Peru for Vicuña and Myanmar for Lotus Flower.

Vicuna in Peru

9) Loro Piana does a home range as well. Describe your ideal home?

Cozy, elegant, comfortable and….refitted with Loro Piana Interiors fabrics, the line we launched in 2006.(see below). When we project our houses we are often inspired by boats actually: we normally have big common areas -for dining and chatting – and smaller bedrooms

Dedicated to those who have become acquainted with the Loro Piana qualities over time, Interiors is a line of home fabrics conceived to dress one’s spaces with the same intimate elegance one dresses with. The fundamentals at the base of Loro Piana Interiors are: quality without compromise, research for the best raw materials in the world and rigorous controls during each step in the manufacturing process.

We guarantee a personalized service so any client can pick our items to embellish their houses, private jets or their yachts: they can choose the fabric and color that matches better with their furniture and the environment. Our range boasts over 600 fabric variants to upholster padded furniture, curtains and decorative elements that can be customized in terms of colors and patterns to match throws, blankets and carpets. Moreover, the fabrics undergo special treatments that grant top resistance and easy care while preserving their softness, lightness and comfort.

10) What are your next projects?

We are going to make a very important economic announcement at the end of this month of May about our further involvement with the Vicuna. Just an example to say that we constantly continue to research for the best raw materials in the world.

Concerning our future strategy we plan to keep this position by maintaining access to the best raw materials in the world, ensure excellence in the choice of raw materials when designing and producing our range of items and promoting the knowledge and appreciation of true quality amongst our discerning customers, now and in the future.

11) Please share with us your favorite classical music pieces?

I actually live jazz music: my favorite song is “My song”, a beautiful tune from Keith Jarrett which impressed me so much that I gave the same name to my boat.

 12) Favourite travel destination and best restaurant you have been to?

I love the sea so my favorite destinations are enchanting islands in the Mediterranean sea like Li Galli, Ponza, Sardinia where I host my Superyacht Regatta every year in June but also Greece offers marvelous places. Best restaurants for me are Tripoli in Portofino where you can eat delicious lasagna and Maria Grazia Restaurant in Nerano, in the Amalfi coast, that prepares an excellent pasta with zucchini. Every year I also go back to Ponza, the Island where we got married, and celebrate at Acquapazza. Cannot miss it!

13) Favourite city?

There are so many beautiful cities in the world. Rome and Florence are gorgeous, they represent history, culture and Italian beauty. Of course I love New York where I used to work a week every month and Paris, both magic cities. Not to speak about how lively Shangai is becoming.

Below Loro Piana clothes for him and her

www.loropiana.com

Check out the upcoming June Regata here: http://www.loropianasuperyachtregatta.com

Top: Tibi, Stripped top: Edun , Christian Louboutin shoes and Viktor&Rolf jumpsuit, Picture from Grazia UK

First day of training in new Nike running gear!

http://ninunina.com

I’ve seen better pictures of myself but it’s the outfit that counts. Never take pictures when the light is directly above you- makes you look like a freak. The important thing in this post is my top and trousers that are both SS 2013 Temperley and you can buy it here: Temperley . Earrings are by Silvia Furmanovich

Illesetva sunglasses, Zara coat, H&M T -shirt, Bex Rox necklace, bracelets,ring and Philip Lim bag. Photo by Dimitri Legrand

This coat by Roksanda Ilincic is possibly my favourite items of clothing ever. Sweater is by Jonathan Saunders, trousers by Alberta Ferretti, shoes are by Jimmy Choo, bag by Miu Miu, Erickson Beamon necklace and sunglasses BLK for Moscot

Read the rest of the interview online here : http://www.graziadaily.co.uk/fashion/stylehunter/style-hunter-meets-model—fashion-blogger-sara-brajovic

Top: Roksanda Ilincic
Trousers: http://www.zara.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product/uk/en/zara-neu-S2013/358005/1183529/PALAZZO+TROUSERS

Clutch: Jimmy Choo

http://www.silviafurmanovich.com.br/

Photo: Nick Rhodes

Zara sweatshirt: http://www.zara.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product/uk/en/zara-neu-S2013/364001/1107510/EMBROIDERED+SWEATSHIRT

Tibi dress: Tibi

Stella McCartney top: Stella McCartney

Zara above, Balmain below

That’s an Issa dress ( http://www.issalondon.com/ ) and Erickson Beamon jewelry….

The new collection is simply stunning! You can look at the interview I did with Noor a while back for my blog here: http://sarabrajovic.com/2011/06/interview-from-beirut-noor-fares/

You can buy them from Net-a-Porter here: Gianvito Rossi

Taken from So bad so good sobadsogood.com/2012/05/24/a-fascinating-look-at-the-hyena-men-of-nigeria-by-photographer-pieter-hugo/

That animal, those teeth and that baby don’t go together…just saying.

You can buy them here: Illesteva

http://www.squarenine.rs/

American Retro blazer, Zadig et Voltaire sweater, Jitrois leather trousers, Sunettes sunglasses ( http://sunettes.com/ )

Sis and I chez Ito, the opposite side of the room from above’s picture. You can check out the rest of Ora Ito’s home and interview here http://sarabrajovic.com/2011/03/interview-from-paris-designer-ora-ito/

Xavier Veilhan below


Find the photographs of the artworks in Paris metro stations, photograph them, post them here https://www.facebook.com/GrandPalais.RMN/app_119346054918778 and win….something!

SS2012 above Fall 2013 below


Ana Ljubinkovic above. I’m loving the sculptural shapes, bold colours, patterns and her general play on details. I saw Ana’s last collection somewhere online whilst browsing the net and absolutely loved what I saw. I digged deeper. She is a Serbian designer based in Belgrade. It’s absolutely amazing to travel outside our usual 4 fashion destinations- Milan, Paris, New York and London and discover something outstanding. Globalisation is upon us. In fashion too. It’s important to be curious and to look outside the obvious fashion capitals for new talent. You would be surprised what you find. Ana is a fine example of this.
Whilst at Belgrade Fashion week I also discovered the dark world of Ivana Pilja (below)

This  classified French monument historique has been in the Beauvau-Craon family since it was completed in 1732. The current proprietor, Princess Minnie de Beauvau-Craon, is a direct descendant of Prince Marc de Beauvau-Craon who in 1720 commissioned the architect Germain Boffrand to build it in the remote countryside near the Moselle and Meurthe rivers. A while back I was invited by the Princess’ daughter  to visit the chateau and be a guest at the opening of the old school couture Givenchy, Venet and Balenciaga exhibit.  Apart from meeting the chic Princess and having a feast for my eyes whilst walking around  I had the immense pleasure of meeting Hubert Givenchy himself. I am rarely star struck. But I skipped a breath when I met him. He is tall, handsome and a very elegant man. And there is the association of course to his muse Audrey Hepburn. I think that today we sadly only rarely  have the pleasure of meeting men and women that are  elegant in character, manners and appearance. Why? Is it because our pop culture is selling  us their packaged version of “fast-food” idols? And thus the youth thinks this to be model of lifestyle to aspire to? It’s as if there is a general consensus that Madame Hepburn or Monsiuer Givenchy types are not sellable? Is vulgarity cashing in nowdays?  Is it because our lifestyle is becoming busier and faster and people don’t have time to stop, think , observe and appreciate subtlety? Is there way too much information and lots of people are getting lost or have lost identity? Is our civilisation evolving or regressing to cave men esthetics?(ie. Kardashians)  I could go on and on with questions. Let’s leave at this and the beautiful history and tradition that Chateau d’Haroue brings with it into our century.

http://www.chateaudeharoue.fr/

Chic, chic, chic…..I absolutely loved her last collection so I was very happy to see her new collection at the Crillon Hotel in Paris. Would wear it ALL! http://isaarfen.com/

See through trousers: Emilio Pucci

Jacket: The Row
Skirt: The Row
Top: Calvin Klein
Trousers: Calvin Klein

Top: Chloe
Trousers: Chloe
Earrings: Bottega Veneta
Shoes: Valentino
Bag: Marc by Marc Jacobs
T shirt: The Row

Note to my international readers- if you see me in any of your magazines worldwide – don’t hesitate to send me the article- Thank you to my loyal blog follower Tomokanak Tak for sending me this through all the way from Japan!

Top: Tibi
Bracelet 1: Eddie Borgo
Bracelet 2: Eddie Borgo
Bracelet 3: Eddie Borgo
Bag: Gucci
Bracelet 4: Kenneth Jay Lane
Bracelet 5: Saint Laurent
Trousers: Chloe
Sandals:Valentino

Jacket: Mulberry

I went to visit the Patricia Bonaldi flagship in Sao Paolo. I received a beautiful dress and a clutch from her as a present and can’t wait to photograph it for the blog!

Ultimate feminine clothes with signature delicate laces, powdery pastels and sprinkles of jewels. She makes demi-couture evening gowns, to party dresses and fine accessories. Beyond the two branded stores located in Uberlândia and Sao Paulo, plus a further 140 multi-brand outlets throughout Brazil, Patricia Bonaldi pieces can be found in demanding markets such as America, Russia, the Middle East and Europe. Harrods, of London, will be the exclusive UK retailer for the brand for its second season in 2013. At the brand’s HQ, in Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, the designer has established her own school of embroidery. Prolonging the tradition for decorative manual labour in the region, Bonaldi’s aim is to empower women by training each person to her meticulous standard. Now with over 105 recruits, the school collaboratively produce the rich embroidery and embellishment that feature on Patricia Bonaldi garments.

Blazer: Stella McCartney
Top: Stella McCartney
Lace trousers: Stella McCartney
Clutch: Bottega Veneta
Shoes:Valentino

Every country naturally tries to nurture their own talents whether they are in the arts, sports, science….or fashion! It was really interesting to see how the city of Sao Paolo supports their emerging fashion talent through business mentoring in areas such as business planning, marketing, sourcing, production and exporting. Some of the designers that caught my eye are below. Gabriela Sakate(above hand below) has such a strong Fall 2013 collection, absolutely love all the pieces!

Below some Trend- T T- Shirts

Der Metropol menswear

I have been to Rio before and Sao Paolo was introduced to me by my hosts as the business capital of Brazil. “Everything happens here, it fast paced- it is very similar to the energy of New York.” You could say that as there are a lot of tall buildings, the city is massive, there is a feeling that you are in the middle of a ticking beehive but add to that mix very relaxed people who are always smiling and lots of tropical looking trees. The food is amazing and the sushi is one of the best I have ever had. I met some really interesting locals and would love to feature some of them on my blog. It is existing to see how fashion is developing in this powerful emerging market. Brazil is exploding!!!
Here are some snapshots that caught my eye (  not the most polished of things but these things speak to me….I think these things define a city’s charm ) whilst being  driven though the streets of Sao Paolo. I also had the immense pleasure of listening to Avril Groom  from How to Spend it Magazine whilst in the car-  my partner in crime this time.

The boyz hanging….

Developing fast….old house in the concrete jungle…

The amazing designers above: Carolina Neri and Berangere Lux

Venez jusqu’au bord.
Nous ne pouvons pas, nous avons peur.
Venez jusqu’au bord.
Nous ne pouvons pas, nous allons tomber.
Venez jusqu’au bord.
Et ils y sont allés.
Et il les a poussés.
Et ils se sont envolés.
(Guillaume Apollinaire) Photo by Dimitri Legrand

On se la fait a l’ancienne….
Loro Piana hat, Lanvin coat, Vanessa Bruno tunic, Rag & Bone boots, Fendi bag, Isabel Marant scarf. Photo by Dimitri Legrand

Cape: Loro Piana
Top: Bottega Veneta
Skirt: Bottega Veneta
Horn necklace 1: Hermes
Bag: Hermes jypsiere
Hat: Hermes
Shoes: Hermes
Horn necklace 2: Hermes
Horn necklace 3: Hermes

I was invited to Kiev Fashion week a while back and have such treasured memories from this trip. Here is what my partner in crime Natalie Joos and I managed to get up to in our very limited free time.

Above and below images from Natalie Joos’ blog  www.talesofendearment.com

St Michael’s cathedral above and St. Vladmir’s cathedral below. Stunning Orthodox heritage

Picture above from Natalie Joos’blog www.talesofendearment.com , Trussardi croc bag

Being babushkas in my room at Fairmont Hotel (the best hotel in Kiev) below

Eating caviar at the Fairmont Hotel, Dannijo necklace and Issa dress

Natalie at traditional Ukrainian restaurant

Borscht soup, pancakes, beetroot and walnuts above. The Kiev diner interior below

Method acting: Being a lamp

The old and the new successfully mixing

Represent! Roksanda Ilincic in Kiev all the way

Marni shoes and bag, Matthew Williamson coat, Club Monaco trousers and Bimba and Lola sweater

Above- view of the hotel from the Promenade in Gstaad. Opened in 1913, the Palace has mock-fortified corner towers  and a neomedieval facade . Perfect setting for the Rapunzel fairy tale! That was the determining factor in the choice of hotel of course.

The hotel hosted characters such as  Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Sophia Loren, Roger Moore, Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton and  the return of the Pink Panther (1975) with Peter Sellers was also filmed here. The designer, Valentino, called the architecture a ‘brutal Sleeping Beauty castle’. It really is a fairy tale. One of the nicest hotels I have stayed at.  Really. It is managed now by the third generation of the Scherz Family, the initial and only owners of the hotel. This is what gives the hotel  special touch and makes it very authentic-there is a feeling of tradition, heritage but of a very warm and homey feeling as well. I felt like I was back Swiss boarding school. Back in the little bubble that it was.

Doing the purple Rapunzel vibe on the terrace (it’s freezing) whilst waiting for my hair to grow a touch more.

Stay true to oneself- still blogging at 1050 metres above sea level. Falke beanie, Toujouri jumpsuit, Brunello Cuccinelli sweater, Zara shoes

And having a VERY important conversation. Are those Milan shows going well? They are looking great on style.com

Rag & Bone hat, Toujouri jumsuit, Zara shoes, Amanda Wakeley fur gilet, Brunello Cuccinelli sweater

The lovely room and check out the 80′s snow leopard vibe of this Bogner ski helmet.

Loving the black and white images in the lobby- here are a couple from back in the day.

One thing that was missing…is this Each X Other T shirt. Next time I might make it my Palace outfit per excellence.

T shirt: Each X Other

Beanie: Silver Spoon Attire

Hoodie: MISBHV
Sunglasses: Prism
Trousers: Filles a papa
Bag: Alexander McQueen
Espadrilles: Prism

I was really excited to see Roksanda’s atelier in East End London. We’ve been trying to meet up for ages but both of our schedules were quite insane in the last couple of months- traveling wise! Finally at the end of January we were both in London at the same time.  I was greeted upon my(messy) arrival by yummy biscuits, fruit and tea. True Slavic hospitality!

Roksanda at her desk in one of her stunning purple dresses

Last time  I saw Roksi was at her SS 2013 show at the Savoy hotel in London . Her deigns are as you might have noticed one of my favourites. Why? The Roksanda Ilincic woman is a lady. With a modern British twist.  There is something to be said on how her clothes  are   oozing femininity by floating around the body. Also her clothes are like sculptures- they would make a great exhibit in a modern art museum. and are real life walking sculptures. One of my favourite dresses of all times is below from the SS 2012 show.  Let’s not forget the stunning skirt suit from Fall 2012 too

Nor this  Pre Spring 2013 beauty

Me in some of her creations

Pre Fall 2013 was inspired from what American fashion designer Claire McCardel did in the  40′s and 50′s. I immediately fell in love with the small waisted grey dress with a  dominant  grey skirt and  pink collar. I felt very “sage” in it. I usually like how her clothes fall loosely around the body but this dress had a different cut. Roksanda is not afraid of vibrant colours and  this collection states that very clearly! Apart from talking clothes we really had “girl’s chat”: which is off the record and certainly NOT for the blogosphere…

http://www.davidzwirner.com/exhibition/dan-flavin-donald-judd-ny/

Shirt: Erdem
Trousers: Erdem
Sunglasses: Moo
Bag: Olympia le Tan
Necklace: Jennifer Meyer
Shoes: Carven

Dress: Junya Watanabe
Hat: Silver Spoon Attire
Coat: Roland Mouret
Rings: Maison Martin Margiela
Bag: Fendi
Sneakers: Converse