Talking to my mom yesterday, we could not miss the latest fashion shows and take a peek on the designs we thought was worth remembering. The most impressive one was probably Elio Berhanyer. Just a few winter coats attracted me in Victorio Y Lycchino - especially the ones with animal fur sleeves. Flamenco-inspired Juana Martin is very pretty too.

Some specific things we enjoyed:
Versace
Roberto Cavalli amazes with each and every creation!



This brand is called "Love, sex, money" - I particularly like the laced coat - I have a weakness for lace or embroidery.


This dress is so ultimately feminine - almost angel-like
(by Sonya Rykiel):









Carolina Herrera's collection is perfect for any special occasion (amazing dresses):


















This one is my favorite dress (Giambattista Valli).

Fairy dress from a fairy tale. Narciso Rodrigues
A selection by L'Huillier. Pretty.
And Leger.




L'huillier again.









This designer's name is Miele (sorry, forgot the first name).






Oscar de la Renta's collection is going to leave you speechless.









For a full collection of Armani click here. I liked the music in Armani's show, the one on Cavalli's show drove me crazy although I liked the dresses.

Organic Food

Yesterday was a perfect-weather day to go out on a shopping trip or just get out of the house. We drove to Amsterdam - wondered around the city and shopped. It seemed like the whole country is out and about doing fun stuff you normally delay untill better weather. Including parachute jumping and air baloon flights. On the way back I had to write down every website or commercial advertisement to check online at home. Only few spring out as useful to remember: a natural cheese farm (and two more food farms I found on the website www.allesduurzaam.nl. Most of the site is not organic - more commercial under the mask of organic - i was more looking for people who sell their own stuff instead of shops that are more expensive with a "bio" label. As I read in the book of Tim Hartford "Undercover Economist" most "ecological" produce is not what it claimes to be and does not support producers themselves. I knew about usefullness of natural, fresh food from since early childhood, however new place forced me to eat supermarket monstrosities for years.
Chef Gordon Ramsey - whose book a got as a birthday present recommends finding a good vegetable grocer, butcher and vismonger and in my experience not all are good so you need to keep looking till you find the best one. I found a number of farms that sell cheese and eggs and whatever products they have and thought of paying a visit some time. I am going to plan a followup on this posting once I have tried out the products.

1. Oost Einde 21, Oud Alblas (tel 0184692794)
2. Corn. Smitstraat 36 2951 AC Alblasserdam (tel 078 691 7456)
3. F.W.J. Driehuys Nieuwe Plantage 111 2611XV Delft - eggs from the farm.
4. Kaasboerderij Annahoeve Menneweg 42 2172HE Sassenheim - cheese from the farm.
5. Kaasboerderij De Witte Welle Achthoven Oost 7 3417PC Montfoort - same thing.
6. Kaasboerderij Doornvoort Langbroekerweg 15 3941MS Doorn
7. Kaas- en Zuivelboerderij Castelijn Pastoor van der Plaatstraat 40 2375AL Rijpwetering
8. Kaas- en Zuivelboerderij Vanelly
Achterveldseweg 26
3772 Barneveld (Gelderland)
0342 40 15 29
9. Kaas- En Zuivelboerderij Doruvael
Blokland 95
3417MR Montfoort (Utrecht) 0348 47 24 86

By the way, another interesting site was Sarlini - a wholesale fashion accessories distributor to large chain clothing stores. I liked the idea of just selling on products to fashion chains without actually having a hassle of opening your own shop - something to try in the future maybe... and recommend to my friend Lydia!

Power Women

Carla Bruni has given an interview on BBC charming the British audience. Apparently her husband started considering marrying her while she was singing at a party (or so they say, I wasn't there). Now we can all enjoy her music - it's embarrassingly romantic.
Tzipi Livni a minister of foreign affairs of Israel won a primary contest in the Kadima party.
Roman Abramovich's girlfriend, Daria (or Dasha) Zhukova has organized a major art exposition in Moscow.
In Japan Yuriko Koike is the first woman to seek the post of prime minister ever. For her official website click here.
HRH Princess Clotilde of Savoy in her premarital life known as actress Clotilde Courau is playing on the stage of a French theater again. To read the article (in French) click here.

Crédits photo : RICHARD VIALERON/LE FIGARO

Window shopping

Well, since we are all done shopping for clothes, why not proceed to looking at expensive housing? It costs a lot, I know, but no one can deny us the pleasure of just looking. Even if it is in my imagination only, I would like to own a house like that.

The following blog writes about some exclusive properties in Europe and abroad. Some references to the south French villa we already wrote about plus check out the castle in Brussels selling for 2.1 million!

Some sites worth of visiting on your imagination tour:
Luxury Real Estate (name speaks for itself).
International Living - I haven't checked this one out yet myself.
Great Homes and Destinations.
Real Estate Bloggers.

And not to forget our oldie
Christie's Great Estates - yes, the auction house and
Sotheby's Realty.
There is an article on both in The New York Times.

I know I am a dreamer - but it's not illegal. Mayby only a bit cruel at times of financial turmoil.

Twitter

I love Twitter. The question is, how to get the best out of it. The following article answers some of the questions.

Fashion

Some great sites I came across for purely shopping purposes (very important).
Oxmo
Object
Izaak
Pussydeluxe (don't you think they have crazy names for clothes brands these days?)
Cottonfield
Steps - I am not a particular fan of this one, but ok...
Fornarina
Bristol
Kocca
Stills
Seafolly this one is my favourite.
Important information to save for shopping sprees.

Sugarland - All I Want To Do

I have found this song on the blogg of Meghan McCain - the daughter of the presidential candidate in the US. I am not political and don't support any candidate but I thought the song was not bad.

Philosophy, taxes

The French "Liberation" has published an article on a recently issued book of Alexandru Dragomir - a Romanian philosopher, discovered no earlier then after his death in 2002, translated in French.

Le Figaro published an article about an envisaged tax reform and problems related to current tax system in France (sorry, its in Franch - I can read it on a rudimentary level and sometimes like to show off - sorry). Some more
info on the proposals (in English).

According to the Italian "Correre della Sera" the British have a new fashion in terms of pets - an animal called "sugar glider" is the most popular recent pet fashion in British homes. There are also sites on the animal in Dutch, apparently the trend is present in other countries as well.

The animal is definitely cute, but I prefer the good old-fashioned cats and dogs.

Tri Orisky Pro Popelku (with original music)

Having figured out the powers of blogging machines and other supporting mechanics, I am really happy to immerse my readers into the world familiar and nostalgic. This movie was made in Chzechoslovakia and many soviet children remember is as something they grew up with. Please remember I would like to keep this blog as far as possible from politics, and I do not necessarily want to romanticise communist past or any ideology. It is an attempt to recreate the culture that would be understood by anyone.

Tax Competition: A Liberalizing Force in the World Economy

Some explosive material for most of my colleagues - I do not necesserily share this view but find it interesting to encourage the debate.

Promising artists

For a long time I have been searching for a Moldovan artist worth praising and following. Here is one - Dumitru Bolboceanu - authentic and excellent!
Another one from Romania - timely and accurate in reflecting today's feelings in art: Marilena Preda Sanc.
One more from Romania worth mentioning: Cristina Ciobanu
Useful site for Moldovan art: http://www.art.md/

Lifestyle advice for the wealthy

Some local news from the south of France where roumors circulate about Mr. Prokhorov's intentions to buy a luxyry villa - with pictures (of the villa).

Starting to blog

Hi everybody!

Today I have finally sort of finished figuiring out how flickr and blogger and facebook and del.icio.us work together and I could not resist starting the blog I had in mind for ages. I have a blog feed you are welcome to read with me and occasionally I am going to post pictures and posts myself. I hope it will forge a closer connection with my readers.

Best regards,

Irina

P.S. Please bear in mind I do not necesserily share the view of the blogs I read and do not try to promote any ideology or political opinions. Plus any information posted here does not create a client-advisor relationship between me and any of the readers.