For many, the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina, is synonymous with several things: stately, neoclassical architecture. (No wonder the metropolitan is frequently nicknamed “the Paris of South America.”) Tango. A lively theater culture. (Fun fact: there’s almost 300 theaters in Buenos Aires, with the opera house Teatro Colón being the most iconic.) Eva Perón. (She’s buried at Recoleta Cemetery, another famed city site.)
And last but not least: Malbec and steaks. Though these will always remain defining properties of Buenos Aires' culinary landscape, there’s far more to discover here than wine and beef. Even better? You can experience much of the city’s diverse restaurant scene in just one weekend.
Below, our handy guide on where to dine, and where to stay in Argentina’s capital.
Perched in the hip, up-and-coming neighborhood of Villa Crespo is Malvón. Start your day off right by pairing a stack of the popular pancakes with a piping mug of coffee, and nab a table on the picturesque patio when the sun’s out.
Monday, December 30, 2019
Thursday, November 28, 2019
Fashion Deals To Shop Before Black Friday 2019
Black Friday and Cyber Monday are on the way, and they're set to be even bigger events than last year. Consumers are becoming increasingly sophisticated and fickle, and with the multi-faceted e-commerce landscape at our fingertips 24/7, brands understand that they need to go the extra mile when communicating with modern shoppers. Accordingly, for the holiday 2019 season, many retailers will begin their marketing efforts earlier than they did last year. Deals will likely be even better, and there will be more of them too — so no matter what you're looking for, there should be something for you.
November 1 marks the unofficial commencement of the holiday shopping season – and a peak sales for designer retailer promotions. Here are three trends from this season's runways on sale now.
Elevated Athleisure
Activewear currently makes up 24 percent of apparel sales – with no signs of its growth slowing down, according to The Future of Apparel study recently conducted by NPD Group. Correspondingly, the athleisure and streetwear trends have transformed the luxury fashion industry in recent years. Designer-sportswear collaborations become increasingly common within the industry, such as Adidas partnerships with the likes of Alexander Wang and Stella McCartney, it is clear there is a large market of consumers craving more elevated athleisure offerings.
While our society's daily attire choices are more informal than they were a few years ago, many of us still want to wear sleek and sophisticated styles while remaining both casual and comfortable. To create a balanced look that allows you to indulge in these two sartorial desires, try out a well-fitting sweatshirt paired with high-shine leggings (another trend this season) or a pair of tailored track pants.
November 1 marks the unofficial commencement of the holiday shopping season – and a peak sales for designer retailer promotions. Here are three trends from this season's runways on sale now.
Elevated Athleisure
Activewear currently makes up 24 percent of apparel sales – with no signs of its growth slowing down, according to The Future of Apparel study recently conducted by NPD Group. Correspondingly, the athleisure and streetwear trends have transformed the luxury fashion industry in recent years. Designer-sportswear collaborations become increasingly common within the industry, such as Adidas partnerships with the likes of Alexander Wang and Stella McCartney, it is clear there is a large market of consumers craving more elevated athleisure offerings.
While our society's daily attire choices are more informal than they were a few years ago, many of us still want to wear sleek and sophisticated styles while remaining both casual and comfortable. To create a balanced look that allows you to indulge in these two sartorial desires, try out a well-fitting sweatshirt paired with high-shine leggings (another trend this season) or a pair of tailored track pants.
Wedding Dresses
Sunday, October 27, 2019
Johnny Schembri Discusses The Rise Of His Australian Fashion Brand, BY JOHNNY
In the market for a gorgeous little LBD, or any other color for that matter? Well, of course you are, and you should head over to BY JOHNNY and check out his collection.
Two parts flirty, and two parts a whole lotta fun, expect form flitting dresses that are designed to show you off. There’s something for everyone too, whether your after a midi dress for a cocktail party or a little number (check out the statement ‘birthday dress’) you’ll find a dress (or several) that you’ll fall in love with.
Felicity Carter: How, when, why did you get into the industry?
Johnny Schembri: In between completing my studies and starting BY JOHNNY, I worked in a PR Showroom for a few years. This gave me the perfect foundation to get a greater understanding of the industry and business side to fashion. I started BY JOHNNY in 2009 selling one off designs at the fringe market. I always loved the idea of design a product and seeing it come to life, which brought me to the fashion industry.
How would you sum up the aesthetic?
JS: Our signature bold aesthetic is very unique, mixing delicate body contouring with sharp shapes, strong silhouettes and bold graphics. Each season offers a strong and concise image and message that is very much; bold and vibrant.
Βραδινά φορέματα
Monday, August 19, 2019
How Mercedes-Benz Drives Fashion In Berlin And Beyond
Berlin’s complex cultural histories are reflected in its street style scene. In 2016, I first wrote about the capital of Germany as “the most under-valued fashion capital of Europe”. In recent years its reputation has been upgraded thanks to an influx of fashion tech startups and international expansion of emerging German brands such as Marcell Von Berlin, IVANMAN, SADAK, and others. It was time to attend the latest edition of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Berlin which has been playing a large role in the city’s fashion renaissance. I wanted to experience the innovative spirit of local designers and see for myself how the iconic automaker’s event management and design knowhow is shaping up the future of global fashion.
Austrian designer Christoph Rumpf was selected as part of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Talents - young designers initiative - to open the week. A recent winner of the prestigious Hyères Festival, Rumpf is making a name for himself in the industry on principles of upcycling and sustainable design. Many participants share this ethos, including the duo behind Richert Beil whose striking collection was rooted in Germanic cultural heritage.
Similarly, Berlin runways are open to relative newcomers like #Damur with just five seasons under their progressive streetwear belt as well as luxury athleisure maker Sportalm which celebrates its 65th anniversary this year. European ideals of femininity were artfully reexamined in the looks from two MBFW regulars Rebekka Ruétz and Lena Hoschek. Meanwhile, designer Danny Reinke had charmed the audiences and the critics with his self-proclaimed “German Nerdiness” evident in the irony and intelligence of styling. Overall, a solid lineup for a wide buyer spectrum and a range of price points.
Brudklänningar
Austrian designer Christoph Rumpf was selected as part of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Talents - young designers initiative - to open the week. A recent winner of the prestigious Hyères Festival, Rumpf is making a name for himself in the industry on principles of upcycling and sustainable design. Many participants share this ethos, including the duo behind Richert Beil whose striking collection was rooted in Germanic cultural heritage.
Similarly, Berlin runways are open to relative newcomers like #Damur with just five seasons under their progressive streetwear belt as well as luxury athleisure maker Sportalm which celebrates its 65th anniversary this year. European ideals of femininity were artfully reexamined in the looks from two MBFW regulars Rebekka Ruétz and Lena Hoschek. Meanwhile, designer Danny Reinke had charmed the audiences and the critics with his self-proclaimed “German Nerdiness” evident in the irony and intelligence of styling. Overall, a solid lineup for a wide buyer spectrum and a range of price points.
Brudklänningar
Friday, June 28, 2019
Meet Caroline Constas, A Female Founder In Fashion
It's the days leading up to Montréal Grand Prix and designer Caroline Constas is being fêted the by the luxury Canadian department store, Holt Renfrew, at their annual Grand Prix event.
She enters the party being held at the top floor of the Ritz Carlton, her statuesque framed draped in a long, white, strapless goddess-gown of her own design. Earlier in the day, she posted a photo of herself with her collection's display at the store with a caption that read, "Dreams to come true."
For Constas, this year's Grand Prix event is not only a dream come true, but it's also a homecoming of sorts. Being honored by the department store coincides with the Montréal native's 5th of year in business at the helm of her namesake label.
"I've been dreaming of working with them [Holt Renfrew] for years and years because growing up in Montréal, that was the place you aspired to shop," she says.
As a young fashion brand, to stay in business in a cutthroat industry after 5 years is, indeed, recognition-worthy. Constas, however, has done more than just stay in business—her brand is thriving, and the Holt Renfrew event is an acknowledgment of her success.
Her collection's whimsical-yet-elegant vibe is directly inspired by Constas' upbringing and globetrotting lifestyle, which is marked by life in New York, summers in Greece and inspiration trips to foreign countries.
"It started when I was 8 years old, and I was traveling to Greece every summer to visit family," she says. She is the daughter of a Greek-Lebanese father and an American mother who, through these visits, exposed her to the world from a very young age.
During her childhood travels, she found herself sketching the clothes she wanted to wear on her holidays, and over time she became aware of the keen eye she possessed for spotting trends that crossed borders.
"I was always very focused and aware of fashion and how fashion differed, and how it was similar across different cultures. I was able to see what was overlapping between different countries," she says.
A key factor to her success is that Constas herself is the ultimate muse for her brand—she knows her customer because she is her customer. "I start each season with the question: What do I want to wear that isn't in the market?" she says, admitting she is designing for herself first and foremost, knowing that women like herself will gravitate to what she's offering.
In addition, Constas is regularly featured on her company's social media in her designs and also posts pictures and musings from her personal travels. Images of her wearing her label bring the clothes to life in a way only she can, and the content, as a result, is a physical embodiment of the Caroline Constas brand story. She is undoubtedly one of her company's biggest assets.
In the beginning days of her label, it was this idea of creating clothes for her own personal lifestyle led to the creation of the Lou top, the design that put her name on the map.
Constas had always been searching for cotton shirting in feminine shapes and came up with an off the shoulder silhouette in a blue striped fabric traditionally used for dress shirts. An editor came in to view the collection, snapped a pic of the shirt and posted it to social media, which then led to Oprah's stylist pulling the shirt for a shoot. The next thing she knew, the Lou top was on the cover of O Magazine. "It was absolutely surreal," the designer says of the experience.
Monday, June 3, 2019
Are you Nuts for Nature? If so, this program is for you!
Have you ever wanted to get up close and personal with a bobcat or even a skunk, discover microscopic water animals, build a birdhouse, or learn the art of using binoculars?
Families will have a chance to do all this and more at the Nuts for Nature event taking place at the Carden Recreation Centre on Sunday, June 9 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The event is part of The Couchiching Conservancy’s Passport to Nature, which is a series of free events for those who want to have fun exploring the outdoors, experience new things and learn from experts.
Nuts for Nature is specially designed for kids (of all ages) and their families and features a jam-packed program of over 20 activities ranging from wagon rides and hikes to birdhouse building and hands-on binocular lessons.
"One of the really neat things about this event is the opportunity for kids to get up-close with nature," explains Tom Wilson, one of the organizers. "A highlight for kids is being able to touch animals that have been orphaned, which are brought to the event by Speaking of Wildlife, a wildlife education organization.
"Our water activities are also really popular, where kids get to discover microscopic animals," said Wilson. "And, of course, everyone loves the wagon rides and free ice-cream!"
Nuts for Nature is made possible by the volunteers from The Couchiching Conservancy and Carden Field Naturalists who lead activities, and by generous sponsors, including Lafarge, James Dick Construction, Dufferin Aggregates, The Miller Group, Staples Orillia, Brechin Timber Mart, and Kawartha Dairy.
Monday, April 29, 2019
Nature, not natives, must be the priority for Molesworth
Ospri's admission that it poisoned 90 per cent of deer in one area of Molesworth using aerial 1080 was unique. Not just because of the rare admission of culpability, more as a rule. Ospri does not monitor outcomes of its aerial 1080 operations.
Between 2008 and 2016 Ospri reported to the Environmental Protection Agency that, of the 2.75 million hectares of land (a third of the public conservation estate) aerially treated with 1080, they monitored possum numbers before and after the drops for a mere 7 per cent of it.
And the evidence of hundreds of dead ladybugs, a carnivorous insect, found on the carcasses of the poisoned deer on Molesworth, should be of equal concern to conservation, especially since the journal Biological Conservation reported that more than 40 per cent of insect populations are plummeting worldwide. But that's what we call conservation – demonising animals for their natural behaviour and then poisoning them.
Deer are a valuable game resource in New Zealand. Hunting is an integral part of our heritage and provides social, mental and physical wellbeing for about 167,000 recreational hunters, as well as putting free-range, organic, humanely killed and highly nutritious meat on the family table. Too few Kiwis can afford to even buy meat, let alone venison at $75 a kilogram.
Between 2008 and 2016 Ospri reported to the Environmental Protection Agency that, of the 2.75 million hectares of land (a third of the public conservation estate) aerially treated with 1080, they monitored possum numbers before and after the drops for a mere 7 per cent of it.
And the evidence of hundreds of dead ladybugs, a carnivorous insect, found on the carcasses of the poisoned deer on Molesworth, should be of equal concern to conservation, especially since the journal Biological Conservation reported that more than 40 per cent of insect populations are plummeting worldwide. But that's what we call conservation – demonising animals for their natural behaviour and then poisoning them.
Deer are a valuable game resource in New Zealand. Hunting is an integral part of our heritage and provides social, mental and physical wellbeing for about 167,000 recreational hunters, as well as putting free-range, organic, humanely killed and highly nutritious meat on the family table. Too few Kiwis can afford to even buy meat, let alone venison at $75 a kilogram.
Monday, February 25, 2019
The Frozen Wonder of America's Biggest Ice Castle
Depending on how old you are, you'll either stand in front of the Ice Castle in North Woodstock, New Hampshire and think that you're walking into Superman's Fortress of Solitude, or that you've been transported to Arendelle, and you're about to enter Elsa's Ice Palace. Whether or not you think you're in Frozen, parts of you will feel frozen soon enough. Even on a mild winter day, even with your warmest snow gear, the Ice Castle is very cold.
But if you can bundle yourself up and spend some time in the Ice Castle, you'll find a living sculpture to winter unlike anything else in New England - or many other places in the country, for that matter. There are five other castles in North America (in Colorado, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Utah and Alberta, Canada), but the New Hampshire castle is the biggest of them all, weighing in at a staggering 20 tons of ice. Over the course of this year's 10 week season, the attraction will welcome about 160,000 visitors.
Inside, you won't find any Disney characters singing about how the cold never bothered them anyway - unless you visit on a Saturday afternoon, when there are actually princess meet and greets. What you will find is thousands upon thousands of icicles, grown on the "icicle farm" in the back of the property, that the castle's architects use to build the coves, corridors and archways of the frozen structure.
The process goes like this: Once the icicles are large enough, they're added to the castle structure each day. When they're positioned properly, they're then coated with water from an enormous sprayer to freeze them into place. Because the castle changes from sun and rain, and because the "ice artisans" add more ice daily, the castle changes from one day to the next, and no two visits are the same.
But if you can bundle yourself up and spend some time in the Ice Castle, you'll find a living sculpture to winter unlike anything else in New England - or many other places in the country, for that matter. There are five other castles in North America (in Colorado, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Utah and Alberta, Canada), but the New Hampshire castle is the biggest of them all, weighing in at a staggering 20 tons of ice. Over the course of this year's 10 week season, the attraction will welcome about 160,000 visitors.
Inside, you won't find any Disney characters singing about how the cold never bothered them anyway - unless you visit on a Saturday afternoon, when there are actually princess meet and greets. What you will find is thousands upon thousands of icicles, grown on the "icicle farm" in the back of the property, that the castle's architects use to build the coves, corridors and archways of the frozen structure.
The process goes like this: Once the icicles are large enough, they're added to the castle structure each day. When they're positioned properly, they're then coated with water from an enormous sprayer to freeze them into place. Because the castle changes from sun and rain, and because the "ice artisans" add more ice daily, the castle changes from one day to the next, and no two visits are the same.
Where To Find 2019's Best Hotels In The Middle East
When one region turns out over-the-top Five-Star hotels like Dubai's Burj Al Arab Jumeirah (where a stay in a marble-filled duplex suite comes with amenities like a 24-karat-gold iPad along with access to one of the world's largest fleets of chauffeured Rolls-Royces) and Abu Dhabi's Emirates Palace (a dazzling $3 billion palace covered in gold leaf — even the camel burgers are topped with the shimmering, edible metal), you know that more big things await.
Forbes Travel Guide announced the 2019 edition of its annual Star Awards on February 20 and, just as it did in 2018, the Middle East had a strong showing.
The region's shining cluster of Star-Rated properties continues to grow, both in well-established luxury destinations like Dubai and in newly awarded cities across the peninsula.
The 61st annual collection of top-rated hotels featured a host of new additions to the region, including one brand-new Five-Star property, Four Seasons Hotel Abu Dhabi at Al Maryah Island, just outside the UAE's capital that wows with its 2,000-piece art collection, sensational 21,500-square-foot spa and sterling service.
Other top Middle East destinations also added to their roster of sumptuous stays with a host of newly awarded Forbes Travel Guide Recommended properties. One standout in Dubai's already stellar scene is Sheraton Grand Hotel, Dubai, which impressed with its 54th-floor poolside bar and array of international eateries (don't miss Miss Lily's Jamaican brunch on Fridays).
Across the gulf in Qatar, Doha added four new Recommended retreats to its lineup: the tropical, Maldives-style Banana Island Resort Doha by Anantara, with its overwater villas; the arabesque, private-island escape of Marsa Malaz Kempinski, The Pearl-Doha and its Illusion nightclub and Spa by Clarins; the foodie-focused Shangri-La Hotel, Doha, with its Argentine steakhouse and Chinese dim sum dining room; and the beachfront Sharq Village & Spa's sumptuous low-rise villas, serenely tucked just outside the bustling city.
Forbes Travel Guide announced the 2019 edition of its annual Star Awards on February 20 and, just as it did in 2018, the Middle East had a strong showing.
The region's shining cluster of Star-Rated properties continues to grow, both in well-established luxury destinations like Dubai and in newly awarded cities across the peninsula.
The 61st annual collection of top-rated hotels featured a host of new additions to the region, including one brand-new Five-Star property, Four Seasons Hotel Abu Dhabi at Al Maryah Island, just outside the UAE's capital that wows with its 2,000-piece art collection, sensational 21,500-square-foot spa and sterling service.
Other top Middle East destinations also added to their roster of sumptuous stays with a host of newly awarded Forbes Travel Guide Recommended properties. One standout in Dubai's already stellar scene is Sheraton Grand Hotel, Dubai, which impressed with its 54th-floor poolside bar and array of international eateries (don't miss Miss Lily's Jamaican brunch on Fridays).
Across the gulf in Qatar, Doha added four new Recommended retreats to its lineup: the tropical, Maldives-style Banana Island Resort Doha by Anantara, with its overwater villas; the arabesque, private-island escape of Marsa Malaz Kempinski, The Pearl-Doha and its Illusion nightclub and Spa by Clarins; the foodie-focused Shangri-La Hotel, Doha, with its Argentine steakhouse and Chinese dim sum dining room; and the beachfront Sharq Village & Spa's sumptuous low-rise villas, serenely tucked just outside the bustling city.
Sunday, January 13, 2019
A snowboarding adventure in the Arctic Circle
I'm on top of the world, in all senses of the term: we're 500 miles inside the Arctic Circle in Norway's Lyngen Alps and I'm buzzing at having reached the summit of Riššavárri, after a 31/2-hour hike.
Jagged white peaks rise starkly from snaking, deep blue fjords, the sun is shining, the light's amazing – and there's no one here but me and my guide, Mikal Nerberg. With more than 60 summits over 1,000 metres, the Lyngen Alps have a quasi-mythical status among hardcore skiers. It's a purely touring destination: there are no ski lifts, so any mountain you want to ride down you have to hike up, using “skins” on your skis for grip. With ski fans increasingly wanting a fitness break, rather than just boozy lunches and downhill meanders, touring is a growth area.
The Lyngen Alps is where alpine guides come on holiday once their European season finishes, and where they bring their best and favourite guests. I'm here in early April but the season runs until June, when there's skiing in the midnight sun.
We planned our route the day before, poring over a giant map, with Mikal pointing out the many peaks at our disposal. Riššavárri, at 1,251 metres, seems a good entry-level option. The temperature hasn't fluctuated dramatically lately and it hasn't snowed for a week so the snow pack should be stable, though as this is the high Arctic the weather can suddenly change. “This is more like a mountain expedition than you might expect,” said Mikal.
Instead of getting a resort bus or cable car to our starting point, we take a ferry across the fjord from Lyngseidet to Olderdalen. Our hike begins at sea level, rising up through a forest of elder and silver birch, the trees bowed under the weight of the snow. Mikal is on touring skis, while I'm on a splitboard - a snowboard that splits in two so it can be used like touring skis. The way isn't too steep, but Mikal insists on a slow pace and makes us stop for snacks every hour to keep energy levels up.
Coming out of the woods we see our target summit, high in the sky, and still another 1,000 metres away. The climb quickly gets steeper but at the hour-two stop I still feel OK. As we reach hour three, however, I begin to wonder if I'll ever make it to the top.
The silver lining is the view, which as we rise becomes an increasingly amazing distraction. For the last half-hour I really have to dig in, hypnotised by Mikal's steps ahead of me but at the top the feeling of elation is intense.
I put my board together, while Mikal checks the snow to see which line would be our best descent. We set off, navigate some juddering wind-ruined snow then find a pocket of lovely soft pillow-like powder. Further down we ride super-fast spring slush, passing giant boulders of icy snow, and then cut into the forest we climbed through earlier, dodging the tightly packed tree trunks and stumps as if in a computer game. We emerge into a snowfield and ride down to the fjord, a complete run from summit to sea.
Jagged white peaks rise starkly from snaking, deep blue fjords, the sun is shining, the light's amazing – and there's no one here but me and my guide, Mikal Nerberg. With more than 60 summits over 1,000 metres, the Lyngen Alps have a quasi-mythical status among hardcore skiers. It's a purely touring destination: there are no ski lifts, so any mountain you want to ride down you have to hike up, using “skins” on your skis for grip. With ski fans increasingly wanting a fitness break, rather than just boozy lunches and downhill meanders, touring is a growth area.
The Lyngen Alps is where alpine guides come on holiday once their European season finishes, and where they bring their best and favourite guests. I'm here in early April but the season runs until June, when there's skiing in the midnight sun.
We planned our route the day before, poring over a giant map, with Mikal pointing out the many peaks at our disposal. Riššavárri, at 1,251 metres, seems a good entry-level option. The temperature hasn't fluctuated dramatically lately and it hasn't snowed for a week so the snow pack should be stable, though as this is the high Arctic the weather can suddenly change. “This is more like a mountain expedition than you might expect,” said Mikal.
Instead of getting a resort bus or cable car to our starting point, we take a ferry across the fjord from Lyngseidet to Olderdalen. Our hike begins at sea level, rising up through a forest of elder and silver birch, the trees bowed under the weight of the snow. Mikal is on touring skis, while I'm on a splitboard - a snowboard that splits in two so it can be used like touring skis. The way isn't too steep, but Mikal insists on a slow pace and makes us stop for snacks every hour to keep energy levels up.
Coming out of the woods we see our target summit, high in the sky, and still another 1,000 metres away. The climb quickly gets steeper but at the hour-two stop I still feel OK. As we reach hour three, however, I begin to wonder if I'll ever make it to the top.
The silver lining is the view, which as we rise becomes an increasingly amazing distraction. For the last half-hour I really have to dig in, hypnotised by Mikal's steps ahead of me but at the top the feeling of elation is intense.
I put my board together, while Mikal checks the snow to see which line would be our best descent. We set off, navigate some juddering wind-ruined snow then find a pocket of lovely soft pillow-like powder. Further down we ride super-fast spring slush, passing giant boulders of icy snow, and then cut into the forest we climbed through earlier, dodging the tightly packed tree trunks and stumps as if in a computer game. We emerge into a snowfield and ride down to the fjord, a complete run from summit to sea.
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