Rokit and Pandemonia – what a combination at 55 Pages

Posted on May 17, 2012 by mscastro in Beauty, Mr P, News, Shops, Style with: Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment
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Excitement, excitement! Rokit hosts 2nd issue of 55pages and I am in LONDON!
Guess who gets the exclusive on PANDEMONIA? I missed her at LFW, so it was heaven to catch up with her!
So, she was 2 hours late and Mr. P was fuming, plus we got a bike ticket (yes, they pathetically exist), but was it worth it? Ooooh yes, yes and double yes!
She arrived late, looking un-blushed and amazing in orange after a Vogue photoshoot in some unpronounceable country, and thanks to the divine Abby I got first questions!

Me: “How do you keep cool in all that plastic”?
Pandemonia: “Keeping in the shade, water and not moving around too much”.

Me: “How about recycling when you’ve worn your cloths too death”?
Pandemonia: “Actually I’m really into recycling, I have 30 outfits and they are all in my wardrobe. I took 20 pieces to (unpronounceable name) for Vogue shoot”.

Me: “Have you ever thought of going BRUNETTE? It’s quite in vogue“!
Pandemonia: “Actually I have A BRUNETTE, but blonde is more…. I am wearing my platinum hair this evening”.
Me: “Envy…I wish I could do these quick changes!

Me: “What would you take on a motorbike if you were only only allowed 1 thing”?
Pandemonia: “A sidecar for my dog”?

Conclusion – too perfect! Damn, the ultimate woman.

Wow, we had a little bit more of a personal girls chat and I left. But, before leaving I had to check out the recycled Rokit vintage, which had some seriously cool shorts dyed in various colours for £18, as well as some really great tops for £20 – SOOO on trend! Just wish I had some decent legs!

P.S. Just a quick piece of gossip from the director of 55 Pages himself – the new cover for the magazine in September is going to be religious, feature a woman, plus land him in serious trouble! WOW, can’t wait!
Pandemonia features the latest issue of 55 Pages magazine in association with Rokit.
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MY FRIEND MARTA – a multifaceted artist working in Tenerife

Posted on May 17, 2012 by mscastro in News, Style with: Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment
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I sometimes have wondered if Marta’s work in different mediums stems from her mixed heritage: Swedish and Hungarian with a sprinkling of Canarian. I really love her bronze work, which I came first to love at a show that I organised in London for the Galleria Collins. But, what really fascinates me are her mixed media portraits. First she takes time to get to know the sitter, taking various pictures as she goes along, basically until she feels she’s glimpsed into your soul. Then her artistry begins with a magical mixture of oils from brush and hand.

Luckily she hops over to London once every couple of months for sittings so I get to see her if we coincide! – loads of gossip and midnight talks about every imaginable topic!

Her portraits start at €300 euros – such a bargain.

Stay tuned. Marta and I will be collaborating on a recycling project for Santa Cruz in August!

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Mojitos – It’s got to be CUBAN – Jorge’s Vieja Bodega in San Miguel, TENERIFE

Posted on May 14, 2012 by mscastro in Food, News with: Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment
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With at least 125 different rums lining the wall and a gorgeous scent of hierba buena wafting in the air of the tiny bar, I caught on fast to this being serious drinking territory!
In fact the bar itself, El Rincon del Ron, is only part of Jorge’s restaurant, La Vieja Bodega, which houses the oldest and biggest wooden press on the south side of the island that stills stands majestically for all to admire. The restaurant is made up of different rooms, La Bodeguita, La Tajea, and El Bar de Hemmingway where you can sit for a meal or just share some pretty yummy local tapas!
But, we were here for the MOJITOS, so a couple of picture taking minutes later, our party perched on stools and waited for TILSON to prepare the first batch! Now, TILSON and Jorge are like brothers. They are wicked and not only do they serve the longest, coolest mojitos this side of CUBA, Tilson is a one man show! Theatre trained in Cuba, he’s acted in most corners of Europe, finishing with a one man performance at the Teatro Guimera in the capital Santa Cruz. Post 1 bottle of rum, I guess warning bells should’ve screamed at this point! We were the first to arrive at the bar at about 9pm and at about 2am we weren’t about to leave. It was packed. Not sure what PERCEBES, diets, horses and fashion have in common, but I found myself talking about all three! I believe a video was taken of a mojito in the making. Whoever has it, please, please don’t pass it on. I think I need to recover a bit, just. Until next time!

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Christopher Raeburn’s new studio & the bestest sample sale TO DATE!

Posted on May 11, 2012 by mscastro in News, Style with: Tagged , , , | Leave a comment
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Properly jet-lagged – a first for me – didn’t stop me from hotfooting it down to the deepest entrails of BOW for Christopher Raeburns’ boozy sample sale!
Happily installed in his new studio/showroom, Christopher proudly gave us the tour: pattern cutting, office, work room, marketing and even a fab library room housing one of each of his pieces from the beginning of the brand, make up the headquarters with a view of one of our most versatile and talented UK designers!
With the Japanese market just not getting enough of him and Colette Paris just added to his string of HIGH-end stockists, Mr. Raeburn is smiling!…although perhaps not as much as me having nabbed some unheard of bargains from his 2009 collection.

Los Angeles – LOS FELIZ area takes my No. 1 spot for BRUNCH!

Posted on May 10, 2012 by mscastro in Food, Mr P, News with: Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment
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Whether it was a toasted pita with 2 baked eggs, gruyere cheese, onions, tomato, chorizo, Canadian bacon, mushrooms or 2 baked eggs served in a skillet with mustard and collard greens…and even a tempting cupcake oozing warm choccy sauce…Mr. P yummingly managed to eat his way through all of the LOS FELIZ area of Los Angeles at his favourite brunch spots: Little Doms, Square One Dining, The Village Bakery and Cafe, The Alcove Cafe, and Home Restaurant, with a rather expanding me in tow, although I did manage to pry him away to Melrose for vintage shopping with brunch at Blu Jam. I returned happily to LOS FELIZ having discovered the RED CAR cocktail made using our favourite Aperol by Scott at Little Doms.
OF COURSE as Mr. P pointed out another alternative for… see below. Big Foot Apple Donut. YEP, don’t think so…LOS FELIZ forever!

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Tips from lovely lady expand my Los Angeles vintage portfolio

Posted on May 8, 2012 by mscastro in News, Shops, Style with: Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment
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Specialising in boots and 50′s & 60′s dresses, this shop is a treasure trove of carefully placed items!
Micki of Lemon Frog Shop is constantly on the move, chatting as she goes along. The front of the shop is home to bargains at $10, which as you move into the heart of the shop gets pricier and more specialised.
As a true vintage hunter, she has a couple of beloved things put away that she loves to show, but can’t bear to part with…a white Courreges bag, a Pucci bra, a red weaved 40′s jacket….mmmmm and some great sunglasses..
Sadly, the time was far too short and there weren’t enough sunglasses for boys to keep Mr. P occupied. Whilst in LA he has so far managed to amass a total of 4 pairs of spectacles – 2 vintage and 2 Oliver Peoples.

It’s got to be…all about BAD GIRLS on my last day in HOLLYWOOD!

Posted on May 3, 2012 by mscastro in News, Shops, Style with: Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment
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A chance call for directions to Polkadots & Moonbeams Boutique to catch one of Hollywood’s best vintage boutiques alerted us to the presentation of Dr. Carole Liberman’s ‘Bad Girls’ book event, including the unveiling of THE DRESS
stateside that Kate Middleton wore to catch her prince. Luckily I had Mr. P and a provisonal team member for back up, so I was able to VID CAST an interview with the renown Dr. herself…

Glossy Box – A Monthly Beauty Surprise

Posted on May 1, 2012 by mscastro in Beauty, News, Style with: Tagged | Leave a comment
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Now, I know masses of people in the city that subscribe, so it was a rather delicious treat to be the recipient of one of these little jewels! In honour of Earth Day, my Glossy Box came complete with undyed tissue paper, an environmentally friendly box and 5 great organic/natural ingredient products: Burt’s Bees, Figs & Rouge, Caudalie, Inika, Monu, Philipb - and they were all tried with relish!
I love the Monu cream. It had a long lasting smell of peppermint and you don’t need to spread much on to get a smooth feel, without beeing too oily. I also thought the Burt’s Bees lip balm had a fab gloss and the Caudalie cream left an instant natural glow – almost immediately. For just £10 a month it was soo much fun experimenting!
I really look forward to next month!

Night 1 in LA with my favourite jacket…dipping into a Blue Lagoon

Posted on April 30, 2012 by mscastro in News, Style with: Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment
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After a fabuloso day on Melrose at Fred Segal followed by a couple of hours on La Brea at
American Rag, it was decided that what was needed was a complete change of scenery and food so we choose downtown LA for both!
We ended up at Bottega Louie a 3-year old ex-bank building now transformed into a hip Italian eatery and macaroon haven, sprinkled with excentrica. Though things did get off on rather bad foot – Mr. P came eye to eye with Frank, an ill disposed bar man with absolutely no service . Luckily all was forgotten with the arrival of a plate of Portabello chips, followed by delicious American beef and the superb attention of our restaurant waiter. Being on a high, it was far too early to retire, so me, my Garbo by Greta jacket and the boys headed for the rooftop bar at The Standard. With breathtaking scenery, the place was jumping and it was really hard to steal ourselves away from the Blue Lagoon cocktails and the beautiful Hollywood crowd.
Good night, good night California…

Get CHAJINised…

Posted on April 28, 2012 by mscastro in News, Style with: Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment
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A quiet afternoon in front of a couple of cappuccinos at Churreria Manolo’s is what I envisaged when I managed to finally pin down Annie – one half of the duo behind Chajin Designs - for a mini interview off Via Argentina! But, how wrong could I be?

In fact it took just one call from a desperate manager at Physical (the foremost model academy in Panama), let down by a designer at the 11th hour for their pre-teen school catwalk show at Atlapa to get the whole world rocking, and with 6 pre-teen models and mums turning up within minutes for fittings, Annie transformed herself into superwoman – action and colour being the name of the game. Renown for her energy and multitasking capabilities, it was mind boggling to watch firsthand. On one side there was the Felix B Maduro jewellery order being signed off, a VIP client picking up a colourful tutu en route to the airport for a high society party, an urgent birthday present being ordered for another, her event planning company being hired for a friend’s wedding, a restaurant enquiry for her next Ruta del Casco event and then of course the bunch of over-excited young girls with mums for the fittings! Ufff, pretty hard core by Panamanian standards!
A couple of hours later when I left, Annie was still rushing around, though she managed to remind me that 2013 was the year for Europe. Whoopee! It looks like tropical colour is going to be spreading to EUROPE. We’re going to be CHAJIN-ized. Siiiiiiii!