Tag Archives: Balenciaga

July 11, 2012 in Shops

Mas 505 Concept Store: Vintage and luxury in Reggio

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With heatwave after heatwave hitting the whole of Italy, riding à la ’mad dogs and englishmen out in the noon day sun‘ has become a total impossibility!

So when a lucky dash around Reggio at a passably warm 6:00pm revealed 2 exciting stores, it was fun!

Mas 505 Concept Store prides itself on the immaculate condition of its vintage labels: Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Hermès, YSL, Dior, Tiffany & Co, Miu Miu, Balenciaga, and affordable luxury designed items Charlottenborg, Tarina Tarantino, Tardivo Jewels and Minnetonka. They believe that these beautiful and extraordinay objects of quality, which might end up in a stuffy cupboard, are given a second chance. I actually quite like their own designed tees with illustrations of designers that have shaped fashion history, entitled – La classe n’est pas de l’eau! – which just sounds divine!

Tag Art Shop Gallery stocks street art, pop surrealism, low brow and vinyl toys together with clothing labels that carry designs in the same vein! This fabulous illustration was tucked away in a silent corner and just too beautiful to pass, making me so yearn for my favourite illustrator, Artist Andrea.

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November 28, 2011 in Bright and Shiny

Vintage wonderland at Christie’s South Kensington

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OMG and it’s happening right here almost right now, on the 1st of December, in fact: Christie’s South Kensington at 11.00, selected from The Billy Boy collection (the wunderkind who owns the largest PRIVATE vintage collection in the world) , and a couple of other owners too. I am totally fascinated by Billy Boy who schooled in Europe, counted Yves Saint Laurent as a chum, wore his pieces and grew his collection over 40 years whilst successfully managing a career as an author, model, artist and designer, ever so elegantly. He promised himself that a certain age he would refine the collection and then put together a museum. There are some stupendous pieces. The runaway sample of a green and gold lame tunic from Saint Laurent’s first solo collection (below) and the 1948 Lahore from Christian Dior’s second collection – selected at the time by the Duchess of Windsor and Wallis Simpson. And then the jewellery, shoes and accessories…just swoon. Swoon.

Encrusted beaded sheath dress, 1960 Balenciaga est. £1,000-£2,000
Telephone Dial Compact, 1950 after Salvador Dali for Schiaparelli est. £5,000-£6,000

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October 13, 2011 in Bright and Shiny

Balenciaga Boys at Marais in Melbourne

My Boys at Marais - Oooh I miss London sometimes

Inspired by its namesake, Marais is a little bit like walking into a transport machine and being thrown into the middle of Paris! BUT, with one big difference – the BOYS there are gorgeous, cute and extremely helpful, and showed us around the collections: Balenciaga, Victor & Rolf, Watanabe, Galliano, Julius MA and MASTERMIND. The latter is exclusive to them and completely amazing – SO biker! Located on the 1st floor of the Royal Arcade in Little Collins Street, Marais is a must stop before hitting the vintage boutiques on Degraves Street.
August 4, 2011 in Bright and Shiny

Mr P’s perfect combination: Elkano in Getaria and Balenciaga

Elkano restaurant in Getaria

ElKano open grill

Txacoli young Basque wine and grilled Sea Turbot

Balenciaga Museum atrium chairs for a nap

Mr P has been dreaming of this restaurant since we rode into the Basque country.  Elkano is a destination restaurant where the owner/chef Pedro Arregui, 41 years ago, initiated the Spanish into eating grilled fish with skin for its unique flavour!  Pedro’s own personal claim to fame is the 47 years his wife has put up with him.  MMMmmm, not many do that one Pedro. You’re a lucky man for sure! Elkano is bang next door to the Balenciaga Museum - a double whammy on the senses. I think it proved a wee bit too much for Mr P who visited the museum hastily and then stylishly sunk into these gorgeous comfy settees – a picture of biker PZASS!

August 3, 2011 in Bright and Shiny

“With fabrics, we do what we can. Balenciaga does what he wants.” – Christian Dior

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My Favourite dress the skirt can be worn as a cape

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I’m gobsmacked at the  Balenciaga Museum at Getaria that just opened June.  The museum is housed in the Annexe designed by AV62 architectects, built onto the newly restored Aldamar Palace. It counts itself with such prestigious names as Hubert de Givenchy, founding president of the Foundation and Queen Fabiola of Belgium, president of the Honourary Committee. Both have donated terribly important pieces from their own private Balenciaga collections, which now stands at 1,200 items and continues to grow. Only 90 pieces are on perminent show and these have been carefully selected to follow the themes of “Beginings”, “Day”, “”Cocktail”, “Night”, “Bridal” and “Essential Balenciaga”. Starting his house in 1917 at only 22 years of age, Spanish designer Cristóbal Balenciaga retired in 1968 leaving behind him a string of internationally prestigious disciples and followers including Givenchy, Oscar de la Renta, Courreges, Ungaro…

One day would be as little as you would want to take to see the collection here, although two days is more like it and forever would be about fine for me!