David Koma's Nana dress

I instantly fell in love with Niki de Saint Phalle's work when I first saw her sculpture of the "man in the metallic jacket playing the trumpet" in front of Negresco on my first day in Nice. By that time I had no idea about the artist but the fairly grotesque man's outfit was too cool to miss the way he was standing randomly in front of the beautiful hotel. A bit later in the Museum of the Modern Arts (MAMAC) I got all my questions answered as there was a whole section set up for the Niçoise sculptor/painter/director/mosaicmaster.  To look at her paintings and sculptures is like flicking through a colouring book. I love strong black contours and the way she simply fills up the panels in between them with strong  and monotone colours. My favourites has to be her latest works but to be honest I find all the "Nanas" a bit too human, I am in love with the mirror-mosaic dragons and snake and to visit her "Tarot Garden" in Italy is high up on my wishlist.

When I first saw this dress from David Koma's Spring-Summer collection I couldn't help but think about the similarities. The dress is taking Niki de Saint Phalle's work to the next level: sculpting around the body. And what about the black pieces with the metallic details? Don't they just talk parseltongue to you? I love the orange snake curling across the bodice.

One thing is for sure the Central Saint Martins graduate had got it right - even Cheryl was sporting his design on the last series of X factor.

Something I could skip summer for - Rodarte AW10

my favorite show from New York Fashion Week so far: Rodarte

why do I like it in 3 words:  nudes, wraps, pale make-up

3 things I will copy:  purple blush, embroidered transparent tights, socks with sandals

Who wouldn't want a triceratops handbag?

I fell in love "tout de suit" as I saw them. They brought back cloudy memories of my 10 year old self - the age when I was fascinated by dinos, watched Denver and was afraid of T-Rexes. Though I have to confess I always thought triceratopses were the cheesiest of them all, since the Giles Spring-Summer show I am convinced - Triceratopses are COOL. Especially if they come as a fashion accessory. No, not in the usual "inspired by" way. The "actual dino on the catwalk way".

As actual as they can be, an extinct-reptile-teddy-handbag is a good try - now I only have to decide which one I love more  the copper-green metallic one or the grey velvet.Definitely my next DIY project, I already have some metallic fabric that'll do. I only need to find a way to recreate a 3D dinosaur from scratch... buying a stuffed one and turn it into a handbag wouldn't be the "couturiere-way" to do so.
Anyhow I will get one to wear with my Tromp l'oeil dress --> SS10 look No1

By the way dinos and fashion: love the velociraptors on Oxford street - check them out!

3 books to have

The newsagent is such a magical place - I can spend half an hour in a 2 square meter shop browsing. In the end I sticked with Jalouse and L’Officiel Hommes and what I found inside made me go crazy.

 

I was constantly updating my amazon wishlist so maybe someone would get one of the books listed for me…and then in the L’Officiel Hommes I found a 4 page spread about the SAME books I am longing after – so here they come „The 3 books to have” at the moment

Louis Vuitton - Art, Fashion, Architecture

Prada Book

 

 

Avedon Fashion 1944-2000

 

If you feel like getting any of them for me I can send you my adress no problem! ;)
And the reviews will come once I had them!

 

LAC - The Haute Couture of Chocolates

I don't exactly know how could I resist entering this shop before, but a friend's birthday gave me an excuse to finally visit LAC Patisserie & Chocolaterie.

Pascal Lac's sweet-boutique is located in the very center of Nice, right on the corner of Place Massena. The minimal black and silver design compliments the rainbow coloured - macaroon packed shop windows. As you enter the tiny shop you don't even know where to begin.... rustic chocolat bars, tiny bonbons, the cutest "petit-gateau"-s, black & silver giftboxes and of course piles of macaroons.

The master of these creations is Monsieur Pascal Lac, the Niçois Haute Patissier & Chocolatier, member of the Relais Desserts. However the prices are surprisingly reasonable and they include giftwrapping. All the little cakes ( 3.30€) come with a plate stuck to their bottom (with jam!) and you get a small spoon with them , just in case you cannot resist eating them on the way :) The variety is so big that the best advice I can give is to go for the colours!

This little green cake with the stabbed raspberry on top deserves a five star. Pistachio icing, raspberry jelly and cream filling with a small dark chocolate plate... is there anything not to like about it?

Boubo - ivory chocolate cream with lime, strawberry filling and wild strawberries, lemon and coconut crumbles

Macaroons - 0,70€ each but you can make a bargain by buying a lot :)

"Massena's pavement chocolate box, inspired by the checkered tiles of Nice's main square (6,10€ for pack of 6)

Address: 49 Rue Gioffredo, 06000, Nice                       tel: (33) 493825778
18 Rue Barla, 06300, Nice                               tel: (33) 493553774

Vide Grenier - saturday morning shopping

 

After watching Rachel Zoe project all day yesturday I suddenly felt like jewellery shopping. To satisfy this urge, but also stick to my budget I googled "vide grenier 06". If you are into vintage and second hand stuff and you come to the Côte d'Azur this is the first French expression you have to remember : flea market. There are a few websites coming up in google and they will tell you for the next few months where and when to find flea markets, antique markets and carbootsales in the Alpes-Maritimes region (06).

This time I managed to wake up early, so I arrived just a few minutes after the opening. I had doubts about going there so early, that the sellers won't be willing to negotiate as easily, but I was wrong. The amount of clothes piled up and jewellery displayed in huge bowls along with furniture, toys, china and outdated electricals were amazing.

It took me 2 and a half hours to walk through, and in the end I got what I went there for. Which is pretty obvious as they sell literally everything. Vide grenier stands for empty attic and in this case they mean it. From plastic cups, antique drawers and baby clothes to Horror-movie-rubber masks you can find anything there. And the best thing is that the most usual price is 1 euro!

I give myself a gold star for being so good in negotiating , because all in all I paid about half of the money I should have.

And what's in the bag?

Robe the soirée from the 80's - I am dying for the shoulder-pad trend anyway

I fell in love with the Dries Van Noten -esque print of this dress/coat

The ring was my most expensive purchase today (13€) but it was love at first sight

I'm still quite sad about the rabbit fur coat and the snakeskin impliqué necklace I convinced myself not to buy, but whatever!
It wasn't the last vide grenier 06 :)