cultural endeavours

So, this week happened. Man, I am so behind on everything and sooo tired, and sooo glad that it's a long weekend here!

I wore this last weekend to go to an exhibition at the CCCB, the Centre de Cultura Contemporànea de Barcelona, and I felt rather chicly understated. I'm always a bit leary of knee socks making me look like a schoolgirl, and of heels making me look like a businesswoman (ew), but the combination seemed to give it just the right edge.

The exhibit was fascinating: photos of Barcelona between 1909 and 1945 by a photographer called Brangulí, who, in addition to capturing some great street scenes, had an interest in photographing the industry that used to drive Barcelona... so photos of women working in textile shops and men making toy cardboard theatres at toy factories... a fascinating glimpse into life at the beginning of the 20th century.





P.S. Dusana did an interview with me about my travels, style, and other thoughts over at her blog!

Photos by Albert, all photos taken at the CCCB. I love the juxtaposition of old and new buildings that make up the courtyard.

dress: Mavi (old), sweater: car boot sale, socks: H&M, shoes: Clarks, necklace: gift from Mom

adoro mi oro: gold upcycling with katja jesek

Last week I went to a blogger event in Barcelona about gold "upcycling."

Katja Jesek runs Adoro mi Oro ("I love my gold" in Spanish), where, in addition to making some beautiful jewelry, she hosts fashion's version of tupperware parties... people bring bits of old gold that they don't want (broken chains, single earrings, gifts from your auntie that aren't your style), melts it down, and works with you to design a special piece you'll really love and wear. As you are providing the gold, all you pay is the labour, which makes it not only an opportunity to reuse and recycle, but also fairly recession-proof.





At the event, Katja told us more about gold upcycling, demonstrated the process of melting down the gold, and looked stunning in an immaculate vintage 1970s designer dress by Pedro Rodriguez. The rest of us milled around the gorgeous antique shop where the event was held, taking photos, eating melon and parmesan on sticks, and sipping cava.

Anyone interested can find Katja at her website or her Etsy shop. (the Etsy shop, due to its international nature, is not upcycling and therefore prices include the cost of gold)




molten gold



P.S. This is in no way a sponsored post. I'm a big fan of local designs, and having worked in jewelry shops before, find these pieces to be gorgeous and high quality.

P.P.S. I've now written a couple of articles for a Barcelona tourism guide, and I'd be delighted if any of you wanted to check them out. I'll probably be a bit of a nuisance about this, as my boss seems to think I'm some kind of stat booster in addition to writer and well, it makes me look good. Thanks ladies and gents : D

bon(n) voyage

In Bonn they love making puns that play on their name, so obviously I had to pay tribute to that! While the Saturday I was there was freezing (yes, my feet were very cold in my last outfit post, but I had forgotten to pack socks) but Sunday was all the good things you associate with autumn: crisp, clear, and a with sunlight dappling the buildings and the leaves. When these pictures were taken I was having one of my moments of "everything's so beautiful and I love being in the sun....







P.S. Sweaters + dresses + <3
P.P.S these boots! this jacket! this scarf! Things I bought two years ago and had to leave in Canada--I thought for a couple of months but it turned into a year and a half. I am so happy to be reunited with them :D

dress: River Island, sweater: H&M, necklace: gift, boots: El Naturalista, jacket: Gant, scarf: the Hudson's Bay Company

coffee break

This is a wee bit random, but kind of fun. Basically, almost all of my outfit posts take place after going for coffee or before going for a beer, and I find myself with a collection of pictures of myself looking rather glam while indulging in my drug of choice (tea is my first love though, and my drug of choice at home). As someone who was deeply unphotogenic before having a blog, I don't take attractive portraits lightly. ; ) Plus, it's kind of fun remembering that the outfits in question didn't exist in a vacuum, they were part of a day that included, well, coffee.

I might have to do a beer version of this post at some point. : D


this was more of a cupcake break, with Raquel in London


Sponsorship opportunity?


realistic rather than glam. Coffee in the airport, oh yeah!




having coffee and a biyali in New York. The guy who owned the flat we stayed at told us in an accent straight out of Woody Allen that "bagels are passé, you need to try a biyali." Can you see the skepticism in my face? Apologies in advance to New Yorkers, but what exactly is the difference? ; )

crayola

Despite my wariness of layering, I really had no choice this past weekend, when I was plunged from 32 degree summer weather into frigid (albeit sunny and glorious) winter. I managed to dress like a box of crayons, but I think the stripes in the scarf and the touch of red plaid in the jacket tie the whole look together. Next time I just need some stripey socks to match my scarf, and I might even manage to stay warm!

I'd have worn this outfit eventually anyway, as I have limited winter clothes, but I was definitely thinking of Annebeth's awesome coloured denim and scarf look... and while I was writing this in the airport she was leaving me a comment that more is more when it comes to layering. Hehe. Facing my fears from now on!





Photos by Albert

jeans: Zara, shirt: H&M, sweater: second-hand (via sister), shoes: ebay, jacket: Gant (2009), scarf: Hudson's Bay Company

andrews sister

I think everyone loves dressing for fall except me. The colours! The layers! I'd be lying to say I didn't like the colours and textures, but layering fills me with a fair degree of dread. I think it's when my schizophrenic attachment to a rainbow of colours comes back to haunt me... Oh, you thought it would be a good idea to have basics in red, yellow, and army green, did you? Now try layering with that without looking like Jackson Pollock puked on a Miró....

Nevertheless, I'm quite enjoying my only fall purchase to far, this skirt. It was originally £115, bought on sale for £24! I find it a winner on two counts... it reminds me of the 1940s, one of my favourite eras for fashion. I can imagine being an Andrews sister belting out flawless harmony in a London canteen in this skirt (a not very historically accurate image, perhaps). And it's also rather kilt-like, which is always rather fun!





skirt: Boutique by Jaeger (sales), blouse: vintage (gift), shoes: Clarks, socks: American Apparel

book buying on sunday morning

The squat next door to my new place has pretty awesome graffiti!


Canada represent! Murder on the Canadian Express and Nightmare in Vancouver, hehe



One of the big joys of my new flat is the second hand books and comics market that takes place just outside it every Sunday morning. In the second picture you can see the market itself, which is closed for reconstruction for the next hundred years at the rate things are going. In the meantime, proceedings take place under a covered awning in the middle of the road. In that second picture you can also see the intensity of people of all ages trading and selling gaming cards. We started off with an Argentinian empanada breakfast, browsed the market wares for children's books in Catalan (to improve my vocabulary) and then went for a wander in the nearby Raval neighbourhood and tried to capture some of the sunny, end of summer moments on camera. I say end-of-summer, but it was 35 degrees today at one point... the summer just keeps going here!






I love the size of that plant on the balcony!


I used to hang out in this bar all the time when I was recently arrived in Barcelona. Apparently that makes me a total tourist, but whatever, it's actually quite a nice bar.

Photos of me by Albert

I love all the different vibes this blouse can convey: 90s this time round, a more 80s look last time, and a bit 50s the first time I wore it. In my head at least.

blouse: vintage, skirt: oysho (last years sales), shoes: Steve Madden via ebay, sunglasses: Lucky Brand via TKMaxx, necklace: gift