On this beautiful summer Saturday, I've decided to go see the Picasso exhibition at the de Young Museum in San Francisco; and I was amazed by all the beautiful paintings & sculptures!
This exhibition of 150 important paintings, sculptures, prints and drawings created by Pablo Picasso (1881–1973) is drawn from the permanent collection of the Musée National Picasso, Paris, the largest and most significant repository of the artist’s work in the world, and comes to the de Young as part of an international tour. The artwork is touring because the Musée is currently closed and undergoing a multi-year renovation expected to last through 2012.
I’ve always admires Cristóbal Balenciaga’s visions of style that has set the fashion trends since the 50s and still influence fashion designers all over the world today. This past weekend, I had the great pleasure to visit the de Young Museum in San Francisco for the Balenciaga exhibition, needless to say, it was a magical experience. The exhibition includes top examples of the couturier’s designs, the flamenco-style gowns, the fichu stoles and matador-inspired hats, the evening dresses that seemed to follow the austere sweep of a nun’s wimple - borrowed from archives and private collectors. Let’s first watch a video about the exhibition.
Here are some photos from this beautiful exhibition.
Since 1998, the friendship between Dolce & Gabbana & Martini Gold started by the opening of the Martini Bar inside of the Dolce & Gabbana Milan store then at the Shanghai boutique.
The Martini Bar in Milan Boutique
The Shanghai Boutique & Martini Bar, 1/F, 6 Zhongshandong Yi Lu, The Bund, Shanghai - Tel: +86.21.63390268
Here is a video of the fabulous Martini Bar inside of Dolce & Gabbana boutique
So in 2010 Dolce & Gabbana has teamed up with Martini and the result is an awesome one , a a special edition vermouth, Martini® Gold by Dolce & Gabbana. The exclusive mix, the essence: bergamot from Calabria, lemons from Sicily as well as oranges, Spanish saffron, myrrh from Ethiopia, ginger from India, and cubebe pepper from Indonesia.
(Click on the photo below to see it in larger size)
The beautiful Ad Campaign featuring the super sexy & beautiful actress Monica Bellucci, and the short film was Directed by Jonas Akerlund (shown shooting the movie below), the MARTINI® Gold short film is set in Rome, Italy - a beautiful backdrop for the visually lush story.
I love finding those special shops that sells one of the kind, artisan hand crafted stuff when I travel. Like the Saint-Germain-des-Prés Neighborhood in Paris, or finding one of those hard to find hand-bounded books at those charming bookstores at Notting Hill in London and I just recently discovered this uniquely charming store in Astoria, New York area name “Creators’ Co-Op” !
Unlike any of those typical stores that sells well know designer brands or mass market boring item, This charming & vibrant store offers up one of the kind, hand-made unique items from various artists & designers, which it’s perfectly reflects the name of the store “Creators’ Co-Op”! The owner of the store Kazuki Kozuru-Salifoska said ~ “ This is a place for participating artists & designers to present their artisan creations – from fashion, accessories, handmade organic lotions & soap, jewelries, baby clothing to sculptures, all in a Co-Operative style venue. “ and I think it’s a genius idea!
Here are some of the fabulous designers & their artisan creations at the store….
Lume and Nera by Gaetano Canella
Fashion Illustration Paintings by Gina Schiappacasse
Since 1997, I've been a big fan of their spa in downtown SOHO area in NYC. I usually go have a facial or massage once a month when I used to live in NYC, now I am in California, I still make sure to visit their Beauty Gallery in Soho whenever I am visiting New York. What makes Amore Pacific so special is when you walked into the door, they will seat you down & offer you a cup of special blend of green tea before your appointment.
Then a thorough “Elemental Energy Analysis” inspired from five different Eastern traditional elements: Water, Metal, Earth, Fire and Wood will be performed by an aesthetician to determine which one of the five elements will best suit each client’s inner needs! I love it that they are not just giving you a moisturizers & gives a massage then send you home. Instead, they really follows the ancient Eastern philosophy of “Balancing the elements within” and by doing it will result a better well being & of course better skin.
Not just their products are amazing; the interior design of their spa is fabulous! It mirrors the company philosophy of organic ingredients used to create its products. Within the architecture, the elements of Water, Earth, Wood, Metal and Fire are represented in either a literal or in a symbolic form. The atmosphere of the soothing warm light emanates from indirect sources behind the mirror and adjacent walls. My favorite is the interactive "water wall" ! when you move your hands on the wall, it ripples like a real water!
Amore Pacific's signature ingredients are three Asian botanicals: Pure homegrown Korean green tea, bamboo and the precious & the amazing Red Ginseng. The green tea is specially grown for the company in farmland located at the foot of Hallasan Mountain on Jeju Island, an dormant volcano that has 1846 SQKM surface and located 130 KM from the southern coast of Korea.
It is there that fresh water & volcanic soils lie and the climate is ideal for the growth of the tea. Also the slow growing Red Ginseng they use are at least 6 years old plant that provides the most potent essence benefit to the skin. The elements in the products reach the deepest layer of the skin and are intended to help increase the rate at which your cells reproduce themselves.
Here are the secret ingredients that make Amore Pacific skin care stands out from others!
Bamboo is the most resilient plant on the planet and is often revered for its unique quality of incredible strength and utmost flexibility. Referred to in Asian culture as "Divine Water," bamboo sap has been prescribed for centuries for purification, well-being, and longevity. It is carefully collected over 12 hours only in the peak months of May and June. Originating from a plant of amazing vitality and resiliency, bamboo sap is used in every AmorePacific product to strengthen the skin's self defense. Benefits from this exclusive, patented, ingredient include:
* Increases radiance and vitality; hydrates and nourishes the skin
* Delivers vital minerals and amino acids to recreate a healthy environment for the skin
* Strengthens skin's self defense against the environment, ultimately promoting age-resistant, resilient skin
Used exclusively throughout the entire AmorePacific skincare line, Korean red ginseng has extraordinary healing powers and has been used as a medicinal "cure-all" for hundreds of years, including promoting overall well-being. Having a positive impact on the entire body, this mineral-rich botanical nourishes the skin, helps ensure balance and strength, and provides important antioxidant benefits, making it an ideal ingredient for age-fighting skin care. The most powerful and highest quality ginseng in the world, Korean red ginseng (harvested after six years of growth) is used throughout the entire AmorePacific Skincare line. Benefits from this potent plant include:
* Improves radiance and vitality; rejuvenates skin energy
* Provides antioxidant protection to counter harmful environmental aggressors
* Minimizes lines and wrinkles
* Enhances benefits from all active botanicals
Over three decades ago, AmorePacific was the first to utilize green tea extract from its own green tea gardens into a skincare formulation. The AmorePacific green tea plantation is located in the Pacific Eden of Jeju Island, nestled at the foot of Mount Halla, where pristine fields and mineral-rich volcanic soil form a perfect microclimate for green tea cultivation. There, it's nurtured in an environment unmatched anywhere in the world. The only cosmetic company to cultivate and hand pick its own green tea, AmorePacific has unlocked the secret to skin longevity and wellness, utilizing every vital component of the green tea plant—including the leaf, stem, flower, and seed. Each vital part of the plant is harvested at peak times, ensuring the purest nutrients and antioxidant properties are used in all their formulations, delivering unprecedented benefits to the skin including:
* Antioxidant protection to counter harmful environmental aggressors
* Vital nutrients to promote a healthy environment for the skin
* Continuous deep hydration to combat dehydration, fine lines, and wrinkles
Click the video player below to see more info about this amazing skin care company
In New York City, the mecca of fashion, where all the fashionistas go see & shop for the latest fashions. As a serial shopper like myself & many of our readers, finding a good store that offers a varieties of selections of clothing and accessories to express your own unique individuality is like finding a needle in a haystack! Behaviour New York is one of those rare store that offers exactly what a true fashionista is looking for & fashion insider's favorite destination.
Located at the super hip and chic Chelsea area next to the Greenwich village, this clean, modern clothing store makes you feels like you just walked into an modern art gallery. I love how the store looks! mixing the lavish chandelier with minimalistic designed display furniture that's filled with the Must-Have accessories for the season!
Against the wall are racks full of urban trend-setting yet polished, tailored elegant men's clothing
Brands such as D&G, Paul & Joe, Dusty, Alessandra Dell'Acqua, Messagerie and much more! It's like a "fashion candy store" without the calories for all the fashionistas!
Ever since the store founder & owner Chad Vo, an seasoned fashion designer / fashionista, opened the store "Behaviour" back in 2005, Behaviour has been one of the fashion insider's favorite! For me personally, it's the unique selection of the brands they carries; emphasis on younger & newer designer not easily found anywhere else! so it makes the shopping experience truly exciting & unique. Also not to mention they've got the friendliest, knowledgeable (and good looking!) sales person in the store to help you to spend your money on the hottest fashions!
So next time you are in New York City, don't forget to stop by "Behaviour" to get something pretty for yourself or your man! The store is located at
231 West 19th Street New York, NY 10011 Phone: 212-352-8380
