NYFW - Spring 2014 - Part One

Well, after watching every single show I feel pretty confident in telling you 'what's in' for Spring 2014: Leather, White, Black and White, Cut-outs, Sheer, Wide-leg Trousers, Pastels, and anything from the 90s (short of hyper-color t-shirts). 

There were some pretty impressive shows, some pretty dismal shows, all in all, not my favorite season. I know it's Ready-To-Wear, but I'm still looking for fashion. There was no inspiration in so many shows. Simple circle skirts, a strapless gown I've seen in 1000 shops- very little fashion forward thinking. Obviously we are inspired by the past, but let's not copy the past. It's been done. Tell me how you interpret that look for today.

So in that thought, the week began with shows that left me overly unimpressed, for reasons above. However there were several impressive pieces I would love to horde in my closet:

Koonhor Spring 2014

Costello Tagliapietra Spring 2014

Tocca Spring 2014

Zimmerman Spring 2014

The Row Spring 2014

Finally, it was time for the Nicholas K show. I know Nicholas K is not an aesthetic for everyone, but interesting things happen in their clothes! Plus, their shows are always perfectly produced and paired with music that actually supports the clothes rather than distracts from them.

Following Nicholas K was another delicious show: Marisa Webb. I'm a big fan of Marisa Webb. Love her color choices, love how she dresses women.

And then the lovely Jason Wu.

I.Want.This.Now.

The first show that was really exciting and innovative and made me covet highly was the Altuzarra show. A specialist in draping, he took his skillset a step forward this collection and mixed his draping with Boro, a Japanese technique used by fisherman to weave together rags or everyday materials. After his show Altuzarra commented that the show's theme really evolved from that technique, "this idea of effortless ease of a shirt and a skirt, bits of patchworking, soft layering and handwork that’s done in a humble way.” He was a success, the show was beautiful.

After Altuzarra we entered another small dive, like Christian Siriano. I love Christian, I really really do. But this collection was too over-thought, it craved some simplicity. And Cushnie et Ochs, I love their shows. But this was too simple, too predictable. It needed to borrow some of Christian's over-designing. Saying that, there were pieces from both collections that were lovely. I leave you with those.

Christian Siriano Spring 2014

Christian Siriano Spring 2014

Cushnie et Ochs Spring 2014

Cushnie et Ochs Spring 2014

Scotland, The Journey Begins

It's been a long time. I know. I'm a blogger failure. Alas, that is my reality and I shall push on as if it isn't true!

SO. Let me tell you about my travels to Scotland this summer and my beautiful friend's wedding. That will make you like me again. I hope.

Scotland, as we know from my Glasgow post, is one of my favorite places to be. I went to Uni there, I lived there, I have some of the closest and best friends in the world there- it's my special place. Should you travel there? YES.

One of my dearest and bestest friends got married this summer in Perth, Scotland and I eagerly jumped on a plane and flew across to celebrate. But, before I headed north for the wedding, I decided to spend a few days in Edinburgh with another bestest friend and celebrate my birthday, a momentous occasion.

Traveling is expensive and I had just been in London, so in an effort to save money, I did the many stop-over option, which is just never worth it. Pay the extra moolah and have one stop maximum, if you can. However, one of my stops was Paris, which is never that bad.

Birthday chocolates... :)

Paris, chocolate, and an incredibly cute boy I sat next to flying to Edinburgh, got my birthday off to a glorious start. And when I landed, I got to meet and snuggle with my friend's new baby who just happens to share my name....

Erin & Erin. Together at last.

Lots of cuddles and kisses and eventually a walk around Edinburgh.

She loves the view.

Because they're such lovely friends they came with me to the Museum of Modern Art.

"Everything is going to be Alright" Indeed.

I was excited to be here. As was Erin #2 (we share similar thoughts). The rest... well, much giggling and 'I'm sorry but how is that art?!' ensued and honestly, when we got to a room that stank and was full of sculptures that were created from urinating on snow, I stopped defending. I mean, really....

A quick nap (which consisted of me falling on the bed fully dressed) and a lovely wakeup ('Alright, up, that's enough sleeping) we headed out for my Birthday Dinner. I would tell you where it was but I don't remember, on a cobblestone street if that helps you.

Delicious food. So yummy. You really should go eat here.

We began with Haggis on a potato cake with balsamic tomato jam.

Followed by gnocchi in pesto, tomatoes and artichokes.  

 Followed by Pork Belly (a weakness of mine) with honey and pureed turnips.

Finally, Hake (or Turbot) over a lobster risotto.

A perfect birthday meal. Even Erin came for a bit, but she said 'People, I am tired and not at the age I appreciate adult dinners. I would like to go home please.' (I interpret her cries into English).

Good friends, amazing meal, the pub afterward. It was a wonderful day.

The next morning I was up with the sun and jumped on the train to Perth!! 

Goodbye Edinburgh!

Hello Scottish countryside!

Travel Safety

We all know I love to travel and that's what I've been doing this long month away from you. So as I gather my photos and thoughts together for a journey through Scotland, I wanted to share with you a piece by a guest blogger and fellow travel aficionado, KC Owens. He so kindly wrote the article below on a very important subject: travel safety. Thank you KC!

Staying Safe While Globe Hopping

Seeing the world is an enriching, rewarding and exciting experience that everybody should do at least once in his or her lifetime. Unfortunately, despite how much fun traveling is, your plans usually won't turn out the way you wanted them to. Some travel mishaps can even ruin them entirely. If you ever decide to travel the globe, it's important to keep in mind that mistakes and irritating situations can and will occur. Take precautions before your trip to make sure both you and your possessions stay safe.

Avoiding Cash Loss

I have traveled all over and found that keeping money safe is the number one priority while traveling. According to Credit Card Insider, one of the safest ways to carry your finances is by keeping it on a prepaid credit card. They can be secured so that, in the event they're stolen or lost, your money is safe. Most cards don't show your name, which protects your identity and keeps fraudulent purchases from being made. Using a prepaid card is safer because if someone steals it, only the money on the card is at risk and not your entire bank account. If the card goes missing, you can cancel it like other cards. These cards are simple to use and are ideal for student travelers who might be on a gap year or are backpacking through a country. I would also suggest that you ensure the security of your Internet connection before loading them from your bank.

Obeying Foreign Laws

Laws and social rules vary by location and it's important to learn about and stay mindful of them. Although breaking social customs won't get you arrested, it's not fun to be stared at so try to fly under the radar. Depending upon your age, you should be cautious of the area's alcohol laws. In the US, your blood alcohol level has to be below .08 percent for you to drive legally. In Ireland, it's zero. Granted, you shouldn't be driving under the influence, but being legally conscious can keep you out of trouble. Before you visit a city or town, study their laws to see if there's anything you should avoid doing that would otherwise be fine in the US. For example, the US doesn't generally allow open alcohol on public property, but it's perfectly acceptable in many other places.

Preventing Illness

Being sick is never enjoyable, but it can be devastating if you become ill during your journey. If you start feeling ill, look online for the nearest drug store and try to find some medicine right away.

Universal pharmacy logo, look for one of these.

Be aware that many countries feature poor-quality medical care so do everything you can to stay healthy while abroad. Eating healthy is recommended since your body will be more resistant to germs and viruses. Beware of the local water, too. In some places, it's not safe to drink and can make you miserably sick. 

___________________________

In addition to KC's fantastic points, I would add: check the State Department's website before you travel. If there are travel warnings about the place you will be visiting, they would be listed there. And also have a look at the CDC website. There you will find all the vaccine requirements or suggestions for your travel destination.

Time to go explore!

**KC Owens is a college student who loves traveling, college life, fitness and a good survival kit. He enjoys studying different cultures, meeting new people and leaving his footprint somewhere most people only read about.

English Craft Beer

When recently in Londontown I wove my way through Borough Market on a mission: Find Utobeer. Utobeer is a craft beer shop offering over 600 rare/small batch beers from all over the world. They have a large collection of one-off UK beers that get no distribution outside of the UK, some not even outside of London. Naturally I had to buy some of these and squirrel them away in my suitcase.

With the help of the very nice man I chose three beers to take the journey across the ocean. I wanted more but stopped at three when the conversation in my head became "what clothes could I throw away to make room for more beer....."

A good friend of mine is the Brewmaster and Beer manager for Cypress Street in Atlanta, obviously I had to share them with him. So last night.... we had a tasting.

BEER ONE
Brewery: The Kernel, London, England
Beer We Tasted: IPA - Chinook, Amarillo, Nelson Sauvin hops

The Kernel is a brewery in the Bermondsey area of London (southeast). They opened their brewery in 2009 and have quite often been hailed as "the best brewery in London." I'm super jealous/sad/annoyed/happy (a range of emotions) that I just now learned about the actual brewery, but the next time I'm in London, I am on a Kernel mission. Kind of dying to try their Centennial Pale Ale and their Export India Porter.

The first thing you notice about the IPA we tried is the beautiful color on the beer- the golden hue looks inviting and well-crafted. And the taste? Delicious. Clean, precise, and crisp. You taste grapefruit from the Amarillo hops- not the fruity, tart part of the fruit, but the pith which aids in creating the lingering bitterness signature to their beers. The bitterness smooths out and leaves a lovely taste in your mouth. Sessionable. 5.8%.

BEER TWO

Brewery: Dark Star, West Sussex, England

Beer We Tasted: Green Hop

Dark Star is about an hour and half south of London, near Brighton. It began as a tiny brewing adventure in the basement of a pub in 1994. By 2001 their beers were so popular they set up a proper brewery in Ansty and eventually grew into the location they have now. Which may or may not have been decorated by Banksy.

We tasted their Green Hop. I LOVED this beer, however this is not for everyone. It is a big IPA brewed with Simcoe hops which have an earthy, piney flavor to them, but what makes this beer so amazing are the fresh green hops they put in the batch after fermentation.

When you open Green Hop the floral scent is almost overwhelming, in a fantastic way. It smells like a garden in the summer and the color is that perfect golden hue. The taste is actually quite different. It's IPA bitter then super smooth, with a quick floral hint on the front of your sip, but remarkably the only massive floral aspect to the beer is the nose. I could drink this all day. Loved. 6.5%

BEER THREE

Brewery: Oakham Ales

Beer We Tasted: Citra

Oakham Ales (forgive their bad website) is located in Peterborough, England about 2 hours north of London in the largest brewpub in England. Their beers have won award after award and they've grown from a small brewery to a large brewery and a beer distributor for European beers into the UK. 

The beer I brought home was the Citra, American Pale Ale (APA). Again, loved.

This beer is a single-hop brew with only Citra hops. Oakham were "the first UK Brewery to commercially the first brewery in the UK to brew with Citra back in 2009." Now the beer is a permanent fixture in their selection winning two Gold in the International Beer Challenge 2011 and 2012. It is clean and refreshing. The bottle says "A light refreshing beer with pungent grapefruit, lychee and gooseberry aromas leading to a dry, bitter finish" and I wholeheartedly agree. The lychee fruit taste is unusual for Americans, not a fruit we consume a lot of here, but it's refreshing. The beer is in no way sweet, it is definitely hop-driven, and I love the malty aftertaste. If I was in a pub and this was on draft.... watch out people.

I hope you have been inspired to travel to England for your own personal beer journey. If you do go, check out The Rake near London Bridge or The Cask Pub and Kitchen in Pimlico both of which have amazing selections of craft beer. It's not many places you can get craft beer in pubs in England as most of the pubs are owned by the massive breweries, so do some exploring and find a gem.

Happy Drinking!!