The Painkiller Cocktail Recipe

By Fernanda Souto

Hello Fashionistas,

The official cocktail of the British Virgin Islands and one the most popular mixed drinks on the Caribbean is the traditional Painkiller Cocktail. The Painkiller Cocktail is made with dark rum.

The Painkiller Cocktail 

This cocktail typically includes navy rum, which is a type of rum that usually blends rums from multiple Caribbean islands. Navy rum developed when the British Royal Navy patrolled the seas and sailors were allowed a daily rum ration.

Alexander McQueen Clutch

By Elma B.

Alexander McQueen has a collection of skull clutches, which have been made in almost every color with various embellishments and themes, e.g. pearls coupled with skulls, the U.K. flag coupled with skulls, fringes coupled with skulls, etc.  

Fabulous 50s Glamour

By Elma B.

The 1950s or the Fifties were marked by the end of WWII and by the Cold War Competition between the United States and the Soviet Union; as the world was rapidly changing, the fashion industry jumped quickly on the wagon and began rapidly changing as well. 

Coco Chanel and Jean Patchett during a fitting, 
circa 1050-1951. 

It all began with Christian Dior's "New Look," which made the skirts shorter (below-mid-calf length), the bust pointer and the shoulders rounder and more visible. The "New Look" became dominant in fashion magazines. 

Christian Dior "New Look" in 1947

Christian Dior "New Look" in 1947

Other styles that became popular in the '50s were a tailored feminine look, which consisted of fitted jackets and pencil skirts, and coupled with gloves and pearls. Low-cut necklines, shirt-dresses, and halter-top sundresses became socially acceptable and popular. 

Balmain Design for Bergdof Goodman in the 1950s

Another brief trend? Poodle skirts. Skirts were typically narrow or very full. Gowns were the same lenght as day dresses.

What fascinated me about the 1950s was the glamour and the elegance. Hollywood's divas like Elizabeth Taylor, Sofia Loren, Grace Kelly and Natalie Wood epitomized beauty yet their clothing was not scandalous or vulgar. The dresses exposed their contours while covering their figures modestly. Take a look at some of the most glamorous '50s moments...Until next time...xoxo. 

Sophia Loren in the 1950s

Ava Gardner

Tony Curtis in 1952

Curvy Curvy: Spotlight On Kate Upton

By Elma B.

"If the high-fashion world seems incapable of figuring out what to do with her … then that's it's loss," says Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour regarding the magazine's June cover model Kate Upton.

Kate Upton Curvy

The spotlight has been cast on the 21 year old American model and actress ever since her she landed the cover of Sports Illustrated in 2012. She also won the hearts of many American teenage boys and men after her Cat Daddy video went viral on YouTube reaching almost 750,000 views within 24 hours!

Kate Upton Bringing the Curves Back!

Jayne Mansfield in Photos

By Elma B.

With her hourglass figure and her 46DD cups, the newspapers in the 1950s routinely published her body measurements, which led the evangelist Billy Graham to exclaim "This country knows more about Jayne Mansfield's statistics than the Second Commandment."

Iconic photograph by Delmar Watson that perfectly captured  a moment of jealousy: Mansfield was the happy and carefree blonde while Loren was the feisty and competitive brunette.

Do You Know the Brazilian Chita?

By Fernanda Souto 

Hello Fashionistas,

Chita (pronounce it shee-ta) is a simple cotton fabric with floral prints in bold colors. The material became iconic and pretty much a Brazilian national treasure. 

Chita fabric is made with a mixture of primary and secondary colors. The prints serve not only to beautify the simple fabric but also to hide its irregularities and imperfections. 

Fashionista Alexa Chung in Chita Print

Chita Fabric for Interior Design 

The fabric has origins in India and was brought to Brazil during the European colonization. Chita production began in Brazil in the early XIX Century and underwent many improvements through the years before the modern day chita fabric came into widespread and regular use. The history of the fabric shows its wide use by our popular culture and its strong value for decorating projects and fashion as an aesthetic reference. 

As a side note, chita is gaining ground on the runways and showcases through fashion designers, whom have rediscovered these floral prints and incorporated them into their creations. Check out my photos, including my colorful bedroom chita curtains, and feel free to leave your comments below. Hope you enjoy them and see you soon!

Chita Fabric on the Runways

Tips for Tanning

By Paulina Fornovi

How to Achieve a Glowing Tan in 10-15 days? 

Please note that I am a beautician and make-up artist; the following are my own beauty tips and this is NOT medical advice. 

Indoor Tanning: 

If you must go indoor tanning, it is important to keep in mind that gradual exposure is everything. A healthy tan will become noticeable between your third and fifth tanning sessions. I recommend using a lotion to accelerate, intensify and prolong your tanning results. The specific one that I recommend is "HOT" by Australian Gold.

Outdoor Tanning:

Opposed to artificial sunlight, exposure to natural sunlight cannot be easily monitored. Therefore, using a skin-protection cream is a must.

How to Achieve Radiant Skin?

To achieve radiant skin apply a moisturizing lotion during the night, drink a minimum of two litres of water a day (equivalent to eight glasses of water), maintain a diet that is rich in fruit and vegetables, and exercise! Moreover, choose soaps with a neutral ph, and perfumes and deodrants with a lesser degree of alcohol. Make sure not to shower with extremely hot water and do your best to get eight hours of sleep per day.

Nutrition for Better Tanning Results: 

A proper diet lets you achieve and maintain a healthy and glowing tan. There are foods rich in beta-carotene that promote the creation of melanin; for instance, some foods rich in beta-carotene are parsley, carrot, tomato, peach, and melon. Moreover, Vitamin C enhances the formation of collagen to keep your skin smooth and youthful; for instance, some foods rich in Vitamin C are oranges, kiwis, melons, and strawberries. Lastly, another set of foods that has a positive impact on your tan are foods rich in selenium and vitamin E, which include olive oil, soy, or nuts; the aforementioned have antioxidant capacity.

Exfoliating and Moisturizing Before Exposure to the Sun: 

Before exposing your skin to the sun it is important to eliminate toxins and dead skin through exfoliation or going to the sauna. Keep in mind your skin type and prepare accordingly. Moreover, it is important to increase the level of hydration for your skin by moisturizing with a lotion suiting for your skin type and drink more liquid.

Tan Responsibly: 

It is better to start tanning gradually and not to over expose your skin to the sun; use sunglasses while out in the sun, moisturize your skin before and after tanning, and most importantly do not expose your skin to natural sunlight and artificial sunlight on the same day.

Summer Fashion Trends: Linen and Bright Colors

By Elma B.

Aside from the warmth, the sun and beaches, another aspect that attracts me the most to the summer are its large boho hats, light clothes and bright accessories. While vacationing in Guanacaste, Costa Rica, I brought along many skirts, dresses, bathing suits, and fun jewelry, which were all light and effortlessly fit into my suit case.

My favorite beach look is a casual and a loose side braid, bright colored bathing-suit and jewelry, and linen clothing. In the photos below, I opted for a straw hat with a leopard print scarf, a long-wooden-red necklace, a linen white skirt and Juicy Couture bathing suit. While at the beach, I like to go barefoot (so long as the sand is not scorching hot) to enjoy its soft touch. 

Workout Exercises: Stairs for the Bottom

By Paulina Fornovi 

Many of us stay away from the glowing orange bikinis because we do not want to take the spot light at the beach or the pool. Well, fear no more! Apart from a smooth belly, a nice bottom is a must! By nice, I mean firm! Here is the best advice for a firm bottom that comes to mind so you get it in record time!

Best Views in New York City...

By Elma B.

One of my favorite places to be inspired and relax are rooftops. While living in Miami, I became accustomed to going out at rooftop bars, e.g. Gansevoort Rooftop, Fifty Ultra Lounge at the Viceroy in Miami, Four Seasons in Brickell, etc. 

The views of the aforementioned hotels were simply breathtaking. If you are in Miami, I would highly recommend you visit these bars for a quiet drink, lunch/dinner, or an evening party. 

Last weekend, while I was in New York City, we went to Gansevoort on Park Avenue for a Saturday afternoon party. We had a blast, and snapped some photos in the meantime. 

Take a look at the view of New York City; it was simply gorgeous, especially on a sunny summer's day! Until next time...xoxo.

Isabel Marant pour H&M

By Paulina Fornovi

The Parisian designer, Isabel Marant, will be in the master-mind behind the autumn and winter collection of the multinational brand H&M. Many critics have gone so far as to her decision scandalous because of commercialization of a high-brand luxury designer. However, judging from the pas decisions of other high end designers like Karl Lagerfeld and Missoni, Marant has made the right move. Specifically, in 2004, Karl Largefeld was the first to collaborate with a high street brand and ever since, there have been many high-brand luxury designers, e.g., Stella McCartney, Roberto Cavalli, Jimmy Choo, Lanvin, Marni, Versace and Maison Martin Margiela, doing the same--collaborating with high street brands.

Marant began her training at Studio Bercot in Paris in 1985. Two years later, she launched a line of jewelry and accessories. In the early 1990s, she create the firm Twen, which is her current label known as Isabel Marant. Marant debuted her clothing collection on a catwalk for the spring and summer in 1995. 

She is effortlessly chic and elegant; Marant considers the multicultural richness of her native Paris, e.g. from the touristic Champs-Elysees to the trendy Marais, as the main source of her inspiration. "My brand has grown slowly, organically. I decided to build my own business step by step in order to main the full freedom and honesty at work."

Isabel Marant: H&M's latest fashion collaborator

Isabel Marant pour H&M...coming soon...

Isabel Marant for H&M

Marant's choice to become the leading designer for the high-end luxury brand Maison Martin Margiela is very interesting because Maison Martin Margiela has been copied the most for its designs by large retail stores.  

Saint Brissant Charity Gala

By Paulina Fornovi

A week ago in Madrid, the charity gala "Saint Brissant V.I.P. Party Experience," which was hosted to support the fight against gender violence, by the brand Saint Brissant, and took place on the terrace of the hotel "Silken Puerta América." Saint Brissant V.I.P. Party Experience took place  at the hotel "Silken Puerta América" from 5pm until 2am.

The Brand: Saint Brissant...

The brand Saint Brissant has had tremedous sucess after just one year; it has participated in fashion shows, been featured in some of the most popular showrooms in Spain, has been sold in numerous stores in Spain, has been the subject of countless interviews, featured on some of the main channels in the country (Telemadrid, TVE1, TVE1 - 24 h, etc.), and has  been the latest buzz on fashion blogs.

The Saint Brissant Charity Gala...

The charity gala has become very popular amongst the elite, the young, and fashion conscious because of the fashion runway shows, parades, art  exhibitions and after-private-penthouse parties. 

The Main Event: The Runway Show By Jorge De La Rosa...

One of the main events at the charity gala is the runway show, by the Spanish designer Jorge De La Rosa. The runway show took place at 10:30pm on the terrace of the hotel. 

I had the amazing opportunity of being back stage and being part of the show; I was one of the numerous make-up artists and hair stylists. The make-up artists and the hair stylists and others met at 7pm to being working on the models. Altogether there were about four make-up artists and hairdressers and 11 models.  While we were working on the hair and make-up, other designers were preparing lots of different accessories: headdresses, shoes, jewelry, etc. 

Me Applying Make-up

Overall, at the charity gala, the make-up artists and hair stylists were all a group of young entrepreneurs with an unstoppable momentum, who added their creative spin to the fashion scene. 

Jorge De La Rosa presented sets of colorful clothes in shades of Fuchsia and green; the colors were very spring like and very well suited with the makeup tones that I devised. The garments were spectacular; the designs were competely different than any other product in the market; they were bold without losing elegance!

Moreover, Jorge was amazing as a leader because his talent, high spirits and strong personality influenced the enormous level of energy at the runway show. 

After preparing for the show for some months, Saint Brissant was a huge success, which demonstrated that difficulties can be easily overcome with enthusiasm, hard work, love and humility. 

Here are some photos of the runway show:

Me Applying Make-up at the Saint Brissant Charity Gala