Sticky Fingers BCN » London http://www.veraciria.com/blog Fashion, food and arts in Barcelona Thu, 09 Feb 2012 09:30:31 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 54th Edition of Cibeles Madrid Fashion Week http://www.veraciria.com/blog/2011/09/54th-edition-of-cibeles-madrid-fashion-week/ http://www.veraciria.com/blog/2011/09/54th-edition-of-cibeles-madrid-fashion-week/#comments Mon, 19 Sep 2011 18:25:08 +0000 Vera Ciria http://www.veraciria.com/blog/?p=7818 Summer finally seems to be remitting somewhat and that can only mean one thing: the whirlwind of international fashion weeks. As so much attention is paid to NY, London, Milan and Paris, I’m going to focus on Cibeles Madrid Fashion Week which started this Friday 16th. In the past, I have driven myself into the ground trying to cover every single catwalk show, which I just don’t have the strength for after this turbulent summer. I’ll be sharing some lovely photos of my favourite shows of the day and sharing some thoughts.

Roberto Verino was the designer in charge of opening this new edition of CMFW. The first day is usually reserved for the most consolidated designers, (the ones that have been around the block quite a few times). Jesús del Pozo, with a posthumous collection, Andres Sardá, Duyos, Adolfo Dominguez, Victorio & Lucchino, Angel Schlesser and Miguel Palacio all presented their spring / summer 2012 collections.

African details, Cavalli- and Etro-style and paisley all seem to be making their mark for 2012. Thank goodness for Duyos and Victorio & Lucchino. Yes, Victorio & Lucchino moved away from their hit-and-miss style of the past few seasons and really surprised me with a minimalist collection. (Or at least as minimalist as V&L can get…)

duyos pv 2012

Duyos - Image.net

duyos cibeles pv 2012

Duyos - Image.net

duyos pv 2012 cibeles

Duyos - Image.net

Simply titled “Cocktail”, the Duyos collection was perfect, from the colours to the silhouettes and fabrics. Look at those perfect rounded shoulders in the first photo. Covet the quirky, tortoise-shell sunglasses and gasp over the perfect shade of teal. My heart beats faster when you put your garments upon the catwalk, Duyos.

victorio lucchino pv 2012

Victorio & Lucchino - Image.net

victorio y lucchino cibeles pv 2012

Victorio & Lucchino - Image.net

victorio y lucchino pv 2012 cibeles

Victorio & Lucchino - Image.net

So used to the V&L baroque style, the duo seem to have been trying to steer their fashion boat in several different directions at the same time for the past few seasons which has led to some very confusing results. Not so this time. As minimalist as they can possibly be, some of the garments were actually quite simple, with only one fabric being allowed to breathe an shine. Yes, some of the dresses were reminiscent of recent Dior creations and others were very similar to the newest Marc Jacobs collection presented just a few days ago in NY, but what the hell, there are pieces that I actually want!

Have you been keeping on eye on the action at CMFW? What have your favourite shows been so far? I’ll be adding more photos over the next few days, so I’d love to hear what you think.

]]> http://www.veraciria.com/blog/2011/09/54th-edition-of-cibeles-madrid-fashion-week/feed/ 0 Future Beauty: 30 Years of Japanese Fashion http://www.veraciria.com/blog/2011/01/future-beauty-30-years-of-japanese-fashion/ http://www.veraciria.com/blog/2011/01/future-beauty-30-years-of-japanese-fashion/#comments Thu, 27 Jan 2011 09:25:36 +0000 Vera Ciria http://www.veraciria.com/blog/?p=4000 barbican, future beauty, 30 years of japanese fashion, london, vera ciria, sticky fingers bcn

Future Beauty, at the Barbican in London, is the first exhibition in Europe to comprehensively explore avant-garde Japanese fashion, from the early 1980s to the present. Japanese designers have had a huge impact on world fashion. Visionaries such as Issey Miyake, Rei Kawakubo and Yohji Yamamoto redefined the basis of fashion, challenging Western concepts of beauty to transform their garments into art.

barbican, future beauty, 30 years of japanese fashion, london, vera ciria, sticky fingers bcn

barbican, future beauty, 30 years of japanese fashion, london, vera ciria, sticky fingers bcn

Future Beauty: 30 Years of Japanese Fashion explores the work of legendary Japanese fashion designers, searching for the correlation to Japanese art, culture and costume history. Curated by Akiko Fukai, Director of the Kyoto Costume Institute, and designed by architect Sou Fujimoto, the show brings together over 100 garments from the last three decades. I was able to visit the Future Beauty exhibit at the Barbican during my recent visit to London and was completely bowled over by the magnificence of the show.

barbican, future beauty, 30 years of japanese fashion, london, vera ciria, sticky fingers bcn

barbican, future beauty, 30 years of japanese fashion, london, vera ciria, sticky fingers bcn

Spread over two floors, the lower floor mostly explores the work of Issey Miyake, Rei Kawakubo (Commes des Garçons) and Yohji Yamamota. Arranged in four sections: In Praise of Shadows; Flatness; Tradition and Innovation and Cool Japan. Each area concentrates on a different characteristic that is present in the designers’ work.

Seeing some of these garments that I have lusted over in books and magazines was completely awe-inspiring and breathtaking. None are behind glass and the fabrics seem to shimmer and shiver with contained life. I spent the entire time with goose bumps and heart palpitations. The exhibition is magnificent, one of the best that I have ever had the pleasure to see. Comprehensive, structured, informative, this could almost be termed a retrospective of the indelible mark that contemporary Japanese designers have made upon the world of fashion. Future Beauty will be open to the public until the 6th of February 2011, so if you happen to be in London, don’t hesitate for a moment to visit this foray into a deconstructed and magical world.

All Future Beauty photos by Lyndon Douglas.

]]> http://www.veraciria.com/blog/2011/01/future-beauty-30-years-of-japanese-fashion/feed/ 3 Camden Calling http://www.veraciria.com/blog/2011/01/camden-market-london/ http://www.veraciria.com/blog/2011/01/camden-market-london/#comments Tue, 25 Jan 2011 09:25:23 +0000 Vera Ciria http://www.veraciria.com/blog/?p=3989 camden, london, vera ciria, sticky fingers bcn, camden stables, camden horses,

Love it or hate it, Camden Market is a sight to behold. Being the fourth popular “attraction” in London, it usually is a complete tourist trap. Yet if you venture out to visit this quirky market, there are certain times and days of the week where you won’t have to jostle with the crowds.

camden, london, vera ciria, sticky fingers bcn, camden stables, vintage

camden, london, vera ciria, sticky fingers bcn, camden stables, vintage

camden, london, vera ciria, sticky fingers bcn, camden stables, vintage

Considering the fact that Londoners are already sitting down for dinner around 17:00, this is the perfect moment to scramble off for a visit. Friday afternoon and early evening is also perfect, as the locals are settling in for some heavy drinking, leaving entire areas free to browse. On the downside, the Camden Market stalls start to close around 18:00.

camden, london, vera ciria, sticky fingers bcn, camden stables, vintage

camden, london, vera ciria, sticky fingers bcn, camden stables, vintage mirrors

camden, london, vera ciria, sticky fingers bcn, camden stables, vintage suitcases

I especially love the Camden Stables. This area used to be for housing the horses that pulled the barges along the Thames. Each stall has now been converted into a little store, each one filled with curious objects. The Stable are is the most interesting, with loads of vintage wares on sale. I love the mirrored drawers and the old suitcases!

camden, london, vera ciria, sticky fingers bcn, camden stables

camden, london, vera ciria, sticky fingers bcn

Another really great aspect about Camden Market are the food stalls. Delicious, international food, cooked right on the spot and really cheap. As closing hour approaches, the food gets even cheaper, as the stall holders have to get rid of the food. There is a clear dominance of Asian dishes but you can also find Italian, Spanish, Mexican and American junk food. The thoroughfares dedicated to food are filled with eclectic neon lights. The whole atmosphere is absolutely mesmerizing. I hadn’t been to Camden for at least 15 to 20 years and I really enjoyed going back. I know it’s cheesy, but it’s definitely worth a visit.

I’d love to hear about where you go in London, either when you’re visiting or those of you who live there. I’d love to start making a list of new places to see for my next visit to the big city. Just drop me a comment or email!

]]> http://www.veraciria.com/blog/2011/01/camden-market-london/feed/ 0 Perfect Window Dressing http://www.veraciria.com/blog/2011/01/the-john-hour-selfridges-windows/ http://www.veraciria.com/blog/2011/01/the-john-hour-selfridges-windows/#comments Fri, 21 Jan 2011 09:25:05 +0000 Vera Ciria http://www.veraciria.com/blog/?p=3982 the john hour, windows, london, vera ciria, sticky fingers bcn, london

A whirlwind trip to London must always include a visit to Selfridges on Oxford Street. Now the interesting part is actually outside the store, so it’s not necessary to battle the inevitable crowds within. Selfridges’ windows are a magical site to behold. I can’t even begin to imagine living in London and seeing all the different displays throughout the entire year.

the john hour, selfridges, london, tennis racquets, windows, vera ciria sticky fingers

selfridges london, brass instruments, vera ciria, sticky fingers bcn

The John Hour, were charged with the task of dressing four of Selfridges’ windows. The last time I was in London, the store had completely given itself over to Alice in Wonderland madness. (Those were some of the most exquisite windows I have ever seen).

The creative trio behind The John Hour have created stark settings with objects such as rackets, dishes or brass instruments. Any object, taken out of its “normal” context and heaped almost haphazardly together will take on a different meaning. The lowbrow meets the highbrow in a tangle of societal status. Shhh, when the traffic dies down, can you hear that sound? That’s the creativity flowing in London.

selfridges windows, the john hour, windows, london, vera ciria, sticky fingers bcn, london, plates

selfridges, the john hour, windows, london, vera ciria, sticky fingers bcn, london, plates

]]> http://www.veraciria.com/blog/2011/01/the-john-hour-selfridges-windows/feed/ 0 London Details http://www.veraciria.com/blog/2011/01/london-details/ http://www.veraciria.com/blog/2011/01/london-details/#comments Wed, 19 Jan 2011 11:05:35 +0000 Vera Ciria http://www.veraciria.com/blog/?p=3970 no begging, london, tube stations, vera ciria, sticky fingers bcn

I seriously cannot think of a better way to start off the year than by escaping away to London for a few days. I just wanted to share a few of the sights that I came across as I forged my way from museum to museum and through shops to restaurants. London is one of my favourite cities and I feel more comfortable ever time I go there. Having spent half my life in Canada and the other half in Spain, strangely enough, I feel like I’m coming home the moment I step on British soil.

snog london, frozen yoghurt, vera ciria, sticky fingers bcn

japanese oreos, london, vera ciria, sticky fingers bcn

aubaine, london, breakfast, brunch, vera ciria, sticky fingers bcn

I didn’t actually have a frozen yoghurt at Snog (the weather was a bit cold) but I couldn’t resist snapping a quick picture. The small spherical lights hanging from the ceiling change colour, causing a strange ripple effect. It seems like the ceiling is moving. The walls are covered with vibrant images and the seating looks like white mushrooms that have just sprung up. The overall feeling is quite Japanese and kitschy. Snog will be high on my list of places to try out next time around.

Talking about Japanese and right next door to Snog, is CyberCandy. This store is filled with American, Canadian and Australian sweets, among many others. I really miss Canadian junk food, so CyberCandy is always an obligatory stop in London. I love the Japanese Oreos but they were really expensive!

Which brings me to expensive breakfasts. I love Aubaine, perfect French chic for starting the day. As I’ve said many times before, I really love breakfast and brunch, so it’s a pleasure to be spoilt for choice in London.

pimps and pinups, hair dresser, london, brick lane, hair, vera ciria, sticky fingers bcn

camera, neon, london, vera ciria, sticky fingers bcn

london eye, thames, london, vera ciria, sticky fingers bcn

I love the lights in London, both artificial and natural. The city has whole areas filled with colourful neons, most likely to combat the grey. The natural light has infinite nuances of intensity, just like the greens in the the British country-side.

london transport museum, covent gardens, vera ciria, sticky fingers bcn

charing cross station, london, tube station, vera ciria, sticky fingers bcn

british toilets, london, film museum, vera ciria, sticky fingers bcn

There is so much attention to detail. Miniature-sized reproductions of transport construction sites at the the London Transport Museum. The different styles of tube stations. The exquisite, old-school British toilets, the marble worn down over the years. Yes, London can be grimy and fast-paced, but there is so much charm oozing from the city.

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