Wonderful Lifestyle Shops…

Rialto Living, Palma

I found this wonderful shop by accident, I do have to say this is certainly the beautiful shop in Palma and one of the most lovely shops I have ever seen anywhere in the world. The building is stunning a perfect blend of new and old and the wide range of products on sale totally desirable. Fashion and accessories, home ware and interiors, art house, lifestyle and interior design books, unique stationery, toys, perfumes, home fragrances etc. There is an in-house florist as well as an interior design service. The room sets are a world apart, I could happily move in. The Rialto Café serves drinks and food throughout the store’s opening hours, a relaxing sanctuary from the bustling city, the relaxing décor reflects the store’s distinctive style. There is a dedicated gallery space which displays contemporary art and photographs and private views and events are held. Friendly, helpful staff and a calming environment make this a perfect shopping experience.

 In 2007 Klas Käll (one of the three founders and designers of the global Gant brand) and Barbara Bergman opened their Rialto Living lifestyle concept store in one of Palma’s previous cultural centres. They sympathetically converted the former Sala Rialto theatre and cinema to launch it as one of Europe’s most exciting lifestyle store.

Rialto Living doubled in size from its original 800sqm, following its expansion into Can O’Ryan. When the owners bought the property in 2012 it hadn’t been renovated since 1911. Their 21st century renovation included the restoration of some of the original architectural features of this Baroque-style property, creating a superb setting for their enlarged range of departments and products.

The publisher teNeues in their book Luxury Stores, Top of The World, featured Rialto Living see below an extract:

"Since the first hunter-gatherers, humans have sought out things of beauty and excellence - a quest epitomized by the elegant stores displayed in this sumptuous 396-page volume which is packed with hundreds of stunning photographs, as well as informative texts. Each can be considered a pinnacle of the shopping experience. With a carefully chosen selection of goods and services located all over the world, these shops do indeed cater to every whim. Combining the aesthetics of high art with service worthy of royalty, everyone is an experience to treasure."

If you are in Palma you must visit, but be warned you might not want to leave…

C. SANT FELIU 3

07012 PALMA DE MALLORCA

INFO@RIALTOLIVING.COM

Art Meets Fashion

Hermes Limited-Edition Scarves by Hiroshi Sugimoto. 

I love the mixing of art, fashion and craftsmanship, the recent design collaboration of Japanese photographer Hiroshi Sugimoto with iconic fashion house Hermes, does just that. Famous for its beautiful, colourful scarves and exciting marketing campaigns Hermes is one of the leading luxury scarf brands in the world.

 
The ‘Couleurs de l’ombre’ range of limited-edition silk scarves is inspired by Polaroid’s of the artist’s ‘Colour of Shadow’ collection. In his ‘Colour of Shadow’ artworks, Sugimoto used a Polaroid camera to take long-exposure shots of cinema screens, light passing through prism, and extreme close-ups of colours to create vibrant and colourful photos.

Hermes selected some of Sugimoto’s Polaroid’s and printed them on silk scarves using ink jet printing. These stunning scarves are truly works of art.

http://editeur-en.hermes.com for more details

 

 

 

Fashion Drawn...

Garance Doré is a French photographer, illustrator and author, best known for her fashion blog and stunning fluid drawings…

Any self-proclaimed lovers of fashion will know all about this multi-skilled and stylish woman, who is simply too talented for words. Garance originally lived and worked in Paris but is now based in New York. The street style snapper emerged on the fashion scene in 2006, in the early days of the blogger boom and remains to be a major player. Along with her photographer boyfriend, Scott Schuman, they are the reigning King and Queen of street style photography. Doré has lent her creative touch to numerous creative projects. Working as both a photographer and illustrator has allowed her to collaborate with a long list of clients: such as Chloe, Louis Vuitton, Moschino, Max Mara, MAC Cosmetics and Dior.

She’s been featured in The New York Times, Vogue and ELLE Magazine and on featured on Harper’s Bazaars Women of Fashion, GQ’s 25 Most Glamorous Women of Fashion, and Vogue’s 40 Women of the Decade and Elle France’s 30 Most Powerful Women in Fashion.

I love her work  and hope you do too…

www.garancedore.fr/en/ for more information

Bye for now

Sara x

Bespoke Tailoring

Alexander McQueen- A Great Artisan

One of the best known British designers of all times, Alexander McQueen sums up all that is British, uniqueness, quirky, but beautifully made.

He was a British fashion designer and couturier best known for his in-depth knowledge of bespoke British tailoring, his collection could be very feminine almost fragile but still had great strength and the power to shock at times. His fashion shows could be very provocative and did force people to think.

McQueen's early runway collections developed his reputation for controversy and shock tactics and he was called the L’Enfant terrible as well as "the hooligan of English fashion. His collections were also named to shock titles such as Highland Rape. But I think it was just theatre, if at times a little dark.  Alexander McQueen was known for over the top, unconventional runway shows: a recreation of a shipwreck for his spring 2003 collection; spring 2005's human chess game; and his fall 2006 show "Widows of Culloden", which featured a life-sized hologram of supermodel Kate Moss dressed in yards of rippling fabric. He used new technology and innovation to add a different twist to his shows and often shocked audiences and I am sure the fashion world is a much duller place without his unique showmanship.

Behind the drama, Alexander McQueen did have a formal, traditional apprenticeship at Anderson and Shepherds, Savile Row Tailors, and then at Gieves and Hawkes. I think this does show in the construction and sharp fit of his clothing. He then moved on to Angels and Bermans, theatrical costumiers, where he mastered 6 methods of pattern cutting.  He went on to work for inventive designer Koji Tatsuno in London and then Romeo Gigli in Italy.

When he returned to London he completed a Master’s degree in Fashion Design at Central Saint Martin’s. In 1992 he was spotted by Isabella Blow who was going to have a huge impact on his future, personally and professionally, becoming his muse.

He had a profound respect and was influenced by the arts and crafts tradition. Alexander’s collections combine an in-depth working knowledge of bespoke British tailoring, the fine workmanship of the French Haute Couture atelier and the impeccable finish of Italian manufacturing. In less than 10 years McQueen became one of the most respected fashion designers in the world. In October 1996 he was appointed Chief Designer at the French Haute Couture House Givenchy where he worked until March of 2001. In December 2000, 51% of Alexander McQueen was acquired by the Gucci Group, where he remained Creative Director.

 

In Style magazine listed an Alexander McQueen dress in the "100 Best Dresses of the Decade. McQueen also became known for using skulls in his designs. A scarf bearing the motif became a celebrity must-have and was copied around the world.

Alexander McQueen’s major achievement in fashion have been recognized by the following awards: British Designer of the year 1996, 1997, 2001, and 2003, International Designer of the Year by The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) in 2003, A Most Excellent Commander of The British Empire (CBE)

Today his legacy is continued by the talented Sarah Burton.

www.alexandermcqueen.com

For more images please view

http://pinterest.com/sarabrowndesign/alexander-mcqueen-and-friends/

Bye for now

Sara x