Month: August 2017

August is a month with not much happening in the Cultural or Fashion scene.  This is the month when many people in Europe take their vacation.  Mayor cities like Paris become empty when their denizens take off to the plages or country side Perhaps something not too bad for a tourist that prefers to stroll the streets of Paris solo, like we did two summers ago.  In America, however there is no such thing as taking a month-long vacation… yet still we prefer to say outdoors and enjoy the warm weather as long as we can.

For those who still prefer to head inside during those very hot afternoons, here are a few interesting fashion and cultural events around the world available this month, from fashion to Arts, and to take a look at those events that are trailing from past months you can go here.

London,

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More often than we think Fashion brands get inspiration from main street.  In the case of The Kaftan, there is no exception.  The Kaftan is a unisex loose gown with full sleeves that originated in the far east, became a symbol of the hippy culture of the 60’s to eventually rise to become a representation of wealth and the jet-set.  Today, is an essential item in every fashionable woman’s summer suitcase.  Vogue declared the kaftan ‘as an essential garment for every member of the jet-set’.  Although a unisex gown is mostly worn by women now a days, unless you happen to be a very eccentric male of the name Wary Ahluwalia

The Kaftan lee radziwil turkish drawing room belle vivir

The Kaftan today comes in many different fabric and length: from minimal ones to more exotic and embellished evening-inspired ones… Many Fashion Designers have created collections inspired in the far east culture and the kaftan has been interpreted in many ways… from short sexy versions by Tom Ford to more sophisticated ones by Balenciaga and Christian Dior… It’s also associated with the very lavish Turkish interiors, as a matter of fact, Sultans from the Ottoman empire worn very glamorous versions of it.

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Who hasn’t dreamed of owning a villa in the South of France… I know.  I have… Many. Times.  Or at least a modest home.  Frederik Fekkai’s vacation home in Provence is a paradise as he himself describes it to Architectural Digest where the home was featured last year.  The home, located in Aix-en-Provence where Fekkai was born and raised  is surrounded by olives trees, lavender bushes and cypress trees gracing the entrance… it also has an olive orchard on one side of the home.

Frederik Fekkai's vacation home in provence, via belle vivir

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Cece Barfield chic Gramercy Park Apartment was recently featured in House Beautiful magazine and One Kings Lane and no wonder why… Cece studied Interior Architecture at Pratt Institute and honed her chic style under the umbrella of Bunny Williams where she worked as Senior Designer… Cece also worked at Vogue Magazine.  Based in New York her style is traditional while at the same time very suitable for modern living… The apartment is located in one of the chicest neighborhood in Manhattan, Gramercy Park where neighbors share a charming private green space that only residents of the bordering blocks have keys.  The apartment is decorated with antiques and comfortable upholstered furniture, layered just enough as to not feel too cramped.  Here Cece lives with her husband and two daughters… “Working for Bunny is the equivalent of getting a Ph.D. in decorating,” Barfield Thompson said to House Beautiful.  A very stylish but livable home for a family of style…

cece barfield chic gramercy park apartment- living room belle vivir blog

The living room with soothing colors and antique pieces…

Cece Barfield chic gramercy park apartment belle vivir blog

A closer view of the herringbone floors…

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hotels with private boats lake como hotel tremezzo via belle vivir

Raise your hand if you haven’t ever gotten the travel bug… after you come from a vacation?  In my case, everywhere I go I wish i had a house there and every time I come back from a vacation my first thought is, you guessed it… where to go next…?  One of my dreams is to charter a private boat, get family and friends on board and sail away for days.  Doing nothing but enjoy fresh caught fish, drink rose and let those who like to swim swim at their leisure… While in St. Tropez, we had breakfast at one of the cafes across the marina and I couldn’t help admiring a family that was taking their breakfast out on their deck of their mega yacht… very fabulous indeed… One, perhaps less expensive way to get to live this dream is staying at one of those fabulous hotels with private boats.

8 fabulous hotels with private boats via belle vivir

Hotels know what luxury travelers like… they are looking for one of a kind experience such as sailing around the Greek islands in your own private boat… or sailing around the Aegean sea on board of a very Mediterranean Blue Voyage… Any style that feeds your fancy… These hotels with private boats are as luxurious as they can be because they mostly have old boats with all the charm and elegance of old days travel…

 

8 Fabulous Hotels with Private Boats…

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