Cultural patterns

It's interesting how we lean towards the idea that it's culture that sets us apart from others. There's a common discourse saying culture is that unique aspect that binds us together to create a shared identity, when in fact there are countless examples of cultural manifestations that are common across different nations and peoples. After all, we've always learnt from each other and people's curiosity for what's beyond has (since probably the dawn of humankind) ended up resulting in cultural transferrals and shared knowledge and aesthetics.

Dolce & Gabbana have recently released a collection inspired on ceramic tiles, Sicilian ones more specifically. I can't help but see my country's ceramics reflected on this collection; after all this is quite a dominating element of Portuguese culture too (has been so for over 500 years).

Dolce & Gabbana

Sicilian ceramics

Carmo church, Porto

Pottery from Porches, in the Algarve

Tile panel from Lisbon

Excuse me, but have you got anything darker?

Black is beautiful, and it is both all thing at once and the absence of everything. Helmut Lang, Vans, Jaguar E-Type, Rick Owens, Mark Rothko, Bottega Venetta, MM2, La Perla. 

Joana Vasconcelos

Richard Serra

Jason Martin

Rui Chafes

Taking the p***

Fancy gladiator sandals these days are like, once you sew two strings of leather onto a sole, you've concocted a good enough excuse to cost the same as a small used car. Look, I'm not the kind of person who thinks price should derive exclusively from the level of craftsmanship and/or great quality materials, as I love a good concept and understand that great design and brand value have to weight on the price of what we buy - and that sometimes results in the utmost simplicity. But when it comes to gladiator sandals, I can't help feeling  like someone's taking the piss.

Pisstaking level: BOSS: - these Valentinos cost 840€ on Net-A-Porter, plus the blood of seven virgins.

Now these are a bargain at only 325€. , As a matter of fact, Chloé, I think I'll take two pairs. 

Alaïa is ridding the world of snakes (and you of your hard-earned dollaz), one gladiator sandal at a time. 910€.

Tamara Mellon, 375€. Mirrored so you can see the tears rolling down your cheeks as you take them to the cashier.

Aquazzura's feet straight-jackets come with a 550€ price tag for those of you who are loco enough.



So since none of these are a realistic option for me due to, ya know,  all the bills I gotta pay at the end of the month, and my awfull habit of eating, I found a very cool and simple alternative that really fills all my gladiator requisites. They cost me 17,99€ and are by Pull & Bear. As always, the Zara group has our backs. 

Lo and behold! My foot.

mixed, shaken, stirred

All hail the queen of mixed prints, Solange Knowles.

A shoe dream come true.

They're here! 

Finally found these bad boys.

Remember when I wrote about those 2011 woven Prada heels I was obssessing over? No? That's fine. 4 years after having passed up the opportunity to buy them (because euros and also due to already owning too many shoes - wow, I am reasonable sometimes), I have found them on my new favourite playground, Vestiaire Collective.

For those of you who, like me up until recently, live in the cold dark shadow of not knowing what VC is, I'll put it this way: thousands of ladies who share your interest in fashion and own beautiful shoes, bags, clothes, etc by your favourite brands come to this website to buy pre-loved designer pieces and sell the what they no longer want (which may be exactly what your looking for, in your size, and cheaper!!!). So, basically, a chic eBay.

*drools*

So when my dream heels came up on VC - and on a really fun colour scheme too - I had to whip out my credit card and get that over and done with. The soles show no visible signs of use and in the end I got them for half the price o f what they would have cost me back then. Boo ya. 

They still haven't arrived because VC will receive them first from the seller and verify their authenticity, which is essential in trading pre-owned designer stuff. This is why, my friends, you must never throw away the receipt, dust bag and box of every designer thing you buy.

Can't wait to pair them with fun prints, frilly tops, vintage midi skirts and dresses, man. Totes unleashing the Carmen Miranda in me. 

Well played, Margherita Missoni. Well played. 

Cold shoulder

Beyoncé showed up gift-wrapped in that tight see-through dress at the Met Gala, all curves chiseled by none other than angels in heaven...Quite a sight for sore eyes! I am always fascinated by women who are able to show that much of their bodies without looking vulgar and, on the contrary, look empowered and non-intimidating despite the hotness.

I, on the other hand, with zero millions of fans to please and impress, don't really need to make grandiose statements through the clothes I choose to wear. 

Yet, being the semi-slob that I am, I also like a little fantasy and a little frill in the wardrobe. Lately my thing has been off-the-shoulder tops and dresses. It's the latina in me that responds well to showing a bit of skin and to the romance and nostalgia this type of garment resonates. 

Off-the-shoulder loving stunners Carmen Miranda, Brigitte Bardot, Sophia Loren

Brands in the entire price spectrum have been putting these out, from Asos to Carven, to Alexandra Rich and Chloé. Vika Gazinskaya does a mean cold shoulder too.

That lovely green Carven: ONE DAY I WILL FIND YOU AND I WILL BUY YOU. Pre-owned and cheap.

So I went and bought this lovely wide sleeved shirt from Uterqüe and now I'm considering how to wear it up and down: 

All I need now is the weather to cheer up a bit round here. Come on sun, reveal yourself at once!