INKredible fabulOCTOcy (yes, I made up my own words)

Surly, by now, we have all seen the fabulous octopus chair by Maximo Riera, no?  This Spanish artist/poet has really pushed the envelope with what he calls his "Animal Collection"... I couldn't love it more!

"The Animal Chair collection constitutes a diverse range of species, from mammals to reptiles, and even including insects. Each creation retains the animal's natural vitality whilst being totally biological accurate in their appearance. This collection is homage to these animals and the whole animal kingdom which inhabits our planet, as an attempt to reflect and capture the beauty of nature in each living thing.

Octopus Book: the Octopus Chair is the first piece of the Animal Chair collection, and it establishes a base and point of departure for the pieces to come."

It looks like a gorgeous black dress with a very long train (insert dream of wearing BIG black ball gown to an event here).  Truth be told, I love this animal and if I had room in my house, I'd definitely look to purchasing this unique piece. What do you think?

Pink and Sparkles (and a bit of black ink),

Alessandra 

xoxo

I don't want to be cool...I want to be fashion!

A quote by none other than Anna Dello Russo, and my latest piccolo obsession.

An Italian from Bari, ADR was the Fashion Editor of Vogue Italia and the Editor of L'Uomo Vogue from 2000-2006 is the current editor at large and creative consultant of Vogue Japan .  Phew...what a resume! She has a degree in Italian literature and art and currently resides in Milano, Italy. {source}

ADR is the love of fashion bloggers everywhere.  She is notorious for wearing fashions just off the runway - then never wearing them again  - giving fashion bloggers ultimate original peeks into her fabulous world.

This Italian glamazon has effortless style and pulls it all off so well. She even has her own fragrance...

Much love,
Pink and Sparkles
xoxo

Lanvin Love

I know practically everyone and their mother has blogged about Lanvin at H&M and I really wasn't going to do it....but I couldn't resist.

FIRST...A look at the original Lanvin:
The year, 1909, the lady, Jeanne Lanvin.  Working in Paris as a seamstress, the birth of her daughter in 1897 prompted her early thoughts on her entrepreneurship.  Jeanne longed to own her own dress shop and that dream became a reality in that 1909 iconic year. The muse colour of her house was none other than Lanvin Blue, specifically, Quattro-cento blue:

The love of her daughter, Marguerite, inspired her creations as it was said she worked to dazzle her daughter...and so she dazzled the world. Until her death in 1946, she worked to lead the fashion world in couture with the love of her daughter in mind.  The logo of the company reflects that love to this day:

Jeanne was one of the first fashion designers to embody the lifestyle principle. Which is why I love her so. She created not only clothes but perfumes, sportswear, home decor, and other lifestyle designs at the time. She truly reigned in the "branding" world and was one of the first to brand ones body and home by dress, design and decor. For her, fashion and art were one and she expressed that in her clothes and other designs.

Today, the house is lead by Albert Elbaz who also brought Lanvin to H&M or, as he often says, brought H&M up to Lanvin.  Here are some of my favourite pieces:

Much love,
Pink and Sparkles
xoxo

Shabby Streamside Studio - wonderful blog!

I recently visited My Shabby Streamside Studio and Sandy Foster, blogger, has done a wonderful job at this entire project and blog. In fact, the entire blog and house reminds me of my mother. Its so artsy and natury and cute and its by a brook!

My mother still wants a little cottage like this - and I mean little - that would act as a studio for her wonderful art musings. I think she may decorate it the same way too...

Till next time,
Pink and Sparkles

Fabulous Firenze

Tuscany is one of my favourite provinces in Italy. Deep in culture and art (like all of Italy) Tuscany has a certain warmth about it that I don't feel in any other part of the country.  The Italian dialect - or lack there of - is also quite extraordinary in these parts where the cadence on the "c" in words is very soft and almost pronounced as an "h" sound.  Marvelous. I also have a special connection to Tuscany because of my two months of Art History studied in Siena (with classes in Florence) in the summer of 2004. I have never forgotten it since, and consider Siena to be my second home (look out for Siena posting coming up a bit later).

The food in Tuscany is to DIE for (like all of Italy). Their specialty.... Florentine steak (picture below) and white beans in oil. Pizza and pasta is almost good anywhere but honestly I had to only pick two items as specialties here or I could go on for days.  We went to so many art galleries and museums in Florence and respected the "no pictures" rule so, there are fewer pictures here which don't really reflect the four wonderful days we spent here.  Enjoy Firenze!

Street leading to Il Duomo...

Il Duomo...

Il Duomo (coppola)...

Shannon Tweed...ya, thats right, we followed her for a bit...

Our hotel (albergo)...

Perseus With Head of Medusa by Cellini...

A replica of Michaelangelo's David...

BEST restaurant in Florence....Ciro and Sons...they brought us this to snack on with our Campari and Soda aperitivi (aperitifs)...If you are ever in Florence you HAVE to go here...

Do you see this steak??? Unlike anything I've ever tasted. Organic, and BARELY COOKED. It didn't taste bloody or "meaty" at all...I cant describe it. Drizzled with strawberry and a balsamic reduction...

And two Montenegro digestivi (digestives) to end a fabulous day and meal in Firenze.....

Sigh....how I wish I was back.

Till next time,
Pink and Sparkles
xoxo

Barcelona....si, si!

Barcelona was, by far, our FAVOURITE place on our trip! A city where beach meets metropolitan, where traditional meets contemporary.  We loved the sights, sounds and people, who were ever so friendly and beautiful.

View outside out hotel room...

Yummy tapas and sangria...

Pointing us in the right direction...

Spain won La Liga when we were there and a riot is how they celebrated...

The Casa Batllo - a wonderful Gaudi design...

Church on the walk to Sagrada Familia...

And finally, the Sagrida Familia - another magnificent Gaudi design.  Under construction since 1882, its completed construction date is estimated to be 2026. We considered ourselves lucky to see this monument in its construction and hope to make it back after the construction is complete.

The towers...

A part of the exterior wall...waiting to go up the towers.

Going up one of the towers...

Looking down the tower...eek!

Only one way down the tower...walking down the narrow, narrow winding stairs. I have to admit, we were a little freaked out.

Beautiful stained glass on the inside...

More architecture...

This was the first facade Gaudi started...

That night we went to see some authentic Flamenco dancing - amazing!!!

So beautiful...

Hope you enjoyed Barcelona...next up...Venezia!

Till next time,

Pink and Sparkles