Leave it to Karl Lagerfeld to achieve the unexpected and the spectacular.
It appears that each Chanel show is outdone by the next and this latest example was really something extra special. For Resort 2017 Lagerfeld chose the intensely beautiful cityscape of Havana; a locale at an historic turning point in international relations, and a collection that was relatable, wearable, exquisitely made, and joyfully youthful.
I visited Havana with a friend when I was living in Jamaica and we really felt transported back in time. The people were vibrant and full of life and eager to make us feel welcome. As tourists we visited all the touristy places including all the Hemingway hangouts but we also met locals who told us where we could find a very good authentic Cuban (off the beaten path) restaurant which we loved. Cuba held more allure for me since becoming friends with a close relative of Che Guevara; someone I met overseas. It was an amazing experience and one I will never forget. Of course the Mojitos were the absolute best.
The Chanel Resort Collection 2017 – May 2, 2016 (my picks from a ton of photos)
You cannot mistake this look
The American fashion press who flew into Cuba for the Chanel Resort show landed two hours before the first U.S. cruise ship to have docked in Havana in nearly 40 years. The passengers of the Adonia had no idea what to expect when they set foot on the dock; in the event, they were surrounded by crowds of Havana residents, high-fiving greetings. The historic thawing of relations between the Castro regime and the United States was palpable, a warmth that was stoked to fever level.
Seven hundred guests of Chanel were taken to the open-air street show in a multicolored convoy of the city’s open-top Buicks, Cadillacs, and Oldsmobiles. The owners tooted their horns through the streets of Old Havana, while people came out to line the streets, crowd dilapidated balconies and rooftops, wave and laugh. It could easily have gone the other way—who knew there could be such a welcome in a poor, communist country for a super-luxurious brand and the wealthy women who wear its finery?But it was the people of Cuba who set the atmosphere running—a sense of exuberant excitement that involved everyone from the models to the normally impassively unimpressible members of the press.
With guests sitting on park benches in the open air of the tree-lined Paseo del Prado, the models strolled naturally in flat brogues, flip-flops, and slides. Here was Chanel at full range—black spencer jackets over wide-legged cuffed pants; “debutante” dresses with swirly skirts hitting calf length in lace or organza; skinny long tube dresses in macramé or tattered tweed; huge floaty dresses, neatly belted, in ’50s car prints. The Chanel embroiderers had pulled out all the stops, decorating sleeves with dense layers of tattered fabric (a subtle homage to Hispanic ruffles, surely) and sequin-encrusted little dresses in the peachy-pinks, lemony-oranges, and greeny-blues you see in every direction in Havana.
Take a bow
It was Chanel that started the new lark of traveling Resort shows—immersive summertime trips to evermore far-flung locations—and Dior, Louis Vuitton, and Gucci have been joining in. Occasionally, it has to be said that descriptions of spectacular locations can overshadow collections that aren’t so worth writing home about. But with this show, Karl Lagerfeld achieved it all.
What made it work, in essence, was the easy styling, with T-shirts and flats, a casual attitude that the models clearly felt happy in—so happy that the end of the show broke out into an anarchic kind of carnival where the girls and the audience and the local band all got mixed up together, dancing.
In light of the raging wildfires that have engulfed Fort McMurray (a Canadian city in Alberta) and the ensued evacuation of everyone who lives there, this is not a feel-good Friday. The only good news is that no one has died but my heart goes out to the thousands who lost their homes and all personal belongings. I can’t even imagine what that must feel like to leave your home with only the clothes on your back. I’m also thinking about all the birds and other animals who could not escape the devastation. So very sad!
There must be a life lesson in all of this. It does make you question things that are beyond your control in life.
Handsome fashion designer and film director Tom Ford knows a thing or two about beauty. After all, aside from his own “Tom Ford” label the man was the former creative director for Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent.
He directed “A Single Man” – a stylish film set in 1960’s Los Angeles starring Colin Firth as an English professor who is unable to cope following the death of his boyfriend. The moody movie also stars Julianne Moore who has been known to show up on many a red carpet occasion wearing a stunning “Tom Ford” creation. Loved the film!
And if that wasn’t enough he just launched a luxurious beauty collection. As you can expect, the products are synonymous with sultry elegance.Products like get ready for summergold-spun bronzer, gorgeous lip shades and essential palettes for cheeks and eyes are now available at Sephora.
Soleil Blanc (above):
A shimmering body oil that captures the sultry effect of sunkissed summer skin and tempts the senses with a fragrance of scorching sensuality. Yes, I’m tempted!
Claire Danes lit up the Met Gala in an illuminated Zac Posen ball gown that was part princess, part futuristic.
GOWNS and GLAMOUR fit for a King
Manus x Machina (fashion in the age of technology – think handmade couture vs machine made)added up to a mix of futurism with sparkling silver and gold form-fitting creations on the red carpet. The Met Gala is the occasion to pull out all the stops and in my opinion these 12 stunners nailed it!
Zoe Saldana in Dolce & GabbanaA Perfect Statue: Cindy Crawford in BalmainModel Karolina Kurkova in Marchesa
Kendall Jenner’s Atelier Versace gown plays with laser-cut velvet and blue Swarovski crystals for a body-hugging statement. Joan Smalls (behind her) wears Balmain.
Emma Stone melds Old Hollywood elegance with high fashion in a corset detail dress by Prada.Lara Stone in Tom Ford – channels Brigitte BardotZendaya keeps it simple yet impactful in a gilded one-shoulder Michael Kors gown with a train and turtleneck detail.Sienna Miller in GucciBlake Lively in BurberryBeyoncé comes off her Lemonade launch in a pink-hued, form-fitting dress with floral embellishment by Givenchy. What about the Bod?
If you love something set it free. If it doesn’t come back drink some tequila.
But really, have you ever tried pairing food with agave? It can be a nice replacement for wine….except you don’t or should not want to polish off the whole bottle.
For all you foodies who also enjoy a little tequila now and again (I’m talking the smooth stuff) here is a listing of some fun events taking place in Vancouver this month.
It’s all part of the 2016 Vancouver International Tequila Expo:
Maybe even something to consider for a Mothers Day gift?
Location:Start and Finish at Taco Bar Gastown, 15 W. Cordova Street, Vancouver, BC
Featuring 100% agave tequilas and mezcals to be announced! Date: Tuesday, May 24, 2015 Time: 7:00pm – 10:30pm Cost (including Tickets Tonight fees): $85
Join us once again for the Third Annual East Van Taco Safari! We’ll pickup from Taco Bar Gastown and then we’ll transport you to points east to enjoy tacos with tequila and mezcal pairings at Los Cuervos Taqueria, La MezcaleriaTacofino Commissary, and Juniper (new this year!), before returning to Taco Bar Gastown to end the night with…you guessed it – more tacos and mezcal! And you can stick around for some leisurely craft cocktails to cap off your evening if you like…
Location: Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts, 101-1505 West 2nd Avenue, Vancouver, BC
Date: Wednesday, May 25, 2016 Time: 7:00pm – 10:00pm
Details: 2 persons per workstation, maximum of 24 persons total Cost (including Tickets Tonight fees): $125.00 For information: Contact Manuel
Join us and enjoy this hands-on cooking class and pairing dinner – a culinary cooking experience at the Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts. You’ll be guided through the process of cooking (and eating!) a delicious gourmet regional Mexican cuisine menu paired with tequila and mezcal and other gastronomic delights from Mexico.
Location: Start at Joe Fortes Seafood and Chophouse, 777 Thurlow Street, Vancouver, BC
At Joe Fortes (media event) Photo: d. king
Finish at Black and Blue, 1032 Alberni St, Vancouver, BC
Featuring 100% agave tequilas and mezcals to be announced!
Date: Thursday, May 26, 2016 Time: 7:00pm – 10:30pm Cost (including Tickets Tonight fees): $95
Join us for the Second Annual Downtown Food & Agave Safari! We’ll be experiencing delicious food and drink pairings as we visit some of Vancouver’s top restaurants and watering holes. We start at Joe Fortes Seafood & Chophouse, and then we’ll board a trolley to culinary nirvana – exploring gastronomic delights at every stop – all exquisitely paired with tequila and mezcal to sip alongside the chefs’ creations!
Tequila, the national spirit of Mexico, is in the midst of a renaissance. This artisanal spirit is moving beyond its reputation as a party drink associated with lost memories and lingering hangovers. Learn the difference between adulterated tequilas and 100% blue agave tequilas and enjoy sipping them like a fine Scotch or Cognac.
Join Eric Lorenz, Expo Co-Founder and Canada’s only Master Catador for a journey to the beautiful yet enigmatic blue agave landscape in the highlands, lowlands, and valleys of the tequila regions in the Mexican states of Jalisco, Nayarit, Guanajuato, Tamaulipas, & Michoacán. In so doing, you will connect with the culture and history of both ancient and modern Mexico. This session will provide a base of knowledge in history, culture, geography, production methods and more. A flight of seven 100% agave tequilas will be tasted.
Mezcal 101:
History, geography, culture, process & tasting
Join Eric Lorenz, Expo Co-Founder and Canada’s first certified Mezcalier, for an entertaining and educational seminar and tasting featuring a selection of artisan-crafted *mezcals from Oaxaca – Mexico’s most culturally rich and biologically diverse state – and beyond. You’ll learn about the history, culture, and production processes surrounding mezcal, plus the botany, lifecycle, & agriculture surrounding the agaves used for mezcal. Plus you’ll taste a flight of seven 100% agave mezcals!
To Purchase:
Tickets Tonight
200 Burrard Street, Plaza level
inside the Tourism Vancouver Visitor Centre
North entrance off Canada Place Way
open 9:00am-5:00pm daily
What I learned from attending the expo for the first time last year is that there is tequila….and then there is tequila! You can sip the good ones like you do a fine scotch or cognac. I never liked the taste of hard liquor (just wine and sometimes a cold beer on a hot day) but I surprisingly enjoyed several, especially for a little night cap (do people do nightcaps anymore?). What I noticed was that the expo did not attract those just looking to get drunk. It was somewhat of an education and the food was great.
*I visited Oaxaca last year and had the pleasure naturally of sampling a variety of mexcals from a place that produces them. I didn’t realize they came in so many flavours like coconut and passion fruit. I brought some back and they’re nice to pour over ice cream for a light dessert to enjoy with company.
There is something very exciting about the first Monday in May.
The Met Gala takes place and if you don’t know what that is shame on you – it’s the Superbowl of social fashion events. Bar none! By special invitation.
A splashy fundraiser featuring costumes, couture, socialites, A-listers, icons and influential people in fashion, film, art and music.
The First Monday in May is a new documentary film directed by Andrew Rossi. It follows the creation of The Metropolitan Museum of Art‘s most attended fashion exhibition in history, “China: Through The Looking Glass,” an exploration of Chinese-inspired Western fashions by Costume Institute curator Andrew Bolton. With unprecedented access, filmmaker Andrew Rossi captures the collusion of high fashion and celebrity at the Met Gala, one of the biggest global fashion events chaired every year by Vogue editor in chief Anna Wintour.
NEW YORK, NY : A view of atmosphere at “China: Through The Looking Glass” Costume Institute Benefit Gala – Press Preview at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 4, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images)
The movie dives into the debate about whether fashion should be viewed as art.
As Karl Lagerfeld describes, “it is applied art”
Rihanna
Art or not, The First Monday in May is worthwhile seeing if you’re into fashion, glamour, culture and……style. Yes please!
magnolia pictures (in Vancouver – playing at Cineplex Odeon Cinemas)
What will I wear????
The theme for this year’s Met Gala is Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology. Sounds like we’re going to be seeing some cutting edge fashion this year!
My Weekstarted off with an invite to the annual California Wine Fair presented by Vancouver Arts Club. Followed by dancing…and more drinking….and dancing (but no driving).
Couldn’t decide between the lime or the fruit punch Jarritos at Joe Fortes (Mexican soft drink which may have included a little Tequila) while my handsome date standing behind me prefered to stick with a bottle of refreshing Dos Equis XX beer. Photo: Claude Duke Photography
It is theirsignature spring fundraiser where all proceeds from ticket sales and auction packages go toward the development of new Canadian plays and staging world-class theatre created by local artists. I’m already familiar with many of the wineries from having visited them on several occasions around the beautiful Napa and Sonoma wine regions. Some of the properties are really amazing. One winery is a chateau that looks more like a castle and the Francis Ford Coppola estate winery is very Hollywood glamour. They’re fun to visit and of course, sample some fine tasting wines.
From the California Wine Fair....in Vancouver photo: d. king
The very next afternoon it was off to the Tequila Expo Media Event at Joe Fortes rooftop deck with some of the world’s finest and smoothest tasting tequilas, excellent food, great company & conversation. This was my second time around and it was thoroughly enjoyable especially since the day was so lovely.
The actual event will take place Saturday, May 28th at the Hyatt Regency Hotel.
From the Rooftop at Joe Fortes. Photo: d. king
The celebration of all things Agave is open to connoisseurs and those who enjoy tequila in general with exclusive offerings not yet available in BC.
“We’re pleased to be the largest event of our kind in Canada”, says founding partner Manuel Otero, President of the Mexican Business Association of Canada. “As a dual citizen of Mexico and Canada, I couldn’t be prouder to be part of this event that celebrates the best of Mexico by introducing Vancouverites to an amazing range of unique Mexican flavours – both culinary and spirits based.” The full week of events runs from May 23 to May 28. The Grand Tasting Event at the Hyatt features top Vancouver restaurants offering unique small bite food pairings created specifically to pair with Tequila and Mezcal.
Featured restaurants are The Edge Social Grille & Lounge, El Santo, Joe Fortes, La Mezcaleria, Las Margaritas, Mosaic Bar & Grille and Showcase Restaurant.
New this year! Ticket purchasers will be entered to win a fantastic trip for two to Puerto Vallarta. AeroMexico, the premier airline of Mexico, is generously providing direct flights from Vancouver. The winner’s stay will be hosted by Velas Vallarta and Casa velas. Tickets are now on sale through Tickets Tonight. Single tickets are $79, with a group rate available for only $69 each for groups of 6 or more. All prices include service charges.
And, as if all that wasn’t enough.. the very next day I got to feeling even more light headed.
Right now it’s revealing some out of this world mystic-minded skincare concoctions to add to our growing stockpile of beauty products.
just be daily cleanser – a powder cleanser energized with reiki, crystals, positive words and music. $65 – justbeskinline.com$72 – urban outfitters: add it to your drink to calmnerves and assist in collagen production.
It’s the new trend in the beauty and wellness community.
Something that promises to deliver spiritual meaning along with a clear complexion.
Whatever works right? I think the marketing idea is divine and in all honestly you will probably come across a few transcendent finds.
A body mist with oils blended to balance the sixth chakra – which governs intuition, imagination and perception. $42
Chakra 4 (above) is the center of sympathy, empathy and love. When the heart chakra is balanced, one feels love and connection to self and others.
Seek Spirit Essence – $128. A scent blend of bergamot, labdanum and neroli said to be “grounding” and help one find “wildness of the soul” intelligentnutrients.caThis simply divine facial oil will bless your skin with nothing but pure goodness. $75 Shop page.
Girl Who Would be KING on Life, Style and INSPIRATION. 
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