Loft (finally....)

Finally, I've seen it !
After so many people found a way to a cinema in their town to see LOFT, I managed to scedule some hours to see it myself !
And I was not dissapointed at all...
Erik Van Looy - the director has proven himself again as a great artist...Koen de Bouw totally stole my heart in this movie and hey, who knows -- maybe Erik gets a nomination (again) for best foreign movie for the Oscars next year !

The movie is about 5 men that share a secret loft for their extra-marital escapades....one morning, they find a dead woman on the bed, covered in blood....

Note : was nice to see almost all of the scenes took place in Antwerp ; one scene was filmed in the Yohji Yamamoto store, next to the MoMu

Paul Smith cufflinks

I gave these beauties as a present to my husband ; I like the more playfull type of cufflinks.
Imagine a very classic suit or a tuxedo and these cufflinks with it ...

Paul Smith in Antwerp !

Paul Smith must be the nicest man in the fashion industry. On the British continent he's the most succesfull entrepreneur in his genre. Crazy, playfull and very down-to-earth, that's Paul Smith...the reason he opened his first Belgian shop in Antwerp is pure coincidence ; many cities were on his wish-list - cities he liked to visit as a tourist. Over the last 4 years he visited Antwerp, Kopenhagen and Barcelona and by chance he found the first location in Antwerp for his store !
Aren't we lucky ?
Yes we are, from today on you can visit the Paul Smith store next to the Bourla opera house, Kelderstraat 2-3...

All I want for Christmas

Over the top, I know, but if we can't have George Clooney, some rinestones will do instead ...


Book "21 nights" - Prince (includes the CD)


Karl Lagerfeld Steiff bear


Missoni beanie


Messenger bag by Hermès


See by Chloe dress

Vic & Becks - Daily class # 2

The Brits are doing well these days...after showing the wonderful pictures of Charles Dance this week - I'm glad to introduce you to Mr D. Beckham, don't you just love his shoes ?
As for the 'missus'...love her dress, adore her shoes and want her bag !

PS don't want her grumpy face...if I was in her shoes I would smile all day long (and enjoy my meals)

Results

Finally the results of the big question of the month :
If I was your personal guide in Antwerp, what would interest you the most ?

Well, I'm happy to say that the majority of blog-writers and readers take a great interest in museums and cultural happenings.
If a visit to my hometown would occur, the Momu (or MOde MUseum) would be higly recommended as they show us a variety of fashion designers and special guest designers, the most wonderful bookstore is just downstairs and the final work of the students is shown every year after the runway show...
Next to the mind the body needs to be fed and restaurants and bars were the next best thing on my guided tour in Antwerp.
What can I say ?
So many nice - hidden or public places complete this city...
I think it will just depend on what you like to eat...meat, fish or even veggie and vegan...anything is possible and very tasty...

Just keep up with this blog and many suggestions will be served for you to enjoy ...


Many thanks for all the people who took the time in voting...

Daily class...

The magazines I read, are mostly interior mags - feel good mags and (depends who covers the cover...) fashion magazines like Vogue, Grazia, Vanity Fair or Tatler's ...

For my secret gossip-hungry mind, I have my daily portion of Daily Mail online...
Love to watch the 'latest' news on Victoria & David, Kerry Katona and other wannabees and WAGS...
Now, once and a while, there's a nice surprise act of an elegant man or woman on this website.
Like today - the pictures of Charles Dance - made my day !
Lovely to see a man that's not called James Bond in a wonderful outfit ...
Class !

Watching the snow...

Roisin - we LOVE you

The beautiful and talented Roisin Murphy was in Brussels yesterday for a concert !
Couldn't go myself but for the unfortunate ones her website promises that her show at the Forest National will be available on her site early next week !

La Perla at Shamade

Everyone needs underwear...well, maybe not everybody, let's call it playwear then...

I've been spoiled rotten today...Stephan has treated me for some silk and lace playwear...
A few days ago I passed the Shamade shop and my eye caught this beautiful bright pink playset that was displayed in the window...The finest lace was used for this number and the pink was just adorable..
Took a picture of it with my cell and mailed it to hubby's office...The mms had just one line : "Mooi ?" (beautiful ?)
The answer came back : "Very"
My answer back : "Very expensive"
Following answer : "So ?"

Okay, this was a very clear response and I know that I don't have to do or ask much for this kind of present.
Now I must admit that, even when you wear the most sloppy jean, when you wear a 500$ playset underneat, you feel sexy. Really sexy...red hot sexy !

Now, this kind of accessory needs a helpful and experienced shop assistent. So, I would recommend Shamade as the perfect place for this purchase...
2 very charming ladies welcome you and let you try with pleasure the 'outfits' of your choise.
They help you with the right size - VERY imprtant for a bra - and give you an honest opinion.
So, in the end, it was not my first choise - but I think I got something even better...will post some detail later...

Tangs

Chinese food ! Aaaah !
If someone ask you to go out for Chinese food, what is the first thing that comes to mind ?

A kitschy and typical interior with lampions, the wrong shades of pink and mostly (in our country at least) the elderly as customers..
No don't get me wrong. I DO like lampions and lucky cats but not ALL together in one room.
It over-stimulates the senses when all these items surround us and the food gets a second place...
Not at TANGS !
A minimalistic interior, a correct and friendly service and delicious and freshly made food. An open kitchen takes away any suspicion of a dirty and greasy environment (as it is often said that once you go into a Chinese kitchen - you'll never be able to eat Chinese food again...)
Tangs has been more than 7 years in the street were I work and it's still good !
Very good !
So...if you're into Asian food and you're in Antwerp, don't go out and try it the easy way by going to Lucy Chang (so typical and quickly boring) but DO make reservations at Tangs...you will enjoy and wish there was a Tangs in your hometown...

To-Do & wish list # 2

Ellen Pompeo in Chanel and my fave hairdo...
















What I also wanted for a long time is to find a hairdresser or hairstylist than can transform my hair into this 1920-30ies look.
I SO love this style ; also the dresses and accessories of that era are absolutely wonderful.
Remember the series of "the House of Elliot" and Agatha Christies, Hercules Poirot (I'm not French, I'm Belgian...)
I love all BBC series - old and new ones in any decade but these have to be my alltime favourites...



















The settings and dresses alone are a feast for the eye...

To-Do & wish list

As the end of this year is almost near, the time has come to tink about gifts and things to buy for your beloved ones...
I assume almost everyone has something on his mind, wanting so bad for so long...
Well, if I could really wish for a present it would be the ceramic bowl with the little fawn in the middle of Hella Jongerius.
It looks like nothing special to many of us but I'm loving these cute animals with their big eyes and the one Hella has designed is quite an expensive number : about $1500 ...so nothing to just put on any table, more behind a locked glass cabinet.

Let them eat cake !

Qu'ils mangent de la brioche !
This was the original phrase Marie-Antoinette supposed to have said when the French populace had no bread to eat ...

Yesterday my BHF (Best Hermès Friend) H. and I got together for a sushi lunch and we talked about lending some of our nicer stuff out to 'friends'..She then told me her story about someone who had borrowed a very expensive dress and ruined it due to a 'champagne shower'...
H. had to go almost on her knees to get her to go to the drycleaners...Unbelievable and a very expensive lesson. I then told her this advice that I've gotten from a quote Karl Lagerfeld learned me...

NEVER LEND TO THE POOR !
When I said this to her I immediately felt as fierce as Marie-Antoinette - I'm not suffering from madness caused by eating to much cupcakes, oh no ! It's just a line out of the context from Mr Lagerfeld himself (but oh so true)

Here's how the story went :

I lent a friend my vintage 1950s Dior gown to wear to an important gala. I don't know what she did at the party, but my dress is trashed. She hasn't offered a dime for my $10.000 frock. What should I do ?

Answer from the maestro himself :

If a dress is too much for your friend to afford, don't let her borrow it. NEVER LEND TO THE POOR!
You must act like a curator at a museum-lending vintage should be avoided at all costs.

Now, I'm not a greedy or selfish girl, but you will always see that just this dress or bag you have lent to your 'friend' will be ruined...
It's just not worth it - just be honest about it to the person who's asking you this favour and you don't like the friendship to fall apart when something bad happens to the dress or bag.
If he/she doesn't understand this, they're just not worth the friendship ; they only want you for your luxury and nothing else ...

MAGMA magnifico !

I'm having a bit of a cold so I took advantage of today being Sunday and slept until noon !!
The last time I've slept this long is was 20 !!
Did me some good but the disadvantage is that this free day is gone quicker than you know it !
Ok, yesterday we decided to go for some outdoors breakfast but it's a bid difficult to find space and place at 1pm.






























So we took a walk in our neighbourhood and we found to our surprise this new brasserie annex resaturant called Magma...
They're open 7/7 until 23pm and my God - were we in for a treat !
Downstairs there's the brasserie part of the house and upstairs a beautiful space consisting of 3 rooms - each richly decorated.
We took Tuna Tataki and Creuse Oysters for starters and decided for a light pasta with spinach, pine nuts dressed in olive oil and finished with fresh parmesan cheese...
Absolutely lovely ...
Really recommended place to go to...
Will post some more detail later as their website will be online soon...

I've commented on another blog about what I did or did not buy of the guest-designer collection at H&M, Comme des Garçons...
As it was the first time a bought something of a guest - collection I also mentioned that I disliked the Cavalli collection of a few seasons ago the most !
I'm not a Cavalli 'kinda-girl' but I did confess on having a Cavalli dress myself (It's my alltime what was I thinking dress)
Now, since I've lost almost a stone in weight recently, I was curious enough to try this Cavalli dress on again.
Now after some serious mix & matching, I think I was confident enough to take it "out" again...
What do you guys think ? Take it to a second hand & vintage shop and buy me something classy from the money or are you guys thinking, yeah yeah okay....it's not that bad ...

Night at the Museum

Yesterday - us who are living opposite the Museum, were in for a treat !
A glow of blue covered the whole building and left it with a mystique aura ...

Here's what I was wearing, THE Alexander McQueen dress ; hope you like it !

coat : Valentino RED
dress : Alexander McQueen
belt : a suprise and it only cost me 9€ at H&M
don't you just love the purple ?
tights : Wolford
shoes : Charles Jourdan
bag : Chanel
scarf : Antik Batik

People of this week

Wannes van de Velde R.I.P.
















Mauro and Ramsey Nasr






















Trixie Whitley

















November's issue of Elle (Belgium) contains an interview with Mauro & Ramsey Nasr.
Yet another side of Mauro, as he will publish a book - probably somewhere in December. Just in time for the Nasr-Pawlowski tour.

Alexander McQueen

I've had this AM dress for almost a year and never had the right occasion to wear it to.
I did wear it almost at a certain point, but then we decided not to go to this annual event.
Then I gained weight, the will to wear it was there ; not the body...
Having lost 5kg again, I fit easily in my dream-dress...
Now tomorrow might seem a great occasion for wearing it !
I presume it will be a little overdressed (as I know who the public will be) and I don't give a shite (excuse my French)...
It's grey, it's smashing and we will go out for drinks later on....

I did try to find a picture in advance of showing it to you guys but could only find a similar version (other cut) on the internet...
Remember that really cool oh so short version Kate Moss wore this summer ? Remember the runway pictures at the Alexander McQueen show with the grey dresses and ab-fab butterfly hats ?
Well, this is the dress only mine has 3/4 sleeves and some frill at the other end :-) and it's a bit longer than Kate's version...
Will post a picture of me in it after tomorrow when I'm ready to go...

Leave you with a few dream-pics of the ones I was mentioning just here...
Oh and yeah, before I forget...for any Alexander McQueen dress,bag, shoes...visit VERSO, that's where I found the dress...
http://www.verso.be/
They've also just launched their online shop !