Susi Sweet Dress today

Everyone who is in Barcelona today should visit the Susi Sweet Dress vintage style -clothes fair in Gracia.

Susanna Bas, the creator of Susi Sweet Dress street market event, is an actress who in her trips to abroad bought pretty dresses that her friends loved. After "taking orders" to buy vintage dresses from her travels to her friends, step by step the concept of "Susi Sweet Dress" was born. Now twice a year she organizes the vintage style clothes street market where you can find dresses, skirts, shirts and accessories and this event is today.

In every edition there is a collaborator Illustrator and this time she is the Illustrator  Joana Santamans. I hope I have time to pass by the street market today, last time in October I bought one dress with really pretty fabric, origin from Japan as the etiquette was in Japanese. Spring is coming and soon starts the "no jeans" -epoch for me, so new dresses are more than welcome.

The event is in Rambla del Prat 27, in Gracia near the metro station Fontana.

New acquaintance to "Made in Spain" brands

In January I panicked when searching for shoes to the Hempel Award Fashion Show. As my clothes have a neutral color palette; beige/black/cream the shoes need to be red, bordeaux red if possible. Going around on sales I passed "expensive shoes" section in El Corte Inglés and there they were; patent leather bordeaux red high heels. I thought they were too expensive for me to buy for the show, but the sale was - 50% and the shoes were "Made in Spain" so they started to be tempting.

Panic came few days later, the idea of me running around Barcelona and not finding red shoes week before the trip to Beijing so I rushed back to El Corte Inglés and bought 3 pairs of L.K. Bennett shoes in the sizes they still had (38, 39, 40). They were not cheap, but they are perfect red colored, good quality and "Made in Spain". I will keep the 38 to me and the sizes 39 and 40 I will put on sale to eBay or something, that is the idea. So if you would like to have these shoes they will be later in April on sale.

L.K. Bennett Shilo Bordeaux patent Leather shoes

I didn't knew the brand L.K. Bennett before, a London based shoe&clothing brand. The clothes don't draw my attention, but the shoes are brilliant. They have a classical nude and black high hells with several option for the  heel hight (flat, kitten and stiletto), these are so called conservative but chic shoes and then they have more extravagant collection. And what is really important is that the shoes are "Made in Spain".

In February L.K. Bennett launched a collection in collaboration with Caroline Issa, Tank magazine director. Both unknown names for me; Caroline Issa and Tank magazine, but I don't mind as the shoes were amazing. As I love folklore, these folklorish Thai inspired embroidered shoes with pom-poms are hilarious. Very stylish, youthful and colorful limited edition collection. I also have learned now that Caroline Issa is "the ultra chic Fashion Director of London based avant-garde style bible Tank" and at the moment one of the street's styles biggest stars.

Caroline Issa and her creations

Gorgeous dresses

The best collection from the Paris Fashion Week Fall 2013 ready-to-wear show is the Valentino's one, in my opinion. The designers Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli had created absolutely stunning dresses. The atmosphere came from Vermeer's Girl With a Pearl Earring and it was very, very successfully interpreted theme.

I love the laser cut details and the austere look of the models; simple and beautiful natural look with so lovable braid. 
All following photos are from Valentino's ready-to-wear Fall 2013 show from style.com. 

Travel fever

Trip to China is approaching; I have my holiday request approved, we have plane tickets and the accommodation (organized by the Hempel Award -organization). We got our VISAs last Friday and that was a relieve as during the February I started to be anxious about everything, including the VISA.
We already have 2 travel guides and I couldn't be without buying the book "Living in China" by Taschen. It is not really useful in the trip, but it serves as an inspiration and as it cost less than ten euros I bought it.

Finally when reading about China I start to have typical feeling of long holiday journey and the butterflies start to move in my stomach. Until now I have been only cloth focused, sewing and thinking what is still missing to do (a lot...) + all the practical aspect of the journey; VISA, hotel etc. but finally, finally I realize we are going to China and that is a huge ancient culture really different what I am used to here in Europe. I am so happy that back in November I applied to the China International Fashion -contest.

For the past few days "Princess of China" by Coldplay ft. Rihanna has been a perfect soundtrack to me. The video is wonderful.