ART TRIP TO MIAMI

WITH MODEL AND STAR BLOGGER
JENNY LOPEZ

Just arrived back home from
 a lovely vacation trip to Miami!

 I began my trip by meeting up with my friend Jenny. Jenny is a model turned star blogger. 
She collaborates with Vogue Mexico
and she has been named as one of the 
Miami Design District ambassadors.

We went visiting the Pérez Art Museum in Miami (PAMM)
 and had lunch over there.

After we finished the Pérez Art Museum, we went to Wynwood, 
a neighborhood in Miami full of galleries, concept stores and street art. 
 A lot of the sides of houses in Wynwood have street art
 and graffiti murals on them. I really loved the energy and art vibe of this area!
Wynwood Walls feature some of the worlds most renowned street artists.

 Jenny is such a fan of  my collection "For your eyes only"! 

She is wearing The Twiggy eye necklace 

Thanks Jenny for the best time! 

China Adventures PART 6 : ROAD TRIP TO MACAU

Oriental Las Vegas: Macau

Part. 6

Gambling Mecca, Hong Kong and Farewells

We drove (road trip!) to Macau which is a different region in China, like Hong Kong and has its own legal system etc. It was very interesting to see the landscape of China from the car as we were on our way to Macau. I feel like road trips give you a better understanding of a country, as it's not a tourist attraction.

Our chauffeur didn't have a VISA for Macau (it was a 1-day trip) so we had to get out of the car, grab our suitcases, and walk though customs!… It was quite an experience!It's like entering into a new country even though it's not...

The city is like a different world compared to mainland China, it's luxurious, there are malls everywhere, beaches, and multiple casinos.  It's been compared to Las Vegas, and I must tell you, it really does look like an oriental las vegas. It's where people go to have a relaxing luxury vacation, or to gamble. So take a gamble, and go to Macau!

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Hicimos el viaje a Macau en coche ( road trip!),  que es una pequeña región de China que al igual que Hong Kong tiene su propio sistema legal. Fue muy interesante ver los paisajes tan diferentes durante el camino. Estos viajes en coche te ayudan a entender mejor a un país, ya que estas zonas no están tan controladas como las zonas turísticas. 

Nuestro conductor no tenía visado para entrar en Macao, por lo que tuvimos que bajarnos del coche, coger nuestro equipaje y continuar a pie. Una experiencia … algo que no había hecho nunca... fue como entrar en un país totalmente distinto, aunque siga siendo China!


Macao es una una ciudad nueva, muy lujosa, con centros comerciales por todas partes, playas y muchos casinos. Hay quien lo compara con Las Vegas, y tienen razón! ( claro en su versión oriental).  Es el lugar de vacaciones perfecto para quienes buscan una experiencia diferente o para los que les guste las apuestas y el juego.

… DANCING IN MACAU

The trip to Macau was followed by a visit to Hong Kong where one of my friends had a party. I've written about Hong Kong before on this blog, so I'm not going to cover that trip, but HK is amazing!

Después de Macau viajé a Hong Kong a una fiesta. Ya he hablado antes sobre Hong Kong en el blog así que no me voy a extender más en ese viaje ¡pero tengo que decir que Hong Kong es increíble! 

Thanks for keeping up with my Adventures in China…
I hope I've been able to inspire you to travel 
and enjoy life as much as possible! 

China Adventures - PART 5

A Shoe-Shopaholics Dream
Dongguan

Part. 5

"A woman carries her clothes. But the shoes carry the woman." - Christian Louboutin 

Once again we awoke with the sun and took a 6 am flight, but this time to Shenzhen! Thereon we traveled to a city called Dongguan in the province of Guangdong, a well known manufacturing hub. The purpose of my travels was not only tourism but also to learn about business in China ,the manufacturing of shoes, the designs … which is as thrilling as it sounds. Benson showed me his factory and offices "Into Design" , and we had a business meeting concerning his shoe company Biezhen. There will be more to update concerning this, but for now lets remain in China!

It was the Mecca of shoes, so many shoes everywhere. The markets, malls and my mind was filled with shoes! For once it was shoes that wasn't going to cost me an arm...I wonder what my health insurance covers, just for future reference…

Una vez más nos despertamos con el sol y cogimos un vuelo a las seis de la mañana, pero esta vez hacia Shenzhen. Estuvimos viajando por Dongguan, en la provincia de Guangdong, que es una de las ciudades industriales más importantes del mundo. El propósito de mi viaje no era solo hacer turismo, también quería aprender del modelo de negocio chino, la manufactura de zapatos, el diseño... Benson me enseñó su fábrica y sus oficinas "Into Design", y tuvimos una reunión de negocios relacionada con su empresa de calzado "Biezhen". Habría mucho más que hablar sobre esto, pero vamos a centrarnos en China.
Estaba en la meca de los zapatos, así que los veía por todas partes; los mercados, los centros comerciales y mi mente, ¡estaban repletos de ellos! pero por una vez no eran los zapatos lo que iban a costarme un ojo de la cara... Me pregunto lo que cubre mi seguro de salud, por saberlo para el futuro... jejeje

My Burberry shoes ;)

Video taken at INTO DESIGN Headquarters.

Next and Last China Adventures Post: Oriental Las Vegas: Macau 

SONG OF THE DAY

Thanks for tuning in! 

China Adventures - PART 3

Babes in Beijing

Part. 3

Great Wall of China and the 789 Art Zone 

Beijing is the capital of China and the location of the Great Wall of China,
 one of the seven wonders of the world. 
It’s the second biggest city in China after Shanghai, 
and the home to a whole 21.52 million people. 

 I can’t believe there was enough space for me to go visit… :)

Beijing es la capital de China y el lugar donde se encuentra La Gran Muralla China, una de las siete maravillas del mundo. 
Es la segunda ciudad más grande de China, por detrás de Shanghai, y el hogar de 21.52 millones de personas.

No podía creer que fuera a haber sitio para mí... : )

I left for Beijing from Shanghai at 6 am in the morning to spend the day there.
 First we went to see the Great Wall of China. 
Although it wasn’t sunny the monument was such a powerful sight, just beautiful. 
It’s the longest man made structure in the world, a whole 21, 196 kilometers long! 
The distance between London and Paris is 344 kilometers. 
Yeah, I know!...

Volé desde Shanghai a Beijing a a las seis de la mañana para poder aprovechar el día entero.

Lo primero que visité fue La Gran Muralla China.

Aunque no hacía un día muy soleado la simple vista del monumento era impresionante.

Es la construcción más larga hecha por el hombre y con nada más y nada menos que 21.196 kilómetros de largo.

La distancia entre Londres y París es de 344 kilómetros...!

Photos Taken in Beijing. @The Great Wall of China. 

We also went to the 798 Art Zone in Beijing, named after the 789 Factory built in 1950 which is a must if you like contemporary art. The galleries are located in old factories, and full of the most amazing exhibitions, art activities and fashion shows.  

I found a pair of Alexander Wang (heritage from China, of course) shoes which I think highlight the essence of Chinese fashion: complex in its simplicity. 

The most popular surname in Beijing is Wang, so if you’re looking to prank anyone you should go to an office, ask for a Mr.Wang at the reception, and wait for thirty Wangs to appear. :) 

Shout out to all the Wang's!  

También fui a la zona de arte conocida como 798 Art Zone de Beijing, llamada así tras la construcción de la fábrica 798 en el año 1950. Esta zona es un must si te gusta el arte contemporáneo. Las galerías están dentro de las viejas fábricas y están llenas de exposiciones increíbles, actividades relacionadas con el arte y espectáculos de moda.

Encontré un par de zapatos de Alexander Wang (hechos en China, por supuesto)  que creo que reflejaban a la perfección la esencia de la moda china: compleja en su simplicidad.

El apellido más común allí es Wang, así que si quieres gastarle una broma a alguien solo tienes que entrar en cualquier oficina y preguntar por el Sr. Wang... ¡aparecerán como treinta! : ) ...hehe

Video taken at the 798 ART ZONE, BEIJING.

Today's SONG 

China Adventures PART 2

The Arrival 

Part. 2

入乡随俗(rù xiāng suí sú)
*When you are in Rome, do as the Romans do.

Just like to my last trip to China 8 years ago, I was picked up from the airport in Shanghai by my friend Benson's adorable chauffeur Mr. Lu. 

I spent three days in Shanghai where I visited the market in Taikanglu, had delicious cocktails with friends in Barabarrosa and stared at the amazing view over the city, drooled over the mansions in the French Concession and shopped at the Kerry Center in Nanjing Lu. (If you guys are ever in Shanghai, these are the four places you MUST visit, you won't regret it!)

I am wearing Trench coat and boots from Burberry, blouse Zara.

My Instagram and Facebook doesn't work in China without a VPN, which has left me wondering what the Chinese do on the toilet to keep themselves entertained, I'm sure they don't just sit there like everyone did in the 90's. So passé! Jokes aside, there is a crazy amount of censoring in China, I heard that even the word censor is censored…

Chinese Proverb: A smile will gain you ten more years of life. 

Next up PART 3: Bejing! 

China Adventures PART 1

Just Come Visit Already! 

- Said my friend, so I got on a plane and headed to China, to learn more about the culture, food, communistic restrictions, and of course to visit old friends…!


In these upcoming blog posts, I’m going to tell you about each trip I took in China, and give you all the juicy details and cool facts about China. Right now, I'm sitting at an Italian cafe called Inno in The Bund in Shanghai thinking about the 6 trips I have taken. I've visited Shanghai, Macau, Dongguang, Shenzheng, Beijing, and Hong Kong which I will elaborate on more in later posts. Every place I've gone has had different cultures, people and landscapes - the diversity is fabulous! 

After a few weeks here, what do I think about China?

THE BIGGEST SHOCK: What has surprised me the most is how poverty and wealth are present at the same time and same place. In one building, you can find a rich single man in a one room apartment, but across the hall you can also see three families living in poverty in a one room apartment. The contrast is shocking and mind boggling. 

THE POLLUTION: Have you ever wondered what the sky would look like, if it was yellow? Then go to Shanghai, because the sky is yellow here. It's as a result of pollution from the factories that the sky is neither blue nor grey, it gives you a very strange cramped feeling, almost like there is no air. A large percentage of the pollution in San Francisco comes from China, the pollution issue here is far from a joke.

Fun fact: Lu means street in Chinese. 

I am wearing red jumper from Uniq Lo, sun glasses from Tickang Lu market in Shanghai and coat from Dries Van Noten at Dover Street Market.

To be continued...Part 2: The Arrival

Travel: MIAMI

TRAVEL MEMORIES

I'm in Miami Beach   

                                                                         

Today I went through some old photo's from a trip to Miami I took a while back. It's during the rainy, slow days when I wish I were under the soft Miami sun the most. If you still haven't planned your summer vacation, let me take a moment to convince you that Miami is the most amazing travel destination! 

1. The average temperature is 24°C. 

Speaks for itself. 

2. Is the only major city in the US to be founded by a woman, Julia Tuttle. 

They're forward thinking!

3. The first suntan lotion was invented by Miami Beach pharmacist, Benjamin Green in 1944. 

So health aware!

4. It used to be a swamp but it got a face-lift and now its Miami. 

Can get the ugly out of anything. 

5. Al Capone was a resident there. 

Come on, that's kinda cool. 

If these facts haven't convinced you, then I don't know what will!

Have a nice afternoon! 

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THE FRENCH RIVIERA

Last days of summer, I am in paradise.

I took the photos in the hotel I am staying at,in the French Riviera,between Monaco and Nice. This is without a doubt, the most amazing hotel I have ever stayed at. 

If you want to go for a relaxed weekend before the Winter starts check it out! 

GRAND HOTEL DU CAP FERRAT.

MY SISTER

GIRLS IN LONDON

DECORATION, MY NEW STORE AND INTERESTING PIECES. 

I was so happy to see my sister this week!

 She travelled from Spain to come and visit my new store, 

look at my new designs and have a long catch up. 

We also had time to go shopping, we even took an adventure around Shoreditch Highstreet,

visiting the galleries, vintage stores and coffee shops.

 Here we are in Shoreditch having lunch in one of the many coffee shops 

that pepper the Bricklane area. 

Have a sneak peak at the glasses my sister is wearing, they are a new design, but I can say no more as I don't want to spoil the new collection that will be on its way soon...Watch this space!

This image is of the interior of a vintage clothes and furniture store a few 

blocks away from my store in Shoreditch, 97-99 Sclater Street. 

We fell for the illuminous heart, and mirror made up of wing mirrors. 

The shop was like a treasure trove filled with obscure and interesting pieces. 

I could imagine filling my home with all the items that were being sold in that store.

Bea came at a great time as I wanted to change the interior of my store. 

She is not only talented within fashion , but she´s always been amazing with interior design. 

As you may all know she runs two boutiques in Spain that sell exclusive high fashion clothing. 

Yube Madrid and Benny Room. 

She helped me a lot and gave me great advice.  It was so great seeing my sister in London , 

we had so much fun, we talked non stop and continuously laughed, as we always do. 

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