Summer Earrings by Chavelly

Palmtrees, icecream and flamingos just scream summer, don't you think? These amazing earrings get me right in the mood for my vacation! You can combine them with practically everything, either a leopard print, the famous Missoni zig zag print; keep it simple with pastel colours or give your outfit a nautical look, by combining the white seahorse earrings with a striped shirt.

Earrings by Chavelly Jewels.

Special thanks to Boutique O'Mara.

Ristorante Bagni Delfino, Sorrento, Italy

What better way to start your holiday on the Amalfi Coast than by having dinner in Sorrento, sitting on the dock, watching the fish, the boats and the cruise ships pass by. Ristorante Bagni Delfino offers just that, La Dolce Vita as it was meant to be.

Ristorante Bagni Delfino is located in the Marina Grande in Sorrento; unlike the name would suggest, it's a small but very picturesque marina. There are several other restaurants, but I think Delfino is the best one. Make sure to make reservations in advance!

You can either go for lunch and relax afterwards on one of the sunbeds on the bathing platform, or like I did, go for dinner and enjoy a more romantic atmosphere. Just take a look at my photos... here a picture is really worth a thousand words!

Ristorante Bagni Delfino serves -of course- wonderful seafood, such as sea bass, sea bream, oysters, clams, mussels, lobster and pasta alle vongole, but don't worry if you or your travel companions don't like fish... they have a mean steak and delicious vegetarian options as well. Think Caprese salad, ravioli, gnocchi, melanzana alla parmigiana (a sort of eggplant lasagna) and more.

To finish in style order a glass of Limoncello, a local lemon liqueur traditionally made with the zest of Sorrento lemons. After that, a small walk is in order, but to go back into town I'd suggest you order a cab. (It's a pretty steep and long walk up the hill...)

Ristorante Bagni Delfino
Via Marina Grande 216
80067 Sorrento
Italy
Tel. (+39) 081 878 20 38

The best dressed guests at the Met Gala

  

I always love it when guests respect the dresscode of a party. Not that I don’t admire those who break the rules sometimes, but honouring the sartorial preferences of your host(ess) is something that has become a rarity these days.

This year’s dresscode for the most important fashion event of the year, the MetGala, was “Chinese white tie” in line with the exhibition’s theme “China: Through the Looking Glass”.

“White tie” is of course the most formal (western) dresscode you can get, consisting of white tie and tailcoat for men and a formal gown for women. A request to wear white tie tends to make people nervous… I guess the same thing can be said about any event hosted by Anna Wintour!

Many of the guests got ready in hotels close to the Metropolitan Museum, posting instagram updates of hair, makeup, getting-ready-drinks, pyjama parties, departure and arrival. To me that was the best part of the Met Gala… the anticipation!

Here you’ll see some of the best dressed guests, or at least my favourites. Emma Roberts and Anne Hathaway in Ralph Lauren, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley in Versace, Alexa Chung in Erdem and Zendaya in Fausto Puglisi took my breath away! That said, there were also several celebrities who had their dresses blown away… or at least that’s what it looked like…

In fact Beyoncé, Jennifer Lopez and Kim Kardashion all looked practically naked, but I think the only one who really pulled it off was Beyoncé, wearing Givenchy Haute Couture by Riccardo Tisci. Another very big entrance was made by Rihanna, in a yellow couture cape made by Chinese designer Guo Pei. 

All photos were previously published on instagram. The name of the photographer (or person who posted it) is listed behind the name of the guests / portraitees.
Photo 1. Emma Roberts, photo @emmaroberts

Photo 2. Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, photo @derekblasberg

Photo 3. Chinese handbag, photo @hamishbowles

Photo 4. Alexa Chung, photo @erdemlondon

Photo 5. Emily Ratajowski, photo @emrata 

Photo 6. Kate Hudson and Michael Kors, photo @michaelkors

Photo 7. Anne Hathaway, photo @NYTimesfashion

Photo 8. Anna Wintour and Bee Shaffer, photo @bfa_nyc

Photo 9. George and Amal Clooney, photo @bfa_nyc

Photo 10. Zendaya, photo @hollywoodcloset

Photo 11. Rihanna, photo @campglamour

Photo 12. Brie Larson, Courtney Eaton, Annabelle Wallis, photo @newyorktimesfashion

Photo 13. Reese Witherspoon, Kate Hudson and Derek Blasberg, photo @derekblasberg

Photo 14. Karen Elson, photo @bfa_nyc

Photo 15. Zendaya, photo @bfa_nyc

Photo 16. JayZ and Beyoncé, photo @kevintachman for @vogue

Photo 17. Georgina Chapman, photo @privategg

Photo 18. The entrance of the Met, photo @taylorjewell

MATE, Museo Mario Testino, Lima, Peru

When Mario Testino's museum MATE opened in july 2012, I remember thinking "I wish one day I could go and visit, but it's so far away"... not knowing that my dream would come true only two years later!

When people visit Peru, Machu Picchu is usually one of the higlights of their trip. Well, Machu Picchu is of course breathtakingly beautiful, but for me, visiting Mario Testino's museum was the best part of my visit to Peru! Standing in the museum of my longtime inspirator, example, hero... I can hardly describe how amazing that felt.

The building itself is a piece of art. The 19th century townhouse in the bohemian district Barranco, was competely restored with the utmost love and care, turning it into a non-profit museum, "to cultivate and promote culture in Peru".

MATE hosts the only permanent exhibition of Mario Testino's work in the world. There are rooms dedicated to his various objects of attention (and desire): models, movie stars, performers, royalty, as well as traditonally dressed Peruvians.

The first room is dedicated to Kate Moss. Here you'll see one of her (and his) most famous portraits, the one with the turquoise, green, white and red paint on her face. It's such a strong and attracting image! I still remember seeing it in the "Portraits"exhibition in 2003 in Amsterdam.

The second room is all about another supermodel, Gisele Bündchen. Mario Testino was actually credited for turning her into a super model. His photos of her are sizzling hot! Their Latin American roots and energy work really well together. But then again, Testino portrays everyone as the most beautiful version of themselves.

Other rooms are dedicated to Madonna, (movie) stars such as Brad Pitt and Gwyneth Paltrow, the fashion scene, including many stunning group pictures and last but not least to Diana, Princess of Wales. This room had a very serene atmosphere. The beautiful, happy pictures of her, together with the Versace dress she wore, show an important part of history.

While I was there, there was also a temporary exhibition "Alta Moda", a series of portraits of traditionally dressed Peruvians from the Andean highlands (alta means high, but also refers to "haute couture"). They were just as beautiful and self confident as the models and superstars in the other rooms! And rightly so. Their costumes are amazing! They must have taken so much time and energy to make.

MATE is a modern museum with a lovely café and -even better- a wonderful gift shop! I always love museum shops, but this one is my all time favourite...! Photography books, postcards and magnets with Testino's famous photos on it, t-shirts, plates, candles, his collection of Peruvian accessories (which was initially sold via net-a-porter)... and on and on. I literally wanted to take everything home!!!

Next time you're in Peru, put Mario Testino's museum on the top of your list! I can't wait to go back one day.

For more information please visit:
http://www.mate.pe
http://www.mariotestino.com

For more information about Peru:
http://www.peru.travel

All photos courtesy of Mario Testino (except those with my logo on it).

Special thanks to Jose Carlos of PromPeru and USP Marketing PR.