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Sunday, November 18, 2018

"Femmes Fatales" at Gemeentemuseum, The Hague
































“Femmes Fatales”, the latest fashion exhibition of the Dutch Gemeentemuseum, opened november 17th in The Hague. Practically the whole Dutch fashion scene came by to witness the first exhibition ever of only female fashion designers. There were approximately a thousand guests in the famous “Tuinzaal” (Garden Gallery, opened by Barack Obama in 2014). Present among others: Dutch shoe designer Jan Janssen and his wife Tonny, fashion designer Fong Leng, fashion journalist Milou van Rossum (wearing a black and white Fong Leng coat), as well as fashion designer Iris van Herpen.

The title “Femmes Fatales” might give you the wrong idea about the subject of this art exhibition. Because it’s not an exhibition about sexy or dangerous (or dangerously sexy) women. Instead, it’s an exhibition “that focuses on strong women in fashion”. Femmes Fatales brings together couture pieces designed exclusively by female designers. By women, for women.

You’ll find dresses by Gabrielle ‘Coco’ Chanel, Elsa Schiapparelli, Madeleine Vionnet, Diane von Furstenberg (her famous wrap dress), Fong Leng (several coats), Miuccia Prada, Sonia Rykiel, Vivienne Westwood, but also more current slash younger couturiers like Maria Grazia Chiuri (Dior), Phoebe Philo, Mary Katranzou, Isabel Marant and -the incredible- Iris van Herpen.

Dutch designer Sheila de Vries (who has designed for many years for Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands) has her own room, complete with a door bell saying “Sheila de Vries Couture by appointment only”! A very nice touch by the exhibiton designer.

It’s not ‘just’ couture designed by women, there’s definitely a feminist theme present in the exhibition; there a big texts on the walls “We should all be feminists”, “Pink not Pussy”, “Ladies First”, “The future is female” and so on. There are pink beanies or “pussy hats” from the Missoni autumn 2017 collection show. And you can pose for a selfie with protest signs like “Girl Power”, “Love is Love”, etc.

Eighty percent of the exhibition is composed by the museum’s own collection, only twenty percent comes from other museums or private owners who generously lent their precious dresses to the Gemeentemuseum.

Curator Madelief Hohé (in the pink dress) and her team did an incredible job! I will definitely go back to enjoy the exhibition on a more quiet moment and take some better pictures, which was practically impossible with so many people walking around. But you’ll forgive me for that.

For more information, please visit:

Read more about a previous fashion exhibition at Gemeentemuseum here:
https://tarasdolcevita.blogspot.com/2017/05/i-looove-lbd.html

Tuesday, November 13, 2018

Affordable Holiday Gifts












The Holiday Season is coming and that means... you'll probably have to go gift shopping! As my regular readers will know, I like to "hunt" for affordable gifts. In The Netherlands we celebrate Saint Nicholas (Sinterklaas) on the 5h of December. That's the day most children will be showered with gifts. But we also celebrate Christmas, again with gifts. Especially adults will spoil each other with (expensive) Christmas gifts. They don't have to be expensive though... why not search for something personal, funny, special and affordable?!

All these gifts are under € 20 / $ 22,50 and some cost even less than € 5 / $ 5,60.

Gingerbread Man earrings by Six:
https://www.click-six.com
Gingerbread scented candle by Zara Home:
https://www.zarahome.com
Watermelon pot holders by Suma Tessuti Ostuni:
http://www.sumatessuti.com
Gift card holder by Paperchase:
https://www.paperchase.com/en_gb
Viktor & Rolf magnet via De Kunsthal:
https://www.kunsthal.nl
Set of three cheese knifes by Laguiole:
https://en.laguiole-attitude.com
Guest towel 2 pack by H&M Home:
https://www2.hm.com/en_us/home.html
Shiny rainbow 1ft Christmas tree by Paperchase:
https://www.paperchase.com/en_gb
Rosé Impérial Brut Champagne Christmas Cracker by Moët & Chandon:
https://www.moet.com//News/MOET-CHANDON-BURSTS-WITH-BUBBLES
Sweet Love tea by Kusmi Tea:
https://int.kusmitea.com
White chocolate crackling sugar raspberry by Tony Chocoloneley:
https://tonyschocolonely.com

Thursday, November 1, 2018

Catch of the Day... Diptyque Candle




Finally... the Diptyque holiday collection is here! I couldn't resist buying one of the three limited edition scented candles. (For now) I picked the Pine Tree of Light candle.... doesn't it look gorgeous? And it smells good too.
The new Christmas collection is called Légende du Nord (The Legend of the North) and consists of three refined scents: Exquisite Almond, Amber Balm and Pine Tree of Light. The collection is in stores now... you better hurry, because Diptyque's limited editions usually sell out quickly.

For more information, please visit:
www.diptyqueparis.com