Valentine's Day....last minute buy

Gentlemen....
You didn't have time to buy a Valentine's Day gift for your girlfriend?
And you don't know what to buy for her?
She's fashionable and has it all?
Then this might be the perfect gift....
A rhinestone heart t-shirt by Glamorous.

This t-shirt is available in various colours (white, camel and black) through:
http://www.glamorous-fashion.nl/
http://www.boutiqueomara.nl/

Hotel Stocker, South Tyrol, Italy

A wonderful traditional family hotel in the Italian Alps! Italian Alps? Yes, located close to the Austrian as well as the Swiss border, Hotel Stocker offers the best of both worlds, Italian and Tyrolean. A cosy atmosphere, or as the Germans call it "Gemütlichkeit", combined with Italian class & cuisine.

The location of Hotel Stocker is just perfect, only a couple of minutes away from the slopes and approximately a 10 minute drive from neighbouring villages, such as Malles, Resia and Prato allo Stelvio, where you could go for some après-skiing, shopping, dinner and more.

Besides an excellent cuisine, Hotel Stocker offers various services like a library, a recreation room, a pub, massages, a spa including a Turkish steam bath, a Finnish sauna, an infrared cabin, a jacuzzi and a tanning booth. So even if you're not a skier or snowboarder, you'll definitely enjoy yourself!

The surroundings are beautiful... perfect for long walks or - horse drawn - sleigh rides along the Haidersee  (the lake).

Furthermore, medieval town Glorenza is very close-by and definitely worth paying a visit! Three town gates offer entrance to this tiny but beautiful town. You'll find arcade walkways, old city walls and cute little shops. Don't forget to buy some of the local specialties like Ortler speck, Schüttelbrot (Tyrolese crispbread) and Lagrein wine!

The best part of the hotel though.... is the Stocker family, who do practically everything to make you feel at home!

For more information on the region, go to: http://www.suedtirolerland.it/en/south-tyrols-holiday-areas/val-venosta/

For more information and bookings, please visit: http://www.hotel-stocker.com/en/hotel.html

O'Mara, The Hague, The Netherlands

If you're shopping in The Hague and you're looking for a trendy but inexpensive outfit... go to boutique O'Mara. Located in one of the nicest areas of the city, it's a perfect spot for either locals or tourists (close to Hotel Des Indes and......gentlemen... to many nice bars, where you can wait while your lady shops)!

Owner Tamara Kanters has thought of everything, there's even a couch in the back, close to the dressing rooms. So your shopping companion can sit front row.

O'Mara offers anything from jeans to leather jackets, cute dresses, sexy tops, but also lot's of accessories like watches, (medallion) necklaces and Minnetonka boots!!

Brands include Mi Moneda, Mippies, BBBrasil, My Brand, Glamorous, Josh V., Lipsy London, Miss me jeans, mbyM and Rinascimento.

Is it too much to choose from? Ask owner Tamara for help!

She's very kind and very honest!

For more information please visit: http://www.boutiqueomara.nl/

Neon colours are back!

This winter fluoresent colours are back on the slopes! Not since the early eighties have we seen these neon colours in fashion. 

Back then not only clothes (especially oversized sweatshirts), but also accessories were neon pink, neon green, neon yellow.... ouch....

it hurt your eyes!

The revival of neon colours follows the return of stretch dressing (think leggings), sportswear, big shoulders and big hair. This time around though it's more subtle. Neon is combined with neutral colours like black or white, instead of brights and prints.

It might take some time to get used to.... but once you do, strut your stuff skiing or après-skiing.... and you will attract a lot of attention! 

Ski helmets by POC: http://www.pocsports.com/

Jacket by Poivre Blanc: http://www.poivreblanc.com/

Yellow skis by Völkl: http://www.volkl.com/ski

Orange skis by Völkl: http://www.volkl.com/ski

Pink skis by Bogner: http://www.bogner.com/

Amsterdam International Fashion Week

Last week (January 26 - 30) was Amsterdam International Fashion Week! The majority of the shows were held at the Westergasfabriek, an old factory (for the manufacture of gas) with the same kind of vibe as Stazione Leopolda in Florence.

As can be expected of a fashion week... there were gorgeous models, to die for dresses, lots of Champagne, many journalists, nice and not-so-nice photographers, hysterical guests, extravagant outfits and more.... In one word: fabulous!

Next year the AIFW will probably move to another, more luxurious location. That decision was taken by the new owners of the Dutch fashion week, Hans van der Linden (Brand2Event Group) and Bart Maussen (Maussen Group). They want to take AIFW to the next level, in order to increase the success of the Dutch fashion sector.

The photos shown here were taken during the grand finale of the Green Fashion Competition. A competiton for entrepreneurs in the fashion industry, sponsored by the Dutch ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation, to find talented entrepreneurs who aim to create a fashion business while sustaining biodiversity.

Out of the eight finalists, designer Elsien Grinhuis won the first prize and the team behind OAT shoes won the second prize. I have to say, they both really deserved it!

Especially OAT shoes, who were so brave to send out their (drop dead gorgeous) models on the runway naked... besides white undies and a pair of cool shoes!

For more information, please visit: http://www.aifw.nl/

Photos taken with Samsung Galaxy S phone.

Cupcakes are so 2010...

Move over cupcake.... hello little sweet thing called 'melkzoetje'! (Yeah, you're right... it's a little bit hard to pronounce...)

These gorgeous looking & tasting sweets made by a Dutch company called Peperzoet, will conquer the world!
Inspired by Southern American desserts like 'dulce de leche', they are made with milk and sugar and.... various fruits and spices.

Melkzoetjes come in one size only, small that is....  a 'size zero'

if you will. It already makes you feel better, right ladies?

You can order them in various amounts, for example for a birthday party, baby shower or wedding. But they also make perfect business giveaways. (Or Valentine's Day gift!)

For more information, please visit: http://www.peperzoet.nl/ 

Or send an e-mail to: info@peperzoet.nl

Telephone: +31 6 506 05 607 / +31 6 463 482 52

Photos courtesy of Peperzoet (thanks Anka!).

Valentine's Day Wishlist

Gentlemen, do you want to treat your girl for Valentine's Day?

But don't know what to buy for her?

Here are some things that are on the top of my wishlist!

Hopefully this will help you out.

Underwear by Calvin Klein:  http://www.calvinkleininc.com/

Champagne by Moët & Chandon: http://www.moet.com/

Chocolates by De Bijenkorf: http://www.debijenkorf.nl/

Bag by Fab: http://www.fab.nl/

Cake by De Bijenkorf: http://www.debijenkorf.nl/

Prosecco by Bottega: www.distilleriabottega.com/en

Candle by Nanu Lifestyle: http://www.nanu-lifestyle.com/

Photos taken with Samsung Galaxy S Phone.