Einstein on economic crisis

"Let's not pretend that things will change if we keep doing the same things. A crisis can be a real blessing to any person, to any nation. For all crises bring progress.

Creativity is born from anguish, just like the day is born form the dark night. It's in crisis that inventiveness is born, as well as discoveries made and big strategies. He who overcomes crisis, overcomes himself, without getting overcome. He who blames his failure to a crisis neglects his own talent and is more interested in problems than in solutions.

Incompetence is the true crisis.

The greatest inconvenience of people and nations is the laziness with which they attempt to find the solutions to their problems. There's no challenge without a crisis. Without challenges, life becomes a routine, a slow agony. There’s no merit without crisis. It's in the crisis where we can show the very best in us. Without a crisis, any wind becomes a tender touch.

To speak about a crisis is to promote it. Not to speak about it is to exalt conformism.

Let us work hard instead.Let us stop, once and for all, the menacing crisis that represents the tragedy of not being willing to overcome it."

Silk velvet

It was Christopher Kane a few seasons ago who brought it back. Then Olivier Theyskens used it for his gorgeous winter collection. And now I seem to see silk velvet garments everywhere; from dresses to capes . Precautions: Non romantics/bohemians, avoid this trend for your own safety.

Fue Christopher Kane quien lo recuperó unas cuantas temporadas atrás. Después Olivier Theyskens lo usó para su preciosa colección de invierno. Y ahora me parece ver prendas de terciopelo de seda por todos los sitios; desde vestidos hasta capas. Precauciones: los no bohemios/románticos absténgase por su propia seguridad.

Sarah Seven

Etsy is one of my favourite places to shop online. The site is a gold mine, I even prefer it to ebay. I always find what I was looking for and it surprises me every single day. This time it was the Portland, Oregon-based designer Sarah Seven who left me in awe.

Etsy es uno de mis lugares favoritos para comprar en internet. El sitio es una mina de oro, hasta el punto que ya lo prefiero a ebay. Siempre encuentro lo que busco y es raro el día que no me sorprende algo nuevo. Esta vez ha sido Sarah Seven con base en Portland, Oregon la que me ha dejado con la boca abierta.

She creates ethereal and romantic dresses that seem to come out of a fairy tale book. It is true that her prices are higher than what we're used to see on etsy but they seem worthy.

Crea vestidos vaporosos y etéreos que parecen sacados de un cuento de hadas. Es cierto que los precios son más altos de lo que suele verse en Etsy, pero parece que merecen la pena.

Sarah Hermans

All credit to Sarah Hermans

Thoughts on a picture

This outfit is perfection in my eyes:

It has the right dose of classicism and modernity.

It is simple but not boring.

I am partial to brogues and I would buy a pair of Church's if I knew they'd get enough wear.

Este look es la perfección en mis ojos:

Tiene la dosis adecuada de clasicismo y modernidad.

Es sencillo pero no aburrido.

Me encantan los brogues, y me compraría unos Church's si estuviese segura de que les iba a sacar suficiente partido.

Coco

The footnote reads: Gabrielle Chanel in 1909, with no pearls and lace. Underneath his pongee silk dress, a discreet embroidered gown typical of a convent educated girl, only adorned with a braid.

El pie de página lee así: "Gabrielle Chanel en 1909, sin perlas ni encajes. Bajo su vestido de pongis de seda, un camisolín bordado- lo que se llamaba entonces una "modestia"-, discretísimo, una prenda propia de niña educada en un convento, sólo que adornada por una trencilla."

These days I'm hooked on Gabrielle Chanel's biography -I haven't seen the biopic yet but it didn't get good critics here- and this photo was undoubtedly one of my biggest surprises. The image shocks not only for its simplicity, but also for its modernity. And this was, and still remains, the greatest success of Coco who revolutionized the fashion industry with her timeless simplicity.

Estos días estoy enganchada a la biografía de Gabrielle Chanel -aún no he visto la película, aunque no he oído muy buenas críticas- y ésta foto fue sin duda una de las mayores sorpresas. La imagen choca no solo por su simplicidad, sino también por su modernidad. Y éste fue, y sigue siendo, el gran éxito de Coco que revolucionó la moda con su sencillez atemporal.

Source/Fuente:Charles-Roux, Edmonde (2004, pg.62 y 63). El siglo de Chanel. Herce Editores

Take a Bow

One of my favourite e-bay stores, Bows & Bandits, has recently launched its on-line store. Tha advantages are many: the navigation is easier, there are more photos, a zoom tool that allows to approach the garment and see the smallest details, and you can even create your own wishlist.

Una de mis tiendas de e-bay favoritas, Bows & Bandits, ha abierto su propia tienda on-line. Las ventajas son muchas ya que ahora la navegación es más sencilla, hay más fotos, una herramienta de zoom que nos permite acercarnos a la prenda para aprecia hasta el último detalle e incluso uno puede crear su propio wishlist.

Bows&Bandits' line is still the same. Its proposal for summer is very feminine; light floral dresses, full skirts combined with knitted cardigans, a great range of traditional Austrian jackets and tons of accessories ready to revamp our wardrobes.

La linea de Bows&Bandits sigue siendo muy parecida. Su propuesta para este verano es muy femenina; sencillos vestidos florales, faldas de vuelo combinadas con cardigans de punto, una gran variedad de chaquetas tradicionales austriacas y un montón de accesorios con los que renovar nuestro armario.

Girls with Allure: Madelene

For this new issue of Girls with Allure I had the pleasure to interview Madelene of Le Portillon, whose style and words I've admired since I started reading her old blog in 2006. I hope you enjoy and learn from this interview as much as I did.

Define your style.
Simple, eclectic, dreamy and all through a manifest of my persona.

You'd never be caught in...
Anything that isn't 'me': I detest feeling like I'm not entirely being myself, or not loyal to my own style and sensibilities.

You can't live without...
My special pharmacy lipbalm, only available in Sweden. I panic a little if I forget it.

Your passion is...
Writing. I've always had a soft spot for words, composing and creating.

Which is, in your opinion, the best piece of clothing ever designed?
Whoever came up with the black wool coat (think doublebreasted, kneelength and supersoft) was a fashion genius.

Who are your favorite designer(s)?
Alber Elbaz, Charles Anastase, Karen Walker, Yves Saint Laurent, Vanessa Bruno, among others.

A book, a film and a song.
'Lolita' by Nabokov for the most beautiful use of language; 'Une Femme est Une Femme' by Godard because it never fails to make me smile; 'It seems so long ago Nancy' by Leonard Cohen because I find his voice comforting, lyrics divine.

What are your wardrobe staples?
Repetto flats, opaque Wolford tights, cashmere pullovers en masse, silk dresses, Superfine jeans and well-cut wool coats with all kinds of quirky details.

A fetish.
Edwardian era dresses and blouses. The handmade details found in these pieces are stunning and incomparable to most present day clothing. They have great personality.

Name three of your favourite beauty products.
Elizabeth Arden's Eight hour cream, I use a tiny bit on my lips instead of lipgloss; Neutrogena's night cream does wonders for my face; Chanel's poudre universelle libre has been my powder of choice for years.

What kind of things inspire you while getting dressed?
Most of my inspiration to dress is the result of me being an avid daydreamer, with a lively fantasy and an undying love for beauty.

What does style mean to you?
Style to me is a compulsive part of life, inescapable but it should only ever come naturally; when it is forced it loses all importance. Style is as essential to pleasure as any good book, song or lover. It is intelligent and completely enthralling.

New sunglasses

I am so sorry for the lack of posts lately. My finals will start next week and I still have a lot of work to do.

Siento mucho la escasez de posts que está habiendo últimamente. Empiezo con exámenes la semana que viene y aún tengo mucho por estudiar.

In other news, I finally bought a new pair of sunglasses. At first I couldn't decide but I finally got a pair of Ray-Ban, the same ones -colour and everything- the woman in the pic is wearing.

Entre otras cosas, finalmente compré un nuevo par de gafas de sol. Me costó mucho decidirme pero al final fueron unas Ray-Ban, las mismas -color y todo- que lleva la chica de la foto.