Travels

Galeries Lafayette Champs-Élysées

| Design & Culture by Ed

The very new Galeries Lafayette is the only reason you should walk down the Champs-Élysées in Paris. While I hate the idea of department stores, especially with all the independent boutiques that shape the Parisian fashion scene, opening one feels like a pointless idea. But the new project from Lafayette is quite intriguing. As their site reads, the place is “shaking up the conventional notions of a concept store, on the scale of a department store”. Here, you will discover the latest fashion, lifestyle, and beauty collections from emerging and luxury labels, dreamed up by the surprisingly uncorporate team. There’s the rare niche (think Batsheva, Maryam Nassir Zadeh, Magda Butrym, Molly Goddard, Rosie Assoulin, Paco Rabanne, Simone Rocha, Medea) as well as all the Guccis and Balenciagas. The perfume section is rich in niche brands like Ormaie Paris and Régime Des Fleurs. And also, this place is a Jacquemus paradise. Jacquemus & Caviar Kaspia teamed up to imagine an exceptional space in store – Cafe Citron. Conceived under the artistic direction of Simon Porte Jacquemus, the café offers a menu based on fresh seasonal products all year round, prepared on-site and served with the grounded simplicity of the French provençal style. Of course, there’s also the ‘Lemon’ dessert, which keeps on storming Instagram since the store’s opening. It’s really, really good.

60 Av. des Champs-Élysées / Paris

All photos by Edward Kanarecki.

Musée Yves Saint Laurent

| Design & Culture by Ed

At Musée Yves Saint Laurent in Paris, my heart beat faster. Like, a hundred times faster. The museum is located in the legendary hôtel particulier at 5 avenue Marceau where Yves Saint Laurent spent nearly thirty years designing his collections from 1974 to 2002. The same building serves as the headquarters of the Fondation Pierre Bergé – Yves Saint Laurent. Across 450 m2, an ever-changing rotation of retrospective displays and temporary thematic exhibitions present the Fondation’s rich and unique collection. The museum  focuses on both the couturier’s creative genius and the process of designing a haute couture collection. Beyond its monographic ambitions, the museum seeks to address the history of the twentieth century and the haute couture traditions that accompanied a way of life that no longer exists. From Yves’ studio, which seems to be completely untouched, to the space dedicated to the designer’s collaboration with Claude Lalanne (forever love), this place is a visual and historic treat.

5 avenue Marceau / Paris

All photos by Edward Kanarecki.

Deauville

| Design & Culture by Ed

The town where Coco Chanel opened her first boutique in 1913. The chic resort destination of France that’s filled with the most gorgeous, old villas. The wide beach, which is the centre of life for the locals. Deauville, although slightly romanced by the French, has the charm of Normandy.

There are also two very special addresses…

Paul Pierre‘s flowershop is a dream place. It’s visible that flowers are the owner’s truest passion. The store is located in a magnificent, brick villa, surrounded with a garden. Anemones, hydrangea, most delightful shades of roses… ahh. Goals!

93 rue du Général Leclerc

La Maison is another place you won’t want to leave. Home decorations, kitchenware, pajamas, ceramics, chairs, linens – basically everything needed for a villa as gorgeous as the one the store is located in. While being there, I noted everything has a ‘Made in France‘ tag.

11 rue Edmond Blanc

All photos by Edward Kanarecki.

Trouville-Sur-Mer

| Design & Culture by Ed

Easter in Normandy couldn’t be a better idea! We stayed in Trouville-Sur-Mer, a charming town that used to be a fishing village in the past. Chocolate eclairs and baguettes for breakfast, oysters, St. Jacques clams and sea urchins straight from the port market for lunch, literally red sunsets after dinner… all that accompanied by a refreshing ocean breeze, car trips to nearby locations (posts coming up soon) and this truly effortless, care-free French style that radiates from the locals. Would love to stay here forever. Will post my favourite addresses in Trouville tomorrow!

All photos by Edward Kanarecki.

Spring in Berlin

| Design & Culture by Ed

Me doing a ‘spring cowboy-slash-mushroom look’, starring a Jil Sander hat…

Spring in Berlin is one of the best moments to visit this city – the greenery starts to pop all over the streets, people drink wine in front of the restaurants and the light, comfy ‘Berliner’ style in in full bloom as well. Planning a weekend trip to this city soon? Here are some of the addresses you will definitely love!

Everything about Panama makes it one of the hottest restaurants of the moment, or even… a cult place. Hidden on Potsdamer Straße (a stone throw from Andreas Murkudis), the two-story space has been designed by Karoline Butzert and Nora Witzigmann. It breathes with contemporary art, and the artistic contributions, like Julius von Bismarck’s photographs or bone-shaped neon by Kerim Seiler, lets you feel like in an art gallery. The idea behind Panama’s menu is to share your food with others. That’s why it’s recommended to order about 5 different dishes per person, to discover the restaurant’s unique cuisine. From tacos with red cabbage to salmon trout ceviche, Panama offers a wide range of varying tastes and ingredient compositions. Don’t forget to try ‘Panama’ empanadas with sesame ponzu and their cardamon churros for the desert!

Potsdamer Straße 91

Berliners buy in two places: either at COS or at Acne Studios. And while the selection at COS is crazy good (I can approve after my last, spring-summer shopping frenzy…), Acne Studios seems to be a worship place here. The brand’s huge space on Potsdammer Straße is as good as the new season’s clothes. Very, very lovely people work here, too!

Potsdamer Straße 87

I wrote about Andreas Murkudis countless of times, so I thing there’s no need to introduce this God of all concept stores (ok, Colette was first, but Andreas Murkudis stole my heart forever). Still, I’m reminding it here! Also, how good is the Dries Van Noten x Verner Panton bag?

Potsdammer Sraße 81

Do You Read Me?! is the best press and books supply in town. About 10 years ago, this space fully dedicated to printed matter opened in Mitte. A very well curated assortment of magazines and newspapers. Fashion, photography and art, architecture, interior and design, illustration, graphic design and typography, cultural matters and society. All under one roof!

Auguststraße 28

Jewelry designer Sabrina Dehoff launched Dehoff Studio in Mitte. It’s an evolving fashion concept starting with a line of dresses that will be showcased next to the Dehoff’s jewelry brand. The space itself is a place for artists and other experts in their field to cooperate with her and to use Dehoff Studio as an open space which acts as an artisanal lab bringing back the hand-made craft and care that consumers are craving.

Auguststraße 26A

For gorgeous flowers vist Kians Garden. Their boutique/studio is a true floral paradise you won’t want to leave!

130 Kantstraße

Wochenmarkt Kollwitzplatz takes place every Saturday. It’s a market that involves local farmers and artisans, but not only. You will find a stall with home-made raviolis stuffed with asparagus and ricotta; a guy who sells colourful, fleecy cashmere blankets; girls with brilliantly looking flower bouquets… all that in the heart of booming Prenzlauer Berg district.

Wörther Straße

MDC Cosmetic offers a range of exclusive, international cosmetics, supplies and accessories for a home spa and nutritional supplements. From Santa Maria Novella 1612 perfumes and Susanne Kaufmann bath salts to Astier de Villatte candles and Rahua cosmetics, this adorable, cozy space got you covered with all the ‘treat yourself’ kind of products. Cosmetic advice and treatments are available on request.

Knaackstraße 26

If you’re lucky to book a place at Sasaya, it’s for sure – you will eat the best Japanese cuisine in entire Berlin. Sasaya offers seasonal dishes just as classical sushi rolls, soups and their signatures (like the delightful gyoza sticks). The prices are surprisingly affordable, while the quality’s top knotch.

Lychener Straße 50

All photos by Edward Kanarecki.