Holly Golightly

October 20, 2018October 18, 2018 | Design & Culture by Ed

Holly Golightly is a fashion retailer located in the heart of Copenhagen. This concepts tore features ready-to-wear from brands like Lemaire, Rosie Assoulin, Saks Potts, Dries Van Noten, The Vampire’s Wife and other labels, as well as a selection of leather goods, cosmetics (the impressive Buly 1803 shop-in-shop), fine jewellery and a finely curated selection of vintage items. The store also houses the dutch furniture brand Piet Hein Eek. The owner, Barbara Maj Husted Werner, strongly believes in personal and timeless style and aims to inspire her customers with a coalition between high-end luxury goods and hand-picked items from all around the world. The fashion retail scene in Copenhagen is truly exciting, and stores like Holly Golightly are clear reasons why. I mean, just take a look how fantastic this space is!

Borgergade 17B / Copenhagen

All photos by Edward Kanarecki.

Men’s / New Vintage. Bode SS19

August 13, 2018November 6, 2018 | Design & Culture by Ed

While the fashion industry struggles with overproduction and its self-destructive pace, the New York-based designer Emily Adams Bode goes against the flow. Her label, Bode, is mostly fabricated from vintage textiles: antique table linens, patchwork quilts, grain sacks – the list can go on. But don’t think her work comes out as looking overly D.I.Y. or crafty-arty. We’re speaking of button-up shirts with romantic pussy-bows, delightful coats and striped boxy trousers, treated with the finest dyes.

Her spring-summer 2019 collection is a beautiful nod to India. Part of it was produced from khadi, a handwoven cloth, produced by Indian craftsmen. But there are as well incredible Bengalese embroideries all over the shirting; a t-shirt with a flag of India print that has a cool, vintage-y vibe; pastel-blue short shorts; a rugby jacket in the brightest shade of orange; loosely fit suits. It’s like Wes Anderson’s ‘The Darjeeling Limited’ cast wardrobe, available in real life. But coming back to Bode and it’s phenomenon, it’s incredible how the label stays true to ethical and sustainable way of doing things (noting that Bode is based in the Big Apple, where everything should be ‘now and here’ lately). “We’re still largely focused on vintage textiles,” Emily says, “and then we work to find something that is reproducible from them. We have mills and producers in India, actually. And, when buyers come, they shop on the rack, and say, ‘How close can you get to this piece?’ Some want each piece exactly the same, and others want only one of a kind. We’re calibrating it, but it’s working.” One more thing: even though Bode presents her clothes on men, all of the pieces can be as well worn by female fans of the brand.

Collage by Edward Kanarecki.

Parma’s Addresses

August 3, 2018August 3, 2018 | Design & Culture by Ed

Parma (about which I wrote a separate post here) is a place where you can buy both, a pair of linen pants tailored by a small Italian family brand, and a jet-set era Gucci bag. And, while shopping, make sure to meet and talk to the local sellers and shopkeepers, who truly adore fashion and truly live their chic, Italian style. But also, Parma has this secret (to tourists, at least!) spot where you can dine in front of a church as if you lived in a Fellini film. Scroll down to discover my favourite addresses in the city, that isn’t just ham and Parmesan cheese.

Gazzabuglio di Letyzia

A tiny boutique with first class vintage. Chanel tweeds, Louis Vuitton suitcases, Hérmes foulards, Gucci leathers. All curated by Letyzia, a gorgeous, Italian signora that seems to know every seem in every single piece she sells.

Borgo XX Marzo

Soffio

This menswear store is heaven for tailoring devotees who don’t want to look too formal. Great shoes, pants, shirts… well, everything. Note the interior, that’s filled with Italian design gems. Second floor is in the making, so expect even more of Soffio’s selection in the upcoming months.

Borgo Giacomo Tommasini 3/D

Laura Nocco Gioielli

I think I’ve spent an hour at Laura Nocco’s Parma boutique. Especially, I took my time to thoroughly examine her latest ‘tribal’ collection, which consists of metal hoops, rings, necklaces and bracelets. Nocco sought for inspiration in books about masks coming from different parts of Africa and Mexico, and captured their mystical aura in those unique, wearable artworks. Other than her own works, this designer as well sells rare, vintage jewellery (like this gold-pleated hand brooch).

Str. Duomo 1

Store 333

This place reminded me of Berlin’s Voo Store and Porto’s Early Made. From Henrik Vibskov’s playful apparel to the most comfortable sneakers I know, Veja, Store 333 is the go-to address of the locals who might from time to time take a rest from the ‘Made in Italy’ tag.

Borgo Giacomo Tommasini 12

O Luxury

Parma’s biggest luxury multibrand that has multiple stores located on one street (each with different character, from the ‘hype’ one to ‘rich Italian woman’ one). Here you will find Gucci, Attico, J.W. Anderson, Vetemets and even Rick Owens for Birkenstocks.

Via Nazario Sauro

Croce di Malta

That’s my favourite restaurant in the entire Parma – it’s the one located in front of an old, no longer attended church. The food is simple, but so, so good. And that evening mood when you sit outside is unforgettable.

Borgo Palmia 8

Galleria Borgobello di Peppe Jervolino

Again, vintage – but more focused on jewellery and furniture. Peppe Jervolino’s vast selection of camelias, pearls, pendants, charms and pretty much every type of jewellery is impressive. It’s quite funny to see how today’s Valentino and Marni simply hit the vintage stores to find some inspo for their new season jewellery…

Via Repubblica 92B

So, those are my favourites if speaking of Parma. Few more addresses are as well here.

All photos by Edward Kanarecki.

Galleria Mazzini in Genoa

July 27, 2018July 29, 2018 | Design & Culture by Ed

If you love vintage (especially proper, opulent, slightly kitschy Italian vintage), you’ve got to visit Galleria Mazzini in Genoa. This historical passage, that as well holds a number of coffee shops and boutiques, is also where all the Genoan antique specialists sell their finds. From Italian furniture classics from the 60s and century old posters to colourful old school car toys and jet-set era Gucci bags, this place has some true treasures. The prices are high, but the guys here are ready to bargain. Want more on Genoa? Click here.

Galleria Giuseppe Mazzini / Genoa

Photos by Edward Kanarecki.

Porto Guide

June 16, 2018June 15, 2018 | Design & Culture by Ed

I never thought that Porto, one of Portugal’s most historically rich cities, is filled with so many gorgeous places to check out (after you’ve visited all the local churches and cathedrals, of course!). Some of the places have that vintage-y, age-old magic, others are more into contemporary stuff – but all of them feel truly authentic. Porto is a city where every art form flourishes and which takes care of its creative spirits. Whether you’re in the delightful old city centre or in the slowly, but gradually booming art district, Porto has idiosyncratic spots you must delve into!

SONY DSC

I’ve already written about Claus Porto here, when I visited Lisbon for the first time. The soap and cologne heaven has a beautiful boutique on the ground floor, and the brand’s museum on the first floor. That’s not your average store with cosmetics, that’s for sure.

R. das Flores 22

If you still haven’t found your perfect basket, then make Hats & C.A.T.S. the first place you visit in Porto. It’s also a place for straw hats lovers (and amateurs that are into Jacquemus lately). Paradise!

Rua do Infante D. Henrique 117

Since 1906, Livraria Lello has been the house for people of arts and letters, an inspiration for acclaimed authors, a place for social gatherings, performances and a quiet library for many of book moths (until the age of consumption hit it…). Although today is receives thousands of visitor, who everyday enter its doors to visit this Neo-Gothic gem, the place still sells some of the most incredible book editions and printed rarities (held in a separate room). Also, it’s called the most ‘beautiful bookshop in the world’, so…

R. das Carmelitas 144

Patch is a vintage treasure chest. From military bombers to Balenciaga mules, old kimonos and ceramic objects, who knows what you can discover here.

Rua do Rosário 193

Cirurgias Urbanas is, as far as I understood, a gallery space and a jewellery studio. The owner, whose outfit was so good that I had to photograph it in every detail, does some of the most unusual earrings, rings and brooches out there.

Rua do Rosário 147

I guess Early Made is Porto’s spot that has the status similar to Berlin’s Voo Store. With an impressive number of Portuguese labels (as well as internationally recognized Maison Kitsune or YMC) this spacious concept store changes its display seasonally, with the help of local artists. You will a wide selection of niche magazines and curated objects in the back of the store.

Panamar is a wonderland. From Portuguese brands that do their clothes on couture level to tiny labels from the most remote destinations, Panamar is one of the most refined boutiques in Porto. Upstairs, you will find a number of antique furnitures, one of a kind jewellery, fur coats and other very, very expensive goodies…

R. de Mouzinho da Silveira 14

Hope this short guide of my favourite places in Porto might be useful while planning your trip to this city. A few more posts are coming, so stay in tune.