My new Prada.

So.....the story goes like this last Sunday I walked in my boyfriends apartment in Barcelona, he was away as he had a game in another city. As usual I dropped my suitcase, and walked around the apartment to estimate the 'damage' and surprisingly the apartment was much cleaner then usual, he even washed and hanged the laundry. 

I changed my clothes and started with the vacuuming and moping the floors and once I got to the living room..there it was - big, white bag with navy blue printed Prada logo. I turned off the vacuum cleaner and peaked in, I didn't touch it. Wasn't sure it was for me. Then I texted my boyfriend..no response, it was about 4 hours before the game, he was taking a nap in the hotel. Hmm...I was curious, I thought maybe some of his friends from Croatia ordered it as a gift for their wives. I was still curious...I always wanted Prada tote. Not just any Prada tote but Prada Vitello Daino tote.

Prada Vitello Daino tote is not just another designer bag, it is tote of a great value and quality from a brand with long and famous history. Prada was founded in 1913 in Milan by Mario Prada and was originally known as Prada Brothers. In 1978, Mario's granddaughter Miuccia Prada led the company's expansion into distinctive clothing that quickly became a favorite among celebrities worldwide. Currently, Prada is one of the most influential clothing lines in the fashion industry, with an iconic collection that includes sunglasses, handbags, and shoes in addition to men's and women's clothing. 

This bag is often copied and duplicated so company issues a unique certificate with it in order to protect and identify it's customers. There is very high demand for it so for example Saks Fifth Avenue doesn't allow one to order more then three pieces in 30 days period. 

Finally...I carefully opened the hard white Prada shopping bag and untied the satin white Prada bows holding the bag handles. Inside there was a white soft cotton bag with prada logo and 2 envelopes, one big one with my name on it and a small one with hard certificate card proving bag's authenticity...and then...there it was...in it's full glory - brand new soft black calf leather, double handle,detachable shoulder strap, gold plated hardware, snap closure,one inside pocket and logo fabric lining - Prada Vitello Daino tote and it had a card with my name on it!Ouu happy day! I still can't believe it's mine! :)

"What you wear is how you present yourself to the world, especially today,

when human contacts are so quick. Fashion is instant language."

Miuccia Prada

Crocolicious handbags by Adriana Castro

As we all know, purses and shoes are universal fetish items of many women as shopping for these is equally passionate experience for women of all sizes and ages, which makes this market fruitful and ever growing! 


Recently I find out about an amazing young handbag and accessory designer - Adriana Castro. Columbian native, living in US has not only a great talent in designing gorgeous, exotic skins accessories but also a great story behind creating her brand - Adriana Castro. 


Adriana is using various exotic skins for her designs such as crocodile, eel, lizard, ostrich, python, leather and water snake. Skins are also processed in different ways which makes them glazed, matte, metallic or stone washed.

Growing up at fathers crocodile farm in Columbia young Adriana got inspiration from the natural beauty and color palettes surrounding the Amazon for creating her  crocodile accessories designs. Smarty she first went to study business to be able to run a successful brand, after which she continued her accessory design education at Art Institute of Miami International University.


Adriana launched her first handbag collection in SS 2007. and instantly got recognized by prestigious media worldwide such as WWD, Vogue, People, In-Touch, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, Style.com, Grazia etc.

Castro's handbags are loved and carried by celebrities and fashion influencers including Sarah Jessica Parker, Jennifer Lopez, Eva Longoria, Kim Kardashian, Heidi Klum and Audrina Patridge. Five Adriana Castro bags were also featured in the movie Sex and the City 2. and her exotic collection is available exclusively at specialty retailers worldwide including Henri Bendel in New York City, Saks Fifth Avenue in Dubai, Harvey Nichols in Hong Kong as well as select boutiques in Russia and Mexico.


Photos of my very favorite Castro pieces from her SS 2012. and FW 2012. collections are bellow. In terms of prices (cc $1000), as these are genuine exotic skins I can say that prices are high but match the items quality for sure. Adriana's handbags are made in trendy colors but they are not one season wonders by no means, each of these pieces can easily be worn for years as your closets signature item.

You can see more of Adriana Castro's purses by following her blog, Facebook, Twitter and website. Soon you will be able to read the short interview I did with Adriana, please post your question in the comment if you would like to ask her a question and I will include it in my interview.

Pink paparazzi in Madrid.

Since I got a small pink Fuji film camera for Christmas from my boyfriend to always wear in my purse, I took the opportunity to try it out during our afternoon walk around Madrid.  I am totally in love with this small but mighty camera! I don’t have to be careful and look after my big pro camera every single minute cause this one actually fits in every single purse I have J

We used the sunny afternoon to visit some of the Madrid’s best vintage stores and shops like: El Corte Ingles, vintage stores like Lotta, Holala and Templo de Susu where I got the amazing purse, vintage frames and a sweater which you can see bellow on my boyfriend and on its own. We also had some great Rose wine, bought some sexy shower curtains and had some delicious food.

Kisses from Madrid!

My top 10 fashion brands: HAKEI

While I was doing a winter closet clean up I realized that most of my clothes comes from a several fashion brands which I have remained loyal to through the years, these are mostly mid to high tier brands, some of which I buy my closet staples from, for which I don’t mind paying higher price for, while others I visit to buy seasonal trendy items.

  Through a series of short posts I will introduce you to my favorite brands which have proven to be of a great quality providing a great price per wear value for me and you might also find something for you there or if nothing else maybe just a creative style inspiration.

I have discovered this amazing Spanish casual wear brand when I started coming to Madrid more frequently to visit my boyfriend. One of the Hakei stores is close to his house, this is where I bought those amazing black biker boots bellow.

Here you can find wider selection of Hakei shoes.

Other then great quality leather and wollen accessories with simple but chic details as braided leather straps and mini metal scull heads on purses, I adore Hakei boots, blazers, jewelry and scarves. Hakei has stores all around Spain but has also opened a store in Paris recently.

Bellow you can see the video from the shooting of the latest Hakei collection advertorial for AW 2011/12. Hopefully you like some of Hakei offering as much as I do :) Trust me, its worth every cent! :)

Website/Facebook/Youtube/Twitter

La fashion showroom café

                                

Yesterday morning I have taken my weekend routine of sipping coffee with my girls to "Kvart" café  where once a month special event called "Moda sa šlagom"/"Fashion with cream" is organized in a form of a small designer showroom sale.

The café owner is also the event organizer and her good fashion sense is noticable from the moment you enter the café.The interior is very pleasant with bookshelf and vintage homey "by the fireplace" feel, each table was served with a jar of home made gingerbread and chocolate chip cookies and the overal atmosphere reminded me of the TV show Friends café.

The visitors were encouraged to visit the showroom sale days with handed out stamp cards. Each time you visit the Kvart café during showroom sale you get one stamp, with six collected stamps you get the designer gift!

Four different designers have showed their pieces, my top picks were:

RAJF! - these three ladies have started to make head bands for fun and have participated in the Cosmopolitan & Naomi contest, one of the journalist have named them "Alice in the Wonderland trio". I have ordered a " Minny mouse" bow head band, which I totally fell in love with.

          

Emica - I have had a chance to chat shortly with this young lady. She makes unique leather purses, key chains, belts and other leather accessories. I got a brown leather Lady Gaga inspired robot purse chain on the spot and was really impressed with Emica's purses as the stitching and interior of them were really well made, she chooses a good quality leather which is used in auto industry for car seats and creates fashion forward pieces in terms of design. The best of all is that after all said above the purse prices are still a steal!

 

Right now I am thinking about ordering a leather Birkin looking nude color purse from Emica for spring, one that I can carry all of my books, work stuff, cosmetics, water bottle, extra pantyhose, phones, apple, screwdriver and other miscelleneous objects one can find in a girls purse in.

P.S.The picture of my Gaga purse chain to be added shortly :)

See you all at next "Moda sa šlagom" showroom sale!!!

Xoxo,

Kat

"In difficult times fashion is always outrageous."

Elsa Schiaparelli