A few years ago, in the dog days of summer, I attended a friends’ wedding on the beautiful Croatian coast. The bride was gorgeous and blushing, and the groom was dapper in his dark suit paired with a lilac tie. Quite venue-appropriate, I thought, given that Croatia is the birthplace of this ubiquitous male accessory. …
Earlier this month I had the opportunity to visit the beautiful region of Bordeaux in south-western France. Renowned for its good food and wine, Bordeaux certainly did not disappoint. What’s more, it offered a taste of some of the world’s best organic wines. Organic wine, known in France by ‘Agriculture Biologique’ or ‘Vin Bio’ labels, …
It’s been a year since the release of The True Cost, a documentary film that explores the environmental and social cost of our global addiction to ‘fast fashion’. During the recent Festival de Cinéma des Cinq Continents, I had the great pleasure and honour to host an event with Livia Firth, founder of the Green Carpet …
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that stiletto heels remain the stuff of dreams for women and men alike. As stilettos celebrate their 110th anniversary, here’s a short history of this famed footwear — from fashion splurges to fetish items. Although slender high heels had been worn by French courtiers as early as late 19th century, it was shoemaker Andre Perugia …
In honour of Independence Day, we look at US ethical fashion brands you can proudly wear to Fourth of July parties and sing The Star Spangled Banner in. Today, 97% of garments sold in the US are made elsewhere, mainly in China, India and Mexico. But even clothing that displays the ‘Made in USA’ label … Continue reading
Every now and then, we all need to recharge our batteries and the best way for me to do it is to indulge in a spa treatment by the sea. This year, I chose the Dead Sea, the lowest place on Earth, which offers a cornucopia of natural remedies for body and soul. As the … Continue reading
This year’s Fashion Revolution Week kicks off on Monday, encouraging millions of fashion lovers around the world to ask brands and themselves a simple question: “Who made my clothes?” Born out of the indignation following the 2013 Rana Plaza disaster in Bangladesh, Fashion Revolution has gone from strength to strength, with over 80 countries participating … Continue reading
Earlier this month, the music world mourned the passing of one of the brightest stars of the century, David Bowie, who was known for his fearless and inimitable fashion sense. He was the ultimate British eccentric who was mixing three piece suits with jumpsuits, wearing make-up and high heels, and gender bending before the term even existed. This … Continue reading
2015 was, by many accounts, a tumultuous year in fashion, marked by high-profile changes at the helm of major brands and the tightening grip of luxury conglomerates both on- and offline. Some pundits predict an impending industry-wide crisis brought about by the ever-faster fashion model. As The Independent’s Alexander Fury points out, “’Fast fashion’ is … Continue reading
The festive season is once again upon us, and what could be better than a gift that gives back? As Francis of Assisi said, “For it is in giving that we receive”. Here are some ideas for ‘charitable gifting’ to end the year in green-and-glam style. Charity Baskets from Marni This Christmas, Marni offers a limited … Continue reading
Aside from chocolate and watches, Switzerland is world famous for its banks—and their gold reserves. In fact, 70% of this prized metal is refined in Switzerland. A little while ago I attended a conference titled ‘Clean gold: is it possible?’ organized by SWISSAID. Held in a historic Palais Eynard in Geneva, the event brought together representatives … Continue reading
