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
A couple of weeks ago I had the privilege of visiting two Italian cities—Milan and Florence—which had historically vied for the title of the country’s fashion capital. It was a fascinating insight into Italy’s passion for “bello ben fatto” (beautiful well made) – and how sustainability fits within this concept. Milan is synonymous with high fashion: … Continue reading
With a Greek name that translates as ‘foreigner’ or ‘hospitality’, I feel a special Hellenic connection. One of my favourite places in the world is the spectacular island of Santorini in southern Aegean Sea, a jewel among Greece’s 2,000 islands, where I spent my honeymoon. However, following worrisome developments in Greece over the past few months, … Continue reading
This week, my son turned seven. Choosing a present for a boy his age can be tricky: how does one compete with an iPad for his undivided attention? What kind of gifts would be good for both our children and our planet? Here are some ideas. While my son really doesn’t think that clothes make good presents, he very … Continue reading
Lingerie – or simply put, underwear – is a woman’s ultimate weapon of seduction. From briefs to bras, and from camisoles to corsets, our intimate apparel is a relatively recent – yet essential – addition to our wardrobes. In fact, one of the earliest pair of undergarments still in existence belonged to Queen Victoria. Her Majesty’s impressive … Continue reading
My three-year-old daughter is obsessed with princess dresses, especially those in lurid colours. Taking them off at bedtime is a constant battle. What I would really love to ask the scientists decoding the human genome is what exactly makes girls genetically programmed to go for pink — of all the colours in nature’s palette! Now don’t get me … Continue reading
For some, this phrase conjures images of big hair and shoulder pads as seen on Dynasty characters and 1980s air hostesses. Yet for many women in the public eye – be it business, politics or international affairs – power dressing is a part of their job. Thankfully, many of them have adopted a much more sophisticated approach to dressing for … Continue reading
The start of a new year is the time to dream big, lay out one’s ambitions and launch new projects. In short, it is all about great expectations! Definitely so for me as I have decided to take a career break this year in order to focus entirely on sustainable luxury fashion in general and this blog in … Continue reading
As I write this post after nearly a two-month hiatus, I am staring out of my window onto a hazy and shimmery late autumn day in Switzerland, hills covered in auburn and golden foliage with an occasional dark green patch. I have just returned from Australia where temperatures had already soared to 40 degrees C … Continue reading
Last week at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, British actress Emma Watson, the Harry Potter star and Goodwill Ambassador for UN Women, took a stand. Quite literally. In her 13-minute speech, she launched the #HeforShe campaign for gender equality. While the reaction in the media – both mainstream and social – has been rather mixed, … Continue reading
green stilettos 