Louis Vuitton, Chanel, McQueen chewing gum by Paul Stiven

Obviously it had to be an italian, Paul Stiven (not sure about how italiano his surname is..). He recently came up with the latest disposable accessory...in times when everything we own, wear, drive, use, and eat is logo-ed..this disposable accessory being mint chewing gum in cute tin boxes all in different shapes and sizes with different high end brand logos on them. In a blink of an eye I paid almost 5 euro for a perfect little box of Chanel gum. Karl would be very glad; I'm sure that when he's not drinking one of his perfect Diet Cokes, he's munching on a black and white mint gum.

Damn, this just shows how powerful these brand names are...they're glorified by all that understand something about fashion...out of which not everyone can afford something from McQueen, Hermes or Dolce Gabbana. But gum, well, logo-ed gum, that just makes you feel a little bit special. Or slightly entertained every time you want minty fresh breath.

Circeo - where Romans go when it gets unbearably hot

I went to S.Felice Circeo ( Italy) yesterday... The sun was hot, almost all of the shops, bars, and pastry shops were closed waiting for the vacationers, the sea was calm, but the water still freezing, and the food was great. The atmosphere was as peaceful as it could be. We were the only customers at "Le Tre Sorelle" (which is part of the "La Bussola" beach club) where a bored little girl was playing in her imaginary world and we enjoyed home made ravioli and risotto with prawns. Then we sun-bathed nearby for a few hours and I tried to do some yoga on the beach, which sadly ended with a quite few laughs and my complete embarrassment..which yummy baci di dama and mignon al cioccolato from Circeo's famous "Casa del Dolce" helped to overcome. I'll have to go back for their famous mozzarella di bufala though...

If you are planning on visiting Italy for your next vacation, click here for the best Italy travel ideas.

Zoc of Rome's Via della Zoccolette

My best friend's cool daddy recently opened a new restaurant in Rome's center, called ZOC. The idea is: healthy, organic, where almost all of the ingredients (except the spices..) used are grown in the region of Lazio (of which Rome is the 'capital'), therefore: very environment friendly. And it has that perfect, vintage feel; soft jazz/lounge music, vintage/second-hand chairs and tables for sale, an unfinished feel, odd lamps, found objects from around the city, and a window through which curious clients can peek into the kitchen to admire it's yummy head chef. We tasted his experimental margherita pizza and a delicious pear sorbetto with ginger....which went great with a glass of local white wine. I'll write more about ZOC next week.....my Italian 'sister' is having her graduation aperitivo there on Tuesday night. 

go to http://www.zoc22.it/

Eequal for OVS by C'N'C Costume National

After reading about it online and on several free press newspapers, I decided to go see for myself what the absence of fuss was about. Yes, absence of fuss. Nobody is talking about it; it seems as if it's something hidden, something to be kept secret. When H&M collaborates with designers, it's known far and wide and people rush to the stores to get whatever little accessory they can lay their sneaky hands on....being it an odd stripy Sonia Rykiel for H&M bra or terrible pleather jacket from Madonna's collection. The twist must be in the fact that Ennio Capasa's (Costume National) collection for OVS (Oviesse.....an Italian family clothes store) is not a temporary collaboration, but something that's supposed to last. Well, being advertised so poorely, I doubt it will last much. The clothes are very cool, actually; I ooh-ed and aah-ed over a few perfect blazers, and really wanted that sexy, skimpy dark blue naked-back mini-dress for just 89.90 euros. And I almost bought one of those perfect à la Gucci/Dolce&Gabbana skinny ties for one of my more metrosexual male friends. Which I most probably would have kept for myself anyway........

Lady Gaga torn between the Good and the Evil in "Born this Way"

Resort style from a galaxy far, far away

Today we're at war, against ourselves, other men and against nature. We fight for a better tomorrow, for shelter, for freedom, and the chance to see and enjoy all of this. Those of us who are not OK with a "normal" life, whatever that might mean to each and every one of us, dream of a "explosive outwards expansion", as Scottish designer Christopher Kane metaphorically explained his latest Resort collection for his own label. His Resort 2011 collection was full of dreamy galaxy inspired garments; his dresses, tops and jumpsuits looked like snapshots of a Star Wars movie, worn by Queen Amidala, or Princess Leia herself. So why don't we learn from these fictional beauties and prepare ourselves and our wardrobes for a cosmic catastrophe, if such must occur.

Gap for 10 Corso Como





 Already from the 25th of September, a limited-edition capsule collection of Gap garments is held in Carla Sozzani's realm of creativity 10 Corso Como. Always "in the know" of today's cool, Sozzani welcomes the giant of U.S. fast fashion: "T-shirts are Gap's trademark garments as much as the graphic motif is 10 Corso Como's icon. Together, they will create a new identity."