Fashion in Spain, from sunglasses to shoes to accessories

Just wanted to let you know of an offer my employer is organising: boots and shoes sale here http://en.designerseven.com/Shoes/All/139/index.htm . We are refocusing our product range into sunglasses anbd frames, so a wholesaler is coming next week to buy the remainder of our shoes collection. So the prices are ridiculously low now. Obviously I work for this website, so don't take my word for it, see if there's anything you like, shipping to Spain is 8 euros. If it's your first time on the website you get an automatic discount too.

I'll update you if there's anything else coming up.

With the recent improvement in the weather it's appropriate to start talking about bikinis. I know, a tongue-in-cheek subject, but it's the only motivation that works with me to get me to drag my feet to the gym!

I personally like most the Zara bikini collection for 2011. You can see the bikini list on their website here. The most convenient aspect of Zara's new stock is that you can buy the bikini pieces separately so you can combine them easily with each other, and with jeans or skirts when walking the paseo maritimo, if you are feeling daring. Bright colours, conventional cut, clear lines, and bikinis are probably the only clothing item you can get away with wearing horizontal stripes! You can see this year's tendencies are spreading, as Pull & Bear is also moving along similar lines http://www.demujer.es/bikinis-pull-and-bear-2011/

Reasonable prices too at Zara, watch this space as I am looking for discount coupons for other shops too. 

Paris fashion week this March was overshadowed by the notable absence of John Galliano, designer for Dior. The news that you may be aware of is that Galliano made racist remarks (while under the influence of alcohol) and that cost him his job after it was caught on video. The remarks were made on the 12th of December 2010. The video was made public by none other than The Sun, here is a report from You Tube:

The main result was that more is coming out of the woodwork, as another woman has accused Galliano since then of also making racist comments to her in October last year. The Dior house clearly had to be seen to act drastically on these news, and Sidney Toledano, the firm's president declared: We absolutely condemn the remarks made by Galliano sine they stand to complete contradiction with the values aspoused by the Dior company. 

The court case will take place on the 12th May, until then Dior has some damage limitation to take care of. 

I think you've all seen them, the most popular beach shoes that can double up as evening outing attire.

Just joking ... I mean the straw heel ones below:

In Spanish they are called "espadrillas" in case you want to ask for them at the shop, it's actually an international word so you could see them referred to as such anywhere. It seems like they are still in fashion in Spain this year, all shops have restocked them again and I see them worn all over Spain. Not just at the beaches but inland too, Madrid etc. They are cheap and they still manage to look elegant after you come out of the sand!

The first week of March saw the Celine line created by Phebe Philo in Paris. The theme was in praise of the woman at the wheel of a car. The connection between the inspiration and the resulting garment is not exactly obvious, but both are interesting. Unlike previous seasons, this is an arid and experimental point which makes it less immediately attractive. The splendid trousers and clean silhouettes are still there, but there are also prints and coats that, frankly, are not as easy to accept.

For more fotos and comments see this fashion report from El Pais here. As the author also points out, the Spanish woman has had enough years of being forced to wear straight lines and asexual clothes, especially at the work place. This new line by Celine is more in place in a northern country perhaps, but not Madrid or Barcelona, and definitely not the south of the country. The austere look is somehow not worn in Spain and is best avoided.

Next up, some positive observations from the fashion show, watch this space.

Rose