AMSTERDAM: CITY GUIDE BY A BLOGGER
Art galleries museums, foodie, shopping and general recommendations from a savvy travel blogger.
Saturday, October 24, 2015
Thursday, October 22, 2015
BALMAIN @ H&M - en México
¡SI! Una de mis marcas favoritas está haciendo una colaboración con H&M.
No les voy a mentir, me urge que salgan! Si estan en México podrán obtener a colección únicamente en el H&M de Santa Fé a partir del 5 de noviembre. . . aunque eso de “a partir” es puro cuento, dudo que les quede inventario después de los primeros días.
BALMAIN @ H&M - en México
Wednesday, October 21, 2015
AMSTERDAM: CITY GUIDE BY A BLOGGER
I have to admit, I´ve had an ongoing affair with Amsterdam for quite some time now.
I remember the first time I visited this gorgeous city on a family trip to Europe: we stayed in a hotel on the riverbank on the north of town. The first day we did the museums, the breweries and the family dinner, as per our usual trips. At night my brother and I pretended to be tiered, went up to our room and escaped out the window. The plan to go “explore” the coffee shops and the red district. . . truth be told, we never really made it past the first Nutella shop. The curiosity for this forbidden city lingered for years and the tradition to seriously pig out on Nutella when in Amsterdam remained unbreakable for years to come.
I have now been back a few times since and believe me, the red district and coffee shops are not the best the city has to offer, quite frankly I do believe they are manufactured for bachelor parties and overrated in most cases. If you want to really experience the city or are there for long enough, I recommend going just past the red district. That is where the real treasures unfold.
..and no, they aren´t all naughty (only some).
1. TOURISTIC POINTS
If you have never been to Amsterdam do get the touristy bits out of the way. Get on a Hop-On-Hop-Off bus and do the whole rout. This will take you through the main museums, like the Anna Frank, the Van Gogh and the Rijksmuseum. The bus also stops on the main shopping area, the flower market and the diamond factory.
Out of all these you simply CANNOT miss the Van Gogh if you are into Art, the Anna Frank if you are a history buff, and of course, the Diamond factory if you want to spend on some seriously high quality jewellery (or at least learn how to identify a good diamond).
Personally I am not a huge fan of pre-set tours, but I always inspect the routs because quite frankly sometimes its just a hell of a lot easier to hop on a bus than stopping a cab when you are trying to cram a lot of things in a couple of days. Having said that, if the weather allows it rent a bike and follow the bus trail around town!
And yes, you can still top the bike ride. This city is famous for it canals so get a boat tour and enjoy the sights (specially recommend the dinner tours at night!).
NOTE:If you plan to go to the museums BUY YOUR TICKETS ONLINE BEFOREHAND. The que is otherwise a slow torture.
Do try the cheeses. AMAZING.
Stop at the flower market – but remember that you won´t be able to take unpackaged flowers or bulbs through all customs. Check with your customs office before leaving home.
2. ART, DESIGN AND ARCHITECTURE
They have some amazing architectural tours that remain on my Amsterdam to-do list for next time. Until I do them I wouldn´t be able to recommend any specifics but I have to say that after overhearing a couple of guides, I think they are well worth the time and money.
GALLERY WALK
Like I mentioned previously, the museums that must be done are the Van Gogh and the Rijksmuseum – but if you are a fan of modern art there is an entire street called Haazenstrat full of great quality galleries, design stores and bohemian coffee shops really worth stopping at.
Also check out the antique shops. If you are a designer or appreciate well crafted vintage items, I promise you you will be drooling over the 1920´s rolling ball clocks and the collection of pristine antique furniture.
GET EXPERIMENTAL
If you are into more experimental or fleeting pop-up art shows, these are some of the venues that host great art events:
COLLECTORS
And if you collect Art and want to find some serious investment pieces, contact these auction houses:
You can find the events calendar for all of the above HERE: http://www.amsterdamart.com/calendar
Also, don´t miss the antique shops. Really worth going into even just for curiosity. They have the oddest things!
3. SHOPPING!
SHOES
I have one regret and one regret only on this trip. . . As we strolled back to the hotel after a day of art galleries and afternoon drinks we bumped into shoes hop by Shoebaloo (online shoe retailer). It was FILLED with Isabel Marants, Pradas, Guccis, Valentinos and every other awesome highstreet and obscure european designer you can imagine – all on sale at the time-. The shop was closing and being one that hates rushed shopping I decided to go back later on in the week. Three days passed and when I went back most of the shoes I had seen were GONE. (sniff)
So, when you do go to this place, please buy like there is no tomorrow – because there really isn´t when it comes to shoes. (They do one pair per size in most brands. Wish I had know that earlier).
SHOES
Shoebaloo @ Cornelis Schuytstraat 9 and annother @ Hooftstraat 80 (I tried both).
FANCY PANTS
For designer shopping try the Pieter Cornelisz Hooftstraat street (past the museums away from the central station)
MAIN STREAM BRANDS
Walk all down Hooftstraat for local and mainstream brands As you go past H&M turn to the side streets for more boutiques.
Stop for Nutella Crepes and sparkling wine along the way as often as possible.
Like outlets?
http://www.bataviastad.nl/en/plan-your-visit/specialservices/shopping-shuttle/ Go here. I didn´t go this time (found out too late!) but I hear good things.
4. FOODIE STOPS & DRINKS
When it comes to outings, again, if it´s your first time in Amsterdam, have a walk around the Red district. What you will find is …well, what you expect. Have a look and a wander, but keep going south-west away from the center and towards the Van Gogh museum, here you will find more local areas and residential bars that are really worth going to. These are my picks:
SUNDOWNER DRINKS & VIEWS
Go to THE SKY BAR (near the central station, on top of the double tree hilton) there you will have a spectacular view of the city and it is a great sunset spot. RSVP. Its not a bad idea to spend the night at the hotel either. Great service good food, and the yummiest chocolate cookies at check in. They had me at hello.
SHOPPING BREAKS
Try MOMO it is an exquisite Asian fusion place, and near all the designer shops. @Hobbemastraat 1
COFFEE
Seeing that my husband is a professional coffee taster, when i am with him we can only drink “the best”. So trust me on this: Try CAFE VAN KERKWIJK @Nes 41
Also try the large white café in front of the Van Gogh museum. I cannot recall the name but it was very good.
Also, on the high-street fashion road there are several outdoor cafés. They are fantastic for a pint, wine coffee and a snack, but be warned they are a bit touristic, expensive and the food isn´t always the best in my experience.
MY FAVOURITE
ZAZA´S
@Daniel Stalpertstraat 103hs, 1072 XD Amsterdam
Simply amazing, gorgeous modern decoration, delicious, lovely service. I want to eat there everyday. Do not eat nutella crepes before going here. Try the desserts.
A DRINK FOR BOND
TRY THE VESPER BAR. James Bond inspired. @Vinkenstraat 57, 1013 JM Amsterdam
Shaken. Not stirred.
SPEAK EASY
I am a huge huge fan of prohibition era bars. Try DOOR 74@Reguliersdwarsstraat 74I, 1017 BN
TASTE THE LOCALS
PROEFLOKAAL ARENDSNEST @Herengracht 90, 1015 BS Amsterdam
100 locally brews to try. They also serve sparkling wine and cocktails.
Try the Bitterballen. Need I say more?
As far as clubs go, I have to admit, I didn´t find any worth recommending – but I will get back to you on that one. I will have to go back. I´m still dreaming about those shoes.
5. The most important thing of every trip: great company.
AMSTERDAM CITY GUIDE 1.0
AMSTERDAM: CITY GUIDE BY A BLOGGER
Thursday, October 15, 2015
How to wear a lace skirt this fall
For a while I´ve had my eyes on lace skirts. There is something boheme and whimsical about them that pulls me. . . but that catwalk look that proposes lace head-to-toe is not may thing. I am not a huge fan of too much of a busy look, I like a cleaner aesthetic. So I kept wondering how I could wear a lace skirt this fall to make it more my style without loosing the essence of the trend.
I had my doubts about the whole lace thing, but I figured that contrasting textures and color blocks could do the trick. This is how to wear a lace skirt this fall. Love it.
Skirt, feathered bracelet and sunglasses by Zara, Doubble stitch knit top by Club Monaco, Vintage Pashmina and gorgeous Malosa boots, by my friend Isa.
How do YOU wear lace?
How to wear a lace skirt this fall
Tuesday, October 13, 2015
Thursday, October 8, 2015
Beat a bipolar cocktail with a mid-season cocktail
Right now the climate in Mexico has more issues than Vogue. During the last week the days start with a cloudy note and I shivering under the covers. After procrastinating getting up for about 20 minutes I eventually drag myself out of bed, still wrapped in the duvet, to make my morning lemon-water (more on that routine later). I then shower, find the cosiest sweater in my suitcase and head out. Thats all good and sweet until 10 am, when the sun starts shining and I get hot-flashes. And in the afternoon? Well, around 7pm the cold steak comes back. Everything in between is a play between hot and cold, where I jump from shades into sunlight to stay comfortable.
Amidst my temperature struggle it occurred to me that one of two things might be off: either I´ve started menopause a few decades early or the climate change has finally taken it´s toll. I´d like to say I hope its not the former. . . or the latter, to that matter.
…Anyway, I tell you all this as a prelude to my solution to the problem. The obvious is to turn to the millenary solution of “layering” – of which I am an expert, if I may say so myself. After living in Bogota, Colombia, one learns how to layer sweaters, jackets, coats and scarves strategically over crop tops and miniskirts to go out dancing at night. (Any self-respecting “rola” (girl from Bogota) will be able to credit this). And while this solution is infallible it is not the most practical when one has to carry all the layers around. With the schedule I currently have in Mexico, preparing for design weeks, running to meetings, managing production and such, this is not the most practical thing and coming home to change or leaving things in the car aren´t realistic options either as I Uber everywhere I go due to traffic.
So I have designed a new alternative for you climate-change-outfit needs. I call it “the mid season cocktail” and it consists of mixing garments from two contrasting seasons. Genius!
…Ok. Maybe there is nothing ground breaking about it, but it works like a charm.
Crop top by Club Monaco, Gap jeans, Blahnik sandals and a scarf from the back of my closet. And to add a bit of sparkle (since I cant wander around the cit with my blingy wedding bands), a mix of rings by Orelia, Bimba y Lola and Mercedes Salazar.
Climate change challenge completed. #Win
Gracias México.
XOXO
Beat a bipolar cocktail with a mid-season cocktail
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