SANTORINI - A DESTINATION WEDDING

OUR DREAM WEDDING IN SANTORINI . . .

Our amazing wedding trailer and short film by Phosart Cinematography!

Music by Kendrick Lamar

Music by Ex Makina

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Wanderlust on the Runways of Fashion Week

Designers clearly had travel on their minds creating this year's fashion week collections all over the world. From Karl Lagerfeld's first class show of Chanel Airlines to Dolce & Gabbana's destination decked pieces, the spirit of travel was oozing off the runways.

Travel has always been a major influence in fashion. Whether it be a recent vacation or a longing for their homeland, designers are inspired by the very same things that capture our own hearts when we travel. Gorgeous landscapes, vibrant colors, unique architecture and mostly the people of distant lands captivate us and designers alike.

I am personally OBSESSED with the air travel Chanel inspired collection for Spring 2016. Pastels mixed with neutral shades and the ever iconic Chanel tweed textures. My personal favorites from the collection were the accessories. Statement bags in bold shapes and prints. I want, I need, I must have something from this line. Oh, please let's bring back the days of glamorous travel!

CHANEL SP16 - PFW (Photos from WWD)

“Karl’s quite the fantasist — he can dream up a world in which air travel is glamorous.”

— WWD

Dolce & Gabbana - Milan Fashion Week (Photo by Stefano Rellandini/Reuters)

I adore how they are able to translate this feeling and share the beauty of travelling the world. Being mindful of the fine line between inspiration and cultural appropriation, collections like this spark the same wonder in its audience that the designer felt during their travels. Hopefully leaving them wanting to learn more about the origins of its inspiration.

“Their inspiration boards were pasted with printouts of vintage posters advertising the attractions of Capri, Venice, Rome, and Florence; movie stills of Italian stars; and pictures of all kinds of handmade, homemade souvenir embroideries. This summer, the designers have moved on from exploring Sicilian history to seeing Italy’s glories through the eyes of the foreign tourists who began to flood into the country after World War II. “This is where the first boutiques came from,” explained Gabbana. “We think it was the beginning of Italian fashion. And it was because foreigners saw it and liked it! “”

— Vogue.com

The runways at fashion week were screaming travel inspiration.

Anna Sui's Spring line was inspired by a 50's vintage take on her visions of a Tahiti/French Polynesia, while Ralph Lauren's collection shows the glamour of the French Riviera.

Naeem Kahn's collection was inspired by Frida Khalo's Mexico and Mediterranean florals, while Reem Acra drew from her Lebanese roots and highlighted the beauty of Middle Eastern details.

After a devastating earthquake earlier this year, in addition to raising awareness and donations for his homeland of Nepal, Prabal Gurung used Nepal as his muse for his RTW collection.

Naeem Kahn SP16 NYFW- Inspired by Mexico and the Mediterranean (Photos from WWD)

Ralph Lauren SP16 - NYFW - Inspired by the French Riviera (Photos from WWD)

Anna Sui SP16- NYFW -Inspired by Tahiti & French Polynesia (Photos from WWD)

Reem Acra SP16 - NYFW - Inspired by Lebanon & the Middle East (Photos from WWD)

Prabal Gurung SP16 - Inspired by Nepal (Photos from Vogue.com)

Whether it be a particular destination or the glamour of The Art of Travel itself, the collections this year couldn't have better summed up my love for where fashion and travel intersect.

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What does a fashion student in Italy do? Visit leather factories and learn from the experts of course!

The perks of being a fashion student in Italy is that you get to learn first hand from the leading experts and most well know fashion houses of the industry. And what are the Italians certainly experts in? LEATHER, of course! One of the many hands on, out of the classroom experiences my program offered were visits to local leather factories and authentic leather workshops. One of these was a visit to Piero Tucci in Florence, Italy.

Here we learned about several parts of the leather product cycle, from understanding different levels of quality, hide selection, prepping, inking, embossing, and even the cut and sew process of assembling hand made products. While reading about these processes can be informative, authentic hands on learning from the experts is priceless.

There is nothing like seeing the process of raw material being transformed into a beautiful piece of craftsmanship. Italians are all about quality, down to the last detail. And walking through the process in which quality is chosen and then elevated to art is a truly unique experience.

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How Getting Laid Off Was The Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me

My first day in my new apartment in Florence. Photo by Christel Gellidon

Fresh out of college, I was lucky enough to land a corporate buying job with Macy's West. I was driven and eager to get my career off the ground. Like most new grads I was hungry for success and couldn't see any obstacles on my road to success.

So boy did I get a reality check when after almost 2 years of hard work, just a month shy of promotion, did I and over a thousand other Macy's employees get the shocking news that the entire Macy's West San Francisco Office was being laid off. It was 2009 and the economy was still struggling to recover from the recession. In one of the nation's largest layoffs in a single day Macy's laid off a total of 7000 employees nationwide, 1400 of which were from San Francisco.

Macy's Cutting 1400 Jobs in San Francisco - SFGATE

Working in the heart of downtown SF, we passed many homeless individuals on a day to day. That day, they herded us all into a hotel ballroom to tell us the news. As we all walked out with our heads down and our spirits even lower, news crews were already outside covering the story.

I'll never forget that very moment, when a homeless man I had walked past every morning shouted "Don't worry guys! We'll get through this!". Ain't that life for ya. One day you're rushing to your 9 to 5 the next you are unsure about tomorrow.

The in next months that passed, I saw all my colleagues scrambling to update resumes and tirelessly apply for jobs. Retail fashion opportunities were already scarce in the Bay Area and now an entire corporate headquarters full of people were all competing for whatever jobs were open. It was at this moment I decided to go against the grain.

Everyone is applying for every buying opening in San Francisco. I think I'll go the opposite direction.

Florence at Sunset. Photo by Christel Gellidon

I had long dreamed of living abroad. The adventure of travel had always been a deep passion and the thought of living in a foreign land was mesmerizing. After some research I found a Master's program in Fashion Merchandising offered at a prestigious fashion school in Florence, Italy. Without a thought in the world, I went ahead and applied and before I knew it a month later I had my bags packed with a one way ticket to Italy. I left my boyfriend, family, friends and whole life at home, on nothing but faith that this was the right path for me. Was I crazy?!

Firenze at Night. Photo by Christel Gellidon

YES. I sure was crazy. But I always considered that a compliment.

The next 7 months flew by in a whirlwind of adventure, learning and unforgettable memories. In those months I developed the most amazing friendships with my class of women from around the world. 15 women, studying fashion, each from a different corner of globe, all here together to exchange ideas. From visiting leather factories in Florence, to attending Milan Fashion Week, together we were bonded in this once in a lifetime experience. It would forever leave a mark on us all. And since then we have maintained our friendships, and further nurtured our shared love for travel and adventure by reuniting each year in a different country.

Polimoda Master in Fashion Merchandising & Management Class of 2009

From weddings in India, to New Year's Eve in Brazil to holidays in Dubai, the friendships I developed in Florence, keeps me exploring the true meaning of “The Fashion World”

All of which would have never happened if I had never been laid off from my corporate job. Taking a heartbreaking event, and refusing to surrender to the idea of defeat, I used that very same moment of "failure" to push me towards an ever greater path of success. A true testament to the idea of a "blessing in disguise" getting laid off was truly the best things that ever happened to me. It forever changed my life, and I couldn't be happier to have let it done so.

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Colors of Brazil - Adriana Barra

During a trip to Sao Paulo, a local friend took me to visit a lovely boutique by Brazilian designer, Adriana Barra.

www.adrianabarra.com.br

I was immediately blown away by the vibrant patterns and colors.

Her mix of stark black and white with splashes of color was unique.

Every piece was full of life.

Her collections convey the positive energy, fun and freedom of the Brazilian lifestyle.

A breath of fresh air among many muted and simplistic designs trending. It was like walking through one life-size, colorful piece of art.

With a background in several creative mediums including, fashion design, interior design and photography, she left no detail untouched.

From the interior decor, to the rolls of raw fabric, the entire shop displayed her clever knack for visual art. I was delighted to learn she also studied in Florence, Italy as I did.

A truly unique and memorable visit in Brazil. Adriana's vision kept me wanting more.

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Style Profile: Michelle de Matheu

"I show that clothes are a vehicle, a SECRET LANGUAGE. It expresses your personality, thoughts and feelings. "

Style Icons - Streets of India by Christel Gellidon

Photos by Christel Gellidon

Traveling to India was truly an inspiration overload. I could not stop clicking my camera. Everywhere I turned was a moment to capture. Vibrant colors, captivating emotions. A culture shock, and a great one. While the poverty was indeed saddening, I was moved by the overpowering kind and warm spirit of the Indian people.

Here are a few inspirations from the streets of India.

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Going Gaga in the Gold Souk : Dubai

I had been reading about the legendary gold souks of Dubai long before my trip. The souks, or markets of Dubai are located in the older part of town in Deira.

When I finally visited this market of my dreams, the tantalizing array of gold and jewels far exceeded anything I envisioned. It was more than my senses could take!

A born and bread lover of opulence, I was in sheer awe at the extravagance and intricacy of the art being sold at the gold souk.

While Dubai is well known for its wealth and unmatched luxuries, I had never seen jewelry, or masterpieces rather, so breathtaking.

A necklace seems to be an understatement for the massive gold bibs as I will call them, that lined the windows of every shop. These things were pure gold, some encrusted with precious stones that stretched from the neck to the waist. Each with a unique design, down to the most intricate detail. Our guide informed me these beautiful pieces were traditional wedding jewelry for Arabic women.

I had the pleasure of trying on one of these beautiful pieces.

18k pure Italian gold. A mere $55,000.

That thing was heavy I tell you! But I still didn't want to take it off.

Difficult not to feel like a Sheikah in such royal jewelry. A girl could get used to this kind of bling!

Thank you to Hussein and his team at the Al-Romaizan shop for allowing me to try on, a such a high roller piece of merchandise, when it's generally not allowed. This was just one of their many amazing pieces of jewelry.

One day I vow to return to these halls of wonder and buy a gold bib!

She will be mine. Oh YES. She will be MINE.

But until then the glitz and glimmer of my memory will have to do.

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China: Through the Looking Glass

This Spring the Anna Wintour Costume Center at the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute brings us CHINA: Through the Looking Glass, a unique look at traditional Chinese fashion and art.

The collection will feature over 130 fashion pieces drawn from the Chinese culture' inspiration. The tone of the collection is accompanied by film clips depicting the influence of Chinese culture on the cinema industry.

“NEW YORK — Combining fashion and film, the spring exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute will be “China: Through the Looking Glass.””

— www.washingtonpost.com

Anna Wintour visited Beijing early this month to promote the upcoming collection., meeting with local designers from the country.

A major landmark at the intersection between fashion and travel, collections such as these not only emphasize the artistic design of the garments but more importantly celebrates the culture that inspires such masterpieces.

As wearable art, fashion draws inspiration from all corners of life. One of the most genuine of those is drawing from one's own cultural roots and reinventing the ideas as their own.

“We have a good tradition of going to the appropriate cities to launch these events…it’s a gesture of support and respect for whatever the subject matter of the exhibition might be,”

- Anna Wintour for WWD

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Ralph Lauren Channels Arabian Inspiration for SS15

Ralph Lauren channels some Arabian Inspiration with camels gracing his Spring Summer 2015 ads alongside new comer Sanne Vloet, looking ever so chic in the desert.

The safari influence is in full effect making the collection's neutral shades and sleek lines give new meaning to the Desert Safari.

Spot on timing for this trend inspiration was my own safari inspirations from my recent trip to Dubai this November. An unforgettable first visit to the middle east.

I spent one evening dune bashing my way through the Dubai desert. Which I must say was incredible fun and exhilarating ride! Riding camels through the desert, a traditional Arabic mean under the stars, followed by dance performance by a dervish and a belly dancer.

Here are some of my own photos from this amazing experience.

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EMILIO PUCCI - Cities of the World Limited Collection Scarves

This Fall, the fashion house Emilio Pucci launched a very special collection of exclusive scarves, call the Cities of the World. These beautifully designed pieces, showcase six of the most amazing international cities across the world: Paris, New York, Shanghai, Florence, Rome and Hong Kong. Each design is a a special hand drawn print that highlights the unique culture and style of these iconic cities, while incorporating the signature vibrancy of colors well known to the Pucci brand.

These gorgeous scarves are only available in limited quantities and can only be purchased exclusively at the Emilio Pucci Boutiques or online store.

Check out these beautiful works of art HERE

I SO want one of these super chic scarves, of course my eye is on the Florence piece as Firenze will always have a special place in my heart.

A truly unique piece for any travel and fashion enthusiast.

The Cities of the World Collection is just THE accessory must have for all those living at the intersection of Fashion and Travel, like myself.

A girl can only hope the House of Pucci will expand the collection to feature even more amazing cities across the world. How great would it be to collect these to celebrate all the memorable cities you have traveled to?! And one for your home town too of course!

Dear Mr. Peter Dundas, a San Francisco backdrop would be nothing short of gorgeous with one of your colorful designs!

Sincerely, Stelavie, Where Fashion and Travel Intersect

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WANDERLUST

My dream is simple.

See the world.

And do it with style.

Photo by @stelavie_

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CHANEL CRUISE 2014/2015 DEBUTS IN DUBAI

CHANEL CRUISE 2014/2015 DEBUTS IN DUBAI

Yesterday Karl Lagerfeld debuted the Chanel Cruise collection for 2014/15 in an ultra chic and exclusive fashion show held on a private island, named THE ISLAND, in Dubai. The setting alone speaks volumes for this fashion powerhouse’s ever evolving vision. It’s not just relevant but a force to be reckoned as it continues to command design driven fashion amongst today’s many market driven assortments.

With private boats that escorted the A-list guests to The Island, custom Chanel tents, cushioned floor seating and Arabic fare that set the mood of the evening, it was sure to be nothing short of magical. It was simply beautiful how the Lagerfeld not only chose Dubai as his venue, but incorporated the very culture and heart of the Emirate into his collection and presentation. This collaboration between the culture and fashion is the very ideal that gets me excited about fashion.

AH this even is everything I dream of. High Fashion. An Exotic Destination. Exclusivity and Luxury. Oh a girl can only dream to one day be invited to such an event.

It will happen. One day.

The collection was moving, with vibrant prints, lush textures and flowing lines. The Arabic culture clearly played a huge inspirational role as illustrated by the harem bottoms, intricate mosaic-like patterns and the heavy, ornate jewelry.

The undeniable signature piece was the gold quilted Jerrycan handbag. Structured. Editorial. Boundary blind.

Lagerfeld continues to leave us awestruck.

With my first trip to the Emirates planned for this coming November, this show has only fueled my excitement to discover the rich heritage and fashion Dubai has to offer.

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Every garment radiates elegance and chic sophistication. LANVIN RESORT 2014 MYTRND.COM REVIEW BY CHRISTEL GELLIDON

MYTREND.COM REVIEW OF LANVIN RESORT COLLECTION 2014 LOOKBOOK

BY CHRISTEL GELLIDON

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