HVAR: Where I found Croatian fashion amongst the yacht life and beach parties

Stelavie in Hvar, Croatia. Dress by ASOS

The second stop during my visit to Croatia was the stunning island of Hvar. Famed as the posh destination for yacht week and glamorous beachside parties, the vibe in here was very different from that of Dubrovnik, yet matched its beauty.

After a four hour catamaran ride across the Adriatic, where we were lucky to catch the breathtaking sunset, we arrived in Hvar.

Turquoise blue water against the mediterranean architecture, with a coast lined with yachts, each bigger than the next. Did I just land into a scene from lifestyles of the rich and famous?!

There seemed to be a much larger tourist presence in Hvar, but it had a charm all on its own. More delicious seafood, all topped with more truffles. Lot's of pizza with a Croatian twist and all kinds of pastries filled with both savory and sweet goodness.

The crowds were both young and old, but all with one common objective in mind. To relax and have fun! Some brought their own parties as they pulled up in their massive yachts alongside the dozens of others who were there to do the same. While others, like the masses of college kids, ventured off to the beachside parties to enjoy the sunset with a drink in hand and music to set the tone.

Hula Hula Beach Bar. Photo by Christel Gellidon

My friends and I checked out the popular Hula Hula Beach Bar, known for having the best sunset view and best party scene to match. It did not disappoint. Tasty cocktails in a crowded setting along the coast, where you could choose to party hard alongside the DJ or sneak off to the amazing beach beds on the rocks and take in the sunset away from the crowd while still enjoying the music.

View from Hotel Amfora by Christel Gellidon

The view from our hotel, The Grand Hotel Amfora overlooked the Adriatic Sea and our own private beach. Five minutes walking distance to the main port of Hvar.

Bonj les Bains. Photo by Christel Gellidon

Take a walk with me, through the streets of Hvar.

We ventured away from the gorgeous coast into the narrow and winding cobble stoned paths inside Hvar. Lined with several shops and restaurants and, this is where the true locals of Hvar were.

Croatian Fashion

I stumbled upon a charming jewelry boutique, SOVILJ HVAR, selling unique, one of kind pieces, like the resin necklace I'm wearing below. I'm so happy to have discovered a Croatian designer in this wonderful shop.

A beautifully curated collection of wearable art, the owner and designer, Mr. Nenad Sovilj, is one of few well known Croatian designers. Inspired by nature and its elements, each piece is hand crafted like a sculpture by Mr. Sovilj. He often works with resin, metal and semi precious stones. His designs are unique, statement pieces and a beautiful Croatian piece of art indeed. And while my personal budget did not allow me to bring home one of his pieces on this trip, I will definitely be coming back to purchase a piece of Sovilj art on my next visit.

http://www.sovilj.com/

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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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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.