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Fashion Obsession of the Day

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It’s been ages since I bought myself a brand new pair of sunglasses. In fact, I think the last ones were my jet black Ray-Ban Aviators, back in 2010. They’ve proved hard as nails and been totally reliable (despite the fact I’ve been taking nowhere near as good enough care of them as I should have). That said, I feel in need of a change and with the weather getting warmer and sunnier, it just feels like the perfect time…

Enter Zylo Eyewear – a company founded in 2013 on the island of Syros by two young, passionate and hard working locals – Eleni Vakondiou and Periklis Therrios. Zylo makes the most gorgeous, hand crafted, wooden glasses and I have fallen hopelessly, head over heels in love with their Twiggy model in Rosewood (see below).

Twiggy / Rosewood | TWR14602 Model

I have e-mailed the company asking for a quote (since prices are currently not available online) and have to admit to being slightly apprehensive re: what the answer might be (since my research indicates that prices range from 160 to 260 euro, depending on the model). That said, I totally understand why a product that’s made of top quality wood and has to undergo a 16- step, fully manual, production process would tend to be on the pricier side of the spectrum. Even more so, when it features high-end HOYA lenses, as is the case with these beauties.

I somehow see myself saving, penny euro by penny euro, until June to get these but you know what? I think it will be totally worth it!

[Images © Zylo Eyewear]

Update: Just got a lovely e-mail, from Eleni and Periklis, informing me that the price for the model in question is 220 euro. There’s no shipping costs and my order will reach me wherever I chose to receive it. I can then try out my shades and, in case I am not 100% happy, ask for a different model (or more) to try. If I still can’t find something that suits me, I can ask for and get a complete (next- day) refund, no questions asked. Whatever the case these guys will, apparently, be happy to oblige – which I think is just excellent customer service! Cudos for your work ethic people – rest assured you’ll be hearing from me soon…

Fashion Obsession of the Day…

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I blame… work for this. More specifically, I blame my colleague “A”. She always comes in looking all chic and fashion forward, but the bag she was sporting today totally awoke the little green monster of jealousy inside – haha!

It’s no big secret I love pop art and especially Roy Lichtenstein, so I guess that should come as no surprise. As soon as I was at my desk, I googled Gabs bags and tried to find the Lichtenstein-esque model in question (apparently the G3 Studio S0117). Turns out it’s out of stock everywhere as it was, apparently, part of their Autumn- Winter 2015 collection. Don’t you just hate it when that happens? Guess it just makes it more of an actual obsession, though…

I’ve contacted the, Firenze based, company via Twitter – in what’s probably gonna prove a fruitless attempt to locate any available stock and am now awaiting a reply. If any of you happen to know where I might be able to purchase this, do let me know.

Meanwhile, here’s a couple of the label’s current convertible designs (the S0148 being my favorite) – which you can check out on the official website:

G3 Studio S0139
G3 Studio S0148
G3 Studio S0141

[Images © Gabs Firenze]

Beauty Obsession of the Day…

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To those of you who know me, personally, this is sure to seem like quite the odd choice. For the rest, let me explain: I have never really been a fan of Kenzo fragrances, which I always found too flowery and girly for my liking. That basically means it’s been forever since I’ve even contemplated stopping by the Kenzo counter to check anything out.

This weekend, my friend K. visited from Athens and we arranged to meet for lunch, dessert and a cup of coffee. On our way we, typically, stopped by one of the major department stores downtown to check out a couple of things (she wanted to buy an umbrella, I wanted to find out whether the Max Factor Creme Puff Blushes were in yet).

After having, inadvertently, bought a Bourjois Rouge Velvet and a Chanel Rouge Coco (more on that in a future post) and while on the way out, I crossed the store’s perfume corner where – for some inexplicable reason – this rose gold bottle (gorgeously designed by Karim Rashid) caught my eye. In my rush to leave the house that morning I had forgotten to wear perfume and since my first whiff of this one seemed promising, I thought I’d spray some on…

Now, I ain’t got much to say except that this is probably my absolute perfect spring/ summer scent. Combining fruity top notes of blood mandarin & pomegranate with the freshness of tea, flowery middle notes of tuberose and freesia and a sensual base of musks and sandalwood, it smells absolutely heavenly and, once sprayed on, keeps getting better (and better) as time passes. Sure, it’s flowery. Probably too flowery – considering the scents I usually go for but, somehow, it works and I’m obsessed… Cudos to Daphné Bugey and Christophe Raynaud for a job extremely well done!

The 30ml bottle is already on my lust (a.k.a. to buy) list for the month to come (I’m already way above my beauty budget for March) and I highly recommend you go check it out too. I have the sneaking suspicion you’ll love it!

‘Son of Rosemary’ by Ira Levin ~ A Review

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Whenever I go shopping downtown, I always end the day with a nice cup of coffee, just after spending a half an hour or so in my favorite bookstore.

During one of my latest visits there, I happened upon ‘Son of Rosemary’ in the new releases section and, being a fan of the original book (& subsequent movie), decided to pick it up and give it a go.

Now, there’s really not much I can say without giving up the plot. I will tell you the book got mixed (mostly negative) reviews by the public, though – which I thought was a bit odd, at first. Having read it, I think I now understand why.

It’s not that it is a bad book, per se. It starts off quite nicely and builds up slowly – with that slightly claustrophobic feel that was characteristic of its predecessor. It does feel slightly predictable (or did to me, at least), but that’s not necessarily bad in itself. Unfortunately, then comes the finale – with a twist that (depending on how one looks at it) may have been the cause of outrage amongst fans of the original.

Choosing to believe in the more mundane version of the finale (which I know does not make much sense now, but will if/ when you read the book), I personally did not think this was all that bad. I didn’t especially mind the way Levin “grounded” the story. That said, having had the choice, I probably wouldn’t have rooted for the sequel being written to begin with. I guess what it all boils down to is “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” (a.k.a. one shouldn’t really mess with a good thing – unadulterated terror included).

Paperback: 224 pages
Publisher: Corsair (18 Sept. 2014)
ISBN-10: 1472111532
ISBN-13: 978-1472111531

Find it in English here

Lifestyle Counter Rating 

Headphones at the Ready: February 2015

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Introducing a new feature sometimes takes a bit of catching up (as evident from my last post). Completing the process, here are my February favorite new album releases:

Now, I have just realised I can directly post albums and playlists from Spotify here (and, hopefully, they’ll work), so I’ll try that for this post. Do let me know if you face any problems or if you just prefer the Spotify/ Soundcloud combo of the January post, though.

Note that the Elwins’ ‘Play for Keeps’ album is not included in the above playlist, since I couldn’t find it on Spotify. You can, however, listen to it here if you’re so inclined.

Enjoy and let me know what you thought (or if you share any of my favorites)!