NEW SPOT

By Retro

There is this store, hidden in a passage in the center of Istanbul.
A vintage walhalla, so big, that the first time I went there I almost got lost!
Name it, they have it: from lammycoats, parka's, hats, sunglasses, bags, clutches to the best costumes for a dress up party.


 WHY: 

NEW SPOT

Hotel Mama Shelter Istanbul.

They have locations in Paris, Marseille, Lyon, Bordeaux and...yes also in Istanbul!
A very fashionable place which you must not miss.
Don't worry if you already booked your hotel, because it's more than that.
Located in the heart of the city (Beyoglu) and since I already had great parties, cocktails and food there I had to share this with you.

WHY:
- Great design interior
- Beautiful rooms
- A really nice restaurant with good food
- Delicious cocktails
- The best rooftopbar

HOMEMADE: BOTTLE LAMP

For several years I went to France every summer. The food, the cosy villages, romantic houses, sunny weather and not to forget the brocante markets and old barns along the side of the road that you discover by accident, that's what France is about.

A lot of people would only see a pile of trash in those barns and markets, but I often go a little bit crazy when I'm there.

A while ago I found these very big, old, wine bottles. I brought them back to the Netherlands and made them into lamps.

(The green one with white lampshade is mine, the others are Martin Margiela's)

What you need:

ALMOST WEEKEND

HOMEMADE: SPICY PAPRIKA HUMMUS

After two months of going out for lunch, my wallet starts to feel a lot lighter.
The point is, I am not satisfied with an ordinairy peanutbutter sandwich. I like food to much for that.
So what is delicious, cheap, healty, easy and homemade what I can eat for breakfast/lunch and take with me...?

So today I started making a big jar of spicy red paprika hummus.
Recipe..

ALMOST WEEKEND

There it is again... the it's-almost-weekend-song to get you into the party mood.
Get of that couch, who cares the sun is not shining..thank god it's friday!!

 

DESTINATION NICARAGUA

This summer I visited the beautiful and tropical Nicaragua.
My boyfriend was travelling around the world for 6 months and Nicaragua was the last destination and the country where we met again.

I did know little about the country, I had heard of it offcourse, but really did not know what to expect from it. I have to say, it is definitely worth a visit.
So pure, beautiful nature, beaches, volcano's, tropical islands and more important: lovely and honest people.
A photo-impression of Nicaragua and my five weeks backpacking adventure:

SATURDAY'S BREAKFAST

For today:

Journey Cihangir

Yesterday evenening I met up with friends, just one drink and not go home late.
My head touched the pillow of my bed at 5.30.
What is a better thing to do on a tired saturday than having the best breakfast that you don't have to make yourself ? Right, nothing is.
I found this place called Journey:

WHY

INSPIRE

ALMOST WEEKEND

OPENING CONCEPT STORE

This weekend was the opening party of the cool concept store ''290 Square Meters, Istanbul''.
The store exists for over 13 years in Amsterdam and since Istanbul is happening and booming they thought: let's open one there.
''The shop may at first look like a shop with exclusive brands, but it's a lot more'' (290sqm). From fixed gear bike accessories to the newest nike shoes, designer bags, jeans, shirts and jumpers for men and woman!

My dutch friends who visited me also loved it and went crazy in the shop.

DESTINATION CAPPADOCIA

I just got home from a short flight to:  Cappadocia?
You might have never heard of this, but it is a beautiful place, or actually area, in the middle of Turkey.
It is placed on the unesco world heritage list and they often call it in the travelguides as: ''a surreal landscape of volcanic rock formations, a world wonder and an inspiration source for the Star Wars movie set''. When reading this I could only expect some sort of serene moonlandscape and this actually was the case.

If you already have seen the big places in Turkey, go to Cappadocia to escape the busy city life. 4 days is enough to relax, hike, visit the underground hidden city, scooter, horseback ride,  eat, drink and take an amazing balloonflight to watch the sunrise.

A small impression of my weekend:

 

ALMOST WEEKEND

For everybody who's looking forward to the weekend and need to get into the party mood!
Listen to this...

ISABEL MARANT POUR H&M

As a lot of you might know, Isabel Marant is designing a collection for H&M.
This is all very excitening offcourse...but much better is that today some of the campaign images have been released!
From 14 November you can buy the clothes in 250 stores worldwide and online.
(prices vary from €19,95 - €299,-)

Just like the design editions before it's gonna be total madness. For now: get a paper, a pen and prepare your sleepingbag,  because you might need this in your hunt for fashion.

The first pictures of Isabel Marant pour H&M :

WHY I LOVE

TURKISH STYLE

Fashion Week Istanbul 2013
A broad variety of people. And offcourse I wanted to spot and document the Turkish style of clothing, the extravagant people all dressed up for this special event.

Shot by photogapher Emanuele D'Angelo (Instagram: @Livincool)

FW '13 ISTANBUL

© High heels, hats, dresses, celebrities, camera's, vip lounges and goodybags!
Fashion week has oficially started! Three days of shows already and 2 more to go.
The weather is great, the location is beau-ti-ful with a seeside view on the Bosphorus.
A small inpression of Fashion Week Istanbul so far....

EXPRESSO VS AMERICANO

FASHION WEEK

October has arrived.

It's getting colder, rainy, windy and you need to leave your summer skirts and sandals in the closet. Besides these unfortunate things there is also some excited stuff to look forward to:
FASHION WEEK HAS STARTED AGAIN!

When we (you and me) just started to think about the trends for the coming fall/winter season, fashionland is already going crazy on the new spring/summer collections from all de big designers.
Paris, Milan, New York, Berlin, Australia, Miami and....yes also Istanbul take part in this.

From 7-11 October Istanbul is the fashion Mekka of Turkey. And since I live in Istanbul, I thought:
let's try to get tickets for some shows! 
I hope my sweet emails to the PR agents of the designers put work into action


Curious what to expect from Istanbul's Fashion Week, but let's hope it looks a tiny bit like this:

PARISIENNE FEELING

It's a cliché but Paris has that romanticness where you really want to be like that natural Parisienne who can wear an old oversized sweater, no make-up a skinny jeans, flat shoes and still look fabulous.

The last couple of years I went to Paris every winter. It's is a city which you will love even more after several visits. The first time you go there you check out the beautiful historical monuments, but if you really want to feel and breathe the life of a Parisienne you should go to the small romantic neigbourhoods, visit the old book stores and drink a cappuccino at café Charlot in Le Marais.


WHERE TO GO?

Rose Bakery                                                                                  

A perfect place for breakfast, lunch, brunch and afternoon tea and pastries. It's healthy, good, pretty and located in the most trendy neigbourhood of Paris.

3rd arrondissement
30 rue Debelleyme
75003 ParisMetro: Filles du Calvaire 

STREETARTISTS IN ISTANBUL

It amazes me that the streetartists in Istanbul are often really good! I just bought a cd from this band on the Istiklal road and I am glad I did. It's a jazzy swing band with a modern twist.

Uninvited Jazzbrand

WHAT'S IN MY BAG

I am always curious about what people carry with them when going out.  It says a lot about your lifestyle and personality.
So I thought let's turn my dutch designer ''Susan Bijl'' bag upside down and see what falls out...

So I've got:

INSPIRE

CAN'T DENY THE HISTORY

Besides sitting in cafes and going crazy in the shops you can't deny the history of a city.

Hanging around in the touristic places is not everybody's favorite and I agree that you will really experience a city when you just go out and investigate the small streets and different neighbourhoods on your own.

But even though, as a tourist you want to know why everybody is going to see these overcrowded places full of screaming children and tour guides with flags that protrudes above the crowd. There must be something there right. You would not feel satisfied if you visited a city without acting a tiny bit as a shameless ultimate tourist agree?

Go and check out the Blue mosque in the Sultanahmet area in Istanbul.
A beautiful piece of culture is situated here. Besides the group of tourists there are Muslim people who go to the Blue mosque for there daily prayers. Get carried away by all the lights and coulours shimmering through the building.

Clothes

wearing my lovely new t-shirt which I just received from the owners of the dutch designer store Objet trouvé in Rotterdam.  

ISTANBUL

My name is Marieke de Jong I am 23 years old and officialy live in Rotterdam in the Netherlands.
I study Art and cultural science and because of that I packed  my bags to go on an adventure trip and discover the beautiful Istanbul for five months!!

I am here now for two weeks and my blood pressure and adrenaline rises within each day. There are just too many treasures to see and I ''only'' have five more months!
Besides the old touristic historical treasures there is more: from small original turkish tea houses to classy rooftop bars, vintage shops, designerboutiques and posphorus-view clubs.
Istanbul has got it all.

First things first
When wandering the old streets of Istanbul we found a lovely hidden place in between houses. There are bars and cafés in this small passage near Istiklal road just go there for a drink or small bite. Coasy and romantic in the evenings because of all the small treelights.

Adres:
Tünel Geçidi (end of Itsiklal, with Taksim square on the other end)