Australia

     Australia is a vacation fantasy for people all over the world. It is incredibly far away from the United States and it seems so exciting to visit. The truth is, Australia is amazing and everybody that dreams about it should visit whenever possible. Australia is like California in the sense that each section of the country depicts a different environment based on the location and trends that are found in each city. Melbourne and Sydney are very different as far as the area but one thing never changes, the people in Australia are kind and always willing to help out those that are new to the area. Fashion in Australia changes depending on location, but for the most part it is very relaxed. Fashion can be exciting at night when Australians know how to fancy it up with heels, suits, and tight fitting dresses. In Melbourne tourists have the chance to feel the rush of the city. The tram is the easiest way to get around and an interesting way to travel throughout the city. In Sydney it is time to kick back and go to the beach, but the ferry is always an option for some shopping and excitement. Australia can be the biggest culture shock in a country that speaks the same language as the United States, but their accents can charm any new comer.

            Quiksilver is the most famous boarding company known around the world. The company is based in Huntington, California, but the owner was originally from Australia. Quiksilver was founded in Australia in 1969. The owner is Alan Green and he designed the Logo along with John Law in Torquay, Victoria, Australia. The company is known for their surf gear around Australia and their snowboarding gear in colder climates. In the summer their swim wear as well as casual wear are popular among men, women and children. The company itself employs about 8,000 people in their successful and forever growing industry. The company continues to be popular without the help of typical fashion shows for their line releases. The company does range releases a couple times a year, and they have several celebrity sponsors. The marketing team has people that specialize in both global and local athletic management. Kelly Slater is a renowned surfer and his line for Quiksilver is based on his lifestyle. He moves around a lot, which is why it only makes sense that the style for his line be nomadic. Quiksilver is becoming more successful around the world than ever before. Europe is close to the number one account and Asia has several markets that are emerging. Consumers that enjoy the comfort of Quiksilver board shorts are also comforted by the fact that Quiksilver gives them a lifetime warranty on their shorts. Surfing can be rough and it is good to know that the shorts can be repaired for no charge. The term mass customization may be an oxymoron, but Quiksilver allows all their clients to custom design their own apparel online. The freedom and ability to have an opinion about the clothing makes consumers more excited about purchases. The company started by making shorts in a garage and they are now one of the most successful surf wear companies in the world. Sydney has adopted Quiksilver as more than just beach wear; it is a lifestyle. Board shorts, t-shirts, and flip flops are part of everyday apparel.

            Surfing is a major leisure activity across the country of Australia and with the help of Quiksilver the surfers are unstoppable. Bells beach in Victoria is one of the most famous beaches to surf at in Australia; surf competitions are held there ever year. It is located on the Great Ocean Road and named after John Cavert Bell. The longest running surf competition is held at Bells beach every year, The Rip Curl Pro Surf and Music Festival. The view from above the beach is absolutely breath taking. The water is freezing to the touch, but the beach is still relaxing to sit and watch the waves. Manly beach in Sydney is another great beach to catch some waves on a nice day. There are three main sections of the beach; Queenscliff, North Steyne, and South Steyne. Surrounding the beach are hotels and apartments that offer a clear ocean side view. The corso is a plaza similar to a boardwalk environment that connects to the ferry and the beach. Along the strip are souvenir shops, clothing, restaurants and ice cream parlors. The strip is enjoyable for some quick shopping or a bite to eat before jumping on the ferry and heading into town. On the way into the heart of Sydney the ferry passes the Sydney Harbour Bridge also known as the “coat hanger” because of the arch and the stunning opera house. Since Australia is known for surfing it is only natural that some of the most beautiful beaches would be available to visit.

            Shopping in Australia is unlike any country. Clothing, among several other essentials found in Australia can be very expensive. The fashions in Melbourne can be directly compared to the fashion in Paris; they both wear a lot of black clothing. The seasons are opposite from the United States, which means in December local Australians are looking for summer items. Bright colors and loud patterns are set out all over the shops. Shopping centers are found on every block throughout Melbourne. The PTO is an interesting shopping center in Melbourne because it was a post office at one time, but it was made into a small shopping center lined with high priced boutiques. The department stores in Melbourne were the same as any other department store, but David Jones provided a better shopping experience. David Jones was very organized, clean, and high end; it is similar to Saks Fifth Avenue or Galeries Lafayette. Myer’s is Australia’s largest department store chain and are similar to a Macy’s. During the holidays customers line up outside the store not only to see Santa Claus but also to see their festive window displays. Within the store an entire floor is dedicated to holiday activities for children. This is a great idea for entertainment and popularity, but it can easily create chaos throughout the store. One the major trends for fashion among Australia was a vintage look. Brunswick Street is a famous street in Melbourne that enables young designers to showcase their work and consumers to get bargains on vintage items. The area is completely artistic and appealing to the eye. Street benches and buildings were decorated, and there were bright colors. Interior design stores were available along with fashion stores. Styles are always recycled eventually and vintage shops give people the chance to be creative. Young designers deserve the opportunity to succeed in a harsh industry and economy.

     In Melbourne, as in any other city there is always more to do than shopping. The Melbourne Aquarium is the perfect place to spend the afternoon. The aquarium allows for student discounts and it only takes about one hour to walk all the way through. Every type of marine life can be seen. Sharks, penguins, sting rays, and sea horses are among the exotic marine life seen. The Jelly fish are always interesting to watch because they float around with such each. Jelly fish are fascinating because they look gentle, as if they might pop with one single touch. The irony of this is that the Jelly fish are dangerous and can be deadly. The Jelly fish is a perfect portrayal of the fashion industry because it is an extremely rough industry that requires some attitude but it is important to be calm and understanding with clients. The aquarium is relaxing and the perfect way to find an inner kid. To pass the time grabbing a slushee from the nearest seven eleven is always an option. Every corner houses one the convenience stores and their slushees are delicious. When the weather is warm a cold slushee is the perfect treat while walking through federation square and looking at the intricately designed buildings. During the holidays several Christmas trees are placed around the square for family portraits and games of Hide and go seek for the children. Every once in a while a festival occurs with live music and exotic food. Restaurants and bars surround the area for a good time during the day or at night. Federation square is interesting for tourists because it is an area that holds a lot of history, but the buildings are modernized.

            Overall, Australia has a higher level of technology in their work force and in their schools. . The design schools located in Melbourne have created a design school with top of the line machines to help their students make the most accurate pieces. Their whiteboards are smartboards that can easily be described as an enormous iPad. With the touch of a finger the screen can do anything. Even in shopping malls, booths had smart screens set up for their clients. In Sydney their design school also has top of the line merchandise to accommodate the skills of their students. The United States is not too far behind them in merchandise or technology for their students, but they are definitely following their example.

            Australia is the most exotic English speaking country that one could possibly choose to visit. Melbourne and Australia are two great cities that offer separate experiences because of different environments. Both cities have so much to offer and it is the perfect opportunity for tourists to learn two different lifestyles.

           

            

Los Angeles

    

    Los Angeles, California is known as one of the major fashion capitals of the world. The city is prepared with fashion marts, a fashion district, and an abundance of designer shops. However, at times the city is overrated because it is filled with gimmicks and cheap tourist traps. The fashion in Los Angeles lives up to all standards and stereotypes that have been given to the city. Locals need to be able to wear proper attire for the gym, work, and red carpet events and they must look glamorous for the simplest of occasions. Los Angeles fashion focuses on glamour above all. California has a culture all its own, but each part of the state possesses a different vibe.  Tourists have the opportunity to experience the hype of the city while soaking in the magnificence that explodes through the city. 

            Hollywood has a spotlight on it at all times. The media rants about Hollywood celebrities and scandals on a daily basis. When outsiders hear about all the hype the first things that comes to mind is how amazing it would be to have a star on the Hollywood walkway. The idea of Hollywood sounds fabulous but up close and personal it is highly overrated. The streets are filled with tourists and on every street corner someone attempts to coax the tourists into a cheap souvenir shop. Lining the sidewalk are people dressed up as movie characters as if it were Disney World. The wax museum is the best way to see celebrities at their best and Madama Tussauds employees stand around chanting towards visitors about discounted tickets. There is always the option to do some shopping along the strip and grab a bite to eat at the neaby hooters or chick-fil-a. In the distance is the infamous Hollywood sign, which is always great to snap a picture of.  Hollywood is great to experience because there are few places like it, but it does not carry the same glamour without the red carpet.

            Every fashion capital must have a fashion mart in order to be complete. The fashion mart in Los Angeles is right by the fashion district and stands several stories tall. Each floor is filled with showrooms for buyers to go visit and make purchases for the upcoming season. During the off seasons showrooms will be kind enough to offer sample sales to those visiting the mart. Those making purchases are able to buy samples straight from the collection rack for less than one third of the final retail price of the garment; it is possible to find tops for as low as five dollars. During the off season many of the designers do not rent out rooms, so it can be more difficult to view collections and find deals. It is always interesting to view the clothing after the season to compare the collections to what was seen during that year. On the bottom floor of the fashion mart there is a bookstore with every fashion book or magazine available. There are instructional books for drawing, designing, and sewing as well as magazines detailing fashion week for that year. The fashion mart is the best way to understand the clothing for a given city, and the fashion trends of the year

            The fashion district of any fashion capital is probably imagined to be full of high priced designers, factories, and expensive stores; this is not the case in Los Angeles. The fashion district is located in a very urban area of the city where name brands and infamous designers are non -existent. Along the streets of the district there are some vintage shops with avant garde fashions available for the taking. All the stores featuring men’s work suits have signs in the window offering extreme discounts. Specialty shops and custom made shops are sporadically placed within the district. For example, a fashion supply store where the owner worked with “Project Runway” and helped produce the show “Fashion Star”. The store started as company that sharpened scissors in the 1930’s. Today the store manufacture’s their scissors and their own dress forms for designers. The company not only focuses on making money from their clients, they are also interested in bringing young people into the fashion industry because it will continue to expand the industry. Young designers are the new up and coming trend into the fashion industry and it is important that they succeed. In California most would expect the fashion industry to display any type of glamour because of the fashion trends throughout the state, but it is actually centered in a demographic area with higher levels of deviance.  The district is unique, which is also a good way to describe Los Angeles because it is full of people in different social brackets of society; it is important that the fashion district caters to all brackets of society.

            The coast is usually associated with being laid back, but in California laid back does not mean that anyone can forget about their appearances. If anything appearance is more important by the coast than anywhere else in the state. Santa Monica is the perfect combination of the beach and the city. The streets are lined with palm trees, there are luxury shopping centers and the pier is easy going fun. Residents of California drive around Santa Monica in Mercedes Benz, BMW, and Cadillac’s, showing off their beautiful clothes and luxuries to those who walk by. The pier is relaxing and at night the rides and food stands light up and from the distance the view is breathtaking. Along the pier entertainers set up their acts at night that include dancing, singing, and magic acts. Tourists gather around and cheer on the entertainers along the pier while they snack on hot dogs and fried dough. Despite the fact that visitors are at the beach while visiting the pier they still manage to be fashion forward in heels, skinny jeans, and flowing tops. Men are sporting khaki pants, loafers and polo shirts for a classic style. Along shopping center sidewalks cover bands line up to entertain passerbies with classic tunes. Beautiful couples and families nonchalantly walk around through the luxury shops. Local beachgoers of Santa Monica show off their glamour in a relaxed environment.

            El Rodeo drive is the most popular street to visit while in Beverly Hills, California. When people think of the city they immediately think of El Rodeo because the luxury shops which line the street and the expensive cars that cruise down it. It is surprisingly a relaxing environment to walk through. During the holidays lights are strung throughout the city and fake snow falls every hour leaving a magical feeling over the people in the area. Barney’s New York is among several of the stores on this street. They have recently started working with Lady GaGa and some of her merchandise is featured in the front of the store. All of the most expensive designer boutiques and haute couture shops are featured along the street for only the most lucrative customers. Chanel, David Yurman, Dior, and Dolce and Gabbana are among the many noted designers visited for their fine fashions. There are about three blocks of luxury shopping on El Rodeo Drive, but the street stretches much further in both directions. This street only adds to the glamorous environment that spreads throughout California. This is the street locals come to when they need an outfit for a red carpet event. When tourists walk the street they too can feel the sense of privilege that is exposed.

           

            

Singapore

Modernized, Industrial and clean are three words that describe Singapore entirely.  Unique contemporary skyscrapers cover the grounds of the city. Each building contradicts itself by having harsh lines but also lines that smoothly curve.  The city officials are extremely strict about cleanliness and expect citizens to share the same appreciation for the city. Singapore has found a good balance between having an industrial city and a city that is enjoyable for the tourists. Shopping and sightseeing are among activities that visitors can partake in while experiencing a melting pot of Asian Cultures.  One of the number one languages in Singapore is English, but in addition to that there are several different Asian cultures. It is difficult to describe the sense of fashion that can be seen throughout the city because of how industrial the city is and the cultural differences. There are definite associations between the fashion and the industrializations of the city. The sharp lines seen in the buildings are obvious among tailored jackets, trousers, and skirts visible on the streets. The street wear is casual with a creative Asian twist, but most people lean towards office wear due to the environment of the city. Overall, fashion has a professional.

China town is one of the most authentic Asian experiences a tourist could hope for. The best place to have the experience would be in Asia itself. China town in Singapore is not comparable to China town found in other urban areas; it is obviously, clean, quiet and not overbearing. China town could easily be compared to the Dilli Haat Market in India. There were aisles of small booths set up, offering a wide variety of souvenirs to passing tourists. Some of the most popular items found were fans, decorative chopsticks, decorative bulb lamps, and jewelry. Singapore is known for having the most divine pearls. In Italy sales men in the leather market were obsessed with getting people to purchase their fine Italian goods, and in Singapore people in the market were just as eager to sell their shiny pearls. The pearls come in all varieties and can be purchased for an affordable amount. Overall, the sales clerks were very friendly and didn’t seem to be as persistent as Italians in the leather market. The entire area was authentically decorated with lights strung throughout the trees, paper globes, and Chinese writings covering the buildings. Singapore feels like any other city, but China town reminds tourists that they are in Asia.

The Singapore flyer is the tallest ferris wheel in the world. It stands 42 stories tall, which makes it 30 meters taller than the London Eye.  There are 28 cars on the wheel and each car can hold a maximum of 28 people. The number 28 stands for “double prosperity” or “easy to prosper”. It is the only place to see the entire cityscape of Singapore such as Marina Bay Sands, Raffles Place, Merlion Park, Empress Place and Padang. The ride takes about forty minutes to complete and each car has 360 degree windows and seating accommodations. The flyer is a unique experience compared to most ferris wheel rides. There are options to visit restaurants surrounding the Flyer that serve high quality seafood and beverages. After the ride guests have the opportunity to visit the Flyer lounge, which is the only bar that serves award winning cocktails to their customers.  The Flyer ride is an easy and affordable way to a view all modern buildings and impressive sites of the city. For example, in view there is a floating soccer field and the skyscraper with an enormous boat sitting on top of it. The Flyer is an insight into a modern Asian world.

The Marina Bay Sands area of Singapore was the most serene part to walk around. During the holidays the streets are lit up with various strings of light, and ornaments hung from light posts. The river runs along the area, which makes the city environment more relaxing; at night the lights reflect off the water. There are shopping centers around the marina and hotels to accommodate excited guests. The Marina Bay Sands mall was equipped with a casino, expensive designer store, and a food court ready to serve authentic Asian food. Down the center of the mall was a man made river with Gondolas floating throughout it. The river boats in the mall are an amazing site for tourists because it is not something typically seen. Each floor had an array of opulent designer stores, which fit the atmosphere of the mall perfectly. The size of the mall is overwhelming and easy to get lost in, but during the holidays it is great to walk around and experience the serenity of the mall.

India

     India described in two words is a culture shock, but it is an experience worth having in order to obtain new views on the world. India has the wealthiest and poorest people throughout one country and split throughout different cities. The culture is now modernized, but they still stay true to their traditional roots. It is shocking to see streets of poverty stricken people begging for money, and asking tourists to buy souvenirs. Agra is a very poor city and while it houses two of the most fabulous sites to visit, there is a level of stress in visiting because the Indian people are fascinated by the American population. It is intriguing to see how many people want to take pictures of Americans and talk to Americans at any point in time. New Delhi is a more advanced city and easier to travel around because tourists visit the city regularly; there is a higher level of comfort for tourists. The fashions in each city stayed true to tradition. Many people in Agra wore the traditional Sari, and in New Delhi the Sari could also be seen. There were modernized twists on some traditional styles such as, tunics with leggings. The bright colors and sequins were eye catching on the streets throughout India and gave a cheerful appearance to the most poverty stricken areas.

            The Taj Mahal is located in the city of Agra. The Taj Mahal is the one of the Seven Wonders of the World, and is the reason why most people go out of their way to visit the city. The Taj Mahal was built between the years of 1632 and 1653 by the Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan. He decided to design this elegant structure in honor of his loving wife because she died during child birth. Shah Jahan intended to make himself a building across from the Taj Mahal, but his plans didn’t follow through. The king and queen need to be across from each other, which is the explanation for needing two buildings. The building was constructed of pure white marble with accents of gold. The intricate floral designs seen on the front and sides of the structure are made from precious and semi-precious stones; all of which have a unique color that light up with the shine of a light. The Taj Mahal is fascinating because it is able to change colors due to the purity of the white marble. The marble can take on the color of the light that is shining on it, which is why the Taj Mahal always closes at sun down; Indians want visitors to appreciate the magnificent structure at the best time. Shoes are not to be worn when stepping on the marble of the Taj Mahal. Local Indians pile up their shoes outside and walk around barefoot, but it is amazing that they all know how to find their shoes later. Tourists can put shoe covers on their feet if they don’t feel comfortable going bare. Inside the Taj Mahal are the tombs of Shah Jahan and his wife, but only the replicas can be viewed because the actual tombs are in the bottom of the building; the husband and wife must always lie together. The long pathways leading to the Taj Mahal are lined with peaceful ponds and areas of clean cut grass, but on the weekend the park is packed with tourists and local Indians. Despite how many times they may have seen the Taj, Indians continue coming back to appreciate it. The greatness of the structure can be slightly downgraded by the affect of poverty and crowds of people when it becomes heavily crowded but it is elegant, nevertheless.

            The factory and Mixed Noveau showed how India is emerging into one of the biggest markets in the world to practice business. The buying office at Mixed Noveau works with major department stores in the United States such as, Nordstrom, Macy, Neimans, and Victoria Secret; they cater to the trends that people need for instant gratification. Currently, consumers want bright colors and glitter to make hard economic times easier to deal with. The company is able to deliver clothing in as fast as six weeks if it’s necessary because they want a high turnover and need to cater to demanding consumers. Despite how quickly clothing is beginning to be manufactured the business is still staying true to their traditional and ethnic roots by creating handmade quality pieces. For example, the macramé pieces in the collection are made completely by hand in the homes of women. The new trend is for major businesses to allow women to work from home, which creates a family friendly environment. Women are able to support their family financially as well as with care. The target market of Mixed Noveau is for an updated “missy” that wants high fashion at a low rate. During difficult economic times consumers still want to look fashionable, but for less money. The items seen at Mixed Noveau were very trendy and fit their target market and the stores they cater to. The clothing was trendy but affordable for a woman on a budget. The clothing is highly fashionable with hints of Indian culture. The bright colors, sequins, and embroideries reflect the Indian culture; the company is able to be trendy, but also stick to traditional values in Indian society.

            The poverty that is seen throughout India would lead any one to believe that the factories there are dirty, disorganized, and display poor treatment of employees. However, this is not the situation seen in Indian factories. The factories seen in India are the cleanest and most organized factories one could possibly imagine. Thousands of workers mesh together doing their individual duties without any distraction. Popular brands such as, Old Navy, Target, H &M, and Zara can be seen on the assembly lines. Each piece of clothing has its own assembly line and each person in the assembly line sews a separate part onto the garment. At the end of the line the garment is compared to the specifications board to ensure that it meets all standards of quality of the company. There are 37 factories and each one is interested in producing in bulk; a minimum of 5,000 pieces needs to be ordered from a company in order to ship it overseas. The stores that are being shipped to have a high turnover for trendy clothing, which makes it easy to order several thousand pieces. The factory has a motto of quality and completing work the right way the first time. Many companies choose to outsource the intricate work such as embroidery, but this factory purchased expensive machines to do embroidery, and for special pieces the embroidery is finished by hand. Embroidery machines are expensive and people that do embroidery by hand need to be dedicated to their job. They are also following the up and coming trend of allowing women to work in a family friendly environment; children have a daycare at the factory so mothers can support the family too. The factory can be compared to the Mango warehouse in Barcelona because in both situations large groups of people need to work together harmoniously to provide consumers with a quality product. India is interested in producing for thousands of consumers, but don’t stop short of quality.

            The Agra Fort is best described as a walled city. Today about 60% of the fort is used for military purposes, which means that the public can only view a few of the buildings throughout the fort. Akbar, the grandfather of Shah Jahan, made the walled city his capital in 1558. At the time the buildings were in a destroyed state and he wanted to renovate them to their best quality. The buildings were finally completed with red sandstone and bricks in 1573. Shah Jahan, also known as the designer of the Taj Mahal took reign over the Agra Fort and demolished some of the buildings to give it his signature style. Based on the design of the Taj Mahal it is clear that Shah Jahan liked the sleek look of marble and intricate gem stone designs. When Shah Jahan’s son took reign over the fort he kept his father as a hostage prisoner and left him to die within the fort. Shah Jahan died in a marble tower that overlooked the Taj Mahal. Today the Agra Fort can be viewed in the state that Shah Jahan left it. The fort is 94 acres of serenity; it is a quiet and relaxed environment. The fort has four sides each of which has its own gate; The Dehli gate, and the Lahore gate are the two most notable gates. The Dehli gate is the grandest, but it cannot be used by the public to visit. The Dehli gate was used by the King and was built in order to enhance protection with its grand marble entrance.  Some of the rooms in the fort have unique uses such as, the room that has hollow walls. The walls were hallow so that they could fill up with water and avoid flooding.  If one is to speak to the wall on one side of the room the echo travels around the walls. The magnificence of the room can be felt throughout the palace, but like always there is an undeniable sense of culture that never seems to be lost in India.

            Precious and semi-precious gems are found throughout India for ridiculously low prices for the American dollar. The emporium can be compared to a strip mall. It is a long row of shops offering scarves made of fine fabrics, jewels, rugs and cultural souvenirs. During the time of the festival there is live music, stands full of piping hot local food and entertainers trying to make a few rupees. The restaurants offer every type of food; including some American and the tables are full. The stores clothes around seven, which is why it is important to arrive early to receive all the best deals. The shop employees are eager to help their customers as soon as they enter the door, and they always try to offer their best prices to make a sale. At times the sales clerks can be haughty, but their haughtiness is endearing and the customers get excited about making a purchase. There is an endless selection of precious and semi-precious gemstones for the taking. Sapphires, rubies, emeralds, and topaz are among the selection and can be found in earrings, bracelets, necklaces, or pure solid stones. Each shop has its own glass case crammed with jewelry and shelves six feet tall stacked with Pashminas; two of India’s signature merchandises for the tourists. The music and festival transform the emporium and it is no longer an ordinary shopping center, but it is a magical time to enjoy with friends and appreciate a new culture so different from the United States.

            Dilli Haat is a well known open festival market that offers authentic Indian gifts and food for the tourists to have an ideal cultural experience. With the help of an inexpensive and wild tuk tuk ride the market is easy to find and the ride will be entertaining. In order to get into the festival it costs about 10 or 20 rupees, which is only a few cents in American dollars. Inside the gate the trees are hung with lights and music is playing to add theatrical enjoyment. The colors are vibrant just as one would expect in India. Each station has a plethora of color flowing out of the booth with brightly colored scarves, shoes, and jewelry. There are not any brick and mortar stores in Dilli Haat; there are rows and rows of tents and booths set up for locals and tourists to get a feel for what they are trying to sell. The huts at the festival make it an informal environment and give comfort to those shopping. The sales clerks still display their haughtiness, but they are also much more willing to give a reasonable price than the stores at the emporium. Haggling is always welcome at Dilli Haat and they are eager to make a sale. Several booths offer the same type of merchandise, which makes it easier to compare products and prices between the huts. The sales clerks are friendly and encourage the tourists to try on their merchandise at no cost. Some of the souvenirs and crafts available are handmade such as the shoes. The shoes are very inexpensive and made in all sizes. The employees will help prospective purchasers find their size and offer several different designs or colors. Some of the designs are very distinct to the Indian culture and probably not as socially accepted to wear in other countries, but they offer styles that appear to be the same as any flat shoes sold in the United States; it depends on what the customer desires are. Dillia Haat is perfect to visit at night or during the day and is a fantasy for those looking to shop for a bargain.

            India is by far a unique country with its own traditions and values. India should be admired for their ability to add a modern twist onto their traditions that they never lose sight of. Despite the economy, the people of India have found ways through fashion and festivals to make times lighter and happier.

           

Paris 3

The Luxembourg Garden is the perfect place to spend a relaxing afternoon reading, walking, running, or talking with some friends. When it’s sunny the park is an amazing place to spend a few hours soaking up the rays.  On the weekends the entire city of Paris gathers in the park and it is almost impossible to find a place to sit. In the mornings it’s not crowded and it’s the perfect time to bring some music and go for a jog. The city of Paris is always on the go, but the gardens are a perfect place to slow down. The statue of liberty and can be found in the gardens along with several areas of grass to play games with friends.  The fountains found throughout the garden are soothing to sit near. On the weekends the natives gather together for games of Bocce ball; this is a good time to get a feel for everyday French culture.

Notre Dame is quite the opposite of relaxing if the plan is to visit the top of the cathedral. Walking through the cathedral is peaceful as is walking through any cathedral. Walking the 400 hundred spiraling steps to the top is tiring and nowhere near relaxing, but it is worth the climb. Paris has structures throughout the entire city that allow a bird’s eye view of the city, and the top of Notre Dame is another one of those spots. Around the top of the tower are gargoyles that can be seen clearly once the steps are climbed. Visitors can walk through tight hallways in order to make their way around the top of the tower. Just when it appears the climb is over there are more stairs that lead to the famous bell tower where Quasimodo became famous. The bell is enormous and taking pictures with it is possible. At the top bells may even ring while guests are there.  The walk down is easier than the uphill climb, but there are still 400 steps to walk down.  In general, the view is absolutely amazing, and it’s good to see the city from another aspect.

Sacre Coeur is another spot in the city where visitors go to see the view of the city from a spot up high. There is also a cathedral to walk through at the top of the hill. There are not nearly as many stairs to climb up as at Notre Dame; probably half as many stairs. At the top the view is breathtaking; it’s as if one is standing on a cliff. There are entertainers and vendors trying to sell Eiffel Tower souvenirs to the tourists as they walk up. On the weekends it is crowded, especially when the sun goes down because the view is beautiful with the rays of the sun shining down.  There are several ways to walk down the hill, and even shuttle cars that can take guests to the bottom. There are unique shops surrounding the bottom of the hill that house artistic accessories such as scarves and jewelry.

The red light district is not a place for tourists to be wandering around in at night, but if they have a purpose to go see the Moulin Rouge show then that is acceptable. The show is worth seeing even if it is all in French and may not be comprehendible. There are parts in English and then there is a lot of comedy involved in the show that an English speaking audience can understand just by following gestures.  The show is not by any means modest, and the women go topless throughout the duration of the entire show. The dancing and gymnast acts are fascinating and flawless. The sparkle and enthusiasm of the show could be compared to Broadway musicals, except with clothes.  Despite that costumes may not have been the main focus in the show, they were still spectacular and the beading on some must have taken weeks to complete. The show is perfectly enjoyable with a nice dinner and drinks for table.

The Pompidou offers many exhibits that change often. The Edward Munch exhibit, which was happening at the beginning of October, was interesting to see. The Exhibition started with his earlier works and continued through until he went slightly crazy. The museum compared many of his works of art. For example, one room would show the pieces with dark and subdued colors and then the next room showed the same paintings in bright colors. Just changing the colors gave the painting a different feeling, and it was a strong enough difference to change opinions about the artwork. Towards the end of his career Edward Munch was losing his eyesight and he went crazy. He started to only draw and paint pictures of what he saw through his eye. The paintings depicted eyes but there was emotion behind the eye; mostly turmoil and anger. The modern art exhibit in the Pompidou showed abstract pieces most of which were sculptures that resembled brightly colored children’s jungle gyms. The art is difficult to explain or relate to, but it is eye catching and fun to look at.

   

Saint Chapelle is one of the many cathedrals that should be on the list to visit while in Europe. It’s an amazing cathedral, but it is not known so much for its grandeur and size as it is for the amazing stained glass windows found on the second floor. The windows go all the way to the ceiling from midway on the wall. The stained glass is slowly being restored, and it is about half way finished. The colors are brilliant to look at. The conciergerie is the place where Marie Antoinette was placed in prison due to the revolution. Marie Antoinette was a good person, but her name was slaughtered due to rumors about her behavior as queen. Her prison cell was replicated, and unfortunately for her she had to be guarded at all times of the day and night. Eventually she was beheaded. There were different types of cells available to live in, while in prison. If the Prisoner was willing to pay money or had money to give they could be placed in a room with a table to work or read. Most prisoners were lucky enough to be given a bed. Marie Antoinette was guarded and treated differently because of her royalty stauts, much like prison today for celebrities. All the prison cells can be seen in the conciergerie.

        

Paris 2

Trend Union is the most prestigious trend forecasting company in the world. They are mentioned in textbooks and groups of people travel from all over the world to hear their presentations about upcoming trends. In September Trend Union put together a presentation for 2012. The experience involves all senses of the body. There was bread being prepared and baked at the entrance to engage people and get them involved in the process; everyone gets excited about food. Phillip, a very successful trend forecaster is gracious to let students into the presentation and to see the work of grad students working to become forecasters themselves. A young girl put together a presentation about horse racing in Mongolia for her final project and from that experience she was able to put together the idea for a sweater. The group at Trend Union is a group of abstract thinkers that are always ahead of the times. The slideshow presentation depicted with few words and pictures the upcoming trends. The main color based on the presentation was white. It is simply phenomenal how Phillip can take years worth of information and consolidate it into very few words and straightforward pictures. The bread being baked at the beginning of the presentation was served in many different ways to the guests in order to continue the experience.

Colette is a unique store to Paris equipped with a water bar. While most would probably expect the bar to serve wine among other drinks, it has chosen water as the drink of choice. Colette’s atmosphere is directly comparable to that of a Dover Street Market in London and an Urban Outfitter’s in the United States. Dover Street Market is a raw collection of clothes and accessories that gives the feeling of a fashion show collection fresh from the runway. Urban Outfitter’s has clothing, but it is mostly known for their eclectic book collection and interesting gadgets to collect. Colette’s entrance brings the customers into a floor that is full of books and random toys, but they are significantly more expensive. For example, a fun but random item to buy is a magnetic hamburger set. While it could be fun, the point of it is somewhat in question. The clothing is set out so that only one of each item in one size can be seen. If a customer is interested in purchasing the staff will retrieve the item from the back. There is a high level of exclusivity among the store; people feel like they have special treatment. There is a beauty section, which allows people to customize their own perfumes. Whether the item is exclusive or not the customer feels like it is and keeps them coming back for more. The restaurant down stairs is modern, chic, and very minimalist. The entire wall of the bar is lined with several types of bottle water that do not come cheap. The point of the store itself is to be minimal, clean, and healthy. Colette is eclectic and one can never be bored trying shop.

Shopping can only be expected when visiting the fashion capital of the world. Paris offers some of the most divine places to keep up with trends in the world of shopping. Galeries Lafayette and Bon Marche are two department stores worth visiting and spending some money. The main store of Galeries Lafayette has ten floors to spend hours shopping. The men’s store has four floors and the home store has five floors. Every single expensive name brand designer can be found in every department of the store each one given their own section. The shoe department in this Galeries is about the size of an entire department store in the United States; this means that shoe heaven has been found. There are reasonably priced sections as in all department stores. The amount of merchandise and designer items found in the store would make it impossible to make it through the store in less than a couple days. The food section is interesting because of the fresh salts and spices that are available. Each salt is a different color, but they are not dyed salts; the salt is naturally blue, pink, or green. An array of spices is available as well; the aroma surrounds the customers and fills the air. The staff will happily package the salt and spices for the customers to make the experience more pleasant. Bon Marche is a good place to visit because it has a little of everything. There is a book store, an office section, a small café, a place to buy luggage, and an endless supply of yarn for knitting. Bon Marche is less focused on fashion as is Galeries Lafayette and more focused on items needed in everyday life. The grocery store, which is across the street from the main store, is somewhat expensive but they have a wide variety. Any type of chocolate can be found, a wide array of fresh fish and meat can be bought. There is even a small section of some American food for those missing home.

If each piece of art in the Louvre was looked at for only thirty seconds it would take six months to make it through the entire museum without stopping to eat or sleep. The Louvre is home to some of the most famous pieces of artwork known today. The Mona Lisa is the one painting that everybody goes to the Louvre to see no matter what. The smiling woman with no eyebrows is famous, but the painting in reality is disappointing compared to what it has been built up to be. The greatness of the painting is still felt because Leonardo da Vinci painted it, but the size of the painting is smaller than a lot of people expect. The eyes of the Mona Lisa follow fellow onlookers across the room because da Vinci wanted it to appear that way, but her soft smile is soothing. Photographs without a flash are allowed to be taken, but the painting is behind a shield of glass to protect it. The Mona Lisa is in the center of the room with a belt surrounding it and the clusters of people automatically flock to the masterpiece.  It takes a while to get through the herds of people to get snapshot of the stunning Mona Lisa. Napoleons apartment is situated inside the museum and it was his actual place of residence at one point in time that was reserved within the museum. It would be a dream to live in such an apartment. The furniture is antique and sophisticated. All the trim along the walls and ceiling are covered in gold, and the ceilings are intricately painted with murals. Grand chandeliers hang from the ceilings, and the setting feels like a fairy tale.

Premiere vision, Who’s Next and Pret a Porter are a retail buyers heaven. All the collections for the upcoming seasons are spread out in booths around a showroom featuring hundreds of designers. Over 200 countries were represented by buyers throughout the trade shows. The shows are exclusive and it’s extremely difficult to get into.  The designers are very strict and protective of their collections for fear that new designers will come in and steal their ideas. The buying process is can be complicated as it involves several decisions and processes. The buyer needs to decide what pieces their store would sell and in what colors. The buyer needs to figure what styles will work best and how many to buy while also keeping the budget in mind. Premiere vision is similar to who’s next and prêt a porter but it is strictly fabric. The fabric vendors are also very concerned about people stealing their ideas for patterns. Buyers that purchase fabric also need to make a lot of decisions, the amount of fabric being the most important and the budget. The shows also give people an idea as to what is going to be popular in the upcoming seasons, which will help them decide what direction to go in while buying. This year in Pret a porter is was clear that orange, and royal blue will be the in colors for the upcoming summer season.

                The Champs Elysees that leads to the Arc de triumph is a long, but pleasurable walk. The Champs Elysees is lined with shops that are mostly to attract the tourists. Louis Vuitton, Disney Store and Abercrombie and Fitch are among the stores that tourists aim towards. The Louis Vuitton store almost always has a line to get in, but it is fabulous on the inside.  From the distance the arc looks closer than it really is, but as the walk progresses the distance becomes evident. In order to access the arc there is an underground tunnel and then stairs to take in order to get underneath it. The names of soldiers line the walls of the arc and the gravesite of the Unknown Soldier can be found here. The structure is massive and from the top a great view of the city is visible.

Italy

Milan and Florence; these are two very different cities.  Milan is one of the fashion capitals of the world, which is also why it is a very industrial city. The city has urban areas and the architecture is very structured without the feeling of history. The city could be compared to New York City in the sense that it is all about business. Florence displays a very stereotypical idea of Italy that is seen in movies. The buildings and homes look quaint and historic. The colors are also rich yellows, greens, and reds. The entire city is filled with traditions passed down through generations and the pride of the work that goes into the tradition can be felt around the city.

The Moschino hotel in Milan used to be a train station before it was a hotel. The hotel today was of course, designed by the Italian designer called Moschino. Everything in the hotel is inspired by fashion, and every room in the hotel has a different theme; it is a fairy tale for anyone that stays there. The lobby is a dream because the lights are made of paper and appear to be white fluffy clouds that make shapes such as purses. The restaurant is completely fashion oriented. The backs of the chairs are covered with dresses, the vases on the tables are purses, and food is served in a shoebox. The spiral staircase is an entrance to a dream world, which could not possibly be real life. Each floor is lined with antique keys hanging around the ceiling and each room has a creative twist. For example, one room is completely covered in different shades of blue. The room is dark due to the color, but it has a pleasant floral scent to soften the harshness. There is a spiral staircase in the corner leading up to a private lounge. Another room is a child’s imagination gone wild. There are white boxes all around the room with the shadow of a toy in each one.  The room was completely white, displaying the innocence in the room; it was elegant, pleasurable, and calming to be in. The goal of the hotel was to create comfortable get away from reality while staying there. The fantasy themes definitely helped to accomplish the goal.

        

Corso Como is a unique store to Milan and to stores everywhere; it is a concept store. Basically, the store has a little bit of everything to offer. There is even a restaurant and a book store within the store, which isn’t typical of stores. The store opened in 1991 and is easily described as a collage of culture. It offers everything from fashion, design, art, photography, and music; it’s a way of life.  The store sells pieces for all aspects of life, but they are typically very unique ideas. There is a section for shoes like most department stores; however, some of the shoes available would never be able to be worn. The chunky astronaut boot is a creative idea, but in everyday life it would not be acceptable.  More examples are dishes with people’s faces on them, and a circular egg chair that swings from the ceiling. While these items are exciting and different they are not necessarily practical. There is a modern twist on everything in the store. In order to describe the clothing it is easy to say that Lady Gaga could be seen wearing many of the designs; everyone knows Lady Gaga wears the most outlandish outfits. The idea is to be open to new ideas, and try new concepts; hence why it is called a concept store.

                Zara is the one of the trendiest stores to buy clothing in Europe. It is reasonably priced and always has new items because it has to keep up with the latest trends at all times. The store is always jam packed with people trying to stay fashionable. The flagship store is in Milan; despite that it is the flagship store it wasn’t overly spectacular. It had the same departments and clothing as other Zara’s in other parts of Europe such as, Paris. However, the entrance to the store was much grander than entrances to the non flagship stores.  At the entrance there was an elaborate foyer to welcome the visitors inside. In the middle of the giant room there was a display of mannequins wearing some of the latest trends. On either side of the room there was a grand staircase that curved up to the second floor; this gave the store a feeling of elegance and then it is easy to come to the realization that this is a flagship store. Inside the store there were more levels compared to other Zara stores. For example, on the second level there may have been areas only accessible by smaller sets of stairs within that floor; there were levels within levels.  Many times the smaller islands within levels were harder to navigate because of the lack of space. It was not any more organized than any other Zara, but it was also crazy with people because it is the flagship store and everybody has a desire to visit it. The only main and visible difference between the flagship store and other stores was the main entrance.

                La Rinascente is a popular department store in Milan, which could potentially be compared to Galeries Lafayette in Paris, but slightly less elaborate. In the United States this store would be similar to a Belk because it has very expensive designer brands and brands that average people can afford. The store had a little of everything to offer their customers. There were restaurants to sit and relax while shopping, and plenty of floors to stay occupied on. There Christmas department was elegantly decorated and had ornaments grouped together based on colors and themes, which was impeccable organization. The store sold expensive designer brands such as Alexander McQueen. There were also expensive brands that are still popular with many young people today and are affordable many middle class families such as Seven Jeans. The bottom floor of the store could be compared to the Corso Como concept store because it appeared to be a small collage of everything. This floor had a section for books, including children’s books. There was a small section for some office supplies. Most of this floor seemed completely random because items and sections were just thrown together. Many unique items could be found; the store was trying to model this floor based on a market setting.

                The Duomo Cathedral in Milan is the fourth largest cathedral in the world and the largest in Italy. The cathedral is surrounded by streets in the middle of the main square. The structure is absolutely massive and can be overwhelming. It is impossible to capture the entire building in one image because of the length. The cathedral is dedicated to Saint Mary Nascent and is seat to the archbishop Italy at this time.  The floors of the cathedral were amazingly made of marble, which made the breathtaking structure more interesting. It is difficult to separate one cathedral from another, but the marble sets it apart from many. There were stripes of colored marble in the floral pattern on the floor that added character.  Huge pillars lined the entire cathedral and seats were as far back as the cathedral would allow. Some people could actually be seen praying while walking through.  Stained glass is typical of a cathedral; this one in particular had some very tall windows of stain glass. In the elaborate window at the front of the cathedral it appeared that almost every bible story was depicted in some form through each window pane.  The church of Santa Maria Del Fiore also known as duomo is a gothic marble structure that is magnificent to look at. The marble on the building is in basic shades of white, green, and red. The colored marble can only be found in Italy and it adds beauty to the cathedral. Having the color on the outside makes it different than most cathedrals that may only have colored marble on the inside. The building in front of the cathedral is the baptism house because people that wanted to go to church would not be let in without being properly baptized. The baptism served the purpose of letting people into church after an appropriate ceremony. The cathedral is very tall and the dome can be seen from all aspects of the city. There are intricate designs carved into the colored marble, which only add to the beauty. Overall the building is inspiring to look at.

 

Milan

                Leonardo da Vinci is of course one of the most Italian painters of all time. He is responsible for painting the mural of The Last Supper that is displayed at one end of the dining hall in the monastery called Santa Maria Delle Grazie. The painting is in an extremely controlled environment in order to keep the painting from become too faded. The painting can only be seen by appointment only, and each group of people is herded into several closed chambers before they are allowed only fifteen minutes to view the painting. Obviously, to preserve the painting there are no pictures allowed in the room and there are guards around to make sure. At the end of the fifteen minutes a voice comes over a loud speaker in order to get everyone’s attention. Although the painting itself has faded it is amazing to see and know that it was done so long ago. Leonardo made this painting for his Duke Ludovico Sforza and his duchess Beatrice d'Este. The faded colors did not take away from the grandiosity of the painting at all. It’s much larger than one would imagine before going to visit it.

                Florence is a traditional Italian city with historic architecture and cobblestone streets. In the heart of this beautiful city is the sweetest old man that works in his family owned fabric store, only selling the most divine fabric to the most divine customers. The store is called Casa Dei Tessvti and has been family owned since it opened in 1923. Today it is fun by two brothers Romano and Romolo. The walls are covered in exquisite, but expensive fabrics. Romano is a generous old man that is knowledgeable about all the guilds and many historic moments. He is willing to share his own poetry that he writes with his clients and many of them are romantic, especially when read out in Italian. Romano wants the feeling of entering his house of fabric to be similar to a family environment. There is a definite level of comfort in the store and when signing the guest book one knows they will never be forgotten by the family in the fabric store. They are willing to let fabric be touched and draped to find the best fabric for their clients because overall they pride themselves on having quality and unique products to offer. Romano is a wise old man so not only does he have great ideas about fabric he always leaves his clients with words of wisdom and a magical experience.

                The Ferragamo and the Gucci museum are two of the best ways to get a feel for Italian designers; they are two of the most classic designers for Italy. The Ferragamo museum showed how much he prided himself on having custom made quality work. He would make molds of the feet of the famous celebrities he worked with as to keep them on file. When someone ordered a pair of custom shoes he could easily have them made. All the shoes are made by hand so ensure quality and to justify the prices. There were shoes that Audrey and Katherine Hepburn wore and Judy Garland. In 1934 or 1935 Ferragamo made the wedge shoe, and had several on display. Ferragamo uses unique designs and fabrics on his shoes to make them stand out. For example, the Wizard of Oz shoe modeled for the song “Over the Rainbow” had a layered chunky heel and each layer was a different color. Today his shoes are popular and can be found in favorite movies such as Ever After.  Gucci is a classic and will continue to be as time goes on. It is interesting to know that Gucci started by making luggage. There is so much emphasis on Louis Vuitton luggage starting in the 1800’s that other companies are not always thought of. Suitcases, trunks, and small vanity trunks were made for women. Going along with the theme of travel, Gucci produced a Cadillac with an entire Gucci fabric interior. Only about 300 cars were made, which is a decent amount in terms of cost and uniqueness. The car that sits in the Gucci museum was purchased back from a gentleman that lives in Miami. The museum was organized because it took the guests through different periods of design, and had appropriate videos or sound effects in each room. The leather handbag room displayed videos showing the handwork that goes into each bag in case there was any doubt. Also, real bamboo is used to make the handle of each purse; this ensures quality.  The sport room had sound effects of horse racing in the background because Gucci makes state of the art equipment for riding horses. Lastly, the room displaying gorgeous red carpet gowns showed a video of the celebrities wearing the gown. The women looked elegant, and all of them wore the dresses well. This is just proof as to how much care Gucci puts into their work.

                As most people know food is an important part of Italian culture. Pasta, bread, and Italian desserts are staples in the appetites of many people other than just Italians because the food is simply delicious. Tiramisu is a famous Italian dessert served in almost every Italian restaurant, and it is simple to make a personalized version of it with little cookies, and a homemade meringue. Making pasta is easier than one would expect, and it is a unique experience. Italian families like to cook for large groups of people and eat family style dinners, which is even more enjoyable when the “family” gets involved in the cooking process. Learning how to cook with an experienced Italian chef is a cultural opportunity in itself. The chef is very patient and willing to make jokes with the beginner chefs in order to make the experience memorable. Traditional Italian meals such as the Caprice salad, ravioli, and spaghettis Bolognese are easy dishes to make for large groups of people. Making elegant dishes is a skill that everyone needs to use at some point in their life. Serving dinner out of large platters with a glass of red wine is the way true Italian families enjoy eating dinner.  

                Italy is known for having the highest quality leather to offer on the market. It would be tragedy to travel to Florence and not visit the San Lorenzo market place. The street is lined with pushy and arrogant vendors hoping to make a deal with you on fine leather goods. The place is packed with tourists and can be overwhelming at times. Not to mention, there is so much to buy and look at that it is almost impossible to narrow down choices. In the market one has to barter for lower prices in order to get the best deals. The vendors will usually put up a fight about the price, but at the end of the day they want the sale so they can be lenient at times. Jackets, purses, wallets, belts, and even key chains are among some of the leather choices. All of which come in different shapes, colors and sizes. All the leather is completely genuine and makes for the best souvenirs, birthday and Christmas presents. The vendors can be rude at times because they are under so much competition; this is not the time to worry just move on to the next booth. Many of the booths have generally the same merchandise. This is the best place to get cheap deals on leather that could not even be possible in the United States. Remember to come to Florence prepared to shop in the most cultural way possible and bring plenty of cash to enjoy the market to the full extent.

                The Pitti Palace has enjoyable exhibits and one of that is being displayed at the moment is based on fashion through the decades. The costumes starting in the early centuries displayed women’s torture through fashion. There were hoop skirts, panniers, puffy sleeves and of course the corsets squeezing the organs together. On display next to each century’s old fashioned dresses were modern designer’s versions of the dress. Of course the two were very different, but the comparison was interesting to see. As time progressed, the clothing became less torturous and women could be seen wearing simple gowns that just fell to the floor.  The clothing progressed from as far back as 500 years ago until modern time periods. The setting of the palace gave it a historic feeling, and clothing worn during the famous Medici family ruling could be seen. The Medici family was an extremely powerful family that ruled and seeing the clothing is an important aspect of culture.

  

                The statue of David is another important reason to visit Florence. The statue is surrounded by glass and no pictures are allowed to be taken in order to preserve the statue. About ten years ago someone tried to smash David with a hammer, which is why more precautions are taken now. When looking at the statue it is clearly seen that the hands and head are not proportioned with the rest of the body. The statue used to be displayed outside and when it is far away the head and the hands need to look as if they are normal size. Also David was sculpted to look natural, which is why he is leaning more on one leg. It is natural for humans to lean when they are standing. Despite that David is made of stone there are realistic features on him to make him more human like such as the veins in his hands. From two different viewpoints of David’s face there are two different emotions. On one side he looks brave, and from the other side he looks fearful of the giant Goliath.

                

           On the way to the airport it is worth one’s while to stop at the outlets for a designer experience at discount prices. Some of the stores to shop at include Burberry, Ferragamo, Gucci, and Pucci. The outlet center is small with only a few stores to offer, but all of them are expensive designers, which gives clients to buy more for their dollar. Compared to outlet malls in the United States it was a small area. The Lindt chocolate outlet is worthwhile for chocolate lovers everywhere. Enormous tubs of chocolate were set out and customers could put together a collective bag of assorted chocolates for a small price.  Overall, some of the best deals were on shoes no matter which store they were in. The atmosphere was calm and peaceful and fountains were set up surrounded by rock gardens. There are restaurants and cafes to visit while shopping for lunch, and for coffee breaks. The restaurant has a good mixture of Italian food with some American food thrown in.