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.

               

               

               

Paris #1

        There are no better ways to spend a semester than in the glamorous city of Paris. The city has so much to offer, and it is overwhelming to think about how much needs to be seen. Paris is a fashion merchandising major’s dream come true because it is the capital of fashion. Everybody wants the opportunity to experience fashion in the most hands on way possible. Fashion is taken very serious throughout the city, and fashion week only turns up the heat. France is inspired by more than just fashion. There are places of inspiration all over the country, and many of the sights definitely help inspire the gorgeous fashion that is produced.

                The Eiffel tower is of course what makes Paris stand out. There is not a single person that comes to Paris and does not want to see the Eiffel tower, which is understandable because it is a massive structure. Describing it in words cannot even begin to give it justice. Despite its grandiosity it looks fragile, as if it could be pushed over. It is so tall, and becomes thinner towards the top but knowing it is made from metal is comforting. The Eiffel tower can be seen from all over the city, but from a far it looks like a doll house tower. When standing in front of it, it is impossible to capture the whole structure without standing back a distance. Taking a picture of the entire tower is a challenge in itself. A camera cannot capture the beauty of this structure. Every hour on the hour the tower lights up, and there is nothing more exciting than buying a crepe across from the tower and standing on the bridge when the tower lights up. When the tower lights up the city slows down, and everybody is in a trance because of its beauty. The sparkle of the Eiffel tower never gets old, and is a way for people that live here to begin to appreciate how lucky they are to have the Eiffel Tower. Visiting the Eiffel Tower is the most cliché part of touring Paris, but there is no question as to why people continue to do it. It is impossible to believe that a tower could be so tall until it is seen in person.

                Versailles is an incredible town, but it is also a learning experience. The palace is something France takes pride in because of how historical the castle is. Three Kings lived in the Palace; King Louis 14, 15, and 16. The famous Marie Antoinette also lived in the castle. The hall of mirrors is a well known room in the palace and this is because mirrors were expensive during this time period, it was rare to even own one mirror. The King was able to have a hallway covered in mirrors. Today there is a superstition that if a mirror is broken whoever broke it will have seven years bad luck. This is related back to the expense of mirrors during this time period, and if one broke it was unlucky because of how much it cost. The palace has two drawing rooms for the King one is the war drawing room and of course it would only make sense for the second to be called the peace drawing room.  The rooms were set up so that during that time period the public could walk in and watch births or simply watch the King dress. Also the beds are quite short so that the people could sleep sitting up to avoid pneumonia. The overall architecture of the building is breathtaking because all of the ceilings are painted with intricate details and every room has a different scene. The palace is covered in gold on the outside and the inside. The hall of mirrors was covered in gold, and it had been restored. The landscaping outside the palace is covered in elaborate fountains with scenes depicted by metal structures in the fountains.  The flowers, trees, and bushes are landscaped to perfection creating a peaceful environment to walk around in. The land around the palace was substantial; perfect for hosting royal parties. The Austrian village is only a short walk from the castle. The village was built for the lovely Marie Antoinette because she missed her home and King Louis only wanted his queen to be happy, which is why he requested the village be constructed. It is as one would imagine, small little village homes with rolling green fields and flowers. Honestly, it is like entering another world, and it is extremely peaceful. The houses look as if they could be children’s play houses.

                Giverny is potentially one of the most inspirational places to visit while in France. Monet depicted stunning scenes in his pictures and one quick walk around the property explains why he was able to paint so flawlessly. Fashion majors should easily be able to find inspiration at Monet’s garden. The rows of flowers can make anybody feel artistic, and inspired. It is easy to think and get lost in thoughts in such a peaceful place. The area is filled with history, and being in a place where one of the world’s greatest artists found the inspiration for all his work is simply amazing in itself.  During the summer and beginning of the fall there are so many colors to be seen, and sometimes it is good to stop and sit on a bench just to take all of it in. The famous water lily lake and the green bridge over the lake are famous from the paintings. Throughout one’s education Monet is talked about on several occasions; being in his garden is like walking through one of his paintings. They both portray a sense of peace and well being.

                Fashion week is hyped up for months before it finally happens, and Paris is ready for it when it does. Paris being the fashion capital of the world takes the fashion shows very seriously. It would make sense that something so important would be highly advertised, but the truth is only the exclusive guests are invited into the show; many times this will include celebrities. Working shows can be very stressful because the show has to go exactly as planned. Designers have been putting the collections together all year and want the public along with fashion critics to accept their designs for the upcoming seasons. Models can be difficult to work with at times because they are getting paid and feel they can do what they please. Sometimes attitudes are evident and there is tension between the models and the dressers. The high stress environment getting model dressed in time between there entrances gets the adrenaline flowing, but it almost always goes as planned. All designers have very different perspectives as to what they feel is in style and what people will like; all of them are clearly catering to a different client base.

                Ricks Owens and Gareth Pugh have the most interesting clothing, in a darker sense. The clothing from both of them has a gothic appeal. Gareth Pugh started working at Rick Owens, which is why his inspirations have become so dark as well. The clothing from Gareth Pugh was the type of clothing Lady Gaga could probably be seen wearing. He had a major emphasis on stripes, but many of his dresses and tops were set up as a cage effect. Many of the pieces on the runway would not be worn for everyday. There was a dress that inflated; it gave an amazing effect on the runway but would never be worn by a client. The show was well organized and had music and slideshow to keep the audience excited and interested. Rick Owens used black and white as did Gareth Pugh for all the pieces in the show. Rick Owens did not focus on stripes, but he just used solid colors. All the clothing was draped over the models; there were baggy pants, very tall shoes and everything was oversized. The music matched the clothing and gave the audience a feeling of darkness. Ana Burke was in charge of running the show and she hired enough dressers so that each dresser only had a few looks for their models. The process was less stressful and the overall chaos in the room decreased significantly compared to other shows. Rick Owens has been doing fashion shows for a while so his business knows exactly how to handle the situation.  

Alexis Mabille and Manish Arora are two designers that are completely different from Rick Owens and Gareth Pugh, although some of the designs were still farfetched. Manish Arora used all bright colors, sequins, and loud prints. One of his pieces was a bird cage worn as a shirt. Many of the inspirations he used for his collection were taken from birds. This show was unfortunately highly disorganized and it was complete chaos until the very end. Each model had about three or four looks and there not many dressers to help out. Alexis Mabille is known for his signature “bow”.  Needless to say his styles are “girly” compared to Rick Owens and Gareth Pugh. He put a lot of emphasis on the boyfriend look that is popular for women. He used men’s dress shirts to create dresses and for summer, and he continued to use the pin stripe dress shirt theme for the rest of his pieces.  Alexis Mabille kept a very elegant look throughout the show. The Alexis Mabille show was ready to wear, which is why all his pieces could be worn on a daily basis.

Paris has an intense outlook on fashion and it can be stressful at times, but they offer some of the best fashion in the world. For lack of better words, Paris is the “snob” of fashion but they have earned their right to be. France in general is full of inspiration whether it is fashion week, Monet’s garden or the remarkable Eiffel Tower.  The city can bring inspiration to anyone that is looking for it.

Barcelona

After only a few days in Barcelona, Spain, it is safe for one to say that the fashion is not impressive. London has clear cut trends, but the case is not the same in Spain. In general, Barcelona is filled with a lot of self expression among the entire city. Crazy hair, piercings, tattoos, and trashy clothing appeared to be perfectly acceptable on the streets in Barcelona, almost as if everyone was shouting “look at me”.  The street trends spotted in London appeared as if items were thrown together to create a look, but the ideas were structured and collective as a culture; everyone has different approaches to capturing the essence of one look. For example, the idea of British street fashion is unconventional and it uses vintage styles with modern designs. This style is accepted as a whole and has some cultural guidelines. Fashion in Barcelona did not have the same cultural structure if any structure at all. Everyone seemed to be trying to outdo others with their crazy fashion sense of fashion, and it definite opinions could not be drawn after observing people on the street.

Barcelona focused more closely on having the highest quality fashion for the lowest possible prices. Paris puts their energy into expensive high end designers such as Dior and Chanel. England is famous for their tailored suits. The mango factory was a perfect example of how Barcelona focuses on quality, but also affordability. This company opened a new store everyday this past year, and despite the amount of merchandise they had to produce they were able to maintain their company motto of quality.  The mango corporation is a business that should be a role model to other businesses because they have about 600 people working there, but they are able to keep order and control among the company. Mango should implement their plans of working harmoniously on countries around the world because it is fascinating in today’s society that it is even possible. It is unlikely that so many people would work collaboratively together, but mango pride themselves on this ability. The executive in charge of the company puts everybody on an equal playing level and works beside his employees as a friend. Major fashion designers such as Burberry, Chanel, and Dior are all possibilities in the city of Barcelona, but the sense that these major designers had as much emphasis as they do in Paris was not there. A Mango store could be seen on every street corner and in every shopping mall in Barcelona, and in Paris or London the streets are mostly lined with high end designers. Barcelona serves a different group of people in their city; they are looking for clothing that is trendy, affordable and practical. Mango may be affordable, but they are serious about offering quality and also having one of a kind pieces for ready to wear. Every season Mango contacts new textile companies to decrease their risk of other companies copying their styles and fabrics. Mango wants their customers to have a sense of exclusivity even though they are a chain and the clothes are offered worldwide. Mango is one of the most exceptional chain clothing stores because of their concern for the customer, and quality. The outlet mall is near the Mango factory and has high end shopping to off such as Burberry, but there are also less expensive shops like North Face. Children’s outlets can be found by the dozen in this area. Some of the shops were native to Spain itself, which was good to find more unique pieces. There are also cafes to rest after a day of shopping and walking.

The department store that is in Spain is called El Corte Ingles. The headquarters are in Madrid, Spain and it is the fourth largest department store in Europe. This specific department store chain is the only that is left in Spain. The store could easily be compared to a Belks in a America and potentially even Self Ridges in London. They have an extensive collection of clothing and accessories from all the high end designers. They also have a grocery store section, which is unlike most department stores. There are about seven floors to choose from while shopping. The store is even accommodating to tourists that need souvenirs and do not want purchase items from street vendors. There are options to buy shampoo and conditioning products on the cosmetic floor. Most department stores are not so accommodating to their customers. This could be one stop shopping for the people of Barcelona rather than having to visit several stores in order to get all errands accomplished.

The Ramblas is an area full of tourist traps. There are kiosks lining the strip, people dressed in ridiculous costumes hoping for some money, and a market for food. The strip itself is a couple miles long and ends off the beautiful Mediterranean coast. There are several characters that can be found a long this strip. The styles are casual but at times they can be trashy. Oversized sweatpants, high-top sneakers, and t-shirts were paired with facial piercing, dread locks or other funky hair styles, and tattoos. Men were not dressed in structured suits as was seen in London and women were not dressed to the nines and wearing heels. The market on the Ramblas is the perfect way to get a dose of Spanish culture. There are stations filled with fresh fruit, vegetables, and most importantly the meat. Spain is known for having the best ham, and hanging along the stations were huge limbs of meat that were being freshly carved; the perfect way to get meat for sandwiches or an amazing dinner. Along the Ramblas men working at the tourist shops try to draw people into their shops, each one selling the same items but they can be convincing at times. There persistence can be comical. By the Mediterranean there is a statue of Christopher Columbus, which adds to the history of the city. There are other historic looking buildings by the ocean that add beauty. After walking down the stressful Ramblas the calm Mediterranean Sea is captivating and the perfect place to sit and watch boats come into port.  

The Sagrada Familia is the most breathtaking structure to visit while in Barcelona. The architecture was designed by Antoni Gaudi who died in 1926. The cathedral has yet to be finished, but the goal is to have it done in 2026; 100 years after the death of Gaudi. The church is still being built from the money of confidential donations. Before entering the cathedral it’s greatness can be seen because of the extremely intricate designs on the outside of the structure. It looks as if someone single handedly carved the designs out with a knife. On the back side of the cathedral it is evident that Gaudi was the designer because the lines of the building are curvy, and flow together. The front has straighter lines, but more intricate carvings. There are religious statues covering the entire back of the building and of course Jesus is included. Gaudi designed Jesus so that his eyes would follow all the people as they walked by. Fashion inspirations could be taken from the cathedral because it is an easy going building with little structure, this could be compared to the laid back fashion. The inside of the cathedral only gets better and more breathtaking. It is hard to believe that it is a cathedral because it could be mistaken for a castle. The inside structures model Gaudi’s style of architecture perfectly; there are curved lines, spiral staircases, and tall round pillars. All the pieces of the building seem to flow together much like the Mediterranean Sea. If there is any place to gain inspiration in the city of Barcelona, the cathedral is the place.

The museum of chocolate is a creative idea for chocolate lovers all over the world. Using art and food together is always a good idea, especially when chocolate is involved. Making artistic sculptures out of chocolate is amazing because tourists cannot honestly believe they are looking at chocolate. The museum not only had sculptures, but there were informational panels filled with history of chocolate and how it reached other countries. Antoni Gaudi inspired the chocolate museum with the replica of the Sagrada Familia and the Casa Batllo.  The casa Batllo is a famous building that was restored by Guadi. Not all of the sculptures were serious there cartoons made of chocolate. Tom and Jerry were sculpted and are relatable to adults and children. There were also current Disney movies on display such as Chicken Little, and Up. The gift shop gives on the opportunity to buy fresh truffles for friends and family while enjoying a glass of hot chocolate. The best place to buy a cup of hot chocolate is in the chocolate museum, but be prepared for the thick, and rich consistency.

Tapas are a type dish that is famous in Spain. They are small dishes that can be compared to an American Appetizer. Learning how to make some these delicious treats is the perfect gift to bring to friends and family because everybody loves food. Tapas are easy to make especially when working with a highly skilled chef. The restaurant is set up as is a home-style dining room and kitchen. The restaurant called Barcelona Kitchen is made to teach people how to cook while also enjoying a fine dining experience. They make their own brand of wine that can be enjoyed while cooking and of course eating. There are simple dishes to make such as baked cheese lollipops that taste as good as they sound. Also a gelatin with a melon soup is easy to make. It sounds adventurous, but the taste is refreshing and surprisingly delicious. The chef gives everybody a chance to experience different aspects of cooking, and learn important facts about making gourmet food. The kitchen has only been open for a couple months, but the concept is intriguing.

The textile museum and the Picasso museum are two ways to gain some insight into culture, but they are two very different outlets into culture. Everybody has heard of Picasso and it would be a shame to travel to Barcelona and not see his work. The museum in Barcelona timelines his entire life through paintings but most people know about Picasso because of his abstract work. Picasso has done so much more and it is important to learn about his other works. There is painting called ‘A Child in Bed” and in the museum if the painting is looked at from two different angles there are two different perspectives of the painting. The way the light hits the painting plays with the colors, and the direction at which the painting is being looked at changes the facial expressions and positions. Also one will learn that he progressively started signing his paintings with only “Picasso”, but that was not until his later work. There are also smaller drawings on display that Picasso is not necessarily famous for, but are equally as interesting to see. The textile museum is also an important aspect of culture, mostly for fashion majors because it takes students through the decades of fashion. There are videos that demonstrate when and how clothing was worn to put it in perspective. Charles Frederick Worth had dresses on display in the museum. He was extremely influential in fashion during the 19^th century with his need for custom dresses; he became the father of haute couture. Women endured fashion torture with their whale bone hoop skirts, tight fitting corsets, and the bustles. Designers such as Dior had dresses on display from the “new” look designs and it is interesting to compare this to the Dior that is being sold in stores today. Fashion has progressed tremendously and it is to make comparisons and relations when the progressions are displayed. Some of the items have actually come back into style. Vintage is very popular right now, and many of the Chanel, and Balenciaga dresses would be worn as vintage evening wear today.

London

Visiting London at the beginning of their fashion week is potentially one of the most unique fashion experiences for any individual traveling. Fashion week is the perfect opportunity to experience fashion on the runway and the on streets in London.  Compared to several countries that people can visit, London is different than most other countries because fashion does not have a structure to follow as in most cultures.  In London, in order to gain insight into the fashion and culture it’s important to explore museums, department stores, and other sightseeing to help figure out what is truly involved in this individual style. Wendy is a freelance journalist from London and she follows fashion trends around Europe. She has discovered the trendiest places to buy British fashion along with where classics can be found. Department stores in London are some of the biggest and most unique to visit, but the best way to get a sense of British fashion is on the streets. The stores may show which items are most popular to buy, but the street put the clothes and accessories together in the most eclectic way imaginable.

It is almost impossible to concentrate while walking down the streets of London because there is always something eye catching. In America many of the styles seen in London would be considered extremely improbable. It’s almost impossible to get a clear definition of what British fashion is, but the best way to get an idea is to ask people on the streets their opinion of fashion in London.  Some of the most popular words that native Londoner’s used included the words unconventional, playful, fun, no rules, anything goes, collective, and eclectic. There are no better ways to describe the fashion. Compared to Paris the fashion is more laid back with very little structure.  In London the styles were very raw, as if they had just been taken off the runway and thrown onto people on the street. Dover Street Market gave the best impression of British fashion in a store. The clothing was displayed as if it were in a showroom getting prepared for a fashion show. In Paris the clothing from the runway is highly modified before being seen on the street; there is a definite structure to the way clothing is worn. The main difference is organization; in London colors, patterns, and materials can be mixed into any combination and it doesn’t necessarily have to “go” together. London gives people an unlimited amount of opportunity to express themselves through fashion.

Fashion week took over the streets of London with window displays, advertisements, and most importantly fashion shows. Bernard Chandran also known as the “King of Fashion” in Malaysia was able to share his fashion sense with London. The clothes presented were far different from typical British. The clothes are whimsical with light airy colors. British fashion is typically characterized as having an essence of “punk” that was not represented in the Bernard Chandran collection. It would be interesting to see how the people of London react to the collection once it released. The stage for the show was long, but it contrasted from the style of the clothing. The room was chic as the clothing was, but it was set up as a square and many of the clothes were flowing without many straight lines. The room itself was simple and elegant, which did reflect the clothing. The people invited to shows during fashion week are highly inspiring to observe when in line for a show. The outfits are completely avant garde and eccentric. For example the use of wild hair accessories, feathers on apparel and outrageously high heels were among some of the major trends seen. Overall the show, like most shows is inspiring and the crowds pile into the room to sneak just a quick peek at the upcoming collection.

Harrods and Liberty are two department stores that are solely found in London, but they both have two very different approaches to British fashion.  Liberty’s holds the unique essence of British fashion and Harrods captures the classic essence of British fashion.  Liberty’s is obviously unique based on the outside appearance; it looks like a house rather than a department store. The inside was filled with beautiful hard wood staircases and railings giving the store a quaint and comforting feeling.  The store had a wide array of merchandise, and it wasn’t highly organized. There were several types of merchandise on the floors; this reflected the way London views fashion. There were interesting items such as, portraits with the faces of animals. In fact, several items were related to animals including dishes, and furniture with animals printed on it. Also, the vintage section in the store was unique and different than most department stores. Several outlandish designer dresses and wild pieces of jewelry were on display. Liberty’s displayed an avant garde approach to fashion and home interiors, which can be directly compared to their fashion on the street.  Harrods is portrayed as a classic department store. It houses all the collections from the classic designers such as Dior, Chanel, and YSL. People expect only the best and most expensive high end products at Harrods, and they always deliver. The store comes equipped with a gourmet food section, and the most divine selection of desserts one could ever ask for. The cupcakes come in several unique and classic flavors and the room of chocolates could put someone in a coma just by looking around.  The shocking window displays help draw the customers in. One display in particular showed taxidermy. The idea seems almost improbably for a department store window, but it was different and gave the window a realistic feel. They made sure to advertise that no animals were hurt to make their amazing window possible.  Harrods does have some avant garde ideas, but this is a store for more classic looks.

        

The British Museum and the Victoria and Albert museum are both an amazing way to discover culture in general.  The Victoria and Albert museum had a great exhibit called “The Power of Making”. The exhibit showed how artists took regular everyday items and looked at them in new ways or just created fabulous works of art.  The exhibit was perfect for fashion majors that need to be creative and constantly find new solutions for the creation and turnover of products. It helps to realize items in a new light, which can be refreshing. For example a dress made completely out of pins. The dress cannot be worn, but it is a creative way to use resources and it gives fashion majors a chance to realize how to put displays together and merchandise in new ways.  The clothing displayed around the museum shows clothing during different time periods and cultures. People from today can better appreciate modern day clothing after walking through the museum. Women were put through fashion torture in the past with corsets and hoops skirts made from whale bones.  Seeing the progression of clothing through the centuries is a culture shock in itself. The costume exhibit was the most fascinating to witness because costumes that celebrities wore were on display. The comparison of old rock star costumes to today’s apparel was fascinating and easy way to make connections. For example, the one piece jump suit worn by Mick Jagger would be unheard of to wear during a stones concert in recent times. Costumes seen on Broadway were in the exhibit, which is great to see because of how popular Broadway musicals have become. The British museum had an amazing exhibit of the mummies; this included coffins, mummies, funerary masks, portraits and other items designed to be buried with the deceased.  It is fascinating to know that actual people have been buried in a coffin that is so beautiful. The people of that time had a lot of respect and pride for their deceased, which is why they are buried with certain items. History of costume has reviewed the clothing that Egyptians wore, and to see the clothing and jewelry on display in a museum is not only helpful but incredible to experience.

Hyde Park could be considered one of the most inspiring places to visit while in London. It consists of fields and wide open spaces, but it is beautiful to visit. The park has ponds, and sculptures throughout the park to stop and gaze at. The peter pan statue needs to be one place on the list to stop at because many people know the story and it is good to relate it back to history rather than the Disney movie. The parks rolling fields leave time for hours of walking, but there are waterside restaurants to stop at and enjoy the view. The London eye is a newer attraction that the city has to offer, but it is a perfect way to get a bird’s eye view of the city. When there are few days to explore a marvelous place it is necessary to see as much as possible. In addition, the view is absolutely breath taking. The famous Abbey road where the Beatles had the cover for their album is an exclusive London experience. The Beatles have become a huge part of rock and roll culture over the decades, which is why taking a walk across the Abbey Road crosswalk has also become a part of culture. The Abbey studios are right next to it, and the brick wall next to the street is covered with the names of famous Beatle songs and the names of people that visited. It is almost comical to see tourists taking turns walking across Abbey road and aggravating oncoming traffic in the process.

Words cannot completely describe a British experience. Despite the fact that it is an English speaking country it is much different than America. The people are willing to be unusual, avant garde, and stand out in a crowd. They are a society with few social rules, and more cultures should model there laid back view on life; native Londoner’s appear to be at ease on the street. Tourists may stare with puzzled looks, but they are a culture that is comfortable with their unique qualities.