Reviews

Found the Holy Grail of Flats: Introducing You to VIVAIA Aria 5

(Disclaimer: this post contains a PR gifted item)

A long time ago, during what I like to call the B.L. age (a.k.a. Before London era…) I used to be one of those women who would wear ridiculously high heels everywhere. And by that, my dear friends, I mean everywhere: to the college, to work, to dinner dates, and even to go grocery shopping. Yes, pals, I was THAT girl. What can I say? (I have told you before but I will again: if you look for extra in the urban dictionary, my picture will come probably across…)

But then, I moved to the UK and was introduced to a terrifying new concept that still sends shivers down my back: London commuting. (If that’s not a horror story, I don’t know what is. I am fine with real crime TV shows and Stephen King books, but talk to me about London commuting and I’ll start shaking uncontrollably… ) Coming from a modest-size city, where commuting translates into a twenty-minute walk, I found myself trapped for hours to no-end in the underground system. And I can tell you one thing: that is a helluva amount of time! So, I said goodbye to high heels and got used to always carrying with me the most comfortable pair of flat shoes I could find.

Let me add, that was easier said than done. Yes, heels could be saved for the weekly office meetings and the occasional dinner date, but finding the perfect pair of flats is far tougher than I first thought.

Vivaia Aria 5 the most comfy flat shoes I have evert tried

While heels will hurt your ankles and feet when worn for long hours, ballerina flats can be hard on your back and feet’s sole. This is a lesson that I had to learn the hard way, though. I have mild scoliosis but after wearing the inappropriate type of flat shoes for a few hours, my back will start torturing me and there are days in which I only want to lay down. And that’s never fun, is it?

Over the last couple of years, I tried different things. I wore silicon soles to reduce the impact and help support the feet, I tested half-a-dozen shoe brands, and I even visited a physiotherapist to give me some advice but nothing was working for me. The last resource seemed to be giving up and wearing sneakers, which is quite a logical conclusion. Only, I HATE sneakers with a passion.

Actually, scratch that. To be more specific, I hate sneakers with the fire of a thousand suns!

(Before you all come on me, let me add there’s nothing wrong with wearing trainers. They just look terrible on me, specifically. When I dare to wear them, I look like a scrawny professional tennis player aspirant who never made it to the Wimbledon Tournament but still wears sporty clothes… Yes, it’s that bad. So you can now feel my pain when I say trainers were the last option available.)

The most comfortable flats in the market. Aria 5 by Vivaia

I was starting to feel quite hopeless at this point, and investing an insane amount of time browsing the internet and looking at shoe stores in search of the perfect pair of ballerina flats that would be fit for the job. I started feeling like Cinderella, only trying a thousand different shoes that were not the cristal slipper⁠—well, a modern Londoner version of her, for the matter. One with little patience for nonsense, bad hair days, and too much coffee in her system…

And then the miracle happened! A few weeks ago the good people behind Vivaia contacted me asking if I’d like to test their newest shoe model: The Aria 5, also known as the “sneaker flat”. I had never heard of them before but they caught my attention when I read they are an ethical shoe company, based on sustainability. As you may know already, this has been a topic concerning me for a long time now, and I’ve changed lots of my shopping habits as a consequence. Hence, I was genuinely interested in trying the shoes.

When I finally received them, the first thing I noticed is all the packing is recycled. Also, the shoes themselves are made out of more than six plastic bottles, which is quite impressive in my book! However, they are still washable, as the 3D knitted material is super resistant (which I could test when I accidentally hit a bin in the streets with no visible imperfections on the flats whatsoever).

The first time I wore my Aria 5, I realised the shoes are designed for increased arch support and the memory foam both in the heel padding and insole felt amazing.

But let me make present my case. I wore the shoes from noon to eight in the evening. Sebastian and I went out with a visiting friend and walked through the Bank area to Spitalfields Market, and then to Brick Lane, London Bridge, finishing with a cocktails night at Bōkan in Canary Wharf. By the end of it, my feet were still feeling great and even most importantly, I had no back pain at all! Can I hear a Hallelujah here?

The people at Vivaia were so kind as to sponsor this post by offering this beautiful natural peach Aria 5 pair but, as we speak, I am already looking into their website and adding another pair in black to my shopping cart. Guys, I am serious when I say these flats have changed my life for the better.

So if you are looking for a shoe designed for the modern, professional woman, head to their website now and thank me later.

Are you a flats kind of girl? Or still a heels person? Let me know in the comments!

March 16, 2022March 16, 2022

Allegra Caro7 Comments

The Most Instagrammable Cafes in London: Viola’s Covent Garden

As an expat, my Spanish friends and family members do frequently ask me about nice places to eat when visiting London.

(Sometimes, strangers also ask me all sorts of funny questions over social media, but let’s save that for a different occasion, shall we?) One of my favourite things to do when out and about is going for brunch with friends.

London has got a lot to offer in culinary terms, with thousands of different choices: from the quintessential afternoon tea to Chinese street food and everything in between. Looking for Ethiopian food? Or fancy some Cuban mojitos? You name it! It’s the version of a foodie Heaven on Earth. It’s like you can eat your day out in London, quite literally. (Sometimes, I feel like this city gave me a bad case of August Gloop possession and angry Oompa Loompas will come for me any day…)

With that in mind, it’s no shocker I find myself trying new places all the time. Lately, London has adopted the trend of making cafes and restaurants more and more picture-ready. In the Instagram age, people seem to consider not only the quality of food but also the presentation and environment. One almost feels a bit embarrassed not to make a real effort to look half as good as these pretty places when eating out. Like, can they kick out or scratch your name from the booking list if you don’t look cool enough? Is that even a thing?

Jokes aside though, when it comes to food I can be quite picky. And yes, I’ll choose quality over presentation every time as I have my fair share of experience eating at really top-quality restaurants and hotels . Hence, Instagrammble places can make me quite skeptical. That succulent avocado on toast can look majestic⁠—all covered in flowers and gold dust⁠—but if the food is not as good as it looks, you lost me. Period.

Viola's Covent Garden review. Best places for brunch in London.

I think it’s a question of common sense (and also, economy). If I am going to pay six pounds for a latte, it better be good! Like, the kind of latte you will remember on your deathbed. (“Oh, child! I remember that amazing latte I had in February 2022. What a wonderful time!”) Like, THAT GOOD.

And you know what? Most of the time, the food looks incredible but it’s not incredible… Actually, it’s not even OK. And I don’t know about you, but I can’t stand meh food, less alone bad food.

There was this time a couple of years ago when the husband and I went to a really popular Instagrammable place (I will omit the name here) and we ordered some waffles and toast for brunch. The place was crowded with people taking cute pictures in front of the floral displays and the queue was for half an hour, so we thought the place had to be good. Big spoiler? It wasn’t. Those waffles were probably the most insipid ones I have ever tasted and the so-called cotton candy cocktail I ordered tasted like carbonated water. I paid about fourteen pounds for the drink, so I can tell you I wasn’t very happy about it. Sebastian was quite disappointed himself, so we never came back. As you can imagine, I am rather wary after that experience.

Best places for brunch in London. Instagram cafes in London.

A few weeks ago, I called a friend for brunch and we decided to go and try a new place. Viola’s at Covent Garden has recently become a super-popular place in town. They serve breakfast, brunch, and afternoon tea options and the place is always packed with people, so you do need to book in advance. As a bonus, the food is displayed artistically, with delicate and colourful floral compositions that will catch your eye.

When we first arrived, we were surprised by the modest size of the place, but it was still full and no free table was in sight. However, as we had booked the day before, the waitress sit us in about five minutes and brought the menu super quickly. (Bonus: the lady was super lovely and we had a nice time chatting with her!)

My friend ordered their red velvet cake and mocha coffee, while I chose the pink latte and salmon croissant. Our food was served super fast and we both held our breaths in awe when it arrived: as you can see in the pictures, it was alluring! My coffee contained real flowers and rainbow glitter and I must confess I was too scared to taste it (partially, because I didn’t want to spoil it, but also partially because I was afraid it wouldn’t taste as good as it looked). And you know what? I was WRONG. Because guys, that coffee was delicious! It tasted sweet, a bit like strawberries, and I loved it.

Then, I proceeded to test the croissant that, to my surprise, it didn’t only contain salmon, but also benedict eggs, and butter-cooked asparagus. The verdict? They were scrumptious! I will say this and defend it to death: probably the best salmon croissant I have tried in town, so far. And that speaks by itself!

My friends happily reported his cake and coffee were amazing too and none of us managed to finish the food, given the generous portions we were served. So, if this was a review from the Art of Eating, I would give them five forks and I’d still fall short!

Regarding value, I was charged £14.00 for the croissant and £6.00 for the latte. So, although it’s not the cheapest breakfast place ever, I’d say it’s very reasonable given London prices for venues of this type.

So, I am glad to report I might have discovered a new favourite spot for brunch. Now, if you excuse me, my mouth is watering after thinking of all the delicious food, so I might need to assault the pantry…

What was the last amazing brunch you discovered? What do you think of Instagram-friendly cafes?

March 2, 2022March 2, 2022

Allegra Caro12 Comments

I Found The Best Luxury Silk Pyjamas at Larolas And I am Celebrating It With A Give AWay

Have you ever felt like you were looking for that perfect piece of clothing forever? That’s exactly what I experienced for the last two months while looking for the one pure silk pyjama set that would finally make my skin feel amazing. The one pyjama set to rule them all.

The story began last March during one of my casual chats with a friend. We were talking about how your typical cotton sleepwear always seem to leave sleep marks all over your body and how this is one of those unavoidable curses that come with age. It’s a bit of a bummer, really: one day you are in the flower of your youth, all flawless skin, and the next you got sleep marks all over your face and body, and you look like the victim of an ancient Egyptian jinx. As a consequence, if you are anything like me and ~~a bit of~~ a drama queen, there is a good chance you spend five minutes every morning complaining about it because #SOUNFAIR. Guys, I wished I was joking here. I am not though and Sebastian can tell you about ALL the morning moaning while I apply my skincare…

At some point, I got sick of it all and after a fair amount of research I decided to give silk a go due to its well-known anti-aging properties.

I tried it all guys: I searched in every online sleepwear shop I knew, spending an amount of money I would prefer not to admit publicly in what seemed to be the search for the saint pyjamas grail (and Indiana Jones thought he was on a challenging quest, tsk…). I tried high street brands at different price points and I only got more and more dissapointed.

And as I was about to give up though, I received a message from the wonderful people at Laloras, asking me if I would like to test one of their 100% long-strand pure Mulberry silk pyjama sets. And although in all honesty I was quite sick of the whole thing at the time, I decided to give it a final go. And guys, I am so glad I did!

They kindly ordered the Tina Washable Piped Silk Pajama Set in cupid rose for me, together with some of their sleepmasks and scrunchies. One week afterwards, I got the parcel in the mail and decided to test the products right away and see by myself how much of a difference (or not) could I find. As the sceptic creature I am, my initial plans consisted in trying the sleepwear for a couple of weeks before allowing myself to form an opinion on the matter.

With all of this in mind, I prepared for bedtime on the first night (a.k.a ‘experiment session number one’ if you fancy) and, to my surprise, I noticed that the fabric did feel notably softer when compared to the bunch of pyjamas I had already tried. There is something about pure silk that makes me think about water since it’s so soft and light to the touch.

The watery texture is due to the composition of their products which is mulberry silk, considered the highest quality and most expensive silk. (Fun fact: in case you don’t know, mulberry silk comes from the Bombyx mori silkworm, a species whose diet consists exclusively of mulberry leaves, making it one of the rarest and more exquisite fabrics in the world. So yeah, you are totally authorized to feel like an empress when wearing it. Actually, feel free to call me Sissi from now, as far as I am concerned…)

Next morning, I woke up and headed to shower and I got shocked by the fact I could not find a single sleepmark in my body. I repeat: not a single one. What kind of witchcraft was that?

So, this bad boy is not only hypoallergenic, breathable, 6A Grade 100 percent pure mulberry silk, but also woven of silk charmeuse, which feels lighter and drapes incredibly well. HA! You see where I am coming with this, right? I was so impressed, the sceptic planning went out of the window as soon as experiment session number two… (And now you know why I never made it as a researcher at the WHO. Oops…)

But the whole point is, the two-month-long Indiana Jones style quest in search for the perfect anti-aging pyjamas was finally over and I would feel good enough on my skin to rest—and in style too.

Guys, we made it to the end of this review already, so it’s time to talk about our give away. To spread my love for their sleepwear, I am partnering with Larolas to offer a lucky winner a prize of silk accessories. Head to my Instagram account today for a chance to win before Sunday the 30th! I promise you will no regret a thing.

Good luck all contestants!

May 20, 2021May 19, 2021

Allegra Caro11 Comments

I Tried The Pillow Talk Instant Eye Palette And These Are My Honest Thoughts About It

Over the years, I have made a number of confessions in this blog. Like, the one that involved an embarrassing number of Vogue magazine issues, or the one about my strange hunting habits. Hence, it won’t be a total surprise if I reveal another one. So, here it goes guys. Ready? When it comes to makeup, I am weird.

This might require a bit of clarification, though. I don’t mean I enjoy painting my face green or drawing a clown smile around my mouth (no, the lockdown hasn’t made me lose my senses quite yet). What I mean is I can be rather peculiar and picky about makeup. Let me illustrate with an example.

As a teen, my friends and I would visit the closest drugstore together. They would spend a little fortune there every single time, getting as much mascara and blush their pocket money could buy. As for me? I would spend one hour looking for the perfect berry lipstick and leave the place with my wallet intact and the heaviest disappointment. So at the end of the day, I would spend the money on the movies or another book simply because, in my mind, those things were easier to get.

For starters, the young me did not understand a thing about skin undertones or chromatic palettes (as much as this might surprise you, I wasn’t very girly as a teenager) but my issue with makeup was deeper—as a matter of fact, I wouldn’t choose a lipstick simply because none was special enough. All those inexpensive plastic tubes looked the same on the shelves, and so did the never-ending variety of cheerful red shades. Everything was dull and, funnily enough, felt colourless too.

As I grew up, this feeling never disappeared and I made it all the way through my early twenties owning an eye pencil and half a dozen lipsticks that spent most of their life forgotten on a dusty vanity bag. I didn’t apply foundation until I was about twenty-five and didn’t even enjoy it that much back then.

In my mid-twenties and during a casual conversation, an old friend from my uni days suggested that the reason I could not find anything I liked was I was probably looking in the wrong place. “Drugstore makeup it´s all well and good”, she said, “but it’s not for everybody. Have you tried high-end makeup? ” And guys, I hadn’t. As a matter of fact, it hadn’t even crossed my mind until she mentioned it but at that moment, something clicked in my mind.

Now, I am not suggesting the moment I entered a high-end store my attitude towards makeup changed overnight. However, I felt more and more attracted to certain brands and products and, eventually, I started buying makeup on a regular basis. To this day, my tastes are still quite rare but as time goes by, I have built a solid relationship as a customer with a few brands and my makeup collection has benefited from it.

Over the years, Charlotte Tilbury has become one of my favourite brands and I totally trust her as a customer. Not only does the packaging and design offer that wow factor I was always looking for, but their product range is unique, and they feel truly good when applied.

I’ve always been fastidious about eyeshadow palettes, specifically. Like, I always find a way to hate at least half of the colours a palette displays. As a consequence, I rarely can justify the expense of a good palette because I do know I will only use half of the colours (and by that, I am being very generous here…). So I was shocked when Charlotte Tilbury launched their Pillow Talk Instant Eye Limited Edition Palette and I loved every single colour. For a moment, I thought I was suffering a stroke or something.

Charlotte Tilbury’s website describes the palette as follows: “From the shimmering rose gold, peachy-caramel and dreamy champagne pink eyeshadow shades of the Day and Desk looks to the soft tawny brown, shimmering rosy pink and blushed berry-rose of the Date and Dream looks, create a Pillow Talk gaze that takes you ANYWHERE”. It brings four different looks—day, desk, date, and dream, each of them designed for a different occasion.

The first thing to catch my attention was pigmentation. All the colours are super intense and you need very little product to finish every look so, I can feel this palette is going to last for ages.

Regarding texture, the shadows come in a shining and matte finish, leaving a soft and light feeling when applied. I have very sensitive and dry skin and even so, I didn´t notice any discomfort or creasing around the eyes area which is always a nice extra touch. When it comes to eye powder, most products don’t look good on me—and by that I mean I usually end up looking like a white walker, only OLDER— but to my surprise, I haven’t experienced this issue with the Instant Eye palette.

As for lasting power? I applied my make up at 10 in the morning and took these pictures about three in the afternoon. It looked exactly the same at that point. I removed it about 7 that evening and by then you couldn’t say there was much of a difference.

Overall, I would say this is a new favourite of mine so I am going to give this guy a 5/5.

I am impressed in terms of packaging and presentation, chromatic palette, pigmentation, and lasting power. Actually, I am already checking the Charlotte Tilbury website looking for other palettes and guys, the young me might not have given a damn about her makeup collection, but this thirty-something woman is about to expand hers… Beware of the beauty category extravaganza coming your way.

What about you? Any interesting beauty purchases lately?

January 20, 2021January 19, 2021

Allegra Caro20 Comments

The Cloud Bag review: What I Got for Christmas

This Christmas many things were different at home: we couldn’t visit our family in Spain, spent the holiday on Tier 4, and had to make last-minute arrangements as a consequence. But even so—and as many people out there—we did our best to keep the festive spirit up.

Hence, we cooked a delicious dinner, had a Skype board games family meet up on Christmas Eve, and exchanged presents, as usual, the next morning. Maybe, it wasn’t the kind of celebration we had in mind but, against all odds, it was truly nice.

To be a hundred per cent honest, I was expecting it to be a bit Dickensian due to the whole Christmas cancellation drama here in London (in case you do not know, the prime minister played the Ebenezer Scrooge card and forbade any celebrations a couple of days before holidays, which left us with the slight but undeniable feeling of being trapped in some weird version of A Christmas Carol, really). However, we came to terms with it by deciding that a simpler Christmas did not mean a sad Christmas, necessarily. After all, it’s not like we were eating gruel on rags or anything…

But back to the topic, one of my favourite things about the holiday is Christmas morning. I love preparing a bottomless festive breakfast and sitting comfortably afterwards, looking at Sebastian’s face while he opens his presents. This year though? This year, he decided to be the one surprising me.

I was given several amazing gifts (the guy does know how to hit a nerve) but he left the cutest for the end. And guys, I was in awe!

The Cloud Bag by The Cambridge Satchel Company Review

Sebastian did know I’ve always had a thing for The Cambridge Satchel Company partially because I am all about everything handmade and craftmanship, and partially because their bags have got a certain vintage vibe I cannot resist. Also, I’ve always admired the fact they started the company at their kitchen table with a £600 budget, and only two years later, they were working with Comme des Garçons. Their bags have been featured by the Italian Vogue, wore by style icons such as Alexa Chung or Lady Gaga, and the company has worked with Vivienne Westwood and Melissa among others. To me, they are the indie equivalence of a Birkin, and their image as a brand it’s all about reflecting on freshness, youth, and the cool factor.

As a result, every time I pass across their London shop in Seven Dials, I stop and spend a good half an hour looking at the never-ending selection of leather goods. I can tell you this: I would get their whole catalogue keenly and not regret a thing. A couple of weeks ago, we passed across the shop again and Sebastian realized there were huge sales inside so, while I was inside drooling over their pieces, he made a secret list from my favourites.

On Christmas morning, I received the beautiful Cloud Bag in pale lilac (in the pictures it looks more like blush pink but I promise it is the most delicate lavender tone you can ever imagine), with pale gold hardware, and gorgeous Celtic grain. This specific model is one of their best-sellers and usually out of stock, so I was over the moon he managed to find it in my favourite colour option. How awesome is that?

Another amazing detail is the company offers the possibility of customization for every piece so, Sebastian went the extra mile here and engraved it with my initials in gold foil. In case you wonder, he won the prize for the best husband in 2020. Period.

I can tell you guys, this bag is the new love of my life and I cannot wait for things to go back to normal, so I can wear it everywhere. I am dying to see how many Spring outfits I can get out of this cutie. (I’ve got a dress in mind it will totally work with…)

In terms of size, the bag is small but still fits my phone, keys, wallet, lipstick, and cardholder. So it’s not only aesthetic but also a practical addition to my collection. Win-win situation!

If, like me, you are in love with the bag and planning to get it (I might be playing with the idea of starting a little The Cambridge Satchel Company shrine at home, given the number of nice models they produce…), the good news is they have got a 30% discount sales at the moment, which applies not only to the Cloud Bag but to most lines. So hurry up, before they are gone…

And well, at this point I wrote almost eight hundred words about the bag—we all know I have a thing for long bag reviews when I love my purchase— so I am going to leave it here for now and let you go and stalk The Cambridge Satchel Company website for a while. You are welcome!

Have you heard of T.C.S.C. before? What did you receive for Christmas?

December 29, 2020December 28, 2020

Allegra Caro10 Comments

The best Satchel in all the land: Michael Kors Mercer Gallery Leather Satchel

Do you believe in soulmates? Personally, I don’t but I do believe in bag mates.

Bag love is totally a thing: when you find the one, you know it. In my opinion, it is pretty much a long-term commitment—if you are lucky enough to choose the right piece, the relationship may last a lifetime. And I am being quite literal here. This cutie is nothing but solidly made!

My love story with the Michael Kors Mercer Gallery Medium Leather Satchel began last August. During my annual birthday trip to Budapest, I went for a shopping spree at Andrassy Avenue. Once I entered the local Michael Kors boutique, I spotted the Mercer immediately. It was love at first sight. Do you know when your average romantic comedy girl sees her love interest for the first time, the time slows down and all of a sudden, she hears Tom Jones music playing in the background? (Ok. Maybe not Tom Jones. But it is MY romantic comedy, right? I shall have my sip of absurdity, thank you very much.) That’s how I felt, anyway.

Continuing with the burgundy theme I have adopted lately and which I don’t plan to put aside any time soon—if you were expecting me to stop this monochromatic madness once Fall is over, you’re going to feel very disappointed. Sorry about that…—I had to go for the oxblood colour option, obviously. It is classy, it is timeless, and it elevates any Autumn outfit instantly.

The Mercer Gallery Medium Leather Satchel is a luxury handbag specifically designed for the twenty-first century cosmopolitan busy girl. As a matter of fact, it’s one of my go-to choices for mostly every occasion: from long weekend plans to hectic working days packed with endless business meetings. In these pictures, I am wearing the middle size and let me tell you that I feel like I found the Mary Poppins bag. For a satchel of its size range, its capacity defies physics. It is THAT good. Generally, I’d never expect something this stylish to be also functional, but Michael Kors cracked the code with the Mercer bag.

The interior is divided in three sections: a zipped compartment with pockets for your more sensitive personal belongings (wallet, phone, keys and the such), and two more for the rest of your stuff. Believe it or now, I usually carry a cardigan and an emergency scarf since the extra room is so generous. The zipped space includes a key leash. No more digging through your bag to find your keys! Genius.

Being the kind of person who will carry everything but the kitchen sink with her, I am truly amazed about how much you can fit in this bag. On a regular day out, I can easily fit my wallet, ebook, phone, keys, transport card, makeup pouch, emergency manicure set, flats, cardigan, umbrella, headphones and snacks in the Mercer satchel. Not bad for medium size, right?

Oh, and did I mention you can monogram it too? I learned about this option too late, but will definitely go for it when I get my next Michael Kors. (Hello, Nouveau Hamilton! I am looking at you, gorgeous thing…)

Definitely, this is one of the best additions to my bag collection so far, and I am sure more Michael Kors goodness will arrive to my closet soon. (But I can’t promise it won’t be bugundy too…)

What is the latest addition to your own bag collection?

Blazer: Axes Femme (sold out, alternative here) / Bag: Michael Kors

Skirt: Zara (old, alternative here) / Shoes: Primark

Cashmere scarf: Thrifted (similar at Burberry)

October 21, 2019October 21, 2019

Allegra Caro10 Comments

The best high tea in Budapest: Herend afternoon tea at the Four Seasons Hotel

There are two types of people — those who like afternoon tea and those who don’t.

Being an obsessive foodie (and although I find the term painfully cringe-worthy), there is no need to say I belong to the first group. Yes, I love my food. And yes, I have a sweet tooth too. But to be honest, that is not all about it.

To me, there is something vaguely ritual about the whole tea-time experience: the idea of dressing in your best best to share good food and a lovely conversation with someone you appreciate; the endless succession of spongy scones, coated in a decadent foam of jam and custard, immaculately presented in the finest china. Afternoon tea represents the luxury of quality time — winding down from our usual fast-pace everyday routine.

As soon as we decided to visit Budapest last month, we booked the Herend Afternoon Tea experience at the Four Seasons Hotel as a birthday present for me. We’d had a nice time there the previous Summer and were looking to upgrade the game. And guys, I am so glad we did!

Four Seasons is located a the Gresham Palace, a 1906 Art Nouveau building which offers enviable views over the Széchenyi Chain Bridge and the Danube. The palace itself is a true national treasure and it is worth a visit, even if you only go for a coffee. But let’s talk about Herend Tea.

five stars hotel tea in budapest — Me happily standing in the lobby after all the delicious food

Afternoon Tea is served every day from 15.00 to 18.00 in the hotel lobby and tea lounge, where you can listen to a live piano concert. An elegant Herend porcelain table is set with bountiful bites and a cup of Gresham Tea, setting the ultimate mood for an afternoon at the Gresham Palace. The china service is one of the most beautiful sets I have ever seen in real life, decorated with dainty colours and floral details. Next time, I would love to purchase a set for our personal collection (the hotel offers a specialized porcelain boutique for customers).

The tea selection includes white Yea Long, superior Oolong, Finest Shizuoka Sencha, Superior Gyokuro, Golden Assam, Earl Grey, Yunnan Black Mao Feng and Massala among others. If you are a tea lover, you can’t miss the chance to taste some of their available range (when in Budapest, I enjoy paying them a daily visit just for a cup of tea and to rest from shopping and city sighting).

But the absolute winner here is food. Afternoon tea is served both with a sweet and savoury offer: from Tramezzini (a bold smoked trout, mustard and dill sauce bite) to their absolutely delicious triple chocolate cake, everything was simply divine. My personal favourite? Their confit duck sandwich is to die for (and I really mean it, some days the craving is still HARD, let me tell you. Like waking-up-at-three-in-the-morning-wih-a-craving kind of hard).

Not only the food quality is fantastic, but also the quantity is very generous: Sebastian and I are both good eaters, and even so we barely managed to try every delicious piece. (As you can see in the photos, I was wearing a flowy dress that day. Thank heavens I did so: none of my trousers would have fitted afterward comfortably…)

The staff working there is truly kind and well-mannered and they would explain to you everything about the different types of snacks and drinks provided, assisting you at all times.

Finally, the price for the afternoon service is around twenty euros per person, which can be slightly increased if you choose to enhance the experience with a cheeky glass of Kreinbacher Sparkling Wine or Veuve Cliquot Rosé N.V. (and c’mon, we all enjoy the occasional champagne glass, right? Actually, every meal would be better with some champagne, if you ask me). But overall, the price-quality relationship is impressive all things considered. Whether you are celebrating a special occasion or just enjoying your city break, I would recommend the experience to anyone.

Are you into high tea? What is your favourite afternoon tea experience so far?

(Disclaimer: To be crystal clear here, this post is not sponsored in any way. We paid for the whole event and this post shows my honest opinion as a customer strictly.)

September 17, 2019September 17, 2019

Allegra Caro23 Comments

My pool-side and Summer holiday reading list recommendations

In my memory, books have been always connected with all those fragrant, endless sunny Summer days. As soon as June arrived, I would store my schoolbooks on the closet, only to pile up children’s novels and short stories in my nightstand. I was probably the youngest with a library membership in the school, and guys, I was not afraid to use it.

As I grew up, my thirst for books did too. When I was a teenager, it wasn’t unusual to find me reading in a corner during the classes break. Then I went to college and graduated in English. During all those years, I would spend the extra spare time in Summer to catch-up with my list and this is a habit that has endured thus far.

But the truth is that once you become a functional adult, the chances to keep your reading rhythm decrease – work, children, household, social life… Pickup your poison.

I enjoy buring my nose in a book every evening before bedtime but sometimes I am so tired I fall asleep with the lights on (raise your hand if you are familiar with the associated frustration). Hence, the holiday season turns into the perfect period to indulge.

This year, my reading marathon started during my trip to Spain in June, and since then I am proud to say I am back to track. Partially, thanks to all those relaxing pool-side mornings I am enjoying lately. As a consequence, I thought I could share some of my latest favourite reads with you.

Before I proceed, please notice that all the selected works were written by women and that is not a coincidence: as Kamila Shamsie stated on a genius article back in 2015, gender imbalance is a reality when talking about publication or literary prizes. Examples are countless but I find this one quite enlightening: Pulitzer across the Atlantic has had no female protagonist among its 15 winning books. Beautiful, right? Surely, this is a topic that deserves an entire post but I left that for another day and decided to give you a clue of all those fantastic women writers I have been reading lately.

These are my recommendations for 2019 Summer reads.

Don’t Look Now and Other Stories by Daphne du Maurier

I don’t know if I have mentioned this before but I have a thing about ghost stories. Like, the kind of thing that makes you read every book and watch every movie you encounter. I am not joking when I tell you that there is a special folder on my eBook called “Books About Ghosts and Other Cool Uncanny Stuff“. Yeah, that’s me. Please, don’t unsubscribe…

But the thing is, I also love Daphne du Maurier and Rebecca is one of my absolute favourite books AND movies (seriously, how often is the movie as good as the book?) So, when this short stories collection landed in my lap, I knew it was meant to be. And it really was.

Most of the tales are set in Europe during the Summertime and tell the stories of English-American people who, one way or another, experience something unnatural during their holiday in the Mediterranean coastline. Yes, you can still smell a tiny tiny bit of colonialism there maybe, but I assure you that the tales are awesome and a Summer must.

Girls in Their Married Bliss by Edna O’Brien

Edna O’Brien is a bit like Doris Lessing and Iris Murdoch had a daughter together – in other words, her prose is astonishing. Girls in Their Married Bliss is the third part of the Country Girls trilogy but I had no problem to follow the plot, even without reading the previous episodes.

The novel goes into the story of Kate and Baba, two Irish county girls who move to Dublin in the hope of making the most of it. Splashed with loads of humor and sympathy, O’Brien explores how religiosity affects women both emotionally and sexually. If you are into meaty fiction, make yourself a favour and purchase a copy right now.

The Handmaid Tale by Margaret Atwood

Unless you have been hiding under a rock for a couple of years, there is a good chance you’ve already heard of it. The Handmaid Tale is a masterpiece which will give you all the feels (I will neither confirm nor deny that I binge-read it in the course of one day, making good use of an entire tissue pack and having to go for a late evening walk to process it all…)

However, this is not only an emotional narrative but a political one: Atwood brightly sections the innate danger to blindly follow leadership, as well as the chaos generated by fundamentalism of any sort. Dystopian fiction as its finest.

Beloved by Toni Morrison

Guys, just so you know, this novel is so good this is the second time I read it (and I am quite sure it will not be the last one). Beloved is the story of a former slave called Margaret Garner who escapes and establishes herself in another state. Unfortunately, her pain is far from gone: very early in the plot, we come to know her house is haunted by an unknown but demanding revenant which will affect her daily life as well as her family’s. (You see? I was not joking about the whole ghost stories thing, was I?)

Main topics mastered by Morrison include family relationships, psychological ramifications of slavery, loss coping and manhood definition among others.

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

Considered a modern literature classic, the novel tells the story of Esther Greenwood, a young woman who ambitions to become a professional writer. Once she wins an internship in a fashion magazine, her dreams seem to come true but depression knocks on her door as she struggles with relationships and a vain society which will not take women seriously.

Personally, I have always considered The Bell Jar the female literature equivalent to The Catcher in the Rye – an initiatory tale with a darker and maturer tone. The style is light and smart, notwithstanding, which makes the novel a perfect pool-side lazy afternoon read.

What have you been reading lately? Any recommendations we can all benefit from?

July 19, 2019July 19, 2019

Allegra Caro6 Comments

Game-changer Summer skincare (that actually works)

The arrival of Summer means sandals, sundresses, and for the most favoured even eating gelato by the seaside in Capri – but unfortunately, it also means that our skin goes all the way down to Dryland. Fun times, aren’t they? No need to mention every potential reason: the burning sunlight, together with the exposure to swimming pool chemicals is enough to quickly spoil the results of our careful skincare regime during the cold season. But what can you do to improve your general skin condition over the warm months?

Especially, if your skin belongs to the dry type Summer may become a challenge and not of the best kind. For years, it has been my Achilles heel but with a good dose of patience, experimentation and yes, some investment, I am happy to say I have managed to find products that really work for me. Hopefully, they will work for you too.

This is my game-changer skincare routine in 2019.

Moisture is king

This should be obvious, shouldn’t it? And even so, quite frequently we don’t pay enough attention to such a basic step. Finding a product that works for your specific skin type and needs is everything. Guys, I am not gonna lie: It took me a number of rights and wrongs to find something which could keep my Mojave dessert-dry skin hydrated all day long but once I did, there was no way back. My absolute two favourite products happen to be Clinique.

Moisture Surge, 72 hours auto-replenishing hydrator

To me, this is like magic. I tend to apply it either as a five-minute mask or just before my makeup routine. Not only smooths the skin but it also feels shooting for a long time. The product is supposed to target fine lines and although I cannot confirm on such a radical difference, after only a few uses it became one my forever-in-rotation basics.

2. Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel

Raise your hand if you are looking for a 12 hours moisture barrier fix. Because that is exactly what you are getting. I apply it first thing in the morning and the skin feels fresh, and flexible until my evening routine. Yes, in Summer too. Over the years, I have tried many different solutions but for me, this is the one.

Anti-aging

Since skin hydration levels go down during the warm season and sunlight is harsh, the chances to get fine lines do increase. As a consequence, I take more precautions during this period. A few months ago, my sister kindly recommended Le Lift Créme by CHANEL to me. It doesn’t only treat lines but also improves firming. After almost half a year using it, I can confirm that my skin feels far better in both departments and no new lines have appeared.

Peeling and eye puffiness

Since my skin is more exposed to the effects of the external factors, I try to keep up to date with a rigid peeling program once a week. On Sundays, I usually stay indoors so this is a good occasion to apply acids.

The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10% + HA

Is it legit to marry a beauty product? Because I am totally marrying this one (with the permission of Louboutin Velvet Matte of course), I don’t care what you say. I like to mix two/three pumps with my moisture gel in the morning and let it do its thing. After about four weeks of usage, I started seeing an obvious difference in the texture on my skin. And not even Mr. Summer can change that.

2. The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG

Another collateral effect of hot weather is that my eyes tend to look a bit puffier than usual. Fortunately, when consistently applied morning and evening, The Ordinary Caffeine Solution reduces any signs of redness around my eyes – and also sorts out dark circles, win-win here.

And these are my personals tricks for better skin during Summer.

Have you got any holy grail product secrets you want to share?

June 10, 2019July 15, 2019

Allegra Caro2 Comments

A Colourful Revolution: Mary Quant, the V&A retrospective

“London was dead. Fog permeated everything. Fog was a smell. Fog was a colour.”

In the context of a grim, black and white post-war London, the work of Mary Quant bloomed like a Winter Rose – an unexpected crimson brush-stroke in the snow.

No one in that colour-blind world could have foreseen it but when the suburban Goldsmith schoolgirl opened her first experimental shop in Chelsea, she was meant to start a vivacious revolution. Back in the day, couture embodied the rigid war generation mindset, deeply related to subjects such as traditional gender roles and a narrow elite class access to fashion. Baby boomers not only failed to empathise but also refused to do so: they were eager for freedom. “Fashion should be a game,” Quant wrote once, a motto an entire generation lived for.

When wandering about the V&A halls at the Mary Quant exhibition, one can easily come across ladies who look at the dresses with a nostalgic smile. “I had a dress very similar to this one,” 73-year-old Mary Brighton says, “I was only 14 then. My parents didn’t like it but they hadn’t much to say. I would work every Saturday on a tiny Carnaby Street shop to save the money.” Her friend Betty Wilkes nods her head: “Everything was grey then: the rain, the streets, the boring schooldays… And suddenly, she showed us the idea of hue. It was a bit like Technicolor, only better.”

This image deeply resonates with Quant’s work. Chromatism was used wisely as a part of an elaborated concept – to deconstruct British tradition by empowering women. Significant examples (sometimes, in the form of iconic dresses; sometimes, in the shape of lustrous raincoats, shoes or tights) are visible: if you take a minute to visit the ground floor, the OBE Dress must be admired. In 1966, the designer was appointed Officer of the British Empire, a medal awarded for her contribution to the UK fashion export trade, supporting the national economy. For the occasion, Quant created a bright cream gown to stand out in the crowd in a gloomy November afternoon. Her beret was designed to look like an English schoolgirl hat, the entire outfit recalls the Victorian boarding school institution but she gave her a fresh and modern twist. The short skirt shook Royal protocol.

Another quintessential example is to be found on the first floor. The 1967 tartan dress was deliberately made on Victorian-inspired patterned cloth and conservative bodice. However, the new hemline, as well as the usage of synthetic materials such as rayon with Lurex thread, helped to create a sparkling party dress – The Swinging 60s paradigm.

Although Quant is mainly credited for making mini-skirts popular, it could be argued that her most impressive achievement was the capacity to anticipate and capture the new age sensibility. Hence, it is no shocker that other visionary legends of the period like former Vogue creative director Grace Coddington (then a promising model) embraced Quant’s philosophy and wore her pieces.

Quant tartan lurex dress — 1967 Tartan Lurex dress

But what makes Quant work bewitching is her own fascination about modernity. When new materials first came out, she was eager to experiment with them. “One day, a new fabric appeared on the scene,” she said, “PVC was shiny, waterproof, and unlike anything I’d ever seen before.” Her revolutionary usage of plastic for the 1963 Wet collection was a turning point in fashion. She conceptualized practical clothes to brighten gloomy weather days, sure, but the choice of a watery material and a simple, natural pattern has a lot to do with her early prediction of the deconstruction process: By rejecting perpetuation of the highly structured Dior silhouette, Quant seems to anticipate Zygmunt Bauman’s liquefaction concept. The 50s corseted designs are inevitably connected to highly hierarchically organized structures such as family, social class, and gender roles, all of them early refused by the Baby boomers generation who started moving from a solid, heavy society to a more fluid one.

Mary Quant PVC raincoat — 1963 Wet Collection

It is quite significant that the V&A team decided to hold Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams and Mary Quant exhibitions at the same time, confronting both visions. On the subject, Quant once declared: “I always designed clothes from a very young age because I didn’t like the way they were. They were paralyzing; they were stilted.”

Paralysis is deeply connected to the topic, indeed. Women were frozen, a dragonfly on amber, trapped in a forced passive role conceived during the Old Regime times. With the second wave of Feminism in the 60s, themes such as reproductive and work rights became socially relevant. By giving women freedom of movement and rethinking gender stereotypes (her androgyny designs are worth to mention still today), Quant significantly contributed to the new cosmological vision. Hence, we can shamelessly affirm her work transcended the mere fashion substance to achieve a cultural patina of grandeur.

Certainly, Dame Quant also owned a natural genius for marketing and audience understanding: among many other fascinating moments, the exhibition portrays her elaborated plan to promote London as an avant-garde destination for the emergent American cosmopolitan class, while visiting New York in 1965. The Youthquake tour not only put London on the map but also succeeded to create a fan phenomenon over the brand, which sold out collections overnight.

Mary Quant tuxedo dress — Overdraft waistcoat and cheque book skirt (1967)

Curators Jenny Lister and Stephanie Wood have worked hard to bring together more than 200 pieces for the exhibition, many of them never displayed before. This is the result of a brilliant strategy: a public call-out to track down rare Mary Quant garments. Through hashtag #WeWantQuant people are still sharing their experience on Instagram. Many of the original owners’ stories are presented –together with their gowns– on a memorabilia masterpiece which is a page in the fashion book, as well as in the English history.

Now you have the opportunity to experience it: the exhibition opened on April the 6^th and will run to March the 8^th, 2020.

When leaving the V&A building, springtime drizzle falls across the grey London streets and a few colourful umbrellas pop here and there. And at the end of the day, the 21^st-century woman writing this cannot help but bless Mary Quant for that.

June 6, 2019June 6, 2019

Allegra Caro3 Comments