The Orientalist Interior

I discovered this dapper interior designer about two years ago, and I can say no one does Orientalism like Alberto Pinto. His interiors are about light, warmth, style.. They possess romance and fantasy. Alberto Pinto is a true artist with an eye for color. His rooms are more than mere living spaces. They are canvases injected with a vision, and the result is striking detail in every direction.

(The above image is from the website of Alberto Pinto.)

Oh Suzani!

Vintage fabrics come in many forms and textures - pillow covers, doilies, designer dresses, ethnic costume, and antique carpets are all possibilities. The element of appeal is the quality of old.

The Suzani is an embroidered, decorative textile that originates from the tribes of Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and the other Central Asian countries. The term "suzani' means needlework. Characteristically, suzanis are canvases of threaded silk designs, bright flowers and scrolling vines.

Today suzanis are a sought after collector's item for those fascinated by vintage and ethnic fabrics. You can find a huge selection of them though at Yurdan, a wonderful site for the eclectic decorator.

(The above image is from the pages of Domino magazine featuring a Suzani from Yurdan.com)

Couture and the Caftan

For 11 years running, the now world-famous Caftan runway show has been causing a commotion on catwalks throughout Morocco. This year the show took place in Agadir, where designers once again pulled out all the stops to make this one spectacular event. With al the elegance and sophistication of premier stylists, designers brought on a feast for the eyes and a lust for a renewed wardrobe a la mille et une nuits (thousand and one nights).

Colors were large and exciting: emerald greens, blue turquoise, canary yellow, and passion red. As is the custom, caftan collections respected the finer details of the traditional Moroccan dress all the while displaying finishes tres haute couture.

Accomplished with a focus on high-end fabrics, caftans were stitched in satin broques, taffetas, and rich velours. Luxury textiles were topped and finished with wide sashes, embroidery, pearl buttons, and woven-in swarovski crystals. There was quite a bit of an interest in glamour. While some designers took their inspiration from ancient Greek and romantic Baroque dress, others brought the flash of Bollywood, or the fantasy of the full color.

Fusing the traditional Moroccan gown with the smoking jacket, the bustier, corseted robe, designers did their very best to stretch the definition of Caftan. From familiar folk styles to calls from far, far away, a variety styles made appearances on stage. In most cases, though, lines remained clean and ancient, ‘oriental’ and elegant. All in all, the show was a very couture set of collections.

( The above image is from the collection of designer Achoucha. )

Ageless Italian Beauty

Italian women are beautiful. Though from afar they can appear unapproachable, in fact they are some of the warmest, most vibrant women in the world. They may possess the aura of a queen, but the sweet temperament of a child. In almost all instances, their cultivated style and feminine grace stay with them throughout their lives, and regardless of age.

Today, many Italian women pursue lucrative careers in Italy and beyond Italian borders, across Europe and internationally. Still, even as sharp witted, skilled competitor to her male counterpart, the Italian woman characteristically remains aware of her feminine sexuality, almost as implicit acknowledgement that it is her greatest power.

But if the Italian woman, despite all her skill and education, might still believe her femininity is her greatest strength, don’t feel sorry for her – because it keeps her ageless. More than that, it infuses her life with simple pleasures, with joy and love. And to be sure, the Italian man has a very similar view of his masculinity.

French Art, French Fashion

The French have an eye for all things artistic, and

fashion is very much a French art. Paris street fashion can appear as much an inspiration to the great fashion houses as inspired by them. Style can spell mess in the clutches of a meager imagination, so the French woman approaches it with all the soul of a studied painter.

In any great visual art, color mastery is essential and composition fundamental. Skilled at style contrasts, the French woman will mix the ultra feminine with the edgy, the finely tailored with the bohemian. With an impressionist’s eye, she will blend come-hither complements with the elements of surprise for a palette that requires a second look to fully appreciate.

Matisse in Morocco

Matisse was a chameleon painter. He changed styles many times during his career, and each time according to context. “He became an impressionist in Brittany, an adept of peinture Claire in Corsica, a proto-fauve in Toulouse, a divisionist in Saint-Tropez, a fauve in Collioure (Cowart, Jack et. al 30, Matisse in Morocco, Katy Anderson).”

It was likely for love of Zorah, the Moroccan prostitute, whom Matisse painted on several visits to Tangier that Matisse went from depicting women as primitive sexual objects to civilized beings worthy of respect. It is interesting to note that Matisse’s depictions of Zorah moved contrary to popular contemporary western attitudes about non-western cultures.

Matisse painted Zorah a number of times over his career. But he never once depicted her as a prostitute, but always as a cultured non-European woman, mannered and well-dressed in typical Moroccan wear. He showed her with hands folded delicately in her lap, fully clothed, standing or serving tea.

Unlike the western women to whom Matisse assigned a primitive sexuality in his paintings, Matisse did not exoticize Zorah with color and form. Instead the artist showed an interest in depicting Zorah as a respectable woman of an Islamic society.

The change of style has intrigued many a follower of Matisse’s work, including Jack Cowart who co-authored Matisse in Morocco: The Paintings and Drawings.

(The top image is titled Sur La Terrase, the right image Casbah Gate.)

Art Nouveau and Arabian Nights

With the limitless imagination and artistic skill of a dreamer, Edmund Dulac painted to perfection the Eastern paradise as surrounding Scheherazade in the Arabian Nights. Dulac’s visions of exotic maidens, turbaned men, domed minarets, and blooming courtyard gardens in the Arab style were all given marvelous life in his paintings. His musings charmed generations of children – and adults – who through Dulac’s imagery were set to dreaming and then carried away themselves.

Born in Toulouse, France in 1882, Dulac began his career studying to be a lawyer. The profession his parents believed more apt to pay off financially, as compared to a career as an illustrator. But the turn of the century 20th century saw Dulac pursue just that, and his work was met with delighted recognition in the West. In Europe, he became celebrated for his ability to charm and transport his admirers to a world of pointed slippers, flying carpets, magic lamps, minareted cities, and starry desert oases, and tiled Andalusian gardens.

As though Scheherazade herself had spoken the Thousand and One Nights directly to him, Dulac illustrated the fairytale with such detail long before he had ever set foot in lands to the East.

(The above images are from Edmund Dulac's The Rubaiyyat of Omar Khayyam.)

Nomadism Remixed

Nomadism has gotten a remix through the fashion world. Over decades, designers borrowing from orientalist vocabulary have produced prêt a porte with an updated Eastern sensuality, and fashion figures have followed suit. Between Yves Saint Laurent and Talitha Getty in the 60s and 70s, enough love for the Caftan existed to lift the style to iconic status. Vicarious travel through embroidered fabrics and Eastern cuts became one of life’s exotic pleasures.

Beaded, brocaded, and spun in enticing colors, the Caftan is nonetheless a simple gown made of cotton, silk, or a combination of the two. It is Morocco’s answer to elegant women’s wear for a festive evening. In variations, it has been synonymous with glamour from northwestern Africa to eastern Anatolia. The 60s, however, saw the Caftan’s rise to stardom in Western Europe and beyond.

To take a stroll through the souk and is to see what wonders can be done with fashion while still leaving everything to the imagination.

(The caftan shown here is from talented designer Samia Berrada.)

Fiesta in a Flamenco Dress

Spotted, ruffled, and brightly colored, the gal in a flamenco dress is a walking fiesta. It is no surprise then that the frock was born at the April Fair of Seville. In 1847, Queen Isabel II granted use of the town’s rural outskirts for use as fairgrounds, and every year since, the Feria de Abril brought out the singing, dancing, party side of Sevillanos everywhere. What began as a livestock fair has evolved into a boisterous celebration of Andalusian style, culture, and costume.

The flamenco dress grew out of the simple smock with a two or three flounced skirt, traditionally worn by the wives and women of peasant livestock dealers. These women were mostly gypsies and poor folk, and so fashion flare was fettered by the size of the purse if not by expanse of the imagination. They accentuated their best show of style with embroidered shawls, large earrings, and flowers in the hair.

From humble beginnings, the flamenco dress has come to represent Spanish style as Spain’s national costume.

Theses images are from the beautiful collection of designer Angeles Verano.

A Pink Aura

There's nothing like setting and a classic backdrop to make a style shoot spectacular. Is it Italy? Spain? Southern France? Who can say. But this lovely little number in sunset pink is made all the more precious when put against white Andalusian style columns in a porticoed courtyard somewhere east of here, west of there, wherever.

This image and dress presents in the Spring / Summer 2007 designer catalog of Bottega Veneta. It was found initially on the blog Simply Beauty..

Condos vs Hotels

Finding the right lodging for your budget and travel temperament is an essential factor in the overall enjoyment of your journey. Well-suited accommodation can not only allow more room for adventure, but also afford a richer travel experience by bringing you closer to the places you visit. When searching for interesting accommodation at reasonable prices, one need not settle for conventional choices.

For families, those traveling in a group, or for those who wish to stay a bit longer in a particular location, condos are cost efficient. Access to a kitchen is a money saver. But beside the savings, another great advantage of condos over hotels is that you get a closer look at life the way the locals live it.

The Best Pizzas?

Italian cuisine is famous the world over, and yet it is far from understood. Pizza, for example, is a meal requested at restaurants across the planet, and yet there is scarcely anything like it outside Italian borders. Historically eaten by several cultures, including the Greeks and the Phoenicians, this culinary masterpiece drawn on flatbread was originally baked on a hot stone.

For me, there is nothing like a pizza fired in an oven in Italy. I love pizza con carcioffi (artichokes) e porcini (mushrooms). Pizza con mozzarella di buffalo (buffalo), o Pizza bianca con funghi, or how about pizza con pomodorini (tomatoes), cipolle (carmelized onions), e ricotta!

Tourist Traps to Avoid?

Some places become tourists traps because they are popular. Unfortunately, that means its heart and cultural uniqueness are swallowed up by souvenir shops and franchise restaurants. To know what the locals still love about the place, visit in the off season or in the early morning hours. By watching the locals, you can discover what made locale popular to begin with.

Besides, you will gain an experience far removed from that of most tourists. The soul of popular travel destinations in many cases lies just a few blocks off the beaten path - the small cafes, family run bistros, and open-air markets.

Places that be tourists traps due to popularity, and popularity brings commerce. But it would be ashame to pass on all those little things that made the setting so great in the first place.
For example, the Spanish Steps in Rome is incredibly touristed, but locals still hang about on the steps as well. The atmosphere of crowd and chaos is a spectacle not to be missed - even if it has drawn a McDonalds within 10 paces.

Tips to Make a Hotel Room More Romantic

Traveling for a romantic weekend? On honeymoon to far-
off places?


Candles, flowers, fragrance, and ordered-in cuisine are all good ideas for romance in a hotel room. You might also consider bringing your own favorite sheet set and remaking the bed with it. It will make the room just that much more your own.



A less conventional idea for making a hotel room more romantic? Stay in a place with a balcony and bring your own hammock. Picture you and your lover laying at opposite ends swaying slowly side to side. In one hand you have your drink and with the other you massage your lover’s tanned legs. The sun sets over whatever coast you happen to be overlooking from your little romantic perch.

Paris in 48 Hours

The best way to see Paris on foot wandering..To experience Paris in 48 hours, choose a day to see the iconic sights. The next day should be spent strolling the historic neighborhoods like Montmartre, Saint Germaine, and the Latin quarter. Take in coffee and a croissant at a side walk cafe. Visit the outdoor market at Saint Ouen.

More on Travel travel to Paris here and travel to France here

Best Romantic Vacation

Seville, Spain, one of the most romantic and historic cities in Europe. It’s been the tireless muse of poets, novelists, painters, and playwrights including Byron and Hemingway.

Honeymoon here and stay in a converted traditional Moorish style flat like Alcoba del Rey de Sevilla. Nostalgia for the Moorish civilization of Al-Andalus is the fantastic theme of this hotel, set in an old palace. Behind high exterior walls a Mudejar dream-land awaits.

Stop for eats at the Corral del Agua, a picturesque and pleasant restaurant flanked by the outer walls of the Alcazar and set amidst the stone and greenery of an enclosed courtyard. The secluded setting of this restored 18th century palace makes it an ideal spot for romantic dinner or just a respite from travel duties.

More info on romantic travel escapades in Spain here. Also see this overview of Travel to Spain