Jasmology

Milan may be an industrial city, first and foremost – but tucked away you can find little spots so alluring they could even take on Those blackberries obvious romantic getaways such as Paris or Venice.

Milan can be an industrial city in the first place – but you can find small hidden spots so charming that could also take the most obvious romantic getaways like Paris or Venice.

The giant green marble bathtub at the Armani Hotel with its wrap-around views of Milan’s rooftops

The bathtub in green giant marble at the Armani Hotel with its wrap-around view of the rooftops of Milan

Every detail of the Armani Hotel Milano Reflects essence and elegance, and beauty of the Armani style.

Every detail and home of ‘Armani Hotel Milano reflects the essence and elegance, the beauty and the Armani style. 

TWO

Milan’s Navigli canals in the district Both play host to a charming brocante  (The last Sunday of the month), as well as a colorful flower fair each Spring.

Milano channels in the Navigli area, which will house a charming brocante every last Sunday of the month, as well as a colorful flower fair every spring.

THREE

The restaurant Giacomo Arengario  is a must with with its sweeping views of the Duomo, and romantic art-deco themed interior

The restaurant Giacomo Arengario with its breathtaking view of the Duomo.

FOUR

Aperitif time at La Terrazza di Via Palestro or The Bulgari Hotel

Time Aperitif La Terrazza di Via Palestro or Bulgari Hotel

Via Palestro

Cool outside spaces For Those balmy summer months are hard to find These Are My top two

Cool outdoor areas for summer months are hard to find these are my first two

The Bulgari Hotel

 

FIVE

Stroll down the jaw dropping Vittorio Emanuele gallery.

Walking along the jaw dropping G allery Vittorio Emanuele .

The ‘ Gallery ‘ Is the oldest shopping mall in Italy , housed within at four-storey double arcade in central Milan .

Named after Vittorio Emanuele II , the first king of the Kingdom of Italy . It built by Giuseppe Mengoni between 1865 and 1877.

And ‘the oldest shopping center in Italy, housed in a four-story double arch in the center of Milan.The Gallery is named after Vittorio Emanuele II, the first king of the Kingdom of Italy. It was originally designed in 1861 and built by Giuseppe Mengoni between 1865 and 1877.

The amazing structure is formed by two glass-vaulted arcades intersecting in an octagon covering the street connecting Piazza del Duomo to Piazza della Scala.

The extraordinary structure is formed of two glass-vaulted arcades intersecting in an octagon covering the street connecting Piazza del Duomo  to  Piazza della Scala.

Jas puts it in perspective

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SEVEN

The old world charm of Milan’s Brera area.

Be warned – the ‘old world charm’ has Attracted a number of tourist traps. If you want a traditional authentic Milanese drinking spot for the head and Jamaica – and to eat the Tower of Pisa

The old world charm of the Brera area of ​​Milan. Warning – the ‘old world charm’ has attracted a large number of tourist traps. If you want a traditional Milanese head point and drinking authentic to Jamaica and / or to eat the Tower of Pisa

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EIGHT

The Roof of the Duomo

The Cathedral is not just a cathedral it’s the symbol of Milan. Located in a square in the heart of city center. Area. The Duomo is the fourth largest church in Europe after St. Peter’s in the Vatican, Saint Paul’s in London and Seville Cathedral.

The Cathedral is not just a cathedral is the symbol of Milan. Located in a square in the heart of the city center. Area. The Cathedral is the fourth largest church in Europe after St. Peter’s in the Vatican, Saint Paul in London and Seville Cathedral.

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NINE

A night at La Scala . Ballet, opera? What could not be more romantic!

An evening at the Teatro alla Scala. Ballet, opera? What could be more romantic!

I was raised in the  Dominican Republic surrounded by color and art, but I never thought about  fashion, until I went to study art, communication and design at “ Escuela de Arte y Diseño Altos de Chavon ” a school affiliated to Parsons the New School NY. There I was introduced to the charm of the beautiful world of fashion.Nacida en la República Dominicana y criada alrededor de mucho color y arte, nunca estuve interesada en la moda. Empecé a descubrir y a desarrollar mi interés por la moda cuando fui a estudiar arte en la “ Escuela de Arte y Diseño Altos de Chavon” escuela afiliada a Parsons The New School NY. Aquí descubrí el encanto y la belleza del mundo de la moda.After finishing art school I decided to attend Istituto Marangoni in Milan to study to become a fashion stylist.  I love working with my graphic skills and mixing it with fashion to make things that are fun and different.  The people of the Dominican Republic are very happy and enthusiastic.   We are surrounded by strong colors and music. Art has always been in our history and now fashion is becoming our present.

I am starting to think I need a re-brand.  Jasmology formally known as ‘Blog’ will now be known as ‘Online Magazine’.  Why you ask? Well, it’s because my former catergory is full of crazies  who are desperate to get a slice of the fashion action.  They loiter  outside the shows and will wear anything that will get them noticed, snapped and put online. There is ‘crazy’ that’s creepy – (and I am not going to expose those scary few) – and then there are others that do crazy in just the right way.

 

IT’S CRAZY OUT THERE!

 

 

 

 

Smart, Casual and everything in between

I am not going to lie – there is a lot going on in this outfit – it’s confusing and distracting.

So distracting that it took me a bit of time to realise this guy is actually wearing a gauze shirt – don’t.

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THE ROMANTICS

Things have got really dreamy outside; soft chiffons, floppy felt hats, loose curls and tight pleats.  The look reached its zenith when I spotted – across the catwalk from me at the Just Cavalli show, a girl in a wedding dress, topped off with the most perfect tiara!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nobody is perfect but neither are acid peels, expensive creams, unsexy compacting elastic underwear or plastic surgery. The best solution to looking good fast is working with what you have!
Wonder-bras from the 1990s tied me up in tight industrial-strength thick nylon – that left me with great cleavage but unable to breathe.

Those days are long behind me since I discovered Push Positive by Calvin Klein – my actual boobs are much smaller and shrivelled looking in real life, but in this number they get to look inflated, while resting very happily on a secret cushioned padding.

Leaving Colorado Springs and taking the road to Taos sends you into the hills and through lush forests, which are a complete contrast to the wide landscapes we saw driving through Wyoming.

It was on this road that I finally I got to see those picture postcard log cabins I was after – plus the chance to do some one-of-a-kind road stops – such as a road side visit to museum dedicated to gas station memorabilia – a first!

You are spoilt for choice in Santa Fe in the accommodation stakes – we went for the most obvious, and one of the most expensive.  La Fonda – which we loved.

The ground floor felt like a shopping mall, it was a really buzzing thoroughfare.As you enter Taos you start to see those otherworldly adobe houses nestled in the greenery, which for me was unexpected as I had been informed by Hollywood westerns tumbleweeds, cacti and parched landscapes – here, temperatures are moderate and the overall feel is alpine. Though Santa Fe is the more famous of these two adobe towns, Taos has its own special spirit, and ideally I would liked to have hung around longer, with more time I would have had the chance to soak up a little more of the hippy ambiance that pervades the community. During our short stop over we did get a chance to see a great automobile show that showcased classic american cars both cruising around town and parked in the main town square (see photo above) – my personal highlight was digging into the best nachos/enchilada, Mexican food experience of my life – at the low-key yet brightly colored restaurant called Orlandos.Before leaving town don’t miss the UNESCO Wold Heritage site, the only one that is also a living community – the *Taos Pueblo. This adobe settlement has housed a Native American community for more than seven centuries.

For the first evening we took it easy with room service, (excellent),  though at the same time I felt that when in New Mexico a Marguerita must be drunk – so we did go downstairs to the bar in the hotel, and knocked one back while watching elegant  rhinestone encrusted oldies line dancing to a live band.  I tried a few gulps, it wasn’t for me.

The bad view from our room (a sad inner-courtyard) was made up for the attention to detail in the room.  The hotel had commissioned local arts and crafts artists to add local flavour to the decor of the room, I loved how traditional motifs where given a fresh and modern re-interpretation, I wish could have taken some of these features home.

FURTHER STAY OPTIONS *

INTO THE WILDER/FAR FROM THE CROWD, for those who play it quiet The Hacienda De  Cerezo (pictured above, an $$$$$ all inclusive)) – 12 miles from Santa Fe.  From here whitewater rafting, hiking,hot air ballooning, spa treatments  are all options.

FIRST MORNING

BREAKFAST at La Fonda – the food was ecelente!  After breakfast do a walking tour through town.  We booked it through the concierge ( you don’t have to be staying  at La Fonda to be able to do this) .

Hacienda for La Casa Sena

This was a very fruitful adventure.  We skipped through the town, hitting on the main historical spots in Santa Fe, while getting the chance  to fly through some really cool stores – that we wouldn’t have discovered on our own.  Another highlight was discovering a hidden courtyard of beautiful hacienda (a hacienda is large estate or plantation with a dwelling house) that contained the restaurant  La Casa Sena, which we returned to eat at next day.  Also on our walking tour list was  a church, and and a small garden littered with some incredible wind sculptures.

Wind Vane Sculpture, Sante Fe

AFTERNOON

GIORGIA O’KEEFE MUSEUM it would be a crime to make it to Sante Fe and not go.  The artist, Giorgia O’Keefe put Santa Fe on the map for me, as well a number of other artists, which has left the town overflowing with galleries containing not such great art.  For the die hard fans, you can also visit her house but it is an hour out of town

EVENING

Lots of people visit Santa Fe for its opera season – which had finished the night before we arrived, though Leslie our walking tour guide told us to go to Vanessies that evening – as that’s where all the opera’s apprentices hung out after work to sing along and give impromptu recitals together with resident piano man, Doug Montgomery.

Doug

Leslie had already told Doug about our arrival – so as we walked through the door we were asked to do our own arias – in front of the 70 odd patrons well into their golden years.  Even though a handful  had already dozed off and would not have been affected my tone deafness,  I still  wanted to leave Santa Fe with a little dignity, so I declined.

The highlight of the evening was undoubtedly Nessun dorma – sung by identical twin apprentices.  Though Doug could match them in the talent department, as he could  play any request by ear – he  dedicated a Billy Joel medley to me – which made me so woozy I almost forgot that he was wearing man-sandals.

Night Eleven

Sleep: LA FONDA, Santa Fe

DETOUR

 

Yes ‘ Street Style’ may have turned into pure affectation – but it is a pleasure to take in.  Those determined to get photographed as always go for the brightest of colors rain, shine, winter or summer – while most of the men, who tend to be more sartorially limited,  play with contrasts; pattern, fabric and textures – its all in the mix!

SKY BLUE GETS ELECTRIC

JUST PEACHY

MILLER TIME

COMFORT CLOTHING

GRAB & GOES

NON-STAID PLAIDS

SARTORIALLY PUNKED

TOMBOY

THE PLAYTIME MIX