Merry Christmas!

I have to confess something. The only reason why I am writing on Christmas Day is because I have ALWAYS wanted to use this picture for some kind of celebratory occasion. Call me dated, distasteful, promiscuous and a LiLo fan, but I don't really care. I like Mean Girls and that is the end.

Lately around here I've been hearing complaints about Christmas and its many meanings. Let's not get into the birth of Jesus Christ but the word out there is that these festivities are consumerist, materialistic, industry driven and with the hard times we are living over here, there is no reason to celebrate when numerous families won't be eating Turrón or drinking Cava because they simply can not afford it. Conclusion?  

 Christmas=Sad times.

Stop right there. Are we forgetting what Christmas is actually about? No, not the birth of Jesus. Yes, we might be engulfed in a capitalist society where you are the merriest-of-us-all when you rape the Department Store or attend all the exclusive parties. But you have to know how to detatch and see the bigger picture. During the three years I've lived away from home, in another country, 1028 miles away, the phrase "coming home for Christmas" became literal. The excitement, the build up weeks before about reunions in hot cafes when it's freezing outside or late night dinners with friends. It was nothing to do with presents or obligations, just people, my people. Christmas is about surrounding yourself with the best company possible (and that doesn't have to mean 20 family members who you barely know). Of course it is hard times, it is the worst of times, but people, friends, family, is what makes it better. It's the real magic.

So yes, I am a Christmas fan. And a Mean Girls fan. Go ahead, shower me with adjectives.

♥

Tengo algo que confesar. La única razón por la que estoy escribiendo el día de Navidad es porque SIEMPRE he querido usar esta foto para alguna celebración. Llámame pasada de moda, con mal gusto, promiscua y fan de LiLo pero la verdad es que me da igual. A mi Chicas Malas me gusta y ese es el fin.

Últimamente por aquí se oyen muchas quejas acerca de la Navidad y sus muchos significados. Sin meterse con el nacimiento del niño Jesús, corre la voz de que estas festividades son consumistas, materialistas y controladas por la industria y con los tiempos que estamos viviendo no hay razones para celebrar cuando numerosas familias no van a comer Turrón o beber Cava porque simplemente no pueden permitírselo. Conclusión? Navidad=Tristeza

Espera un momento. ¿Nos estamos olvidando de lo que realmente va la Navidad? No, no Jesús otra vez.  Sí, tal vez estemos engullidos dentro de una sociedad capitalista donde tú eres el más navideño cuando vacías el centro comercial o te paseas de fiesta en fiesta. Pero tienes que saber cómo alejarte y verlo todo con perspectiva. Durante los tres años que viví fuera, en un país extranjero, 1028 millas de distancia,  "volver a casa por navidad" era literal. La emoción, el nerviosismo aumentando en las últimas semanas pensando en reencuentros en cafeterías calientes mientras en la calle hace un frío que pela o en cenas tardías con amigas. No tenía nada que ver con regalos u obligaciones solo gente, mi gente. La Navidad es rodearte de la mejor compañía posible (y eso no quiere decir 20 familiares que casi no conoces). Son tiempos duros, son los peores hasta ahora, pero tu gente, tu familia, tus amigos son lo que merece la pena. Ellos son la verdadera magia.

Así que sí, soy fan de la Navidad, y de Chicas malas. Adelante, cúbreme de adjetivos.

XOXO

Winter Solstice...

To welcome Winter, here is a beautiful poem...

The Sky is Low, The clouds are Mean

The sky is low, the clouds are mean,

A travelling flake of snow 

Across a barn or through a rut

Debates if it will go.

A narrow wind complains all day

How some one treated him;

Nature, like us, is sometimes caught 

Without her diadem.

Emily Dickinson

XOXO

Snapshots. London's Wintry Landscapes...

XOXO

Snapvideo. Baileys Christmas Nutcracker ...

I am a massive fan of Christmas and everything to do with it; hot chocolate with friends in warm cafes while it is snowing outside, walking around the city looking up at the lit streets and the big, heavily decorated tree at the town square, going into every single Christmas section in all Department stores in London (although we all know Liberty takes the crown), dressing (and stressing) on New Years Eve because you have nothing red to wear, or just nothing at all... The only thing I've never gotten quite exicted about are Christmas Adverts. There have been some beautiful ones here in Spain for the Nougat and the Lottery but this year we've just gone down to the pit where there's no return (I won't even show you the adverts because I am THAT embarrassed). Anyway, when my friend Lizzy (we share ballet-mania together) told me about this year's Baileys advert, I got my hopes up. And it didn't dissapoint. 

The spot is directed by Ringan Ledwidge and features the Royal Ballet stars Steven McRae, Thiago Soares and Iana Salenko. The choreography was the work of Benjamin Millepied (Natalie Portman's husband) who also worked in Black Swan. Set designer is Sarah Greenwood (Atonement, Pride & Prejudice) 

From the outset, they wanted emotion to drive the story. "What Benjamin and I talked about from the start is that the emotion of the story has always got to be the driving force, and the motivation for what the camera does and what the dancers do" explains Ledwidge. 

Millepied is familiar with working in advertising both as a dancer (he appeared in a recent Air France ad) and as a choreographer and director. "What I like about the chance of making these short films is you have a very short period of time, a very focused period of time, to be able to tell a story and make everything work, which is an incredible challenge" he says. "Also having the command of what the viewer actually sees; on stage I make work that everyone sees from the audience. Here I can control the image. I think it's one step further into really understading what I do"

Ledwidge also defined how the set and the costumes for the ad would look. "The great think was Ringan had a very strong vision, which was fantastic, his brief was very distinct", says set designer Sarah Greenwood. "There could be something barroque about it", continues Greenwood, "there could be something urban about it, there could be something like a speakeasy about it. It's an amazing after party, or an after-after party".

The style extended naturally into the costumes too, which were designed by Ledwidge's long-time collaborator Rosa Dias. "You've got romance, but interpreted in an urban kind of way" she says of the look they were going for. "It's still very edgy, yet romantic. That's what I tried to do with the girls as well, even Clara's dress, I wanted it to have the romantic, ethereal qualities but also to be torn and distressed. A little bit punk, an element of punkiness". 

Girl walks into a bar, locks eyes with boy, they start dancing... and The Mouse King interrupts. A fight breaks and, of course, the girl ends up beating the bad boy and walking away with the girls. Just a casual night out. Anyway, if you hadn't thought of watching The Nutcracker this Christmas, I hope this advert sparked your curiosity. In London, you have the English National Ballet and, of course, The Royal Ballet, each with their own version. 

Here is the final advert and a video of the making of.

Amen

XOXO

Small New Things...

Most of these are King's Day presents but some are Christmas presents and others are just and simply presents.

XOXO

1. Necklace, Vintage from Charity shop. Rings, Accessorize

2. Mavala Nail Vanish

3. Le Petite Robe Noire by Guerlain

4. Korres Lipbalm

6. L'Occitane Shimmering Oil

Snapshots. Frozen...

Very sunny morning today, walking around town and running last minute errands (aka King's day shopping + birthday presents). Couldn't resist buying some frozen yoghurt with blueberries and brownie... orgasmic.

XOXO

Dress: H&M

Collar: Friday's project

Coat: Pull&Bear

Brogues: Massimo Dutti

As long as the world exists, there will be a party...

Reading yesterday's magazine S Moda,  supplement that comes with the newspaper El Pais, I found this article that I think it is fascinating. It talks about parties, and the relationship between them and literature and cinema. Every great film has a great party, from Breakfast at Tiffanys to The Great Gatsby and La Dolce Vita. It seems like in times of depression and crisis (like the ones we are living now, at least Spain), is when parties are most needed to lift people's spirits and encourage them to leave their problems outside the door. 

With New Year's approaching, I though it would be a fitting subject. I am not the biggest fan of parties, I must admit. Sometimes, I have to drag myself out the door when I'd rather be curled up in the sofa, in my piyamas, watching a rom-com (or any other kind of movie). But New Years Eve feels like a different night, like it should be special, magical somehow. I've never found that night any of the adjectives mentioned before. It is as dirty, sweaty and, by the end, un-glamorous as any other Saturday night. People always get too drunk, there are fights, vomit, booze everywhere, ripped tights, lost shoes and shoeless girls walking the streets at dawn. It's like a scene from a horror movie.... 

Anyway, of course I am exaggerating and this is only my point of view; I'm sure the rest of the world looove tomorrow's night and can't wait to put on the high heels. As for me, I think to myself every year that it will be different and something amaaazing will happen. At the end, the only amazing thing is that my friends manage to remember what they were wearing the night before. But I love them for that, and if it weren't for them, I wouldn't go out at all. At the end, New Year's Eve is about being with family and friends, not the alcohol or the fashion.

Here is the article, in Spanish, but I've put google translation at the bottom.It won't be great but it is something!.

LISTOS, VESTIDOS… ACCIÓN

Por Boris Izaguirre

El cine y la literatura mantienen una excelente relación con las fiestas. Unas viajan de una disciplina a otra, como sucede en Desayuno con diamantes, la legendaria novela de Truman Capote. Tanto en las páginas como en el celuloide, Holly Golightly consigue maravillarnos con la exuberante fiesta que celebra en su diminuto apartamento neoyorquino. Mezcla rufianes y prostitutas de lujo con artistas emergentes y varones sin rumbo, como el playboy brasileño, interpretado por José Luis de Vilallonga en la película, que consigue salir del minúsculo baño al todavía más minúsculo balcón sin perder de vista su güisqui. En una entrevista, Vilallonga confesó que el famoso gato de Holly, que salta aterrorizado entre los invitados, eran en realidad tres y que la filmación de la secuencia duro casi una semana. El resultado forma parte de nuestros anhelos: sucumbir a una parranda sin fin en poquísimos metros cuadrados.

Hay fiestas divinas, aunque en realidad sean escenas, como la de Marilyn Monroe tocando el ukelele a bordo de un tren en ‘Con faldas y a lo loco’. Humor, erotismo y fiesta, como sucede también en Risky Business, con un Tom Cruise que aprovecha unas vacaciones de sus padres para convertir su casa en un riesgoso burdel. Son películas clave para sus actores y sus generaciones. Y su escenificación de las fiestas podrían tener parte de su «origen» en El gran Gatsby. En la novela de Scott Fitzgerald sobre los alocados años 20 y la posterior Gran Depresión de los 30, Gatsby es un ser misterioso, proclive a escenificar fiestas en las que no se presenta. Daisy Buchanan, clase alta en cada poro, es su enamorada y la margarita borracha del conflicto amoroso. Robert Redford consiguió la inmortalidad de su talento y belleza con la adaptación cinematográfica, pese a la mala calidad de su piel durante el rodaje, pero es Farrow quien consigue captivarnos con su vocecita rota, la «chica fiesta», reliquia de un tiempo condenado a lo efímero. A Fitzgerald y a Capote hay que sumarles Margaret Mitchell, la insigne autora de Lo que el viento se llevó, magistrales narradores de una fiesta: Scarlett O’Hara conoce a los dos hombres de su vida en un extenso baile de sociedad allá en Atlanta. Tan largo que toman una siesta antes de que la película llegue al intermedio. 

Saltemos a El guateque. Peter Sellers se cuela en la fiesta de su productor en una exquisita y futurista casa en Los Ángeles. Todo, Mr. Bean, Martes y Trece, Tricicle, está en esa película: una party que va adentrándose en el absurdo, bañada por agua, cloro, espuma, champán y un elefante psicodélico que nos hace sentir niños de precoz vida social. Recordemos la fiesta en La dolce vita de Fellini, que precede a la famosa escena de Anita Ekberg deambulando medio desnuda dentro de la Fontana de Trevi. Empieza con un coreógrafo pelirrojo bailando un rock and roll italiano, esa mezcla de energía y decadencia que solo Fellini insufla a sus películas. Es una fiesta, pero también un poco de infierno. Los ingredientes justos para que jamás la olvides. Hay fiestas con Raquel Welch, martinis con James Bond, bacanales con Calígula, pero la fiesta-fiesta es la de El gatopardo, la obra maestra de Luchino Visconti. Dura más de 30 minutos, revisa y detalla todo: la llegada de los invitados, el decorado y los vestuarios, la cháchara de las señoras, el desinhibido deseo de los jóvenes, letrinas de porcelana en activo. Es la madre de todas las fiestas cinematográficas, hasta Stanley Kubrick le rinde homenaje en la orgía enmascarada de Eyes wide shut, con Tom Cruise de nuevo con capa y a lo loco. 

Un día, hay una fiesta de película en la realidad. La organizó Elena Benarroch en homenaje a Jean Paul Gaultier y Bruce Weber y por ella desfiló la historia moderna de España, en plan «nomelopuedocreer». Felipe González y la nieta de Franco, Almodóvar y Preysler, supervivientes de cualquier crisis.

XOXO

P.D Tomorrow is New Year's Eve! I hope everyone has an amazing and special night and nobody comes back home before morning :P

Snapshot. Merry Xmas!

"Hear those silver bells? It's Christmas time in the city. Some families actually do make it to the Yuletide gay, managing to leave their troubles far away. Other families have a merry little Christmas even when their troubles aren't so far away. Some presents might end up getting returned. Some gifts are for keeps. Other presents come when you least expect them. And everyone knows the biggest present comes in the smallest box. Then there are those boxes you wish you had never opened. Have a holly, jolly Christmas!"

XOXO

Gossip Girl, Roman Holiday.

Christmas Eve...

How did this happen? How is it Christmas Eve already!? How has it been ONE week at home and it only felt like a day. I guess I lost track of time in between unpacking, making house calls, going out with friends (and not exactly out for a walk, unless you come back from a stroll at 4 in the morning...) and having walks on the beach, as seen above. 

The beach of San Lorenzo is one of the most beautiful city beaches I know, long, calm and there is always surfers. Olaya and I always visit a beach every time we come home; it may be this one or Salinas but we will always manage to go down to the sand, as close to the water as we can. I think it's because it reminds us of home, of long summers, of our childhood and teenage years. Where we both study there is no sea nearby (well, Olaya is now in Norway but that doesn't count as sea, that is hell frozen over) so that is why it's so special for us.

And I also think that the weather was pretty benevolent with us. It was completely sunny, 20ºC, no wind, it could've well been a day in the middle of May (we have definitely had worse in May). It was almost like it knew we were coming home...

XOXO

Me

Jumper: Zara.  Shirt: Hugo Boss.  Shoes: Zara. Necklace and watch: Vintage

Olaya

Jumper: Vintage.   Shoes: Vans. Jacket: Bershka

Mint Green Bag: Zara.   Leather Backpack: market in Venice