The Prada Outlet

One of the most fabulous things a fashionista can do while in Tuscany is find her way to the Prada Outlet in Montevarchi.

For some reason most people seem to think this is a difficult spot to find, and as such waste shoe dollars on paying for a tour or a town car to get them there.
I say save your Prada dollars, rent a car, and make a gorgeous day of it.

Afterall, Prada at 70% discount is still expensive. And driving in Italy is both fun and fast!

The Prada Outlet, although hidden and secretly named, is a jewel not to be missed. Apparently the biggest Prada store in the world, this emporium is no typical outlet experience.

Beautifully laid out and immaculate with an enormous selection (when I was there anyway),

the impeccably Prada clad staff are super helpful and engaging.

I had all kinds of fun with sales assistants who emphatically removed items from me that they decided were less than flattering, and then en masse talked me into the sexiest red Prada dress I have ever seen. Just looking at it hanging in my closet takes my breath away.

Runway videos on giant flatscreens put you in the quintessential Prada frame of mind, and the runway music throughout the store reminds you that you are in the land of the luxe.

You get a numbered ticket at the entrance, which not only regulates the number of shoppers inside at any given time, but also serves as your personal identifier. You choose your items and hand them to the sales assistant who has them ready and waiting for you at the check out counter. No messy dragging around armfuls of clothes and shoes here.

If driving from Florence you can take a swift route down the autostrada and veer off to Montevarchi. I sincerely recommend allowing yourself some extra time, and leaving the autostrada at Poggibonsi, and taking yourself on an exquisite ride through the Chianti.
The views are breathtaking, and the little towns you pass through are to die for.

My favorite? Radda in Chianti. Stop in at the Dante Alighieri Bar/Enoteca for a cappucino en route,

or even better, on the way back sit out on the patio and have Fabrizio and Carolyn bring you lovely local wines and a perfect Tuscan late lunch. Heaven.

Once in Montevarchi get yourself onto Via Levanella Becorpi (easy to find - its one of the main streets) and drive approximately 3 kms. You'll feel like you are halfway to nowhere, when on the left you'll see a huge, white, modern factory style building. Turn left at the corner and drive to the end of the building. At the last gate you will see a parking lot filled with tour buses, chauffeur driven limos and towncars. And you will have reached Utopia!

The Prada Outlet is called Space - you won't see a Prada sign from the street..

 Although it initially feels tourista-geeky, everyone takes pictures outside with their black SPACE bags

 even celebrity designer Michelle Mirkovich from Divinity Jewelry

One last piece of advice. Whatever you are planning on spending at the Prada Outlet, quadruple the amount.

The only shopper's remorse I have felt both in Italy in general, and at the Prada Outlet, is for the things I didn't buy, not for those that I did.

I'm already saving for the next round...

Go For Gold ( ...with care...)

 With the onset of warmer weather and a fresh sun kissed glow to our skin, there is no time like the present to rock your inner JLo and go for gold.

Jennifer Lopez accents her makeup with golden perfection

There are a few rules to observe if you want to pull this off with aplomb.

Choose one area, and stick to it.Gold showing up in multiple areas of the face just looks ridiculous, not fabulous. Work your Midas touch with one of the following:

Maybe a beautiful pinky champagne gold bronzer

Kim Kardashian, reigning queen of rosy gold bronzer

Gold eyeshadow, or a gold accent to your inner eye

What Would B Do?? She would worrrrk it! Beyonce in gold eye shadow

 Or try a gold lipgloss, either alone or over your favorite lipstick

Subtle golden glow at BCBG Max Azria. Beautiful

Air France Madame Magazine

Airline magazines are so hideously boring.

As a rule I would rather pull my eyelashes out one by one than sit there and try to read one at 35 000 feet.
With one extraordinarily fabulous exception.

Air France' Madame magazine.

Trust the french to get this so incredibly right. Albeit via two Brits, Lee Swillingham and Stuart Spalding of the London based Suburbia design studio.
The duo who have designed ad campaigns for luxury brands such as Dior, Longchamp, Tod's and Bottega Veneta have given Air France Madame a complete makeover and a compelling new identity.
The bilingual (french and english) bi-monthly magazine has the look and feel of Vogue, with exquisite fashion photo stories, cool editorial and a cutting edge aesthetic.

Par example: check out this story, from the Air France Madame April 2011 issue.

Rhapsodie, fluid silhouettes and colors, a very chic 70's retro...

featuring model Nicole Hofman, shot by Nikos Papadopoulos and styled by Virginie Dhello

Can you even believe its an inflight magazine??
Fab, non?
A bientot!
Wheels up Paris...

ManGlaze Nail Polishes

I'm on the other side of the world again, so along with some posts that are scheduled during the days that I'm gone, I'm having some guest posts from some of my favorite bloggers, just to spice things up a bit!

Today's post is from Olivia at The Unknown Beauty Blog. (you can follow Olivia on twitter @fauxlivia)
She is going to tell you all about her favorite nail polishes:

Man, Eyes Glaze over ManGlaze Nail Polishes

I know I am late to the game purchasing ManGlaze polishes ($6.66USD and $13.13USD) but better late than never right?  The polishes are all matte which may have you thinking what makes them different from other mattes?  I can just buy a matte topcoat and have the same effect.  Well, yes and no.  Yes, the effect is the same, but the personality is not.

When I first opened my little box (which my USPS guy decided to keep for himself overnight instead of delivering on the day of delivery), I noticed the funky and crazy labels.  Reminds me of Mad magazine meets Ren and Stimpy which is probably in the same realm but you get it.  Very original and eye catching! 

As I applied these polishes I noticed that the texture is made for a guy to apply which means they are easy to apply.  It really doesn't take skilled and dainty hands to apply these.  The colors go on smoothly without being runny or drippy.  There is ample time to apply a smooth coat on the nail yet dry quickly enough to walk out the door within 15-30 minutes.  (This estimation is for ample drying time.) 

Although, all are matte they do contain shimmer (with the exclusion of Hot Mess which is pure bling).  It is soft and hidden almost like the butch side is trying to get in touch with its feminine side.  Hmmmmm.

Matte is Murder looks like a rough emery board only black.  Nothing is rough about it, just a smooth polish that gives that illusion. 

Mayo or Mayonnaise doesn't look anything like what it is named after.  I keep thinking I have doughnut glaze on my nails and want to lick them.  Maybe, someday ManGlaze will come out with flavored polish.  That would be something! 

See the shimmer in both?  Very nice.

Fuggen Ugly (top picture) reminds me of concrete yet it has that mercuric glaze.  You know the stuff that leaks out of the shapeshifters in Fringe.  And it also has the same doughnut glaze look.  Yes, I am stuck on doughnuts when I look at my ManGlaze nails. 

Hot Mess is pure silver bling in a clear matte base.  (Top picture)  I applied two coats alone on a natural nail.   If Liberace were alive, he would be buying this by the box!   Applied on top of Mayo and Matte is Murder (bottom picture),  Hot Mess takes on a whole new personality.  As I see it, on top of Mayo it looks like lace and chains!  Ooh la la!  And on Matte is Murder, I feel I need to get a pair of motorcycle boots-leather and chains! 

MatteAstrophe is interesting.  It is a matte topcoat but depending on the polish it will crackle.  I found this best on top of glossy polishes to clearly see the effect.  Here, I used this on top of Illamasqua Scarab-a deep shimmery blood red.  The result reminds of a scab or a reopened scab where the blood starts seeping again.  Yes, gross and oh so cool!

Those are the polishes by ManGlaze so far.  New colors will mean, I will have to get them because I like them too much not to have them all!  I will build a shrine for my ManGlaze Polishes!  Rock On! \m/

 Don't forget to add The Unknown Beauty Blog to your list of blogs to follow!