Barcelona brings new meaning to the words 'window shopping'. Barcelona does visual merchandising like nobody else. It's as thought there's a big competition going on for who can be the kookiest and most creative. So, I bought a cool tee by this label called Loreak Mendian, who also happen to be into amazing window displays...there are heaps of examples on their website along with their trendy but understated fashion line and amazing graphics projects. You must visit them here!
BARCELONA FAVOURITES: Finally tasting xurros & xocolat in Spain, the worn, peach coloured buildings, developing a good taste for mojitos, walking up to 20km a day to visit Gaudi's architecture across the city, and discovering that every shop, restaurant and bar in the city doubles as a conceptual design space- incredible! I WISH I'D- had a magic suitcase that allowed me to bring large design pieces home on the plane...oh, the furniture in BCN!
When the cake gets cut in the office, we all like to eye off the cherry...but only one lucky person gets to eat it. You will feel the same elation as the cherry-eater when you check out this 'gorgoise' home ware label, which is the beloved baby of textiles designer Anne Hubert, found at Think & More on Rue St Honore, Paris. And guess what, they have Australian stockists! Forget about the impending recession, you need an illustrated tea towel now!
They say men don't ask for directions and women can't read maps. Add to this the fact that Paris doesn't have parallel streets but lots of angles and little alleyways that look like 'short cuts'. We were determined to fit in and be mistaken for real Parisiennes (see above for the look i was after!)...alas the combination of above factors meant we were always 'pulling over' in front of a lit shop window to pull out our enormous, betraying tourist map. It was actually while we were lost in St Germain that we stumbled on another gorgeous book shop selling the new 2009 edition of Louis Vuitton city guides. Small, designer, and full of maps and tips for the flailing traveller...can someone send me the box set please!!! So if you can't afford the LV luggage, these will at least have you jet set in every other regard, wherever you are going...just about every city is available here.
Where coffee arrived in Paris, where French philosophers discussed existentialism during the post war years, where Kate Moss recently shot a Longchamps campaign...I just had to order a cafe creme! Vowing not to be intimidated by the cool crowd of St Germain I had determined to get my little tiny 11 euro cup of the good stuff while on the plane to London, as this is when I spotted Kate sipping from a Cafe de Flore espresso cup in the pages of British Glamour. No word of a lie, it left hubby and I feeling like liquid afterwards, I wanted to air kiss my seasoned old waiter Henri, like the rich old ladies were doing, but resisted. What to do next but wander around a bookstore next door selling French poetry and photography books. Just don't convert to Australian dollars in your head when you visit!
Next time you find yourself wondering if you're losing the plot, also ask yourself if you are peering into the window of a little gallery in SoHo called the Rifelmaker. See above and example of me, losing my mind as I star at the wonders inside. Julie Verhoeven and Marta Marce were on display in the window! 
