When I got the invitation to Taipei in Style Fashion Week I was over the moon. Taiwan for me, was always the land of electronics, nano technology, but fashion? Taiwanese fashion was a complete enigma. It was not something, which would come easily to my mind. From what I learnt in history – I also imaginedContinue reading
Merci was created in March 2009, in the heart of the historic Haut-Marais district. The founders, Bernard and Marie-France Cohen, realised that Paris lacked a place which brought together the best in fashion, design, household goods, and friendly eating options. First time I visited Merci to meet its owner Madam Marie France Cohen. I heardContinue reading
The term conspicuous consumption was first introduced by an economist Thorstein Veblen. Writing in the much poorer world of 1899, Veblen argued that people spent lavishly on visible goods to prove that they were prosperous. “The motive is emulation—the stimulus of an invidious comparison which prompts us to outdo those with whom we are inContinue reading
To rephrase Geoff Whitlam Dismissal speech – “Long Live Cara&Co but we wish all the best to Westfield” During 2.5 years we got again in the best 5 concept stores in the world and well, our restaurant, something we did not have in Moscow got a very prestigious Gault Millau award – 3 hats ItsContinue reading
When I first saw it, it was like a first love. I was fresh after divorce and those landmarks mattered to me like nothing else. I needed a house to become my home, I needed a business where I could express what I am. Both things happened at the same time. My buyer’s agent tookContinue reading
I must admit I am biased – 10 Corso Como is my favourite concept store (after Cara & Co, of course). In my opinion its one of the most beautiful and organic. First time we went to Corso Como it was in 2006. It was an OK concept store where somehow I felt obliged toContinue reading
I’m one of those people who can’t live without shopping. Even after becoming a professional shopper (and not that long ago, either – only 7 years back) I still naively hoped that I might be able to kick this habit that is so bad for one’s wallet. But nothing of the sort. Do drug dealersContinue reading
We all know only too well that jewellery encrusted with diamonds, rubies, sapphires and emeralds costing millions apiece tends to moulder away in strong rooms, deposit boxes and various other safe places, either waiting to be put up for auction or for an executor to dispose of the estate. Only a little of it isContinue reading
There’s one thing that has always astonished me, and that it why it should be that in Russia, where there is always everything in the way of jewellery, even if it’s more expensive, it’s always difficult to track down antique jewellery from the time of Queen Victoria? It’s understandable that it should be difficult toContinue reading
In South Korea there are 16 public holidays scattered throughout the calendar year but everyone has just one week’s entitlement of annual leave. The per capita income of the population of Korea has recently started to overtake that of Japan. Koreans don’t get to call a place their own until around the time they retireContinue reading
No offense Dubai and Singapore, but there are cities where you might as well be blindfolded when you go shopping. You wake up in your hotel room and step out of the lobby into a kingdom of marble, air conditioning and identical-looking shops. It’s all very predictable and convenient for, say, a weary businessman whoContinue reading
