Destination: Inspiration *Barcelona*

Summer is in full blown effect and Barcelona, Spain seems like a perfect party destination for the season. According to a review by Tara Stevens for TabletHotels.com , Barcelona is a great place not only to suck up the sun on the beach during the day, but the nightlife is what distinguishes the Spaniard culture.  A huge part of Spanish cultural tradition is eating small meals with wine in between main meals, meals known as tapas, which is called the Tapas tradition. "Tapas are more than just finger foods and appetizers – serving a tapa is a way of bringing people together and encouraging conversation rather than simply filling their stomachs" [source]. That type of experience is the type of relaxation I would want to experience with my own friends, forming new memories as we work off what we eat, mingling and carousing about the seaside nightlife. Barcelona seems to me to be the perfect social relaxation destination, for after waking up from a night of enjoying late night fun with friends that generate fun no matter where on Earth we are, it would be off to gather items for a bountiful dinner and enjoy lunch at Cornelia and Co., or another one of their supermarkets known as great social hubs. Stevens reported that to be serviced at the chic supermarket, all one has to do is hand over a grocery list, and all you need will be prepared for you as you enjoy one of their lunchtime dishes. I am a big fan of people watching, and I can imagine that their supermarkets would provide an awesome survey of the sartorially interesting. Considering Spain is the hometown of Cristόbal Balenciaga, the founding designer of the house of Balenciaga who showed his first collection in 1937, I would hope to see the beautiful Spanish women who would appreciate, and emote, his ideals of timeless elegance.

”The only true couturier among us”

~Coco Chanel

As Bettina Ballard has described him in her book, “In My Fashion”, like Chanel, Balenciaga believed in comfortable clothing for women, “in which they can move their legs, and which they can put on with a minimum of effort…He never has complicated un-get-at-able fastenings...He uses as few seems as possible, [and] adds as little trimming. His suits always fit any number of sizes by some miracle of cut (as was his philosophy on proportion). Balenciaga believes in the unquestionable elegance of black and white, in the color of the Spanish earth and rocks and olive trees, in the red of the bull ring, in the effective accent of turquoise, in the Goya combination of black with beige, gray with black, and in yellow. He believes in lace and ribbon bows—never used in a fussy way but rather with true Spanish dignity. He likes satin that moves with elegance but has no false stiffness underneath it. He likes plain necks, unexaggerated bosoms, a freedom of body under the dress. Hats are his one madness—and yet the little Balenciaga pillbox has been the standard of hat elegance ever since the war. His one word for anything fashion or people he doesn’t like is cursi—a combination in Spanish of vulgar and bad taste which is everything he hates.”

   

Onward from lunch, Hotel OMM, would be another great place to see the beautiful people of Barcelona seeing that their Resturant MOO is said to be this side of chic and avant-garde for those who want to see and be seen. Mandarin Oriental is another spot which is said to have great cocktails which can be enjoyed in its soothing Mimosa terrace, a place one can retreat from the culturally social environment, but of course, who can stay away from the crowd long being that, in my fashion, I would want to see, be seen, and experience all that I could while vacationing in such a beautiful environment. 

Destination: Inspiration *2012 New York City Gay Pride*

In light of having an adventurous spirit this summer and getting out in the world and exploring and trying new things, Dwight, a few friends, and I did some traveling of our own this past weekend. We made up to the Big Apple on Sunday for New York City Gay Pride! Mother Nature must have been on board for the festivities herself, for it was a glorious day with wonderful weather along with a certain energy in the air full of positivity and optimism, openness and excitement, and just sheer fun as we walked the streets of Chelsea and Soho, Times Square, the Village, and the Meat Packing District. As always for IMF.blog, I made it my duty to document our time, and show the splendor of a certain community that is in the forefront of the national agenda in regards to civil rights. Obama took to Twitter of Saturday supporting the national pride events across the nation, and in my fashion, I feel his support is completely in line with the Constitution from which we govern our nation upon, and I support those who support me, and my community. After all, as Deborah Mathis postulated in the Richmond Free Press the week Obama stated his feelings towards the acceptance of gay marriage, who has heard of, “anything in the Good Book that tells me I should do unto others as I would hate for others to do unto me?”

Take a look see and get some fatastic clothing ideas from some of the most confident people who strutted their pride on the streets, taking a stab at daring looks that take someone with true creativity and conviction to pull off.

Click through to see more photos of the day...Even more photos will be available in my July Letter Editor From the Editor post, available, as always, on the 1^st  of the month! 

Destination: Inspiration *Tianjin*

Next on my list of places to go is the city of Tianjin in China. As I mentioned before in my first Destination: Inspiration post, China is classified as one of the four BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India, and China), and is said to be the greatest economic power by 2050. Tianjin, a port city in China, is working on bringing itself up to par with its sister city to the north, Beijing, and according to AskMen.com based on its beautification and urban renewal programs, it may well do that soon. All aspects of entertainment from other countries are helping in its growing popularity from the realms of sports and music, to film and media (especially with Chinawood becoming a modern day version of Hollywood). With all of the future development and attractions, Tianjin will certainly contribute to China’s assent to global economic power.

Tianjin is often overshadowed by Beijing in tourist popularity which is 117 miles apart, but thanks to China’s high speed, Bullet Train, you can get from Beijing to Tianjin in 30 minutes. China is a vast land, and in my fashion, I would have to explore China on this train that is said to get up to 124 mph. I would soak in all the ancient sights and interesting ancient and modern architecture of the cities of China (knowing me I would probably try to see what each culturally austere building looks like inside). I would especially want to visit the Tianjin Radio & TV Tower to see how far out of Tianjin I would be able to see from an aerial view of the bustling city. Next on the list, I would just have to partake in some sort of sartorial activity, of course a must by IMF.blog standards. I would have to go get fitted for a bespoke suit at Pinya Chi-pao which is said to have one of the best made to order experiences in the city. I would also have to check off going to Golden Street and Ancient Cultural Street on my list as well, for between these two shopping centers I know I will find not only something new, modern and unique on Golden Street, but I would hope to find something antique, substantial and meaningful on Ancient Cultural Street.

Thinking back a few months into 2011, I recall a fashion spread that appeared in the September issue of US Vogue that featured our very own (June Style Maven, Karlie Kloss). This 15 page beautiful fashion story, shot by none only than, Mario Testino, depicts Karlie in various aspects of Chinese culture, clad in all sorts of international frocks, from Balenciaga to McCartney, that mesh well with the eclectic style of Chinese culture. I would like my trip to go something like this.

US Vogue, Spetember 2011

 

Destination: Inspiration *Istanbul*

As I mentioned in my first “Destination: Inspiration” post for Rio de Janiero in Brasil, in my fashion, your environment should inspire you just as much as your own desire to forward yourself in life. The best way to learn about life is to experience it, and another interesting country I want to experience is Istanbul in Turkey. According to AskMen.com, if you cannot make it to Istanbul yourself, you will definitely be able experience it Novemebr 9, 2012 in movie theaters when the new James Bond movie, “Skyfall” , is released in the US, and October 26 in the UK. What attracts me most about this city is the architecture, history, and culture of this city. Considering it is practically on the opposite side of the globe, Istanbul would be a great way to escape the modernity of today.

In my fashion, I would travel in Istanbul with the spirit of Aladdin. Lately, my other half, Dwight (@Ken_Dutchess), and I have been playing around with turbans and head attire that is different from your regular fitted baseball cap or fedora. We’ve been finding all sorts of ways to adorn our heads using long, colorful, scarves and strips of fabric that mesh and/or clash with the rest of our outfit in order to create a tension that brings new light to an old outfit. It makes me think of the costume in ancient Mesopotamia and Assyria (the name of the land currently known as Turkey), and how people wore fillets, and chignons, and tarbush hats with tunics, and how they used long rectangular fabrics to drape around themselves as wrapped dresses, skirts and loincloths. Think of being as free as Aladdin on a magic carpet ride flying past the minarets of the Blue Mosque and the landscapes of the different fortresses of ancient times. Imagine strolling down the spice markets wearing languid fabric that follows you and your body in your own variation of a wrapped tunic and turban. Allow yourself to be open to the regional tastes and flavors of their foods. AskMen.com says they have an interesting fried ice cream that I am very interested in seeing and trying (“fried” and “ice cream” not being words I would typically pair to think possible of creating). In my fashion, this is the time to feel the Arabian spirit and channel that through our clothes for the summer!

Destination: Inspiration

Now that we all are not hiding under rocks trying to stay warm like we were a few months ago in winter, and the weather permits us more consistent days of variably hot climates, we can all start to get into the swing of summer and get outside more to enjoy what Mother Nature offers us, as well as the splendors man hath created in the form of exotic cities, foreign entertainment, and tantalizing foods. In my fashion, all of us should want to experience all the world has to offer in regards to pleasure and enjoyment. My worst fear of all in this life, truly, is the fear that I will not be able to see everything on this planet that I desire to witness. I literally want to touch and see with my own eyes the beauty of the world from East to West, North to South, and be able to say, "I did that," and, "I went there," regardless of whatever far-flung experience someone can postulate.

In light of this month's IMF.blog inspiration being “Movement” and getting out there and making life into your own adventure, I wanted to highlight the great places on this planet for us to aspire to visit, experience, or live. In my fashion, your environment should inspire you just as much as your own desire to forward yourself in life. We should aspire to find that place on Earth that compliments your style perfectly. Style extends to your environment in that we all can find a place on this Earth that makes us feel more in our own skin in which our environment should compliment you in regards to co-creating a balanced life. Thanks to globalization, many developing countries are growing to be able to participate in the global economy and that opens the door for more diversity and a greater diaspora of cultural influence."Destination: Inspiration" will be a new segment on IMF.blog, where I will open our minds up to more parts of the world that have developed their own style and would be worth a go-see, God permitting. I say know where you want to go in life and have something (or somewhere) to look forward to living for, for yourself, use that drive to make ways for you to get there!

The first location I personally want visit myself while the "buzz" is hot but hasn't become as big a "hotspot” as I predict it will be in coming years, is the city of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city in Brazil. For my business and economic savvy readers, you may be aware that Brazil is classified as on the worlds BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, China) countries, in which it is speculated that by 2050 these four economies would be wealthier than most of the current major economic powers. The BRIC thesis posits that China and India will become the world's dominant suppliers of manufactured goods and services, respectively, while Brazil and Russia will become similarly dominant as suppliers of raw materials [source]. I, personally, have been realizing more of Brazil’s presence in establishing its market share in entertainment and global consumerism when first I went to see Twilight: Breaking Dawn (Part 1) last year where Edward and Bella spent time in the beautiful country in seclusion on their honeymoon, and when I went to see the fifth installment of the Fast and Furious franchise, Fast Five, where they were speedily carousing around the sexy little city. Macy's has also made Brazil their basis for inspiration this spring with their advertising that aims to capture the feel, and the beauty of what it would be like to dress as if you were walking the cobblestone roads of the exotic rustic city.

AskMen.com reports that in 2014, Rio will be the host of the 2014 World Cup, and after this year’s 2012 Olympics being held in London, guess where 2016's Olympics is slated to be held? This is the fever pitch I am talking about when it comes to labeling this city a real "hotspot" in later years with all the pending traffic from visitors all over the world. The amount of attention mounting on this city I am sure has the people of this city hustling and bustling with excitement and life, which is what I would love to partake in myself right now.