Tag Archives: Travels

Mandarina Duck is back

Mandarina Duck is back-1-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2008

I need a suitcase, Just in Case of Mandarina Duck!

I travel and need a very stylish luggage. I go to Mandarina Duck, an Italian brand that used to be very edge at the beginning of the 90’s and today they strongly come back. On my way, boulevard Beaumarchais (between République and Bastille, and near le Marais, Paris districts) I met the famous writer Amélie Nothomb. One of the few gifted writers able to make me really laugh! I choose a very feminine light color suitcase after hesitating with a red one…

Mandarina Duck is back-2-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2008Mandarina Duck is back-4-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2008

Quick fitting

at Gaspard Yurkievich press office to fill my luggage with taste. Then as I’m obsessive about details, I inspect the luggage. Surprise, inside: a bag for laptop that I’ll use like a carryall to put my camera and tech stuff, make-up, notes, my oversized sunglasses and the Louis V. city guide, finally I won’t use!

Mandarina Duck is back-5-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2008Mandarina Duck is back-6-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2008

The luggage’s tops 

Compact look for maximum capacity, high quality canvas and finish. Smart detail: the laptop bag can be fixed to the suitcase (top picture). And you can also put many items in the outside pockets. And the best point for me is this super useful plastic cover could look cheap but definitely not (picture below). Many passengers looked at it, they might have been jealous! One request about the damaged cover: is it possible to change it? 

Mandarina Duck is back-3-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2008Mandarina Duck is back-7-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2008

What improving?

So after dragging this suitcase from one airporte to another, tested stairs, many tarmac and macadam impacts, some nail polish on lining… I think there are really few things to improve: the handle seems to me not strong enough for a very intense frequent use and the lining of the laptop gets quickly dirty. Otherwise well done Mandarina Duck !

www.mandarinaduck.com

Related posts : FASHION & DESTINATIONS

Bonus picture for fun : admire this lady friend fighting with her suitcase to close it, few minutes before taking a cab to the airport! What a laugh!

How to pack your luggage-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2008

Toronto Shopping

“Hey honey, take a walk on the wild side”* of the West Queen West: the centre of the independent culture of Toronto.I luv everything with queen: west “queen” west sounds awesome! So now you enjoy The Drake Hotel, good taste. Let’s go for a walk in this art and design district. Let’s shop funny bling bling something like… mmm… Many choice, let’s start with shoes at the Eel Boy (682 Queen St W.). Recommended by the stylish receptionist of the Drake. The one that loved my perfume: do you remember?

For adults only (“explicit lyrics”), getting hotter and hotter at Ms Behav’N: fetish lingerie! No address, you’ll find it anyway! Between us, I can’t seriously imagine my dearest fiancé in this bright purple string… moving in a lap dancing way, on one house table! This shop reminds me this excellent movie: “Exotica” of the great  independent filmmaker, Atom Egoyan. Now you’ve got the sexiest panties, you need discrete macadam cowboy boots with a black Stetson, Sue Helen! Hey bunny girl, let’s give them the next trend!.

Right here my dears, we’ll find the great “next “ 70’s design sit in Morba (665 Queen St W.)! Wake-up ! Let’s stop at the Art Photo Studio… for a perfect cute portrait. Oh! No! It’s closed! I want one of those old school pictures in the window! Ab fab, real art! Dear owner, we’re so sorry that you closed! Come back soon! Anytime you want!

Wow arty Barbies in this art gallery, cool! But what’s the difference with regular Barbies? You’re right they all look the same, except those are just naked and messy and have red and purple hair… arty baby, I guess! Tribute to the bloggers that love vintage “prehistoric” types… So, once upon a time: Gutenberg ! Oh a tree in a wood sit! Funny in Canada, I love the concept! Do they deliver it with the mythical canadian lumberjack?

Now remember Sue Helen, we bought Playboy girl accessories (panties, killa boots) and found “The” Canadian lumberjack, we miss chic crash helmet for biking to woods in Harley! What a great gift, a kind of cool futuristic minimalist pillow-teddy bear, I call “sleeping mate”: red or white?

Hungry? English tea at the Red Tea Box (742 Queen St W.) :  freaky cakes in the widow! So frightening! Let’s go knitting to relax in the charming Knit Café (1050 Queen St W.)! You don’t know knitting? No problem, watch and practise. So many nice galleries, shops, coffees, bars and so and so… I gave you samples. And guess what: the best thing, go to the wild wild West Queen West and check it out! And don’t forget to sent me your best locations, with picture and address or website, I can figure out. 

Sorry guys, I have to hurry up: a Slam session at the Drake! See you there! For more info about the West Queen West : www.westqueenwest.ca 

* Lou Reed  

Related posts : DESTINATIONS

 

My 2007 it hotel

“Maybe you can drive my car, yes I’m gonna be a star!”: sometimes I wear my glam rock outfit : Mr Cab driver ! I go to the wild side of Toronto. I get in the Starsky and Hutch movies entrance of The Drake Hotel and I meet Back in the hall, after ended my photo shoot in the 70’s photo booth. While they take my luggage, I ask for: room… There are too much stars here: I need some fresh air, I live the cycle for Beck and I get in a black Mercedes sports car.

Warm and not pretentious creative vintage design, exactly the opposite of trendy “wannabe” spots: eight small rooms, bars, concert theatre, restaurants, a sky yard like in Formentera baby! Two hours later, including a photo exhibition at the Modern Art Museum, some new friends (Toronto is a friendly city) and a 15 minutes chat about high eels stiletto with the very stylish receptionist that loves my perfume. Me too. I go in my room: on several white pillows, my sleep mate, a sort of a green weird teddy bear that looks like a big 80’s Burlington sock, designed by a unknown artist, ready to buy if I want, cause I deserve it!   

 

I flick through the computer flat screen, the exclusive Drake TV, the DVD and the CD player: I choice Dandy Warhols “A Bohemian Like You”. And I collapse with my Wayfarer on the last underground best seller book, warmly recommended by the Drake team: thanks guys! A fine  magazines selection and some yoga lessons for my precious person! Here I really do love me!

The phone rings, I get out from the glass shower cube, where I can see my queen size bed and all my cosy tiny room. I put on a Hedi Slimane black suit, with grunge accessorises – tribute to Seattle. I check myself in mirrors once more and cheese super bright in a “Nice People” way as the children cartoons, in the lounge downstairs. They wait for me in the restaurant with the big flat screen, fortunately not for a private projection! I have to hurry up, if I want to discover a bit more of Toronto and this arty area, with many galleries, funny shops… I get in the black sportscar, my “it “ bag first.

I come back late and there is a great atmosphere on at the Ibiza sky yard, I love the music! The night crowd and a 50’s years old transgender coming from Almodovar movies, enjoy the nice vibe in Pokahontas shoes. It’s cool and noisy, my hand strikes the wallpaper and slowly I walk in the narrow corridor that could be a set for a CD cover shoot. Action! Beck again, what a coincidence: a smile of complicity! At the dawn, incognito I roll in my bed: finally I close my eyes, plenty satisfied of a so sexy day in a so sexy hotel, proud to be with me-myself-and-I, a so sexy girl! Yeah boy you can drive my car, I’m a rock star baby! Mmm next time, I could be a movie star, couldn’t I ?

www.theblakehotel.ca 

Related posts : DESTINATIONS