Switzerland is a beautiful country, home to the Geneva-based blogger, Anna from A Stylish Story. Switzerland is famous for luxury watches, chocolate, and the beautiful Swiss Alps.
Hailed for its innovative approach the leather goods, Longchamp is a French luxury company, founded in Paris in 1948 by Jean Cassegrain. Intrinsically inspired by the allure of the Parisian woman who is always on the go, their designs are practical and polished. Longchamp is a luxury fashion house that creates functional accessories for the modern woman that is perfectly exemplified by their Le Pliage cult collection.
So here are 5 fashion facts about this iconic handbag:
The first Le Pliage bag was created by the son of Longchamp’s founder, Philippe Cassegrain. Its design was inspired by the Japanese art of origami, which Philippe had learnt about when travelling. Indeed the word “Pliage” means fold in French. The concept of the bag is that when you are not using it, you can easily fold it up and store it. I personally like to always slide one in my suitcase in case I buy anything on my trip and can’t fit it into my luggage. This way I have a storage back up. Made of durable nylon with strong leather straps, it weighs nothing but can fit so much inside – so it really is ideal for travelling.
First launched in 1993 by Phillipe Cassegrain and and Isabelle Guyon. It would take another 3 years for the first Le Pliage collection to become a fashion hit according to Philippe Cassegrain. Today this light foldaway bag that has since become an iconic bag worldwide. Today, 10 Le Pliage bags are sold every minute worldwide.
In France, mothers often give their daughters a Longchamp bag as a coming-of-age gift when their daughters turn 15. Indeed, that was in fact the age that I got my first Longchamp Pliage in navy blue, and yes it was a gift from my mother! It was my school bag all throughout my teen years.
Le Pliage tote has been reimagined in over 150 different colours and prints. Collaborations include Jeremy Scott, Tracey Emin, Clo’e Floriat, Nendo, Pokémon, and most recently Filet France which I am wearing here.
Did you know that you can now also personalise your own Le Pliage bag from the model to the colour, flap and handles, snap closure, shoulder strap and right down to the lining color? You can also get your Longchamp items monogrammed free of charge in their stores. I love doing this for gifts to add a truly personal touch to the bag.
So there you have it, 5 Fashion facts about the iconic Longchamp handbag that has become a staple wardrobe must-have.
In early March in Switzerland, you still have excellent snow and can easily enjoy the beautiful Swiss Alps to their fullest. So with this in mind, I headed up to the jet-set destination of Zermatt for a long weekend for some R&R. It was my first trip to Zermatt, and what a whirlwind weekend it was with my dear friend Bella at the SchlossHotel Zermatt. It really is an amazingly beautiful and peaceful destination in the heart of Switzerland. Indeed, a couple of days of fresh mountain air and deep relaxation at the SchlossHotel Zermatt Spa winter resort was exactly what I needed to recharge my batteries.
About the Location
Tucked away in the Swiss Alps, Zermatt is a picturesque mountain destination located in the southern Swiss canton Valais. It is a fantastic hotspot in the Swiss Alps that is great for skiing, climbing, and hiking. Zermatt is a popular ski holiday resort that is 1,600m in altitude and is situated just below the iconic, pyramid-shaped Matterhorn peak. The Matterhorn mountain is an incredibly iconic Swiss landmark. Indeed the Zermatt Matterhorn is an integral part of the delicious Swiss chocolate brand Toblerone’s packaging. The town of Zermatt is super pretty, lined with luxury shops and restaurants.
Zermatt is a world-famous town and attracts tourists from all over the world and the SchlossHotel Zermatt is an ideally located hotel with a spectacular view of the Matterhorn. The Hotel Schloss Zermatt is super central. In a quiet side street it is only 150 feet from the Gornergratbahn Train Station, the Zermatt Train Station, and the Bahnhofstrasse Main Street. Which was super practical during our stay.
About the SchlossHotel Zermatt
The SchlossHotel Zermatt is a family-owned hotel that was first opened in 1965. In October 1984, the family of Alex Perren, who were long-established residents of Zermatt, acquired the hotel. When we arrived, we were greeted by Alex Perren and his wife and they were incredibly kind and attentive. Their hospitality was impeccable and thoughtful, I was thoroughly impressed with the consistency and professionalism of everyone at the hotel.
Hotel Fun Fact: In the early 80s when my parents were first dating and still students. In fact, they actually stayed in the SchlossHotel Zermatt during their winter ski break. So when I told them I would be staying at the SchlossHotel Zermatt, they were truly excited about my mountain trip as it brought back fond memories of their budding romance.
The SchlossSpa
The SchlossHotel Zermatt has an incredible SPA that sprawls over 630m2. In fact, it is the first CBD SPA in all of Switzerland. It was opened in cooperation with “SwissCBD” (which is owned by Schibano Pharma Group AG). This new innovation in hospitality in Switzerland truly underlines the SchlossHotel’s innovative vision for the wellness market of the future.
The SchlossSpa has wonderful facilities including a gorgeous indoor pool, indoor gym, multiple steam rooms with herbal aromas, Hammam, Finnish saunas, and a Salt Room. I really enjoyed the Mediterranean Bath and the Finnish Sauna personally. Opposite the Finnish Sauna, they even have an Ice Crystal Room from which you can directly access outside and go into the snow.
Possibly my favorite part of the SchlossSpa was the “Water Paradise” showers. Each with its own unique lighting (red, green, blue, etc.), unique relaxing fragrances, and the recommended temperatures at which to enjoy them. The “Water Paradise” included two perfect post-sauna showers called Cold Breeze with a minty fresh aroma and Cold Rain with a lemon scent.
The SchlossSpa in Zermatt is one of the most beautiful and best-equipped hotel SPA’s I have been to in Switzerland. It is a wonderful place to refocus, release and relax.
The Fondue Experience
One of the truly unique aspects of our stay was the SchlossHotel Zermatt Fondue Experience. We soaked up the afternoon sun outside whilst enjoying a delicious cheese fondue.
It is an experience that the SchlossHotel Zermatt offers its guests. The experience includes:
Cheese fondue ”Moitié – Moitié”
Bread & potatoes
1 bottle of Johannisberg or Fendant of your choice
I really recommend this experience, it is a Swiss gastronomic tradition that is not to be missed.
The Zermatt Matterhorn
The second day, we woke up to the beautiful view of the iconic Matterhorn and headed down to have breakfast. I loved the breakfast options they provided at the SchlossHotel Zermatt. I was especially impressed by the amount of locally sourced and organic products offered. The highlight for me was the waffle stand where you could cook your own waffles à-la-minute.
The Matterhorn is the mountain of mountains, an aesthetic emblem of Switzerland that soars above 4000m. So after some delicious breakfast, Bella and I boarded the train which took us up to the Rothorn set at 3000m. It was the perfect perch for us to enjoy a truly unforgettable view of the Matterhorn and the surrounding mountain world. What’s more, the train ride up and down was spectacular.
The SchlossHotel Zermatt Room
Our room had a stunning view of the Matterhorn which was simply superb in the morning.
I think my favorite part of my first trip to Zermatt was in fact our Sunday’s bed in breakfast. I’m not an early bird by nature, so this was such an indulgence for me as it combined my love for sleeping in and staying in bed with a delicious breakfast. The Jensen bed was the perfect setting for our fresh coffee and orange juice.
It was a truly fantastic few days. A huge thank you to the SchlossHotel Zermatt for making my first trip to Zermatt unforgettable. A big thank you to Christian and the Zermatt Matterhorn team for our VIP Passes. Thank you to Alila for our wonderful winter wear and handbags. And of course a big thank you to Bella for being such a wonderful travel companion.
This weekend was a truly relaxing escape to the Swiss countryside. Bella and I headed to La Belle Vue in Spiez which is a town and municipality on the shore of Lake Thun in the Bernese Oberland region in Switzerland. It has a breathtakingly beautiful landscape. The hotel itself is owned by a married couple, Gianluca had always wished to renovate a hotel and his wife, Emilie, had always dreamed of having a cafe. The two dreams merged into one and took the form of this pretty hotel in Spiez.
Spiez
Nestled between rolling hills and vineyards, Spiez is a wonderful destination in Switzerland. There is a bold contrast between the turquoise blue Lake Thun, dotted with tropical palm trees and the snow-capped mountains that surround it. Spiez lies in a picturesque situation on the southern shore of the Thunersee, at the foot of the pyramid-shaped Niesen mountain. One of the main landmarks of Spiez is their castle which was only a short walk from our hotel.
The Brunch
The view and brunch are what the hotel is best known for. Indeed people from all around the region come to enjoy their delicious brunch.
With the current global pandemic, brunch is reserved exclusively for hotel guests like ourselves for the time being. For me, it was absolutely amazing to be able to have a coffee in the cafe again and enjoy a delicious brunch with a friend. Something I use to do on a weekly basis before the pandemic.
Their daily breakfast and brunch are all organic. We had their avocado and poached eggs with pancakes, cold cuts and an assortment of pastries. Their Italian coffee was excellent, in fact, the day we arrived they had just expanded their menu and added two new types of lattes: Curcuma and matcha. The cafe had a great range of options available and there were all the milk alternatives you could wish for (almond, oat, etc). I savored every bite of the scrumptious brunch. As an avid brunch fan myself, this aspect of the hotel was a huge plus for me and I truly enjoyed the experience.
The Hotel
The Hotel La Belle Vue has been recently renovated in an elegant Scandinavian-style. Their café strives to offer regional, homemade and modern cuisine. Whilst the view is just breathtaking. It overlooks the castle, lake Thun and the Swiss mountains. Our room had a lovely balcony so we could also sit outside and soak up the sunshine and enjoy the view.
It was wonderful to wake up to the fabulous view of a fairy-tale castle, the lovely lake and magnificent mountains. The staff and hotel owners were all wonderfully friendly and helpful. What’s more, we met with their in-house photographer Maja and made some fun hotel shots together. It was great fun and super girly, I really enjoyed this relaxing staycation in Spiez.
Innovative, iconic and eccentric, Gucci is the Italian, luxury fashion house based in Florence.
Under the romantic and eclectic direction of Alessandro Michele, Gucci is redefining luxury for the 21st century. Founded in 1921, Gucci represents the pinnacle of Italian craftsmanship. Today part of the Kering Group, Gucci is one of the world’s leading luxury fashion brands, with a renowned reputation for creativity.
So here are 5 fun facts for fashion fanatics who are fans of Gucci.
The GG logo: First up, the iconic, double G logo stands for Gucci Gucci. He founded the famous fashion house in 1921, however this GG logo was not created by Gucci himself. It was actually designed in 1960 to honor him after his death.
Fashion Jean-ious: Secondly, did you know that in 1998 Gucci’s “Genius Jeans” entered the Guinness World Records as the most expensive pair of jeans in the world!? They were valued at a whopping $3,134. A record that was only broken in 2005 when Levis sold a pair of jeans for $60,000 at auction.
Christie’s x Gucci: Speaking of auctions, back in 2010, Gucci teamed up with the auction house Christie’s to launch the Gucci Collector. A unique service where team of experts would offer an appraisal of your vintage Gucci items online. It was the first Gucci-certified online destination and became an online hub for Gucci collectors from all over the world.
The Gucci Garden: This set the scene for the Gucci Museo which opened in 2011 in the heart of Florence. It is also known as the Gucci Garden and even has its own library, cafe and of course it’s own boutique.
Alessandro Ascends: In 2015, Alessandro Michele took over as creative director of the brand. He totally revolutionized the Italian fashion house. Juxtaposing his maximalist aesthetic with geek chic. Right up until today he continues to incorporated unexpected materials and create uncommon beauty in each and every Gucci collection.
The glacial cold and snow outside combined with the third national lockdown in Switzerland is all the more reason to focus on your self-care routine. With Christmas over, I wanted to share with you my favorite monthly beauty goodies…
First up is Fullord’s “Carré de Soie” perfume. It is such a luxurious and expensive smell that I was hooked the second I smelt it. I almost wanted to keep it a secret and not share this scent with you – it’s just that good! It is my current obsession and I love it so much. It is an exclusive scent that was developed by the Firmenich Fragrance House for Fullord. Captivating and with a slight powdery note to it, I cannot tell you how pleased I am every time I spritz it on. It stays all day, so the longevity is excellent. Overall one of my favorite beauty buys.
Next is actually a brand I discovered at Harvey Nichols in my University years. It is a Danish skincare brand called Ole Henriksen. As you know Scandinavian women are pretty much flawless with or without makeup so I really trust this whole nation when it comes to cosmetics (trust me, I lived with two stunning Norwegian girls when I was a student and my gosh their skin was just flawless). Almost 8 years ago now I tried the Truth Serum. It is to this day the most divinely delicious smelling serums I have tried. Indeed this is one of the brand’s strong points: they strive to create a sensory experience with each of their products. So I was thrilled when Sephora launched Ole Henriksen in Switzerland. I was gifted the most wonderful skincare set including their 3 bestsellers:
C-Rush™ Brightening Gel Crème. This cream is exactly what you need during the winter cold. It has the coolest gel-cream texture. Pick me up packed with vitamin C. It smells insanely fresh and luxurious. You really feel like you are giving your skin some much-needed TLC.
Glow2OH™ Dark Spot Toner. This tonner is packed with powerful AHAs (glycolic and lactic acids) and reduces fine lines and dark spots.
PHAT Glow Facial™. This is the perfect product for your self-care Sundays. It is Ole Henriksen’s first one-step at-home facial filled with PHAs. Anti-aging, it instantly exfoliates and illuminates your skin. What’s more, the texture is very cool. A pink terracotta cream which when applied and massaged into your skin turns white.
Next, I want to share with you my favorite nail care product. With the cold weather and all the hand sanitizer I have been using, my hands and nails are pretty dry. So I have been doing a nail cure with Essie’s Help Me Grow. It is a 5-day nail strengthening polish which is great if you want to give your natural nails a fighting chance to grow. I already see huge improvements within the two weeks of using it and would strongly recommend it for anyone who’s looking to do a nail detox.
Now on to some fun and glitter! I am a huge fan of Too Faced. Their packaging is always on point and every year they launch the best Limited Edition Christmas Collections. This said, my current favorite palette is actually a classic and Switzerland Sephora Bestseller. It is the Too Faced Born This Way palette and it was actually a Christmas gift. I was so happy when I got it, I love Too Faced as I find the eyeshadow quality and pigment payoff so amazing. This particular palette is truly versatile yet totally wearable. It has a range of neutral shades each time featuring a sparkling and matte version. I have already been able to create some super fun looks with this Too Faced palette. On New Year’s Eve, I did a holographic glitter-eye and I also created the most sumptuous copper cat-eye which lasted all day. It’s great for all skin tones and even comes with a helpful makeup tutorial depending on your complexion. Overall it is just is such a great palette to have, especially for on-the-go as it’s super practical and portable.
Last but not least I want to share my favorite lipsticks. Revlon’s new Super Lustrous Glass Shine Lipsticks. They launched in late 2020 and I received three gorgeous shades. The texture of them is superb, the finish is super shiny “glass-like” and the colors are gorgeous. I love the formulation as they are very moisturizing lipsticks made with hyaluronic acid, aloe, and rose quartz. This is great as they protect against chapped lips in the cold months. They also smell super delicious. My absolute favorite shade is Sparkling Honey, a soft, golden nude shade.
