Gens Du Voyage: April 2012

Friday, April 27, 2012

Mayan love...and more

Guatemalan Mayan Huipil

My fascination for textile, colors, and patterns surfaced during my childhood, stemming perhaps from my trips to Guatemala. My father used to take us to visit his family and they'd take us to all the beautiful sites and colorful markets where my mom and aunt would haggle with the indigenous people to get the best prices. I loved being in those markets and coming home with bags galore! I can still smell the scent of leather...

details of Mayan work

To this day, I am still captivated by the colors and patterns, and not only from the Mayan people, but also from all over the world. Whether it has been Albania, Brazil, El Salvador, Morocco, Argentina, and other places, the first thing I do when I travel, I run to the markets where normally the indigenous people sell their goods.

via: textilemuseum.org, K'iche' Maya huipil

Today, you don't have to go far to get these things, though you might find them pretty pricey. But I am really diggin' the use of indigenous patterns and colorful textiles in modern pieces. Presently, many designers are taking inspiration from all over the globe. For instance, ikat seems to be really popular in clothing, accessories as well as in home deco. Here's some really cool stuff, mostly Mayan, but also a few other similar designs.

Mayan design on sneakers! via sneakernews.com

Ikat design, Aldo for Julian Louie Spring 2011 collection

via www.mayabags.com, from Belize

Here are some gorgeous handbags by Chak Chel, all made from beautiful Mayan fabrics.

via www.magnifeco.com,

via www.redlotusmama.com, Bella Costas by Reef, crafted by artisans in the Mayan highlands of Guatemala

via shopplanetblue.com, Huipil Clutch by Precious Hands

Liz Carey Handbags

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Party a la India

This past Saturday I attended a surprise birthday celebration. The theme was India. I had been looking forward to this event since the day we were invited. Though extremely tired, I got myself to the party. We arrived when things were still getting started and the birthday girl had just arrived, still day light. The inside of the house was decorated with Indian knick-knacks, candles throughout, and pretty fabrics covering the sofas. Outside in their backyard, where the real party was at, had been transformed into a kind of Indian lounge. Lovely Indian embroidered cushions were thrown on carpets near their swimming pool sporadically and lanterns hung all over the place giving that perfect glow.

floating candles and roses

before the festivities began

Women were wearing gorgeous saris and the men wore some really cool outfits that complemented them. The catering was done by an Indian caterer from NY who served buffet-style, delicious organic, Indian food!

The music tied the whole evening together and even a dancer performed Bollywood-style dance after the people had gotten up to grab their food.

loungin' by the pool

I loved seeing a mix of cultures wearing gorgeous Indian outfits.
Just another idea and inspiration for all of you...

xoxo,

Monday, April 23, 2012

India for everyone.

I love themed-parties. I especially love ones that deal with dressing up. And if you really wanna get me excited, throw an Indian party that serves Indian food, has Indian dancing, and Indian music playing.
Saturday was a pretty hectic day. Actually the whole week was as I planned my mother-in-law's surprise birthday brunch for her that was held the following day. If I had not been so dead tired, I would have looked for my sari diligently, but instead decided a tikka, some black eyeliner, and Indian jewelry would suffice. Then I arrived...

me, my husband, best friend, and niece.

adorable family

People were decked out and I was regretting not looking for my sari! Nonetheless, I was going to enjoy every minute of it and I did! The food was amazing, organic, Indian food! The backyard looked like a set from a Bollywood film or some cool Indian-style lounge. Of course, my husband and I were taking advantage of every single opportunity to take photos!

loungin'' under the stars!

One of the reasons I love watching Bollywood films is because of the beautiful clothing they wear! Women were sporting their beautiful outfits that glistened like stars shining in the evening. Like this one...

And the other beautiful thing was that it was a gathering of beautiful people representing all the continents.

The music tied the whole evening together and I couldn't stop moving. And as a dancer, I was so excited to see a dancer performing Bollywood-style moves in the middle of the place! If it wasn't for the delicious food that held me back, I would have ran next to her!

Inspiration for the day...

Friday, April 20, 2012

DIY wedding traditions

getting henna done in Fez, Morocco...a wedding tradition.

I am not against tradition. I think it's a beautiful thing. I just think it's pretty pointless to do something when we have no idea what the meaning behind it is. This is why I chose to look for traditions that stood for what I believed, though perhaps unfamiliar to some of those in my circle of friends and family. I thought, "why not introduce something to them and even begin our own traditions!" This doesn't mean one has to create something spectacularly off-the-charts. It can be something simple and small that is meaningful to you as a couple, as well as to those at your wedding, which they can always remember. I also think that if you are introducing something new, let the people know. Don't let your guests guess why you are breaking glasses or plates or why you are jumping over a broom, of course unless everyone there knows about this tradition. I think it's a beautiful thing to introduce others to traditions that perhaps can inspire them or talk about it with others during the week. Some traditions can make a huge impact on people and make them think about a wedding and marriage in a whole other way.

Today, many see weddings as moments to show off and blow others' weddings out of the water. Some take marriage lightly, because after all, "if it doesn't work, there's always divorce". I don't believe that. I believe marriage is hard work and worth it; in fighting for your marriage and celebrating it as it ought to be! Remember that a wedding is just the day you make that commitment to be with your husband/wife until death does you part. Though it should be celebrated as one of the most special moments in life, don't let that be the most important thing. The wedding celebration will end and now you two are beginning a new life together...the real thing! Keep this in the forefront of your mind. Yes, make it special, but also remember that there's more...

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Marseilles, for culture-lovers!

One of the reasons I love France is because there is everything for everyone. You like mountains...you got em'! You like forests? Plenty of them! You like cold weather and snow? How about sun and the sea? Well, that's me! I love being close to water! Paris gets a lot of attention, but what about Marseille?

La Canebière

Cute shop at La Canebière

I love this building!

View of the Vieux Port from outside Notre-Dame de la Garde

This city has a lot of really cute streets, art, shops, and lots of culture! This immigrant city offers a vibrant cultural mix of food, shopping, and architecture. Marseilles has a large Maghreb (North African) community, as well as others from all over Africa. You may find yourself walking through their amazing outdoor markets or through little hidden streets with little hidden shops selling postcards, soaps, or teas.

Notre-Dame de la Garde

Inside the cathedral,Notre-Dame de la Garde

View of the Vieux Port from outside Notre-Dame de la Garde

*photos of my 2009 trip.

Monday, April 16, 2012

Wedding Hair

So, the time has come to decide what the heck to do with your hair, right? Yes, I know the feeling. I have really curly hair and at that time, it was neither short nor long enough to do something spectacular with it. I also wasn't looking for your typical "up do" with curls flowing down nor was I interested in wearing a veil. I ended up twisting my own hair, which turned out pretty good, and slapped on my headpiece and my birdcage veil I had worked hard on...and voila! But I know it can be a daunting task when your hair isn't cooperative or all you see is a disillusionment. I know I was sick and tired of seeing the same ol' and though I didn't end up being as adventurous as I usually am and opted for a more semi-traditional look, I was still happy with the outcome. It feels good to look at your photos and not think, "what the heck was I thinking?"

This morning I woke up thinking, "what do you do when you have short hair?" I used to have pixie-short hair and I honestly don't know what I would have done with that. But today, there are so many amazing hairpieces that you don't have to fear this situation if this is where you find yourself! You can finger-wave it (like below), wrap a pretty scarf around it, add a halo, or a pretty bird-cage veil. Whether you have long or short hair, I thought I'd help you a little..