A Not So Continental Spa

The spa at the Intercontinental has a chic urban boudoir feel - or so they claim. As soon as you walk in, you're transported to another place entirely with the staff all trying their best to make and keep you as relaxed as possible. The mood is a little sombre as it's rather dark yet their motto is to let you recharge, detox or relax as you feel necessary.


We had booked a steam temple package so when we arrived we were presented with fruit juices and a fruit platter - which makes you feel like you are starting to detox instantly. In the 'steam temple' itself you have everything you could need to get prepared, take off your make-up, put away your things and prep yourself. The spa therapists ensure that there is candlelight to help you unwind whilst the twinkling starlights set into the domed roof also have a calming effect. Although I'm not so sure that it's really a continental spa but from more further afield!


Working on every therapeutic level, so they say, you apply mineral-rich mud all over the body and special mask for the face, whilst the aromatic steam infuses the temple and grows hotter. Apparently the treatment is ideal to prime the mind, skin and body prior to receiving other therapies. All the while in the temple, there is either birdsong or music, adding to the atmosphere and bringing one back to nature. Once you've sat back in the reclining chairs for a good 40 minutes, a shower of water cascades down to rinse of all the mud before you fully shower and clean yourself up.

Then after all the hard work detoxing your skin, the deal we had booked included a refreshing glass of champagne to help keep those toxin levels up! My kind of spa!

http://www.intercontinental.com/intercontinental/en/gb/spa/london-parklane 020 7318 8691

www.trisori.com

Sicilian Holiday (Part 1): Taormina on a budget

Recently, a friend of mine asked me where to go in Sicily if you are not Donald Trump.
What a wonderful reason I have to publish a post in the blog about my lovely part of the world!

First of all, get yourself a bargain and grab a flight from London to Catania Fontanarossa. If you are lucky, you can get a return flight for less than 150 pounds with Easyjet. Alitalia does not fly direct and you don't want to buy an indirect flight: it takes forever to arrive to the final destination.


Now that you have your return flight to Sicily, where do you stay?

If you have 3 days
Rent a car at the Catania Fontarossa Airport and head north to Taormina. You need to be a good driver as Taormina has tiny streets, people drive like lunatics and parking space is impossible to find. If you are not, don't despair, you can take a bus from the airport directly to Taormina.


Once there, if you are on a budget, the wisest thing to do is to stay in Castelmola. which is a little town above Taormina. It's really close and 30% cheaper and hotels offer shuttle services to and from Taormina.
Book at Hotel Villa Sonia: Click here for the website of the Hotel which is nicely located and not too expensive.


You can spend 2 days relaxing in Taormina and 1 day doing an excursion to see Mount Etna.
In all honesty, with such a beautiful scenary and amazing hot temperature, you deserve a medal if you manage to go all the way up to Mount Etna in the summer! Every hotel organises trips to the surrounding cities/ natural reserves, just ask at the reception.


If you have a week or for something more luxurious, follow this blog next Friday!


Enjoy

Where to shop in Italy

You always wonder why Italians are so well dressed. Fact.

You wish you could go out everyday in a nice pair of Gucci shorts, Armani jacket and bottega veneta heels.

Here at Trisori's your wish is your command, so we have prepared a short (and sweet) list of Designer outlets where Italians (of the north) go shopping.

If you are Milan-based

If you have 1 day to spend shopping in Italy, take a train to Serravalle Scrivia:

http://www.mcarthurglen.it/serravalle/en/brands

Here you can find a nice Cavalli silk Dress for 110 euro (circa 95 pounds) and many other bargains.

Alternatively, you can go to Marni's outlet which is in Milan (Lambrate area)

Marni outlet

Via F. Tajani, 1

Milano

Tel. +39 02 71040332

outlet@marni.it

If you are Florence based:

http://www.fidenzavillage.com/it/i-nostri-marchi/marca/missoni?category=women&

 I can only say one word: Missoni outlet!

If you are Venice based:

Take a train to Vicenza and head straight to Bottega Veneta's outlet. This is proper wonderland for women. The bags are fabulous and they are 50% (if not more) off retail price ans shoes are 200 euro! You can take any taxy at the station and it'll take you there.

Outlet Bottega Veneta

Viale della Scienza 15, Monday to Friday, from 9 am to 1pm, 2pm - 6 pm

Enjoy the shopping experience in Italy!

Elixir of life

I started using GloTherapeutics when I saw my friend at Traveller Magazine looking radiant. I asked her what her secret was and she introduced me to the Skin revitalizing starter kit.
The kit contains two small bottles of 15% Vitamin C and B5 Hydration. The two bottles work together to increase the absorption of active ingredients and enhance the benefits of your moisturizer.
I used the kit religiously for 1 month morning and evening and my skin has improved its look SO much! It feels like it has been "stretched" by a doctor and it's much smoother than normal.
It is probably due to the L-ascorbic Acid contained in the 15% Vitamin C bottle. When I applied it the first time I had the weird feeling of having my skin "pulled" by invisible hands. Such an amazing sensation! Then the L-hyaluronic Acid helped re-hydrate the skin.

No, it does not take forever and I guarantee you that I don't dedicate more than 5 minute to my beauty routine, above all in the morning.

 I am very happy with the result after 2 months of using the product as I feel like I have magically "lost" 5 years on my face! I found the Elixir of life.. Hurray!

Enjoy x

I think I found the one: A perfect knit dress

I was passively browsing the internet at the week-end, when I revisited the Graduate fashion show website. I hardly go twice on the same website as i think that if something didn't grab my attention the fist time, why would it do it the second?
How wrong was I?!
Obviosuly, I must have overlooked this beauty in the hasty search of read-worthy news.

 Victoria Hill's graduate collection surprised me. She combines traditional technic of knitting with modern shapes.
I love this burgundy long dress. It looks so fluid and elegant:

I can totally see myself wearing it combined with Alchemy earrings:

and if you think the above is not enough, I have asecret crush on this blue dress too:

I think we found a star.
Enjoy!

An Indian Evening

Stars gathered, many fresh from glastonbury at India Rocks - the inaugural event to raise money for Isha Vidhya to provide vital resources for the Tamil Nadu area in India. Supported by Jaguar, Ganjam, Harrods, Barclays Wealth & Kingfisher, the evening at The Natural History Museum had an overiding Indian theme. It kicked off with incredible traditional Indian dancing by K Spark and a stunning fashion show by designer Rocky S in front of the dinosaur tail.

Guests were hosted by Manish Bhasin and treated to delicious indian canapes and dishes by Madhus whilst keeping thirst at bay with cocktails such as blueberry bellinis courtesy of The Collection. This all preceeded the luxury auction where people bid on glittering sets of diamonds, a tour of Diamond Trading Company and an exquisite pendant by Ganjam from their Heritage collection, amongst other exotic items. To wrap things up, the fantastic The Phoenix Rose played a set with Juior Marvin of Bob Marley fame. Check out their star style below!

Who wouldn't want to love him?

When I first saw this blonde Swede, I thought nothing more than how cute he looked.

I met him during one of trip to LA. He was reserved, shy and always fiddling with his guitar.

Then, all of the sudden, my eyes stopped starring at him. To my surprise, he could actually sing…

He turned out to be Lowing from a little town close to Gothenburg (less glamorous than Stockholm but still “Nordic glamorous” enough for me)

I though I’d share this little gem with you all as it is the song I listen to when I need some nice introspective moments during my busy life.

I love his struggling soul and this song “love come shine” expresses the need of love (Love come shine it’s an imperative – not being English myself I thought he missed an S!!) of the cold Swedish heart.

                                                           Who wouldn’t want to love him?

Love come shine.mp3
and if you want more of Lowing, click on our playlist at the bottom of the blog page where you find his live performances or visit www.lowingmusic.com

Enjoy. x