Freud

I love this Freud book clutch at Olympia Le-Tan.
Fall 2013, Paris.

film & architecture

The other day I saw "El Hombre de al lado" (English: The Man Next Door) a very good Argentinian film if you ask me. The entire movie takes place in this location (seen on the photos) "Casa Curutchet" is the only house Le Corbusier* built in South America. It's located in La Plata, capital city of the province of Buenos Aires. Do you like it?




 *Le Corbusier (October 6, 1887 – August 27, 1965), was an architect, designer, urbanist, and writer, famous for being one of the pioneers of what is now called modern architecture. He was born in Switzerland and became a French citizen in 1930. His career spanned five decades, with his buildings constructed throughout Europe, India and America. He was a pioneer in studies of modern high design and was dedicated to providing better living conditions for the residents of crowded cities.

The manifesto for visual culture from Rencontres d’Arles.

via Swiss Miss

home sweet home

Like many people, I have two homes in Buenos Aires and I love them both. I spend much time looking at interior design and architecture magazines, always in search of new trends in decor, furniture, wallpaper, textiles for walls, textiles for curtains, room decor for children, etc. I like giving my homes a "refresh" every now and then. Moving things around, hanging something new on my wall.

Often, when I flip through the pages of magazines, there is something that distracts my attention from the content that I'm interested in and that is how some pictures portray people's homes in such incredible order. Everything is always in it's place, everything looks so perfect, I sometimes wonder how they do it.

Quite frequently I visit people that live in houses like the ones portrayed in magazines. I think mine looked like that at some point, but that changed once I had kids. Lately, what I see in magazines, I see in real life: order and perfection. These magazine- like, family houses are so immaculate. One has to celebrate the ability some people have to have fun and keep such order.

I relate the word home to warmth and a little chaos, be it because you are single and your house is a cozy place where you rest or hang out with friends after a long day of work, because you have just moved in with someone you are learning about and developing close ties to, because you are raising a family and your house is full of children and noise, or because your children have grown up and left your house which now holds a lot of memories. For others, clean and neat better describe the idea of a cool, stylish home. Whichever way, the important thing is that you enjoy and live your house fully! no?

What about you? is your house orderly? a bit messy? in between? do you spend much time in your house? which is your favorite place in the house?




Post by Valeria Mendez Cañas
Photos: Mich

Mate

You can find this modern version of mates at 5800 Gorriti St. , Palermo


As some of you may know, mate is a traditional Argentinian drink. It was drank by the Indians in the Northern region of Argentina back in the 17th Century. The plant from which it's made, yerba mate, commonly grows there. The drink was later produced, consumed and sold massively by the missionaries. Slowly, mate made it's way into all of Argentina and to Buenos Aires in particular.

Mate is very popular because having it is considered a ceremony, and as in any ceremony, it has it's rituals. Having mate on your own or with friends, co-workers, relatives, etc., is a way to share good conversations and be in good company. Even if you are alone, you are in company of a "mate".

There are many types of mates nowadays but originally it was drank inside of a small pumpkin that was emptied and dried out. Yerba mate (or processed mate leaves) would go into the mate along with a straw and hot, not boiling, water (otherwise yerba mate gets burnt). As the bottom of the pumpkin was rounded, leather, silver, metal, and glass bases were created in order to allow for it to stand still. Historically, it's design has evolved many times, but not the way we drink it.

You need a mate set if you are interested in drinking mate. The set is made up of a container or mate, of course; a "bombilla" or metal straw (such as the one seen in the photos above) which has a strainer at it's end to keep yerba mate leaves from getting to your mouth; a "yerbera" that consists of two containers joined in the middle by a handle that is used to move it around. In one container you place, yerba, in the other, sugar; a kettle, with hot water.

If you are buying a traditional mate made out of pumpkin, ask in the store how you need to prepare it before having your first mate. There is a technique that assures your mate's taste will remain soft. No preparation is required if your mate is made out of metal, glass or any other material.

There are tricks to making good mate: fill up your mate with yerba, put it in hot water, wait for yerba to swell, insert the straw with out moving it sideways or in circles, and have the first drink or "fool's mate". It is called that way because first mate tastes very bitter and strong.

If you were the one who prepared the mate, then you are the person in charge of filling it up with water and sugar or honey (if you choose to add sugar or honey, although the custom varies from place to place) and, you're also the one that has to re- fill the mate's yerba when it's taste starts to fade. This makes you the "cebador". The mate ritual stops once you get tired of pouring mates for everyone, after mate has gone around a few rounds, and no one is supposed to take your place. If you are in the round and want to stop drinking, you can just say "thank you" and it will be interpreted as that. Otherwise, if mate is passed on to you, you take it and drink it and give it back to the person that is filling it who will do this and pass it on to person beside you.

Mate has its virtues. It stimulates circulatory, muscular systems a well as the central nervous system; it regulates digestion, works well as a diuretic and keeps you awake but, unlike coffee, mate does not accelerate your heart beat.

You can get yerba mate in any supermarket in Argentina as well as in some cities around the world such as London, NYC and Miami.

Enjoy your mate!

wishlist

In my mail today, the Carolina Müller look book. Nice collection of simple and timeless pieces, lots of red and a little animal print too, if you're not too tired of animal print yet.
Here are some of my favorite looks. I specially adore the booties cause they go so well with everything and the last little dress which is the one I'm running out to buy! enjoy xx

Special thanks to Mass for always sending me good stuff.

I'm thinking

Three cool looks by Benito Fernandez.
Inspiration: La Habana, Cuba, setting he chose for the W2011 campaign.
(by the way, isn't it great that soon Cubans will get to travel?)

See more of this collection here.

Green Scene. Punta del Este, Uruguay

Calmness and pure bliss. Just minutes away from the chaotic city of Buenos Aires, a short flight from the local airport gets us to this beautiful villa in Punta del Este. Set on the quiet countryside, just a short walk from the beach.
The exterior beauty blends in with the refined interiors decorated with a love for simplicity and functionality. Hand-picked furnishings, unique details - such as a vintage, hair parlour bathroom chair, and warm colors combine magically to provide a peaceful setting with gorgeous views of the vast, green lands where the property sits.
The large swimming pool looks across the green fields and is a mirror to whispering trees.

For when you decide to take a well-deserved break. 

Vogue Living Mag in Argentina

I recently met Susan Westwood, Vogue Living's Senior editor, in Buenos Aires. She was interested in local interior designs, and visiting beautiful residences and restaurants, behind-the-scenes in Buenos Aires & surrounding areas. 
The story about Buenos Aires design will be featured in the May/June issue of VOGUE Living. Enjoy! xx

Special thanks! Julia and Marcelo

Ralph Lauren in Argentina & Punta del Este

I recently spent some time with Ralph Lauren and his family here in Argentina and in Uruguay. It was wonderful to meet them and I feel so much gratitude for the little time we spent together talking and walking through the neighborhoods of Buenos Aires and around Punta. It was an unforgettable learning experience. Learn from the best.