Scarves, Hats and Gloves, oh my!

My favorite season for fashion is Fall; an opportunity to wear more accessories, hats, scarves, gloves, mittens, tights and leg warmers.  Also I am a big fan of layering, adding texture, color and warmth.  Here are some of my Nomads favorites.

Fushia hat and driving gloves, matching woven
scarf with the Darling London Coat, cowl
neck sweater vest and Ikat skirt

Kaleidoscope Beret with matching scarf and gloves.
Knitted Dove coat with over-sized buttons and
Theme leather trim dress.

Kaleidoscope Beret with polka dot tube scarf
and mittens.  Comfy Taupe jackets and
Chalet Chartreuse Tunic

 I've been obsessed with driving gloves since I was a little girl.  My grandmother always wore them in the winter, I thought they were so ladylike.  Here is our collection of leather and felt driving gloves along with some fun mittens.

You can't layer without the most essential piece, the scarf.  We always have a great selection around the holidays.  Here are just a few.  Scarves, Hats and Gloves, oh my!

Finding Frida

                        

 It was in the early 90’s and my grandmother took me to London- my first experience outside of the US. For me puberty had kicked in, my passport picture was of an afro haired girl with a slight mustache, uni-brow and a nose and chin too big for her face.  Despite my physical awkwardness, the trip was the spark that started an everlasting passion for travel.  We saw all the sights and went to all the museums.   The Tate gallery had on loan a painting of a woman that was like no other I had ever seen.  This woman had a mustache, a full uni-brow and very somber eyes, she was beautiful.  To my astonishment this was a self portrait, it was Frida Kahlo’s,  The Frame.  A life changing moment, the realization that embracing your flaws makes you beautiful and being different is the only way to be.   I was in love, an ode to inspiration, an ode to Frida who was unapologetically herself. 

                       

                         Frida Kahlo's, The Frame

 

   Frida's picture for French Vogue 1938                   

              

Since that time I have seen more Frida Kahlo paintings then I can count, going to Exhibitions in Venice, Seattle, St. Louis, studying in Mexico City where I spent considerable time at her house, which is now a museum in Coyoacán.   I am not alone with my infatuation with this woman.  Along with her husband Diego Rivera she is the most celebrated Mexican Artist of the 20^th century.  She was before her time, a feminist, a realist and a communist and often times called a surrealist although she reputed this.  “I paint my own reality. The only thing I know is that I paint because I need to, and I paint whatever passes through my head without any other consideration.” 

Fall clothing and jewelry inspired by Frida
Clothing by ZuZu Apparel, Numph, Carla Ferandez,
Wind River and jewelry from Turkey.

Fall clothing and jewelry inspired by Frida.
Clothing by Knitted Dove, Comfy, Carla Fernandez,
Matti Mamane, Numph and jewelry from India.

Like her paintings, Frida’s style was personal, eccentric, indigenously inspired, and always over the top.  She used an abundance of color and texture, jewels, fabric and flowers.  She often times had on her shoulders or in her lap live monkeys, birds and dogs, the most cuddly of accessories and her little companions.  The famous quote from CoCo Chanel, “Before you leave for the day…take one thing off…” , otherwise don’t over accessorize.  Frida, it seems did the complete opposite; this is the rule I like to live by, add at least one accessory before leaving the house.   Have an extra finger?   Put a ring on it damn it!  As much as this quote is used in the fashion industry I think the more important quote of CoCo’s is “In order to be irreplaceable one must always be different.”  Rules are for followers and CoCo and Frida were nothing of the kind.

A collection of heels for you, Poetic Licence London and Irregular Choice

Frida Necklace,Carla Ferandez Poncho, Embroidered Scarf, and other beautiful garments.

I think a common misconception is people dress differently for attention, I contend that people cannot help expressing who they are, if there was no one around to see them they would be doing the exact same thing.  This Fall season, I think we should throw our inhibitions out the window and dress in what makes us feel good, for Frida.  

My Love Affair with Turkey

I’ve brought back some wonderful treasures from around the world.  From Paris, floral amethyst earrings; Provence, lavender perfume; Rome, linen harem pants; Nairobi, a painting of running gazelles; Masai Mara, a wedding necklace; Egypt, jasmine oil and giant prayer beads; Peru, baby Alpaca sweaters; from Mexico an  enormous conk shell and from Turkey eleven carpets and a husband!   

Every summer we visit my husband's family on the Mediterranean coast and then visit our friends in the small beach town, Olympos.  Home to Lucian ruins, an pristine coastline and tree house hotels, this is our rustic and relaxing holiday. 

Our first home, Kadir's Top Treehouses in Olympos

The Olympos Beach Coastline

We then go inland to a small village, Seydisehir to Suleyman’s families’ garden where we spend our days eating.  Turkish food revitalizes the taste buds; breakfast consists of tomatoes, cucumbers, hot peppers, tahini, fresh goat cheese, watermelon with feta, jams, jellies, borek, baklava, Turkish sausage, potatoes, eggs and honeycomb.  This is just breakfast - and with a Turkish mother at the table you have to be sure and eat everything!

Breakfast

My mother in-laws Baklava

After spending a week eating and visiting family we then end our trip in Istanbul where we buy more treasures at the Grand Bazaar to sell at Nomads.  We also visit our manufacturer to discuss ZuZu Apparel’s new collection.  This year as we once again travel to Turkey, so it is only appropriate that our Fall ZuZu collection is inspired by that country's rich history, in stores now.

ZuZu Apparel's Lale Blouse and Dervish Skirt 

ZuZu Apparel's Harem Dress

Turkey has many intricate layers of history starting with the oldest civilization and temple at Göbekli Tepe, and the most well preserved Neolithic and Chalcolithic sites at Catalhoyuk.  The Hittites, Greeks, Lucians,  Romans, Persians, Byzantines and Ottomans have all left their mark on what is now Modern Day Turkey.  There are ruins of civilizations buried under other ruins of civilizations. 

The Ancient Greek City, Ephesus 

Mount Nemrut with it's enormous statues of Greek, Iranian and Armenian Gods  

The Byzantine Church the Hagai Sophia

The complexity of Turkey’s history and its culture, its turquoise coast and Anatolian food, is a love affair for me that will never grow old, no matter how many times I go back.

NOTE:  Want to visit Turkey?  Email us at info@magiccarpettraveler.com for more information.

Colors of Summer

With the summer solstice upon us, we must have our collections of color ready to reflect the summer sun.  Coral, Turquoise, Cobalt, Gold, Fuchsia, Emerald and Tangerine to name a few, and of course don’t forget the color to reflect them all, White.  Normally I am queen of the neutrals and like most ladies have an array of black options to choose from, but the time to do color is now!  With great tribal patterns and stripes all the trend, color can be added to the mix with your favorite neutrals.

                                                                    Masai Women

When I think of colorful textiles and clothing I think of the Semi-nomadic people of East Africa, the Masai Tribe.  My husband and I traveled to the Masai Mara in Kenya four years ago and had the opportunity to camp there and visit the Masai people.  The use of color in their garments is like no other.  The kanga worn by women are decorated with flowers and patterns in every color imaginable.  They wear layers of beaded necklaces, bracelets and earrings.  The men wear clothing known as Shúkà which is a sheet worn wrapped around the body, once over each shoulder, then a third time over the top of them.  Typically they are red but blue, black, striped and checkered are also common.  In a landscape that is covered in neutral shades of nature the Masai rebel against the palette reflecting their dynamic colors within. 

                                                Masai Warriors Jumping Competition

Outfits inspired by the Masia and the Colors of Summer…

         


On the left the Arrow Dress, Magenta Tunic, Lemon and Lime Poncho and Mirage Maxi.  
On the right the Island Landscape Tunic and Skirt, Peacock Blouse, Thunder Sky Maxi and Emerald Layer Blouse and Watercolor Skirt.

On our Safari in the Masai Mara we saw families of elephants, giraffes, zebras, gazelles of many kinds, and even a black rhinoceros.  The most astonishing moment was when we came across a group of male lions feasting on a baby giraffe, with a hyena in the distance waiting for their scraps.  Nature and its’ cycle of life is both tragic and beautiful in the Masai Mara. 

Family of Giraffes in the Masai Mara

To the left male Lions after feasting on a baby giraffe.


To the right a very tired
Black rhinoceros 

                                               A family of elephants in the Masai Mara


Like the Masai tribe, let’s play with color, wrap it around us, layer it and mix it up, to reflect the summer sun.  Wishing everyone a wonderful summer and happy travels!

Memorial Day

Memorial Day is a time for celebrating our family and friends who have passed away.  This time of year, what better way to do that than spending time outside in nature?  Go on a picnic. Immerse your senses in the elements, take a moment to feel the grass under your toes, the sun on your face, hear the birds singing, smell the lilies blooming.

One of the Midwest’s most renowned painters and muralists, Thomas Hart Benton captures the spirit of the picnic in his painting Persephone.  In an Arcadian Kansas landscape, a farm girl has a picnic and takes off her clothes unaware that Hades, disguised as an old farmer, is peering in on her from around the river bank.  This goddess farm girl, Persephone, is so consumed in nature she gets abducted by Hades the god of the underworld and is forced to spend her life there, only to come forth in spring with the seeds of the fruits of the fields.

 

Thomas Hart Benton’s, Persephone at the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City. 

Our inspirations for a picnic…

This dress by ZuZu Apparel is textured linen with neutral plaids that are reminiscent of a picnic blanket.  

 Wear it with OTBT’s light leather Peirz Sandals.

To store your picnic goodies we have fabulous woven baskets from Madagascar

If it’s a rainy Memorial Day weekend cozy up in ZuZu Apparels Cloudy Sky collection.  This painterly grained linen is evocative of Thomas Hart Benton’s cloud scenes.

                        

  
Cloudy Sky Dress, Cloudy Sky Vest worn with our Palazzo Pants and Cloudy Sky Skirt.

One of my dearest memories of my Grandfather is on a picnic.  We went to Loose Park in Kansas City, which has one of the prettiest rose gardens. We laid out a blanket took our shoes off and put our feet in the freshly cut grass.  It was a beautiful day.  This Memorial Day I will celebrate with fond memories of my Grandfather.

May Day

May Day

We must prepare in our finest florals and hats for May Day.  This ancient Pagan holiday celebrates the festival of Flora (Floralia) the roman goddess of Spring.  The festival symbolizes renewal of the cycle of life and the abundance of vegetation and flowers.  It is officially time to put on your garden hats and start planting those seeds for the celebration of Spring.

Primavera  by Botticelli, c. 1482.  One of my favorite paintings can be seen in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence.

In Botticelli’s Primavera (also known as the Allegory of Spring), Flora is to the right of Venus, wearing a dress patterned with flowers.  What could be better for celebrating May Day than this contemporary version? The Pleat and Rose dress by Covet.

To wear with your dress the Stockton wedges by OTBT in Peach and UPF 50+ Wallaroo Hat

More outfits inspired by Flora…

Covet’s Rose Quartz Dress and Girl About Town Heels with Rose Tie Detailing.

Lily Garden Tank by Covet

Wear your Lily Garden Tank with OTBT’s Delhi Heels and UPF 50+ Wallaroo Hat

One of my favorite gardens in the world is the Boboli Gardens behind the Pitti Palace in Florence, Italy.  This 16^th century garden is home to hundreds of statues, fountains, temples, grottos, and nympheums.  

 My husband Suleyman in the Boboli Gardens

My favorite statue at the gardens is Adam and Eve.  Who knows gardens better than these two, they got to spend some quality time in the Garden of Eden before getting kicked out for conspiring with the serpent.

Come let’s celebrate May Day, Flora, Adam and Eve, Spring and the renewal of life.