Ways To Save Money For Your Dream Vacation

Reading Time: 3 minutes

dream-holidays

Vacations are great not only because they are relaxing, but also because they change your perspective on life and they open your eyes. Although not everyone prefers investing their money in a luxurious vacation where they can relax in the company of their closest friends or family members, there are a lot of people out there who are looking for the most effective ways of turning their dreams into reality. Unfortunately, these days not a lot of individuals are able to splurge on their favorite vacations. As the cost of living is constantly increasing, it is more and more complicated to find the necessary resources even for a modest trip. However, there are a few ways of saving money for your dream vacation. Even though not all of them are revolutionary, they can still make a difference.

Use Budget Tools

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Technology can come in handy if you are looking for a good way of saving money for your dream vacation. With the help of a mobile application, you can keep track of your expenses, manage account balances and get tips on saving money each day. Setting goals in mind is also a good practice that can help you turn your dreams into reality. Whether you prefer using the traditional pen and paper or you’re a big fan of technology, staying motivated will do the trick. A last suggestion would be to open a bank account that offers rewards each time to manage to reach your money saving goals.

Look for Cheap Alternatives

Just because you are going on your dream vacation that does not mean that you need to live luxuriously. A cheaper accommodation allows you to save money that you can spend later on unique experiences that you will remember for the rest of your life. After all, when you think about your dream vacation, you most likely remember visiting a popular tourist spot, practicing extreme sports and not sleeping in a luxurious villa. Following the same principle, you can save some money by looking for rental car coupons. Remember, it’s the experience that matters, not little insignificant details.

Find an Alternative Source of Income

The most straightforward and simple way of saving money for your dream vacation is a second job. In some cases, getting a part-time job for a few months can help you put a lot of money aside. Seeing that there are many great projects that you can complete online these days, you don’t have to worry about spending money on the commute or packing snacks with you. Just think about your skills and put them to good use. Keep in mind that people will pay for any kind of skill nowadays.

Have Fun on a Budget

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Setting a goal in mind motivates you to look for the cheapest entertainment alternatives. You will soon realize that paying for an expensive cinema ticket or spending a lot of money on a night out is not completely worth it. Instead of that, inviting friends over to a cinema night is just as fun. Being creative does not have to be boring. Ask your friends to come up with ingenious ideas, and you’ll all have a great time without burning a hole in your pocket.

In conclusion, saving money for your dream vacation does not have to be a struggle. These practices are a great proof of that.

Carol

Info sourced by the author for luxuryactivist.com. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only. 

Looking for Luxury in Mexico

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Trips to Mexico conjure up images of sprawling city exploration, Aztec ruins in unlikely jungles, and incredible beaches with all the water sports and frolics one can hope for. It’s a famously cheap place to visit, especially for those wishing to sample a little culture and a little luxury under the Mexico sun. For those on more of a budget yet still hoping to squeeze some luxury experiences out of their vacation to Mexico, here are some must-see tips to get you relaxing in opulence while exploring this great and varied nation.

To The Beach

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It’s not rare for tourists and travelers alike to make a bee-line for the beaches after landing in Mexico. Here you’ll find picture perfect stretches of sand dotted with beach bars selling the sort of Mexican beer, tequila and rum cocktails that’ll enrich the senses, bringing you into full relaxation mode for your time spend on the sparkling sands of the country’s famous resort enclaves. They’re safe, too, and off-season there’s new dishes to be found at restaurants right by the sea.

Inner City

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If you’re more of an urban explorer than a seashore explorer, then you’ll want to get yourself to Mexico City and other such giant metropoles to become enveloped by Mexico’s unique pace of life, supplemented as it is by its devout Catholic history and its exotic traditions. Mexico’s cities can be a little daunting, so it’s best to hire a private driver for the duration of your stay. Some hotels offer this service as standard so that you’ll never waste time attempting to navigate the bus networks or haggling for a cab. The cities are where you’ll find the most luxury bars and restaurants, so foodies and lovers of nightlife should head to the barrios with such opulent delights.

Old-World Charm

Guadalajara-Mexico

Mexico is not short of its smaller cities and towns that operate at a slower pace of life underneath the marvelous architectural wonders of Spanish colonial times that breath an antiquated air into plazas lined with palm trees. If your Mexico vacation requires a place for leisurely and atmospheric strolls, check out vuelos a guadalajara for the epitome of luxury Spanish-era hotels with old-world service and tours that’ll hit out into the countryside for wonderful horse riding and tantalizing tequila tasting.

Aztec Ruins

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The most famous Aztec ruins are located at the wonderful Teotihuacán site, where the Temple of the Moon and the Temple of the Sun provide rare and near-complete glimpses of what life was like in ancient times in this mysterious part of the world. Sheer in size, you’ll be able to access the site with specialized tour services with wonderful guides who’ll fill you in on all you need to know about the significance of each temple, avenue, and etched remnant of a once-great civilization.

Mexico has it all, from beaches to ruins, colonial cathedrals to ultra-modern shopping malls. Find your slice of Mexican luxury by following these routes to an opulent vacation.

Carol

Info sourced by the author for luxuryactivist.com. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only. 

Breaking News: Brigitte Announced An Acoustic Tour For 2019

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Reading Time: 2 minutes

Brigitte is definitely our “coup de coeur” in 2018. The French singing female duo reinvented a laid-back type of music, like if California was invited to Paris with more sexiness! It is a women’s talk that will appeal to everyone. In Switzerland we discovered them earlier in the year at their concert in Les Docks in Lausanne. Now, after an amazing concert in the legendary Olympia in Paris, Brigitte announced a special acoustic tour for 2019: two voices and a piano.

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The announcement happened in social media and in the artists official website. They promise “something” around the three albums. They want to propose a special and intimate moment: a concert with two voices and a piano. We saw little by little how the piano entered Brigitte concerts and we could see they had a lot of pleasure to establish a special connection with the audience through this instrument. The new acoustic tour should start in Spring 2019 and we are eager to get more information about it. The latest album, “Nues”, is a franc success. Through the 2018 tour, Aurélie Saada and Sylvie Hoarau presented their new album containing eleven songs. More soft and nostalgic than the previous albums but still in the very distinctive Brigitte style. The texts of certain songs are quite sharp, sometimes men are not always in the good role. But sometimes they are! The latest album is like a vocal caress that will invite you to a special journey.

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With the announcement of this new tour and the acoustic aspect of it, fans start dreaming about a new live album? More to follow.

In the meantime, do not hesitate to read our full review of their latest album, Nues:
https://luxuryactivist.com/music/brigitte-new-album-nues-an-unique-sound-for-two-amazing-voices/ 

José Amorim

Info sourced by the author at Brigitte official website and social channels. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only. 

The Top 10 Fragrances You Could Wear This Summer: Fresh,Sexy And Classy!

Reading Time: 6 minutes

Summer is almost around the corner and while you are probably finishing your holidays bookings, here is a short list of amazing fragrances you should wear this summer. Summer is the perfect occasion to try something new, fresher for the day and sometimes a bit more intense for the evening. Let’s forget our daily lives and experience a different olfactory journey across my top 10 fragrances you could wear this summer.

Top 5 Summer Fragrances For Men

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Men are generally very loyal to their fragrances. Two main reasons explain this loyalty: If women tell men they smell good, they will keep that scent! And also they are not very efficient to go to a fragrance store and discover a new fragrance. So generally they stick to the one(s) they know. So gentlemen, here is our short list of fragrances you might want to (dare) try this summer.

#1 – Dior Sauvage Eau de Toilette

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Legends are for ever. When Christian Dior launched Eau Sauvage in 1966, he set up one of the archetypes for male perfumery. More than 50 years later, the franchise is still part of any gentleman wardrobe. With the launch of Dior Sauvage, the French luxury house presented a contemporary and sharper vision of masculinity. It reached a younger audience with a more dazzling freshness. This summer, Dior Sauvage Eau de Toilette will definitely be a must have, especially if you do not know it.

#2- Acqua Di Parma Chinotto de Liguria

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One of the summer icons is Acqua di Parma. It represents generally what we love about the Mediterranean sea and the Italian farniente. With Chinotto de Liguria, the fragrance brand pictures an elegant and splashing summer day with lemon and mandarine trees. While the sun wraps up everything with its bright light we get conquered by the green and sparkling scent of citrus trees. The Acqua di Parma Chinotto de Liguria will be your summer morning’s best friend.

#3 – Tom Ford Neroli Portofino Summer Cologne

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Tom Ford approach of fragrances can be sometimes quite intellectual but in this case you will be amazed by the quality of the ingredients that can be senses from the very first seconds you would spray the fragrance. It captures perfectly the cool breezes and the lush foliage of the Italian riviera. The perfumer, Rodrigo Flores-Roux, reinvents a classic Eau de Cologne but with crisp citrus oils, surprising floral notes wrapped up in Amber undertones. There is a true bright modernity in this fragrance.

#4- Le Labo Bergamote 22

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This dazzling bergamot combines freshness, sweetness and sensuality with acrobatic talent. All these qualities were encompassed in the perfume’s initial code name: “Fire Cologne.” It’s the delicate floral character of petit grain, the bitterness of grapefruit, as well as the flamboyant sweetness of amber and musk with a viril touch of vetiver, which gives Bergamot 22 its unique personality. You will rediscover freshness with great pleasure.

#5- Hermès Eau de Citron Noir Eau de Cologne

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The striking and explosive vitality of citrus fruits combined with the depth of subtle smoky and woody notes of black lime.

Following a path through the olfactory universe of hesperidia led me into a vast world, dotted with surprises, with citrus fruits. Finger lime, Buddha’s hand fruit, Eureka lemon…. So many unusual varieties of citrus appealed to me, but it was the smoky and distinguished black lime that finally stood out as the key note“. — Christine Nagel, Hermès in-House Perfumer.

Top 5 Summer Fragrances For Women

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Very often, we feel we have tried all possible fragrances and that there are no scents we can still discover. Obviously we could also say that most of new fragrances lack of distinctive aspects. Nevertheless, there are still brands creating true little wonders that I am sure you will be able to enjoy… if you take the time to discover them.

#1- Jo Malone Plum Blossom Cologne

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Cerise splashes of plum blossom herald the promise of warmer days and Jo Malone Plum Blossom Cologne brings them even closer. The fragrance calls to mind images of the plum blossom, nature’s fluttering rosettes, pinned to arching boughs, architectural against the sunlit sky. It is a contemporary vision of nature, sublimed to the top and beautiful to wear.

#2- Calvin Klein Eternity Air

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Calvin Klein amazes me by always finding a way to recreate a new, fresh, Eternity Calvin Klein signature. Eternity For Women Air Eau de Parfum captures all of the different shades of the atmosphere with the “sky of the sky accord” – airy, yet dense – like the soft breath of a pulse. Eternity For Women Air encapsulates the essence of sensuality. With grapefruit, black currant, sky of the sky accord, peony, muguet, pear, cedar, ambergris and skin musk.

#3- Gucci Bloom Acqua di Fiori Eau de Toilette

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A scent of pure escapism, the Bloom Acqua di Fiori Eau de Toilette takes flight with a floral fantasy of notes inspired by the original Gucci Bloom. Its fresh and shimmering character captures the vitality of youth. Crafted around an exclusive Acqua di Fiori accord comprised of musky green galbanum and delicate cassis buds, the whimsical personality of the fragrance is revealed by ardent notes of jasmine and tuberose, which dance with the spirited greenery of Rangoon creeper.

#4- Tom Ford Eau De Soleil Blanc

Tom-Ford-Soleil-Blanc

Ok, this is the second Tom Ford fragrance in the selection. Not that I am obsessed by this brand but we need to say, the contemporary approach of beautiful perfumery seduces me quite a lot. Eau de Soleil Blanc embodies a refreshing illumination on Private Blend Soleil Blanc, bright, crisp, and drenched with sparkling citrus. The vibrant twist on the floral amber warmth mirrors the crystalline reflection of the white sun, a sensuous gleam of sky on water. You definitely need to try it.

#5- Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess Eau de Parfum

Estee-Lauder-Bronze-Goddess

I must confess that I love everything related to the Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess line. The formulas, textures and scent. With the launch of the Eau de Parfum, the beauty brand captures the sensational feeling of being outdoor under the sun. It is an endless summer. The original Eau Fraîche is a sun-drenched blend of bergamot, warm amber, tiare flower and vanilla, wrapped in creamy coconut. The Eau de Parfum is even sexier.

After all this reading, now you should have maybe a little open door into a new summer adventure. Summer is already around the corner and you should please yourself with a new olfactory journey that should cheer you up from the past rainy days. Just breathe.

José Amorim

Info sourced by the author at Fragrantica, Vogue UK, Nowsmellthis, all brands respective websites, wikipedia and T mag. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only.

Inside Chanel Destinations. First stop: Deauville

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Reading Time: 4 minutes

Like the stars that would form a constellation, certain cities made a lasting impression on Gabrielle Chanel. Deauville, Biarritz and Venice are part of CHANEL’s own astral chart. These destinations were linked to encounters, journeys, love or friendship stories, with some of the most important people in Gabrielle Chanel’s life. Each of these cities inspired the designer in its own way, helping to shape the CHANEL allure: horseracing, architecture and artistic movements down a sunny street, the presentiment of lifestyles to come, on the bridge of a boat or a beach, an instinct for future desires gleaned from simply walking and watching other women on holidays.

Inside Chanel Destinations Chapter 22, first stop: Deauville.

Chanel-in-Deauville-Maire-Deauville-1913

This first journey takes us back to Deauville in 1912. At this time, the French city is the epicenter of ambition and elegance. It is also one of the most popular seaside resorts in Europe during the Belle Epoque. Deauville brings great people to enjoy the sea air and a new sporting culture. Beaches and regattas embrace this new sportswear trend. Deauville is definitely the place to be and to be seen. It is a very exciting moment as technological innovation is step by step replacing the “old manners”. Automobiles are replacing carriages and a wind of happiness is blowing on the white sails of Deauville.

Gabrielle-Chanel-and-Boy-Capel-Deauville

At this time, young Gabrielle Chanel walks around on the arm of Boy Capel. She is 29 years old and they have decided to bring their romance into light of day. She sees inspiration everywhere: in striped sailor shirts, the boating jackets worn by Capel, the impressionist skies of Normandy and the wind that whips clothes into life. Young Coco observes the styles from another century, with their cumbersome hairstyles and corsets that are a hindrance to women. She is confident that the High Society of Deauville will soon be wearing her hats, and her clothes.

Gabrielle-Chanel-Inspirations-Deauville

On the beach, in the shadow of the changing cabins, Coco ties up her hair: she is soon to cut it short. She loves the sun on her skin, the beige of wet sand. As she observes the women bathing, joyful despite their unwieldy attire, she is struck by the need to give them new bathing suits, and new clothes, that are lighter, more supple, and leave their bodies free to move.

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On Rue Gontaut-Biron, down the street from the casino, Gabrielle Chanel writes her name in black letters on the white storefront of her new boutique for the first time. Throngs of elegant ladies and, later, aristocrats rush to acquire her hats and accessories.

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Gabrielle-Chanel-hats

Rebellious and unconventional, Gabrielle allows her skin to tan, she wants to cut her hair, has fun on the café terraces, in restaurants. She applauds the performances of dancer Loie Fuller and the Ballets Russes, for whom she would later design costumes and support passionately. With the help of her sister Antoinette and aunt Adrienne, her boutique on the rue Gautont-Biron is buoyant: full of women yearning for knitted sweaters, and outfits that are simple yet nonchalantly chic. Gabrielle Chanel had just invented sports fashion. The designer had anticipated the coming of a new era where women would adopt a new stance. A new story is being written, to which she too must take up a pen and contribute, wielding her scissors to inject a breath of fresh air.

Deauville gives Coco her first limelight / her first glimpse of celebrity/fame. Everybody celebrates this young talented designer but nobody understands at that time that Gabrielle Chanel will push forward Fashion into a new century and into new codes.

José Amorim

Info sourced by the author for luxuryactivist.com. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only. 

Teeth Fashion Trends

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Reading Time: 3 minutes

The fashion world is a dynamic industry. What was hip today may not necessarily be the case tomorrow. Through the years, we’ve witnessed a gradual evolution in fashion trends from baggy jeans, all sorts of hair styles, and various modes of dressing. At present, the latest developments in fashion are shining down on the dental world. Some of the top trends are:

Gap Teeth

Lauren-Hutton-gap-teeth

Gap teeth are at times referred to as diastema. Around the world, various celebrities like Lauren Hutton, Madonna and Michael Strahan have been known to sport the gap teeth look with great success. For a number of decades, many people who had gap teeth made attempts to fix them, not flaunt them. Given their high standing in their respective fields, it’s little wonder that these celebs were able to go against the grain instead of conforming to the norm. Modeling agencies are now known to aggressively look for models who have gap teeth since it’s gives off the perception of attitude. One of the most sought after models, Georgia, who also happens to be Mick Jagger’s daughter, has embraced her gap teeth persona without thinking of it as a quirk.

Fashion Braces

Before the age of millennials, most people considered having braces as an oddity. So much so that numerous students often got bullied simply because they wore braces and stood out from the rest of society. With the changing times, there has been a new school of thought that has taken the world by storm. In situations where people encounter issues with their teeth, they now feel comfortable to seek medical attention. It’s now easy to Fix A Chipped Tooth and perform other procedures without much fuss. Even better is the fact that nowadays, braces can be applied at the dentist’s office or by making utility of DIY (Do It Yourself) kits right at home. For those with dental plan covers, the procedure is usually inexpensive. Fashion braces often come with add-ins like flowers, bright colors, and icons.

Fangs

While series like Twilight, the Walking Dead and Blade Trilogies seem to have popularized the hip-vampire culture in society, it’s actually fact that people have always been fascinated by the nightly beings. Historically, it has been documented that the practice of sharpening incisors was carried out for centuries by the Aboriginal people. Today, fangs are fast gaining momentum as fashion accessories, particularly among Rock enthusiasts who don gothic costumes.

Tooth Tattoos

Sounds peculiar right? Unbelievably, this fashion trend has been on the up over the last couple of years. The dental tattoo operation entails the combination of two worlds, the tattoo and dentistry fields. For the procedure to work, ink is applied to the crowns before they placed in teeth. Tooth tattoos are usually not permanent and eventually fade off with time.

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Parting Shot

As previously mentioned, fashion fads usually don’t last long. What’s hip today may not necessarily be the case tomorrow. To be on the safe side , the best bet is to first have a good dental plan as an insurance cover for healthy smiles.

Carol

Info sourced by the author for luxuryactivist.com. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only. 

Exotic Family Vacation this Year? Here are 6 Top Tips to Make Your Trip Hassle-Free

Reading Time: 6 minutes

Family-holidays

The very thought of taking your children on an exotic vacation may be leaving you feeling completely stressed out – not exactly what you may have intended when booking a family trip away. If you have never traveled too far with your little ones, the entire concept may seem somewhat overwhelming. Are you dreading the disruption to their daily routine, how you will manage to keep them entertained and most importantly, how will you attempt to keep them calm in an unfamiliar environment? Here are 6 top tips to bear in mind when traveling to abroad with your family:

1. Planning

Before any trip, it is always a great idea to plan exactly what you are going to do when you arrive, dependent on the amount of time you have and the interests of those going. If this is your very first time taking the children abroad, you may need to consider a little more flexibility in your schedule than you would as a couple or in a group. Try not to over plan – the less you try and pack into such a short space of time, the less stressed you should feel. Mix up your days to cater to everyone’s interests; for example, spend one day at the beach, a morning visit to a museum or a spot of afternoon shopping at the mall. Sometimes even just a day by the pool is required, so you have a chance to unwind and let the children have some much-needed downtime.

It may also be worth introducing your travel destination in advance, so they become familiar with where they are going and what to expect once they arrive. You may even decide to show them television shows or movies set in the location. Likewise, if your child is a picky eater, why not research some of the local cuisine and have a go at cooking some meals from scratch to try before they arrive?

2.  Make traveling fun

A long trip can be quite traumatic when you have small children to consider; therefore, it is a good idea to try and make their journey as relaxed and enjoyable as possible. Bring along some of their favorite toys on the trip, but perhaps don’t hand them all over at once, or they may lose patience in a very short space of time. For older children, it may be worth purchasing a backpack for storing their toys and gadgets for the trip. Choose a smaller piece of luggage which offers a spacious interior, secure internal pockets and padded straps for extra comfort. Check out Nickis Gucci backpacks for a range of quirky and luxurious designs. Giving your child their own luggage to carry should give them a greater sense of independence to take care of their possessions. You may also decide to fill their backpack with maps and a travel journal to fill out, in which they can add photos, stamps, postcards and other souvenirs throughout the trip.

You may not be too keen on enter much of entertaining your children with technology, but it may be a real life-saver when it comes to extensive journeys. Try and refrain from allowing them to play on devices around a week or so before the trip, so that the device holds their attention.

3. Choose child-friendly accommodation

When choosing accommodation, it is always best to opt for a hotel or villa that is both luxurious in offering all the necessities you crave, but also caters for children. There are many hotels available which are able to provide baby monitors, blackout blinds and highchairs for example. These extras may already be readily available, while others may need booking beforehand. Self-catering accommodation is much more flexible, in terms of cooking familiar meals that you know children will eat and having your own space without the fear of interrupting other guests.
Likewise, you should try and find somewhere that offers fun activities for the children; whether it be a crèche, kid’s club or child-friendly swimming pool, in which they can socialize with others their own age. Allowing them to play independently will also provide you with some time to yourself. After all, it is your vacation too!

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4.  Stock-up on essentials at all times

Whether you are planning a long day trip or a laidback day by the pool, ensure you have all of the essentials with you at all times. You may be facing a huge meltdown if your little one is hungry, so carrying a few snacks may be a sensible idea. Likewise, always be sure to carry a bottle of sunscreen and plenty of bottles of water. Infants and the elderly are at greater risk of heatstroke, which is caused by overheating and dehydration.

5.  Pack wisely

As you will be traveling as a family, there is a great amount of pressure as to what to pack and how much is necessary. One of the best pieces of advice is to try not to over-do it, as you can always purchase other essentials once you arrive. Start planning your packing list around a week or so before your travel date. Check whether your accommodation has washing facilities – if not, you may need to pack a little extra clothing for daytime and evening wear, as well as a few spares. Miniature sized toiletries are a great space-saving method, which should last you a few days before finding local stores.

Within your hand-luggage, be sure to pack two changes of clothes, diapers and wet wipes. Many airports also allow milk and baby food to be taken through security if it is under 100ml. Despite this, any containers will be opened for checks by security, but this should take a matter of seconds. If you have any doubts about luggage allowances, do check with the airport before departure.

6. Transport

Finally, you will also need to consider how you and your family plan on getting around once you arrive. If you hire a care, ensure you book a car seat beforehand should you need one for your infant. Hiring a car may be the best solution if you have very small children who may struggle with hopping on and off public transport.

Carol

Info sourced by the author for luxuryactivist.com. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only. 

The Royal Wedding: A Closer Look Into That Givenchy Dress!

Reading Time: 5 minutes

Meghan-Markle-Royal-Dress

It just take Google 0.74 seconds to find 90.2 million results about the Royal Wedding between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. It was probably the news of the month and there was so many things already said about it. At LuxuryActivist we decided to focus on just one single thing: the Givenchy dress!

French Style Meets British Talent: Givenchy by Clare Waight Keller

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As we noticed, this British Royal wedding was different from all the previous one. Experts tend to say it was the renewal of traditions. Among many things:

  • The first one in modern English
  • Gospel and an American preacher acting
  • A French Fashion House did the bride’s dress!

By choosing Givenchy, Meghan Markle opted for simplicity, modernity, elegance and style. Since the departure of Riccardo Tisci back in 2017, it is the British designer Claire Waight Keller who is the Creative mind behind Givenchy. She was born in Birmingham in 1970. Claire Waight Keller studied at Ravensbourne College of Art, where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Fashion, followed by a master’s degree at the Royal College of Art in London. She started her career at Calvin Klein in New York as a stylist for the women’s ready-to-wear line, then at Ralph Lauren, for the Purple man line. Then she had a brilliant parcours among the most prestigious fashion houses:

  • In 2000, she was hired by Tom Ford to join Gucci, responsible for women’s ready-to-wear and accessories, until her departure in 2004.
  • In 2005, she became artistic director of Pringle of Scotland.
  • In 2007, she received the Scottish Fashion Awards ‘Designer of the Year’ in the cashmere category.
  • In 2011, she became the artistic director of Chloé.
  • In 2017, Keller was appointed artistic director of haute couture and ready-to-wear for women and men at Givenchy.

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Let’s note that since Hubert de Givenchy left his position as the Creative Director of the French Fashion and Luxury house, only men took over his legacy. Claire Waight Keller is the first woman in history to take this position.

Thanks to her parcours, Claire Waight Keller learned how to dress a woman! She learned the importance of shape at Calvin Klein and Tom Ford. She learned the importance of quality of materials at Pringle of Scotland and developed feminine contemporary elegance at Chloe. With these professional assets, she was the perfect candidate to perpetuate the unique style of Hubert de Givenchy.

Hubert-de-Givenchy-Audrey-Hepburn

Meghan Markle’s Wedding Dress: The Modern Renewal

The new Duke and Duchess of Sussex has done an outstanding weeding. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle represent a new modern fairy tale. Everything was modern in this wedding and the choice of a Givenchy dress was a perfect match. By choosing this dress, Meghan Markle took the best of French allure with the British design. Claire Waight Keller, as a British designer, had the work of her life to be honored with such task. The dress is beautiful and translates this wind of youth within Buckingham Palace.

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Meghan-Markle-Royal-wedding

Meghan-Markle-wedding-dress-details

Let’s talk about the dress details as despite of a very minimalistic look, there is a lot to be said, from the materials, the design details, the embroidering and the shape. Overall, this royal wedding gown is done out of pure white silk with a graphic open neckline and a slight A-line skirt. It is based on a Givenchy couture design made of silk “duchess satin”. The dress is completely in line with the house heritage. Givenchy is known for the purity of the lines and to create a timeless elegance that would highlight any feminine look. Here below a quick comparison between Meghan Markle’s dress and Audrey Hepburn’s.

royal-wedding-2018-markle-hepburn-comparison

The main focus of the dress is definitely the open bateau neckline that allows with lots of grace to unveil the bride’s shoulders. It also brings a lot of emphasis to the slender sculpted waist. The dress is well structured and the front lines extend to the back where the train flows thanks to naturally placed folds. The folds are cushioned by an underskirt in triple silk organza. It is for sure a masterpiece created by Claire Waight Keller.

 

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For the veil itself, Givenchy declared that Claire Waight Keller wanted to design a romantic cathedral-length style veil. Royal weddings give big importance to veils as it contributes to the royal grace of the bride. Meghan Markle’s veil is five meters long and made from silk tulle. One important detail to note is that in order to keep the dress and the veil completely white, the workers were obliged to wash their hands every 30 minutes and the work was accomplished in a careful dust-free environment. More than white, that was a “PURE WHITE” dress. Last but not least, there is a very important detail to notice: the veil embroidery. In order to celebrate and honor the Commonwealth, Claire Waight Keller designed a beautiful and poetic floral composition that was embroided white on white into the veil. They represent distinctly a flower from each Commonwealth country, all united one to each other. According to Givenchy Meghan Markle wished to also have one special flower: a California Poppy.

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Each flower is hand-embroidered in silk threads and organza. The flowers were worked flat, in three dimensions in order to create a delicate look. By doing everything in white, the dress looks very modern, fresh and discreet. In order to complete the look, Meghan Markle wore Cartier jewelry (earrings and bracelet) as well as beautiful tiara from Queen Mary’s collection. The last detail is a beautiful welsh gold ring that, according to Buckingham Palace officials, was a personal gift from the Queen herself.

During this modern fairy tail, one important element was the Givenchy dress. It was the best kept secret of the month as even Prince Harry only discovered it at the church. A bride’s dress is everything!

José Amorim

Info sourced by the author for luxuryactivist.com. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only.

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The New 2018 Victorinox Classic Limited Edition: Let’s Travel The World!

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Reading Time: 3 minutes

For its seventh edition, Victorinox called out creative minds to design the new Classic limited editions. Once more, the Jovoto platform was requested to gather this new design contest. While in the 6th previous editions the theme was free, this year Victorinox has imposed one single theme: Iconic places of the world. All the creative minds worked quite hard. 878 submissions arrived from a total of 62 countries and only the best 10 were chosen to be part of this 2018 new series.

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Out of the 878 designs, Victorinox has chosen 30 designs that would then be submitted to an online voting. It happened across Social Media and Victorinox.com. Victorinox fans from all over the world could vote and elected the top 10 designs. The 2018 Classic limited edition is made from this top ten designs. It is amazing to see the power of crowdsourcing and how people get innovative. The Victorinox Classic contains the perfect 7 functions that fans will love to have:

  1. small blade
  2. scissors
  3. nail file
  4. screwdriver 2.5 mm
  5. key ring
  6. toothpick
  7. tweezers

These functions represent the essentials for travel or for your daily adventures. The small blade is very sharp and you can even use it as a cutter. The nail file, screwdriver, key ring, toothpick and tweezers are purely efficient. Last but not least, the small scissors are probably the best in the world.

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Jovoto enables large brands and NGOs to brainstorm at scale and solve design and innovation challenges with more than 80 000 creative professionals globally. The scale of projects range from working with a few hundred curated talents under NDA to foster innovation by large scale creative conversations involving broad public audiences while turning the creative challenge itself into a media event. To date jovoto has worked with more than 150 000 creative talents and successfully organized more than 500 challenges. jovoto was founded in Berlin at the University of Arts in 2007.

Every year, Victorinox digs the best designers around the world and by crowdsourcing this special work, it opens the field of multiple possibilities. It is really impressive to see how creative people can be. We always get positively surprised by the submitted and awarded designs.

You can read more about Victorinox and this 2018 Classic limited edition in connecting to the brand official website: https://www.victorinox.com 

Let’s celebrate the power of Design!

José Amorim

Info sourced by the author for luxuryactivist.com. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only. 

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How to Make the Most of your Beach Vacation

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There’s something about spending time on a beach that makes your vacation special. The warm sand between your toes and the sound of waves gently lapping the shore make it a great place to relax and unwind. A beach is also a great place for children to play and families to make happy memories. If you are thinking of a going to a beach for your vacation, here’s how to make the most of it.

Pack for the day

If you plan to spend the day on the beach, make sure you have everything you might need. Swimwear, towels, snacks and drinks, and beach toys if you have children. If you are all having fun, you don’t want to have to leave because you forgot something or were not prepared enough. Don’t forget the sun cream or sun hats. Sunshade is also a good idea to protect from the sun.

Footwear

The right footwear is important on the beach. Don’t wear your favorite shoes, as the salt water and sand will discolor them. Flip flops are great on the sand but will come off in the water. If the shore is rocky, you will need rubber-soled shoes to prevent you from slipping.

Location

If you want a beach vacation, then it makes sense to have your holiday accommodation close by. If you stay in a hotel, holiday rental or even a motorhome or RV, if it is just a short walk to the beach it makes it much more enjoyable. Galveston is one example of a place where you can enjoy luxury holiday homes that’s just a short walk to the beach.

Take Photos

What better way to remember a magical time than by looking back at photos? Take a camera or use your phone, and keep it in a waterproof cover to avoid splashes. Take the time to capture a few moments, so you have something to look back on long after the holiday has been and gone.

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Be Aware

While fun, the beach can also be a dangerous place. Keep a lookout for signs that tell you about rip currents, and if there are no signs don’t assume it is safe. Find out more about how to spot the signs of a rip current. If you have children, don’t let them paddle too far and choose beaches where there are lifeguards. It is also a good idea to dress children in something bright and eye-catching, so they are easy to spot amongst others on the beach.

If you notice sunburn on your skin, apply more sun cream and cover-up. Stay well hydrated. Feeling sore from sunburn, or getting ill through sunstroke can spoil your holiday.

Going to the beach is always exciting no matter how old you are. If you like walking along the coast or enjoying the sunshine and sand, there is always something to do. By following a few tips, you can make sure you enjoy your time, stay safe and have fun. Make the most of your beach vacation and come back with treasured memories to share with your friends and family.

Carol

Info sourced by the author for luxuryactivist.com. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for  illustration purposes only.