I was in Switzerland for Christmas. It was beautiful as always. Here are a few ski stations I went to:

Gstaad
Very nice chalets and the village in itself is picturesque.
It is an expensive place, let's say because it attracts a high amount of rich people.
As a bad snowboarder and a bad skier, I'd say the slopes are very nice and easy for beginners. There are difficult ones too!
I like there. It's worth going for a day or two.
Like: the picturesque feel of it, nice hotels with spas, Moncler shop, ApplePie Creperie (best crepes)
Dislike: the fashion show of long fur coats

Verbier
Super cool ski station. The slopes are harder as the mountains there are higher. There's also a glacier.
The after-ski is crowded and loud with lots of extreme dudes getting drunk. If you're looking for something quiter, you will find it, but expect to wait for a table.
This is one in the top 5 stations in Switzerland.
Like: atmosphere, very young, good restaurants and bars
Dislike: the hard slopes, queues at places

Avoriaz
French Alps, big station and lots of tourists.
It is a steep ride to arrive there but quiet beautiful to see.
The village isn't nice or charming. It's big buildings, no chalets. But the slopes are apparently amazing and for snowboard fans, there are a lot of snowparks.
Like: the fact you feel super high
Dislike: the architecture, the french atmosphere

Megeve
I would say this is the french version of Gstaad. Not as magical, but good enough!
Nice, cute, nice places to eat and drink, slopes for all levels.
Like: the fact that it is so close from Geneva (50minutes)
Dislike: the fashion show of mountain style

My Spring/Summer 2011 collection of scarves is launching in Liberty mid to late next week in Liberty in London.
The collection is a beautiful mix of colours, all inspired by my trips to the Indian Ocean. My prints are " where I've met infinite shades of blue and turquoise, swaying palm trees, dazzling creatures, it's where I came across to my sunny side of life. Think spanish guitars, Bob Marley's Rastafarian tunes and the joys and mantra of Jai Uttal's kirtan". Birds of Eden, reptiles, palm trees and aqua are elements from which the patterns take their shapes. Combined, multiplied and printed on the soft material like a tribute to the beauty of the Indian Ocean.
Christmas isn't far away...so if you are in London, do not miss the best shop/address in London: Liberty. You will find every designer's treasures. And my scarves. :)

TUSCANY - BORGO IESOLANA - YOGA RETREAT - YOGAHIKES

7am. Saturday morning. Hard awakening for me who likes to spend hours in bed.
A quick shower, a tea and bagel and off to Gatwick to catch the plane to Italy.  I'm excited to go to my yoga retreat and spend my entire days doing what I most love.  Yoga.
We arrive in Florence and have to drive an hour on the highway to the final destination. The landscape is already stunning. I'm now super excited.
Once closer to the yoga retreat place, I find myself surrounded by olive trees and Ciprese (long tall Tuscan trees). No more roads, no more people , no more noise.
And here you go. Borgo Iesolana. Beautiful tiny village (a borough) in the middle of nowhere.
We are appointed to our rooms that are very simple yet comfortable and very clean. I'm happy.
Lunch is served in the veranda outside the restaurant.  Nice buffet. "Where the pasta" I ask? Vegetables, salads, cheese. No bread. No pasta. No carbs to be seen.
The cook explains to me that they are not allowed to serve us any carbs, sugars, caffeine or black tea. No alcohol either (which personally I'm fine with...). Fine.
We rest by the pool after lunch and go get ready for yoga. Yoga is amazing. The place, the music, the candles, the orchids, the teacher, the setting, the mats. Everything is perfect.
Then comes time for dinner and bed for the long next day. And what kind of day...
We wake up at 7am. 7.20am quick herbal tea. 7.30am on the mats. 9.15am breakfast. Again, no carbs. But a delicious granola and fruits.
10am on a bus that will take us in the hills for our first hike.  There I die. I had no idea that hiking meant going uphill for hours. I almost cry. I'm hungry. I'm tired. And I'm the slowest. After 3 hours, I see the bus waiting for us in the horizon. I go in, can't speak. I'm exhausted. I can't move. I'm just dead.
Lunch is ready. I spend the afternoon by the pool. Destroyed. In a couple of hours there's yoga. But I like yoga.  I don't like the hikes.
At 6pm there's yoga. A 2 hour session. You eat at 20.30 and are in bed by 9.15pm.
And there you go again. The next day you wake up at 7am, yoga at 7.30am and so on. But you do everything in silence. You wake up in silence, drink you herbal tea in silence. Go to the yoga room in silence, have breakfast in silence. Hike in silence. Walk distance apart from each other. Silence silence silence. Until you get back on the bus that will take you to lunch.  It's a tough week. For some people, yoga is too difficult. For others, hiking is the problem. At least for me, hiking is my nightmare. I just can't hike. I'm always last, I have sticks, hiking shoes, my music but nothing motivates me to hike as good as other do. The landscapes are beautiful. Just beautiful.
If you are looking to shed some kilos, do not hesitate to sign up for the next yoga retreat! Careful...It is not a holiday. It's sort of a boot camp. Yoga is really nice and the hikes...well...you either like it or not.   You do get 2 free massages though. And the girls are really good. They sooth all your pains and aches from the hiking or the yoga. It's perfect. Pure delight.
After a few days, you get in a healthy routine and you feel like you've been on detox. Your body feels good. Tired but good. You're in Italy...No pasta, no vino, no espresso but it doesn't matter anymore. Food is still delicious. Mainly vegetarian and really tasty.
And Tuscany? Well, I fell in love with it. It's so beautiful, there are no words to describe it. Just remember "Gladiator" the movie...his house....Well Tuscany is like that. Stunning. Bella.
www.yogahikes.com
www.iesolana.it 

LOST IN THE SHADOWS
As a never-ending-inspiration-and-ideas-seeker I've been surfing blogs these past few months, trying to find inspiration in fashion, photography, illustration and whatsoever. I should be coming up with a fashion blog here, since I work in fashion and fashion blogs are oh-so fashionable. But I would like to introduce something a bit different. There is a site I would like to share with people. It's a BMX site. (for those who don't know, Bicycle Motor Cross)
I don't know much about it, I'm not going to get into technical stuff, I'm not a BMX girl but my man is (so I'm being dragged into it) and I generally like the atmosphere around extreme sports.
So here is the link. www.lostintheshadows.net
The photography emphasizes the life in the woods, building trails, ups and downs and it couldn't be nicer represented. Personally love it. Enjoy! 

Melt VS l'Artisan du Chocolat

I grew up in Switzerland. And chocolate is an obsession. Knowing what a good chocolate should taste like, I can definitely say Godiva is not in my top 10. Neither is any other Belgian chocolate. Way too sweet. It's for amateurs.
All my life, it was all about Swiss chocolate, from various swiss chocolate makers.
But I lately discovered 2 new chocolate labels. And, oh my oh my, they are ENGLISH! I cannot believe this because they taste so good.

Melt is really nice and has some funky flavours, like Banana Passion Fruit or Strawberry and Lychee. The shop in Notting Hill is cool: you get a small tray and go pick up the chocolates you want. (http://www.meltchocolates.com)

L'Artisan du Chocolat. Now this is amazing if you love dark chocolate and want to try fine, tasteful and original flavours. Rose, Violet, Orange Flower, Earl Grey, Jasmine and the list goes on. (http://www.artisanduchocolat.com)

Between the two, I'd say L'artistan du Chocolat comes closer to a GOOD swiss "chocolatier". But at the end of the day, everyone has different taste. Go to Selfridges, you'll find both Melt and L'Artisan du Chocolat there. You try and let me know what you think...

On the 19th June, I took the Eurostar, got stuck in the tunnel for 1h30, got a free ride for next time and finally arrived in Paris with 3 hours delay.
The reason for this trip was to go and see my beloved friend's exhibition. It was worth the wait in the tunnel. Amazing photographs. She is one of the most talented young photographers of Paris having contributed to many magazines and exhibitions, she is my next campaign photographer, and she is also a creative art-video director. She is amazing. Check her pictures and films on her website: www.rominashama.com
The exhibition is still on until the 9th July, Visionairs Gallery, 14 rue des Carmes, 75005 Paris. If you're in town, go see it.