The trend we are featuring on our website this week is very close to my heart: Grunge. As someone who grew up mostly in the 90’s, I know the importance of that perfectly beat up pair of jeans, soft over-sized flannel and ripped, worn-through t-shirt that you just can’t seem to part with. I watched My So Called Lifereligiously, had a crush on Jordan Catalano and wanted to be Rayanne Graff. I listened to Nirvana and Pearl Jam on cassette tape and wore Doc Martens. Grunge will always be that one trend for me that I never tire of, and will always wear, because to me its more than a trend – it’s part of who I am.
Our makeup artist told me about this lovely book shop called Atlantis Books, located in Oia, Santorini. I love the story behind it and would love to spend a day browsing its many shelves! She brought me back the postcards above, and a sweet little short story called “Feuille d’Album” by Katherine Mansfield. Published by Paravion Press, which was founded out of Atlantis Books, it is one of several different stories they print in small booklets that you can mail to a friend or loved one.
“In the spring of 2002, Oliver and Craig spent a week on the island of Santorini. The land inspired them and there was no bookshop, so they drank some wine and decided to open one. Oliver named it Atlantis Books and the two laughed about how their children would run it someday.
We found an empty building facing the sunset, drank some whiskey and signed a lease. We found a dog and cat, opened a bank account, applied for a business license, found some friends, built the shelves, landed a boat on the terrace and filled the place with books. Jenny came in April and painted everything blue.
Atlantis Books opened in the spring of 2004 and lived below the castle for one year. In the winter of 2005 we moved into the center of town and settled nicely into the community. We’ve had food festivals and film festivals, writers reading on the terrace, and a host of cats and dogs.
The bookshop feels like home now and we’re still laughing about how our children will run it someday. As Will says, it’s as easy as that. As you. As that.”
“Paravion Press was born in a bookshop on the cliffs of an island in the south of Greece. The shop swarms with people who love stories and who are far away from loved ones. And it occurred to us that by sending a story in the mail there might, as John Donne put it, be a moment to ‘mingle souls: for thus, friends absent speak.’”
Last week we featured the beautiful island of Santorini, Greece, where our catalog team shot the December book. This book has me longing for a winter vacation, and Santorini seems like an ideal place for just that. Here’s a look at where our team stayed and one of their favorite restaurants!
Our team stayed at the gorgeous Villa Fabrica, a renovated factory space formerly used to produce and store wine, located just below the ruins of the historic Castle of Pyrgos. The villa is sleek and spacious with minimal design and lots of outdoor space, doubling as the location for our catalog shoot. And the views… out of this world!
While in Santorini, our team had dinner at a restaurant called Selene – located near the Villa, in the village of Pyrgos. The restuarant prides itself on serving authentic Greek cuisine made with local produce and wine made from grapes grown right there on the island. In addition to what sounds like an amazing menu, can you imagine dining on a balcony overlooking this?!:
At the Free People home offices we have so many amazing things available to us. One that I’m sure many employees will tell you that they’re grateful for, is the amazing food. You can either head over to our dining hall called 543 or stop at the café Jharoka – both of which offer menus that are stocked with gourmet ingredients and creative pairings. The offering includes some of the freshest ideas in the culinary world today: smoked tofu and pear chicken salad with blackberry jam and arugula on a brioche, or, for the non-vegetarians, how about a grilled flank with balsamic mushrooms, horseradish mayonnaise and spring mix on semolina hero?The people behind these masterpieces are talented chefs, baristas, sauciers – they each have a reputable background and an artistry to share.
Meet Corbin – our 543 drink specialist who’s prepping up his magical Hangover Smoothie. FP Jemma will tell you that he steams the best cappuccino, and he’ll humbly profess that it’s what he loves to do. We talked to him while he got to work at the blender, learning all about his love of drinks and how he uses vitamin B12 to cure our post party pains.
Where did you work before this? Before this I worked at various coffee shops, always making drinks.
And how long have you been with the company? About a year now
How did you develop this hangover recipe – was it out of necessity? Ha – not so much…I mainly just researched ingredients. It’s about trial and error – getting to know ingredients and what they’re good for. I then combine things with similar benefits to make a power house recipe with a specific benefit, like weight loss or energy.
How does this smoothie help to cure a hangover? Bananas, spinach, and B12 have a lot of potassium which will give you a big kick and make you feel good. The B12 also has great added energy benefits. The Kale is just good for everything – it’s so nutrient-rich.
Where do you get inspiration?Are there any sources you often use for research? I mainly just talk to people, I visit other juice bars, and the internet – I look a lot of things up on the internet…
What’s next? I’m going to be adding supplements to the cleanses more. So far I’ve just been making combinations with the juicer like carrot, ginger, and lemon – no water or anything added. I’m going to start putting in supplements like Spirulina and Echinacea. For the New Year there will be a whole cleansing regiment offered. Employees can pick up a package of 6 juices each day to either use as a liquid diet or to add on top of a healthy eating regimen.
Here’s how to make the hangover smoothie:
Ingredients (Serves 2)
One handful (approx 1 cup) of Washed Spinach
4 Leaves of Washed Dinosaur Kale
2 Bananas
1 Cup of Soy Milk
4-5 Drops of Liquid B12
¾ Cup of Chopped Ice
Directions
Put it all in the blender & drink!
He left us with a bottle of the first batch. It was full of banana-y flavor, and although not hungover, it definitely put some pep in our step.
First off – I just have to post the phenomenon that was the cold shoulder denim shirt today. Everywhere you turned it was like there were clones wandering the building. Each girl styled it differently, just going to show how much of a personal thing style can be – even when you’re all wearing the same item.
The top looks great paired with a statement necklace. The use of the Tribal Collar Necklace is great here.
Our assistant stylist changed it up by layering the Dotty Lace Tee underneath.
It’s not cold shoulder, but everywhere I turned there was chambray today, so I had to include this one. Below, more double – or should I say “triple” – vision. We’re all rocking the Boucle Textured Jacket (pssst… it’s on sale)
And now, a few more fashion moments that caught my eye this week..
Not sure how to wear the sheer NR Glamourai Pant? I think this might be the perfect example.
I’ve noticed this look (pumps and anklet) on Ashley Olsen, and when I saw our intimates buyer sporting it, I think I got a bit too excited.
You all saw our December Catalog last week. Its pages are full of western-inspired apparel, but what you may not have noticed is that we’re also showing some pretty awesome jewels to go along with it. These pieces combine Native American influences with leather-clad, tobacco spittin’ cowboys to form what we now think of as western jewelry. To get the right feel, it’s about rough organic elements with a sort of practicality to them. The pieces combine tarnished metals and statement leather with hints of turquoise and ivory. Did I mention that these would make great gift items for a special someone? Which is your favorite western-inspired piece?
As of late I’m pretty much all about shirts, I feel like I’m back in my school days again but I like it. I button them right up to the top, wear them under dresses or sweaters with the collar peeking out or just on their own with jeans. My new obsession is collar detail and finding ways to jazz up the collar and make it stand out a little. High neck necklaces are perfect for this; I like to wear them under the collar so it achieves a lovely centre piece. It’s sophisticated but with a bit of fun. To wear with these shirts to finish the look off I’m addicted to cobalt blue nail polish just like in our December book!
Yesterday was such a fun work day! We invited New York City based fashion bloggers Natalie of Natalie Off Duty, Christina of Trop Rouge and Claire of De Luneto come down to our home office for a day of styling with some of our newest product. These girls are beautiful and SO much fun! We had a blast hanging out with them and they went to town trying on clothes and taking photos around our home office. We ended the day by taking them to one of our favorite restaurants in Philly, Parc, a Parisian style Brasserie on Rittenhouse Square, for delicious food and drinks.
Here are some photos from the day, and stay tuned because next week we’ll show you some of the outfits they put together and which items they liked best!
I had the most amazing drink called a “Romarin” made with grapefruit vodka, rosemary, elderflower liquer and grapefruit juice – with a piece of grapefruit in the drink. SO GOOD.
Thank you Claire, Christina and Natalie for coming down, we had a blast! Next time maybe we’ll come to NYC ;) xoxo
