A rare find in Taormina, Sicily: Daneau

After attending the Taormina Film Festival I began to venture out into the shops of Taormina, Sicily. Picturesque as a romantic movie and enchanting as Disney World is to a kid. There is always something amazing around every corner.

I would like to introduce to you a little store as enchanting as Taormina: Daneu.

Daneu has lovely table runners, hand towels, napkins, eclectic and gorgeous glasses, ceramics, and other little knick knacks for the home that you shouldn't miss.

Start your trip off with a visit to the store for a charming & proper welcome to Taormina.

Photo Credit: Haili Pue / Daneu, Taormina

Photo Credit: Haili Pue / Daneu, Taormina

The couch pillows are adorable here and come in a variety of colors & patterns.

Photo Credit: Haili Pue/ Daneu, Taormina

The dishes and ceramics are delectable!

Photo Credit: Haili Pue / Ms. Adriane Daneau

Just to stop into the store to visit with the owner, Ms. Adriane Daneau is an absolute delight. She is an amazing person to sit and visit with as browsing the lovely items and merchandise in the store. Daneau has been in the family since 1885 and still hosts visitors and clients from all around the world.

Former clients of the store have been that of Stanley Marcus, former President of Neiman Marcus, whom purchased  puppets from  Daneau which were then given to the University of Texas theatre department.

Daneau had already made an impression on Texas.  So I got a little piece of Texas on the trip in Taormina, and became friends with the store owner who always had a story to tell and no matter the weather, always a smile on her face. It was always such a pleasure to visit with Adriane.

If you find yourself in Taormina stop into Daneau for a lovely visit - because the people and the store are always delightful!

There have been so many visitors to the store she may have a story from your state! Enjoy your stay in Sicily!

You saw it here first on Flavor of the Week. Buon Viaggio! Enjoy.

Daneau

Corso Umberto 126

Taormina Sicily

Italy

Shopping in Italia: Fergi

Fergi is a trendsetting handbag here in Palermo, Sicilia, Italia. The bags are fun and colorful. Amazing for beachwear, casual attire, and should also make an appearance poolside.

A few that have caught my eye that are lovely little catches from the Fergi Summer 2011 Catalogue.

You saw Fergi here first on Flavor of the Week! Happy shopping!

Fergi
800.925.200
To view the entire/current collection...
http://www.fergi.it/

Apparel for your summer destination

Italia has definitely been a whirlwind of a trip and a big complication packing for two months to venture through the country to find one of a kind finds for my FOTW fashionistas!

Overpacking is a can be too much of a hassel. One being that that you won't wear half of the apparel you pack and you don't want to have to deal with the fuss of it all. In result bring a lot of solids and a plethora of accessories that you can dress up, switch out, and change the appearance and feel of your attire.

Bring something comfortable - yet elegant and remember your accessories, heels, & flats to switch out during the trip.

The best travel brands are BCBG Max Azria, Mark & Estel, & White House Black Market. All three have a simple and elegant feel and although some of the pieces are cotton they have structure, and a simpleness to them to where you'll be extremely comfortable all day. All you have to do is switch out shoes and accessories to spice up the pieces you've worn several times on your trip.

My absolute favorite for day wear would definitely have to be the Mark & Estel T-SHirt Dress. Absolutely lovely and a flattering piece on everyone. The Mark & Estel dresses come in different cuts and colors to where you can order or purchase the most flattering piece for your body type and skin tone. These dresses constantly sale out in Houston. A perfect traveling piece. As a stylist, this is something that you can dress up and down and wear throughout seasons without having to put it away for summer, spring, or fall. You definitely get a ton of use out of it and it is worth every penny.

Photo Credit: Haili Pue / Mark & Estel T-Shirt Dress

Taormina, Sicilia, Italia

Another amazing travel piece from Mark & Estel is the Skinny Triangle Swing Gown. Absolutely lovely! I love the structure of it and you can play around with the look dressing it up or down and a great find for any travel destination this summer. To name a few this piece can be used as a bathing suit cover up to grab a quick bite to eat after a long day at the beach or pool, can be dressed up with wedges and a slim red belt for summer apparel, can be worn into the fall with a long sleeve shirt underneath in red or black, can also be dressed up with a red or black blazer. There are so many different things you can do to this dress, it's structure is really amazing!

I am also loving BCBG Max Azria's bandage wrap skirts. Formal and bringing an elegance to casual. I take this skirt along on every trip. I dress it up for the office with tights in the fall and dress it up in spring with ankle booties, in the summer it's flats and a crisp shirt. This skirt has seen it all and has made an appearance to just about every event in a few different colors. It has been woman's best friend in Italia. During the day it's a one shoulder tucked in with flats and at night dressed up with killer heels and topped with a blazer for the chilly nights! A must in my book.

Photo Credit: Haili Pue / BCBG Max Azria bandage wrap skirt

Segesta, Sicilia, Italia

Have a lovely trip, don't forget the tips, & happy travels! You saw it here first on Flavor of the Week.  Enjoy!

Braccialini Handbags en Italia

If in Italia this summer you must get your hands on a unique find: Braccialini handbags!

Owned by Carla Braccialini and her sons Riccardo and Massimo in Scandicci not far from Firenze. The handbags are amazing and definitely unique.

Boutiques are in various cities around Italia and are worth the stop. Handbags come in various sizes, colors, scenes, and have a fun vibe. Taking on shapes of different animals, and scenes of different cities, depicting different lifestyles, and various activities. For examples some bags are in the depict the shape of elephants or a fish. Some bags including various road signs for different cities. This is by far  best souvenier to take with you. A treat to look at when you get home and something to remember your trip by.

Photo Credit: Haili Pue / Braccialini handbags

Saving the world one handbag at a time
Another reason to purchase Braccianlini handbags is the Save the Animals campaign for animals risking extinction and some of their bags are also made out of eco leather.

Photo Credit: Braccialini / Save the Animals Campaign

A few other bags by Braccialini...

Click on the photos above to go directly to Braccialini's website or follow the link below.

Braccialini

http://www.braccialini.it/

Summer Destinations: Shopping in Venezia

It has been a few weeks without posts, and there is a good reason. Without further ado, here is what FOTW has been up to!

Over the past few weeks I have been touring vineyards and olive farms in Tuscany, holding up the Leaning Tower of Pisa with one finger, shopping and dining on the back routes of Firenze, touring the country side of Chianti, and all the while with you in mind I have been seeking out the best places to shop in Italia, exclusive for FOTW readers!
This week there will be features from Venezia. I would like to show you a few places you can not miss during your summer travels while in Italia.

First stop, Pot-Pourri! Elegant and off the beaten path of the touristic roads of Venezia. Pot-Pourri has an at home feel providing lovely finds for the home as well as flattering ensembles to wear during your visit to the romantic city and these dresses are definitely romantic and ultra feminine!

I met the shop keeper who greeted me with a smile and made me feel welcome all at once. I literally stayed in the store for the longest time viewing over the well kept shop lingering over knick knacks and pearl necklaces that would make an appearance in an Audrey Hepburn motion picture.

My favorite being the bold red polka dot dress. I first turned the corner - lost on my first day trying to make my way to Piazza San Marco. Then I turned the corner and saw it. First my eyes drifted to a gondola below, a newlywed couple drifting by being seranaded by a gondelier then up to this bold, red, polka-dot dress as on a mannequin, as if a scene from Breakfast at Tiffany's while Hepburn sings Moon River. The site was lovely and inspiring.

I drifted into the store to take pictures to share with my FOTW readers. Pot-Pourri is a stop you shouldn't miss and I hope that the scene, when coming around the corner to this lovely shop, inspires you as well!

Enjoy your time to Venezia, and don't forget to stop by the unique and all together inspiring Venezia shop, Pot-Pourri.

Pot-Pourri

Palazzo Regina Vittoria
Ramo dei Fuseri
San Marco 1810 - 1811/m
30124 Venezia
Tel. +39.041.5221332
Tel. +39.041.2410990
http://www.potpourri.it/
info@potpourri.it