hannah smith
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LA VITAAUTUMN 2012
ISSUE 1£3.80
The Autumn Edit
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EDITOR’S LETTER
DEAR TRAVELLER,Welcome to the first ever edition of LA VITA, the elite magazine for luxury travel and fashion, bringing you the very latest in designer lifestyle this autumn. Join us on our journey this season, where we get lost in Barbados and discover the magic of the Caribbean. We also show you a sneak peek into the metallic accessories that designers are going crazy for this season. We hope you enjoy the issue and hope to see you back here in winter for your perfect winter wonderland getaway.
Happy Travelling,Hannah
Follow me on twitter @HannahLAVITA
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STYLISTLINDA
PHOTOGRAPHERHANNAH
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MODELNICOLA
MODELASHTON
ALL THINGSGLITTER...
From countryside retreats to city breaks, add a little sparkle to your day with mini metallics.
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Black Skirt, D&G, £395, gold glitter platforms, Jimmy Choo, £495
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White cotton top, Hugo Boss Orange, £160, Lace slip, D&G, £350, Silver belt, Miu Miu, £250, Grey Suede Platforms, Dior, £695
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Dress witrh metallic thread, Marni, £995, Chanel watch, models own, silver purse, Anya Hindmarch, £85
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Black leggings, Burberry, £295, white peplum top, Stella McCartney, £310, gold lace cocktail necklace, Monica Vinader, £1,400
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Dress with metallic thread, Marni, £995, Chanel watch, models own, beige suede shoes, Yves Saint Laurent, £695
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Pleated skirt, D&G, £350, gold glitter shoes, £190, Lucy Choi
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LA VITAtravel
ajan BeautyIt’s no secret that Barbados is renowned for rum punch, Sandy Lane and its completely stunning beaches, but what does the beautiful island have to offer beyond this? Hannah Smith, writer, editor and jet setter heads to the Caribbean to discover the magic behind one of the most famous is-lands in the world and get lost in its charm.
As an avid lover of the beach it may come as a surprise that I have never been much of a fan of the sea. Upon arriving in Barbados and seeing the brilliant bright blue, crystal clear waters of the Caribbean, it is very difficult to be anything other than completely captivated and mesmerized by the sheer beauty. I was completely taken aback by not only this but the slow paced lifestyle that they have here. Within minutes of getting to the hotel
I found myself on the beach, entirely relaxed with no care in the world, and, true to Barbadian tradition, with a rum punch in each hand. To quench my thirst for shopping and all things designer my first venture away from the resort just had to be Limegrove, the first lifestyle center in Barbados. The relaxed and tranquil atmosphere alongside some of the world’s biggest brand names provides a unique shopping experience
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exclusive to the island. Stylish, innovative design features including a modern water feature surrounded by intimate seating areas, restaurants and little deli’s selling a selection of the most appetizing foods complement the idyllic atmosphere. Alongside this, extraordinary self playing pianos make the most enchanting melody, and, situated just a stones throw away from all of this is Louis Vuitton.
Complete nirvana. By nightfall the complex is converted into a popular and vibrant venue for stylish partygoers, with luxury bars that tempt the rich, famous and élite. In fact, Limegrove is renowned across Barbados as the venue of choice having been selected by Rihanna to host her post world tour celebration bash. After finally managing to tear myself away from the luxury brands and
lavish champagne bars that Limegrove has to offer I returned to my room, slipped into my finest little cocktail dress and Jimmy Choo sandals, and headed down to a little restaurant near my hotel, Daphne’s. As with many of the best venues in Paynes Bay, the restaurant is situated directly on the beachfront providing the most memorable scenery whilst you dine. The menu and cocktail selection is as
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impressive as the views and, as it promises the food is mouth wateringly delectable. Classic Italian dishes combined with fresh seafood provide a selection of dishes to appeal to and satisfy even the fussiest diner. I have never had a strong stomach for travel,particularly on the oceanwaves. As a rule I havealways attempted to steer clear of boats, however this was to prove
“situated just a stones throw away from all of this is Louis Vuitton”
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LA VITAtravelchallenging in Barbados; the mecca for swimmers, sailors and snorkelers alike. To achieve the full Caribbean island experience I summoned all my courage and booked myself onto a snorkeling trip the next day. After a good night’s sleep I woke up full of excitement and trepidation, ready to face my fears and see what my day in Barbados had to offer. Having spent my morning by the adult’s
only spa pool sipping on a fruit smoothie to calm my nerves for the afternoon, I then hopped into a taxi to Bridgetown ready to brave the delights of a catamaran on the Caribbean ocean. I have spent most of my holiday’s to date glued to a book and a sunbed, only venturing away for the occasional toe dip, however swimming with turtles was by far one of the best experiences I could
“swimming with turtles was by far one of the best experiences I could
possibly have had”
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possibly have had on my visit to Barbados. The transparent warm water providing the home of so many beautiful fish in the most vivid, evocative colours and brilliant intense patterns gave me the most picturesque memory that will last a lifetime. After the snorkeling I relaxed on the front of the catamaran with the tropical sea breeze and a rum punch watching the sunset and all the orange,
red, yellow and pink colours cast themselves across the sea, reflecting off the shimmering water. If there is one thing that the Caribbean isn’t short of it’s all the picture-perfect scenery that words and photographs just don’t do justice. After seeing the magic of Barbados from the platinum coast, I decided to venture inland and travel across the island to the rugged East Coast to see the rest of Barbados
“I started off in a little eatery called Spago’s, a lively
Italian in the heart of the district”
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and what it has to offer. The first stop was the oldest church on the island, St James Parish church, a beautiful white building situated amongst a very green acre of land known as ‘God’s acre’. The church is also home to the oldest bell in Barbados and the whole place has a very tranquil feeling with all the intricate detailing and circular columns. It’s a very beautiful, peaceful little spot to visit on the island. The next
destination was St Nicholas Abbey with a short stop on the way to sample a local delicacy the Barbadian snow cone. Served from a roadside cart, crushed ice in a cup with fla-vored syrup poured over, which, in the heat and the humid climate is very refreshing, a favourite of the locals and definitely worth trying. On arrival at St Nicholas I was greeted
with a charming building set in the heart of the islands only working sugar plantation. The imposing white Jacobean mansion is the oldest in Barbados, with a 350-year history that is equally as compelling as the building itself. The picturesque surroundings of the home intensify the enchantment of the whole place and compliment its captivating character. The interior, decorated exactly as the last owners left it
with perfect little pictures made from the most exquisite, dainty shells in soft, pretty colours, and antique furniture epitomizing the whole era the house belongs to only adds to the character created by the exterior. Aside from the charm of the house and the history behind the building, there is something else that draws you to the property. Not only is St Nicholas Abbey a very beautiful place to visit
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but it is also home to one of the finest, most well known rums on the island. The rum tasting session that is offered here is not to be missed, and the bottles that you can buy make wonderful gifts to take home that simply represent and symbolize the whole Caribbean packaged in just one little bottle. Stopping for a picnic on the Atlantic side of the island before returning to the hotel was the ideal
way to end the tour. Sitting under the trees with a simple lunch overlooking the completely deserted Bathsheba beach made it even easier to appreciate the sheer beauty that the Caribbean has to offer. My day touring the island left me in an adventurous mood and that night I decided to explore what Holetown had to offer, grabbing a bite to eat down the road from the complex before
checking out the local nightlife. I started off in a little eatery called Spago’s, a lively Italian in the heart of the district. A bowl of pasta and a glass of prosecco later, I began to make my way round the cluster of bars that lined First and Second Avenue in a horseshoe formation, making up the hottest drinking spot on the island. There is a massive selection to entice the widest variety of both locals and tourists and
after making my way round the street the last stop, and my favourite, was a delightful place called Coco Bongo. The whole venue has a very trendy vibe with its brightly coloured walls, ample seating and a spectacular, striking, vivid red slate bar with lime green trimming. Coco Bongo is without a doubt the best place to visit on the street, and after a couple of drinks I stumbled outside to the
“Sitting under the trees with a simple lunch overlooking the
completely deserted Bathsheba beach”
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taxi rank and made my way back to the hotel. Waking up feeling a little worse for wear after my night on the town, I decided to take it easy and I had a chilled morning before taking a trip to the chattel village. This was a selection of the most adorable shops, named and designed after traditional Barbadian houses. The small wooden buildings painted in beautiful pastel colours formed a selection of gift
stores and boutiques; the perfect place for stocking up on last minute presents and souvenirs for family and friends. The ice cream milkshakes from the café offer the perfect break for shoppers, both adults and children alike, with the cool, smooth, creamy drinks providing a much-needed refreshing break in the scorching temperatures and the humid climate of the Caribbean.
With all this crammed into the first few days, I spent the rest of my time relaxing in the sun by the Caribbean Sea, a million miles away from home, the hustle and bustle of London and the bleak, cold English weather. Barbados is a truly wonderful little island and definitely has to go into your ‘top ten places to visit’ list. It is just the ultimate Caribbean paradise.
“It is just the ultimate Caribbean paradise”
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Florence New York
Rome Barcelona
CITY BREAKSA selection of the best cities to visit this
Autumn.
SWEET TREATS...LA VITA 30
Add a little bit of sweetness to outfits this autumn with playful pastels. Capsule collections to shake and stir.
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BELLINI
Peach geometric print jacket, Marc Jacobs, £450, White sundress, See By Chloe £180
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LEMON DROP MARTINI
Lemon bag, Luella, £495
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Black mesh side panel swimsuit, Melissa Oddabash, £210, peach bangles, See by Chloe, £60 for a set of 3
BLACKRUSSIAN
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MOJITO
White cotton shirt, Ralph Lauren, £260, pleated mint skirt, Versace, £1,545
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Pink skater dress, Victoria Beckham,£1,600
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STRAWBERRY DAIQUIRI
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BLUEBERRYJULEP
Lace dress with pleated skirt and peter pan collar, D&G, £695, headband, D&G, £180, metal and leather cuff, Furla, £85
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Your perfect winter wonderland...