Hats Off to Israeli Fashion & Bloggers! Tel Aviv style tour: glitter fruit headbands, Art Deco jewelry.
Israel rocked my socks! I had an incredible time exploring Tel Aviv and Jerusalem with my filmmakers. The Tourism Board went beyond our expectations, and put together a dream press trip for the three of us.
If you think Tokyo fashion is the epitome of cool… then read on. You’ll be amazed at what Israel’s young designers and style influencers are up to.
We went on a fashion adventure with Galit Reismann of TLVstyle Boutique Tours. She gives guided style tours that are perfectly tailored to your interests; she’ll introduce you to insiders, and help you find the best shops. I wouldn’t have found any of these labels without her.
Let’s begin with what I wore. So nice to escape the winter weather…
Blue colored hair: by Stephanie Hoy, Avant Garde Hair Vancouver. I put it in two small buns.
Sheer panel little black dress: Gladnews, from Shibuya 109 in Tokyo. Very Metal, for sure.
Gothic cross tights: gifted by UK Tights – here are the exact cross suspender tights I’m wearing
Mary Jane Goth shoes: Demonia; purchase them for only $46
White crown handbag: Baby, the Stars Shine Bright
I met Tel Aviv-based designer Tami Bar-Lev, and we immediately hit it off. She custom-makes headpieces that would feel at home in Harajuku. Fruits, flowers and sequins are just some of the gems that she pulled out of her hat-box.
We filmed at Eden House, a charming and LGBT-friendly boutique hotel, run by two sweet locals. I wish I could have spent more time in the Victorian doll-like tea room.
Tami brought several big boxes. I was amazed by the array of hats and headbands inside.
Photography by Melissa Rundle. (So grateful that I’m able to travel with my friends, who happen to be pro filmmakers and photographers.)
And here’s a triad of Tami’s works — aren’t they adorable? Her hats are sturdily made, and stay on with adjustable combs or wires. Each sequin is sewn in by hand, to form the patterns.
At the top of the staircase is Israel style blogger Korin Avraham of Ya Salam fashion blog. Love her feathered skirt and infectious smile.
Pineapples, fish bones, flowers… oh my! The designs are fun and poppy, but not overpowering, so you don’t wind up looking like Carmen Miranda.
Korin and I modeled these flower hats on the balcony, which overlooks this fascinating city.
The sparkly fork headband is one of my favorites. Tami made me a silver one, which I’ll show you in upcoming outfit posts. (You can see more of her hats on her Facebook and Tumblr as well.)
Galit joins us on the bed for a hat slumber party. From banana splits (one of Tami’s first creations) to fairy bridal crowns, and turbans with fabric ties… there’s something for all tastes.
A salute to my talented new friends! We could have hung out all day, but the tour was only beginning, and I had three more places to visit.
Galit took me to the fashion-centric Noga district, and introduced me to jewelry-maker Shelly Dahari. I was drawn to her bold pieces, influenced by Art Deco and African art.
Shelly hand-crafts accessories from carefully sourced and limited-edition materials, such as vintage buttons and shekel coins.
She showed me around her store, and offered us coffee and cookies. Everyone I met in the Israeli fashion scene was so hospitable. There’s a close community here that encourages creativity.
Shelly generously gave me this necklace, featuring a row of transparent stars. It has a Sailor Moon vibe, no?
I also loved her rings with retro cars symbols and lion heads.
Close up of the vintage, romantic detailing. Shelly Dahari’s Facebook shows more of her imaginative collections.
Thanks to Galit for these behind-the-scenes photos of our filming (my friends are working on a video about Israel). And this is only half of her personalized style tour… Coming up, I’ll take you inside two more Israeli boutiques.
If you’re impatient, you can see sneak peeks on my “lacarmina” Instagram. Above is a close-up on my Nintendo nail art by Glam Nail Studio, over a cup of fresh mint tea.
Did you know Israel has such an exciting fashion and indie scene? What do you think of my “Very Metal” outfit and blue hair?
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DIY Bangkok Fashion at Chatuchak Weekend Market. Animal face rings, Thai organic t-shirts.
Great balls of lighting! My mind felt like it was exploding with color, when I went shopping in Bangkok’s Chatuchak Market.
Seby and I spent a morning at the largest market in Thailand (also known as Jatujak, or J.J.). What type of designs are sold here? Did we buy anything cute? Let’s shop and see…
Take note that Chatuchak (Kamphaeng Phet 2 Road) is only open on Saturdays and Sundays. We were grateful to have Sylvie from Destination Asia as our guide, since there were over 15,000 stalls to explore, and the narrow walkways were packed with shoppers!
I’m wearing a cut-out black top by TwoPercent Hong Kong, and studded ankle boots by Yosuke from Shibuya 109. The round orange sunglasses are vintage Gucci.
The little shops sell everything from Buddhist items to home goods and food. We asked Sylvie to take us to the area featuring hip local fashion, and spent about an hour browsing. Fortunately we were there early, as the market can get very hot and packed around noon onward.
Some Asian markets, like “Women Street” in Hong Kong, sell poorly made goods. This is not the case at Chatuchak. Most of the boutiques sold lovingly crafted designs with a touch of cute. This Queen’s Guard necklace is a great example.
I’m always on the lookout for Scottish Fold cat items. When I saw these rings by Good After Nine, I simply had to have one.
The store is run by two young Thai jewelers, who are passionate about making unconventional pieces. Basil Farrow says: the painted lines on the face, folded ears, and slightly angry expression are spot on!
Like in Siam Discovery Mall, a lot of the young, Bangkok designs have a twee and vintage feel.
Spotted another Scottish Fold item. I didn’t get this shirt, as the print is a bit much.
However, Seby and I went nuts at Le Petid Print shop. All their t-shirts are 100% cotton and chemical free, with soft screen prints. I got the Halloween bunny tee, and he got the Stormtroopers one, among others.
Tip: if you buy more than one item, you get a discount — which ends up being about $2-4 US per shirt! Insane, considering the superb quality and prints that we found.
Another tip: some stores sell the same or similar items, so it’s worth walking through the halls first to see what’s available. However, if you come across something remarkable — like the cat-face jewels — get it right away, as you may get lost on the way back.
Among my favorites were these sweet, character-print scarves and bags.
A smiling fox family. See what I mean about the natural, charming vibe of the stores?
Put a bird on it, as the hipsters in Portland do.
These glowing ball lights would be great for home decor, or a photoshoot.
Love the faux flower crowns and My Fair Lady hats.
On the darker side, you can find studded Goth-metal clothing. Many Bangkok designers start out at JJ Market, since it’s not too expensive to rent a space here. It’s a great way to present their works and gauge the reaction.
Many items are handmade one-offs, which lets the creator experiment and gives the consumer something special.
A final tip: stock up on souvenirs and small accessories here. Since prices are so low, you won’t regret spending baht and supporting these local businesses.
Look for illustrated iPhone cases…
Nightmare Before Xmas t-shirts, printed with Jack Skellington’s face…
And don’t you dare leave without a funny t-shirt or two… or eight. (I think that’s how many Seby and I got!)
I leave you with a peek inside a rockabilly store. Skulls and subcultures are everywhere around the world now.
Isn’t Chatuchak Weekend Market inspiring? Did you know there was an indie design scene like this in Bangkok?
Coming up next: a video of my poppy Bangkok travels. For all my Thailand coverage, including temples and restaurants, check out the SE Asia category.
LA CARMINA
