Shopping Spots In Florance

Recently learned of the Santa Maria Nouvella body care line and went mad that I missed it while in Florence.  The line is sold in the church museum shop of the basilica of the same name. Florence will be one of those places that I will just have to return to one day.

Here is another hot spot that I've only just learned about. Ever wonder how chic Italian women stay so chic in designer clothes? May be the secret is "The Mall". Situated just outside of Florance, in  the Tuscan countryside, The Mall houses designer outlet shops of Alexander McQueen, Armani Jeans, Balenciaga, Bottega Veneta, Burberry, Dior, Ermenegildo Zegna, Fendi, Giorgio Armani, Gucci, Hogan, I Pinco Pallino, Loro Piana, Marni, Pucci, Salvatore Ferragamo, Sergio Rossi, Stella McCartney, Tod's, Valentino and Yves Saint Laurent. So that's where it all goes after the sales.

Contact details

Via Europa 8, 50060

Leccio Reggello FI

Italy

Tel           +39 055 8657775

Internet site: www.themall.it

Lingerie Tip: Bra Extenders

If for any reason you need some extra width for your bra, there are these accessories called bra extenders that many lingerie shops carry. They are basically an extra set of hook and eye that can be hooked on to your bra, adding an extra inch or so. They are a bit pricey, but they are not too difficult to make for yourself.

Bra hooks can be bought at some fabric shops that carry notions. In a packet, they contain two parts. One, a hook, and the other, the eyes. To make a bra extender, Take the bra hook piece and bind off the raw edge of the eye piece (mine had elastic attached to it, I cut it off leaving about a half inch of it) with the hook part facing down and the eyes facing up. The hook piece should be sandwiching the eye piece, then sew it together by hand or machine. Voila! It's that simple. Alternatively, you could use an old bra that you want to discard and remove the hook piece with a seam ripper, cut off the eye piece while leaving a half inch of the bra fabric, and then sandwich the hook piece to the raw edge.

There is also a tutorial here, but their directions vary slightly from mine.