Spanish Riding Shoes, original shopping on the web!

Everybody is always raving about Italian shoes, English Shoes, French shoes, elegance and tradition etc.
It has been while since I discovered the Spanish short boots, but recently I discovered the most amazing shoes. Instead of the 'English Brooks for women or the 'Richelieu' in France, There are the Spanish Riding Shoes. Well made, so elegant in it's simplicity! As it are 'working' shoes, they are amazingly comfortable. And the price is so reasonable!
One can find this at  www.valverdebotas.com Go to riding shoes and you will find the Zapato Polainas Cordan.

The picture doesn't do it any justice.

Arles, original shopping!

Has been a while since visiting Arles. And it's always very nice to be back. It's a city which has remained itself over the centuries.
It's also so inspiring to find items which are not for sale in the rest of the world.
I came across also those amazing items which are all to be eaten!
Or the items to clean with.
The museum shop of 'Foundation Vincent van Gogh' is excellent as well, very good t-shirts!

Hutspot, very good concept store in Amsterdam!

Last week I was briefly in Amsterdam to discovere a new store called Hutspot, one of the oldest dishes in Holland, which would translate like a eclectic mix of  everything. And the store has exactly that, an eclectic mix of everything but done with taste and with a good eye. You feel like shopping there, many attractive items in all different fields. The concept comes from 3 young guys who started out like students but decided that life would be much more interesting doing something else. And it's clear they like a certain quality in life, which translate itself in nice coffee shop/restaurant in the store, where people meet.
They just opened their 2nd store in Amsterdam. I feel this' a concept which could be exported anywhere!
www.hutspotamsterdam.com

'Working Clothes' a real discovery!

One of the big discoveries in France are their 'working clothes'. They are so well cut and fit very well. The best example for summer are the breton fishermen's trousers. Very comfortable and well cut that they are flattering. I order them on line and are very cheap. They come in 2 colours, royal blue and brique (best colour). I have a few pairs and I wear them on a daily basiswww.vetement-travail-loisirs.com
In Arles the best is Les Indiennes de Nimes Mistral. Camarque jeans have a very good cut and are of very good quality, they also have good jackets for daily wear which age so well! Veste Coltin is a very good buy as well. http://www.indiennesdenimes.fr
And finally the discovery of L'atelier du gantier, where one can order gloves made to measure for a very reasonable price and very good quality. This is in Millau, worth making a stop! www.atelierdugantier.fr