During my seven years in Switzerland I came to love and admire the art of watchmaking, the technology behind expensive models, the manual work that the Swiss dedicate to the manufacture of each piece. I learned a lot about the industry and understood that the manufacturing process behind most pieces can be considered an artwork. In the country of watches I acquired the habit of wearing one. This post is about my passion for the most pop, most cheerful, young and creative brand of the Swiss watch market: Swatch.
Did I already tell you guys that I love Swatch watches? I had my first model in 2007, and since then I have always had a Swatch to call my own. Two months ago, since I returned to Brazil, my latest Swatch disappeared. I searched the whole house, even thought we had lost in the chaotic process of moving to another country. However yesterday, when opening a tiny velvet pouch in a drawer I found my watch. It was a moment like ‘my Swatch and me, the reunion,’ you know?
I like that Swatch watches are fun, there are models for different occasions and every year they come up with a new collection. Although Swatch watches are not expensive, in my opinion they are some sort of affordable luxury. During my master degree I used the brand as an example of a Swiss company engaged in social media! I like the way they communicate, using a young and fun language which can be translated into cheerful and colorful watches.
Some of the models I already had: this bracelet in silver with embroided flowers was the first one and although I don’t have it anymore it remains one of my favorite Swatches. A gift from my cheri, Erik.
I could not find a picture of the second model I wanted to show you guys, but this one above is very similar, with square box and colorful bracelet in a 70’s style.
I have not visited any Swatch store in Brazil yet to have an idea of prices, but in Switzerland prices start at 60 francs. I LOVE Swatch and could wear a different one each day of the week.
I became an user of the Nespresso machines and coffee capsules since I started living in Switzerland, 7 years ago, where is the brand’s headquarter. In Geneva, whenever I went to the store to replenish my stock of Nespresso capsules I was intrigued by the marketing efforts of the brand. The idea of belonging to a club made sense, since in the store the service is really first class and you are treated as an associate member of a special place, not just another customer. Yesterday, finally I had the opportunity to visit a Brazilian Nespresso shop and I can say that the store in Jardins (Oscar Freire street) offers VIP treatment and is no way behind its cousins in Europe.
We were very well received by the seller Eduardo, who showed us the space with lots of attention and sympathy, and took us to the top floor for a coffee tasting. Here, the icing on the cake is even sweeter! The corner coffee tasting is inviting and the client has total autonomy, you can serve yourself – if you wish so – or be served by the attendants. There are tables and chairs so you can enjoy a pleasant and unhurried moment. Thus, Nespresso can make the customer feel really special. You are there, enjoying your cup of coffee, smelling yummy coffee scents and wishing to stay there. If you do not have a Nespresso machine, believe me, you will be wishing to buy one. If you already have one you will not want to leave the store without a good stock of capsules. Either ways, you will want to be part of the club.
We bought a kit with 15 boxes of capsules, and Nespresso gifted us with this beautiful and elegant transparent cube! This cube is now beside our lovely and brand new Pixie in black and orange.
When it comes to making the customer loyal, I rate Nespress a 10. And another 10 for the good service, courtesy and beauty of the space. My cheri Erik, accustomed to the Swiss Nespresso, loved the store at Oscar Freire. Needless to say that the marketing behind the brand, based on exclusivity and impeccable customer service and loyalty managed to keep two customers who moved countries recently and were still uncertain as to whether or not to continue using the services.
Erik, an addicted to Nespresso in the store in JardinsWhat else? I must say that the only missing element in this agreable experience was the presence of Mr. George Clooney as the host greeting the customers.
I haven’t really joined the wave of mirrored sunglasses, the ones that reflect thousand colors and all that jazz, but I have to confess that I love colored frame sunglasses. It was only recently that acknowledge my taste for colored rims. Sometimes it is hard to get out of your comfort zone and let the classic black glasses aside. But when I saw these square Louis Vuitton sunglasses in a store in Milan I thought, “pink glasses? well, why not?” I decided I needed them in my life. I bought them without knowing when and how I would wear them.
The pair of pink LV shades looks red in the first picture, but they are the same sunnies from the photo below.
The truth is I do not need a “when” much less a “how” to wear them. I use them when I want, because after all, better than following the latest trends is to have your own style, don’t you think?
The Watch. Why do we wear it? There is a clock on my phone, in my car, on my computer, there is a timepiece everywhere. So what’s the point, then of wearing a watch? The answer from a male perspective is: It is the last thing that men have left. For millennia, we used to wear amulets, chains, rings, charms, bracelets, we had headdresses and earrings, and we had big belts with heavy buckles and shiny weapons attached to them.
Today, all that is gone. We literally wear nothing on our bodies that states anything – apart from clothes that say “I don’t want to be cold outside”.In comes The Watch. The watch gives us a chance to state who we are and where we want to go. I have two watches. One is a green Swatch Irony which feels vey light on the wrist and looks trendy and almost DJ-like. I can wear it with anything, and it states “I am a modernist, I don’t live in the past”.
I appreciate beauty, creativity and color. And green happens to be my favorite color, probably not a coincidence. My other watch is a Hans Stern Compass Sfera – HStern – which sends quite a different message. It states “I am a leader, not a follower. I don’t like to waste my time”. I wear it for business meetings and when my adorable wife and I go out to a special place at night.
“I love my two watches! I would feel kind of naked without a watch. And sometimes… sometimes I actually look at them to see what time it is.
My day started with UPS delivering a package from Texture Fashion. On this blog, I have already talked about the brand and how much I liked their online store. They have beautiful things, design their own collections and the prices are excellent. I became a fan ever since I published the first post about them.
The folks at Fashion Texture sent me one of the nicest gifts I have ever received as a blogger.
They are wonderful pieces of fine silk, made and embroidered in India. I took pictures of everything for you – and even my baby who is only six weeks (inside me) received a gift. Yes people, I’m pregnant! Look how cute this is!
This weekend I will make several looks with the pieces that I got, they will go on the blog and on its Facebook page in the coming days.
List of gifts:
2 Dresses, silk patterned
3 Printed Silk Scarves
1 Pair of pants, green (fashion color!)
1 Blouse with brown collar and gold appliques
1 Tunic, beautiful lively emerald green with gold embroidery
1 Tanktop, pink
The emerald green tunic and those silk dresses are wonderful. The dresses have sleeves, but they are so light, the fabric just caresses your skin. Below are the handkerchiefs.
Baby clothes:
1 jumpsuit
2 dresses
1 pants
1 tunic
I loved, loved, and loved it ! All so very beautiful – and moreover the pieces are quite different, the tissues are thin and they all fit great. The designers Jennifer, Rebecca and Christine are to be congratulated for these exclusive and unique pieces.
Thank You, Texture Fashion.
Soon, I will make many outfits of the day with what you sent me.
Bisous
Ana Paula Schäpers
Cresceu na periferia de São Paulo, mudou para a Suíça, depois França e atualmente mora com seu filho em Munique, na Alemanha. Sempre antenada e buscando o melhor de cada destino, adora partilhar suas experiências com pessoas, explorando o mundo feminino, da maternidade, beleza, moda e decoração. Acredita que luxo é viver com criatividade.
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SOBRE o PL
O Passaporte voltou, sempre interagindo com seus seguidores, com dicas e informações do mundo da moda, beleza, turismo e decoração, com um olhar de quem vive buscando o inusitado!
My current Swatch: silver bracelet and pale rose
