Resolution #2013

With 2013 being just a day away, it is time to give a thought to your New Year Resolution. I mean a REAL TESSful RESOLUTION and not a list of something what you will forget in a week. 

Some TESSful tips for your inspiration:

1. Put all you mind, soul, heart and passion in the commitments you want to deliver! 

2. Make it real yet keep the bar high! 

3. Stay true to yourself yet feel challenged!

4. (TESS's favorite) Remember what you have achieved in the current year and... get yourself a decent gift for it:-)

As for me, my 2012 achievements can be clearly expressed in one word - TESS. As simple as that. Even though TESS was born in November, I really feel that it was the biggest contribution to my year. So inspirational and mind-opening it is for me now. I am extremely grateful for all the encouragements and inspirations that forced me to start this blog and I promise to do my best of the best (almost, crème de la crème) to meet expectations of all the TESSies out there.

Here comes my TESSful resolution for the New Year 2013:

And, of course, MORE TESS :-)

So, what's YOUR NEW YEAR RESOLUTION?

Keep TESS: Taste.Elegance.Sophistication.Style!

Your Tess

      

Sip Happens

Couple of days ago I spent a wonderful girls-day-out in Napa Valley, visiting best vineyards of California. It is definitely an ultimate destination for winning, dining and relaxing! A pitch-perfect mix of wineries, restaurants, and scenic hills makes Napa the fabulous place for a short get-away. Especially, for all the wine-lovers out there.

As a real champagne-lover, I stayed focused on the sparkling wine tasting. Mumm Napa - one of California's top sparkling wine producers - met us with 9 exceptional types of sparkling wine. Well, after all those "smell's & sip's" I came to the conclusion that Mumm Napa Valley Cuvee M (see the glass on the right... still full:) was definitely my fav! Such a TESSful wine! Highly recommend! It exhibits a graceful stream of very fine bubbles with a light peach rose color. The aromas are elegant, rich and complex, showing fresh fruits with subtle hints of wild strawberry. 

And... as New Year's Eve is quickly approaching (together with New Year's countdown), I realized that it is time to chose some bubbles for a TESSful celebration. Below, I have put together TESS's Top 4 favorites champagnes. So, have a sip, make a wish, enjoy the bubbles!

TESS 1: Dom Perignon Champagne - possibly the most well known and popular champagne.

TESS 2: Moët & Chandon Champagne - was selected to supply the Royal Court in 1750 and has since been enjoyed by many historical figures such as Napoleon, The Duke Of Wellington and even today posses the Royal Warrant to supply Champagne to Queen Elizabeth II.

TESS 3: Piper Heisieck Champagne - most known from the Marilyn Monroe statement, “I get up each morning with a glass of Piper-Heidsieck”.

TESS 4: Bollinger Champagne - known by many as the “James Bond Champagne” as a bottle of Bollinger has been featured in 11 of the films.

So, which CHAMPAGNE will lead YOUR New Year's CELEBRATION?

Keep TESS: Taste.Elegance.Sophistication.Style!

Your Tess

      

Ready, Set, Go!!

Christmas sales off to a start today. Finally! Well, as I am writing this post in the U.S. time zone, I am sure that TESSies in Europe and Asia have already emptied some great stores over there. Well, whatever you target for during this Sales season, just make sure you shop SMART and spend WISELY:-) I know - I know, sometimes we just go wild and start buying everything we see... Kind of a crowd effect: everyone shops and I will do. However, consider shopping on sale not as a waste of money, but rather as an investment. Invest only in the things you like and you need. 

So, to shop as a profi, follow this simple rules (are there any rules in shopping at all?): 1) have idea of what you want, 2) know your sizes, 3) wear something light and easy to change quickly (so you spend less time in the fitting rooms). I personally go for a TESSful jeans+sweater pair. It is always comfy, cozy, keeps me warm while not restricting from trying new things on. 

In the spirit of winter holidays, have a look at these TESSful pieces below. You might even find some of them on sale!

CHINTI AND PARKER Reindeer intarsia cashmere sweater TESS here ($560)

MASON BY MICHELLE MASON Reindeer-intarsia wool and cashmere-blend sweater TESS here ($368)

STELLA MCCARTNEY Reindeer intarsia wool-blend sweater TESS here ($1,230)

BOUTIQUE BY JAEGER White Deer Fairisle Sweater TESS here ($121)

MAJE Gray Eiffel Tower Cotton Sweatshirt TESS here ($225)

JOSEPH White Snowflake Intarsia Wool Sweater TESS here ($595)

LOT78 Ho! Ho! Ho! knitted sweater TESS here ($325)

MOSCHINO Appliquéd wool turtleneck sweater TESS here ($695)

MOSCHINO Reindeer appliquéd knitted wool sweater TESS here ($695)

So, what's YOUR SHOPPING list for this SALE?

Keep TESS: Taste.Elegance.Sophistication.Style!

Your Tess

      

Get it. Gift it. Xmas it.

Have yourself a TESSful Merry Christmas!

Get yourself a lot of TESSful gifts!

So, from my house to your house wishing you a Merry TESSful Christmas 

overflowing with Love and Laughter 

and if you don't celebrate Christmas then Happy Festives! 

Have a warm and cozy holiday with your family and loved ones!

Now, what are YOUR three HOLIDAY WISHES...? (if dare to share:)

Keep TESS: Taste.Elegance.Sophistication.Style!

Your Tess

      

Kind of Christmas Tree

What could be better than sitting on the couch in front of the Christmas tree and watching the snowfall outside? Hopefully, you've already got one. I mean the tree, not the snowfall. The latter one is quite optional, depending on your personal preferences and climatic possibilities. The Christmas tree is a key. 

I need to admit I didn't get a Christmas tree this year. I will be travelling all over around visiting my family and friends so I decided to keep +1 tree alive. However, that's what exactly brought me to the question, if - in general - we should be going for the real trees or creatively designed artificial ones?  At the end, we enjoy their presence just a couple of weeks. 

Below are some TESSful Christmas trees what truly inspired me to create and... to support deforestation.

1. TESSfully Red Christmas Tree from Christian Louboutin (2012)
This year Christian Louboutin‘s windows feature a unique Christmas tree assembled from the multiple iconic Pigalle shoes. The design was developed by London studio XAG.

Image by Susie Rea

2. TESSfully Warm Christmas Tree from Max Mara (2012)

Max Mara has created and donated a Christmas tree made of thirteen little coats in neutral alabaster, sewn by hand and made of fine double knit cashmere.

Image is courtesy of Max Mara

3. TESSfully Sweet Christmas Tree from Ladurée (2012)

The Christmas tree of macarons from the french 'fabricant de doucers' Ladurée was obviously inspired by the luxury and desire to be the guilty pleasure. Deliciously done!

Image is courtesy of Ladurée

As a bonus, have a look at some TESSful Christmas Tree ideas from the previous years - still amazingly relevant and bright!

Chanel (Paris). 2010
Image is courtesy of Chanel

Maison Martin Margiela. 2009 
Image is courtesy of Maison Martin Margiela

Dior (Paris). 2011
Image is courtesy of Dior

Louis Vuitton. 2009
Photo by Dominique Maitre

Jean Paul Gaultier. 2009

Unknown, but amazingly TESSfull...

And you, do YOU prefer a REAL Christmas tree or fancy a CREATIVE one?

Keep TESS: Taste.Elegance.Sophistication.Style!

Your Tess

      

(Window) shopping in NYC

They say 'sharing is caring'. And as I truly care about all the TESSies out there, let me share with you my TESSful shopping experience in New York City. Well, for now I will be talking about window shopping only, as NYC was always known for the most creative ideas of the store window design. (Especially when it comes to Christmas time).

Every holiday season, New York’s biggest department stores compete for the most extravagant window displays. As a mix of art, fashion, design and marketing, they not only have to quickly grab people's attention but they must compel them to enter a store. This said, some of the windows look like real masterpieces.

So, take it as a little TESSful trend report on Christmas window decorations as seen on 5th Avenue in NYC.

Saks Fifth Avenue

Saks Fifth Avenue

 Saks Fifth Avenue

Saks Fifth Avenue

Henri Bendel

Henri Bendel

Tiffany & Co

Cartier

Fendi

And how the festive STORE WINDOWS look like in YOUR CITY?

Don't forget - sharing is caring:)

Keep TESS: Taste.Elegance.Sophistication.Style!

Your Tess

      

Your Passport, Please

Yesterday, it took me nearly 2h 30 min to get to the Immigration Desk at the John F. Kennedy Airport (NYC) in order to be greeted by a surly uninterested employee. Seriously, two and a half hours in the queue for visitors, that started almost from the plane's door itself. No more, no less... By the time I reached the notorious window I was able to describe the ambience of the waiting hall with my eyes closed, I studied every single person around, I finished my book, I learnt my passport pages by heart with all its stamps, signatures and visas... Well, I tried to entertain myself as much as I could.

Actually, talking about my passport... I realized in the queue (well, I had time to think about everything and anything), that I took a proper care of my travelling outfit (TESSfully described here), but I have completely fortgoten about one for my travel buddy. I really need a new passport cover. 

Having searched for the TESSful options, I found some, which might even help me next time to speed up the Immigration Check on arrival. Have a look:)

TESSful passport covers for those who hate time-consuming Custom and Boarder Checks: 

Classy vinyl typographic passport cover TESS here ($9.95)

Classy vinyl typographic passport cover TESS here ($9.95)

TESSful passport covers for those who always appreciate a good piece of literature:

Classic Penguin Book Passport Cover  TESS here ($24)

Classic Penguin Book Passport Cover  TESS here ($24)

TESSful passport covers (and surely TESS's favorites!) for those who want to be a talk of the Terminal:

JIMMY CHOO Multi Color Glitter Fabric Passport Cover  TESS here ($148)

JIMMY CHOO Champagne Glitter Fabric Passport Cover TESS here ($148)

TESSful passport cover for the real beauties (aka mirror addicts):   

Well... TESSfully sold out:-)
But keep checking here...

*** So, WHICH ONE is gonna be YOURS? ***

Keep TESS: Taste.Elegance.Sophistication.Style!

Your Tess