Author: wojtekvanportek

Which style icon are you?

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It was Jane Birkin who made the Aran jumper famous worldwide. It looks to me like aviator sunglasses also owe her a credit!

Icon is not fashionista.
Of course it is not. An icon has their own style and approach to fashion.
An icon dresses up with confidence and this is where it all starts.
The trend. We owe to the icons these so-called trends. Yes, we do. Thanks to these idols we see their style re-imagined on the catwalk, reproduced in the glossy magazines, then later filtered to the high street as affordable items of desire.
Because of their timeless style pedigree we post via Instagram the photos of young Catherine Deneuve, Charlotte Rampling, Jane Birkin, Anjelica Huston and many more. Why? Just look at the photos I’ve selected below and you’ll understand everything.
Does the concept of a chunky knit, oversized blazer, fisherman’s hat or a pair of flares sound a bit ‘deja vu’? What about ‘le smoking’?  Well, God bless those who invented them and those icons who mastered it to an effortless statement.
And for that I do love fashion, or rather style to be frank.

Kate Bush in high boots. How very recent!
Mlle Deneuve wearing a fishermen’s hat and slouchy shirt. A perfect combo.
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Farah Fawcett gave us a famous lesson on to how to make skateboarding look sexy and stylish.
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Anjelica Huston in flares and a shirt with rolled sleeves. An excellent example of what effortless style is.
Charlotte Rampling mastered to perfection the androgynous look of le smoking.
Anjelica Huston accessorised a suit perfectly by wearing it with a wide-brimmed hat.

Pa-Pa-Pa-paya!

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Juicy, tasteful and very easy to make.
Roasted papaya is a super healthy snack and a great alternative to winter heavy meals = festive season in particular. Honestly, I frequently fall back on this recipe when having “no idea what to eat” syndrome.
Other benefits? It is also loved by the little ones!

You need:

2 medium ripe papayas
2 limes
2 spoons of soft cane sugar

Cut the fruits into halves, remove the stones.
Sprinkle each half of the papaya with squeezed lime juice and then with cane sugar.
Shave the lime skin on the parmigiano cheese shaver (the best tool ever!)
Place under the grill for 10mins.
On still-hot fruit, squeeze the remaining limes and grate the lime skin.

You’ll love it.

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A gift of Grace.

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Good things comes to those who wait, one would say; but in this particular  case it was simply a delivery delay during the Festive Season that prevented me from finding this beautiful gift under the Christmas tree.
Regardless, this wonderful album is now in my hands and I will use my time with this book very wisely. And gracefully ! IMG_9466

Mr Potato&Co.

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First time I tried this cream soup was at one of my favourite restaurants in Warsaw, Poland.
Qchnia Artystyczna always has on the menu rather simple yet sophisticated meals to offer.
I don’t live in Warsaw anymore, hence my need to prepare this soup every so often. Every time I’m making it, I’m getting a bit nostalgic about great times I’ve spent with my friends in that place and cannot wait to pay visit again, when in Poland.
To meet friends and… get more inspiration!

Creamy Potato Soup is super easy to prepare.

You need:
2 white onions
8 medium potatoes
1 litre of vegetable boullion
2 table spoons of salted butter
2 bay leaves
200 ml of milk
pinch of coarse pepper
few slices of organic smoked salmon

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Glaze the chopped onions with melted butter in a deep pan. Add the bay leaf. That’s the best way to give the flavour.
When the onion is softened, add chopped potatoes, stir with onions and pour the boullion into the pan.
Simmer on low heat covered by the lid until potatoes are very soft.
Add milk, and stir for a couple of minutes.

Blend the mixture to a creamy consistency and add the pepper. Add more milk when necessary.
Pour the creamy soup into bowls, decorate generously with salmon and freshly grounded pepper.

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Bon appetit!

 

Barbara

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Talented, witty and utterly stylish.
Her straight forward, Italian nature and  attention to detail are a great compliment to the fashion industry in which she’s working. This is how we met actually. Styling an editorial at Spring Studios and she was the remarkable support and guidance for the brand I was working for.
The infectious “Boom!” she’s using so often had us all repeating it at every possible occasion. But still, only Barbara can make it sound so explosive. When I meet her in the morning – I just  know that my day will be stimulating and full of fun.
Boom! No more words needed!

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Karo

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She is one of those exceptional people, whom you cannot pass by without taking a long look.
And I’m not talking about her pretty doll face. It’s all about her allure.
I must admit that since we met that first day in a fashion magazine office 11 years ago, she hasn’t stopped intriguing me. At ALL.
What I also adore about Karo, is that despite living in different countries and our time together in that office brief, we feel compelled to Skype and share our crazy/silly/embarrassing moments of our lives with each other. With a glass of wine in our hands and over a decade of fond memories to share, geography is no boundary to true friendship

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