Wearing TOD’s in new light: Diego Della Valle’s “POLITICI ORA BASTA”

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Cheryl Marie Cordeiro 02102011 490

When what you wear speaks the collective subconscious of the people: wearing TOD’s with a new sense of pride and purpose.
Photos © JE Nilsson and CM Cordeiro 2011

While I and many others in politics and business management alike have been preoccupied in getting adjusted to China’s recent rise to wealth and importance in the world, a full-page newspaper advertisement this Saturday (01012011) signed by the founder of Tod’s luxury leather goods, brought me back to the realization that it is not “poor China” that needs to be saved. They are doing just fine with a 10 percent annual growth in their economy. It is good old Europe that needs to be saved, if something.
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In from the rain

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Cheryl Marie Cordeiro in Donna Karen

Making it in through the front door just barely, from the sudden downpour.
Photos JE Nilsson and CM Cordeiro Nilsson © 2011

Tropical storms, the kind with flashes of lightning and deep rolls of thunder is common in the equatorial region from where I come from, but not all that common in Scandinavia, in particular along the Swedish west coast.

But today was one such day here in Sweden, with dramatic dark clouds, the low rumble of thunder that comforts and discomforts at the same time, and warm fat drops of rain that drench through clothes, thoroughly wetting the skin.

I managed barely to escape the rain stepping in through the door just when the first large drops of water fell.
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Long summer’s nights, warming both body and soul…

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Cheryl Marie Cordeiro-Nilsson, Indiska patch-work dress, Emilio Pucci bag.

In an Indiska by Jade Jagger patch-work dress and Emilio Pucci bag.
Photo: JE Nilsson and C M Cordeiro-Nilsson © 2011

Luckily in Sweden, together with the long winter’s nights comes the equally long summer’s nights.

The Midnight Sun and the Nordic Light are recognized concepts that both refer to the long evenings that seamlessly transforms into almost sunlit nights, that after allowing for quick skinny-dips in the sea eventually develops into equally magical mornings where the birds contest each other in all manners of the word, telling their females that specifically his nest will be the one best suited for a family. You ponder at the meaning of life and the beauty of it all and you think these evenings are so ideally suited to be spent in the garden, talking to friends and philosophizing on things that are, that you can almost, but just barely, forgive the climate gods that created the winters of this place.
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Dame Vivienne Westwood, Anglomania glitter…

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Cheryl Marie Cordeiro-Nilsson, Vivienne Westwood, Celine.

As if caught in mid-sentence, trailing off in an idea… Dame Vivienne Westwood’s seemingly haphazardness in her designs…a thing thrown in, a loose fold swinging… is what draws me to her creations. She is one of my favourite designers that exude an anything goes attitude that conceals the meticulousness behind each creation.
Photo: J E Nilsson and C M Cordeiro-Nilsson © 2011

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While the Easter Witches were out…

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Cheryl Marie Cordeiro-Nilsson, long weekend, Sweden.

A much appreciated long weekend in Sweden!
Photo: J E Nilsson and C M Cordeiro-Nilsson © 2011

With a caffè latte in hand, I couldn’t help but sit back, enjoy the weather today and observe with delight, plenty of Swedish children decked in their cutest Easter gear, as little Easter Witches. Several were daring enough to come trick or treating at the door with basket in hand, to which they were rewarded with some Italian made Easter chocolate eggs!
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A winter’s day at noon, in Sweden

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Cheryl Marie Cordeiro-Nilsson mink fur and pleated skirt, both made in Canada.

Sweden’s position near the arctic polar circle makes the days short during winter and the sun just barely makes it above the horizon. Soaking up some sun beams in our garden. A useful outfit in this weather, a Canadian mink jacket and pleated red wool skirt.
Photo © JE Nilsson and C M Cordeiro-Nilsson for CMC 2011

I first visited Sweden during some winter months about a decade ago – imagine how time passes – and my first observation was that walking on water was not by far as difficult as that of my Catholic upbringing had led me to believe. You just needed to wait until it was frozen. Today work and travel make it difficult to find much time to spend in the nature during daytime. A few moments of crystal clear sky and crisp winter air just a few degrees below zero centigrade, was some of the more enjoyable moments of this weekend.

Sweden’s position near the arctic polar circle makes the days short during winter and the sun just barely makes it above the horizon, before it apparently a bit sleepy, drops back down again and leaves us with a long arctic night. No wonder the Vikings felt a mid-winter sacrifice – and a party – were needed to cheer things up.

Even in Asia, at the end of January, the East celebrates the Chinese Lunar New Year. This year some shops in Singapore will even go the length of closing their doors a few days to welcome the festive echoes of Lion Dances rippling across the country in celebration of the Year of the Rabbit. Also a ‘sacrifice’ of some sort.
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Fabrics of Southeast-Asia

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Cheryl Marie Cordeiro-Nilsson, in batik and sari / saree shawl.

In various shades of pinks – traditional silk dyed batik and batik sarong with a sari shawl. Outfit is by Francis Louis Ler of Amor Meus, Purvis Street, Singapore.
Photo © JE Nilsson and C M Cordeiro-Nilsson for CMC 2010

Colours of the cultures of Asia never fail to bring a smile on my face and put me in a festive mood, from the colourful saris of India, to the brightly hand painted silks of the Chinese qipao and the intricately patterned, waxed drawn batiks of Indonesia and Malaysia. Even the colours and texture of raw silk from Thailand draw my attention when I see them.
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Travel staples: Ferragamo Vara and Hélène Rancé 1795

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Ferragamo Vara pumps, Hélène Rancé 1975 eau de parfum, Chanel 2.55

Ferragamo Vara pumps in nude beige and a small bottle of Rancé 1795 Hélène eau de parfum
Photo © J E Nilsson and C M Cordeiro-Nilsson for CMC 2010

When it comes to packing for my travels nowadays the ideal for me is to go very light. If I could get away with a pair of pants and a skirt for three weeks abroad on business with some alternative tops, I would certainly go for that.

But this isn’t all that easy if the countries that you’re going to range widely in terms of temperatures as in winter in Sweden, autumn in China, and humid tropical weather, in Singapore.
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Autumn blues in Filippa K and Isabel Benenato

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Cheryl Marie Cordeiro, Filippa K dress, Louis Vuitton Suhali L'Impétueux 2.

Autumn outfit: dress is by Swedish designer Filippa K and wool shawl by Naples born Italian designer Isabel Benenato.
Photo © J E Nilsson and C M Cordeiro-Nilsson for CMC 2010

These pictures were taken a few days ago, after which the Swedish west coast turned grey, stormy and with winds so strong the trees needed effort to stay rooted and keep their last red-gold leaves of the season, if not only for decorating themselves.

Cheryl Marie Cordeiro, Isabel Benenato wool wrap shawl, back.

The green fabric belt with gold buckles in the outfit is a find from a vintage store here in Sweden.

From the pictures, you’ll also see the characteristic colours of autumn displayed in yellows, browns, reds and gold. The low rays of the sun at this time of year helps cast an over glow of gold on everything it touches. There are however, other complementary colours of autumn that we see here in Scandinavia, particularly in Swedish design houses such as Filippa K that favour shades of beige, grey, blue and black for autumn as shown in their Autumn 2010 Lookbook, with some exceptions, the sheer gathered dress I’m wearing can be found in lilac.
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