Bag, Borrow or Steal

The handbag has become an essential accessory for women since the 1920’s, there’s something extremely powerful about this exclusively female relationship with her luggage.

The luxury handbag possesses a hypnotic force that has the ability to turn the most average, sane and grounded woman into an embarrassingly obnoxious victim of capitalism, so far she will go as to rent a handbag as she would her home. It was in Sex and The City when I first became aware of the borrowing of luxury handbags; Jennifer Hudson, playing Louise from St Louis carried about her rented Vuitton denim patchwork bowling bag and seemed just as excited about this bag she was paying rent for as if she’d worked blood, sweat and tears for it and it were hers to keep.

Admittedly, luxury is not available to us all and we may possibly never afford an Hermes Croc Kelly, let’s be brutally honest here, most of us won’t ever afford an Hermes bag period, let alone any crocodile, python or ostrich skin bag - regardless of the designer. We can dream, we can aspire and we can admire, there’s honestly nothing wrong with that - but when we begin to fool ourselves and the world with ‘Bag Borrowing,’ do we need to aspire or dream anymore? Luxury is no longer a lifestyle, but a borrowed experience. Avelle, the online luxury rental site Louise rents her patchwork Vuitton from, prides itself on opening up the gate to luxury fashion, "It gives customers greater access to a vast inventory of luxury accessories and the opportunity to indulge in more, more often," says Lynn Ridenour, senior vice president of marketing.

Economist, Veblen theorised that the increase in accessibility and availability of a product eventually diminishes its desirability. Isn’t the whole point of the luxury handbag its rarity and expensiveness, the fantasy and the great sense of pleasure we feel when we finally get to have a slice of that luxuriously fantastical pie? We love the luxury handbag for its longevity, the stories it will tell when it’s thirty years old, the new life it will have when we hand it down to our daughters and the sheer ownership of a piece of art and fashion history. The luxury handbag doesn’t seem so whimsical or substantial when we have to hand it back at the end of the lease, hundreds of pounds poorer. In actual fact, all this bag rental phenomenon does is kill the luxury for everyone - the borrower, the luxury bag owner and the bag itself. Of course there’s one link in the chain that strengthens and that is of course, the bag lord or lady.

I adore luxury handbags and spend hours figuring out how I can alter my lifestyle temporarily, in order to save for a beautifully crafted, calf’s skin handbag with cold, gold hardware. I have to compromise the Gucci tribute bags or the Judith Leiber bejewelled clutches for bags that are timeless and suitable for most occasions, but I always feel good about making and owning my purchase. Louise from St Louis waltzed around New York City, unemployed, with a rental, gimmicky Vuitton bag in tow.

In my opinion, a penny spent on this kind of bag, rental or bought, is an ultimate waste - fashion theorists believe the exhibition of waste and uselessness is an occurrence familiar to the wealthy or those that wish to appear so. Maybe this is the beauty of Avelle, the opportunity to display wealth and luxury with the woman’s most significant and indicative item of dress, without ever having to be too pragmatic about the purchase. However I’d always rather commit to just the one bag, that will dent my bank balance and reduce my social life – a bag that I can be proud of because it’s a luxury, it’s expensive and it’s mine.

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The ‘V’ Word in Boot Camp

All hail this season’s supreme and essential boot for the winter rain or feline predator, coined the V boot by fashion bloggers, the V indeed refers to the woman’s genitalia. Could the vagina be any more à la mode?

Propped on the top of perforated, studded, patterned, matt faux or real leather, Stella McCartney, Roberto Cavalli and Gucci models strutted down the runway with their legs wrapped in black, oil slick leather climbing way up their legs. Over the knee boots are so last season, winter 2009 the new boot is Vagina high and proud. With our second Christmas in the recession, 7.8% of the work force unemployed and no prediction of employment increasing anytime soon, the nation’s strength and confidence is vulnerable. Designers kick the recession in the teeth with these strategically powerful boots, although the Gucci V boot is priced at £1560 these boots will definitely pay for themselves - over and over again.
Last year the high streets saw a surge of flat over the knee boots, it was protocol on Oxford Street to do your Christmas shopping donning these, at that moment markedly long boots. But as if that boot wasn’t ferocious enough, the V boot has upped the ante; the heel significantly higher, the leather tighter and the boot longer. Dress would have it that the more flesh the woman reveals the more sexual she appears, this would suggest the more she covers up the more modestly dressed she is. Strangely, this rule doesn’t seem to apply when women adorn their pins in boots - women’s boots hit the top of the sexual radar the closer they edge to the Vagina. Let’s be fair, this boot personifies sex, they’re definitely not for the faint hearted or coy. The V boot is for the woman who has no qualms displaying female sexual power.

Beyonce, Rihanna and Lady Gaga, perhaps the most influential of the dress and music world today have already been seen executing sexy moves in the V boot. The masses may not have submitted themselves to the sexual prowess of this boot just yet, but it’s not a long time coming. There’s always a distinctive ripple in the fashion ocean when a certain Spice Girl is papped wearing a catwalk key item and like clockwork Victoria Beckham, dressed for a night on the town replaced her uniform YSL court shoes for a pair of the towering boots.

Unafraid of the force of these boots, Topshop, Aldo and Asos have taken them from the catwalk and bought them to the high street. The uptake appears to be slow, maybe these epic boots don’t belong on the streets for the average woman, but in the wardrobe of Trinity from Matrix or in the bedroom of a dominatrix herself.
However, the only accessory needed this season is the confidence to be overtly sexy. Commanding? The V boot most certainly is, but designers have it that sexy no longer discredits sophistication. This winter is a special one where women can be sexy, classy and most importantly empowered – employed or not.

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Winter Sale Shopping - Essentials

Winter Wardrobe Addendum

So...we near Christmas time slowly but surely and the sales are even closer on our heels. If you haven’t completed your winter wardrobe just yet, then the sales are the best time to make your wardrobe addendums.

Don’t waste time buying anonymous garments unless you really need them. Polo necks, black t-shirts and vests can always be bought for less than £10 in shops like Zara, Hennes and Primark. There’s no point wasting sale shopping money on garments that remain relatively cheap throughout the season and aren’t making much of a statement.
Look out for garments that might be considered a ‘Trend Piece’ that could possibly disappear this time next year.

Gucci RTW- a/w 09/10

Sequined embellished garb, Blazers, Leggings and Evening tops - I always refrain from having too much going on on the upper part of my body – particularly in shiny, light reflecting materials, which can risk making you look like a sparkling elephant. I would look out for sequins in muted colours for this part of the body or choose sequined jackets and boleros as opposed to tops.

Marc Jacobs RTW a/w 09/10

Shoulder padded jumpers and dresses - I have an inkling that like the over the knee boot, skinny jeans and leggings - the shoulder pad trend might stick with us for a moment. I wouldn’t worry too much if you have fallen in love with the embellished shoulder and are buying only padded upper garments. On the other hand you could always head to John Lewis and get yourself a pair of shoulder pads that you can slot into all the tops you own. John Lewis has barely been able to hold onto their shoulder pads this year.

Marc Jacobs RTW a/w 09/10

Louis Vuitton RTW a/w 09/10Boots are always a good find this time of the year – of course if anyone manages to get hold of a decent pair of ‘V Boots’ in the sale then that is the ultimate find! The best pair i’ve spotted are in Topshop, they’ve already sold out once this season and are now on their second run, with only two sizes left! These boots are on and off the shelves so quickly i doubt that Topshop will need to put them in the sale. Aldo have a couple of ‘V Boots’ in the sale, be warned most of these aren’t real leather.
Marc Jacobs RTW a/w 09/10

Coats and Jackets are always on the top of my list in the sales, you can get loads more for your money and of course if you purchase right you can have yourself a ‘Forever Killer Coat’. I always recommend Zara for Catwalk style coats. This season Marc Jacobs is the man dominating the inspiration for my wardrobe with his winter 2009/10 collection. I’ll be looking out for capes (with full length sleeves only)*, coats and jackets with embellished or enhanced shoulders.

Marc Jacobs RTW a/w 09/10

For those that are avid wearers of black, bright bold coloured coats are a must have in this collection - don't be afraid to be bright and definitely be prepared to turn heads - especially in this dream of a coat.

Marc Jacobs RTW a/w 09/10

Another trendy must have is Velvet. We saw velvet trousers on the catwalk three years ago, however this trend disappeared fairly quickly. The cyclical nature of fashion would have it that trends are making their comebacks much quicker than they used to, trends can disappear and reappear in a matter of years now. Velvet has to be of good quality, especially to create the shiny looks that are all over this season’s catwalk. When buying velvet think SHINY SHINY!

Louis Vuitton RTW a/w 09/10

Accessories are so important this winter, so make sure you accessorise this season, Fashionistas! Many don't consider this element of dress to be essential, but when it's cold and bleak outside and fashionistas want to be warm and sparkly there is no better way to do this than adorn yourself in some shimmery winter armour.

Louis Vuitton RTW a/w 09/10

The catwalk would have it that jewellery has been played down this winter, the look is definitely more focussed on a sharper, classier look leaning towards power dressing rather than overtly glamorous and blingy. Keep your ensembles clean and tidy by wearing a few pieces of huge statement making pieces, rather than too much jewellery which can counteract the sharpness of your outfit and ultimately take the attention away from you.

Key jewellery pieces this season are jewelled bibs, which can be bought for less than £5 in Primark, hefty neckwear and of course ridiculously oversized rings. Topshop and Miss Selfridges are my favourite for some serious metal hardware.

Burberry Porsum RTW a/w 09/10

Winter Warmers are now officially as important as your coat. As i grow older the coat just doesn’t seem to insulate me as sufficiently as i need. It’s all about ear muffs, snoods, armlets, fingerless gloves and gloves that make their way all the way up to your elbows.
If you don’t have a snood already then snood yourself now – these are the best things on the planet right now! Hennes have a good selection of snoods that will no doubt be in the sale at some point this week as the sale products expand.

ASOS a/w 09/10

*Armlets are perfect if you’re the owner of cropped or three quarter length sleeve coats and capes. The armlet is great because you can pull them over your fingers when not needing your hands, but don’t have to freeze your forearms when needing to change the song on your mp3 player or searching in your handbag for keys – see how efficient and considerate fashion is becoming?

Gloves this season are big – really? What i mean is, magic gloves for a pound just aren’t cutting it anymore. Leather gloves are as sophisticated and timeless as a Burberry Mac.

Louis Vuitton a/w 09/10

Primark have a whole range of leather gloves, suede, coloured, short, long, embellished, you name it. I do like the idea of matching the colour of your coat to your gloves, it just adds that extra little detail and shows you have taken the time to pay that bit more attention. If you only wear black coats, then how about trying a pair of hot pink or scarlet red leather gloves. Marc Jacobs has once again incorporated gloves into his catwalk this season.

Marc Jacobs RTW a/w 09/10

Marc Jacobs RTW a/w 09/10

Balenciaga RTW a/w 09/10
Hoisery - I’m searching for a look alike pair of Marc Jacobs paisley print pink and green tights – hideous?? I love them. This season is all about adorning your legs, so tights have either got to be 100 denier or printed, sparkling, laced or coloured.

Marc Jacobs RTW a/w 09/10

Primark have an amazing selection of fashion tights, their quality is as good as a pair of Pretty Pollys. If you are really loving the whole tights phenomenon then Henry Holland has an amazing variety of quirky tights. Balenciaga featured a pair of sheer spotted tights in their show this season, these tights are perfect for adding that extra sexy edge to an ensemble without having to freeze your pins off completely as you would in a pair of lace tights. Checkout Accessorize and ASOS for Balenciaga look alikes.

Balenciaga RTW a/w 09/10

Christmas is probably not the best time to be giving shopaholics personal buying tips... but shop - you know you want to, just shop wisely!

Marc Jacobs RTW a/w 09/10

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Profile Piece: The 'BIG BEN' Theory

He’s as alluring as chocolate fudge cake on diet day, as endearing as a forehead kiss and as single as a plucked rose. Ben Vignola is working on the production for T4’s Stars of 2009 Concert. He gives me an insight into ‘Being Ben.’

‘So, what are we drinking?’ Ben Vignola (33) Writer, Amateur Kick Boxer and Production coordinator asks, taking what he has declared to be his new coat off and pushing his sweater sleeves over somewhat significant forearms. He returns with a bottle of red wine, two glasses and a plastic key, which he reveals is a tab. It’s Friday afternoon in Benugo, the BFI’s bar, Ben is sat in a large olive green arm chair, with puppy dog eyes looking over expectantly. This is not the first time we have made this acquaintance. We were introduced by a mutual friend and film director a few weeks ago in a 1950’s bar in Soho, where Ben revealed that he was writing a book and made it modestly clear that everything he writes is rubbish.

‘What did you think of that bar? It’s a cool place.’ He starts. The tiny little red bar, almost unnoticeable in the thick of Soho’s nightlife had steps leading down from the street which acted as a time travel device, once surfacing, the surroundings were complete fifties nostalgia. There was a live fifties band playing, the patrons were dressed in their fifties attire and danced as though they had just swung in from a swing dancing session. There was nothing conventional or pretentious about that little bar and the same can be said for Ben Vignola.

Alongside being a writer, he works freelance in production and has an annual stint with event and TV Production Company, Done and Dusted, who are the producers of ‘T4 on the Beach’. Extraordinarily enough he is also Great Britain’s 2008 heavyweight Shidokan champion in Japan and Sri Lanka. Ben most certainly does not look like a fighter, he’s tall and strapping, yes, but he has large blue green engaging eyes, he’s calmly spoken and has an incredibly inviting mannerism. He’s undoubtedly confident and over his years of travel and life experience is particularly self aware and assured, and comes across enlightened rather than arrogant.

Today Ben wears a pale yellow v-neck sweater with a grey t-shirt underneath, which pokes out at the neck. On his legs are dark indigo jeans and his feet in slightly ruddy Converse All Stars. When asked what his style says about him, he answers, ‘Unimaginative. I dress this way to conform.’ Regardless of his attitude towards his style, which a fashionista could possibly consider difficult, he most certainly is easy on the eye. And on meeting and judging him externally you would say he’s unassuming and unperturbed. Ben looks as though he could be a bit of a charmer, possibly a heartbreaker, following in the footsteps of a George Clooney type. Then again even George Clooney got married. Ben is shocked by such news, ‘George Clooney is gay!’ Of course any woman would contest. The banter continues and as though he is trying to kill any faith us girls may still have in the deliciously unobtainable man, he reveals, ‘David Beckham is gay too! They’re both just like Rock Hudson.’

Ben is naturally forced to undergo a great deal of conflict after making such catastrophic accusations, he surrenders by coolly changing the subject and discloses that prior to our meeting he was having lunch at EAT with a female friend. He is incredibly open and almost dangerously engaging, what was supposed to be an interview becomes the ideal conversation between a man and a woman on a first date, minus the flirting, of course. ‘When I was eighteen I fell in love with a very attractive girl, I loved her for ten years, but we never got together till I was twenty six, it lasted three months.’
It’s this kind of romance and honesty that is intriguing about Ben. He seems to represent this world of polar opposites, the brutality of honesty and loss next to this wilfulness for hope and love. A man that never sees himself married, doubts he’ll ever have children but reveals that intimacy is one of the world’s greatest gifts.
Unlike his nature, that resembles a calmed sea, his past has been somewhat more disruptive. He reveals, ‘I’ve had a f*cked up upbringing – I don’t want to go too deep into it.’ But sat comfortably back in his chair, with his arms folded behind his head he wanders off into histories of the divorce of his Polish mother and Italian father when he was thirteen, substance abuse, running away from home, being kicked out of schools and eventually leaving education at the age of fourteen. Since then he has lived in a vast number of locations, including Shoreditch, Ladbroke Grove, Brighton and Hampshire. And more further afield in the later part of his life in Australia and Japan. Like most of us he is proud of his travels, this is most certainly a predominant theme in his life, whether his travels take him from house to town, country to city. Barely on speaking terms with his parents, no particular desire for a wife or girlfriend and having been single for three years you can’t help wondering where Ben’s ties are and if he ever wants to plant any roots.

‘There are aspects of myself I need to develop. I lack commitment in my life,’ he reflects. To challenge his lack of commitment Ben took on his Japanese kickboxing endeavour, where he lived with a Grand Master in a Hombu Dojo (a martial arts place of training, directly translating ‘Place of the way’). A drastic challenge? Possibly, but his achievements prove that his commitments were not for nought.
He most certainly is a man that favours the experience of life at that moment over building for the foreseeable future. He is a lone ranger with a scope as broad and as round as the world, he’s bound by nothing and takes pride in building his experiences.

Whether the woman lunching with Ben Vignola is a lucky one remains ambiguous, ‘I wouldn’t call myself a bachelor yet, if I’m single in five years, then maybe.’ He orders another bottle of wine and divulges into another story about losing his virginity to a woman eleven years his senior. When asked about the male fascination of the older woman, he says, ‘Haven’t you seen The Graduate?’

Ben Vignola is currently producing T4’s Stars of 2009. Concert date: 29/11/2009 Watch at 13:00 on Channel 4.

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Katerina Drury - The Drury's In

The Drury’s IN!


As one of the fashion industry’s brightest young talents, Katerina Drury’s already wowing the industry bigwigs.
‘I was so shocked when I won it took a week to sink in. It’s very nice to be the winner and has made me lots more confident in all my work and studies.’

Katerina Drury is reflecting on having recently won the Fashion Awards Direct competition that took place during London’s Fashion Week this year. She was shortlisted from one hundred and thirty young designers alongside twenty two other entrants. Eventually twenty two became one and Katerina, despite being only eighteen years old claimed the top accolade on the runway in front of fashion VIPs from Harrods, ASOS and Grazia.
Her excitement is infectious and inspiring. She’s an A Level student from South East London’s New Cross, she’s modest and totally unpretentious, all of which make her so endearing and deserving of her achievement. Needless to say it was Katerina’s design for the competition that catapulted her into fashion acclaim, the design was to be created for a musician or singer and Katerina chose Lady Gaga.
She reveals, ‘I wanted to be able to be bold and imaginative.’ And although Katerina doesn’t particularly like Lady Gaga, she likes the fact that the pop star designs some of her own apparel, which she finds interesting. Katerina seems to have this amazing wisdom, a wisdom you wouldn’t necessarily expect from an eighteen year old. She’s objective and open minded and this is why people warm to her. She reveals that her personal style is nothing like her design style. The piece she created for LFW was a metallic leather handkerchief hemmed skirt with a shiny grey body suit. The design had the essence of Gareth Pugh and Thierry Mugler.

The former is one of Katerina’s favourite and his creations are worn regularly by Lady Gaga and Beyonce. Katerina’s personal style, on the other hand, is simple. She humbly says, ‘I don’t really have an interesting style, I just prefer to be comfortable, but am known for my handbags and earrings.’
Katerina’s ambition is to become a fashion photographer, prior to this she wanted to be a criminologist, but having to re-take her first year at college she decided to play her more creative hand and carried out A Levels in Art and Textiles. Evidently this has worked wonders for her. As part of being the winner of the competition she has been offered an internship at Volt Magazine with the Editor in Chief and fashion photographer Rui Faria which begins in January. In the meantime she seems to have the fashion industry waiting in the wings for her next move: ‘I’ve had lots of interviews since winning but I’ve been carrying on as usual, just getting on with my A Levels.’
Although Katerina comes across as calm, she is by no means complacent and doesn’t see her ‘big win’ as her free ticket into the industry. This is a girl who isn’t afraid of hard graft, welcomes challenges and enjoys risk taking with her designs, whilst being completely level headed. ‘I am hoping that I’m going to have a strong future in the industry but it’s a very hard industry to get into and I’m going to work hard to get this for myself,’ concludes the talented young designer, with typical modesty.

Fashion Award Direct is a charity which runs workshops and competitions to help young people create their futures in fashion. http//www.fad.org.uk/archives/3760junior_awards/index.php

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I Heart Winter 09 - Deadly Serious Fashion

Marc Jacobs RTW a/w09

We finally say goodbye to Sicilia and summer holidays. Summer was all about being FABULOUS, this winter it's all about being SHARP. The sharper the better equipped you are for this season's approach to fashion, which i can only translate as 'Dressing to Kill!' It's time to get seriously fashion once again and right now, fashion is deadly serious!

In my Reccessionista Chic entry I advised fashionistas to stick to black for winter and although I wear black regardless, I was so thrilled when doing my catwalk research to find my favourite designers of the a/w 09/10 had dressed their models head to toe in black.

Black often is considered safe and boring, but true fashionistas will know the impact of black; sharp, timeless and instantly sexy, even if it is just a black t-shirt and black jeans – I love it!
For this season the only accessory you’ll need for your black outfit is lots and lots of sex appeal! How exciting!

Fashion seems to be taking a nostalgic reminiscent turn for women, taking us right back to the eighties – hard shoulders and cinched in waists. If you are not focusing on extending your shoulders then make it all about the legs this winter -it HAS to be one or the other! Throw your jeans out and get in with the tighter than a skinny jean fitting leg wear whether it be leggings,

tights or trousers and if not then....

Gucci and Roberto Cavalli have made THE boot of the season; the thigh high boot currently coined the ‘V Boot!’ The V standing for Vagina - the higher up the leg these boots go, the more of a fashion superstar you are!

In my opinion these are by far the most exciting item on the catwalk this season (next to a Marc Jacobs crimson red cape) and I have already begun my research into purchasing a pair. Winter dressing always excites me, but this is a special winter where women can be classy, sexy and most importantly empowered.

Gucci RTW a/w09

It's time to get serious, fashion lovers and there is nothing safe about this black...

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The Last Supper - Ciao Sicilia x

There are four cars of us heading towards Etna for Pizza tonight, we all meet at a central point where we switch cars in order to mingle and mix, then continue the journey. Miraculously Kimmie always ends up in Lothario’s car, the car that none of the other guys want to travel in because he prohibits smoking. Strange that Kimmie - pro smoker should wish to travel this way!
The pizza place is the same place me and The Sicilian go with the family. Due to there being so many of us out for dinner we are given a private area which is located on a small terracotta terrace, enclosed with black cast iron and climbing vines. The pizza selection is limitless, there is possibly a hundred pizzas on the menu, the Nutella pizza being amongst the options. Eating was just a small part of this particular meal; we drank lots of wine, had lots of great conversation and told lots of jokes. We spend most of the meal in fits, exchanging embarrassing stories about one another and getting to know everyone. Due to there being so many of us our Pizzas take a while to come to the table, but nobody seems to notice.
This was my favourite meal of the holiday – everyone was in great spirits, the pizza was delicious, we laughed hard, swapped pizza slices, took loads of pictures and sat for hours with no rush or worry.
We left the trattoria at half past midnight, perked up with some coffees in the local bar, hung around the square and witnessed a power cut. Then began the second part of our night at the Tennis Club.

The Tennis Club

The Tennis Club was filled by the Sicilian glitterati, once again the party was held outdoors as so many Sicilian clubs and parties are in the summer – a huge blue ray of light came from the centre of the grounds – the vast majority of the grounds being taken up by an immense swimming pool almost the length of the main party area. Patrons danced from all four sides of the pool and some were even brave enough to dance the on the pool edges. This was Beverley Hills, Sex and the City, Hollywood eat your heart out! And once again we danced the morning in and didn’t leave till they shut the music off. Modus operandi, on the way home all four cars stopped for Tavola Calda, where we engaged in more conversation and made a few more jokes, before being too tired to make sense we are chauffeured back to the apartment.

Tindari - Madonna Negra

Our time in Sicily flew by and before we knew it reality had started to hone in on us – our last day had arrived. We went to Tindari, a small town whose patron saint is a black Madonna. We walked around the quiet, tiny town. The roads are sandy tracks without pavements and front doors are left open. We even became acquainted with the local dog that followed us throughout our walk in the town, we named him and Angel Rae and The Sicilian fed him some water!

The Last Night

The gang met up for the final night – unfortunately Monday nights in Catania are dead and we struggled to find anywhere to go. We had been directed to a bar called Tre, which also turned out to be closed. The owner, Dario Poeta was on his bike outside ready to leave for the night and saw us aimlessly hanging around. Being familiar with one of the gang he opened the bar for us and served us bottles of Prosecco, which we had to fight to pay for. After leaving Tre we hung out in the city square, prolonging our last night for as long as possible. Inevitably home time arrived, Lothario to our surprise accompanied Kimmie Parker home, a romance has sparked and they spend what’s left of the night dancing in each other’s arms, exchanging sweet nothings!(ugh). Genevieve, Angel Rae and myself childishly spend the rest of our night spying on the couple!!

The Last Supper
The day we’re set to leave the sun comes out full throttle. After packing our suitcases we go and sit on the beach with what is left of our Sack of Crisps – a bag of crisps we bought from the supermarket big enough to feed the five thousand. The Sicilian meets us on the beach and gives us the great news that his friends have given us a further discount for our week in their resort.
We have our last supper in Catania’s city square, and for the sake of tradition we all eat huge dishes of pasta. We do a quick whip around the high streets, where we pick up souvenirs and bits to take home then we are rushed off to get ready for our flight. Me and The Sicilian go back to his family’s house to bid our farewells and pick up his sister. Outside the airport we take the final photos of us all together, The Sicilian’s sister exchanges her hugs and kisses goodbye and tells us that we are the funniest group of girls she has ever met, of course we take this as a compliment. We say goodbye to Costanzo and Lothario and make our way to the check in desk.

The Catanese were great hosts to the girls, everyone was welcomed with open arms, the Sicilians most certainly take pride in hosting and showed my friends an amazing time. Our gang was made up of so many different characters but the chemistry and group dynamic was as though we had all known each other for years and holidayed regularly with one another. The most difficult of the holiday aside from choosing where to eat, was saying ‘Goodbye.’

I hope a Sicilian reunion is in the pipeline for next year...?

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