Barcelona Fashion

Match clothes by Barcelona's fashion designers with the Catalan capital's sleek hotels and Olympic landmarks

Featured July 09 Words by Jeroen Bergmans
Photos: Simon Clemenger
Barcelona Fashion

LOCATION
La Sagrada Fam�lia

SHE WEARS
Flounce sleeveless little black dress (�216) from Guillen Doz for Projecte Bressol; "Feel the Earth" necklace with silver sphere, "Amor Vincit Omnia" silver bracelet and "Pencez de Moy" irregular silver ring (�166) all from Efva Attling; silver chain bear watch (�99) from Tous

LOCATION (above) Torre Calatrava

HE WEARS: Grey checked jacket (�69) from HE by Mango; pink V-neck sweater (�110) from Tommy Hilfiger; vintage washed grey jeans (�70 from Dr. Demin; belt (�105) from Levi's and silver ring (�68) from Sector.

SHE WEARS: Butterflies printer halterneck dress (�70) from Mango; necklace with blue pieces (�120) from D-Lirio; silver Davi bracelet (�151.25) and ring (�25.50) from Joid'art.

LOCATION (above) Frank Gehry Fish Sculpture

Shirt (�140) from Armand Basi

LOCATION (above) Barceloneta Beach

Flower-printed strapless bikini (�80,80) from Basmar; necklace-bowtie (�310) from Armani Couture; wide ivory bracelet (�180) and thin ivory bracelet (�150), all from Paris Vintage

LOCATION (above)
Hotel Omm

SHE WEARS
Yellow strap dress with a wide bow and flounces (�158) from Sita Murt; silver tear-shaped earrings (�63,25) from Joid'art; white ring with inlay of red and white crystals (�155) from Swarovski; silver "Funky Chain" wide-links bracelet (937�) from Efva Attling; black lace with a pendant silver heart (�84) from Morellato; beige cork and wooden platform sandals (39�) from Maria Mare

HE WEARS
Green-white checked shirt (�45) from Eastpak; beige bermuda short (�90) from G-Star; green nautical shoes (�70) from HE by Mango

PHOTOGRAPHY
Simon Clemenger
STYLING
Anna Arroyo
www.iconimage.es
HAIR & MAKE UP
Nicola Mount
ART DIRECTION
Neil Smith
PRODUCTION
Jeroen Bergmans
MODELS
Elodie & Otto, www.francinamodels.com

BRANDS CONTACTS
www.mango.com
www.tommyhilfiger.co.uk
www.drdenimjeans.com
www.eu.levi.com
www.morelato.com
www.d-lirio.com
www.joidart.com
www.armandbasi.com
www.basmar.com
www.parisvintage.net
www.sitamurt.com
www.swarovski.com
www.efvaattling.com
www.juweliersdenr.be/morelatto
www.mariamare.es
www.eastpak.com
www.g-star.com
www.phard.it
www.guillendoz.com
www.tous.com

SPECIAL THANKS TO
Europcar, www.europcar4easyJet.com
Stansted Express, www.stanstedexpress.com
Gatwick Express, www.gatwickexpress.com

A QUICK GUIDE TO THE CHIC SIDE OF BARCELONA

At the turn of the 20th century, Antoni Gaud�'s now-iconic, modernista masterpieces gave Barcelona a vernacular architecture which set it apart from other Spanish cities. Millions now flock to the capital of Catalonia every year to marvel at La Sagrada Familia, La Pedrera, Casa Battl� and Park G�ell, but it was the 1992 Summer Olympics that really put the city on the tourist trail. In celebration of the games an artificial beach, Barceloneta, was contructed in the derelict docks and Frank Gehry created a glittering, golden sculpture of a flying fish to hover over it. A new Olympic stadium was erected in the Parque de Montju�c with an elegant telecoms tower designed by Santiago Calatrava. And when Monserrat Caball� opened the ceremony with a hymn to Barcelona, accompanied by a recording of the late Freddie Mercury, it heralded an urban renaissance envied and emulated by cities across Europe.

CATALAN DESIGNERS

Although Barcelona's young cool cats the modernillos can sport some rather alarming looks (think mullets, questionable facial hair, Borat-style outfits and, this season, pyjamas as daywear!), there is a more sophisticated side to the city's fashion scene. Armand Basi (49 Passeig de Gracia and 557 L'illa, Av. Diagonal, www.armandbasi.com) began producing elegant knitwear here back in the 1940s before establishing itself as a bona fide fashion brand in 1986 and going global. Accessories label Tous (www.tous.com) started out crafting exquisite jewellery in the 1920s and has added watches, handbags, sunglasses and fragrances to its collection which is sold in 14 stores across the city. Sita Murt (www.sitamurt.com) creates stylish couture with flowing, figure-hugging fabrics and fine knitwear, and for the more budget-conscious Mango (www.mango.com) takes looks straight from the catwalk to create cut-price clothes with a Catalan twist.

But aside from these established brands, Barcelona offers a hotbed of new young talent. Design collective joid'art (www.joidart.com) produces 100 new jewellery collections a year and is strong on social responsibility as 80% of the workforce is female and part of its profits are donated to co-operatives in developing countries. Catalonia is also nurturing its stars of tomorrow via fashion 'incubator' Projecte Bressol (www.projectebressol.com) which promotes the stars of tomorrow. This year's label to watch is Guillen Doz (www.guillendoz.com) whose 'geometric landscape' spring/summer collection dazzled on the catwalks at local fashion expo 080 Barcelona (www.080barcelonafashion.com).

HOTELS

Hotel Arts
Built as the flagship hotel for the Olympics, the Arts towers over Barceloneta beach and is something of an institution. Its swanky suites, vast apartments and sleek Six Senses Spa are frequented by rock stars and business moguls who also dine at Michelin-starred chef Sergi Arola's eponymous restaurant, now celebrating its fifth anniversary with a signature menu of his haute cuisine take on tapas. The new lobby champagne bar is set to be the watering hole of choice for the city's glitterati.

From �221. www.hotelartsbarcelona.com

Hotel Omm
Barcelona's smart set may flock to its critically-acclaimed gourmet restaurant Moo, but the sleek rooms and basement club Ommsession are frequented by the seriously hip. Guests can stay bronzed and beautiful by visiting the Spaciomm spa and catching some rays on the fabulous roof terrace overlooking Gaudi's iconic La Pedrera building across the street. The dark corridors leading to the rooms feel like futuristic catwalks thanks to strips of lighting set into the floor.

From �237. Book at www.hotels.easyJet.com

Whotells
If you'd rather splash out on a new wardrobe than on a flash room in a top hotel, book one of Whotells' cheap-but-chic self-catering apartments. Located in edgy El Raval, beachside Barceloneta and Eixample near to all the main sites, apartments have one, two or three bedrooms with simple furnishings courtesy of Muji and are the perfect budget bolthole from which to explore the city.

From �80 per night. www.whotells.com