Fashion meets Gastronomy: Jacquemus, Louis Vuitton, Prada

Paris

Ever since the retail experience has shifted from merely shopping to a more holistic treat; a seance if you like, more and more fashion brands added restaurants of cafés to their portfolios. The luxury hospitality phenomenon is having its boom, so as the era of experience economy. Just think of Maison Kitsuné's pioneer cafés in Paris or New York, Prada’s Bar Luce in Milan or one of our favourite small scale project; Nanushka’s café in their Budapest flagship-store. Luckily many have followed, such as Jacquemus’ very own café Citron and Oursin, and according to the most recent fashion news; Louis Vuitton is set to open Le Café V in Osaka.

Grand Hôtel Wiesler

Graz

Have you ever thought about enjoying the cityscape while taking a hot bath? Look no further than Graz's very own Grand Hôtel Wiesler, where you can enjoy both at the same time! Laid-back elegance, unconventional luxury (just think of the freestanding bathtub) and a cosmopolitan flair are just some of the impressions that best describe our stay at the The Weitzer Welt’s hip hotel; Grand Hôtel Wiesler. The Grand Hôtel Wiesler is situated in a privileged location in a hip and dynamic area. Set in the heart of Graz, right by the River Mur, next to the Kunsthaus and an arm-sight away of the Schlossberg, it is surrounded by bars and shops of the young creative scene in the city. The Hotel welcomes digital nomads just as warmly as business travellers but also Falco, Mick Jagger and Arnold Schwarzenegger are just a few of the names on its impressive guest list. Impressive, right? Whether it’s winter, spring, summer or autumn, Graz is always a good idea thanks to it’s diversity. In every season Graz is the city to slow down whether you’re opting for sightseeing, the abundance of cultural programs or a revitalising hike nearby the city. UNESCO has declared Graz part of "Creative Cities," which means that the city now officially belongs to their international network of forward-looking places. Only a few other cities offer so much variety within such a small area contemporary architecture right next to medieval houses set in the midst of ancient alleys backdropped by mountains painted in the hues of epic sunsets. The Grand Hôtel Wiesler is no different; the hotel’s design juxtaposes hip and modern elements such as street art, bare walls with traditional and Art Nouveau details.

Interview with Photographer muse: Eslee

One of our New Year’s resolution was that we’ll share more of what we love. Since Esther’s (Eslee) clean and subtle visual world is one of them, we jumped on the opportunity to make a quick interview with her. We’re especially curious about how traveling influenced and still influences her approach to photography. Esther is an editorial and lifestyle photographer based between Seattle and Los Angeles - in two very different cities that affects her practice differently. She started photography because of her first trip to Africa; her trip to Kenya made her fall in love with photography. “After I got back I looked through the photos and realized how important it was to capture memories on something tangible instead of reliving it only through memory. Just being able to capture the culture and the people and then having the ability to really look back in detail was something I knew I wanted to keep doing in the future.” Our number one favourite project is the recent cinematic series shot in Korea. Enjoy the ride!

2020 Travel Wish List

Salzburg

Whether 2019 was your very favourite or least favourite year, it's official; it's a new day, a new year, a new decade. We wish you to travel well but travel consciously; let's take better care of our planet! Sustainability and climate change are no longer some kind of buzzwords, but call-to-actions. You — just like us — are a frequent traveler who has the ability to inspire but also to influence. Take the train when it’s possible, discover cities by foot or on the bike, visit cities beyond capitals, opt for local services in terms of gastronomy and shopping instead of franchises in order to support the local ecosystem and craftsmanship wherever you go. Let’s travel in the New Year, connect, reflect, get lost and write our journey in some beautiful places. We have so much more to discover in 2020! Here comes our 2020 wish list with some our lovely ambassadors’ recommendations. Looking forward to follow your journeys via the Local’s Lore APP.

Christmas Giveaway: Valletta Vintage

Valletta

"Valletta Vintage is a collection of vintage and contemporary finds — properties & contents — which we curate with my husband, to offer an alternative to mainstream holiday accommodation. The collection grew from one small apartment to five, and soon to be ten apartments, each housed in buildings older than a hundred years and spread around the city of Valletta and its harbour." Read our interview with Hanna - our lovely Valletta ambassador who's also the superwoman behind Malta's number one design-hospitality concept; Valletta Vintage. Scroll down for a joint Christmas surprise and follow the @localslore Instagram page for updates! Happy Holidays and a well-travelled New Year!