myretroperspective

The who’s who in Nassau came out Friday and walked the red carpet to see the unveiling of the new terminal at the Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA). Prime Minster the Rt. Hon. Hubert Ingraham made the reveal to a crowd of 1500 dignitaries and other guests, including Haute Travels! This is the first phase of a $400 million dollar redevelopment project for the airport… the new state of the art facility is now the best in the Bahamas and Caribbean. The government is delighted by the “successful” conclusion of the first phase of the redevelopment of the LPIA, “a job undertaken and completed on time and within budget,” says The Prime Minister. The night was amazing… the terminal came alive with music and fabulous people. The party moved up stairs to the gate area where we feasted on a variety of food including roast beef, chicken, shrimp, and a potato bar. A few hours later we moved back down stairs for a private concert by rock star Lenny Kravitz!   The new USA departur...

On Saturday, I spent my afternoon at sea on a luxury yacht in the Bahamas. It was so HAUTE! We sailed around Rose, Nassau and Paradise Islands. We even ventured over to the Atlantis where the super rich came in on what else—their private boats. Our afternoon was full of fun, sun and a wonderful lunch of roast beef, salad, lobster tails and rice and beans. We even had an open bar to go with our cool conversation! It was such a wonderful way to spend a Saturday afternoon sailing through the Nassau harbor while Vaughn told us all about the new development that’s headed to the downtown area with new shops, restaurants and so much more. I can hardly wait… because I wonder who will sit alongside some of my favorite boutiques—Gucci, Fendi, David Yurman and John Bull on the famous Bay Street? Hmmm There’s so much excitement in Nassau right now… and you’ll hear all about it on Haute Travels. What do you want to know about Nassau, Bahamas?

I love the beautiful island of Nassau for so many reasons. I was just in the Bahamas over the weekend and I got to spend time ocean side reflecting on a number of things. But more importantly, I got to enjoy warm tropical breezes, crystal clear turquoise water and stunning views of Nassau and Paradise Islands. I even got to meet some cool new friends… and convert a few to my Haute Travels following. Whenever I travel to this pretty little island, I feel at home because the people are warm and beautiful. They’re so friendly; I feel a shared connectedness even though I’m not Bahamian. Over the last several years, I’ve been to Nassau many times, occassionally with my mother, but I always find something new to discover every time I return. This time I found even more reasons to explore Nassau in a way that I’ve never done before as a writer and photographer. I’m already planning my return for fashion week in the fall. Look for upcoming features on the Bahamas as exclusive Haute T...

Spring is in the air so it’s time for a haute makeover! Yesterday, I got the star treatment at Van Michael Salon in Buckhead. The hair pros literally took my hand and talked to me about my needs while they combed my hair and gave me a neck massage. It was beauty bliss!   The Van Michael team really spent time getting to know me and my hair. Once we talked about my vision, they shared theirs and guided me through a hair book so that I could see different ways to add highlights. When I decided to trust Ron and add in caramel highlights taking my hair from fall and winter into spring… I never looked back. Kara suggested that I take my base color a shade lighter to really add warmth to my face. But not before, my PR and marketing rep Laura Hinds got the details. When Kara told her that she wanted to do something dramatically different… Laura wanted to know if it was NYC different or ATL different… I just had to laugh! Although, my friend and image consultant Tonya Seavers Evans su...

Meeting my twitter followers or lovers of the Haute Travels blog is always a treat. I met Dr. Zelda Pittman a couple of months ago at the Mayor’s Masked Ball in Atlanta. It’s always surprising to me to hear someone say, “I follow you on twitter!” I laugh when I think about it now because my photographer kept telling me that no one had heard of my blog. But after a few women realized that I was the creator of Haute Travels… they started talking about how much they love the site. By the end of the night, my photographer had to retract his statement!   When I met Zelda I was style scouting for “Rock the Look” in New York City… and I selected her as one of ladies who rocked her individual look at the ball. It was really exciting to hear that she’s a HAUTE TRAVELS girl too!   No matter where I am in the world if you follow Haute Travels be sure to say hello. I love reading your comments after the posts and I’m inspired by those of you who find something valuable in my travel storie...

One of my favorite fashion designers in the world is Kate Mack. I met her a few years ago during one of my trips to France where I discovered black designers in Paris. I remember the very first time that my friend Carole introduced us... we were standing in Kate's boutique surrounded by her clothes and jewelry in the heart of Paris. Yes,  I was in love! But there has always been something special about Kate as a person and I felt an instant connection with her. She's truly living a life that most girls dream about... designing clothes in the fashion capital of the world and in love with her  French fashion photographer boyfriend.  I have always admired the talent, creativity and passion that she brings to her designs... and consider her (in a word) Fierce! And if you don't know who she is... you will. Trust me when I tell you there is nobody like her in the game. And if I sound bias, I am. I love her work... I wear my Kate Mack originals with...

http://mattieologie.com/2011/02/10/mattie-mention-marian-anderson-of-haute-travels/

Winter travel means more clothes and accessories just to stay warm. But I’ve learned that stepping out into an artic blast can offer a great opportunity to play with fashion inspired by vintage pieces paired with modern comfort and style. On a recent trip to New York City (pre blizzard), I spent much of my time walking through Manhattan while temperatures continued to drop to the point of no return. So I pulled out a vintage mink coat and paired it with leggings, Uggs and a Louis Vuitton bowler bag! I also added a cashmere baseball cap and mink scarf to keep the chill at bay. As I moved from one haute spot in NYC to the next, I was more than ready to battle the cold with street gear that rocked… no need for me to go shopping I just stepped into my closet and walked away with great style options. Don’t let the cold weather keep you from making your signature street style haute! Describe your favorite street style in winter?