How did you get into fashion Julia?
My mother was a textile designer, so I grew up with an awareness of fabrics, colours, patterns and the allure of clothing…

What was the inspiration for Fashionvilla Marbella?
We are German, but we had a family home here in Marbella, and we had the idea to create a unique multi-brand experience for women living in and visiting Marbella. We wanted to offer women beautiful clothes that were not from the high street, or high fashion either – a happy half-way, and items you can’t find in other stores!  That was 7 years ago!

What makes fashion in Marbella different?
Because of the amazing climate, and the sunlight, people in Marbella tend to wear brighter colours – and the style is generally dress up, rather than dress down.  At cocktails and launches in northern Europe, jeans and boots are seen, but here it’s cocktail dresses.  Galas however, in Germany, are much more formal than here!

Can you describe an average day in your Fashionvilla world?
My days – and timetables vary enormously – which is great, no boring routines for me!
Sometimes I am up at 6am doing paperwork and planning outfits for my shows, searching the web for new brands and accessories. Then I have fittings with models, attend to clients during our normal opening hours, and then more often or not I have social engagements in the evenings – our own Fashionvilla events, charity dos, dinners, etcetera – nights at home are rare for me!

What is your personal fashion weakness?
I just love jackets – I have to keep buying them – blazers, military style, classic, edgy:
A good jacket can totally make an outfit!

What do you just love about Fashionvilla?
It is simply wonderful to help other women fulfill their dreams – you can see their confidence grow when they find the right outfit- change your style, change your life – it is so true!  Also, many of my lovely clients have become special friends – which is fabulous!

What does fashion contribute to our lives?
Look good – feel good!  Fashion gives women confidence and an outfit can totally change a woman’s body image.  A simple accessory can transform an old dress or suit into something really fashionable.  Fashion is a kind of magic wand to transform people, moods and add fun and colour to life!

What are your top 3 recommended fashion buys this season?
I would have to say animal print, outdoor jackets and blazers… there I go with the jackets again!  And slim fit trousers in black or camel… eternally elegant.  Oh!  And let’s not forget fur!  A fur hat, gloves, scarf or bag – that is a must this winter!

What is your ultimate fashion fantasy?
I am a big fan of Georgio Armani, so I would love to be involved in an Armani fashion show  – that would be a dream!
Fashionvilla currently has fantastic winter looks at sales prices…

Call Julia on Tel:   696 424 388

Checkout the new website, www.fashionvillamarbella.com

The Red Penguin Art Gallery is 1st Commercial Art Gallery within El Corte Inglés in Andalucía. marbellas.com joined artists for the Colourful Launch

Serious art lovers and Marbella’s creative elite were out in force to celebrate the launch of the new Red Penguin Art Gallery at El Corte Inglés in  Marbella. Some 200 guests enjoyed the spectacular collective exhibition entitled Identity which kickstarted what promises to be an exciting new venture bringing quality international art into the heart of the resort.  Some of the artists featured were present at the event, mingling with guests and discussing their works as a violinist kept the tempo up on an electrifying debut night for the cultural venue.
Showcasing a wealth of quality art from upcoming and acclaimed Spanish and International artists, with  “Identity”, a collective exhibition of 18 ground-breaking talents, the Red Penguin Art Gallery is launching as it means to go on, as a dynamic gallery which acts as a creative platform for talent,  ideas and diverse cultural interests including not only art itself but also: Vintage Objects and Collectables, Art & Design Books & Magazines, Art Consultancy, Art to rent for companies, Decorative artistic painting, Education, workshops, lectures & events.

Drawing on a wealth of knowledge and talent, the Red Penguin Art Gallery will work in close collaboration with four other galleries based in Barcelona, New York, Amsterdam and Beijing creating a broad international platform for the exchange of some of the world’s most exciting artistic talent.

A Haven of Style and Talent
Owned and managed by Dutch art experts, Joris Marjot and Loni Olfers, both of whom bring to the new venture extensive careers in art & design. Joris is a talented interior designer who has decorated a plethora of luxurious homes, hotels and temples of style, while Loni has successfully managed several art galleries in Holland and Spain.  Passionate about raising the cultural and artistic game in Marbella – to help the city compete on the world stage as a high calibre destination for international tourism, at Red Penguin Art Gallery, they will be doing everything possible to put Marbella on the cultural map, with a presence at the top art fairs around the globe, and contributions to new art magazine Artmosphere.

As Loni Olfers states, “Art and creativity are important to the economic recovery of Marbella, and we have a major project underway that will help to make Marbella more beautiful by transforming the streets and empty shops and offices with the help of the Town Hall, and business and creative community in the town.
“At Red Penguin Art Gallery we scour the world  – and the web – to tap into rising talent. We dig deeper and get fully acquainted with the artist, their work and methods to make sure only top quality art and design is on show in our gallery. We are looking for work that will stand the test of time, and gain in value. The Red Penguin Art Gallery is within the Centro Comercial El Capricho on the 2nd floor of El Corte Inglés.  The first professional art gallery to ever have a presence within El Corte Inglés departments store in Andalucía and only the second in Spain following the launch of a similar venture in Madrid, the Red Penguin Art Gallery is excited about working alongside the store’s interior designers and sourcing art works for their clients.

Stellar Artists
Among the artwork on display at Red Penguin Art Gallery’s inaugural exhibition will be works by Joseph Klibansky.  A hot new talent working in new media, aged just 27, Kibansky’s work has already been acquired by Sotheby’s for 34,000€ – the highest yield ever for such a young artist. Present at the launch, the artist Joseph Klibansky currently based in Amsterdam said he was “happy to help  stimulate the cultural landscape in Marbella”.  Also present were artists Felix Muyo,  Russel West and Jacinto Moros.

The artists featuring in the inaugural “Identity” exhibition include: Antonio Puri painter and mixed media; Barbara Nanning glass objects; Berend Strik photography with embroidery bordado; Corneille painter; Debra Franses Bean Artbag; Jacinto Moros Sculptures; Jerome Esch photography: Joseph Klibansky new media, Gary Edwards photography, Kantcho Kanev paintings mixed media; Lu Luo   mixed media: Nicole Montagne template press Plantilla de prensa; Odile Kinart sculptures; Otto Bachorik sculptures; Paul Smulders mixed media; Peter Pollág paintings and sculptures; Robert Hromec engraved paintings; Russell West painted sculptures; Zhuang Hong Yi mixed media.

www.redpenguinartgallery.com
Red Penguin Art Gallery, 2nd floor, El Corte Inglés, El Capricho, Bvd. Alfonso Von Hohenlohe, 2, 29600 Marbella.  Tel: +34 664340107  +34 639616300.
Opening Hours: 11am  – 9pm – throughout December.

The Open House was a chance for members of the Press Club to invite guests who also work in the media across a whole range of activities, from the largest publications and broadcasters on the Coast to the smallest freelance agencies.  Also in attendance were councillors responsible for foreign residents and the press from Marbella and Fuengirola Town Halls.

The strong turnout and enthusiasm of the people attending showed just how vibrant the foreign resident media community is, and reminded everyone of the important role journalists and other professional communicators play in integrating the different nationalities on the Costa del Sol and keeping residents and visitors informed about life here.

Introducing the event, The President of the Costa Press Club, Jesper Sander Pedersen, explained to guests that the Costa Press Club is celebrating 10 successful years next year acting as a representative of the foreign media in southern Spain and that he was looking forward to welcoming several new members as a result of the ‘Open House’. Speaking afterwards, Jesper said “The response to the event shows how strong the journalistic community is here and highlights the huge role we media people play in supporting the international and national residents. The club is really looking forward to the next 10 years! New members are welcome to apply to join.”

Stop Press!

The Costa Press Club is the longest established association in southern Spain for members of the international media. Membership of the club is open to all professional communicators, from the fields of journalism, TV, film, photography, public relations, and private company press departments. It offers a full social calendar of events, including monthly Costa Press Club dinners with guest speakers and the annual Communicator Award.
The Costa Press Club delivers a forum where like-minded media professionals can exchange ideas, engage in informed discussion, seek advice, and make local, national and international media connections.

To find out more please visit www.costapressclub.com. For press enquiries please email: adminfb@costapressclub.com

The romantic contemporary classic restaurant, Nueva Kaskada, opened its doors to Marbella society recently to present the autumn/winter season with an exciting new menu by celebrated German master chef, Ewald Fichthaler.

Fashionable Marbella was out in force at the celebratory cocktail party to officially mark the autumn/winter season at the chic restaurant that effortlessly combines a natural countrified location overlooking a waterfall, with contemporary décor and the finest cuisine for all pockets.

A purple carpet affair, guests enjoyed the restaurant in the warm twilight, suggesting just a hint of autumn after a glorious season of summer dining on the spacious terrace.  Chef Fichthaler presented a selection of delectable canapés and finger foods, giving the assembled guests a taster of the sensational new menu of his finest dishes.

The Signature Cuisine of Eward Fichthaler
Chef Fichthaler has an impressive track record having headed up a range of establishments in Singapore, Shanghai, Sidney, London, Switzerland and Spain, where he has been at the forefront of creative east meets west cuisine. Frequently cooking for royalty and international dignitaries in Michelin star restaurants, Eward Fichtaler is now conferring all of his exciting culinary experience and creativity onto the cuisine of Nueva Kaskada.

Welcoming the Autumn Winter Nights
The venue will continue to offer both inside and outdoor dining on the spacious terrace in the cozy interior, complete with open kitchen, terracotta floors, round tables, contemporary art and splashes of purple and blue creating an elegant ambience which extends to the stunning terrace which will continue to welcome guests with soft lighting and heaters.

Nueva Kaskada in the autumn/winter is a dream, with its trendy open fireplace, newly appointed cocktail bar and chillout lounge, and regular evenings of live piano music and after dinner DJs. A weekday lunch menu is available for just 15 euros a head. Nueva Kaskada’s legendary Sunday lunch, complete with Roast Beef & Yorkshire Pudding, is just 12.95€ per person.

Open for lunch from 12 noon, dinner from 7pm daily.  (Closed Tuesday). Open until 1.30am.
For reservations call Tel: 952 86 4478.

Nueva Kaskada Restaurante, Urb. La Montua, C/. Chorreadero, 39, 29601 Marbella

www.nuevakaskada.com

Nikki Beach Red Closing Party Kisses Goodbye to Marbella Summer in Style. Luxury beach club, Nikki Beach Marbella kissed goodbye to a sensational summer season with the exceptional Grand Closing Red Party.  The crème de la crème of the Costa del Sol was out in force, ready to say a fond farewell to a summer of fun, sun and style at the ever-glamorous Nikki Beach Marbella. Official Nikki Beach Photography by Gary Edwards

On Sunday 2nd October, guests danced their way through the hot, sunny day to the cool, summer beats mixed by Nikki Beach’s resident DJ and special guests Mark Knight and High on Heels. From 2pm onwards, closing party guests were treated to the hottest Nikki-style entertainment that comes as standard at this stunning beach club. Gorgeous dancers, emblematic white tepees, live musicians and entertainment, a blazing red dress code, plus a few finale surprises, this year’s closing party was simply sizzling from beginning to end.

Red Hot Style

Nikki’s signature white décor was transformed with splashes of crimson and filled with a river of guests dressed head to toe in sexy red as over 1,500 partygoers descended on the hip beach club for the thrilling finale to Nikki’s 2011 season. The closing party brought the Marbella summer season to a red-hot finale with music, dancers, champagne flowing and a host of world class entertainment, the Grand Closing Red Party did not disappoint.

Turning heads as a star attraction at the Red Party were the gorgeous and talented female collective, High on Heels. With their dazzling blend of high-octane glamour and musical flair, the girls turned up the temperature on the red party as their compelling performance and irresistible beats whipped the crowd into a frenzy.

Top international DJ and Grammy nominee, Mark Knight flew in to perform, and Nikki Beach Marbella danced to the sounds that have attracted crowds to see Knight at clubs including Cocoon Frankfurt, Club Space Miami and Ministry of Sound London.

Popular Nikki Beach resident DJ, Mario Z kept his fans happy throughout the party with a round up of the season’s hottest Nikki beats, bringing the summer to a thrilling climax.    Nikki’s signature white décor was transformed with splashes of crimson and filled with a river of guests dressed head to toe in sexy red attire as 1,500 people descended on the hip beach club for the thrilling finale to Nikki’s 2011 season.

A quality guarantee, the global Nikki Beach brand represents everything cool, sexy and glamorous about spending the day, or night, on the beach.  Nikki Beach is an international luxury beach club brand and style leader. Founded in Miami by entertainment wizards Jack and Lucia Penrod and Eric Omares. A global phenomenon in the luxury leisure sector, Nikki Beach can be found in the world’s hotspots including St. Tropez, St. Barths, Marrakech, Koh Samui and Las Vegas.

www.nikkibeach.com

One of the longest established real estate companies in Marbella, Casa Marbella celebrate 30 years of recession-busting success. Photography  ©Gary Edwards

Few are the companies that rack up an impressive 30 years of trading – and even less so in Marbella, a cosmopolitan melting pot where many businesses are unfortunately set up with a boom or bust mentality. All the more reason for Wolfgang Schlesier to be celebrating the enduring success of his real estate agency Casa Marbella, one of just a handful of property companies in the area with a long history of steady success in a competitive industry in which true professionals stand out.

Three Decades of Success
With offices bookending Marbella in Elviria and San Pedro de Alcántara, Casa Marbella has been purveying properties to a local and international clientele  for three decades, and to celebrate a job well done, managing director Wolfgang Schlesier and his partner Xusan Teo held an  upbeat  party for colleagues, clients friends and well-wishers at top Marbella Thai restaurant, Thai Gallery.
Among the guests were tourism councillor Jose Luis Hernández, gallerist Shahed Kavousi, Architect Pablo Villarroel with his wife Claudia, Mandarin Tutor Yingying Hu, Architect Pablo Mena Owens and his wife Llanos, Silvia & Rui Carlos Conceicao and many well-known Marbella personalities.

Celebrating with Style
Over two hundred guests enjoyed a champagne reception along with a homage to Casa Marbella
as told by comperes Mugge Fischer and Oscar Horacio, with a thank you speech from Casa Marbella boss, Wolfgang.  This was followed by a fabulous catwalk show by Julia Rep of Fashion Villa. Showcasing an advance selection of winter wonders – including cosy fur-edged parkas, funky leopard print gabardines, 80s inspired red and black outfits, shimmering sequined cocktail dresses and inspired outfits for  bride and “groom.”  An acrobatic dancer wowed the crowd with a display of fascinating flexibility.

Following the formalities and fashion segment, special guests sat down to a sumptuous Thai meal from the legendary chefs at Thai Gallery.

www.casamarbella.com

Turbo Charged Business Event, a Network & Help Charity on Sat 15th October at Hotel Las Piramides, Fuengirola.

A one-off networking event is being organized by some leading UK business experts, to help local business owners on the Costa del Sol  increase their sales, profits and grow their business in today’s tough economic environment.

Turbo Charge Sales and Business Networking will be held on Saturday 15th October at Hotel Las Piramides in Fuengirola.  It is a not for profit event with an affordable ticket price to allow all types of business to take part.

Inspirational business leaders  will give a series  of must-hear presentations and formal and informal networking opportunities will be set up over the course of the day. This mix of activities will equip businesses with great ideas for driving their businesses forward and a large amount of new contacts.

The message of the event is,  “How to Thrive and not just Survive” using the power of business networking. Organiser Steve Hall explains why this is so important “Small businesses are suffering in the current economic climate, but don’t have the budget for expensive marketing methods to get themselves out of problems. Networking is a very cost-effective way of promoting yourself so we’ve combined this with some top business speakers to offer inspiration as well as great networking opportunities.”

Tickets are priced at 10€ per person for a full day from 10 am to 5pm and are on sale via Eventbrite http://turbospain.eventbrite.com/. It is a non-profit event and any income made over expenditure will be donated to two local charities Cudeca and Positively Pink. The event is being held in conjunction with a weekend networking event being organised by website http://thisisspain.info/ with a number of fun networking opportunities.

Event Presenters include;

Steve Clarke one of Europe’s leading authorities on grassroots sales and marketing strategies. Topic – “How to thrive not just survive”. Including information about attracting new clients, selling, copywriting, advertising and marketing.

Nikki Pilkington major name in the world of Social and Internet Marketing; will be offering Bold Blogging strategies for small Businesses.

Gill Tiney Business Coach and self-confessed “networking tart”. Topic – Making the time and effort you put into networking worthwhile. She will share her 7 Secrets and 7 Sins of Successful Networking.

Event tickets are on sale via Eventbrite http://turbospain.eventbrite.com/ for 10€ per ticket.

On Friday 16 September, Suite del Mar in the luxurious Hotel Puente Romano hosted the Global Party.  Many of the Marbella Glitterati and familiar faces from the Marbella press attended the event at Suite. Regular party goers were impressed by the amount of money spent on entertainment, ice sculptures (which melted away in heat of the evening fairly rapidly) and on the spectacular marque and lighting erected for the one night extravaganza.

Clearly raising money for 80 different charities around the World from a series of parties is a good idea – the charities benefit and so do the benefactors as they have a luxurious night out. The amounts paid to the organisers and the amounts donated would make interesting reading as no expense seems to be spared on the one night function. A full list of the charities is not displayed on the Global Party website, however those mentioned include; The Blue Marine Foundation, Raisa Gorbachev Foundation, The Pratham Education Foundation, Prince Harry’s Sentebale Charity, Tusk Trust (of which Prince William is the patron) and the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund UK.

In an effort to unite leading luxury brands and intensify awareness for charities around the globe the event was inspired by fictional character Phileas Fogg, created by Jules Verne his book ‘Around the World in 80 Days’.  Apparently toted as the hottest ticket this year, the question heard around town was “have you received your invite yet?”

Never shy to throw a good party, Suite del Mar did pull out all the stops for the Global Party.  From acrobats and violinists (the famous Julio) to flame throwers and ice sculptures to internationally acclaimed DJs and performers, the party brought the summer season to a close with a grand impact. Guests were particularly excited for the performance of recording artist and Queen of UK clubs, Hannah.  With number one hits on the club and dance charts in Ibiza and the UK and remixes by top DJs such as Robbie Riviera and Armin Van Buuren, Hannah elevated the party atmosphere.

Invitations to the Global Party enabled guests to select from any of the 80 parties taking place around the world. They could sip Champagne in Marbella, Vodka Martinis in London, Manhattans in New York or Margaritas in Mexico, and with celebrity supporters comprising the likes of Damien Hirst, Elizabeth Hurley, Simon Cowell, Jemima Khan and Boris Johnson; you never knew who you would have run into any of the chosen destinations.  Along with the invitation, each invitee received a limited edition, purchasable Global Party Key-2 Luxury silver key ring, which allowed them access to privileges around the world and entry into a parallel universe of luxury.

The directors behind this ambitious venture are the renowned hedge fund veteran Lord Stanley Fink and luxury lifestyle expert David Johnstone, whose joint expertise have inspired the leading global players to commit to such an extraordinary concept.  This ambitious event is creating a global media stir. Mikimoto, The Orient Express and Harry Winston confirmed as ‘Gold Sponsors’ and the Global Party brought together many luxury brands to create a truly global event.
www.theglobalparty.com

“Car Marbella” took victory in the latest race in China, and now leads the World Championship FIA GT1

A racing car bearing the Marbella town logo raced to victory at a recent race in Beijing, helping to put Marbella on the map in front of up and coming Chinese public.

Young Driver AMR – with “Car Marbella” experienced success  in the opening race GT1 World Championship in Beijing. Stefan Mücke (GER) and Darren Turner (GBR) claimed their first win of the season in a thrilling race with his Young Driver Aston Martin DBR9 AMR – while Alex Müller (GER) and Tomas Enge (CZE) finished the qualifying race with a superb second place. With a dominant performance in China, Young Driver AMR is in an excellent position in the FIA World Championship GT1 ahead of the next race in Argentina.

Sponsored by Buddha Beach and La Sala Bar in Nueva Andalucia, the car proudly wore the official logo of Marbella before a crowd of 250,000 spectators in China,  a great promotion for the city in the growing Chinese market.

Following his recent concert at the Puente Romano Tennis Club, at which fans were treated to a repertoire of new songs from TJ’s latest album, as well as an ample selection of old classics, will they be dishing out more Praise than Blame?  marbellas.com reports. Photography Gary Edwards

With a plethora of concerts being staged all summer long in Marbella, none was so highly anticipated as the one night only performance by Tom Jones at the Puente Romano Tennis Club.  With fans spanning three generations, there was no shortage of eager Jones fans willing to spend upwards of 90 euros for the privilege of seeing the living legend live on stage.  Playing to a packed Puente Romano, the veteran pop star played a compelling set taking in songs from his new album Praise and Blame, along with a wide range of his more raucous  – and romantic classics.

With a tight backing band comprising two female singers, two guitarists, keyboard and drums, despite now being in his 70th year, Tom Jones does not rely on gimmicks to get him through the night… and the extraordinary voice that has been the fortune of the Welsh born star, is certainly not on the wane.

While it was probably not the new material most fans were eager to listen to, Praise and Blame is a body of work that harks back to Tom Jones’s roots -and as such, is a brilliant showcase for his rich, emotional musicality.

New Works
The new album is something of a retrospective journey, drawing on Jones’s roots with a blend of gospel, blues, traditional and country songs, giving Jones the chance to wear his heart on his sleeve, emotionally raw and  true.  Talking of the new album, Jones has been quoted as saying:

“We wanted to go back to basics, go back to the source, it was just me singing live with a rhythm section – no overdubbing, no gimmicks, no complicated horn and string arrangements, just get the song down in an entire take, capture the meaning of the song, its spirituality, its life, and capture that moment, right there. And I think that’s what we’ve done.”

It is a truly remarkable record, one that captures the Tom Jones who listened to Mahalia Jackson and Sister Rosetta Tharpe on the radio as a child growing up, who thought gospel music was “just like rock’n’roll, every bit as exciting but with deeper lyrics”, the Tom Jones who belted out The Lord’s Prayer as a jubilatory spiritual in school assembly, “because that was the only way I knew how to sing it, it was natural for me.”

Recording with producer Ethan Johns (Kings Of Leon, Ray LaMontagne, Paolo Nutini, Laura Marling) at Peter Gabriel’s Real World Studios in the little village of Box in Wiltshire, coaxed the most exhilarating performances out of the singer. “Box is where my grandmother used to live, she was a Baptist and she’d have really appreciated what we were doing.  I really felt like it was an early sign, this record was meant to be,” says Tom.

Whether it’s John Lee Hooker’s ‘Burning Hell’, Bob Dylan’s ‘What Good Am I’, Jesse Mae Hemphill’s ‘Lord Help The Poor And Needy’, Susan Werner’s ‘Did Trouble Me’ or Billy Joe Shaver’s ‘If I Give My Soul’, Tom stamps his own authority upon the songs, it’s   as if they were written with  him personally in mind.

As an album, ‘Praise And Blame’ follows the universal journey of a man through the rites of passage, “as he reflects, observes and comments on what is going on around him,” says Tom. It’s not necessarily autobiographical, “but there are bits in there that I definitely relate to and can learn from.”

Classics Reworked
Although Jones did not earn his reputation as a white hot sex symbol for his classic ballads such as Delilah and The Green, Green Grass of Home, they are the kind of tear jerkers that just have to come out  of his particular box of tricks at every single concert.   And while other men at seventy may just be portly and grey,  Tom is given a pop star’s grace – and in his case, the years have simply made him as mature and alluring as a silver fox, with a gaze so intense it could bore holes through unsuspecting members of the audience.

As the night continued in Marbella,  it was clear that Jones had enough musical ammunition to blast his fans into a frenzy with the old classics such as Kiss and Sex Bomb… at which point the fans fought back with assorted underwear being launched at the stage…