Photos of the Week – Brands
Happy Friday, everyone! Every week, I (and the world) share with you some photos, inspired by #FriFotos. This week, you are in for a treat. Why? Because the organisers (@epsteintravels @traveldesigned @charlesyap) have kindly invited me to co-host today’s edition and help choose the topic. If you read the title, it will become pretty clear.
Brands are part of our lives, whether we like it or not. I am not label-crazy, but like a thing or three, here and there. For me, it is all about the quality. As I had a bit of warning, I took some time to look at my photo archives (and Google!) and reflect on my favourite brands which, are indeed, part of my life.
Luggage – Tumi
I love my Tumis
Our set of Tumi suitcases (current count: 6 and hoping we stop here) are very special to us. Goes without saying that they were bought on trips to the US. I really don’t understand why there is such a big price difference (almost half?) between both sides of the pond. I have a brown set and Mr. O has a black set – they look lovely and also quite discrete. I think luggage is important for obvious reasons – we like helping other countries’ economies and these are of the highest quality and don’t get dirty. And I can get inside the big ones (I have tried, no comment).
Bath stuff – Molton Brown
Molton Brown Limited Edition – love this new range of old favourites. Naran Ji is my smell!
I love bath products, and more often than not, take them with me when I travel. Some hotels are getting this right, others not so much. I love Molton Brown’s shower gels and handwashes – the smell is lovely and also reminds me of home, where I have these products in every bathroom.
Sun products – Clarins
The smell of holidays
I love love love Clarins and its sun-protection range. I have been a fan for years and besides being very effective and doing what they are supposed to do, they smell so so so good. The smell of Clarins Sun reminds me of holidays – I love opening a bottle for the first time and having that first “wuuufff”. In case Clarins are reading, can you please do SPF 30 in milk spray?! This way, I don’t have to buy the odd Lancaster – SPF 20 sometimes isn’t enough and 50 is too much.
My watch – Baume et Mercier
Feel naked without my watch, and wear it on my right hand (strangely)
I bought my Linea Baume et Mercier when I turned 25 and was working between Lisbon, Madrid and Barcelona. It was a special moment for me, and I clearly remember buying it, after falling in love with it at El Corte Ingles department store. Every year I send it for a “clean and polish” and it comes back looking brand new. I need to really work on an excuse to buy a different one.
Clothes and handbags – Carolina Herrera
Carolina Herrera
I love Carolina Herrera and its shops (thankfully one has opened in London recently). They smell divine and look incredible. I like the dark wood contrast of the shop fittings and the colourful handbags. I have a few 
But I also love their clothes, especially work dresses, and coats. Mr. O is also partial to the suits, and he especially loves the red lining and stitching. I also really like how they use photographs in the shop of both Carolinas – mother and daughter.
And, you guessed it.. shoes!
Love love love shoes
This isn’t my shoe closet. There may be one, but I haven’t taken any photographs. I found this online and loved it. Credit where it is due I am quite a classic girl when it comes to shoes and I have developed a love for flats in the last 5 years (comes with age, apparently). My favourite brands are LK Bennett (way before the Kate craze), Tod’s (could shoes become any more comfortable?), the odd Jimmy Choo (strappy sandals in every colour, except they kill me slowly!) and, of course, Repetto (flats, flats, flats). I am currently on a shoe ban and not allowed to endulge until I get rid of some – one pair in, one pair out..
Writing this post made want to go shopping, but I will wait, promise!
Wishing everyone a great weekend, wherever you may be!
xo
Mrs. O
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That is quite a shoe rack right there. I have a growing shoe closet myself with two pairs of hiking boots and various other adventure designed shoes, but nothing like the photo here.
Traveling Ted recently posted..Hyde Park, London Speaker’s Corner travel tip
Mine isn’t quite like this one
almost, but not quite!
my goodness! we are like sorority sisters. i love all your loves & i know we also love our cocktails
cannot wait to see you in a month’s time in Spain! eeeeee 
lola recently posted..my 3 favorite travel memories…
yes yes yes!! I didn’t have space for cocktails.. ie too many brands
one of our hotels in costa rica had molton brown and it was pretty much the highlight of the resort!
the lazy travelers recently posted..laws to travel by – #22
LOL
seriously? At least you smelled lovely!
Haha, I was going to ask if this was your shoe closet. You could have fooled me!
I also can’t stop staring at the luggage. I like suitcases that last long – regardless of the label. I recently had to retire an old one that had been with me back and forth across the pond so many times… It was a sad moment.
Pola (@jettingaround) recently posted..The Green Mill – Chicago’s landmark jazz club
I know the feeling – they are also part of the journey, aren’t they?
Mrs O you are torturing me, why oh why! It’s been too long since I had some retail therapy (well OK the day I stayed at the Sanderson to be precise) but as my life is spent travelling I have to make do with a quick ‘trolly’ dash at the airport or train station.
I totally agree with you hotels that know that a little bit of money spent on quality amenities goes a long way to kill the female business traveller with kindness. Ren will always put a smile on my face and my favourite Molten Brown Amber is in all my houses/bathrooms
xx
What drives me mad are hair products, they can be soooooooooo bad. We need to go shopping one day. How about NY?
You may need to add La Maison du Chocolat or something like that to your favorite things! Or a nice winemaker
Raul (ilivetotravel in Twitter) recently posted..A Big Ego Needs A Big Building: the Palace of Parliament in Bucharest
You are totally right
Love this post! Not just The What but The Why! We all have our favourites but no harm in trying out someone else’s for a change …. And totally agree with the Clarins suggestion ….
The why makes a difference, doesn’t it? Of course keeping secret why the love for shoes.. to be honest, no explanation. Or a logical one
impressive post and i know women will love this Ms. O.
Cheers! I know the brand Carolina Herrera hahaha
Wends of Journeys and Travels recently posted..Reflections on the Road: Angkor Wat
Thank you
why won’t men like it too? 
I’m surprised Mrs O didn’t have an entire post dedicated to brands of shoes. Now, that would be something!
Leah Travels recently posted..The Weird and Wonderful in Tokyo
I know I know, I was tempted – but such hard work as I would have to get them all out of the closet and all