Five weeks this summer in Buenos Aires restyling and changing the look of the Faena Hotel + Universe Boutique a fashion dream come true ! Working with the ultra brilliant Ximena Casminos, Creative Director of Faena Group and visionary Alan Faena. I would have to say is inspirational of how business and creativity can be balanced perfectly. Alan has a vision of lifestyle meets fashion and art to as he says “redefining happiness”.
The Faena Hotel + Universe is in an old grain mill with interiors designed by Philippe Starck is truly alluring. From the moment one-steps in with the Faena perfume in the air one is seduced. The long cathedral, lobby is the catwalk. The Library is the where things happen from noon business meetings, teas to evenings when the band strikes up into the early hours its unlibrary like with dancers on the bar and couples being intimate.The Mercado restaurant with its cozy nooks created by antique china and photos of BA glamorous past to give a flavor what is truly the BA lifestyle that continues on today. Fairytales are important for everyone, the Bistro’s white unicorns and red roses is the setting for your fairytale with your dinner date. Rojo Tango is THE ultimate tango show in BA. Red, white and gold sparkle to highlight the sensual tango dancers. The fantasy continues into the pool with the crown.
A style man himself Alan only wears white. A pure canvas for his ideas not to be distracted in any direction. Ximena’s style has no fixed look it’s Ximena. From a fashionista wearing Alexander McQueen to who are you wearing it’s fab, I want it…… A makeover with Alan and Ximena’s style in mind gives one the Faena style. Easy comfortable pieces from Felix for men, leather from Corro Gropo, hippie chic from Chocolate for women, Nina Swim for the Latina bathing suit, to the unisex bombachas (loose trousers) and alpargatas, (espadrilles) from the Faena Gaucho Collection. Everything one needs for a stay and to play in the Faena Hotel + Universe. The Faena perfume, wine, crystal, leather, Venetian mirror collections carries the memories. BA City Life in books, matte cups, cds. Ximena’s artistic eye finds pink beaded crocodiles for the unexpected surprise in the Boutique. Life is about surprises and the surprise in BA is the Faena Hotel + Universe.
The Faena Arts Center opened last week to complete Alan’s vision. Faena residences have revived Puerto Madreo the abandon part of BA. Los Milnos a wheat mill is now the center for art and artists. Brazilian artist Ernesto Neto’s work curated by Tate Modern’s Jessica Morgan, was the ultimate “experience” of the Faena Life. Life is not life without art, to live one needs art. Neto’s crochet and knitted bridge filled with balls suspended for the audience to walk through. Organic in form, unstable as life, Neto calls it “Crazy Hyperculture in the Vertigo of the World.” A tactile and surreal walk across the bridge lined with plastic balls barefoot takes one out of oneself to look around, up, down not straight forward as we do in our everyday lives. A moment of reflection in suspension is an experience only Neto, Ximena, Alan can give us.