See You on the Lido Deck!

As we are getting ready to for our summer vacation and Baltic Cruise next week, my thoughts of course swing back to the vintage age of cruising. Previously ocean travel was a means to an end. Primarily used as a means of transport before aviation took over, the industry has changed. Now it is not the destination that counts but the ship itself. This is even reflected in the fact that ships are no longer called Ocean Liners, but Cruise Ships.

Previously, because of weather (especially on the transatlantic run) few Ocean Liners had large outdoor deck spaces or even swimming pools. Pools were allocated to spaces deep in the bowels of a ship, and the lido deck was virtually non-existent!

Think lido deck today and we are cast back to re-runs of “The Love Boat” or the huge multi-pooled and crowded decks of modern cruise ships.

However during the 1930’s and right through to the 1960’s one European line went to great pains in promoting the outdoor spaces and particularly the Lido decks of their liners.

The Italian line which plied the Southern route through the Mediterranean which was much warmer than the Northern route serviced by other companies, had huge outdoor spaces and pools on their liners.

Always glamorous by day or by evening, this was a major selling point of the line. Instead of being cooped up inside on the Northern Atlantic, one could spend the 5 days at sea, sunning and swimming on the lido deck around the pool.

Nights were also spent outside, with couples in their elegant evening wear dancing or engaging in tete a tete’s around the pool.

This tradition on the Italian Line carried right through until the late 1960’s until the jet airliner eclipsed ocean travel completely.

As we embark on our cruise, I will definitely be thinking of those sun filled days and star filled nights spent on the Lido deck of an Italian liner!

Packing Slacks?

Remember when pants or trousers were called slacks? Or perhaps I am showing my age?

One can only wonder why they were called slacks. However we are fortunate enough now that polyester slacks especially in plaid have evolved into something that I do want to wear!

With our summer vacation and cruise on the horizon,( actually we leave next week), the thought of what to pack immediately comes to mind, and a new pair of plaid pants is definitely on the list. I have just bought the below and am wearing them today at work, just to break them in.

I have also bought a few other new items to traipse about the lido deck in, and for the inevitable shore excursions. When shopping I mix it up a lot, and don’t stick to any particular one brand.

I have bought these shorts from H&M in 3 colours, the khaki shown, with a white and a pink pair thrown in for good measure.

Other bottoms will include these Acne green jeans and the most comfortable chino from Uniqlo.

The following sandals purchased from Cole Haan, which were a bargain as they were on sale.
The essential pair of Sperry Topsiders, which will work well with shorts or pants.

A couple of linen shirts in various colours from Uniqlo as they will be cool and go with everything, except I know that they won’t travel well.

Several bowties including my Lanvin from H&M, for evening wear.

Jackets will include this wonderfully easy to wear linen number from Uniqlo along with this cute little windcheater from the H&M Lanvin collection (in Khaki).

The perfect stylish shoulder bag from Marc Jacobs styled like the old Pan Am bags, for when we are out and about exploring northern capitals. Being an airline nut I fell in love with this when they were released a couple of years ago, and have loved it for the last couple of years. This one always travels with me.

Of course there will be some trusty old staples being packed, I just hope that I do not pack too much, or leave something behind!

Savoir Faire on the Top Deck

While we are on the subject of vintage airliners and long before we were all herded onto planes like cattle, there existed a time when travelling First Class, really meant that you were above everyone else.

One of the most unusual features of the Boeing 747 when it was launched in the late 60’s was its unusual “hump” on top of the main fuselage. Known as the upper deck, this hump housed the cockpit and also extra passenger accommodation, adding to its behemoth size.

When the Boeing 747 first came into service in the late 1960’s early 1970’s most airlines reserved the upper deck for the exclusive domain of their First Class passengers. No rows of seats here, but plush lounges and bars where you could relax in comfort whiling away those long flight hours.

Accessed by the all too familiar spiral staircase from the main deck, economy class passengers could only cast an envious eye upwards in the hope that they might be able to catch a glimpse of these sumptuous lounges.

Airlines usually chose to decorate their lounges using themes of their home countries, so before we arrived at our final destination we had a taste of things to come.

Qantas chose to decorate their lounges,with a somewhat colonial theme using Captain Cook as inspiration.

Air India and Iran Air chose local themes with a modern twist and lots of 70’s panache, so you didn’t even feel like you were on a plane.

Aerolineas Argentinas chose quite a masculine vibe, maybe to get us in the mood for some of the machismo we might face in Argentina.

Delta turned the upper deck into the “world’s first flying Penthouse”, which could be sold as a unit to a group travelling together.

Along with the real estate them that was inspiring Delta to call their lounges Penthouses, Braniff chose to give theirs an address.

Pan Am envisaged a restaurant style setting with individual tables that could be booked for a more pleasurable ding experience.

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So next time you are sitting in Row 55 up the back of economy class, know that it was not always this way!

Gold is Sexy!

Think gold body paint and what do we usually come up with? James Bond and Goldfinger! The image of a partially naked, gold painted woman lying face down on a bed inert of all life has been etched on our minds. However the complete opposite is the case of Orlane’s advertising campaign for their masculine Derrick fragrance of the seventies. Here we have a man who was probably good looking without the paint, however dip him in liquid gold, have him laugh and throw his head back and we have an image that is oh so incredibly sexy and creates an impact! I remember this from my formative teenage years and even had it adorn one of my exercise books at school. Now I say, ‘I’ll have whatever he is wearing!”

Mile High Recycling

Ever wondered where old airliners go to die? For a variety of reasons many old airliners from the Boeing 707 right through to the Airbus A340 are taken out of service and mothballed in desert locales such as the one below.



Vintage planes are like vintage cars. They have a certain distinct style and class about them. Whereas many people collect vintage cars it is rather impractical to collect vintage airliners as cost and storage does pose a few problems.



Polished aluminium, the streamlined shapes, sleek forms of airliners past have a certain allure, which conjures up images of the jet set and the space age. MotoArt a company that specializes in taking old vintage airplane parts and making them into furniture and accessories brings this feeling right into your home or office.
All manner of items from, desks, chairs and coffee tables are fashioned from old airliners. Pieces are meticulously cleaned and polished, to create the ultimate in recycling.

















While not for everybody these furnishings and accessories are full of savoir faire. However if there is an inner pilot or airline geek lurking inside these are just perfect.

Weekend Wear With Savoir Faire

What a perfect suit for some weekend dressing with Savoir Faire!

Not only do I love the casual elegance of this suit by Billy Reid, but also the photograph itself! Reminiscent of a Magritte painting with the man in the background holding an umbrella. Full of the surrealist imagery and undertones, a fitting way to start the weekend, don't you think?

Changing Moods

The Eden Roc Hotel in Miami has long been a favourite of the jet-set since its opening in 1956. Designed in the Miami Modern Style by Morris Lapidus, who went on to design the Fontainbleau it is a testament to great design.



One distinguishing part of the hotel is the lobby, which still retains (even after successive renovations) the original aesthetic of the design.



I love the fact that at certain times during the day and with different lighting the mood of the space changes dramatically.

Bright, light and airy during the day and cozy intimatae and warm during the evening!