ELAINEBLOGS.

Elaineblogs. is for those who love hidden gems and inspiring people, appreciate art and enjoy fashion. Friends and lovers. Travelers and urban nomades. People who care and who sometimes don’t give a damn. Enjoy! Elaine Abrams Chief Editor at Elaineblogs.

[elaineblogs]

6 Yoga Web Series You Have to See

Dear readers of Elaineblogs.com and fans of hidden gems!

I hope you enjoy this guest post of Alberto G. Güitrón.

Alberto is a Community Manager at BookYogaRetreats.com. He is a committed yoga practitioner who still can’t touch the ground with his heels in Downward Dog. One day he’ll do it and he will probably write a story bragging about it.

With the boom of web series at its peak, it was just a matter of time before the yoga world had its own sitcoms online portraying the yogi lifestyle. From dramas, to mockumentaries, parodies and comedies, these stories will keep you entertained. Here are the 6 yoga web series you must watch:

OM City

 https://vimeo.com/136252549

Created by Jessie Barr and Tom O’Brien, a couple of filmmaking yogis based in New York City. This series takes you inside the fascinating mind of Grace, a yoga teacher struggling to keep the balance between the spiritual and financial dissonance that comes from being a yogi in the hustle of the Big Apple.

The seven episodes ranging in length five to eleven minutes, follow her life events which include awkward private sessions, terrible blind dates, emotional meltdowns, crying students and a few nice relationships. But don’t feel bad for her if things don’t go well at times, everything seems to be set up for better luck in a conceivable season two.

Watch all episodes here: Om City

Down Dog

https://youtu.be/TjX1xYVIYpw

In a parody of yoga stereotypes, Down Dog mocks typical situations happening inside a peculiar wellness center. The plot centers on the owner Sven and his bizarre complications in running a yoga studio; like dealing with his exotic competitor or creating his own currency by selling disgusting shakes to his customers.

Its hilarious setting illustrates healthy food fanatics, meditation competitions, sexy distractions during a yoga class, good looking instructors, the bro-code of men doing yoga and the essential need to have good reviews online. The funny characters on this show are guaranteed to give you a good laugh in the eight mini-episodes of the first season.

Namaste, Bitches

https://youtu.be/2DNJGINUU1c

A fantastic comedic series produced by the successful yogi, Summer Chastant. It’s a critic to the vicious yoga culture in Los Angeles and in general a critic to the immersion of yoga into the commercial scene of the industry.

The six episodes tell the story of Sabine, a yoga teacher with a dark and not-so-hidden side contradictory to the ideal yogic behavior. She drinks, smokes, flirts with students, uses drugs and is hardly a model of a Zen master. The worst part? Her coworkers’ main focus is to upload selfies and getting more followers on Instagram. As it is said in one scene, “Teaching yoga is about projecting an image, not about being truthful”.

Watch all episodes here: Namaste, Bitches

Yoga Town

https://youtu.be/F3KJwlIApdw

The show is a mockumentary about Willow, a yoga studio owner dealing with financial problems and the newest competition, Elijah, a charismatic eccentric teacher established in the sidewalk just outside the front door of her business. Desperate, Willow hires a consultant to help her defeat this intruder, but it seems more likely that his charm will end up stealing every single customer, including the viewer who finds it hard to cheer against him.

This is a very well produced series that will surely put a grin on your face and make you want to watch the 13 mini episodes all at once.

Watch all episodes here: Yoga Town

Yoga Partners

https://youtu.be/n6kJsnC3KfY

Eight people, four mats, one crazy substitute teacher; the perfect combination to put together a quite funny show. Everything happens in a partnered yoga class guided by the limited knowledge of an incompetent touchy instructor. The hesitant conduct of the confused students will set up the scene for the comedy.

10-month pregnancies, beverages for women, inexplicable fear to death and many more weird conversations that occur when two people share one mat. During the five episodes, you will enjoy the simple, yet sarcastic and amusing humor of the series.  

What all episodes here: Yoga Partners

Posers

https://youtu.be/g1cv0m5EV-M

This series features two friends getting started in the yoga world, Beth and Gabby. They couldn’t be more different from each other, one is desperate to improve her breathing to ignite her career as an actress; the other wants to find peace of mind to get over being dumped by her almost-married ex-boyfriend. With these intentions in mind, they go to their first class despite their non-existent fitness or mental stability.

The first and only season consists of eight episodes in which you will discover their fears, enjoy a good independent production and laugh along with the two main characters.

Watch all episodes here: Posers

[moritzfuchs-deactivated20220406]

Elaine / @immeurope

www.moritzfuchs.com (hier: Berlin, Germany)

[elaineblogs]

Elaine from Elaineblogs. by Moritz Fuchs in Berlin

Check my portfolio 

Book me at IMM EUROPE / Düsseldorf

[elaineblogs]

OM CITY – crowd-founded little star in the big Netflix universe about struggling NYC yoga teachers

By Elaine Abrams

I am a big fan of yoga, seriously i go to 7 AM classes at Rundumyoga nowadays like nobody's business. Christy Turlington in mind, i am not a very skilled but persistent pupil. I am also a huge fan of niche series, the ones that are really good but usually never survive the first season. After falling for ballet dancers of Flesh and Bone, i'd like to introduce you to my latest crush and today's hidden gem OM CITY.  

Being a trained actor in New York is not easy, so giving yoga classes to meet ends seems to be a good idea – plus it keeps you in shape, grounded, relaxed, energized and always well pedicured. God, no!

OM CITY was created by husband-and-wife team Jessie Barr and Tom O'Brien, who are both actors and filmmakers as well as yoga teachers. Critically acclaimed indie filmmaker Tom O'Brien (Manhattan Romance & Fairhaven) writes and directs the series. Jessie Barr stars as "Grace" and produces the series with Massoumeh Emami and Tom O'Brien.

In OM CITY we follow the harried life of Grace, a yoga teacher in NYC and her attempts to bring the humans of New York OM.

OM CITY began as a project that was largely self funded with additional donations from friends and family. A teaser was shot in three days with a very small but hugely dedicated cast and crew who donated their time. The next phase of the process was a successful fundraising campaign for a full season of the series via KICKSTARTER.

You can watch the first seven episodes here.

The best thing about this fine little gem – the episodes are short, don't cause dark deep circles under your eyes (NO binge-watching-panda) and fit perfectly between your own yoga practice, meeting friends, having a good time with your loved ones, and, and, and...

more on: http://www.elaine-model.de/commercial-lifestyle

Enjoy OM CITY with Elaineblogs.

[elaineblogs]

The Golden Cockerel - The Fairy Tale Gone Bad...

Opera by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov at Oper am Rhein

by Elaine Abrams

In the thrice-tenth tsardom, a far off place (beyond thrice-nine lands) there was a tired monarch Dodon with two slightly dumb sons and a strong desire to enjoy a peaceful life. However, there is danger coming from a foreign kingdom, ruled by of a very lustful tsarin of Shemakha. Tsar Dodon requests advice of the Astrologer, who presents him with a magic Little Golden Cockerel to safeguard the tsar's interests. The Tsar is delighted with the new alarm system and promises the Astrologer to give him anything he asks for.

When the little cockerel confirms that the Tsaritsa of Shemakha does harbor territorial ambitions, Dodon decides to pre-emptively strike Shemakha, sending his army to battle under the command of his two sons. They never come back and it comes out that they actually killed each other, so the Tsar finally fulfills his duty as the head of state and commands the army himself.

At the batterfield the Tsar discovers a beautyful tent (straight from Pigalle) with a seductive dancing tsaritsa of Shemakha.

Besotted by her beauty, he fells in love with her on the spot and asks  her clumsily to be his wife. Tsar, his army and his wife to be come back to Russia, pardon, the far off place. Everyone is a little frightened but fascinated by the foreign queen and still happy for the old monarch.

But the Astrologer (who obviously remembers all kinds of things) rains at his parade and demands his bride as a gift exchange for the Little Colden Cockerel. First Dodon tries to talk him out of this whole idea, then he treatens him and  kills him at the end. The Little Golden Cockerel, loyal to his Astrologer master, then swoops across and pecks through the Tsar’s jugular. The tsarin laughs and disappears.

The Astrologer comes again before the curtain and announces the end of his story, reminding the public that what they just saw was “merely illusion,” that only he and the tsaritsa were mortals and real.

Opera in three acts after the fairy tale by Alexander Pushkin

Libretto by Vladimir Ivanovich Belsky

In Russian with German surtitles

This new production will be Dmitry Bertman’s first as a guest for the Deutsche Oper am Rhein. He founded the Helikon Opera in Moscow in 1990, whose unconventional productions in Moscow have since been seen all around the world.

Would you like to see the trailer of “The Golden Cockerel”?

[elaineblogs]

Nathalie Croquet # 2 – French Stylist Ironises High-Fashion Campaigns And Looks Fabulous

by Elaine Abrams

In 2015 Nathalie Croquet published first pictures of herself starring in big fashion campaigns on her intagram @nathaliecroquet and gained instant popularity. This time she keeps paying her own tribute to (or making fun of) fashion campaings for Céline, Yves Saint Laurent, Isabel Marant and many more.

The good thing is you get to see how fashion clothes work for „normal“ people, the other good thing is you stop taking big labels, fashion and maybe yourself so damned seriously. I like her very much in Sandro, Sonia Rykiel and Isabel Marant. What's your favourite?

[elaineblogs]

BEAUTY ROCKS!

Instant results, beauty pearls from Dr. Grandel, korean sheet masks from PURETREE, sakura moods from the heart...My review from BEAUTY exhibition.

by Elaine Abrams

As you may or may not know, the international BEAUTY exhibition in Dusseldorf, Germany gathers every years beauty addicts from all over the world. This is the place to be and see how beauty industry works. As a model i´ve been part of this event for several years (one will spot me on some of their current adverts, for example). 

When i am at BEAUTY and happen to have some spare time, i love strolling through and find out little secrets for skincare, the newest beauty gadgets and treatments as well as make-up & more.

#Hiddengems  Let´s see, what i found this time...

First of all, let´s face it, we don´t really have time to wait (bus, waiter, a ring, the end of a post...you name it). That´s what the beauty industry is absolutely aware of and that´s why they keep on focussing on products with instant and often amazing results. One drop, one swipe with the brush, one extra super exotic superfood, and YOU look amazing. Too good to be true? Well, even a tiny miracle is a miracle.

If you desire an instant glow and a perfect make-up base, the BEAUTYGEN RENEW PEARLS from DR. GRANDEL, tiny sakura-coloured pearls in a bottle works with Snow Algae Extract and anti-age peptides and leave your skin nourished, smooth and glowing. I tried this cream serum solo, used it before my daily mosturizer or under BB-cream or foundation. And it worked every time for me (just allow about 3-4 minutes between the layers). For deepen the nourishing effect you can combine the serum with DR.GRANDEL´s RENEW ESSENCE or their ampoules. 

Sheet happens...

To fight off some stress, dull or dehydrated skin i would always go for a sheet mask from a korean brand, they deliver on the spot. I got hooked on them when i used to model in Asia and spent long time in China, Hong Kong and Singapore. Korean cosmetics is famous for being very effective. I nearly fipped when i found some PURETREE products at the exhibition. Just unfold, apply and let it work its magic.

Stay beautiful with Elaineblogs.com

If you are keen on to see some more of my modelling pics, feel free to visit www.elaine-model.de

[elaineblogs]

Horst: Photographer of Style – V & A exhibition of Horst P. Horst visits Dusseldorf from 12.2 – 21.5

He was considered, along with Richard Avedon and Irving Penn, to be one of the most important photographers of the twentieth century. He was viewed as a star by the rich and beautiful, who stood in line to be portrayed by him. He was the king of fashion photography and a “magician of light.” Even Salvador Dalí designed sets for his photo shootings: Horst P. Horst (1906–1999). The NRW-Forum Düsseldorf is presenting in Germany a retrospective of the legendary photographer curated by London’s Victoria and Albert Museum. Horst: Photographer of Style presents 250 photographic works from sixty years of creative output, including his famous works as a Vogue photographer, portraits of stars such as Marlene Dietrich and Rita Hayworth, and also surrealistic and naturalistic photographs along with travel pictures. In addition, the touring exhibition includes sketch books, private letters and previously unpublished material.

Horst Paul Albert Bohrmann, born in 1908 in Weißenfels an der Saale, traveled to Paris in 1930 to work as an architecture student with Le Corbusier. There he began his career as a photographer: he met George Hoyningen-Huene, the head photographer of the French edition of Vogue. The young apprentice frequently posed as a model for the established photographer. He achieved his own breakthrough as a photographer in 1932, when his portrait of the daughter of Sir James Hamet Dunn, an important art patron, appeared in the British edition of Vogue. There were subsequently portraits of such figures as Marlene Dietrich, Rita Hayworth, Joan Crawford and Ginger Rogers. As the new star photographer of Vogue, he was active in the fashion centers Paris, London and New York; he photographed the first supermodels, such as Lisa Fonssagrives, who posed in dresses by the couturiers Coco Chanel or Jeanne Lanvin.

His elegant black-and-white photographs from the nineteen-thirties made him a master of light and shadow. He drew inspiration from contemporary artistic trends such as Surrealism and Dada. In addition to dramatic lighting, stylistic characteristics of this photo-artist were three-dimensional impact, classicist compositions and the idealization of beauty. The model and actress Carmen Dell’Orefice once said that no one knew better than he how light had to fall on an object. Get the ultimate prove in NRW-Forum Düsseldorf, the only stop in Germany, of this truly amazing retrospective. Who needs filters and Photoshop? No one!

More on:

http://www.horstphorst.com/works.php

http://www.nrw-forum.de/ausstellungen/horst

www.art-in-duesseldorf.de

Elaine's newest coffee table crush – the exhibition catalogue @ Knesebek

....with a editor's letter by Anna Wintour.

[elaineblogs]

Share fashion, share success, share love...

by Elaine Abrams

The Uber-Trend-Forecaster Liedewij Edelkoort said lately that fashion, the way we know it, is dead! BOOM! That she doesn't go to fashion shows anymore cause: „There is nothing new outhere, everything stopped with Azzedine Alaïa and his hour glass silhouette and designers have to rush through seasons on a mad schedule, doing four main and two cruise collections every year“. This is a very bold statement, since her clients ARE the creative departments of fashion labels all over the world.

But she also says, that despite things have changed and we are all hopelessly stranded in Vintage there is still hope, cause „Young people want to share, work together, rent and not buy – Uber and Airb'n'b are the Zeitgeist, and it is also the spirit to think about fashion“.

Li Edelkoort, Zeitgeist, Rü meets Blogger...

So the idea of sharing is (again) the hot sh..., another important trend, Edelkoort mentioned: Hand-made wins in influence. The first association is, of course, couture, where every single peace of clothing is the star – this is heaven's roof. But if we start modest and un-spin the idea of hand-made f.e. in sense of hand-crafted and individualized products, it applies to small niche labels very well. You maybe remember  my post about GOLPIRA and they are doing great...Congratulations!

Nowadays there are many young designers who seem to kill it without spending huge amounts for marketing and advertising – the key to their success are the right product, the right attitude, the right use of SOCIAL MEDIA and the urge to stay fair and share their success. The young bags & accessories label MANOUC made it from an industrial town Essen in Germany to Australia in less then one year. Design markets and net-working-events merge together and replace mono-trunk-shows or fashion cocktails.

A great example of working and having a good time together was the „Rü meets blogger“- Event in Essen on 22th November, Elaineblogs. was invited to, organised by several up- and coming labels – MANOUC, JUNE JEWELLERY, Tarfa Art and more – as well as local caterers and DJ's. Sharing is caring - Zeitgeist understood!

More about  Li Edelkoort Fashion Manifesto here.

Book: Fetishism In Fashion (FRAME Amsterdam) – Coffee-Table-Book for trendlovers by Lidewij Edelkoort, edited by Philip Fimmano

Internationally-renowned trend forecaster Lidewij Edelkoort delves into the world of contemporary fetishism to reveal a daring and instinctive future for style and culture.

[dazeddigital]

You can now watch Kristen Stewart’s full Chanel film

It’s finally here!

[elaineblogs]

Kristen goes Coco…!

[harpersbazaar]

The 2016 Pirelli Calendar Is Here

A peek at the official images for next year’s calendar.

See all the stunning images HERE.

[elaineblogs]

Beauty redefined...

Last year the famous Pirelli Calender announced, there is going to be no naked model pictures anymore...What we get this year are personalities like Amy Shumer, Patti Smith, Serena Williams, Yoko Ono and many more shot by the grand Annie Leibovitz...

[elaineblogs]

BALLET SHOES DANCED TO PIECES - KEEP THE FLAME – DON'T PRAY TO THE ASHES

Lately i am obsessed with the ballet aesthetic. My last binge watching discovery was "Flesh and Bone", a catchy written story by Emmy award-winning writer and executive producer Moira Walley-Beckett (Breaking Bad). It was a lot of pleasure to watch the emotional rollercoaster of the fit cast of The American Ballet Company being tortured by their male diva choreographer. Quel cliché, i know, i know... but my Essie's "Ballet Slippers" polish bottle felt over many times, because i laught so hard.

Last week Elaineblogs. followed the invitation of the Deutsche Oper am Rhein to the preview of “Keep the flame – don’t pray to the ashes” - a delicate and intimate portrait of award-wining Ballet am Rhein's director and principal choreographer Martin Schläpfer. Director Annette von Wangenheim and her film crew were present with their cameras during rehearsals for the world premiere of “DEEP FIELD” but also during the creation of Hans van Manen’s ballet “Alltag”, in which Martin Schläpfer danced the leading role.

Excerpts from both of these ballets together with “Johannes Brahms – Symphonie Nr. 2” and “ein Wald, ein See” document some of Martin Schläpfer’s most important works as well as his creative sparks and struggles.

The cameras attempt to document his associative way of working. We see fragments everywhere: apt quotations painted on the wall of his apartment at Rhein, Schläpfer climbing up the mountain to find some peace of mind in his alpine hut, feeding his rabbits or him explaining a still-in-embryo-move to a dancer during the rehearsal of DEEP FIELD. You can see, he is quite comfortable with his idea of fragments, and that not everybody else around him is.

Can you catch the energy of creativity on camera? I think Annette von Wangenheim did a solid job, but tell me when you've seen the movie yourself. „Feuer bewahren - nicht Asche anbeten!“ - Keep the flame, not pray to the ashes comes to the cinemas in February 2016 and, in a shorter TV-version, will also be broadcasted on Arte and SRF in autumn 2016.

In the meantime, i keep googling "the perfect ballet bun" and try to find decent Barré-classes in Düsseldorf. I also always try to remember a golden advice of the principal dancer of Stanislawski Ballet Oksana Kardash how to keep a "royal" posture: "Always feel your shoulder blades. As if there are two weights pulling your scapulas down to the ground." It works immidiately; straights up your back, gives your inner strength and boosts your confidence. There is a lot more that depends on our body than we think - so start walking like a queen (and not a question mark glued to your smart phone) and the rest of the world starts treat you like one.

KEEP THE FLAME, DON'T PRAY TO THE ASHES DIRECTION Annette von Wangenheim EDITORIAL Sabine Rollberg Produced by 7T1 Media in co-operation with arte / WDR and SRF PRODUCER Ansgar Pohle FILM DISTRIBUTION Realfiction

More magic over the dancing shoes from Elaineblogs.

Enjoy rises and falls of the beautiful cast of the American Ballet Company. Watch the trailer of Flesh and Bone here:

Майя и другие (Maja and the others) – A beautiful coffee table book with essays from and about the world famous russian prima Maja Michailowna Plissezkaja, who danced on stage till 65 (!) and passed away in May 2015, as well as about her world famous fans such as Marlene Dietrich, Elisabeth Taylor, Simone Signoret and many, many more...A little excerpt here (only in russian at the moment)

Barré workout in Düsseldorf – hush, hush get your dancer legs!

Check www.pilateszeit.de for classes.

Written by Elaine Abrams

[elaineblogs]

IT'S NOT PHOTOGRAPHY!  IT'S WITCHCRAFT

Agnieczka Lorek, more an artist than a fashion photographer, creates an unreal magic world in the woods of Wales. Najades, Ophelias, Pre-Raphaelites-beauties,  elfes and dark faires put their dusky spell on us... More on: A.M.Lorek Photography

[elaineblogs]

7 BEST FASHION COFFEE TABLE BOOKS

by Elaine Abrams

1. DRUSILLA BEYFUSS, VOGUE on Hubert de Givenchy

Famous author and fashion critic tells the success story of the grand couturier in pictures and illustrations in VOGUE.

2. CHARLOTTE SEELING, Fashion: 150 Years of Couturiers, Designers, Labels

Last 150 years from the perspective of costume design. A must on every fashionistas book shelf.  

3. Masterpieces of Art

    by Lyuchiya Gasparini, Serena Marabelli

After reading this one, you will be able to lead and take part in EVERY conversation about art. At  EVERY party or event. To and with EVERYONE.

4. SOPHIA LOREN, Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow. My Life

In this autobiography you'll find, like in a fairy tale, challenge and Prince Charmings. Sophia works a lot, cooks a lot, loves with passion and makes sparkling jokes!

5. Мода. Полная энциклопедия одежды и стилей - Encyclopedia of clothing and fashion

From Nofretete and Marie Antoinette to Coco Chanel and Twiggy – the full chronologic fashion evolution with over thousands of pictures.

6. SAM PHILLIPS, The Art Guide: London

“This is the Michelangelo of guidebooks… it’s so beautifully written and illustrated, you could read it as a history of art and never set foot in a museum”

The Sunday Times

7. PIERRE LÉONFORTE, ÉRIC PUJALET-PLAÀ, Louis Vuitton: 100 Legendary Trunks

From the sleeping trunk to a suitcase only for portable beluga caviar – travel like a legend!!!

[elaineblogs]

THE MOSCOW GARAGE - A NEW HOME FOR CONTEMPORARY ART IN RUSSIA

             Contemporary art space de luxe.

Founded by art philanthropist Dasha Zhukova, Garage is a museum dedicated to bringing the world's best contemporary art to Russia. While Garage's first location was an old bus garage, the new museum space (formerly a pavilion and restaurant in the late '60s) marks its first permanent home.

Picture: Yayoi Kusama, 'Infinity Mirrored Room - The Souls of Millions of Light Years Away', 2013 Source: http://www.buro247.com.au/culture-lifestyle/arts/garage-opening-moscow.html

[elaineblogs]

Storytelling @ Cannes 2015 - 68th Film Festival

by Elaine Abrams

What happens if you being single is no longer your personal choice (or problem) turns into a solid reason to be arrested and locked away into a horrible hotel. Then you will be given 45 days to find your „other half“ and if you fail at this „speed dying“, you will be turned into an animal and released into the woods. Horrifying future scenario, no? And the story of „The Lobster“, a skurrile movie of the greek director Yorgos Lantimos starring many famous names such as Colin Farrel, Rachel Weisz, Lea Seydoux and many more.

Competing with other 17 international films (France and Italy present most of them) for the Palme d'Or „The Lobster“ will be facing for example:

A very stylish 50ies drama about two women falling in love in homophobic New York of the 50ies „Carol“, starring Cate Blanchett...

An another let's say unusual love story  „Marguerite et Julien“ about a brother and sister coming very close...

Paolo Sorrentinos' next strike after „La Grande Bellezza“, “La Gionvinezza” (Youth) about two old masters trying to produce the last peace of art in their life...

A very dusky fairy tale „Tale of Tales“ with Salma Hayak...

A most expected Gus Van Sant drama with the Oscar-tipped actor Matthew Mc Conaughey starring alongside Ken Watanabe and Naomi Watts in the film about a pair of men who meet in a Japanese 'suicide forest' – The Sea of Trees...

The face of 68th film festival in Cannes is Ingrid Bergman (Casablanca), who would have turned 100 years 2015. Why her? The Cannes comitee explains its choice: „Bergman is a modern icon, fearless actress and the neo realism symbol in the cinema.“ Well, well...said.

The second time in the history of the festival (13th- 24th May 2015) the opening movie comes from a female director – this time Emmanuelle Bercot, starring another icon Catherine Deneuve. La tête haute tells a strong and powerfull coming-of-age story of young Malony.

What else to look forward to:

Woody Allen shows out-of-competition his „Irrational Man“ with his muses-of-the-moment Emma Stone and Joaquin Phoenix. The last part of the cult triology Mad Max with Charlize Theron as an bold-headed-she-warrior and Natalie Portman's first directors job in „A Tale of Love and Darkness“.

[elaineblogs]

TODAY'S HIDDEN GEM - EIN BISSCHEN LIEBE BY ROGER SERY

Let's listen to some good music, do some charity and support Worldvision!

Find out more about Roger Sery

[elaineblogs]

Destination Tel Aviv by Elaine Abrams

In Israel you will find not one but three sees – The Mediterranean Sea, the Red Sea  and the Death Sea – and if you eager enough, you can bath in all three of them. If you want to visit the The Death Sea (bus from Tel Aviv costs 57 NIS) please note that because of hte high salt concentration you are only allowed to go into the sea twice a day – only twenty minutes in the morning and twenty in the evening. But if you can't be bothered to move around the country but still want to spend your holidays at a not at all boring place, i ll warmly recommend you Tel Aviv (with Air Berlin f.e.)!

The beaches of Tel Aviv are wide enough to forget the the city behind your back...but that would be  such a pity...

Tel Avivs' beaches are regulary ranked as one of the best city beaches in the world – wide sand beaches and  chrystall clear water form a mediterranean idyll just one step away from overpulsated city life. Tel Aviv is full of treasures – walk around the Bauhaus buildings, visit the Old Town Neve Tzedek filled with design boutiques and cosy cafés, enjoy the sundown right beside the ancient town of Jaffa. And when the night hits the town, the clubs are waiting to be explored – The Block (www.block-club.com), Radio EPGB (7 Shadal St.), Ezor (268 Dizengoff St.) - just to name a few good ones.

Big, big Sea World at coralworld.co.il, entrance 99 NIS – exotic fish and much, much more there to be observed...

Best way to save on hotels in Tel Aviv is to rent a studio through budget tourist darling airbnb.com. Nice and convenient en-suite, five minutes away from the beach,  will cost a couple roughly  the same as a room in a hostel.

At Dolphin Reef (dolphinreef.co.il) – plan in a half day minimum to visit Eilat to watch the dolphins, lay on a cosy beach, have lunch or dinner at some nice restaurants and do a doctor fish pedicure.

Follow me to the desert – 60 percent of Israel is taken up by this mesmerizing landscape!

The desert in Israel is a spiritual place with a high energetic potential. Go to Negev Desert with a backpack to escape the city noise and listen to the overwhelming silence or visit Arava Desert to practice yoga. Every year in November there is a huge worlwide yoga festival Yoga Arava with the best teachers from all around the globe. Sign up early at www.yogaarava.co.il.

Shlomit Malka, the current face and body of the lingerie brand Intimissimi, born and raised in Tel Aviv on Shopping in Tel Aviv:

Go to Inn 7 (Ben Yehuda 177, inn7fashion.com) for Rick Owens, Julius, Cinzia Araia, Preach, Zoe Karssen, Masnada.

Extravagant evening gowns you ll find at Alon Livne (24 Ahva St.). Even Beyonce is a huge fan of the hebrew designer.

Factory 54 (Ramat Aviv Shopping Mall — 40 Einstein St.) is the place where you can splurge on Carven, Isabel Marant, Marc Jacobs and T Alexander Wang.

Israeli style icon and actress Dodo Bar Or sells her own beautiful brand Dorit Bar Or (42 H’e Beiyar St.)

After checking out the young designers on Sheinken St., have a fallafel near by.

Sources: all over press; legion-media; glamour.ru