People, Places & Fashion; Zagreb, Croatia

PLACE
Best time to feel the full charm of this city is early springtime. It has to be enough warm for the walking because there are plenty things to see. In these spring days when you wander through the streets everything around you shines, and the one that is guilty for that is sun that is reflecting from buildings built in secession, neo-baroque and renaissance style. This charming architecture surely brings a spirit of some past eras while you fully enjoy in advantages of modern time. So it’s not losing of time if you grab a coffee and place yourself somewhere on the bench in one of the lovely Zagreb’s parks. Even if you don’t bring a book with you, you won’t be disappointed. Between the Upper Town walks, take a break with something delicious like Zagorski strukli (cheese phyllo pastry) or if it’s too warm with an ice cream in one of the Vincek patisseries. The most cheerful bars in the city are placed downtown (one of them is charming small Alcatraz). For a daily dose of culture, visit numerous Zagreb museums (currently at Museum of Art and Crafts is Art Deco exhibition) and hang around SC where you will find out where are interesting exhibitions, performances and concerts in the city.

FASHION
Fashion scene in Zagreb is still emerging, but has a potential to grow. The city has three fashion weeks and I saw one, organized by Fashion.hr community. Besides fashion week, it was organized some kind of expo where local designers and their crew presented clothes. Hand painted sneakers named Shuz, and lovely dresses made by Swedish designer Valerie Aflalo caught my eye. These Shuz sneakers are not exactly the kind of sneakers that a girl wears for running- with details as bows, lace and ribbons they can easily become your favorite shoes for romantic walks.
During three-day long fashion week, I saw many collections from Croatian designers and I was most impressed by Donassy house. The designer, Branka Donassy, except is specialized in custom-made and prêt-a-porter fashion, also is a costume and film designer. Donassy’s collection was real, well-rounded fall collection with beautiful coats, practical trousers and dresses. Silhouette was aesthetic but feminine with fine avant-garde details. And all the pieces were very well tailored and made of very quality fabrics. Also I found charming the collection of young designer Aleksandra Dojcinovic that was all about the romance, details, chiffon and quirky colorful shoes.

PEOPLE
Just like the rest of the Europe, people in Zagreb pay a lot of attention to fashion. On the fashion week, bloggers and journalists were the best dressed. So I have to mention lovely Ana from Little Fashion Paradise and Fashion.hr journalist that was totally boho romantic in polka dots shirt, leather skirt and suede heels. Also there’s my dear friend Tina and her sister Lea that run blog Style & Coffee. They both looked very refined and French, one in beige sweater over the long skirt, covered with parka and the other one in leather pants and striped tee with little lace vest. And Marko, journalist at Fashion.hr and blogger is I believe the most chic man in Croatia. Also I met Matea, girl that writes very interesting blog Enchanted Gardens and except that is super lovely is super cute.

PHOTOS VIA JELENA BALIC, FLICKR, FLICKR, FASHION.HR, LITTLE FASHION PARADISE, MISSLIKEY