Brasil! Estou morrendo de saudades!

AQUARELA DO BRASIL

Brasil

terra boa e gostosa

Da morena sestrosa

De olhar indiscreto

Ô Brasil, verde que dá

Para o mundo se admirá

Ô Brasil do meu amor

Terra de Nosso Senhor

Brasil! Brasil!

Prá mim... prá mim...

Ô, esse coqueiro que dá côco

Oi, onde amarro a minha rêde

E as noites claras de luar

Brasil! Brasil!

Ah, ouve essas fontes murmurantes

Aonde eu mato a minha sede

E onde a lua vem brincá

Ah, este Brasil lindo e trigueiro

É o meu Brasil brasileiro

Terra de samba e pandeiro

Brasil! Brasil!

Prá mim... prá mim...

This afternoon I leave Buenos Aires to go 'home' to Brazil. Oh, how I miss it! I have not seen my dad in 2 years, and home-country in almost five! Brazil...how many countries have a 'love song' written about them? Brazilians truly love their country, and although I'm not technically Brazilian (I was born in London, UK), I consider myself Brazilian, as I was raised here from the age of 1. What do I miss most about Brazil? Ooh, where do I start?

1. The food: pao de queijo (little cheese breads made with tapioca flour, giving them an incredible gummy texture), brigadeiro (chocolate 'truffles' made with condensed milk), pasteis de palmito (palm heart 'pastries'), feijoada & arroz brasileiro (the national dish made of black turtle beans & pork, and even the rice is more delicious here, fried with onions & garlic before cooking), fresh young coconut juice, churrasco (chagrilled cuts of meat & fish), I could go on & on & on...
2. The people: Brazilians are generally warm & easy-going people, who work hard but are always up for a party.
3. The drinks: my favourite soft drink in the whole wide world is Guarana Antartica (light), great beers, cachaca and most importantly: the caipirinha cocktail (made with cachaca).
4. The beaches! Coconut-tree-lined beaches, soft sand & clear waters.
5. The music: I love Bossa Nova, Tom Jobim, Joao Gilberto, Miucha, Astrud Gilberto (I've always liked 'older' music more), and MPB (musica popular brasileira): Milton Nacimento, Gal Costa, Caetano Veloso...
6. The lush green that is everywhere...you appreciate it even more when you move to the driest state in Australia.
7. The weather: warm & humid...perfect for relaxing in a coconut-tree-lined beach.

Brasil has also made several contributions to fashion: such as the Havaiana sandal (I have this in countless colours to my mother's amazement, as when I was growing up, the humble Havaiana was deemed too daggy to even wear at home). Brasil is also the home of the 'dental floss biquini', not as popular now as it was a few years ago, now replaced with gorgeous offerings from Rosa Cha, Poko Pano, Salinas, & so many others. And it's not just swimwear, Brasilian designers have also been garnering international appreciation: including designers Alexandre Herchcovitch, Carlos Miele, and my favourite Brasilian designer: Francisco Costa, who, in my humble opinion has been doing amazing things as creative director for Calvin Klein . During a trip to Portugal this year I also discovered a Brazilian label called Osklen, and I loved everything instore, which has reignited my love for Brazilian fashion. And of course, Brazil has certainly also made its mark with our beautiful Brazilian models, my favourite being Caroline Ribeiro (pics of her to come in the next week or so), and pictured below on Alexandre Herchkovitch & Carlos Miele is Bruna Tenorio (google tells me she is part Japanese part Chinese part Brazilian). (*n.b. - I have been corrected, she is of Brazilian indigenous origin, hence her exotic looks, NOT Asian)

(www.style.com) - Rosa Cha, Carlos Miele & Alexandre Herchcovitch

(Osklen www.firstview.com)

(www.vogue.co.uk)

This is one of my favourite dresses by Francisco Costa, from his debut collection for Calvin Klein SS2004.