Confession: I know it’s the eve of the Fourth of July and all, but I feel like a bad Portuguese person. Ok, maybe bad is overkill / perhaps just underwhelming. You see, June 10th was Portugal Day, the official holiday to celebrate Portugal, the Portuguese language, and Portuguese people around the globe. There’s a huge celebration every year in San Jose, where a lot of Portuguese descendants live, and I’ve never actually been.
July 1st was Madeira Day, the day where the island of Madeira celebrates it’s regional autonomy from Portugal. My dad’s family being Madeiran, the least I could have done was pop open a bottle of Madeira and toast the ancestors. Unfortunately, I only realized it was Madeira Day on July 2nd. Womp womp.
But then again, the love of my heritage isn’t measured by holidays or glasses of fortified wine. It’s something that’s so enmeshed in my identity that I simply couldn’t see myself without it. It’s a small country with a big heart and a lot of culture, but it’s often overlooked. So whenever I see a Portuguese person succeeding, I feel a certain amount of pride (you can imagine the roller coaster of pride and disappointment at CR7’s behavior, especially him being a fellow Madeiran).
Marques’Almeida
Enter the brand Marques’Almeida. They may be based in the UK, but Marta Marques and Paulo Almeida are 100% Portuguese – and their designs prove it. No other brand embodies the sweet spot of Portuguese women’s street style as they do – no fuss, edgy, and always a tad sexy. Lots of prints, lots of raw denim, and an “I do what I want and leave the rest for confession” attitude. They incorporate traditional patterns into their clothes, like the roses on their 2019 runways.
I’ve been keeping an eye out for them recently, especially since they just started showing at Paris Fashion Week. I thought it’d be a long time before I had the chance to give their clothes a try, given how pricey the brand is and that they haven’t (yet) become popular in the US.
But that changed when my closet go-to, Rent the Runway, started carrying a few Marques’Almeida pieces (remember this vlog or this post?). I actually remember getting an adrenaline rush when I saw the label in the store. Could it really be them? Is it too good to be true?
Yes, it was really them, and yes, I took some pieces home.
The Dress
I have to admit, this dress was a challenge. Despite it being an XS, the fit was quite large. You know I love a fitted dress. It’s part of my schtick. And this was not in any way fitted, anywhere.
It had a loose, boho vibe and would fall off my shoulders if the decote wasn’t tied. This, combined with the handkerchief hem, made me feel a bit pirate-y. And I liked that feeling, so I went with it and strapped on not one, but two men’s belts at the waist. And then it somehow came together. I was a sexy Portuguese pirate. Ooh la la.
I’m excited to see where this brand goes – their latest offering of slip dresses and graffiti-print separates is pure FOGO. I’d really like to try on more and see how their sizing is across the board.
Here are some of my Marques’Almeida faves:
You like?
And tomorrow, we get to shift and celebrate ‘Merica. Any plans for the Fourth?
love,
Stig
