Live from Brazil: Havaianas, Daslu, New Jewelry (at end)

On Monday I ventured out into Sao Paulo to reacquaint myself with Brazilian style, which is casually elegant and can feature uncommon color combinations, textures, and patterns.

Clothes by Maria Bonita, from Sao Paulo Fashion Week, and skakeskin boots

A number of Brazilian brands, including flip flop maker Havaianas and jeweler H.Stern, as well as international brand shops (Timberland) line the street of Rua Oscar Freire. The ambiance at the Havaianas flagship store is beach chic, and the décor and displays fit right in: weathered logs for seating and piles of flip flops on display like fruit at an outdoor market. The whole store is sheltered though not entirely enclosed, and Brazilian jazz music plays in the background.

Daslu is a must-see for every visitor to Sao Paulo. This store, which is like a giant department store sans bad lighting or overstuffed racks of ratty garments, is the ultimate luxury experience (and this is the opinion of many well-travelled individuals, not just me). Each well-appointed shop in shop effortlessly spills over into the next, and each room looks like a dream closet: plush surroundings, great lighting, maids in uniform (really, see the picture, it’s a little disconcerting for some), gorgeous objects, garments, and jewels, in addition to a champagne bar nestled in amongst women’s fashions on the first floor, and various other comfortable spots located store-wide to rest and enjoy a café. According to staff, all brands (including Chanel, Prada) manage their own leased spaces. Oh, and it’s valet parking only, so no lugging bulky bags out to the car while propping up a child on one hip; Daslu is so civilized.