ADIOS

So, this is probably not my last post ever since I still have a few chapters left on my Emma Loca Chronicles to finish (sorry I haven't kept my promise to write the full story before this day, but I've been crazy busy and emotionally unstable...)
Today is the last day and I can't believe that this day has come, let alone that it's about to end..

I'm having a massive party for my closest friends and dearest customers in a couple of hours. Don't know what to write now really, just wanted to stop by and say thanks for everything. I'm getting all choked up everytime a customer says goodbye, but yea.. this really is time to say goodbye and move on.

Not yet on this site though, so keep stopping by. Write something back sometime, say hello, make yourself known and heard!

Gotta get back to my super sale.. what's left of it that is. If you're in Stockholm, stop by for the party <3

Today's been a melancholic day. I've had a ton of work, people are going crazy over the clearance sale and I've even started to sell part of the inventory, decor etc.. Insane!

However, the day started with me visiting my friend Fanny (R.I.P) 's mother at her shop here in Gamla Stan. She called me yesterday saying she had a dress that Fanny wanted me to have and had set aside for me beofre she passed away. Knowing Fanny of course it fit perfectly and  was beyond beautiful. It's a turquoise and pink tuille and sequince dream! I think I'm wearing it on the shop's closing party next Friday. I know that would make her very happy. (Tack snälla Fanny, hoppas du hade en fin födelsedag igår. Tänkte på dig)

Even though I should be happy about how well the sales are going these days it makes me quite sad to see the place so empty.. I just wanna get it overwith at the same time I don't want anything to change. Weird.

Oh well, I better get used to the thought.

Ooops

My sister just called and usually I try not to talk while having customers inside the shop but I haven't talked to her in what feels like ages so we had lots to catch up on.

The only woman browsing was this old lady with a map and camera in hand, so I figured she was a tourist and kept on gossiping away.

After telling my sister all about how I got horribly drunk the other day (long story.. I skipped dinner to go to meet my sister in law for drinks straight after work and..well.. it didn't end very pretty.. NEVER SKIP DINNER KIDS!) it figures that the old lady was Swedish and is now very familiar with how much I drank vs. how intoxicated I got. Hahaha.

40's girl

As previously mentioned, I've struggled to find inspiration to combine fabulous outfits. It's getting better now that I have all of my clothes in one place (now that I actually have a HOME again) but strangely enough, what I find most joy is in doing my hair.. Weird, I've always been super low-maintenance and lazy about my hair but yesterday I used heat rollers to create romantic curls (for the rose dress) and today I made this pinup style 'do that matches the 40's dress I wore to work.

Expiration date

I'm not fussy about that stuff, but seriously, ten days past is pushing it - even for me. I did however use the last few drops in today's coffee. Gave it a special umpff. Good stuff.

Roses

This old 50's dress was one of my favorites 3 years ago, since then I kinda forgot about it.Such a shame, since it has the most beautiful rose pattern and is painfully pretty.And it has pockets! You can never go wrong with pockets. Love it.
Matchy-matchy song
PS. Yes, I know I gotta fix that light bulb on the left. A customer broke it and it's stuck..

CHAPTER ONE

So I thought it would be nice to use these last weeks to reminsce over the whole Emma Loca story, from the beginning 'til the very end. It's gonna be quite extensive, with names, songs, places, parties, photos.. all kinds of memories, but I'll hope you'll enjoy it as much as I'll certainly do!


May 2007 - June 2008

It all started with a massive renovation. I designed the interiors, bought material and then supervised the contractors. Had so much fun during the entire process - as well as a chronic headache due to delays and road bumps.. But anyway, in the end it was all worth it because it turned out fantastic!

Opening night with friends and family was pretty much the most amazing day of my life. The sense of pride and accomplishment is something that will live within me forever and ever.
Oh, the memories.. let's look back at some snapshots from that event..

It's funny to look at these old photos because it still looks kinda the same, just a tiiiiny little bit more cluttered.. hehe

Went on quite a few business trips that first year; Barcelona, Bali, Kuala Lumpur, California (twice).. now that I put it like that, I don't even know how I had time to get any work done? Was I even here? 

Luckily I've always found great staff to help me out when in need. It's pretty amazing how lucky/blessed I've been to get so many beautiful, smart and reliable girls that want to work for me. Alisa, Helena, Bea, Maja, Isabelle, Irene, Maria, Astrid and of course the one and only Therese. My rock that's been with me almost since the start. Love and trust her to death. Always sassy and always there with a smile, keeping the place nice and tidy (Thank God for OCD haha!) 

I'm forever grateful to have had the opportunity to get to know so many wonderful girls, of which some I today am fortunate enough to call 'friend'. 

I hosted the first annual Christmas party that year. Remember baking saffron buns and cookies like a maniac,  you can see the result on the pictures below.. Also visible is the alternative hairstyle I was sporting, combined with silver glitter eyeshadow, black sequence skirt and my favorite silk tunic. I miss those days! I was so sparkly!! 

Soundrack of Year One 

(I'm sure I've forgotten most, and the playlist on iTunes got wiped out along with everything else on my old hard drive, but you get the picture)

Belanova - Tus Ojos

Lily Allen - Smile

Musiq Soulchild - Just Friends

Maroon 5 - Makes Me Wonder

Jason Mraz - Curbside Prophet

Lily Allen - Everything's Just Wonderful

Vapnet - Kalla Mig

Vanessa Paradis - Be My Baby

Belanova - Mirame

Jason Mraz - The Remedy

Chapter Two will start with the event of Emma Loca's 1st anniversary party and how two drunken girls got inked some very foul words.... Oh my...

Moving day

This week I'll be getting comfy in my new (old) home. Feels weird being away from Emma Loca while still in Stockholm though.



Marley seems to have found his favorite place already. Cutie.

Lady of the ring

I just got my first overseas order thanks to the blog post I posted the other day. (BTW your ring should be on its way now Kirsten, hope you'll like it :)

Maybe that's what I should be doing? I'm seriously considering asking a jewelry designer I know to take me in as his apprentice. He's offered a few times to teach me but I haven't picked up on it, although next time I will. For sure! This could be my new business venture...!

With all of the horrible happenings this past weekend it hasn't felt appropiate to post shallow and thoughtless posts about my everyday life.

I still can't digest what's happened and how many people have died - for what? The ideas and fanatism of a narrow-minded young man? It makes no sense and although I keep reading about the timeline of the bombing, the gathering of the young kids at Utoye, the shooting, the testimonies of the victims.. it's too much to take in, it's absolutely horrible and I can't understand it.
My thoughts go out to all of the Norwegians, especially those affected personally.

Also, RIP Amy Winehouse. Such a sad loss for her loved ones and fans. This is my favorite vid of her performing 'Valerie'.

What a sad and dark weekend. Reminds me to love each day and make the most of life.

A little bit of this and that

Sorry for my absence guys. It's come to my attention that I haven't written in a while so here's a little summary of this last weeks happenings.

1. I've started to make rings again which is so much fun! These ones are made out of brass thread and glass stones.



2. I've been craving handbags like crazy. Bought a similar one to this but in black. Still dreaming about this beautiful red one though..



3. I helped out this sweet German guy who wanted to buy men's vintage and made a shopping guide for him. As a gesture of gratitude he stopped by the day after with this note. "I found a very special shirt so you've earned a little piece of my heart" naaw.. Thank you Daniel!



4. I've been staying at the apartment in Hornstull and therefore been hanging out and drinking lots of coffee at Dello Sport (back to the roots) This is Tony's thumb next to mine. HAHA!



5. I've had little to none fashion inspiration lately but today I found this dress in the back of my closet and went for a 60's look.


This week's biggest drama was when a pigeon entered the shop and attacked me (mildly exaggeration) I started crying and had to call Vicente to rescue me. Hate those nasty flying rats. Hate'em.
Oh, and a date has been set for the shop's last day: August 31. Might be doing a closing party.. I'll keep you all posted. 

Highway to hell

This day's been great. I started working at 13.30 so I had time to chill out at home, soak up some sun, eat mom's delicious flan and then take a long walk before getting to Emma Loca. Lovely!

The only bad part was this dodgy woman that stole a handful of saint bracelets a short while ago. I saw that she was up to no good, but had too many other customers to pay her the needed attention.

If there is a God you know she ain't joining him in heaven, that's for sure.

Beware of men

I have a horrible confession to make. Almost every time a man walks in to the store I get uncomfortable and afraid that he might be up to no good. It's crazy thinking, I know not all men are evil, but I've had a few scares and am pretty traumatized (the naked perv, the young guy that threatened to rob me, the scary men that gamble outside on the street that followed me, the two men that tried to steal the register at my dad's shop....)

Also, it's pretty weird when 'normal' men walk around in a women's fashion shop aimlessly. It really gets the alarm bells ringing.

Anyway, today that instinct of caution saved me from getting robbed.

A man entered and asked to see some handbags behind the counter. He had this creepy vibe. A few minutes later a second man enters (by now the shop is empty apart from these two)
The 2nd one is standing by the door, looking at the displays and asks me to go there to help him pick out a gift (THE most classic decoy of them all... you see, the first 'customer' is now standing close to the register while deciding on these purses he asked to see. If I go over to help the other man -at the other end of the store-  the first one would be able to get behind the desk and snatch today's earnings in a heartbeat)

I politely told the second man that I couldn't go over there and that if he wanted help he had to approach the desk himself. He got a bit annoyed and insisted that I'd go to help him pick out a present, but I refused. So they left. I'm absolutely positive they were plotting this together, and I'm also sure they're gonna try it at some other store on the street but I can't send the cops on them since they didn't actually do anything illegal.

I'm telling you, it's not for nothing some male customers freak me out. I'm sooo happy I have a can of self defence spray just in case I might need it someday. I hope I won't.

The best combo

Freshly-brewed coffee with milk and this lovely Jack Daniel's whiskey fudge. Mmmm... it's my every day indulgence.



The awesome coffee mug was a gift from my sister (she knows me too well, haha) and I got the fudge at this last Emma Loca party. Don't know who it was from or where it was bought though.. Please tell me if you know where they sell it, I want more!! It's probably the best fudge I've ever tried.

Greetings from the beach

I know I've been somewhat absent lately, but there's a reason for that. You see, I've been on a mini-vacay in the archipelago. Now my batteries are re-charged and this week is gonna be productive and amazing! 

Resten av ditt liv

Jag hoppas att ditt vin blir till vatten. Blixtar prickar dig. Hälsa till satan, vi hörs!



I LOVE THIS SONG! It's so full of bitterness and resentment that it gives me goosebumps.

Må dina hårddiskar för evigt, alltid, krascha.

Happy 4th of July!

Sorry for the lousy blogging but a girl's gotta work! Here's a little outfit snapshot bonanza to compensate.

Today - work mode: stripey blouse (H&M) and a vintage leather skirt I bought this past weekend.



Yesterday - lazy Sunday at the movies mode: purple pants (could be my mom's...??), my ALL TIME FAVORITE silk tunic and my sister's silver sneakers.


Saturday - party mode: Ray-Bans, green earrings and orange lipgloss.

Friday - work & errands mode: denim skirt (Gina Tricot) orange top (H&M) brown heels (American Eagle)

Wednesday - tanning mode at the park: circus striped skirt (vintage) and mint blue bikini top (H&M)


Well, that's pretty much what I've been looking like for the past few days. Hope you're all having a great start of this new week and month!

What would Jesus do?

sloganmaker.com knows.

All things that sparkle

You can have so much fun while trying on glamorous sequin dresses. Too bad there's never a perfect occasion for these kinds of gowns, other than a masquerade or a Syrian wedding.



Nice to see we're hard at work huh? Ice-cream and playing dress up. Great day!

I scream for ice-cream!!

One of the smallest, yet greatest, joys in my life is frozen dairy.

When the girl from the shop next door stops by with two cones for Therese and I as a token of her affection, well that's just delightful!!!!





Thank you Alicia!

Me no habla español

Just had the sweetest customer. Beautiful young woman, looked kinda like a Hollywood star (which she might've been)

Anyways, the thing is that she's Mexican, born in Mexico City by Mexican parents, but moved to LA ten years ago. AND SHE SPOKE ALMOST NO SPANISH! How do you not speak your mother tongue? How do you forget it while living in California, where 80% of the population speaks it? And especially when you leave Mexico while no longer a child? HOW? WHY?! I don't get it.

Ugh. That pisses me off. And it's a shame that people don't get that having a second language is a privilege and should be protected and preserved at all cost.

SUMMER SALE

We just started our annual summer sale. Hurry up and get here before your favorite is sold out!

The apple of my eye

Very matchy-matchy but also very cute.

Glad midsommar!

We're on vacation celebrating midsummer. See you on Monday!

Just shoot me

You know those days when you wish you'd just stayed at home in bed where nothing bad can ever happen to you?

Well, today is one of those days. To say the least.

I woke up at 5 am without being able to fall back asleep. Tired as hell I watched some TV and read the newspaper. After a couple of hours I got hungry and ate breakfast, just to realize that the eggs or the chorizo I had weren't cooked properly so I got sick and spent the rest of my morning vomiting (and obsessing over all of the parasites and diseases I've contracted)

Later on my way to work I sent an email to Angelica telling her all about my miserable start and consoling myself saying 'It can only get better from now on'

How wrong was I.

Stopped by to get a coffee on my way to the metro and realized too late that I had forgotten my wallet at home. Leaving the coffee shop (embarrassed but with a promise to pay them back sometime soon) in the pouring rain, of course without an umbrella, hopped on the metro which - of course - had an emergency stop in a tunnel making me late to open the shop for the first time in months.

I hate this day.

I want to say it can only get better but I don't wanna jinx it. I'm prepared for the worst. BRING IT ON!

Hometown Glory

Starting June 1st there's been a dramatic change in the amount of tourists walking down the streets here in Gamla Stan. It's been really busy and I've had lots of wonderful international customers. I love working in the summer (especially now that the AC is doing its magic) there's no comparing it to those god awful days in February when you don't see a soul for HOURS. Now I'm happy if I get a chance to eat something or go pee (some have suggested I get a catheter plugged in, LOL uhm... I'd rather stop drinking coffee or water even, thanks though)

Back to the tourists. It's amazing how all these people come from all over the world to visit my hometown. They have the whole world to pick and choose from, and this is where they ended up.

You really appreciate it more through the eyes of others, that's why I love hanging out with foreigners. They often end up teaching me stuff. Today I learnt that Stockholm is the Venice of Scandinavia. Haha!

Today's song

TGIFSS

It's been a crazy busy day but I can gladly say that the AC is making a huge difference on the indoor temperature and comfort.

This weekend will be Astrid (the new girl)'s first, so if you stop by and shop be nice to her and wish her luck!

See you on Monday!!

Home delivery service

One of my best friend's little sister is graduating from gymnasiet (Swedish high school) and she asked us months ago if we could please be in charge of finding her the perfect graduation dress.

Well of course!

Time passed and Elisabeth stopped by the shop last week to see what dress I had found her.

Eehm.. Oops? Sorry? I had honestly forgotten all about it, but thankfully there's nothing in this store if there's no pretty dresses so she soon found two different ones. A long elegant one for prom and a short flirty one for the day ceremony. Phew. So she reserved them and left them hanging here.

It turns out I'm not the only one with poor planning. She just called me saying that her graduation is tomorrow at 8 am and she has no way of getting to the shop today. So I'll have to carry her dresses with me after work while seeing friends and then go to her house late at night so she gets them before the big day. Now that's proper service! Midnight home delivery service, who does that?

I do that.

This time I'll be bulletproof

Yyou must've seen this outfit a million times, but anyways..(CHECK OUT MY TAN!)Lace dress/tunic - H&MBoots - VagabondCross earrings - Forever 21Watch - Casio
Here's the song of the day.

Dusty rose

I know I suck at doing PR for my stuff since almost everything I wear isn't available at Emma Loca. But today I have a special item for you!

This cute silk dress is from [numph] and on sale since yesterday! Was 899kr, now 450.
Looks great with black tights as well so it'll be perfect all year round at any party!

Hot hot hot

We're melting away by the second Marley and I.
It's like this every year, I can't believe how we've survived five summer this way? Hello third world country?! We don't have ACs here in Sweden, which my American customer from Miami noticed and pointed out to me in a very upset manner. She said she'd been sweating more here in Stockholm than in Florida.
Duly noted, ma'am.

Brown sugar

These past few days have been like a real life Swedish summer's dream. It truly doesn't get any better than this here in Stockholm.
Sitting on a blanket eating strawberries and watermelon while drinking wine in a park. Eating ice cream by the dozen. Tanning on the terrace 'til your skin smells like burnt cinnamon while listening to your favorite tunes. I love every second of it! Why can't life always be like this?

Seems like the sun worshipping part has started to pay off. Today's first customers were a family from Singapore and the mother was quite impressed and fascinated by my skin color.
"You so tan! You look brazilian! You go tanning salon?"  "No, just outside in the sun"  " Oh wow, you so TAN! You so so pretty. Your mother must be very happy"

So very very sweet! We took a picture together, but it was with their camera so I can't post it here. I'll show you guys my tan some other day.

This song takes me back to my R'nB era in my mid-teen's. Before I went all pop. Hah.

Du gamla, du fria

Today was Sweden's national holiday and everyone but me seemed to have this lovely day off.
The shop was disgustingly hot and busy (there was some major celebration by the castle which is two blocks away) but I survived thanks to many liters of water and a few frozen yogurts from 7-11.

Weekend

View over Grand Hotel, Stockholm


Frida


Floating restaurant


<3


Marley enjoying the sun


Dinner

Working is fun and all, but I really love my weekends off!

PS. Thanks again Dot & Sophie for the beautiful notebook! I love it!

Living on the edge

I'm not a thrill seeker. I don't dive off cliffs. I would never skydive. I don't go river rafting. I don't even go swiming in waters where I can't see the bottom.



Wearing a tube dress one size too big - with no bra underneath - totally falls under the same near death category. I've had an adrenaline rush for hours now. I have to stay alert at all times to avoid disaster!

I've said it before..

..and I'll say it again:

I have the best customers in the world!

Yesterday I met two American girls who needed some advice on where to go out. Being the Stockholm expert that I am, I soon had a small list of places, clubs and music scenes they should go to. They were so sweet and friendly that I ended up joining them later that night. So much fun!

Thanks Dot & Sophie for a great night!

Busy

Why work when you can sit and see how Nadal is kicking my poor Söderling's ass?
(BTW if anyone knows of a good site that streams Roland Garros live, please let me know! watching some numbers, or even a graph, update once in a while doesn't do a great game justice)

KOM IGEN NU ROBIN!!!!! Vi hejar på dig! We wanna see you in the semi final!

I have to tell the story about when I was at the same flight as Björkman and Söderling a few years ago. They were right behind me as we were boarding but I didn't notice until my sister pointed them out to me. I got totally starstruck (about seeing Björkman, because Robin wasn't even a top 100 player back then) so the entire flight through I was planning on how to approach him. At the baggage belt I got my opportunity and walked up with a napkin and pen, asking for an autograph for my little brother Björne (hahhahahaah)
I felt sorry for Robin so I was like: 'ok, you can write your name too'

They dedicated it to Björne (my imaginary brother), so of course I ended up giving it to my friend Björn. Little did we know Söderling would end up being the great player he is today.

Nadal is now two points from winning the first set. Ughhh.... Come on!

Old shoes

I've owned at least a hundred pairs of shoes in my lifetime, but never ever had I worn out a pair - until today. And boy did I wear them out! I didn't even notice until they were literally falling to pieces. Thankfully I had an extra pair in the store. Tonight was ping pong night! Gotta have shoes with flawless sole for me to really show off.

What was I thinking?

Now, looking back on this morning I kind of wish I'd dressed in a different way. I try to flatter myself thinking I'm a fairly intelligent person. Today I found out I'm not.

Putting on a playsuit, with tights underneath, and a skirt on top is all fine and dandy. Not that stupid, just a tiny bit maybe. Especially considering it's like 25 degrees outside, but anyways. A little sweaty but still stylish.

Then going on to drink almost 2 litres of water, and on top of that two cups of coffee (hello peeing machine!) when the toilet is downstairs, and not being able to know when the store will empty so that I can close and go.. that's playing with fire right there.

When there's no lock on the door either, and I have to unzip and undress completely to be able to pee (effing romper! most useless piece of shit garment everrrrr), and then having to use two hands to dress.. That's really dumb.
Some dude got a tattoo and a PEEp-show today........................ awkward........

Tonight I'm gonna drink beer, and you know what effect that has on your bladder. So yeah, I think it's safe to say I'm no genius.

I just wanna go home and get out of this textile prison.

Burning

Top (not really a top, scroll down and you'll see..): TOPSHOP Skirt: H&M (bought it yesterday!)Shoes: very old ones, don't remember where I got them



SEE! It's a short romper!



That was today's oufit and here's another one of my favorite songs.