I’ve started a new blog. Don’t ask why – the explanation is on it. I’m not going to link to the new blog from here. Just press the contact button and send me a little word if you want the new address. Everyone can have it, but be warned it’s my personal blog and I will write what I want. Does it sound strange? If you were really under an impression that I write what I want on ‘origami…’ I’m sorry to disappoint you, but it has not always been the case. I always watched out for bad PR… but since everyone has a blog now, I think we need to start writing what we really think instead of all those blogger newcomers who are taking it all so seriously when rewriting press releases.
So I went back to where I started, created a boring layout where I will write about the mundane and the banal. I’ll take bad pictures with my crappy camera and post stupid photoshopped collages…just made one with owls, happy as a child! Otherwise it’s clean and white with supersized images. By the way, let me know if you want to be linked to on my new blog, I’ll be happy to do it.
But probably the best news is that there’s a comment link and everyone can say what they think – no more hidden comments for bloglovin’ followers only! Isn’t that great!
Oh well, drop me a mail at l_lena73@hotmail.com and have a good laugh at all the silliness that keeps me busy.
Love
10 December 2010
back to the old, into the new
07 December 2010
come spring
Hunting and Collecting are doing something pretty unusual for a high end boutique for the upcoming spring season – they will be the first Belgian retailer to sell Topshop and Topman…erm…halt! Topshop?
And just maybe I shouldn’t write much about Topshop x Hunting&Collecting, because as you may know, Topshop normally gets a plenty of slaps and grimaces from me on this blog, as I have never been able to get any decent service out of those Brits. Faulty, incorrect, broken items, bad packaging and tedious refund/exchange service that costs an arm…or a leg…bad fitting and sizes and lengths that don’t correspond the image – there’s nothing worse than Topshop online service. And then…
And then I went into the store on Oxford street, which is really sized more like an airport. Standing amongst the eager Topshoppers and not knowing where to go. I ended up going to fitting rooms at least five times with too many articles, having a lunch and still going back to the fitting rooms – there IS a lot of stuff to consider. It’s more directional than COS, and at averagely the same prices you can find really strong pieces that will last you a lifetime. The Boutique section was impressive, not only design-wise, but also quality-wise (I am wearing a Topshop Boutique dress at this very moment, it’s from 4 years ago and still looks impeccable). The footwear lounge is a separate story too, I do own three pairs of Topshop shoes (ok, I know it’s not much, but alongside with my collection of Dries, Margiela, Branquinho, Ann D. and OC, it is more than I need) and I’m endlessly happy with each one of them.
‘The moral?’ – you may ask. Topshop is a flop as much as it is a win, and it takes the most skilled eye to pick the best pieces. I have upmost confidence in Aude and Niels to do so. I’m curious about their selection and about the general style it will represent for the Belgian (or Brussels) public which is very difficult as the local ‘fashion crowd’ has no guts to wear anything remotely fashionable or crazy, and basically remains the ‘hangout/party crowd’. And just may be the democratic Topshop can teach the boring Brussels fashion scene some tricks of British quirkiness. It is a clever move and a wise choice. It wouldn’t have been possible without a strong position in fashion retail on the international level, and I’m glad to say that Aude and Niels have established themselves internationally only one season through.
There will be more new names to talk about next season, of course. I’m glad to see Veronica B Vallenes, Christian Wijnants and Emma Cook. Re-appearance of Wood Wood in Bxl (previously sold at Mapp.), Back by Ann-Sofie Back, Complex Geometries and Silent by Damir Doma ( which are of a different style, but it works at RA13). Linda Farrow sunglasses, Swash and Yvonne Konne (once again the RA13 list) – and I’m only mentioning the ladies’ part! It will be yet another lovely season.
Upon writing all this I feel like I should go hibernate until February, like a big Russian bear. Then wake up, pull on those Carin Wester shoes and go hunting and collecting.
06 December 2010
ASOS kills
an encounter
Have you ever been faced with a choice of to cry through laughter or to laugh through tears? I’ve been there today! In the late afternoon when the light gets all magical, two of my most admired Belgian designers stepped into the store – An Vandevorst and Filip Arickx, with all the charm they’ve got they are always oozing confidence. I’ve seen them so many times during my studies in the Antwerp Academy, but never exchanged some words with them – today was the day, and even my Flemish sounded flawless at their presence…until…
Until with a corner of my eye I spotted a lady who was observing a pair of A.F.Vandevorst boots with a rather strange expression. I had an uncanny feeling. She , at the top of her voice, asked us which brand are those shoes, and the entire world turned upside-down! She, on top of her voice, commented on An’s shoes, on the fact that she never knew A.F. make clothes, on how her son doesn’t like those boots, and so on and so forth! Oh horror! I tried my best to disguise her in the background by speaking louder, showing them around the store (which they know perfectly), and playing a scene of ‘oh I did not introduce myself, hello, my name is Lena’, all while I just felt ashamed.
Ashamed for all those people who are ignorant, who lack manners. Ashamed for having allowed any of those comments – but what could I do? Close the door behind a potential customer? No way! So it’s almost as if I allowed it to happen. I went to Antwerp because of its fashion… An and Filip were one of the first long unpronounceable Belgian names I learned at the age of 16, then only vaguely interested in fashion. Now being both fashion insider and consumer I pronounce those Belgian names with utter respect.
How can this woman be so rowdy and vulgar? Forgive me if I’ll never understand.
03 December 2010
no S4lem
I’m not sure whether I should be disappointed about yesterday’s night when Salem has cancelled because of the snow storm in England. The band was stuck in the UK and my trip to Gent could have been a total waste of time…but me+friend always find something to do, so we went to a museum, had a snowball fight and drank sparkling wine. The evening was over before it begun all seemingly perfect.
I am now wondering what the hell am I supposed to do without the main interview for the forthcoming issue of Various Sources – S4lem kids have kindly agreed to chat with me for a while about all and nothing…I weep because it has never happened – it would have been a great experience and an interesting article. So here I am, in the painstaking search again.
Luckily my camera worked yesterday, it might be the cold, but cameras like to have a life of their own when in my hands – I never know what to do with them, just like with dogs…one way or another, I’ve been able to fill up the folder in My Documents that’s called ‘Similarities’. These pictures are great trophies of yesterday night repetitive objects galore.
I let you observe.
01 December 2010
salem frost
Tomorrow me+friend will go to Gent to the S4lem gig. Something I’ve been looking forward to for a very long time until one band got booked to open. Not a big deal though, since the car-ride is long enough to miss the first band.
Somehow I don’t feel like dressing in black or anything but a pink plaid shirt won’t do either, I’m saying this because it’s just too darn cold and the forecast for tomorrow doesn’t sound too exciting.
At least in some ways ‘frost’ is beautiful.
100 days
The happy news! And probably the ones that will finally encourage me to get a ticket to Amsterdam.
Henrik Vibskov launches a new project of ephemeral retail spaces that will last no longer than 100 days per space per city. The first one to host the Vibskov genius is SPRSPACE in Amsterdam, which is at Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 262. The launch is on 9th of December and is very tempting indeed.
21 November 2010
Goldfinger
This amazing metallic nail..erm…gadget is called Nail Rock and is available online at ASOS. Happily coinciding with this amazing discovery is the free-of-charge shipment that ASOS offers for a limited period of time. So in a matter of a few seconds I was at the checkout page.
I’ve been looking for the chrome or metallic nailpolish for a while now, but all they’ve got in store is the ugly glittery and shiny ones. No! I want the real heavy metal stuff! L’Oreal (or was it Maybelline?) should resurrect the Chrome nail-colour series they used to have back in the 90’s – they’ll go sold out. My first nailpolish ever was a bright yellow one, and that’s prior to the fast-drying polishes, so I remember waiting for a half-an-hour and waving my hands in the air for it to dry. Then came the fast-drying Chromes and I had a silver one, it was like a revelation – shiny nails of stainless steel…
Well, back to Nail Rock – it’s not a polish but some kind of sticky film which must be softened and applied with heat of a hairdryer, and to me it looks like a GoldLeaf that is used to make the classical wooden picture frames gold and shiny, so I’m endlessly curious how it’s going to work for the nails. The beauty of Nail Rock is not only in the chrome finish, but you can have all sorts of printed patterns as well…although they look incredibly kitsch in polkadot and tacky in leopard print, I’m sure there’s a right person out there somewhere to wear them. Not me. The gold nail wrap should be in my mailbox by the end of the week, and I’ll make sure to be the Madame Goldfinger at the S4lem gig on the 2nd of December.
20 November 2010
'vintage' reprise
More images that have passed the due by date – these are from a presentation at RA13 in Antwerp – oh how I love that shop!
Note: this is the autumn/winter 10/11 presentation by Narelle Dore – Antwerp Academy graduate from the same year as Romain Brau, who’s one half of RA13.
'vintage'
16 November 2010
to Amsterdam?
I’m bored of Brussels these days. Really feel like going to Amsterdam to spy into people’s windows – the Dutch people always have the most beautiful interiors, and to shop a little Monki.
14 November 2010
i love your blog too!
Thanks to Evelien for the ‘I love your blog’ prize! I’m really not the network type of blogger and I’m utterly surprised to even be mentioned in this sort of thing, BUT INCREDIBLY FLATTERED! Really hope not to bore anyone with my answers…
1. Why did you create the blog?
When it all begun I lived in a small town in a relationship that was slowly breaking down – I needed to rant, I was tired of people finger-pointing at me on the street and wanted to give some attention to art and music that had very little exposure. I watched Susie posting crappy mirror shots of her outfits and hoped for one day to do the same, then the mirror-shot hype slowly died and bloggers became professional with tripods and all, and I still haven’t found any courage to do decent outfit posts. This blog exists since 2006 – it’s a dinosaur, like Susie’s and Zana’s blogs. I deliberately refuse any advertisement, rarely share a link or post about brands that send me their lookbooks – I feel that I have to genuinely believe in what I’m writing, because I LOVE writing…not blogging, but writing. I publish a fanzine and write for others if they ask me to, because that’s what I love. Any physical interaction is only worth it if I can write about it – a poem, a prose, a blog post.
2. What kind of blogs do you follow?
Will I shock anyone saying I don’t follow any blogs. I don’t participate in any networks, almost never comment, use Bloglovin’ or anything similar. I simply have several bookmarks to the sites that I like to check, these days most of them are blogs. Mainly streetstyle and photoblogs – for trend research. Non-English written ones for brand research. Art blogs. Online magazines. But there will be always Susie and Yvan who’s work I admire since 2006 and check them every day for already 4 years. Crazy!
3. Favorite makeup brand?
I think I’ve got the most sensitive skin in the universe. The only thing that works is Håkansson. Uslu Airlines on my nails.
4. Favorite clothing brand?
If Henrik Vibskov were to grow wings he’d be my angel, if he were to wear a crown he’d be my king, and I really think we should just get married.
Realistically? After 2 and a half years of working for COS my wardrobe if full of it, and I still like it. Acne, Stine Goya, Christophe Lemaire, Opening Ceremony, Martin Margiela – always find something I like and I’m ready to live off cornflakes for months to be able to pay that stuff.
There isn’t one aesthetic I admire, but a unison of the dissonance. Undercover, Proenza Schouler, Bernhard Willhelm, Margiela from the 90’s, BLESS, Marios Schwab, Lena Lumelski, Peter Pilotto, Fabrics Interseason, Mikio Sakabe, Arielle de Pinto, Natalia Brilli, Richard Nicoll, Katie Eary, Rodarte, Ann Sofie Back, Veronica B. Vallenes, Anntian… I’m sure to add a couple more almost every day, and then still having to go to Oxfam for a pair of new trousers.
5. Your indispensable makeup product:
‘Lady Danger’ red lipstick by M.A.C. and Uslu Airlines nailpolish in BHC grey.
6. Your favorite color:
For me every colour has specific use. Interior is only white and wood (that’s a colour too). The wardrobe is mainly black, grey and beige with all pastels and neutrals. Neon yellow, mint, magenta, neon pink on white make me happy.
7. Your perfume: I can spend years without one. Previously layering Comme des Garcons’ original perfume and Cinnamon Eau de toillete. Now Undercover’s Holygrace.
8. Your favorite film:
I rarely watch movies, but of the ones I did watch it’s ‘Funny Games’ (German original from 1997) by Michael Haneke, ‘Inland Empire’ by David Lynch, ‘Dancer in the Dark’ by Lars von Trier, or generally anything from the aforementioned directors, also Michel Gondry, Lucas Moodysson’s ‘A Hole in My Heart’ and the Danish Dogma films – ‘Festen’ by Thomas Vinterberg of course.
9. What country would you like to visit and why?
Iceland and Japan. Just because. And I will surely re-visit Germany, Denmark, Finland, and Sweden. I want to go to Wales in UK – just read the city names like Trearddur or Pwllheli – music to my ears! I’d love to go to Shetland or Faroe, or even Spitsbergen islands.
10. Make the last question and answer to yourself:
Believe it or now, quite a few people asked me whether I may suffer from a light form of autism…because I don’t ask questions.
Now I guess I have to pass the ‘I love your blog’ prize to someone else… really everyone who stays true to their own opinion deserves it as much as anyone who keeps informed of the latest news and trends. I'll leave this open.
MODO stocksale
12 November 2010
topshop treasure hunt
So I ploughed through the entire Topshop website to pick some garments I would like to buy if I were not to count money in my life ever. How great it would have been to win a lottery or earn a million a year, but strangely my list is not so long. I’m sceptic about polyester, I would probably eliminate a half of the favourites on my list after having fitted them, but afterall there are some great pieces. Surprise surprise – they are sold-out in most sizes. I guess the true Topshop customers know what they are buying. I will still abstain from ordering anything online, because two out of three items I ever ordered from Topshop were broken just because the packaging wasn’t right… And the Oxford Circus store is such a maze that I can spend hours choosing and leave with nothing, or drop by for a quarter and on seeing a queue at the till still leave with nothing… so I’ll just sit here waiting on some undiscovered Topshop treasures and for the miracle to happen.
BERTIN - casiotone mt-40, handclap & echo
Some silliness to entertain you - tomorrow this innocent tune and many more.
Les Ateliers Claus in Brussels, Chris Imler and BERTIN. See you there.
11 November 2010
ready steady go!
The second issue of my self-published mag is taking shape and with a concrete direction and theme I’m looking for new brands and artists to interview. I’m not keeping it local, since the issue#2 will be sold outside of Belgium and this time around the production and printing process will not get in the way of having enough copies for everyone. I found a new binding technique, and I’m sorry but you’ll have to learn to read texts in mirror reflection - it’s all part of the game!
Rather expectedly I’ll focus on duality for the issue#2…but not in the banal way – more like a duality given go celebrate the deity of month of January – Janus the two-faced god. And whether it’s about coupling, duets, twins or indecisive double-mindedness, Various Sources has firstly the name, and secondly the issue’s theme – ‘noir between the sexes’ – a homage to the work by Denicolai&Provoost.
Once again no launch event planned, it will simply drop in stores sometime in January and will be available to purchase online this time….so slowly but surely I’m building it up and making it look like a real magazine. Not bad!
And by the way I have just chosen the victim = the external writer…will see him tomorrow to insist and inspire. I’ve got a very good feeling about it. So the all-white cover and the fruit stickers will be back!
out of PROPORTION
These snapshots of the pop-up store in Berlin may not tell you much, but Proportion is actually a new fashion label run by my old acquaintance from Cologne. Alexandra Heckel is now in Berlin and together with Frederic Krehl launched a brand that focuses on directional cuts and basic colours...those kinds of volumes to play with and perfect basics good enough to keep forever. I find it perfectly in-line with a scandinavian fashion aesthetic, yet still remaining personal and different. And the Popupstore? You find it on Torstrasse 161 in Berlin. Quick, someone get me the plane ticket!
10 November 2010
shoes?
THE SHOES!
They are mine mine mine! And I have to thank Aude and Niels at Hunting&Collecting for going through so much trouble of ordering those for me and for being the most patient sales people for all the time I took with this pair of shoes! Thanks a million!
A practical note, if you’re planning on purchasing a pair – size up. I found them pretty narrow, although they are quite right in length, but I still had to go for a size bigger than usual, so with a European 38/UK 5/ US 7.5/Japanese 245 I had to buy size 39. I hope this helps someone, as Carin Wester shoes don’t seem to have a fixed standard sizing and some models run big and others run small. The Monroe pump (and I guess the boots are of the same manufacturer) are of small narrow fit, but once you get the size right they are Heaven in a shoe!