back to the old, into the new

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

come spring

There quite a few press releases in my mailbox I’ve been meaning to rewrite, but probably I won’t be telling you anything new since they’ve been collecting digital dust for already a while. So let me start with the most intriguing one!
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.

ASOS kills

I’m somewhat of an ASOS addict since it’s probably the best online shopping service after Opening Ceremony (there’s a post of OC praise coming up). After ordering the hinge ring and being very happy with this wonderful accessory, I’m still abusing the free shipment they’ve got these days – ordering all in separate packages. This week’s treat is the claw bracelet. Sorry Pamela Love, it’s only £16 and knowing my rather poor relationship with jewellery I like to have the effect without splurging on something I’ll wear probably once or twice. Next week – Barry M nailpolish in Pale Blue, Mint Green or Acid Yellow…haven’t decided yet.

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.

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.

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.