.origami mon ami

back to the old, into the new

2010-12-10T17:35:00.001+01:00

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

2010-12-08T18:15:00.000+01:00

come spring

2010-12-07T15:00:00.004+01:00

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

2010-12-06T23:05:00.003+01:00

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

2010-12-06T21:20:00.002+01:00

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

2010-12-03T20:52:00.003+01:00

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

2010-12-01T20:10:00.001+01:00

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

2010-12-01T17:48:00.000+01:00

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.

Goldfinger

2010-11-21T14:49:00.006+01:00

Just when I thought I found the best nailpolish in the universe – Matte About You by Essie (it’s a colourless topcoat which makes ANY nail-colour extra matte!), here’s a tiny tidbit I picked out of the Park&Cube blog today:
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.

'vintage' reprise

2010-11-20T15:41:00.002+01:00

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'

2010-11-20T15:33:00.001+01:00

These are some ‘vintage’ images I dug up from my iPhone. The first issue of my fashion fanzine – as it was all fresh and new – on the table at Hunting and Collecting among all the other printed greatness.

the love the want the need

2010-11-16T20:54:00.001+01:00

A day spent without pronouncing his name?

to Amsterdam?

2010-11-16T20:43:00.002+01:00

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.

i love your blog too!

2010-11-14T18:46:00.006+01:00

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

2010-11-14T14:41:00.003+01:00

If you have any cash left…I don’t…but for the lucky ones there’s another stocksale coming up. Modo Brussels is back with their recurrent stocksale of Brussels’ designers – Celine Collard and David Szeto among others, as well as Annemie Verbeke sale in the designer’s store on A. Dansaertstraat and OWN shop on place du Jardin aux Fleurs.

topshop treasure hunt

2010-11-12T23:29:00.005+01:00

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

2010-11-12T20:54:00.002+01:00

Some silliness to entertain you - tomorrow this innocent tune and many more.

Les Ateliers Claus in Brussels, Chris Imler and BERTIN. See you there.

ready steady go!

2010-11-11T23:24:00.003+01:00

Various Sources featured artist and designers list is getting more and more exciting! Get ready for BIG names, open minds and generous hearts.
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

2010-11-11T21:59:00.002+01:00

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!

shoes?

2010-11-10T21:29:00.001+01:00

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!

Hakansson skin praise

2010-11-09T00:04:00.005+01:00

Here’s a small note of something I rarely speak about – make-up. The reason for such a post is not a one-minute frenzy, but several years of experience.
If fashion may be subject to seasonal moodswings, make-up is something that I keep quite constant only occasionally adding something different or crazy…you’ve seen it – black lipstick, sky-blue eyelashes, red eye-liner – those things that I tend to entertain you with at times. …but there’s only one base and skin-care routine that makes a perfect blank canvas for all those experiments – it’s Håkansson.

Håkansson is a Swedish brand with a seemingly narrow range, but the beauty of every product is that it can multitask and the possibilities are endless. They have a basic skin-care range where I’m addicted to Remover Soap Moisturiser routine, and I never owned the Oil, but having received a tiny sample I’m inclined to giving it a try. The make-up range consists of Colours and Finishes – that’s were it becomes so much fun. The consealer (or rather the flesh-tone colours) has 100% coverage, it’s really like those professional products they use for theatre or TV, except that it’s silky soft on your skin, but it will hide absolutely anything on any part of your face…so that’s firstly: those colours become base, blush, lipstick, and eyeshadow as you wish. I’m always lost at the make-up stands that try to convince me that I need five different tubes just to hide bags under my eyes, and I later find out that I’ve never had any bags or dark circles or whatever else they invent that we girls have = marketing! Håkansson does it otherwise – gives you a raw product of greatest quality and lets you find the way to use it. All colours come in doubles, they are perfectly mixable. I’ve always had colours 1+2 and 7+8, where the first set works as consealer and the second one as colour. I’m very tempted to try the dark red+orange combination, but at the moment I’m staying loyal to my M.A.C. Lady Danger lipstick…but never say never.

Now, the Finish part is easy, it’s basically only one pot of powder with a suspicious yellow undertone. The trick with yellow is that it breaks any red on your skin – so there go the last traces of any spots, pimples or whatever the consealer did not cover – invisible! The magic yellow powder is said to suit all skin-tones…I can’t object since it suits me perfectly. Probably the only problem is that this make-up is made for white or asian girls – the colours are pretty light, so if for instance colour nr. 3 can be someone’s consealer, I’m not sure they can make a good use of the Powder…may be that’s a question to ask to the Swedish-born and New York-based Katarina Håkansson – the make-up artist who has actually created the entire range.

To conclude this dépêche on Håkansson make-up I must say that I’m the happiest customer ever and I will always be. The products may be pricy, so re-stocking my make-up bag happens gradually, this month I get the powder and colour, next month the new bottle of moisturiser – these are the products that last. The only downside probably is that not all of Håkansson products are Paraben-free…but here’s my experience: I discovered Håkansson through COS, they used to sell the whole range in the beginning, but then stopped and while I was still working for COS the products were sold to all the employees with a massive 70% reduction, so I bought two of each products I needed and have been using it happily eversince; then I ran out of some things and tried to buy them online, but there was no delivery outside US (strangely though, the recent package was sent from Sweden); so I tried to find a substitute – Bare Essentuals was not too bad but also only available in France, the new biological brand Une was ok in the beginning, but then I developed a horrid allergy to it, just like to most other brands. The moral: I’d rather buy paraben that scratch my face to blood, so I stopped looking for yet another wannabe ecological brand and celebrated my re-union with Håkansson after one year and a half, now hopefully forever.

Alice Bastin AW10

2010-11-06T19:49:00.000+01:00

the world of Alice Bastin

2010-11-06T19:42:00.003+01:00

It’s not hard to guess I got my mind set on this girl’s designs. The lookbook image from the previous post is just the beginning! I had to dedicate at least a tiny post to a few more images and illustrations. I love the graphic work and the clothes – that striped blazer, beige coat…oh! I would love to see more of Alice Bastin around Brussels(you’ve heard me).

endless love

2010-11-06T18:08:00.007+01:00

Whatever may happen to fashion, I will always love certain things. Nothing, even the comments of the ‘passé’ can get me off deers and owls, crystals and the typically Russian combination of bright flowers on black background, just like those shawls and lacquer boxes…ageless is my love to beige and faded black, tan leather and pony skin shoes. Graphic platform shoes and sac dresses will always be in my wardrobe, just as well as anything Henrik Vibskov makes. Predictable? Yes, of course! Sometimes I feel that if I wear a blazer without anything remotely kitsch, I’ll look like a new wave Berliner in the 80’s. Not that it’s bad, simply is not my intention to be overwhelmed by my new haircut and my music taste…

So here’s the wishlist, mostly realistic (when the sales come around). The crystals and black for the night and the structured beige for the day.

vintage bag image via BleachBlack, Henrik Vibskov silk blouse via Azita, crystal rings image via Tumblr, Hui Hui dress via Azita, crystal necklace from Etsy, vintage skirt from Time's Up, pony skin platforms by John Rocha via RA13.

Alice Bastin lookbook image, Henrik Vibskov scarf, Cristophe Lemaire waistcoat via Azita, Henrik Vibskov bag and dress, Carin Wester shoes via Hunting and Collecting.

mint-green and neon-yellow

2010-11-06T12:53:00.001+01:00

I’d be amazed if anyone finds a connection between the images…well, I see some of my favourite colours in an atypical use. The neon yellow window frame painted in an offset – I’ll copy it in my own flat when I will finally find one; a random photo from Tumblr; a non-green garden – a fabulous way of using mint colour, just imagine planting the entire garden without a single green plant – mint, bordeaux, yellow – only the oddly coloured trees, bushes and lichens!
…and yet another random picture from Tumblr.

catclubbing

2010-11-05T19:02:00.001+01:00

That’s how fun it gets at times! Me+friend at Catclub with the gorgeous new interior. It does look a lot like a club now, not a raw loft space like before, I just wish that the people in Brussels would get a bit more used to Henrik Vibskov outfits…or anything generally different and crazy – it is afterall the only fashion party Brussels has. Or may be we shouldn’t take it personally when the catclubbers go investigating the Vibskov trousers with a lighter and a startled expression.

firstly and secondly

2010-11-02T23:21:00.003+01:00

I’m not going to bore you with much detail, but on Thursday I ‘m finally going to get a haircut that I’ve been hesitating about for so long. It’s nothing new, just pretty darn short, with an undercut to show off my mousey-grey regrowth and so make it clear that my blonde is as fake as you can have it. The cut will be a bit like this Schwartzkopf look, but in reverse colours, so I’m already panting of excitement, looking forward to a visit to the hairdresser like a kid who can’t wait to go to an amusement park. I love cutting my hair short, and then a couple of months later hate myself for doing it, but that has already become a natural cycle of my seasonal mood-swings.

Now to the topic #2…or today’s topic number one of most fashion blogs: Lanvin for H&M collection…I don’t have too much to add, although I’m not head over heels about it, but there are some interesting pieces that I would like to see closer in person, namely the black puffball skirt and the sunglasses, but on the day when the collection hits the stores I’ll be at work, and then I’ll be on my way to London which narrows my chances down to the minimum. So if YOU (yes,YOU!) want to volunteer and go camping in front of H&M on the 23rd of November, grab a pair of those lovely glasses for me!

Susie's COS window

2010-11-01T17:07:00.005+01:00

http://www.stylebubble.co.uk/style_bubble/2010/10/cos-calling.html
When COS contacted me with the proposition to restyle their windows I had to really kick myself for knowing the inevitable answer – I refused for an obvious reason of not having time for such a venture since I’m a person who takes on so many projects all at once plus my adored and beloved job at Stijl where I had no intention of already now starting plucking on the give-me-a-day-off strings…all in all the ‘no time’ factor has been fuelled by two and a half years window dresser experience at, erm, COS…
Somewhere at the headoffice the lovely COS people did not make a connection between their former colleague and a blogger who are sharing the same skin…the cloud of doubt is still dwelling upon my head!
Now, back to the project itself, and a result from London – of course, it’s Susie’s takeover of COS windows – completely different from the windows in Brussels, but so much Susie with all her fancy styling!

bloggers take over COS

2010-10-28T22:20:00.000+01:00

COS Brussles offered the window space to a blogger. I didn’t find time for it(I’ll soon show you another window project I’m currently working on), but luckily the kids of ilovebelgium.be did. It’s a pastel coloured heaven!
The pictures are up on varioussources.tumblr.com.

glitter scenario

2010-10-28T21:36:00.002+01:00

Sometimes I get into a strange buying mode when my logic follows two parallel paths without any interaction between them. So I end up buying very irrelevant pieces like this Lena Lumelksy blouse from RA13 stocksale and Margiela glitter stilettos that were a total steal on eBay – all shiny and glittery and dangerously feminine.

The parallel logic line runs along my day job and the constant interaction with the most amazing design pieces courtesy of Rick Owens, Ann Demeulemeester, A.F. Vandevorst, Dries Van Noten and plenty of others that make the unpronounceable name of Belgian fashion. The quality of the pieces makes me give in a little as well as the possibility to pay the buyer price instead of the retail one…tempted? Utterly! So I come home with a Rick Owens short-o-skirt and Ann Demeulemeester boots – the two being robust, somewhat lumpy, harsh and unisex and the direct opposite of the shiny heels. The moral? Once again I realise that I’m a collector, eclectic and a two-faced creature. By no means negative tough! I do prefer owning a random collection of marvellous design pieces than a tasteful matching wardrobe. I prefer awkward beauty to prettiness, and a shocker to pleaser…but then if you see me dashing through the street I’m most likely to wear a basic COS dress and an H&M coat from 3 years ago, but then occasionally shopping for groceries in a total look from Henrik Vibskov and some 10cm high heels. It’s a surreal scenario I live in, still don’t really understand why.

sleep...love...i

2010-10-26T22:56:00.001+01:00

Various Sources

Inspiration images, the publishing progress updates and some new work in digital form – that’s what you may find on the Various Sources fanzine blog. I’m writing more often there and trying to keep the personal and professional somewhat separated, but as learned from Anu Tuominen – in direct personal involvement the artist’s life becomes a creation in itself…

shadow play

2010-10-26T21:46:00.004+01:00

jacket COS

cardigan Maison Martin Margiela

skort Rick Owens

bag second-hand

2010-10-25T22:25:00.001+01:00

I promised to write more formally…no no, don’t try re-reading the previous posts in search of the given promise…I made it to myself, and that’s where you’ll find it:

http://varioussources.tumblr.com/

bits and pieces of the 'heavy' agenda

2010-10-20T22:39:00.003+01:00

Proenza Schouler worship group

2010-10-18T14:50:00.005+01:00

Spring/Summer 2011

Autumn/Winter 2010
What attracts me the most in the recent notion of beauty is its odd extraterrestrial part, when everything seems to be as wrong as white trash, but glows of unexplainable beauty from within. Naturally, if I were to pick a soundtrack for this I’d go for Salem’s King Earth – the right amount of trashiness that makes the doom and the gloom of ‘drag’ so hard to appreciate but so easy to quickly get addicted to – the slowed down and deconstructed version of hip-hop, and who would have guessed, but I’m loving it to the bone.

Spring/Summer 2009

If I were to quote one brand to get the full picture of this odd beauty, it would be Proenza Schouler. What Lazaro Hernandez and Jack McCollough do to fashion is wicked, witty and weird. They sow:

Spring/Summer 2010

We reap:

I wish to have a heap of fried blond hair and a can of coloured hairspray just to praise this girl’s look and Lazaro’s and Jack’s odd aesthetic.

love alphabetically

2010-10-17T19:21:00.012+01:00

I always found it hard to classify or pick favourites, partially out of scepticism – there’s always the little something to criticise, partially out of objectivity – don’t want my personal taste to win over the respect to one or another designer’s work. There’s no better way than to see them all with amazement and indifference equally. Here’s what I like – in ALPHABETICAL order.

A
Acne’s new season made me think of nothing else but the Matrix trilogy…strangely enough while looking through their Spring/Summer 2011 lookbook I noticed that all the sunglasses are named after the Matrix characters – there’s Neo, Morpheus, Cipher… Clearly the season is looking into the future, but I love that slightly 90’s appeal of the collection. The most beautiful looks are in grey, me thinks.

A.F. Vandevorst made me look forward to finally meeting this amazing grey trouser in person. Only a few months left!

Alexander Wang is just may be more loved than the others – the tailored silks, calf length, THAT colour-palette of ochre and cement mastic and THOSE shoes. The perfect summer wardrobe in the Perfectland – someone take me there.

B
Balenciaga has done something really different, but I can’t help to like the final silhouettes of the catwalk – the more typical Balenciaga looks with the right amount of veneer and sheer. The shoes are robust and structured – probably the perfect complement to any girliness that might show through all other season’s collections.

Staying with the shoe subject – Dries Van Noten holographic heels would go fantastically well with any of the grey tones that every designer seems to do for spring.

Damir Doma and Hannah Marshall show what to do with a transparent skirt – wear another skirt over it, finish off with a long blazer. That’s a look to adopt…and to contrast with those fabulous Alexander Wang heels – ah excuse me, I’m floating away to the Perfectland again.

J-H
Hussein Chalayan and Raf Simons for Jil Sander are the only two who can make the lightest shade of mint look so attractive. I love Raf’s hyper-minimalism - just imagine the Dries Van Noten heels worn with that look…

Marios Schwab, alongside with Proenza Schouler (which deserves a separate post) is full of reference to the 90’s again. This time around to the punk and the grunge in the massive load of textures, lace cut-outs, tie-dye and tattoo motifs, but surprisingly both are making it elegant. I’m not a fan of the styling and make up at Marios’ catwalk, but nevertheless the pieces are marvellously detailed. I find the entire gothic trend revived a bit too soon – we’ve seen it happening now and then in the course of the noughties – but somehow the new gothic references are more pagan than Catholic (look at the result at Givenchy) and somehow less cliché than in the previous years. Could it be that we have really plunged into the world crisis head to toe and are not willing to see any light? We are consumed by the dark, the occult and the apocalyptic moods… no surprise that some catwalks like Jil Sander or Prada explode with colour – it’s just a counterweight.

Maison Martin Margiela…stop, wait, pause… this team of assistants is really genius! Too bad it’s not consistent and we still can’t expect the miracle to happen season to season, but this collection (and of course my selection of the beautiful greys) is so far their best work. The logical continuation of the winter and its XXL waistlines gets even more surreal as the catwalk progresses developing into the most simple of the shapes – a square – in other hands it could have been banal, but here it’s genius.

Proenza Schouler:

Well, here’s the collection that has blown my mind this season. It reminds me of Toga’s early work and Undercover circa 2007 – just enough girliness proportioned with weirdness.

Rodarte with the 70’s veneer and gold is principally different from the beautiful zombie of the previous seasons (just when everyone else has caught up on it!), and I can’t find the silhouette I like enough – let’s wait a couple of years to digest.

VPL is one of the New York’s catwalks so rarely referred to here in Europe. I can hardly think of any glossy that uses VPL in the photoshoots and just as hard is to find a decent retail point. The recent collections are reminiscent of the last ones of Veronique Branquinho – the sporty/elegant mix of floating silks, nude tones…less mystic, more brave.

And to finish off with Yves saint Laurent – or Stefano Pilati, to be honest, because it’s his work that I really admire. The sleek black and the fuzzy nude here could once again go so well with the Balenciaga shoes.
Cheers from the Perfectland.

Swedes have sweets

2010-10-12T22:26:00.001+01:00

Today after having looked at my schedule, the train of jolly window dressing thoughts has screeched to a halt. The last week of October will be fun though, and I’m curious to see the result of a new project launched by one Swedish brand. They’ll be swapping their windows with bloggers, letting us – the rare breed of creative minds that feed on catwalk images from style.com – be in charge of their window displays for a whole week. I’m sad not to take a part in it due to lack of time, but I’ll do my best to document the transformation as it unfolds.

And for those who are impatient to get a bit of the Swedish sweets, here’s your chance:

RA1 Year

2010-10-12T22:09:00.003+01:00

This Saturday, the 16th of October RA13 will be celebrating 1 year anniversary…'til dawn!

white on white

2010-10-11T22:04:00.002+01:00

I just got an e-mail offer to make a window display for one brand that I love, would be great to know in which country and which city though. Tomorrow I’ll give them a call to find out.

A Russian Werewolf in Paris, part 2: A Puzzle

2010-10-11T21:41:00.003+01:00

Upon my return from Paris I had hoped to collect a puzzle of my outfit from all over the www and show it to you. Unfortunately I am someone who lacks patience, and generally ‘finds, not looks for’…well, if you come across a picture of a blond (or rather a bright yellow hair, that’s the stage of blond I got to before leaving for Paris) girl with an Acne dress, Peter Pilotto tights and COS jacket, let me know…What amused me the most is that the Japanese street-style photographers who have been tearing me apart for detailed shots of my outfit have been writing all the brand names down in Japanese hieroglyphics, don’t be surprised by a curious transformation into Petel Piroto or Goss – I trust neither the hieroglyphics nor my pronunciation.
If you want to see how the Gareth Pugh video presentation looked like, or what my boss and I found in the RA13 showroom, you should visit http://www.varioussources.tumblr.com/ – I have finally transformed my Tumblr appendix into something autonomous and now it’s really worth a visit.
Now to sum up the day in Paris: a mini-chat with Susie of the Stylebubble to thank her for the post about Hunting&Collecting, the photographers attack, the fresh and sparkly Dries Van Noten show, running into friends I didn’t think I had in Paris, RA13 showroom and friendly Romain and Anna, Gareth Pugh show and a silly chat with Yvan when he asked my name, I frowned that we’ve met and he replied that he knows – the strangest day!
Every time I come back from some sort of fashion event I feel like I’ve come back from a fairy-tale, and I still can’t figure out whether it’s a bad or good one. But I guess that’s where the fascination is from – feeling that the fashion world is an endless puzzle game.

A Russian Werewolf in Paris pt.1: Dries Van Noten Spring/Summer 2011

2010-09-30T21:17:00.005+01:00

“A flower in a concrete garden” to quote Hooverphonic, not that the music much applies, but surely the theme does. When the show happens so fast it’s hard to catch the details, but some kind of fresh aftertaste still remains. Yes, that’s all about the Spring/Summer 2011 Dries Van Noten show I have been lucky to see. Moreover, bagging the front-row seats at a raw and rough location which has suddenly been engulfed by the holographic breezy tones as a first model stepped on the catwalk. The first oversized jacket and I was sold – the beauty of it is walking on the thin line between the clownesque and sublime. Pastel gradient dye on the summer coat belted up with a skinny holographic belt. A return of a shirt-o-skirt – that’s the skirt with sleeves, in the lightest pastel blue cotton. Bleached prints, pink sequins and yet another oversized blazer – all in the tastiest candy-colours.
Strangely, not many accessories or embroidery – the collection looked stripped down to the basics and bleached to the lightest shade imaginable. And if previously the summer seasons would have been loaded with colour, the spring/summer 2011 has been soaked in a pot of bleach prior to the catwalk show. I love when Dries works clean and minimal, because the end-result is never too clean – his cottons, the fly-away silks and rough bleached denim will always look non-chalant and messy, in a good sense of the word.
I love it when a clean wearable collection makes an impact, not necessarily being his strongest work, but surely enchanting. And may be it’s just me who’s sold on the first silhouette, but that massive blazer will make its way into my wardrobe come spring – making a personal order via the boutique where I work, and already can’t wait!

bleach

2010-09-28T22:16:00.004+01:00

Tomorrow I’m off to Paris to see the Dries Van Noten show and hopefully make it to RA13 Showroom. Well, my kind of fun.
I still have no clue what to wear and what to do with my new blond hair colour, which is now at this flat dark blond stage, desperately asking for highlights. Giving my hair one week to recover from all the bleaching I’m forced to bear with a nasty greige shade. So in a couple of days you can expect some decent posts – and that’s a fact.

2010-09-19T16:11:00.001+01:00

lanvin's generous heart

2010-09-19T15:29:00.002+01:00

Poised atop the ACNE Studios home page, this logo looked quite amusing:

I was just about to get excited about the new H&M colab with Lanvin, but this very logo appeared in the press release:

Hello, H&M! Do you really think we are so illiterate that we cannot see the similarities? Or is that the deliberate twist and a ‘democratic’ message? Unfortunately for those who like to see me swearing off in 4 languages simultaneously, I’m not in the mood for long words today. But if I’m quiet, it doesn’t mean I agree.
Oh Mr. Elbaz is surely the kind of hippie who <3 everyone.

Monki-trippin'

2010-09-19T12:02:00.002+01:00

Somehow not being able to find an excuse good enough, I still haven’t visited the new Monki store in Amsterdam. Open since August on Kalverstraat 176, the H&M’s shy child is slowly but surely coming our way. I was happy to find it in Stockholm in 2007 on Götgatan and wrote about it on this very blog in a plea to see the store somewhere near enough. Well, the time has come, and it only gets better because we’ll be blessed with a first Monki store here in Belgium in 2011 – that’s already next year! Time flies.

No, I can’t explain the Monki love in rational terms. The quality is mediocre, the interiors are like a bad acid trip and the store locations (apart from the aforementioned Götgatan) are appalling. Monki targets the young audience, but contrary to H&M’s Divided that makes clothes for adolescent emo-punks, Monki has a lot to say fashionwise. The designs are based on those trends that are circulating on the streets of Stockholm and Copenhagen, it’s ‘Scandi-cool’ as some glossy might put it. Monki makes the kind of pieces which do not need to be recycled for the next season because they are as cheap as they are on-trend.

Am I praising the throw-away fashion?

Not entirely. But I’m afraid I am given into the fashion-fixes at times, and Monki makes for the perfect partner in crime.

2010-09-15T14:23:00.001+01:00

Tonight I will blog live from Le Mont St. Michel presentation at Hunting and Collecting. You can follow it on Tumblr.
http://nowherenowhere.tumblr.com

the corner experience

2010-09-15T14:18:00.001+01:00

One more post for today! Without writing about anything substantial (you are used to it by now, right?) I would like to show you how good The Corner is for online shopping.
Ordered on Sunday, delivered today for free. Now, that’s a pretty uncommon practice, but these guys have free standard delivery for a while in all European countries.

Beautifully packaged. I did double check whether by mistake I asked for the gift wrap…well, this lovely black shopping bag with a satin ribbon and a chic black envelope containing the receipt is just the normal packaging.

Further in, logo-printed paper, and I really feel like I went shopping in Italy.

Thanks, The Corner. Will deal again.

LEARN FROM THE BEST (yes I’m talking to you, Topshop)

wade into the unknown waters

2010-09-15T12:39:00.004+01:00

Receiving mail that contains gorgeous lookbooks always makes my day. Today Sou Brette’s Unknown Waters put a spell on me. The usual tough geometry is softened by the softer, organic designs – welcome to the magical underwater realm! Inspired by the 1953 film ‘Sadko’ the new collection was born from this illusive innocence situated beneath the surface of the sea.
I’ll leave the images speak for themselves, as these colours and textures have got an amazing story to tell.

(EDIT: If you may be looking to purchase, it is a big London name Kabiri with an on-line store.)

extreme stripes

2010-09-15T12:20:00.002+01:00

The wind and the sun and the rain all mix up, the air feels somewhat Scandinavian. A while ago on a trip to windy Stockholm I’ve learned to wear my hair braided, like the most girls do, because there’s just no other way of looking descent. And now the winds are taking over Brussels. I want stripes and fur to match the weather, learning from experience of Queens of northern kingdoms, because I’m sure that they know how to deal with the autumn not only in Scandinavia but in Scotland too. Well, here I am waiting for my extreme stripes when UPS has scheduled the delivery for today. Mr. Postman, where are you?

lost

2010-09-15T11:52:00.000+01:00

A tiny post to say a big sorry to my fellas at Mapp. for not posting about the event they organised for Design September. I’m the kind of a goofy who lost the memory card of my camera without any idea how it might have happened – my recent London trip is still on it too. I can just growl at myself in the mirror reflection.

Topshop kills

2010-09-10T15:08:00.005+01:00

pop up 2

2010-09-05T21:32:00.005+01:00

The subtle and the sublime.
The second edition of Atelier Solarshop’s Pop Up is open and I invite you to take a look…or better go visit the temporary store in Antwerp on Dambruggestraat, while it lasts. And don’t forget to look for that fashion fanzine with a white cover casually placed on a bookshelf!

would love to teleport myself to...

2010-09-05T20:33:00.003+01:00

A lousy image post on its way…innocent wishlists, but I’m making some changes…or may be some mistakes, but that’s ok.
I’ve been browsing through a remarkable number of design blogs only to collect a folder full of samey-same images of white interiors which only make me want to grab a pot of white paint and some brushes and transform an ugly Brussels flat into a Nordic-style home for me and my cat. It also makes me want to travel to Scandinavia for further inspiration. And if previously it would have given me creeps of a rather unpleasant memory, now it is a pure joy! I’d love it to get just a bit colder and travel to Stockholm when it snows.

images from DesignSponge, tumblr, Acne

2010-08-30T21:46:00.000+01:00

While typing this post I erased a few lines and started anew because it seems to have no point. And since that is no new news, I’ll tell you exactly what’s on my mind.
I’m so happy for Brussels – it finally has a fashion scene which is growing, developing and setting its own style cornerstones. I’m glad to become a fashion observer in my own city. I’m very excited about the great breakthrough of many style blogs which now define the latest fashion trends and are now places of inspiration rather than derision.
I started writing about my personal style and about fashion in general when I lived quite faraway from ‘civilization’ – in Kortrijk, out of love to someone with who I spent two and a half years of a happy relationship. His sister hated me so much that she threw scandals in our house, and I just felt like I’m the weirdo from another planet. I felt misunderstood – and misunderstanding is by far my biggest fear. Well, in my spare time from being a weirdo I was also a cool girl at all rock shows and a girlfriend of that skinny singer from a hardcore band – trust me, there’s nothing better to do in k-town. Oh yeah, the band is still there up to this day – the Creatures Like Us blend with Penguins Know Why, called Räpe Blossoms. I still believe it’s a fucked up name for a band…if you want to sound Scandi go for Fück MIDI or something like that, it will at least quote a Scandi wonder-band Casiokids, and sound pretty heavy too…well, that’s none of my business I guess.
Well, rewind once again, at one of those gigs I met my personal devil from the far-faraway Portland, a man who’s very heart is possessed by music that no one else can get near it, or at least I can’t, and that’s a shame. He’ll come back to Europe again and again, previously with 31 Knots, lately with Menomena and soon with Tu Fawning, and again we’ll be drinking coffee just to avoid talking about what happened between us.
While living in Kortrijk I got a cat, she’s still here with me - my pretty furry baby.
Those two things and a ticket to Cologne – soon after I was out of k-town for good.
But I can’t deny that having shared two and a half years of my life with someone, I treasure the acquaintance. I can’t pronounce him an enemy whatever he does. He was once to do an interview for the publication that I was working on, refusing to finish it because it would be published in my unknown magazine. Strangely enough he sent me the finished interview upon finding out that I were to do a collaboration magazine with one very famous stylist. Me looser, you rock star? My magazine not good enough for that Crocodiles interview? I wouldn’t take it all personally if he weren’t to kindly explain to me that he knows me way too well and that I’ll never get anywhere with my ambitions. That’s a very interesting theory, I must say.
So strange to sit here and think about the beginning of this blog at the beginning of another blog project.
You know where to go for that very fashion fanzine preview!

new home is nowhere

2010-08-29T16:06:00.000+01:00

new home is now here

looking for 873,290,884 images

2010-08-29T15:59:00.002+01:00

Change of heart. Change of URL.
I’ve been giving so much attention to the Tumblr appendix of this blog that a constant search for images that speak for themselves has become of my primary concern. So bookmark nowhere/now here while it is still an open and everchanging space. I’m not sure what will follow, may be I will turn it into a daily journal of moods and impressions, may be I will focus once again on good quality writing and publish it all on my new clean-looking blog. But for now, lacking inspiration in words, I comb through the world wide web for images that can represent the off-mood of the day/hour/season/year. The images are not mine, unless stated otherwise, but you are free to reblog them without any obligation to cite the source. If you have a Tumblr account you can even discuss the posts, ask me questions and interact much more than the Blogger will ever let you. And in my opinion, the Tumblr’s greatest achievement is the ease of mobile blogging – I have tested the live blogging at the Antwerp Fashion Academy show this year, and I’m pretty happy with the result, naturally you’ll see more of it. And lastly, the title refers to nothing in particular – just some vague mathematical characters . The URL? Well, “nowhere” with a space placed correctly in the middle becomes “now here” – a set of letters with a dual purpose.

red...

2010-08-23T14:31:00.004+01:00

...or dead

2010-08-23T14:18:00.004+01:00

Grinderman - "Heathen Child"

2010-08-23T13:03:00.000+01:00

Zeitgeist of the year to come…it can’t be anything else but Grinderman. The more you watch this video the less the world makes sense. That’s OK.

bxl to a'pen roundtrip

2010-08-23T12:08:00.002+01:00

After the announcement of the Sandrina Fasoli store opening, re-opening of Hunting&Collecting with their chalet-inspired interiors, what could be better?
Brussels has more to offer. A brand new concept store is opening in September. It will occupy the former Comme des Garçons space…that’s all I can tell you without a decent press release.
Since when are bloggers working with press releases? Aren’t we supposed to sniff out the latest fashion news?
Well, here’s another info-bulk, this time around concerning Antwerp.
Atelier Solarshop brings us the second version of the Pop-Up store. If you may remember the first one, some names are recurrent, but there’s plenty to look forward to: Hui-Hui, Jan-Jan Van Essche, Saskia&Stefan Diez, Slow and Steady Wins the Race… The Solarshoppers are organising a launch party on the 31st of August beginning at 17h, so bring your friends.
Pop-up will be open from 1st September, 11am to 19pm, Monday to Saturday.

Secondly there’s the good old RA that keeps on churning out an opening after an opening and an event after an event that I cannot keep up with. On the 4th of September they team up with my beloved Labels Inc. – Belgium’s best designer consignment store, to create a vintage corner at RA13 with the best selection of designer pieces. Expect big names. Naturally with a reception.

nowhere/now here

2010-08-15T15:31:00.005+01:00

I feel the summer slowly dying – rain, gloom and fresh air that is so tasty to breath. I love autumn because it’s a quiet time of the year, and most of all these days I feel quiet, which means I’m perfectly ready for the upcoming season.
My 26th birthday is pretty soon, and I’m planning a round-trip to London with my mom. And just may be it’s a little bit sad since I’ve been already packing my bags for a definitive move to London, but at the same time my new job here in Brussels is the one thing that makes me quiet and calm. Next week I have the Ann Demeulemeester window display to create! Pretty obviously I’m a happy bunny, and a trip to London will be well deserved.
Of course, I’m making wishlists. I want my autumn to be as dark as I like it.

Complex Geometries, Ann Demeulemeester, Topshop, Arielle De Pinto, All Saints

And lastly, my Tumblr image library is now at nowhere/now_here.

leave me as you found me

2010-08-15T14:29:00.004+01:00

there's nothing here

unicorns

2010-08-15T14:23:00.003+01:00

Sandrina Fasoli flagship store

2010-08-10T18:04:00.002+01:00

Some of the best news for August! Place Brugmann 22 shall become the first boutique of the highly acclaimed Brussels-based brand Sandrina Fasoli.
September has a busy agenda too, so watch out!

dear deer

2010-08-08T15:58:00.000+01:00

How many Topshop horror stories do I have to publish on this blog?
So it is just another routine order. It comes so badly packaged that the item is broken. It costs less than the postage fee I must pay to return it, and even if I were to claim the money back I end up losing a few pounds…
What else is there to do than to ask my dad to fix it, and luckily he’s got the basic equipment because his very first profession was an electrician. Armed with a soldering iron we spent about an hour trying to put the deer skull back in place. It worked, but shame on you Topshop!

in mood for dark drama

2010-08-03T18:05:00.005+01:00

dress, sleeveless jacket, claw rings Weekday
images from Kingdom of Style, Bjork.com

***

2010-07-31T16:14:00.007+01:00

tumblr, MMM, yvanrodic.blogspot.com, topshop, facebook, garbagedress.blogspot.com

we are pieces of the same puzzle

2010-07-31T16:04:00.001+01:00

saturday

2010-07-31T13:05:00.004+01:00

Reading other people’s blogs is the only thing that keeps me posting so far…out of jealousy or inspiration – I do not know. Today I have switched my computer on for the first time in the past 4 days – only to pay for a pair of lovely trousers I won for a cheapo on eBay…

Hello World! Did you miss me?

My absence is justified though: I’ve been substituting a sick colleague this week, hence merchandising Dries Van Noten, A.F. Vandevorst and Cathy Pill pre-fall collections, learning to sing (sorry neighbours) and searching for a new flat (to no avail).
To relax I’m cutting a suit – sleeveless but masculine, to be constructed in a soft silk/linen blend. Financially, this is the best solution for a new wardrobe, yet I have made a formal blazer only once in my life – generally I like to avoid lapels and passepoils, but driven by desire above reason I embrace the challenge.
How to turn a banal title into something entertaining? Well, say it is really dedicated to an amazing track by an amazing band – for instance,‘Saturday' by Oneida of their recent work ‘Rated O’. Oneida is probably the only band that I own quite a few albums of, but I have never seen them live – in my world that is next to absurd.
I’m a slave for the grinding repetitive riffs.

Oneida - Up With People

2010-07-31T13:04:00.001+01:00

***

2010-07-24T09:35:00.004+01:00

what is here not to wish for?

Richard Nicoll, MMM, Yvan Rodic, Topshop, MMM, Acne

***

2010-07-24T09:32:00.001+01:00

what is there not to love?

...has gone missing

2010-07-22T15:26:00.004+01:00

O the day when I posted five times in a row, where art thou? I do at times wonder.
I have said once that through many posts I speak coded language to the people I know. Strawberries or song lyrics – don’t be surprised but there are people who understand why I occasionally regurgitate that Blood Brothers stuff…
But this week I’m alone, babysitting the kitties while my parents visit our home-town. I have no intention of going back to the middle-of-nowhere-Ivanovo, and choose to be trapped in the middle of nowhere Waterloo with 2 birds, 3 cats, 6 fish a sewing machine and satellite TV. Not bad for starters…
After discovering the movie channels I have managed to watch everything from X-men to Avatar and a whole other bunch of no-brainers, all while knitting a scarf. Was there any fashion in my leisure? Apart from the scarf?
Well I made a good use of the sewing machine completely resurrecting my abilities to make clothes. Four years of Antwerp Academy have not gone to waste, and the result is this pair of trousers – very simple, but that’s exactly what I’m looking for these days. The fabric is double-sided (I can’t wait for the next Stephan Schneider stocksale, that’s where this fabric comes from), so the front is made from the satin side, the back from the textured mat side. The belt has ‘gone missing’ and only the loops remain – that’s the design twist, so to speak. Oh well.

worn here with:

Zara t-shirt

H&M blazer

Dries van Noten shoes
some random belt

and here with:

A.F. Vandevorst shirt

a necklace from Nigeria

shoes from this eshop

desperately seeking Martin

2010-07-11T12:24:00.007+01:00

He is the invisible man.

In the mid 90’s he was gone out of our sight, but the presence of the genius was apparent in each garment, show, installation and even in every invitation letter. In the mid-noughties he was gone out of his own fashion house. Oddly the official website begins the archives with the year 2003 – that’s not even half-way down the historical path of the Martin Margiela’s oeuvre. What is R. Rosso’s enterprise trying to hide? I may imagine the reason behind such bias timeline is to show the ‘future’ of the brand designed by the ‘new fresh team’ as Mr. Rosso likes to put it – that is a positive commercial reason. But when I look behind it, I see a database of innovative and ground-breaking ideas that may just be The Archives of 1988-2002. The new team works in-line with the former aesthetic, and sure they would – they’ve got a provision of innovative ideas good enough for a couple of years. And then what? What will happen to the future MMM collections when they will run out of the references?

A small pop-up window on the MMM website says: “The past is in the future”. That brings me to the first point – we got the Diesel Group’s strategy figured, but I’m scared of a persistent thought.

There is NO FUTURE.

chasing the tabi ghost at Somerset House, London

On the other hand, I’ve heard the story about one intern at Maison Martin Margiela who was utterly surprised to hear that Mr. Margiela did not invent the tabi boots, that they are actually worn by Japanese peasants and construction workers… on hearing that I wonder, will anyone bother to look into the history and value the work signed by Martin Margiela himself, or will most people buy into the Maison’s new marketing strategy?

One Russian proverb goes: “the best new is the well forgotten old”, and that is surely one way of thinking. Unfortunately, I believe that there’s an immediate need to innovate at any given time. Whether one does it through references and re-interpretation or a complete denial of the past – the choice is a matter of a personal preference, but the fact remains that when you begin to repeat yourself, you slowly deteriorate, become a dictionary, a history book, a documentary. Full stop.

And just may be the most logical step was to quit the brand (and by the way, since when do we refer to Maison Martin Margiela as to a ‘brand? Isn’t it a ‘fashion house’?!).

image from amagazinecuratedby.com

Martin Margiela is probably one of the most romanticised figures in fashion industry, so absent that his name almost becomes a concept. That was a 90’s thing to do. But we have entered the teens, and here I will optimistically say that there’s an entire sub-culture that is not looking for any celebrity figure to worship, instead they create their own celebrities – short-lived popularity of many blogs is a bright example. The phenomenon of blogging rests on the cult of presence, so to speak – numerous tiny selfish bubbles of fashion exhibitionism! But think about it, in the sea of personalities that populate the blogosphere one new blogger is mostly invisible, unaccounted for. You can hide so well by putting yourself right out there on a frontline and communicate freely from any chosen identity.

Just imagine for a second a blog written by Martin Margiela – not the team in white labcoats, but the man himself. Communication does not imply visibility.

That is just a thought from one little invisible blog.

why?

2010-07-10T18:31:00.002+01:00

Reading through comments I realised there is a promise I didn’t keep, that in turn has launched a totally independent train of thought.
Why am I not at Berlin Fashion Week? My passport has expired and I have been running back and forth trying to fix it, hence no travelling abroad at the very moment I want to evaporate out and away from this country. So I, very unfashionably, sit by the pool and sunbathe in a cheapo H&M bikini. No glamour to share here.
Why have I not written anything for ASVOF? I have actually completely forgotten about it, taken by the heat or apartment hunt…or both, because searching for a flat to rent in this intolerable temperature isn’t fun. On Friday I showed up to a place and the real estate agent has announced to me and three other visitors that he has forgotten his keys…and offered us to wait for about an hour while he goes back to get them – there’s only one country in this world where such oddity may happen, and I’m just right *smack* in the middle of it. 36degrees C don’t seem to help.
Why am I not in London? The new job is in, so I’m coming back to Brussels in September. More on this later.
I’m sorry to leave you with a bunch of excuses and two lousy mobile shots, but my painted nails are probably the most interesting part of any outfit in this heat wave.

mint green and pale yellow Urban Outfitters
red Hema
blue Barry M
white Usly Airlines

4380 days later

2010-07-02T11:30:00.002+01:00

I’ve been longing, planning, earning, and finally they are mine! And all you get is the feet-in-the-air mobile shot. My camera failed to function today – probably melted from the heat, what else? Hence, the extensive use of the iPhone camera… It’s way over 30 degrees for almost a week already, so please don’t look for any logic behind the purchase of a pair of winter boots – it has been driven by desire, need, obsession, you name it. But since I saw a picture of Bjork wearing a pair of tabis I made a promise to myself to one day wear those too. And only some 12 years later I am a happy owner.

hunted and collected #1

2010-07-02T11:12:00.002+01:00

So finally the big news of this week! Hunted and Collected is out and the reception/launch is tonight. Just to remind you, I’ve verbally doodled for this publication, mentioned fashion blogging and all that. I’m incredibly curious to know what people will think about my writing and about the project in general. Hunted and Collected debut issue is a catalogue of the season – something to keep and to treasure. I’m now trying to recall when was the first time that I came across an interesting publication issued by a boutique… Mode Depesche by Heimat in Cologne was probably the best example, by far not the only one, but probably the most substantial.
THE fashion fanzine it was.
But back to here and now! You are all welcome tonight at Hunting&Collecting to discover the catalogue and ask all participants some interesting questions – otherwise I will, since I’ve been brewing another post for ASVOF. You’ll get the link as soon as it’s up there.

the amazing spare-parts

2010-06-27T21:55:00.006+01:00

Maison Martin Margiela bracelet, Ka Na Ta.net, Slow and Steady Wins the Race sunnies, sharongong.blogspot.com, etsy chicken-claw ring

dress praise

2010-06-27T21:31:00.003+01:00

It may look like I’m reblogging the previous post, but this dress deserves some praise in an outfit post and not the online store image. There are very few pieces of clothing which can feel like second-skin, and it’s one of them.

Acne dress

Dries van Noten sandals

selfmade ear-necklace

release date change/hedonism

2010-06-26T13:50:00.004+01:00

This girl haven’t even got much to wish for! Only to have your patience as I push the magazine release date off. It has been postponed for one week. You’ll be able to order it from 4th of July and find it in selected stores from the 5th.
Why postpone? I let another publication (with my name in it!) to steal the spotlight this week – Hunted and Collected is out! All grab a copy!
I let some contributors breathe.
I keep myself busy with THE job application.
I cook sushi or lay by the pool and wear this:

Acne dress, via Icon

Isn’t it the meaning of summer?

2010-06-21T17:57:00.002+01:00

I do wish this was my cover... mine is blank …yet more scary, well, to those with fear of absence, I guess…

If things were to always go as planned, life wouldn’t be fun, right? I just make sure that the most important decisions and results depend on me and no one else. Pardon me as I retreat into a bunker for a week – printing the debut issue is a lot of work as there are quite a few hand-printed pages and oh those tiny finishings that make it all look so believable, even if I’m substituting word ‘magazine’ for ‘zine’ and using the infamous ‘artwork missing’ X page a couple of times. Next Monday, kids! NEXT MONDAY!

2010-06-20T13:39:00.002+01:00

eBay part 2 can be found here. That's it for this week, but you can expect more next weekend.

http://shop.benl.ebay.be/blackholebird/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=&_trksid=p4340

2010-06-19T20:03:00.005+01:00

So here I am, making concrete plans…

I want to own very little and treasure every single object I own. That’s a simple thing to wish for, but it takes a lot of courage to clear out. I have started today with eBay. So please, have a look because many lovely things are looking for a new home.

I want to wear high heels without complexing about my height, and even when bumping my head onto everything on public transport I don’t want to care. I never felt tall when I lived in Antwerp, and I remember a must-wear-heels reaction against one long-term relationship during which I forced myself to wear flats only, such reaction lasted about a year, and even working as a window dresser at COS I have worn high heels. But then things got complicated and I got sick. I missed my heels. Now as I feel really good and I also feel like I can walk on water with 10cm heel on.

‘Owner of a lonely heart, much better than-a, owner of a broken heart’ – sang Yes. Yes I agree!

I’m looking for a room/flatshare around Bethnal Green, Old Street, Whitechapel tube stations. If you know one, click on the ‘Contact’ button on top of the screen and drop me a mail.

I’m happy to announce that you will be able to find the first issue of my magazine in the end of next week. It turns out to be very skinny and quite colourful (well, still waiting on two final submissions that are due tomorrow to frantically make the lay outs for the last material in the middle of the night), but I feel that I’m off to a good start.

look du jour

2010-06-14T20:18:00.004+01:00

Absolutely perfect - wouldn't change a thing.
Stylemag's Look du Jour.

once a tabi - forever a tabi

2010-06-14T19:27:00.004+01:00

My toes are jumping of joy, and who would have known I’ll be sporting a pair of split-toe shoes anytime soon!

The Margiela tabis are iconic, but so incredibly expensive…yet the only iconic thing about them is the split toe, so does it really justify the amount written on the price tag? I went around it, placing an order for a pair of shoes by Irregular Choice. I don’t mean to praise the brand, because honestly I’m not a fan – there’s just too much frill and fuzz about their designs, but I guess there’s an audience for it which is probably a good thing, since the sombre styles that I like aren’t too popular among the regular Irregular Choice buyers. So there it goes – last season’s well reduced split-toe style is coming home. Can’t wait!

2010-06-12T21:13:00.000+01:00

Academy show as it happens. Live on origamimonami.tumblr.com
In blurry iPhone pics.

the evolution of Saskia Diez PAPIER bag

2010-06-12T11:52:00.003+01:00

It’s an award winning design created as a collaborative project between Saskia and Stefan Diez. It strips the utilitarian object of the decorative context and breathes the new life into the most essential requirements of a travel bag: durability, protection and light weight.
They say it holds up to 20kg only being 135g in weight (I’ve got the ‘heavier’ version, but it equally exists in 115g), which would probably mean I’ll just carry even more stuff with me than I already do. I’m looking forward to seeing it grow older and wiser, getting wrinkles and losing a bit of colour.
The only down point – no inner pocket. So I guess I’ll just make all my friends ring me so that I can find my phone.

Saskia Diez bags are avaliable at Hunting and Collecting(now) and Atelier Solarshop(in September).

my space

2010-06-12T11:36:00.001+01:00

All the girl needs is neon paint, pink paper and a cactus for inspiration. This is where I blog from. Pay close attention to that page on the floor with a large X print…that’s a genius invention called ‘artwork missing’. Not that I’m going to use it, but a thought of substituting some images with this cross isn’t that bad.

two days of pre-sale at Hunting and Collecting

2010-06-12T11:31:00.000+01:00

fashion blogger looking for a music band

2010-06-11T20:39:00.001+01:00

With all the music competence not given to me by nature I’ll play any instrument that does not require any skills to play. I’ll probably look great on stage and I’ll wear strange outfits to surprise the audience every time. And wouldn’t the fans of your band love to read in the interview that I started playing violin at the age of 6 (and quit at the age of 9), or that I used to (lip-)sing in the choir for 5 years and every time I uttered a sound the teacher would say that someone in the last row is singing falsely. I can write, check origamimonami.blogspot.com for reference. I can also fund your band’s US/Europe/Asian tour by selling my designer clothes on eBay.
Interested? Write to me on l_lena73@hotmail.com

why not?

2010-06-11T19:07:00.002+01:00

Dress to match the album cover, and spend several minutes in the most intense lip-singing routine of my favourite tunes off the Yeasayer’s ‘Odd Blood’ - ‘Love me girl’ and ‘Mondegreen’ – it’s so good you can almost head-bang to it.

Veronique Branquinho shirt

Zara trousers and belt

Surface 2 Air bag via Mapp.

shoes via this site

Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds - Sorrow's Child

2010-06-10T20:39:00.001+01:00

Sorrow's child sits by the river

Sorrow's child hears not the water

Sorrow's child sits by the river

Sorrow's child hears not the water

And just when it seems as though

You've got strength enough to stand

Sorrow's child all weak and strange

Stands waiting at your hand

Sorrow's child steps in the water

Sorrow's child you follow after

Sorrow's child wades in deeper

Sorrow's child invites you under

And just when you thought as though

All your tears were wept and done

Sorrow's child grieves not what has passed

But all the past still yet to come

Sorrow's child sits by the water

Sorrow's child your arms enfold her

Sorrow's child you're loathe to befriend her

Sorrow's child but in sorrow surrender

And just when is seems as though

All your tears were at an end

Sorrow's child lifts up her hand

And she brings it down again

behind the logic

2010-06-10T19:56:00.007+01:00

I’ve witnessed something yesterday that I still can’t put in words. Passion – but not of your average definition. Passion that drives the logic – strangely enough the two can not only co-exist, but fuel one another. Whether the result is monstrous and destructive or if that’s the effect on my logic only - I fail to understand. I have previously believed in being the most rational person, but when a couple of things did not fit into the rational I have created the parallel and the alternative reality which functions pretty well. Years have passed and the realities blurred – no more distinction between what is real and what is a game of make-believe…is there any difference at all? Is it justified if it makes you happy? Does it really make you happy if at one point you type this out and publish it on your blog? I’m not sure if I’m making any sense right now, but I’m afraid you’ll hear about this again very soon. I want to talk about the retrospective perspective, destructive logic and my personal devil. Any of you following this blog for a bit may remember the post on ‘A wonderful world of devils and colour schemes’ from almost two years ago…
I could just retreat with hate and ignorance, but that’s no fun! Besides, it takes more time to be bitter than to be busy, or to play-pretend you are busy, well, whichever works.

Here are a few bits (or BITTS!) from my London trip – The ‘magnificent’ Chap playing their album launch show.

Portland’s Menomena at Studio 80 in Amsterdam last night.

This Saturday I will casually report from the Antwerp Academy show and Jan-Jan van Eschsse’s showroom at Atelier Solarshop. And there will be only a few weeks left before the magazine is released. This summer is a loaded gun.

history lesson

2010-06-06T17:27:00.002+01:00

I love to look for similarities, especially when the both images/looks are genius. Here’s Proenza Schouler spring/summer 10 vs. l’Officiel archives image.

World's End

2010-06-05T23:00:00.004+01:00

Here are a few pages from World's End (all via Centre for the aesthetic revolution, one of my absolute favourite blogs). Where can I order a copy?

Natalie Rae Webb vs. Ryan Berkeley

2010-06-05T14:05:00.001+01:00

I'm back.
And I want to become either:

or:

Tumblr-it-all

2010-06-03T05:52:00.001+01:00

The exciting trip is about to begin. And as I cross the border, you'll find me on Tumblr:
origamimonami.tumblr.com

the garden nymph

2010-06-01T11:14:00.003+01:00

I generally don’t like to ‘start new life’ on Mondays, but yesterday it was that kind of Monday in my home. Two nymphs came out of the pond to become dragonflies, they are still drying their wings on the nearest rose bush, almost ready to leave.
Well, that’s it on the National Geographic’s note…but that’s just so inspiring.

COS jacket

APC sweater

Zara trousers

second-hand shoes, belt and binoculas bag as purse

Casio watch

silver knuckle ring

Jan-Jan Van Essche: Collection#1 Launch

2010-05-31T11:15:00.003+01:00

Just as everyone goes to vote on the 13th of June in the most obligatory manner, I invite you to the new pop-up store organised by Atelier Solarshop in Antwerp. They will be hosting the showroom/shop for the first collection by Jan-Jan Van Essche named ‘Yukkuri’. Principally menswear, and there’s not much of a preview on his website, but the sparse images you may find look incredibly promising. As I recall, he received the Flanders Fashion Institute Award back in 2003 for his graduation work at Antwerp Fashion Academy, and if I may spy on his CV, the 13th of June is his birthday. These are some curious facts for starters… for more - see you there!

thumbs up for Tumblr

2010-05-30T19:49:00.002+01:00

Watch out with signing up for my Tumblr moodboard – you’ll be littered with non-coherent and irrelevant posts. I try to keep most of these musings and reflections out of the pages of this blog, but eventually they must be put to use, hence ‘.origami mon ami’ on Tumblr. It’s just too darn easy to blog via iPhone, connect it to Facebook and Twitter(no I don’t Twitter, I’m too ‘old’ for that) and let everyone know what you think at any given moment in time. So if you’re curious, have a look at:

http://www.origamimonami.tumblr.com/