Monday, February 28, 2011

The Real Housewife of Paris

Salma Heyek photographed by Cass Bird for The NY Times Magazine.





Next Three.

Cant get enough of James Blake. 11 am. Monday/Tuesday morning post weekend but pre Wednesdays. Dandelion tea. Sun stream. Sleepy eyes. Breeze. Breathe. Soft murmurs around you but a subtle moment of silent smile.

A British electronic composer, Blake defines his genre as Dub-slash-Grime-slash-Melodramatic Popular Song. Think "vibe". His self-titled debut album was released in the UK on 7 February 2011. Buy it here on iTunes. James Blake - The Wilhelm Scream http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVgEaDemxjc

Shoto

Do you remember when you saw Ken Park? If you saw it because it was refused classification in Australia...

For me it was when I was 20. In a dark foley studio, with three boys (including a new boyfriend) and I'd spent the day at the beach so was wearing a short, short skirt and thin singlet over a barely there bikini. Watching that movie, in those surrounds - cool, dark, deadly silent except for the sound on the screen - was one of those occasions that just sticks in your mind for no other reason than it was so out of the blue when it happened that my coping mechanism still is to giggle when the memory bubbles to the surface. Because if I thought about trying to put it in context, I'd have to ask myself long, hard questions.

It shocked me when I dug deep into Harmony Korine to realise that the man behind the lens for the recent Spring 2011 Urban Outfitters catalogue and the movie Ken Park. Analog photos that have been smashed in a way similar to the Byredo and M/M (Paris) M/Mink Eau de Parfum print campaign making the whole thing look and feel like art.









A taste of Ken Park for those that haven't seen it. Apparently so graphic it was banned from the 2003 Sydney Film Festival and the only trailer I could find was in German... The theatrical trailer poster should give you a clue to the themes of the movie.

Friday, February 25, 2011

Live the Language

Dreaming of trips abroad requires the need for inspiration and it doesn't come much better than these.

The combination of luscious imagery courtesy of cinematographer Niklas Johansson, type from Barcelona base designer and art director Albin Holmqvist - set by Director Gustav Johansson to match the quivering handheld camera work adds to the romanticism of these crazy beautiful videos.

Considering that they were developed for language-teaching company EF, these Live the Language videos are a beautiful composite of the awe, the joy, the terror and uncertainty of learning about and living in a new city.

Watch Paris, London, Beijing and Barcelona and dream. I want them frame by frame, Polaroid set, hanging from my wall to remind me that happiness can be as simple as opening your eyes and arms to let experiences in.

EF - Live The Language - Paris from Albin Holmqvist on Vimeo.



EF - Live The Language - London from Albin Holmqvist on Vimeo.



EF - Live The Language - Beijing from Albin Holmqvist on Vimeo.



EF - Live The Language - Barcelona from Albin Holmqvist on Vimeo.

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Death by Dion

There are some things that take my breath away. Dion Lee is consistently one of them. And while the cut out jackets in his CUE:DION LEE range are reminiscent of his 2009 collection I love and want regardless.

Cue - an iconic Australian brand - teamed with Lee (a 24 year old Australian designer inspired, if not obsessed with the construction of clothing) to present an influential capsule collection to Australian women at an affordable price point.

The range is as you'd expect and seen previously with the Target/Goot Target/Stella collaborations. Straight forward, simple, monotone with spritz' of color. Again more his 2009 style that the current hand-dyed/butterfly print collection hitting stores, however the collection does deliver in cut, construction and celebration of simplicity. Available March 1 at selected CUE stores, below are my pics of the bunch.

Blazer with sleeve slash $450.00

Leather sheer back shirt $320.00

Silk drape blazer $480.00

Felt moulded dress $360.00

Dinner shirt $99.00 $125.00 and Double ponte biker skirt $320.00

Vacanza? per favore?!

Feeling settled and nestled in the year, I would like to bottle some of the calm and drink it in, in a different place. One where you float through the days, close your eyes in the bright light, drift into darkness surrounded by quiet and open your eyes again when it's clean and serene.

The Riva, Florence might just be the place. A melting pot experiment fusing tastes, sense, lifestyle and the experience of Claudio Nardi and his daughter Alice make The Riva a home that is a mix of constantly evolving influences. Filled with a mixture of materials, furnishings, contemporary architectural detail and antique objects, The Riva is claimed as a 'cross-sectional landscape for curious minds'.

8 studios - each with hidden away entrances and built differently. Some with private terraces, gardens, or views of the surrounding areas. Some with furnishings that are deep and warm, others that are neutral and cool. All with access to the metaphysical swimming pool set in white sandstone that sinks into the private garden - what looks to be my favourite part of them all - the places to sink deeper and deeper and be reborn afresh.

RIVA LOFTS FLORENCE
Via Baccio Bandinelli 98, 50142 Florence
P: +39 055 7130272
E: info@rivalofts.com














Eurofusion

Slowly creeping, whistling in its own way. Slipping past along the sides. And before you know it Summer is over and it's vanished like it was never here. It's about this time of the year that I fall back in love with Cafe Sopra at Fratelli Fresh, Walsh Bay.

Maybe it's the clean, fresh air. The warm sunlight sprinkles that you glimpse through the chill. The mid-seasons that we seem to miss so often every year in Australia when it suddenly turns from gold to cold. But I love the dining sentiment of a simple meal, a glass of wine and a laze back for a short moment in a long day.

My pick of the oh so natural Fratelli menu are the Smoked trout fishcake with soft boiled egg and capper mayo $18 with a side of Witlof salad (with pear, gorgonzola and toasted walnuts) $18, the San Vittoria sparkling mineral with lemon and a glass of house red or white. Delizioso.

Fratelli Fresh / Cafe Sopra
Shop 8, 16 Hickson Rd
Walsh Bay, 2000
ph. 8243 2700
Monday - Sunday 12pm - 3pm and 6pm - 10pm
No bookings taken




Monday, February 14, 2011

Night

A nights not a night without music. I think I'm back. I know I'm obsessed with DISCODEINE - the french duo born in 2007 from the sick minds of Pilooski and Pentile. Self titled album was released Jan 31 11 - pick it up on iTunes.

Discodeine - Grace http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Hgy8aBeUY8&feature=player_embedded

ON TONIGHT: Tic Taco II (7pm @ Beach Burrito)

When all of the love heart shaped chocolates and sweet nothings have been packed away for another year, and you need a healthy dose of sweat and party, come play at Jussykin's (now) annual photo exhibit Tic Taco II - a skateboarding photographic exhibition by Justin Barnwell @ Beach Burrito, Bondi Beach.

A round up of shots from the 2010 Bowl-a-Rama festivities, last years night proved to be bang up and this one is sure not to disappoint. Can't wait to see you there for some shots (both the camera and alcoholic kind!) For more JCB shots check his site http://www.justinbarnwell.com/. Rocking.

Tic Taco II - A photographic exhibition by Justin Barnwell
Tuesday, February 15 · 7:00pm - 11:30pm
Beach Burrito Co.

252 Campbell Pde, Bondi, NSW, AUS
P: 9130 7123

Tic Taco 2010 - a monnnntaaaage


Blinded by the Light

Generally speaking, home is where the heart is. But when there is so much to take in and be saturated by, sometimes its hard to center and earth in a central place. Designer Thien Ta Trung makes it possible to save some of that love and warmth where it's right.

Trung is one of three siblings who combines to be Periphere* - independent furniture designers from Quebec Canada. Individually made by hand, it's beautiful that they describe each piece of their furniture designed with 'intimacy '. (* I am in love with their website. I don't know why. It's just cool).

Periphere
4117 Boul. St Laurent
Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H2W 1Y7
P: 514 563 1268
E: info@periphere.com


Heart shaped blown glass pendant lights (designed specifically for MADE AT HOME, Toronto)

Random

Sometimes the best type of fate falls in your lap. It just happens. It's like one drop in an ocean, causes a ripple and then you're off on a completely different path from where you started. This year already feels like the calmest sea but underneath the currents are dragging me to exactly where I need and want to be. And along the way things are already falling and landing upright. New friends pop up, and whether it's because the drop landed and the motion was set or because of terribly unromantic technology making it so I'd kind of glad that Mia Oatley and her art came from no where.

Mia Oatley
"Dirty Pretty Things" - 19 February - 2 March 2011
Richard Martin Art
98 Holdsworth Street - Woollahra NSW 2025 Sydney Australia
P: +61 (0)2 9327 6525






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