Paris So Far... Part One

I've place Paris as my main point to my destination for my whole Europe Trip and here's what I've seen so far...

My friend whom I'm bunking in with in Paris has a habit of doodling on scraps of paper and it often comes with great effect!

These patterns got 'projected' onto the ceiling while my friend was doing her embroidery work.

I had a few hours to myself and went around the highest peak of Montmarte.

Clutch around 600 euros plus from a vintage shop...made with two baby leopard's head...I feel really sorry for them... :(

Another great doodle from my friend while sipping our tea at Starbucks.

On the tiny ferry that took us across the river so that we could catch our movie...we watched 'Cheri' starring Michelle Pfeiffer and Rupert Friend (only liked the setting and costumes...)

Interior of 'Mama Shelter' where I had dinner...great gathering!

One of my course at 'Mama Shelter': Leeks with some kind of sauce...and yes, the television enclosed inside the glass table where we sat for dinner.

Well, as I've been to Paris, I did not visit the Eiffle Tower again! Ah yes, I did go to the vintage store, 'Free P'Star'. However, it was super cramped and probably did not go at the right time as it was super crowded! I guess I needed time and to be early to rummage through piles of clothing! I did go to two vintage stores and scored two things...which will be mentioned next time!

Trip to Europe, the few days before flying...

In two days time, I will be on the plane to my first destination, Paris!

I would not say it's my first trip.

This is one of the places I would like to go while I'm in Paris:

A vintage store called 'Free P'star' where you have to rummage through mountains of clothes (as described from others). I guess it will be the equivalent to 'Beyond Retro' in London.



More from Spotted by Locals (great website!): http://www.spottedbylocals.com/paris/area/marais-bastille/shopping-marais-bastille/free-p-star

Picture Credits: 1st) Magasins Paris, 2nd) isabeljlb from Flickr

Preview: 'Coco Chanel' Movie Trailer

(French Poster from IMDB.com (released by Warner Bros. France)

I was browsing the Yahoo France website and I saw the movie trailer for "COCO AVANT CHANEL" ("COCO BEFORE CHANEL" in English).

Here's Audrey Tautou as the legendary Coco Chanel. (Picture source: www.screenrush.co.uk)



This movie from Warner Bros. France takes place during her childhood and her early adulthood.

...so far, there are no subtitles for this trailer...so to those who don't understand French, just appreciate the visual aspects...

Poster for International Release (only a few release around Europe is known for now)

France and Belgium will release the movie on 22nd of April.

One comment: The story looks promising though I hope they will also show more fashion in the film.

Link up here:

Official Movie Website (in French only): http://wwws.warnerbros.fr/cocoavantchanel/index.html

Official movie pictures are shown at this link (in case you are eager to see the pictures fast!): http://www.screenrush.co.uk/film/galerievignette_gen_cfilm=128901.html

Stationary Art with Hermès

Along the window display at Hermès (in Singapore), the boutique's in house designer, Julian Lee uses series of stationary utensils (tape, pencils, paper clips, memo-pad...you get the drift...) on a huge and normal scale next to their new collection...

On Sunday, Han Suying from 'The New Paper (one of the newspapers published in Singapore)' reported about the window display.

Click Here for the article:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3145/3323010856_cae3880437_o.jpg

Clearer view on here: http://fashionation.wordpress.com/2009/03/03/mentioned-on-the-new-paper/

Fashion Nation goes into details about the window with incredible pictures! http://fashionation.wordpress.com/2009/02/12/hermes-window-display-simply-brilliant/

Did I mention that around 5,000 pencils were used to build this train?

Source: Fashion Nation

Featuring: The 'Next Generation' designer, Alessia Xoccato

'Next Generation' showcased one of Italian design-school graduates, Alessia Xoccato (her website: http://www.alessiaxoccato.com/ (still under construction) during Milan Fashion Week.

Here are two garments from her collection:



More on 'Next Generation' from WWD: http://www.wwd.com/fashion-news/next-generation-rtw-fall-2009-2033605?src=rss/fashion/20090226

...and a short video from C6.com:



...or just link up on this website: http://www.c6.tv/archivio?id=3137

By the way, Alessia, congrats on your show! Really liked the garments you produced (from what I saw on the video!).

A little more on the designer next time )of some of her other works as I'm working on a project which has almost taken a bit of my time (also more on that project in the future...).

Target Goes To McQueen (Part Four) - Updated with TV commercial!

Just two pictures from 'Los Angeles Times':



Article on: http://www.latimes.com/features/printedition/image/la-ig-mcqueen1-2009mar01,0,7902461.story

...and their commercial...

Trust me, I'm not a huge fan of Alexander McQueen and I understand that this news of the collaboration is probably getting too much...

Anyway, just posting the commercial I encountered.



McQueen x Target x Blythe Commercial

Video source: Nitrolicious

More on: http://www.nitrolicious.com/blog/2009/03/02/mcqueen-x-target-x-blythe-commercial/

Target Goes To McQueen (Part Three)

Remember a few months back, I mentioned about Alexander McQueen collaborating with Target?

A few days ago, McQ for Target opened a special pop-up store in Manhattan’s meatpacking district.

Part of the Ad campaign.

More on: http://nylonmag.com/nylonblogs/blog/2009/02/14/mcq-for-target-its-alive/

All Picture Source: Nylonmag.com

See:
Target Goes To McQueen (Part One)
Target Goes To McQueen (Part Two)

Featuring: 'How It Ends' (The Three F's, 'Film, Fashion and Furniture').

Even though this video is almost a year old (a little late to show this I must admit), I thought it would be interesting to post it on this website.

In 2008, here was a collaboration with the local (Singapore) designers, each group, a fashion designer/brand and a furniture designer. This was done under the project called 'Blueprint'. This video was shown together with a fashion show during the Singapore Fashion Festival 2008.

Excerpt from 'designsingapore.org':

"The shared influences between the designers have seen the creation of multi-dimensional and transformational new designs with product designers drawing inspiration from the fashion designers collections for the Singapore Fashion Festival 2008. Arising from the partnership, the fashion designers have also drawn competencies and strengths from the product designers to produce new works for their fashion showcase."



The video was featured in Italian as this whole project was also shown during 'Salone Internazionale Del Mobile' (the furniture fair held in Milan annually) on the same year.

I recommend everyone to watch this video on high definition (HD) on YouTube. Just place your cursor on the triangle located at the bottom right of the YouTube video screen of this post and click 'HD' (after pressing the play button).

Tearjerking Valentine...

Jeffrey Rudell is a paper artist who has a background in graphic art. He has a fascination with traditional craft techniques using mainly paper. He quotes; 'I strive to make work that has a strong sculptural quality, is drawn from organic shapes, and has a sort of crisp lyricism.'

His work has been featured at Tiffany & Co. (Fifth Avenue), Mish New York, The New York Botanical Garden, and also has some works the pages of Elle Decor, Brides, Receptions, and Good Housekeeping magazines among others.

Recently, he has added a tutorial on how to make a Valentine from an onion. He shows how to create textural surfaces (decoupage like).

The tutorial feature on this link: http://www.craftstylish.com/item/39402/how-to-make-a-valentine-from-an-onion

Photo source: Craftzine

Amazing what you can do with onions either than sauté it...or cry when peeling...

PS. More craft ideas on his profile page: http://www.craftstylish.com/profile/Jeff_Rudell

Featuring: James Pratt (Handbags)

James Pratt is an American designer, born in 1977 is known for his controversial handbag designs. Apart from bags, he designs electronics, furnitures and does some architecture projects. More biography from this link: http://www.jamespiatt.com/08about.html

Fancy carrying man's best friend...?

Excerpt on the description: 'Based on Paris Hilton's discarded pet Tinkerbell is an upside down dead Chihuahua. This design capitalizes on the trend of carrying a small dog as a fashion accessory.'

It may be a little disturbing but I think it's cute and interesting (the idea!). Normally, I can't stand Chihuahuas but this is the only time I say it's cute...(I guess it's kind of morbid!)

Purchase this on:
http://www.jamespiatt.com/08tinkerbellblack2.html

Feeling a little 'military'?

Excerpt on the description: 'For the girl on the move the Pursuader features a handy cell phone compartment in the clip.'

Also...try not to carry this through security at any airports!

Purchase this on:
http://www.jamespiatt.com/08pursuaderpink1.html