Russian Red

In the previous post many people mentioned how much they liked the song I chose. It's from one of my latest discoveries: Russian Red.

It's been a time since an artist doesn't thrilled me the way Lourdes Hernández does. Her first album "I love your glasses" was released in April and it has already revolutionized the Spanish panorama. It's filled with folk songs that remind the likes of Feist, Joan Baez or Cat Power.

I keep my fingers crossed to see her playing live very soon.

Song: Cigarettes - Russian Red

Snoozer Loser

With final terms around the corner, I'm not getting much sleep and I don't have the time to choose original outfits, therefore I keep wearing the same ensemble: skinny jeans with babydoll tops, blazers and flats. Finding bright and cheerful tops is key for me right now as I don't want to look boring and ordinary. But that's not a problem since I discovered the NY based brand Snoozer loser.

Sonia Tay, a graduate from Parsons School of design, is the woman behind Snoozer Loser. I simply love the attention she pays to details -her clothes are hand-printed- without forgetting the functionality of her garments.

This summer she proposes us whimsical clothes, full of flowers in soft pastel colours such as pink, yellow and green.

Song: No past land - Russian Red

A tribute

From the first time I saw Ashley Olsen wearing the YSL tribute sandals, it was instant love. They have that stripper vibe, so cheeky and appealing at the same time. But at the price of $760 per pair, I resigned myself because I knew there wasn't a chance of getting them.

At least not the real ones. Because look what I found:

They're from a brand called Bakers. I know I am always complaining about the amount of knockoffs in fashion, but I can't resist these shoes. The only problem is Bakers doesn't ship outside the US, so I have my finger crossed in the hope that a pair will pop up on ebay.

Song: Bunny- Ultra Orange and Emmanuelle

I miss the old Cannes

Tomorrow Cannes will close its doors until next May. In recent years, Hollywood stars, with their fake glamour, are invading this small village in the south of France.

Call me nostalgic, but I miss the days when the festival was filled with people like Visconti, Fassbinder or Jean Moureau. Why Cannes, supposedly independent, seems to support the commercial American industry?

But I've faith that things will change because the festival got over from bigger crisis, like the lack of funds in 1948 and 1950, or May 68 when numerous directors like Godard, Truffaut or Polanski closed Cannes in sympathy with the students riots that were taking place in Paris at that moment.

On moral

Yesterday I woke up with rather disgusting news; Louis Vuitton brought a lawsuit against Nadia Plesne. The reason? Producing t-shirts with the image you can see below to benefit the Darfur genocide victims.

I find the LVMH attitude heartless and very hypocritical. They can use an image of Gorbachov in front of the Berlin Wall to advertise their products, but a young artist can't mock their bags to help the people of Darfur.

Song: The times they are a-changin' - Bob Dylan

Anita Pallenberg

Back to the subject of style icons, I'd like to talk about one of my all time favourites: Anita Pallenberg. She became popular thanks to her relationships with Brian Jones and Keith Richards. The Sixth Stone -as she was known- played an important role in the band from the late 60's throughout the 70's.

It's not just the clothes, but her attitude towards fashion what makes me like her so much. The way she dresses is a direct consequence of her personality. Pallenberg is the female version of the Renaissance Man: she does lots of thing and excels in all of them. During the nineties she studied fashion design at Central Saint Martins.

Song: Sympathy for the devil - The Rolling Stone

Felipe Oliveira Baptista

As soon as I saw this picture at Café Mode I had to re-check Felipe Oliveira Baptista summer collection. It's been a while since the Portuguese designer is under my radar, but only a stranger made me realise how much I like what he does (don't worry, I've already smacked myself).

From this particular show, I like the volumes and silhouettes, and the masks would have been a great alternative for the MET gala.

Bear with me (and my latest obsession): You really got me - The Kinks

The odd couple

Imagine for a moment you know nothing about fashion...what would you think of this couple?

Song: Now I wanna sniff some glue - The Ramones

Sheila Márquez

As long as I can remember, I've never cared for models (Lara Stone is the exception).However it's time to show a bit of national pride and talk about Sheila Márquez. Some people may consider her face plain, but for me she's the owner of a classic and versatile beauty.

From theonestowatch : "Sheila Márquez, the 23 year old Madrileña darling of Balenciaga, has been on a tear since her arrival at Women Management Paris last November. She immediately grabbed the influential attention of Nicolas Ghesquiere and Marie Amelie Sauve who contracted her on the spot. Sheila shot a spectacular editorial with Sofia Sanchez & Mauro Mongiello for the Spring 2007 issue of 10 Magazine. Her Fall 2007/Winter 2008 runway regimen included biggie Gucci in Milan and the brilliance continued in Paris. In the last week Sheila’s walked Balenciaga, Costume National, Loewe, Chloe and Louis Vuitton. A shoot with Craig McDean for W is the icing to a whole lot of more cake for this 5′9″ brunette."

Her career only needs a small shakeup,and I am sure she will become a great top model.

Song: Cosmic dancer - T.Rex

The state of fashion

It is said that fashion, as art in general, is a reflection of our times. But, what does it said about our society?

Doing a difficult perspective exercise, we could say that fashion follows the frantic pace of our lives. The human being is insatiable, our capacity of desire has no end: the more we have, the more we want to have. Fast food, as well as fast fashion, are the answers to our wishes.

It's time to stop, think and redirect our thought patterns to be better with ourselves and the environment.

Song: My insatiable one - Suede

Pic source: History place

Men watch

I can't help but love men watches on women. In general, I just love men pieces mixed with a feminine style. It's the perfect touch of scruffiness, as I don't want my outfits to look too done.

"The absence of flaw in beauty is itself a flaw." Havelock Ellis.

Song: Picadilly Palare - Morrissey

Balmain fever hits the fashion world

Everybody talks about Balmain, everybody wants to wear Balmain. All thanks to Christophe Decarnin, who in only four shows has influenced the industry in a way I haven't seen in years: he's behind the comeback of hippie, and I can safely blame him for the return of punk next winter.

But, what is the key to reemerge and old fashion house such as Balmain? For me,it's the sexiness of his designs which include an army of mini-dresses that have already conquered the whole Paris-Vogue staff.

Song: Horses - Patti Smith

Fashion vs. style

Most magazines use the terms style icon and fashionista as synonyms. For me, these words are far from being similar. I am not pretending to say one is better than the other, both require an effort.

While the fashionista needs to follow every single trend that hits the streets, the style icon must develop her own dressing sense (a tough task that could last years, even a whole life) choosing her own basics.

Personally, I am searching my own style (a feminine bohemian) because I usually don't feel comfortable with most trends and I will only incorporate those that match me. I normally try to look my best, and that would be impossible if I followed every single fashion.

Are you a fashionista or do you have your own style?

Song: Here in my room - Incubus

Edit: Just to clarify things... in this post, Victoria Beckham plays the role of the fashionista and Anita Pallenberg is the style icon.