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.

Jonesing for...

Vivienne Westwood sex shoes!

Song: Pretty vacant - Sex Pistols

Ghost World

In recent years, Ghost World has become a cult film thanks to the fantastic plot and the small mass of admirers who spreaded the word about this fantastic movie.

What I like most about it, is the cynicism and irony imprinted in Thora Birtch's character. Far more realistic than the typical teen movie.

From imdb: "Enid (Thora Birch) and Rebecca (Scarlett Johansson) are best friends having difficulties with the social attitudes of other people. After graduating high school, they decide to get a job and rent a house of their own. However, Enid needs to attend Arts summer school to graduate but her anti-social behavior makes her lose her job.

Meanwhile, Enid and Rebecca play a prank on Seymour (Steve Buscemi), a middle-aged collector of vinyl records that also has difficulties with relationships. Seymour and Enid eventually become friends. As time goes by, Enid reaches maturity and develops a different view of life."

Song: Devil got my woman - Skip James

Mociun

The simplicity of Mociun's clothes makes me want them more than -hardly- anything in this world. The ability of mixing old and new amazes me. The design is truly fresh, but always keeping a traditional sense of aesthetics.

The brand and its distinctive prints are the result of Caitlin Mociun textile design studies at the Rhode Island School.

Everything is printed and sewed by hand, and I am afraid, this isn't going to change. Mociun doesn't want the brand to get any bigger and that means her clothes are pretty difficult to find.

Song: Good woman - Cat Power

World book day

Celebrating world book day with Morrissey and Marcel Proust.

“If a little dreaming is dangerous, the cure for it is not to dream less but to dream more, to dream all the time.” Marcel Proust

Acne

With summer around the corner, it probably isn't the best time to talk about knitwear. But the thinness and quality of Acne designs seem to me an interesting choice for this season. Whether you are looking for a dress or the classiest of sweaters, there's something waiting for you.

I never developed a huge passion for Acne until know because I hardly ever wear jeans. However, since they're expanding -very intelligently, if you ask me- their range of clothes, this label is becoming more and more interesting. Their designs might not be anything special, but they are quintessential pieces necessary in every wardrobe.

Song: Brown Boxes - The Spinto Band

Ellen Kooi

Yesterday, it was the last day of an Ellen Kooi exhibition that took place near my hometown. However, one of the worst storms of the year and the one hour train distance restrained me from going. Which is a pity, because I've always admired the mistery and whim surrounding her work.

Kooi pics are taken and inspired by the Netherlands, where she was born. Although kids, women and human relationships, in general are also an important part of her photography.

Her signature style is easily recognized, but each shot is very different from the next, and has its own alma.

Song: Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen

A.P.C. Madras

I was so happy to see an A.P.C. newsletter when I opened my mailbox this morning, I almost jumped out of my chair. The reason of this enthusiasm was the new A.P.C. Madras collection. Jean Touitou collaborated once again with Jessica Odgen to create a line full of fresh and wearable summery garments.

Blame the calico prints or the fact that the clothes are made in India, but this line has a hippie vibe that I can't help but love.

Here are some of my favourite pieces (even thought, I'd buy the whole collection if I could!) :

Song: Dead end street - The Kinks

Paco Rabanne

It's hard to think of many Spanish designers that influenced the history of fashion. But, Paco Rabanne, is without a doubt, one of them.

He was born Francisco Rabaneda Cuervo in 1934 in the Basque Country -as well as Balenciaga- and was forced to fled for France due to the civil war.

Rabanne's fashion career started creating jewellery for Dior, Givenchy and Balenciaga. However, he didn't opened his own fashion house until 1966. In that short period of time he was able to define the 60's with his signature dresses made of metal and plastic disks .

Françoise Hardy was a huge fan of his designs.

Song: Voilà - Françoise Hardy

DIY: liberty skirt

I bought some flowery fabric a few months ago with the idea of sewing a skirt. But I didn't feel like doing it until yesterday when stumbled I upon this puff skirt tutorial at Childhood flames blog.

By the way, I purchased too much fabric (beginner's fault!), so if you are interested, send me an email, and I'll do one for you.

Song: Start me up - The Rolling Stones

Kirsten is back!

I normally feel bad about looking at celebrity pics, but I can't hide the happiness of seeing Kirsten and her inspiring style back.

Song: La Mer - Charles Trenet

Furniture, etc...

I am going to redecorate my room very soon, and to be honest, I don't have the slightest knowledge of interior design. I am just going to rely on my taste, forget it could turn out badly and do things my own way. Obviously, advice is very welcomed.

The two main colours will be red and white. I want red damask wallpaper in one of the walls and I'll keep the rest in off white.

I'd like a wrought iron bed, but I can't decide between a classic or a modern design. Although, I adore this one. I also need an armchair, but I haven't found one I really like yet.

Finally, the most important thing: the closet. I don't want a proper wardrobe. I was thinking of a couple of racks and a white chest of drawers. But I don't know if it'll look tacky. My idea is to place the chest of drawers between the chest of drawers and fill the upper part of the wall with a photo gallery.

Song: I know its over - The Smiths

Here comes the sun

Hippie

Once again hippie style is experiencing a revival. If I remember well the last one was the Boho era in 2004, not so far away if you ask me. Blame it or not on lack of inspiration, but designers decided it was comeback time and invaded the summer collections with fringes, floaty flowery dresses, high-waisted pants and cross body bags.

Song: Me and Bobby McGee - Janis Joplin

Mayle

Mayle is well known for creating feminine collections. The line has, in general, a vintage vibe and her designer Jane Mayle pays special attentions to details and fabrics.

The new collection doesn't disappoint, and is full of lace, flowers and silk. "Spring's Mexican funeral theme was inspired by a viewing of the Manet exhibition at Moma. Over the course of only eight or ten canvases, Manet sought to paint an event - the execution of the Emperor Maximillian- of which he had only heard second hand accounts. Alongside these exhibited paintings were photographs that showed a very different reality and exposed the extent to which Manet had fictionalized the facts, and in true painterly fashion, privileged storytelling and composition over truth. Choosing to gloss over the more maudlin aspects of this event and have my own way with story, I imagined a series of Mexican widows, one more beautiful in mourning than the next, who might gather at the graveside of such a man, stand next to each other and alongside generals, bandits and a cross-section of every other sort of Mexican citizen. Not only could my concoction allow for the inappropriate intermingling of señorita with sergeant, but a normally solemn event could be invaded by a general feeling of festivity and the colours of a piñata could run riot."

Song: Mexico-Incubus

Jan Saudek

Pretty things-Rufus Wainwright