Yegang Yoo

The Korean-born designer Yegang Yoo has an impressive curriculum. After graduating from Y&Kei in Seoul, she moved to New York to study at the prestigious Parsons school where she developed her characteristic pattern making skills.

La diseñadora de origen coreano Yegang Yoo tiene un curriculum simplemente impresionante. Después de graduarse en Y&Kei en Seúl, se mudó a New York para estudiar en la prestigiosa escuela Parsons donde comenzó a desarrollar sus tan características habilidades de patronaje.

She has worked for such important brands as Hussein Chalayan, Vena Cava, Rachel Comey or Jens Laugesen. However, she recently decided to took the plunge and launch her own line introducing her very first collection for Autumn/Winter 08-09.

Ha trabajado para marcas tan importante como Hussein Chalayan, Vena Cava, Rachel Comey o Jens Laugesen. Sin embargo, hace poco decidió arriesgarse y lanzar su propia linea para el otoño/invierno 08-09.

These pants are my favourite piece from the whole collection. I've never seen anything similar before.

Next season's collection is constructed around geometric concepts, resulting in a bunch of clean lined garments. Everything is meticulously done, giving rise to highly wearable minimalistic pieces made of great quality.

La colección para el próximo verano está construida entorno a conceptos geométricos, siendo el resultado un conjunto de prendas con lineas muy simples. Todo está meticulósamente hecho dando lugar a prendas minimalistas muy ponibles y de gran calidad.

Love me, please love me - Michel Polnareff

Girls with Allure illustrated

Badaude and I recently teamed up to do a very special edition of Girls with Allure illustrated. Well, actually she did most of the work while I only asked the questions. Anyhow, here is the final result.

Poor Lola - April March

Charles Anastase

Apologies for my absence these past few days. My analog life has been taking more time than expected.

Siento my ausencia de los últimos días, pero mi vida analógica me ha estado robando más tiempo del que yo esperaba.

During this time, NY fashion week ended passing the baton to London (which is, in general, closer to my taste). I'm not a fan of doing show reviews, because we have the great Sarah Mower for that. However, Charles Anastase will be an exception.

Durante este tiempo, la semana de la moda ha terminado en New York cediéndole el testigo a Londres (en general, mucho más cercana a mis gustos). No soy muy de comentar desfiles, porqué para eso ya está la gran Sarah Mower. Pero el de Charles Anastase será la excepción.

In this collection, Charles Anastase has combined his signature girly aesthetic -reminiscence of Picnic at Hanging Rock-, with a dose of sexyness represented by suspender belts, silk stockings or endless high heels.

En esta colección Charles Anastase ha sabido conjugar su ya característica estética aniñada -reminiscente de Picnic at Hanging Rock-, con una sensualidad representada por ligueros, medias de seda o tacones de vértigo.

The perfect melange of innocence and sensuality: cache-coeurs paired with motorcycle leather jackets, organza skirts with old school blazers, straw hats, nerd eyeglasses, peter pan collars, denim...everything exquisitely done.

La mezcolanca perfecta entre inocencia y sensualidad: cache-coeurs combinados con cazadoras moteras en piel, faldas de organza con americanas, sombreros de paja, gafas de empollón, cuellos peter pan, vaquero...y todo realizado de forma exquisita.

Pics from style and dazed digital

La calle del olvido - Los Secretos

Vice & Vanity

I'm not used to wear statement jewellery because I prefer to be more daring with the rest of my outfit. But I'd happily do an exception with this Vice & Vanity necklace. It will look good paired with a simple AA Tri-blend t-shirt in athletic grey. But no, I can't, I must restrain myself from buying anything until October (I've already bought 3 dresses this month!).

Normalmente no suelo llevar joyas muy contundentes porqué prefiero ser más osada con el resto de mi ropa. Pero fácilmente haría una excepción con este collar de Vice & Vanity. Quedaría muy bien con una camiseta gris de AA. Pero no, no puedo, tengo que contenerme de comprar nada por lo menos hasta octubre (ya me he comprado tres vestidos solo este mes!).

Innocent and vain - Nico

Under the influence

From left to right: Gala, Rumi and Lisa

The influence of blogs doesn't cease to astonish me. Not only they had the ability to be first -opposite traditional media- informing the news, but also they are starting to create trends.

Cada día me sorprendo más de la capacidad de influencia que tienen los blogs. No solo por la ventaja que tienen para adelantarse a la noticia frente a los medios tradicionales, sino también porqué con más frecuencia crean tendencia.

Bloggers like Rumi or Gala are showing a great ability to create trends between their readers. Thanks to the immediacy of the net, the cropped tops - so typical of the 90's- are spreading like wildfire.

Bloggers como Rumi o Gala están demostrando tener una gran capacidad para crear moda entre sus lectores. Gracias a la inmediatez de internet los "cropped tops" tan típicos de los 90 se están extendiendo por todo el mundo a una velocidad de vértigo.

How far can "the power" of blogs be extended?

¿Hasta dónde creéis que puede llegar "el poder" de los blogs?

Little Wing - Jimi Hendrix

Last Goodbye

Paulo Melim Andersson's third and latest show for Chloé is the only one I liked from all the collections he designed for the French house. But it wasn't love at first sight, it took time to grow on me. Alas! the more I see it the more I like it. And for me that's good, very good indeed.

Chiffon for winter? Yes, please! Better if paired with such a masculine fabric as tweed. The contrast is genius.

However, it saddens me to know Melim didn't have the time to show all his talent.

La que ha sido la tercera y última colección de Paulo Melim Andersson para Chloé, es la única que realmente me ha gustado. No fue amor a primera vista. Podría decirse que esta colección ha ido ganándose mi aprobación poco a poco, a fuerza de verla en las revistas y de fijarme en los detalles. Y eso es bueno, muy bueno.

¿Chiffon para el invierno? Sí, ¡por favor! Y más si viene combinado con un tejido tan típico del armario masculino como el tweed. El contraste es genial.

Es una pena que Melim no haya dispuesto del suficiente tiempo para demostrar todo su talento.

You know I couldn't last - Morrissey

Azul oscuro casi negro

Reading Vogue Collections I came to realize how austerity dominated the majority of winter shows. Houses like Prada, Junya Watanabe, Jil Sander or Nina Ricci who at first are very different aesthetically speaking, converged to show us gothic, sinister and lugubrious collections.

The crisis is not affecting fashion in monetary terms, but the influence is clear when it comes to creativity: black colour and clean lines are the norm.

I also see an inspiration from German romanticism: Werther, Friedrich...you name it. Either way, I'm in love with this trend and all that represents because it's time to be more thoughtful about our consumption patterns.

Eroica symphony no.3 - Beethoven

Vintage-ing

Paradoxically, when we have reached a high point in terms of digital technology, many nostalgics are going back to analog.

First, it was the vinyl which still enamoures many of us with its fantastic sound. Then the Polaroid returned full of charm, boosted by the closure of its factories. And now the comeback of the Lomo.

From Unica Home "Originally produced by the great wall plastic factory in Hong Kong in the 1960's the diana has become a cult classic, known for producing soft and dreamy images due to light leakage. given away by reader's digest as a freebie, the diana has been out of production for almost 35 years. A light, inexpensive medium (120 film) format camera, the 'new' diana has 4 f-stops and comes with a booklet, camera strap and lens cover. An additional change is that the camera has a removable lens, allowing for pinhole camera action!"

Slimane

Away from home feeling I am going to see something unique. I enter the museum and see the distinctive black & white Slimane portraits. Just 10 of them. Add some music festival noise to create the atmosphere. 120 km to see ten pics...is this what L'art pour l'art means?

Music when the lights go out - The Libertines

In the name of perfection

It's no secret we live in a hedonistic society obsessed with perfection; one only has to think in all the tools within our reach to change what it is not written in our genes: plastic surgery, make-up...and the list goes on and on.

After much thought, I can't think -apart from the obvious- of any reasons to explain this phenomenon. Aren't flaws the ones that give us character?

On top of it, is the overuse of Photoshop. I beg those who are working at magazines to stop it because most of the times it's on the verge of tackyness.

"A flaw, a mistake. That's what makes the poetry, gives it the painterly quality". Miroslav Tichý.

Maybe not - Cat Power

Selling at all costs

I've always been in love with the tomboy look Winona Ryder sported in Girl Interrupted. Especially when she wore men shirts. It may seem a bit boring at first, but it's great for lazy days when you only have to attend some classes.

Now, American Apparel is selling something of the kind. The thing is that in USA the said shirt costs $54, while in Europe the same one is €54. That makes a difference of almost €20! Even if the garments are made in L.A. I don't get the huge difference in price.

Isla de Encanta - Pixies

Strange feelings

19th August. Summer is coming to an end, but I've got the feeling it hasn't already started. Tiredness and boredom join forces causing lack of inspiration. I'd rather not write, but I can't. I must do it, or I'd be betraying myself.

Pic by Francesca Woodman

I crossed the doorstep and think:

(I look like a million bucks)

Later, waiting for the traffic lights to turn green, I see the prettiest girl with a perfectly studied outfit. She must think I look like crap (!)

Stuck in the middle with you - Steve Miller Band

Com(m)e and stay with me

If I were to name a few of my favourite labels, Comme des Garçons would be -without a doubt- one of them. Traumatic experiences (aka several articles missed on e-bay) made me lost faith in owning a Rei Kawakubo's design.

So, as you can imagine, I received the collaboration with H&M as great news. The whole line screams CdG: polka dots galore, black, deconstruction...

On the other hand, many people are complaining because CdG is suppossed to be a non-commercial brand, and this collaboration is regarded as a big marketing maneuver. What are your thoughts on this?

Come and stay with me - Marianne Faithfull

Wounds of sorrow, words of joy

At first, one thinks perverse and sweet doesn't match very well. But, Lochers wants to prove the contrary with its latest jewellery collection. To get what I mean, look at the piece below: It's called the Kate necklace.

The Paris-based Swiss designer has put together irony with embroidery resulting in a bunch of necklaces that will add a different twist to any outfit.

I am the Walrus - The Beatles

Beauty routine

I've always wondered what Chloë Sevigny does to keep her skin inmaculate and glowing. If you are in the same boat as me, congratulations because she confessed her beauty regime to Marie Claire. Good genes also help.

"I recently started having microdermabrasion at Mamie's Spa in New York City, which leaves my skin bright and my pores tight. My home version is Kiehl's."

Other Chloë's favourites:

DIOR DiorShow Mascara: "I love lots and lots of lash and this is the best - I can keep it on without drying out my lashes."

MAC Cream Colour Base in Premeditated: "This pigment packs a punch, so just a bit does the trick. Besides, I find most men don't like a lot of makeup." This sentence surprised me because I wouldn't have imagined she got ready just for men.

SMITH'S Rosebud Salve: "This balm, a small hairbrush, and a gold Estée Lauder compact from the Tom FOrd Collection two years ago are always on my person."

RENEW & RELAX spa: "The day after a long night of dancing at the clubs, I go foa fabulous foot massage at Renew & Relax, a nail place near my house in downtown Manhattan."

ESTÉE LAUDER Tom Ford Collection compact

CHLOÉ Eau de Parfum


Source: Marie Claire via TFS


Downtown - Petula Clark

Masscob

After years of working for other companies, in 2003 Marga Massanet and Jacobo Cobian took the plunge and found their own label: Masscob.

The vintage inspired silhouettes are reinterpreted with taste, resulting in a variety of timeless clothes. Massanet and Cobian are not afraid of saying they ignore trends, because their garments are made for individuals who have a clear idea of how they want to look.

Delicacy and details mark the difference, giving the brand a charming vibe that the customer can't help but fall in love with.

I am sure this brand will enamour those who are already fans of Isabel Marant, Maje or A.P.C.

How to fight loneliness - Wilco

If only I had $150,000...

The always avant-garde magazine Visionaire has teamed-up with Goyard to make 10 complete sets of its first 50 issues in a trunk made ad hoc for the anniversary. The only impediment for me to buy it, is the fact that I don't own $150,000.

But if you are willing to pay the mentioned amount, let me tell you it worths it. The truck includes things like "the "Vinyl Killer" Mini, a battery-operated car with a needle on its underside that plays music as it travels across the record grooves" or The Diana Vreeland memos issue.

Sources: Wall Street Journal, TFS.

The Passenger - Iggy Pop

I love by

When I was in Paris I saw several guys wearing this t-shirt:

To my surprise, when I got back home, I had an e-mail of a French brand called iloveby that produces the said t-shirts. The main purpose of Mely and Cyril -the designers behind iloveby- is to support new and upcoming illustrators.

They recently launched a new -and rad- project: "this bag sucks ", a collaboration between 12 different artists.

High on life - Polock

Winter wishlist

From left to right: A.P.C. trench, topshop top, play comme des garçons black cardigan, vivienne westwood sex shoes, topshop skinnies and belt, isabel marant shirt, tuxedo and vintage school satchel.

Wish you were here-Pink Floyd

Shopping in Paris

After nearly two weeks, I could finally take pictures of the things I bought in Paris.

I purchased the Brassaï book on impulse. I had previously seen -and loved- a few of his pictures at the Pompidou, and it only cost 10€ so, it had to be mine. As well as the The Beatles vinyl, even though I have most songs on CD.

The Ferragamo's were on my winter wishlist. The shoes were a bit stiff at first, but they worth the initial pain. I also bought some Princess Tam-Tam underwear and a striped t-shirt.

My eyes literally glittered when I saw this Charles Anastase dress hanging on a rack. I had spent the previous months to the trip coveting it at Browns. However, I waited a few days before I decided I was going to get it and when I came back it wasn't there (!).

I was ready to kick myself, when my friend advised me to ask the shop assistant. I breathed a sign of relief when she kindly told me they had put somewhere else.

Golden skans - The Klaxons