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

Braids

One of the things I miss most about long hair is wearing braids. They make me feel so girly and polished. And I don't want to stop wearing them just because I have short hair.

So I started looking for inspiration and found these pictures of Gemma Ward and Natasha Poly wearing French braids, and the best thing is that I can wear them too. I won't be wearing Heidi braids any time soon, but I realised, I have alternatives.

Song: Please,please,please - James Brown

----------------------------------------------------

I've been nominated by Soir de Fête (thank you!) for the thinking blogger award a few days ago, and I kept forgetting to answer the questions. So, here they are:

1. What is the story behind the name of your blog and nickname?

Quite dull to be honest. It occurred to me while thinking for a fashion related word that exist in several languages.

2. What has been your best and worst blogging experience?

The best thing is positive feedback.

The worst thing about the blogging experience, is the people who doesn't value your work and insult you.

3. What do you think/ want to happen to your blog in 2008?

Good things I hope! So far, this blog has been giving me more than I ever imagined.

Two sides of the same coin

There are things in life that remain a complete mystery to me: who is who in Simon & Garfunkel, the Egg of Columbus, and the differences between Urban Outfitters in America and Europe. Each season I check out both webs, and the US definitely exceeds Europe in quantity, aesthetic and -lower- prices.

The worst thing is the non-existent competency between both sites. If only we could buy from the other side of the Atlantic, the European Urban Outfitters would improved a lot.

The Americans even enjoy a decent lookbook.

Song: Wild America - Iggy Pop

"Wouldn't it be a lovely headline: "Live is Beautiful" on a New York Times?"

Don't be mislead by the awful weather, spring is already here. You probably don't have the guts to venture outside , neither do I.

However after seeing these polaroids at a slow boat to mediocrity I can't help but want a closet full of flowery light dresses.These are from the Swedish label Permanent Vacation. Overall, I love the aesthetic chosen to present the clothes, very fresh and summery.

Song: Pink moon - Nick Drake

La movida madrileña

I am in shock since the House of Grimaldi announced La Movida Madrileña as the theme for the next Bal de la Rose.

For those who don't know what I'm talking about, La Movida Madrileña was a social movement that took place right after the death of Franco until the mid 80's. It was a consequence of the freedom and prosperity Spain was living at the moment. Pedro Almodóvar, Mecano, Joaquín Sabina or Alaska, to name a few, formed part of this movement.

And now, Carolina de Monaco recovers this piece of Spanish history for the most important ball of the year.

Song: Bailando - Alaska

Vintage 501

The idea of wearing boyfriend jeans never appealed to me. Not because I don't like them, I do, but I've always thought you need to be really skinny to look good in them.

However, lately I'm thinking of getting a pair of vintage Levi's 501 to wear with slouchy striped sweaters on my lazy days. Furthermore, Lulu of Everybody is ugly* or Alexander Wang prove you can stay chic with baggy jeans.

*Thanks to Picky picks pics

Song: Drain you-Nirvana