Fashion is not all there is.Yeah, right.

Icon series by La Fortuna

2009-10-15T07:42:00.000-07:00

I am very proud to say I've been working on a new website (patience!) with the super inspiring team of La Fortuna, spearheaded by photographer Javier Barçala and Mark Douglas, helped by Olivier Chaps. I am so grateful for their hard work, we searched a lot for the right artistic set-up for the website, but finally agreed on a 'corps exquis' principle that will shuffle different identities, yet remains loyal to the true spirit of its subject ;)

For the Fashion identity, we didn't want a very hip outfit nor a catwalk silhouette, but an outfit which was a classic contemporary, androgynous and chic, yet playful. I hope we succeeded. This series inspired them to continue with the 'Icon' series, something Im very glad about.
Find more pearls at www.lafortunalive.com and join the Facebook group!

London fashion week Day One, Fri Sept 18th

2009-09-23T12:04:00.000-07:00

Because there are so many blogs out there that cover the a-z of must-sees and big shows, the flings of the London fashion elite and celeb-studded catwalks, I will bring you instead a so-called random selection of new names to watch and unofficial tastemakers, that won't be seen as random in five years' time anymore. *chuckle*

So, first things first: the day started at the fab Somerset House at the Strand, where I was immediately interviewed by Radio 1 from belgium after the mayor Boris Johnson who opened the anniversary fashion week. (mind the white hairdo!) Unfortunately, I was still catching my breath from arriving and hadn't really seen anything yet so yes, i admit I sound like an airhead. Rather appropriate.

The first show by Caroline Charles, second of the day, was amusing yet slightly boring, Southern-English, golf club/ cruise/ Lady of the Manor- style not really what I would have liked to see at LFW25!

Photo by Chris Brock.

Luckily, the crowd was rather amusing looking, some even really exotic (we're not talking about taste here)

Photo by Goewie Photography

Afterwards, I went for coffee with the Hunter of Everything Cool, Yvan, aka the Facehunter, who was slightly jetlagged from NY fashion week but had only the most loving words for London and its inhabitants. With his keen eye for originality (which brought him to mexico city, LA, Reykjavik and Moscow), he sees London as the only really innovative european capital. I love the way he's rather serious about his work and doesn't holler along with the fashion crowd, yet manages to be one of the most trend setting photographers of his generation. I also agree with the fact that Paris is a sleepy cty apart from the two fashion week- months, and that Londoners are more vibrant, stylish and energetic all year round.

And lo! My own photographer Chris Brock took a pic of the same girl as the facehunter (go check his LFW- Day 1 post!)

Then a brief introlude with Nick Knight and model erin O' Connor at the Show Studio exposition, which, it pains me to say, was rather uninspired, boring and not participative at all.

We finished the day with the show by Ioannis Dimitrousis at the Royal Festival hall. With his fifth show, he's not a newbie anymore nor a real LDN household name, soi t's interesting to see where the label goes. It was pretty, yes. it was elegant, yes. it made you feel like drinking cocktails at mediterranean parties alright, but what happened to the dramatic, daring and darker vision of his last collection? The answer is, that he was much happier whilst creating this collection. Hence the strass in stead of spikes. Silly, but: too bad. Ioannis, I'll support you, just show us what you can do again next time!Photo by Goewie Photography

The Art of Fashion

2009-09-01T07:54:00.001-07:00

This exposition at Boijmans Van Beuningen says it all: fashion is not just consumption.
Fashion is art.
Art is Life.
Fashion is Life.

Go check it out from Sept 19th until january 2010. It features work by Hussein Chalayan, Walter Van Beirendonck and Viktor and Rolf. Special guest: the No Reference collection (below) by Christophe Coppens. No excuse to miss out on this one!

't Is the September Issue season!

2009-08-19T15:26:00.000-07:00

Not only was today the US premiere of the 'September Issue' film with Anna Wintour, it is also the week of the September Issues, one of the most exciting periods for the fashion crowds, apart from the show seasons, of course. By now, we already know that fur, leather, big shoulders and thigh-high boots are the looks for this winter, so I won't bore you with that. instead, just some gems I picked up lately. first of all: good news for american gals: supermarket chain Target comes with an affordable Rodarte line! This sounds better to my ears than any of the H&M collabs. Charity gifts from my american pals are always welcome via UPS. I can't believe their luck. What's next, Proenza schouler by Walmart? (with a bitter European voice) On the other hand, with all our high fashion capitals, they also deserve something I guess...(even more bitter).

Since discovering the Intermix store and its webshop, I ve really started to envy american customers, nothing I can find here compares to the range of collections with an attitude...luckily, they deliver worldwide now!

Then, my own 2 cents for autumn:

Tights: make them yourself or get unique pieces. did I ever praise two-toned chanel tights? well, these beat them, especially if you need some street cred:
Han Mannaert, upcoming talent from Belgium, created them for her graduation show. i think they're sublime:

And...mini-skirts: this is my favourite trend, together with the nineties revival we see here and there (think Courtney and Kurt). I just got caught a very fine example, in something I would describe as 'patent jeans', or 'leathery jeans'. i don't know the exact word, but it rocks! i can wear it during these summer days, and later with the above tights. Yes ma'am.

Flu Fashion: a fad or funny? or a funny fad?

2009-08-04T12:24:00.000-07:00

With the mexican flu hailing back after we thought we fought it, we better protect ourselves...or not. Although many people have died, a pandemic of panic would be more dangerous than the flu itself (or, at least, that's what I like to tell myself). Anyways, some people scheme up a business for any sort of passing craze, and the Flu Fashion series is no exception: '0% protection, 100% fashion' is the motto, and they sell anti-smog masks for 5 euros, out of which they claim, 1€ goes to mexican flu research. You can send them snaps of yourself wearing the mask and win print prices (e.g. for funeral letters). Maybe the masks aren't the most fashionable or even funny accessories, I do like the way they 'Unstress the pandemic'. That is, until I get H1N1 (it sounds a bit like R2D2, which makes it cuter).

My friend En-ya's show, Self-tanning sunglasses. why not?

2009-07-29T14:27:00.000-07:00

From Sat August 1 (opening at 7PM) , through August 16th, every Fri, Sat and Sunday from 2-6, @Theo gallery, St Michielskaai 8-9, Antwerp.

Run baby Run - or cycle in the city

2009-07-27T04:16:00.000-07:00

Summer holidays and friends' holidays brought me the news that fixed gear cycles and running in the city were all the hype in LA, NY, Rotterdam and London. I had no camera to record it, but damn, it is very true. London is nearly like Amsterdam now, with stacks of bikes all around, at least in the east and the center of town. What makes fixed gear so special? the brake-pedal mechanism is much faster and gives more effects, especially on bumpy or city streets, it's very light so you can speed AND it looks good. On top of that, it's an arty phenomenon because you have to construct most of it yourself, or let it construct for you, which makes every bike a one-off. So it's cool like a BMX in the 80s, but sleeker, skinnier and faster. Only problem to me would seem that they're so good-looking and sought-after that they will be stolen or vandalized all the time. I saw some great solutions to that though: outdoor drinking parties around a stack of fixed gear bikes, although that seems to me a little too much like a ritual in front of a shrine. Want to try it or get one? Fixed Gear London, the original group of riders sells custom made bikes, Brick lane bikes sell great ones as well, and Cyclezeal has great internet deals, at least for the UK!

and that's not all there is in sports: I stumbled across the pop-up store/art space 1948 in Shoreditch curated by Nike, where I saw Insa's stop-motion photography and Banksy-like street art, unfortunately it was one of the last days of the show 'Looking for love in all the wrong places'. Neat.

But Dizzee Rascal and other big names are on next! This IAM 1 journey video shows many creative people from the area, presented by DJ Charlie Dark, founder of the Run Dem Crew, who run the City's streets every Tuesday night. They create new routes all the time, seeking out ways to avoid traffic stops or cliché routes. On top of getting fit, there's a great opportunity for young artists and creative people to get to know each other, and get seen by the commercial industries as well, because Run Dem Crew is full of creative types.
All these things make me wonder: how come fixed gear hasn't reached Brussels (yet) and do we use these ugly Villo bikes, and who want to join me in a Run Dem Crew-like running group? we can split into tortoises, hares and cheetahs just like Dem.

Hot in the City? Wear a White Dress for Global Cooling #NYC

2009-07-05T06:18:00.000-07:00

The Canary project, an art platform for global warming awareness and citizen solutions from NYC pointed me towards a project they organised in 2007 but which is still very relevant with the heat in Europe & rest of the world these days. The 'Raise your Albedo' project chose one of NYC's literally hottest fashion districts (the Meatpack) to raise awareness by hanging 550 fancy white shirts as a cloud on West 12th street:

The number, 550, is the amount of carbon parts per million projected in the atmosphere by 2050. These shirts were then cut and torn and well assembled into cute dresses by Annie Murdock:The rest of the 'Raise your Albedo' campaign consisted of the Albedo pilgrims to go out in white dresses and encourage people to do the same: Albedo is a measure of the earth's reflectivity, so the more white we wear, even as the tiny individuals we are, the higher the city's reflectivity.
IMHO, the coolest climate campaign I've ever seen. These dog days ask for reflective cool white dresses, so it would be great of this project received follow-up in Brussels, Paris or London. At least, everyone can start wearing white, so that we don't have to start filling the atmosphere with weird chalk layers for reflection, like some greenfingers suggest. Do it, and if that's not enough for you, go here.

Why the Sony VAIO P series Lifestyle PC is this season's #1 Fashion Accessory

2009-05-27T01:30:00.000-07:00

Disclaimer: Welcome to my post with visual cues about why I want/need/deserve to win the Sony Vaio P Series Lifestyle PC. I know lay-out is not my greatest talent, hence I really should get that Multimedia suite sooner rather than later!Being a geeky fashion-loving criminal, my serotonin level went through the roof as I saw this new beauty in the land of mini portable wonders: the Sony VAIO VGN-P21Z ! Heck, it even bears my initials (VGN)!

It was presented at BGGD13 where it got the same reactions (sqeals of happiness) as when you would place a group of teen boys in the Playboy Mansion. right.
This time, nevertheless, the white bunny out of Sony's hat was a geeky and sexy one.
Because the beautiful people at Sony Europe are giving one baby away to a Brussels girl geek (yes! although 999€ isn't much more than the prize of a new handbag, right), here comes my attempt to prove why this Brussels' fashion chick needs to be reunited with thé most stylish object in Geekworld:

- It fits puuurrfectly in my white Chanel purse, next to my credit card and train tickets. because: good things come in small sizes. Although I might have to get the see-through Special Edition Delvaux bag, because the white Vaio baby needs attention. but maybe not where I live, since I am a Brusssels Girl Geek, aaight. Ooh, and I can't believe i'm actually thinking this: i'd rather have this baby than a Hermès Birkin bag. woosshh. who would e-ver have thought?

- as an independent journalist, the time I save by opening a Vaio instead of messing around with a smartphone, will be used for better articles, better images, better typewriting and better quality of life!

- being small and energy efficient I'm sure this baby will get a top score for green sustainability!Which means love of the green girl geek!!

- good pitches and inspiration for new stories, or even my long-time dream to write for WIRED, will now no longer have to wait in a scrapbook. because inspiration doesn't (always) follow you to the computer.

- always on the road, always travelling, the built-in GPS system will get me faster to the right place! which means, more friends, more drinks, more music, more work and less time spent on navigating the wrong area . So bear with me, friends in London, Orlando, Toulouse, LA, Zagreb: next time round I'll be quicker!

- for medical reasons, I sometimes have to upload data to my doc, well, this will work in realtime now, wherever I roam! Just like a real cyborg..doc, better watch out for Molly Millions!- it does have two USB ports for when I forget documents and for whatever device I need to plug-in (often cameras, audio recorders or my golden hard drives), so i won't come across problems like these

- because fashion weeks and mags, TED conferences, Kate moss' latest campaigns, IT news stories, my friend's latest mix on the radio, interview deadlines, DAA-H&M collaborations, new designer fairs, gig dates, demanding editors, stocksales and caring family members, all need their devotion at different times of the day, this girl'd be very happy to get it all sorted in one smooth mode and WITH a keyboard! not to mention the love that will be spread and returned!

Subliminal message: send this post to ten of your friends; repost it on Twitter, FB, digg, or whatever it is you like. Do comment! It will bring good white karma to you and those you care for.

Big Love from the Whitest Bunny of the Brussels Girl Geeks,Baby Kai.

From the (g) round-up!

2009-04-07T08:18:00.000-07:00

Here's some news I gathered, from the ground up, as you know me, in a random order:
to prove the world that, ehm, well:

"Pink is not enough": Finally, a well written piece on a subject many women must have been irritated by since, well, ever since the advent of 'Female' mobile phones. So, shrink and pink an item is not enough. making it oversimplified without any advanced options isn't very appreciative of your customer. Funny thing is, that ditching touch screens (for long fingernails), iPhone apps for menstrual cycles and grocery/ recipe todo lists on the iPhone, are described as things that 'real women' can use. I guess this means this geek girl is not a real woman and I guess I'll wait to develop my own apps on Android to measure things (heartrate, blood pressure, bank account) that are more important for me.

Geek present: My friend Aure Uzi Ohn blogged for Elle about the latest geek present, the golden ring representing the processor of the 1981 Atari video console. It is designed by Brooklyn-based artist Sakurako Shimisu

Bicyclists: Cycling, something that used to be an emancipated act, nowadays, in Brussels at least, is more like an SM act of enslavement to trucks, and a death wish. On an international level, however, cities full of eco hipsters are trodden with cyclists, like Agyness Deyn in London, Duffy in LA, and Cycle Chic blogs popping out on the net everywhere.
With the failure of Brussels' shared bikes project, Brussels is now, ironically, hosting the worldwide conference on "Re-cycling the city" (Velocity, coming May) and will release a new system that adheres more to the one in Paris, where Parisiennes, even the most elegant, all cycle around. So, why am i writing about this? because the BBL, is looking for cycling fashionable ladies that could write some blogposts or post pictures for the Brussels Cycle Chic blog. I would love to, unfortunately, my great bike, has no place to stand anywhere in brussels so I can't join...

Courtney and Kurt: did anyone notice, after years and years (it started in 2003) of 80ies fashion and music recycling we have finally arrived at a 90ies revival? This makes me feel quite old, but I do understand the nostalgia now that people have towards 60s-70s-80s: so much awesome stuff. The best style from the nineties (hey, I was a teen then) is of course grunge. and sometimes, it resembles nerd/geek style (think: checked lumberjack shirts). i guess the common element is carelessness: not shaving, growing your hair, wearing old and baggy clothes was just as cool as it was uncool. and we didn't need 80s hysteric No Future- punk nor goth parades.

Here we are now, entertain us: Green My Style is selling the vegan eco version of Kurt's famous flannel checked shirt

HRP 4C: the android robot swaying the catwalk?

2009-03-21T10:31:00.000-07:00

This sweet HRP-4C, the Japanese robo-model, is still quite far off from being commercialized for catwalk objectives (think: she costs 200 000 dollars and still doesn't walk quite nicely), BUT she can walk, talk, wink and smile the way she is programmed to. It looks like the nineties supermodel diva's have so severely traumatised and obsessed designers (with their catfights, hysteria and smooth bodies) that this is a 'solution' to both: no more pet peeves and demands from the models, and still have the crazily "perfect" smooth body (FYI this robot would weigh 45 kilos as a human being, now that's what I call sci-fi for an adult woman)...it makes me ponder: shouldn't these people focus on stuff like this:

Tears for Fears

2009-03-04T08:54:00.000-08:00

I wasn't planning on blogging on any fashion week at all,
but this tickled my pen.
Why Auguste Abeliunate might have been crying on the Jil Sander runway:
1. She obviously wasn't, according to Jil sander press reps
2. Allergies from the over-the top make up (notice the specific nude look, then!)
3. She got a phone call from Lithuania reporting on a family member's death or illness, and wished she could have been present in real life.
4. A colleague just broke her wrist backstage 'by accident'
5. A dresser just told her she'd never make it because of an obvious non-reason like, eh, 0,01 inch on her hips
6. her agent called to stress her out about her workVISA
7. her boyfriend just left her (hello, models are people, too)
8. PMS. enough said.
9. Someone doubledared her.
10. An internal person at JS ordered her to, as a secret promotion stunt. or an outsider, to spoil the show. we'll never know.

Why, with these exhausting fashion weeks, and so many women strutting up and down the runway,14hrs a day, whilst living out of their bags, how come this is the first time we see a model cry? and why do we single this out as something so sensational? why deny she was crying?

Just to say, that I love all the girls working their asses off, literally.
And also those that don't win all the castings or have to go back home after an anticlimax.
They are all real people with feelings, no matter how divine or otherwordly they might look.
stop bitching.

Addicts All over the World

2009-02-27T01:32:00.000-08:00

A newborn Addict publication, the 'Labfiles', will appear bimonthly, giving you updates of the Labbies' activities in between the paper-copy Addict magazines. Part of the complete web evolution the Lab is going through, it's well worth the free download: check Lucy and Bart's dripping juices on p 12-13 or Belgian's SOKI Label with the purest of white forms on p.8-9. Keep checking out the Labfiles on a bi-monthly basis, as they'll bring you closer to a vibrant world of young creative people, weaving the threads of their passions into multilayered, -faceted and -coloured designs and forms.

Who said models didn't (r)ead

2009-02-16T08:32:00.000-08:00

They may be lazing about, goofing around or work hard, models do read sometimes. Be it in a slightly 'posy' position with a book renowned for its lesson that the narcissistic struggle for beauty and youth is in vain, and that decadent dandyism and hedonism lead to debauchery.

Funny.

Picture taken from Models.com: NY fashion week.

Arty Party

2009-01-28T10:17:00.000-08:00

Chic & Arty, that can only be...Zadig! aka the brand known as Zadig and Voltaire, launch a series of limited edition 'Tunesien' t-shirts, all with paint drops, holes and a very 'worn' look, sporting the NY artist-in-a-loft look, something seemingly still en vogue, because many other trends are indicating the same carelessness-wave...Mind you, the ripped jeans by MMMargiela, Adriano Goldschmied and the return to baggy boyfriend pants...off with the gothic Angst and Tension, back to nineties artiness (everyone remembers the jeans splattered with white paint, right?) ! One question remains: who will buy a torn and battered shirt, in recession times, for 85 euros? Methinks not the artists...And with Google's celebration of the late Jackson Pollock's birthday (°28 Jan 1912) through their logo, it seems like art, as always, is riding high as the escape venue for turbulent times...

Dilettant Shopping in Times of Mayhem

2009-01-08T02:03:00.000-08:00

Living in the commercial and political centre of the capital of Europe can sometimes nearly cost you your life/car/ wallet, but when you appear on the other side of the mayhem, you're all the better off for it.
This year started with daily Palestina-demonstrations, some rowdy vandalism (I have no iPhone but would definitely have taken pics of the seven smashed cars in the street, the firecrackers and broken glass), combined with temperatures of minus 12 to 15 °C and many post- holidays tourists (whyy??).

Yet, this girl thought 'Today I'm going to find myself some oldskool Jordan's in the sales', after scrolling the web for hours and only finding the Best/Worst duo release of Air Jordan VIII (best!!) and XV (Ugh- I wouldn't even want them in my house!) for 300 dollars. SO I stepped out into the mayhem, and at the first sneaker store I found, I came amidst something I'd never seen before: heavy techno beats, screaming children, ten people on every sqm, bodyguards, salespeople throwing shoeboxes over our heads, a lot of pushing, pullin' and fighting. WHY in the world did I enter again? Oh yes, something at the back of my head reminded me that this was the only store selling Jordan's in women sizes...and Lo! The most beautiful, oldskool, fitting and coolest Jordan-Air-Force I's were waiting for me at the lowest rack, hiding between bigger brothers, saving themselves for me. With my small budget, I could just afford them (150 €), and shopping 'pleasure' would be over. No sales really, but full price = what you pay for everlasting quality...I thought! Because the salesgirl threw 75€ back at me, laughing. They were 50% off!
I flew out of the shop like Mr 23 himself, picking up a nice rabbit hat for the frost, and elegant jodhpur trousers on my way home. Not sure yet if I will wear all three together, but in these hard days, one has to surround herself with comfort (rabbit hat), beauty (jodhpurs) and His Airness. So that you can walk/fly safely through the chaos, and don't have to stay indoors, since:

Hath not Wise Nature strung the legs and feet, with firmest nerves, designed to walk the street?" (John Gay, 18th century)

Designer Jeans are dead, Long Live Designer Jeans!

2008-12-29T07:43:00.000-08:00

For those people who are sick and tired of designers selling mediocre denim with a big fat label and calling it designer jeans, there's 2009 -Change-Hope for you!
Ladies and Gents, help me welcome Goldsign to Belgium, the premium real designer brand from genius-devil-do-all Adriano Goldschmied, with the rarest, finest fabrics, and a cutting edge style, for independent thinkers like us. :-)

Whether you belong to the endangered species who fits the 70s flares, or you like skinny fits, or choose for the up-and-coming boyfriend jean cut here above (501 memories...),
Goldsign treats you to the best and high-end only. Away with logo-designerjeans, Goldsign it is!
My favourites: boyfriend jean, misfit skinny fit and the Dietrich flare. no more superstretch booty-kissin, but a new, understated, luxurious and androgynous sexiness! yiehaah!

And did I tell you Adriano is the coolest guy, soft spoken yet firm and unabashedly creative above all...

All I want for Xmas, Are...

2008-12-12T01:32:00.000-08:00

(note to reader: )What follows is a mixture of a X-mas wishlist, a 2009 forecast and a 2008 best-of. Heck, I never promised well-structured posts

1One Love

Courtney Love finally comes out with her album 'Nobody's Daughter' in Jan 2009,and I simply cannot wait! Kudos to Elle UK for the fashion shoot and best of interviews. I wish I was her neighbour and we could share sushi on Malibu beach.
Deducted fashion forecast: Vive le grunge. Fee, fee gothic punk. We've had enough bettie pages and tokio hotel kids. let's wear light blue jeans again and tear our shirts.

2 US and Scandinavian invasionThe whole world might be watching China, I predict that European fashion will see an even bigger invasion of Americans, and be heavily influenced by avant-gardist (think Bjork meets Filippa K) Scandinavian fashion. Leaders of the ratpack? Henry Vibskov (DK, above) and Proenza Schouler (US). And let's not forget UK sweetheart Gareth Pugh.

3. Boudicca, 2008's coolest brand. because of: the blue graffiti perfume "Wode" (which smells great!), the symbolism and the name. the campaign. Curious how the brand will evolve in 09.
4. Uni'qlo and LnA: high street candy. I want it all. Now.

5. If the Chanel mobile art show comes to Brussels in 2009, this girl will be first at the door! come on Karl, give Belgium a chance!

6. The men's department will see a lot of women this year. I predict that the boyfriend jeans, polos, cashmeres and even shirts, as well as brogues, will either be stolen from his closet our just bought at the men's department. The american apparel/LnA and other basic brands will also profit from this trend, as well as fancier knitwear labels.

7. Hermès scarf : a very simple *** you to the recession. And not too eighties anymore.8. Catsuits: you find cute playsuits in Stella MC's collection for adidas and the new DAA collection for summer 2009...

9. Glossies and mags never seem to get enough of saying how cool someone is when they wear vintage. Do your own, really old clothes also count? I don't hate vintage but I ve had enough. when American celebs all scream how much they adore vintage pieces one might wonder just how hard the crisis has hit them...how many more years will this be such a buzz? Or am I wrong and is it the logical evolution of individualism and timeless style? Let 2009 begin!

Freakin Frugality

2008-12-06T11:41:00.001-08:00

With frugality 'how-to's' flying around and the whole recession hype, I'd like to repeat something
an intelligent colleague said to me, when I told him I was being frugal and smart with money.
"But why," he said, -notice the drama in his voice-"you're a princess, you shouldn't!"

And I'll scream it on the top of my lungs to all the recession-saints, money-claiming institutions, my landlord, and all the employers that pay way too late:

Deeper meaning to this post: A change of the current hyperconsumerism is necessary, but people need hope. I, for one, won't be beaten down or dress down because there's less money on my account. Yes we can: consume less, stimulate creativity, get better designs, quality labels, open doors to a more sustainable system in which quality and luxury prevails.

Princesses don't do mediocrity. They do purple lipstick, emeralds and cashmere.

Where is Wally?

2008-11-24T03:48:00.000-08:00

On Dec 1st (World AIDS Day), the new education center from the DAA project opens its doors in Deurne, Antwerp. The center, IHAEC (International HIV/AIDS Education Center) will host workshops, training sessions and will become the new house of the DAA project, that comes up with new collections in 2009. So on Dec 1st, DAA hosts a press conference and inaugurates its new building. Go have a look who's up front :-)
Or find Wally here:

PS Spring/summer collection featuring Wally soon online via webshop DAA.
All pictures by Javier Barçala.

Coppens goes Dutch

2008-11-23T08:23:00.000-08:00

Nowadays, Christophe Coppens' work can not only be seen and admired in his Brussels' workshop or Tokyo store, but also in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Platform 21 shows his work-in-progress, and goes back to the starting point after 20 years of work. Recently, Coppens received the first H+F award from Han Nefkens. This award inspired CC to question his work and go back to the roots without baggage or reference.

The expo shows the roots of couture, and how a collection (Spring 2009- Couture accessories- No reference) is created. The show runs from Nov 21st until January 18th, and can be visited from Wednesday til Sunday, 2pm-6pm or by appointment.

Recession Sprees

2008-11-06T08:23:00.000-08:00

Just a quickie, to let you know where to spend you virtual or real money the coming days,
so that you won't lose it to taxes, the bank, or stock funds:

Thurs 6-friday7- saturday 8 nov:Pimpz studio in Ghent (schepenvijverstraat 28) : Acne jeans, nordstrom, no-lita, mads noorgaard, sessun,...

Friday 7- Sat 8-Sun9 Nov: Christophe Coppens Atelier (Brussels) stocksale 11-18h

Sat 6 & Sunday dec 7th: SOKI Sale white enamel jewels from two cool chicks: Abrahamstraat 8, ghent, 10-6PM.Friday 12- Sat 13 Dec: Modo Bruxellae (all together!) at Tour and taxis, Brussels and Lillie Polka at Penitentenstraat 24, Ghent.

More sales? need details? email me!

Winterblues? Slice up your life!

2008-10-28T14:19:00.000-07:00

With art and fashion ! Save the date, November 6th, 8PM, for a night-on-the-downtown area of Rue de Flandre, where Hüsniye Kardas and Wouter Steel (Jonas Gallery) invite you to the show 'Slice of Life', a fashion show and art gallery opening across the street from each other, mingling with each other and the city.

Husniye will show her new collection of playful-yet-sophisticated, gender-bending clothes (for example, a skirt made of ties) together with the photo-realistic paintings of the Antwerp-based Wouter Steel, who exhibits already for the third time at the interdisciplinary, innovative Jonas gallery, run by Najad Jonas-Menouar. Drinks will be available to spice up your slice of life even more...enjoy the show!!

Modo parcours: top of my pops!

2008-10-20T04:42:00.000-07:00

Right after the big success of the Petits Riens auction and show, modo bruxellae vzw presents us with the best of the Brussels fashion scene next weekend, 23-25 Oct.

For all cosmopolitan fashionista's and -o's, this weekend is a three day orgy of the old and new designers of the Brussels scene, with new interpretations and artwork never seen before.
And this year, there's even a special VICE party on friday night. Throw that on top of the many nocturnes (Bozar, Ravenstein, Walvis, Hoet), and you'll get the tastiest fashion and art cocktail of the year, nicely wrapped into three days and one city centre (Dansaert quarter, home of Stijl, Christophe Coppens and many, many more). See you there!

PS: my completely subjective favourites:
1) Kim Stumpf's Aramid's collection at Hoet gallery (with nocturn on friday, see pic above)
2) the young talent photo exhibition at Bozar
3) Aurore Brun at Ilovenorden.com
4) Jean-Paul lEspagnard at Monk café, the king of Brussels savoir-vivre & savoir-s'habiller
5) Sandrina Fasoli, because she's the One To Watch.

The Sixth Scent

2008-10-12T13:41:00.000-07:00

My favourite fashion charity (DAA) has released new autumn goodies: six scents by supergeniuses of the fashion industry: Gareth Pugh, Jeremy Scott, PREEN, Bernard Wilhelm, Cosmic Wonder and Alexandre Herchkovitch (save the best for last) all created their own signature statement scent. As I was at Paris Fashion week, I got the chance to smell them, and I got to tell you: its a draw between Pugh (N°4, Diagonal: embodies dark and light, strength and fragility) and Herkovitch N°1 (Urban Tropicalia, transcends categories). At least, for me it is. And since it's for the good cause (new AIDS awareness and education center), no one tells you you shouldn't get all six...

Since this is a limited edition, only available at the style powerhouses such as Colette and Barneys and Isetan (Tokyo), I URGE you, for your own good, to get your hands on it, NOW!