OUTFITS | This Week

Sam | via Stockholm Streetstyle
Keywords: innocence, black, sheer, neon, underground

Esther | via stylorectic
Keywords: eclectic, pastel green hair, palm trees, bomber jacket

Rachel | via Stockholm Streetstyle
Keywords: cape, material mixing, almost all black, contrast

MAGAZINE | Used

Used is a brand new London based biannual publication focussing on the interaction between Fashion and Art. Art expensive? This magazine costs between three and six pounds, nearly nothing. With only two issues published, Used is a certainly a newbie on the block. There is prospective in the process, with this edition in black and white, the Autumn Winter special is already full coloured. It is quite an eye-test to read from the pictures, but the texts are absolutely worth reading. Take a look yourself at this wonderful initiative!

SUNDAY | The day the world went away

Hello amazing video editing! Incredible easy music while psychedelic natural phenomena takes over human bodies. It's like an old-school discotheque where they use similar lighting effects. This odd creation represents the day the world went away. According to the Maya's, we still have some time to wear the A/W 2012 collections. Just a figment: dying like this would be ultimate. Could someone set up the overhead projector, just in case?

Hello fantastisch gemonteerde artmovie! Slome muziek begeleidt psychedelische prints die geprojecteerd worden op modellen. Het flikkerlicht doet me denken aan een ouderwetse discotheek, zo eentje waar de jongens aan de ene kant en de meisjes aan de andere kant rondhingen, flink aan de felgekleurde cocktails. Deze combinatie van licht en beeld stelt 'The Day the World Went Away' voor. Gelukkig is er ook nog een Maya-kalender, die niet vandaag maar 21 december pas ophoudt. Kleine hersenkronkel: op deze manier eindigen lijkt fantastisch. Als de vulkanen allemaal tegelijkertijd uitbarsten, de tornado's rondrazen en de tsunami dichterbij komt zit ik in het licht van een diaprojector. Ik zet 'm alvast maar klaar. Je weet maar nooit of die oude gekken nog eens gelijk krijgen.

Director | Pierre Debusschere
Models | Yanniek Abrath and Yumi
Medium | Under/current Magazine

SALE | Editors picks

January sales are on! The perfect excuse for too expensive leather designer pieces. These are my favourites from the net-a-porter sales. Which do you prefer putting on?

1. Maison Martin Margiela | Cotton sweater with leather gloves
2. Theysken's Theory | Patent leather and suede ombre wedges
3. Emma Cook | Printed cotton and silk-blend pants
4. Proenza Schouler | Suede and macramé sandals
5. Rick Owens | Melton wool-felt and leather jacket
6. Jil Sander | Origami folded clutch

EDITORIAL | End.

Dear readers. I apologize for the quick posts lately. It was yesterday's evening, a table full of papers, a printer spitting out images as quick as 1300 a minute and caffeine. My application for the Amsterdam Fashion Institute had to reach Amsterdam before the 8th of January. The last days were crazy, I spent hours behind my computer screen to come up with the perfect sentences, the best layering in my digital photoshop document, the best matching photo with the questionnaire. All of this has come to an end, so you can look out for 'real' posts again! Let's start off this year good with a breathtaking editorial from the hand of Ville Varumo. Mysterious and dark, but gracious. The uncomfortable yoga-positions the model has to take look flawlessly and the light looks astonishing. As part of an experiment I want to try this year, I will guess stories behind photographs. Quite a challenge.

Sunday evening, around nine. In the commercial break during the footballmatch between Manchester and some Russian team team, I gaze volatile though the curtains. "No shitholes in my garden, no rabble on the corner." My eye falls on a beam across the street. In the light of a lamp post, a young woman dances. Alone. Gracious ballet-sort of movings, slowly but determined. I silently open the window, but cannot hear any melody. With her eyes firmly fixed, she has lost all touch with the dark neighborhood she chose to show her dancing. It is a silent show, with almost no visitors. After nine minutes tight movings, it is over. The classical music that accompanied her dancing in my head stops abruptly. The woman finishes with a bow, deep and long. She disappears into the cold and misty night, leaving her unexpected visitor in a state of bewildering. It is 2-0 for the Russians.

Model | Ellu Arula for Top Models
Photography | Ville Varumo
Hair and Makeup | Marii Sadrak
Styling | Sakke Hytonen
END | The Ones To Watch

ARGUMENTATION | For Fashion

The following argumentation belongs completely to LOVE AESTHETICS.

The reason why I used to love fashion blogs so much was because they were independent, it was nice and reassuring to read about fashion without having the urge to run to the store to buy something, reading about fashion without having to consume anything. Fashion is not all about buying the newest shoes, it's not about buying anything at all. Something that I rarely find in most magazines. I loved to read personal opinions, see creative projects, daily outfits from all different parts of the world, discover new thrifting finds, wonderful self shot images or inspiring photo shoots by big photographers. Still I can't wait to snuggle up behind my laptop and read the posts of my favorite bloggers.

But it’s such a disappointment when all the daily outfits from all over the world are the same head to toe Zara ensemble. Or that the newest ‘must have’ was suggested to 1000 bloggers at a time through a mass email sent by a press agency. Many of the blogs I’m coming across are so alike. Something that almost crushes idealistic thoughts of democratic fashion. 'Internet is taking over fashion, there used to be a certain hierarchy, an elite group in fashion that always got front seats at shows and were regarded as very important. But all that is changing now, fashion is democratizing.'-Aynouk Tan interview A few months ago I saved this comment on a Luxirare blogpost. I couldn’t agree more and I couldn't have said it better. Thank you Rose! whoever you are!

Dear Ms Luxirare,
As always, very interesting idea, very meticulous, artful and well-photographed execution.
Did anyone actually eat the lunch and forthwith declared undying love/tripled allowance/actually give your own magazine?
I am not at all amazed.

To the people that are toppling over eachother and go OTT with all these OMG's and other expletives: Hey, wake up, it's not rocket science!
She's using regular food preparing (and tailoring) techniques, only slightly odd (if not so easy to come by in some places) materials, crafted/bought packaging, a decent printer/camera and a roll of white background paper in heaven knows what room.
BUT what makes Luxirare extraordinary is the amount of THINKING that goes in her work, the amount of love, patience and dedication in her preparation and execution (documenting it all is just good science imho), and her utter refusal to give in to mediocrity, popularity, or the desperate, breathless search for the next newest thing.For which I commend her.

So guys 'n' girls, it's not so much about Godgiven creativity – you too can be extremely creative. Just stop craving for the latest, hardest to find, dearest goods; stop fooling yourselves with celebrity/designer/money cult; and start thinking outside your (bento)box. Get off your butts, leave all your opinions and prejudices at the doorstep, question everything, be curious; observe, truly look into the nature of things; learn a trade (or at least a proper skill like cooking, sewing, knitting, visiting a library to read actual books or mending your own shoes); but most of all: try to see the humor in life; the beauty in oddness; and the sublime in even the humblest carrot. It is out there! All you need to do is open your eyes and allow your senses and your brain to wander free. To give you some inspiration, Google "play with your food" and enjoy Joost Elffers work. This particular book was made in 1997, and the calendar made its way into 100thousands of households because it was sold for a mere 5$ (equiv) in the biggest grocery store chain in Holland. Now that's truly 'art for the masses'.
And now wipe that grin of your face – whether it's from enjoyment or contempt.

Rose

MY FAVOURITES | Blogs: Fashionsphere

Lately, I've been thinking a lot about fashionblogs and their influence on the fashion business. Even though they all have a different banner and style-layout, most of bloggers are head to toe Zara's. No problem, but also no originality. I wanted to find an authentic blogger, one who doesn't get influenced by a new pair of Lita's every month. I stumbled upon Fashionsphere, an unique find in the blogosphere.

Mastermind behind the blog is Josefin Arestav, a model-to-be. I only discovered her a few days ago, and immediately had to give her a spot in the wall of style. Fashionsphere is unique, in a way that every picture could be copied to a magazine. The shoots she does, the clothing she combines, the dark, edgy influences in her looks, she has become one of my favourites while scrolling through her blog. We share an obsession for Rick Owens and architectural inspired clothing. Josefin is definitely an inspiration for layering. With loads of drama and expression in her face, she tends to keep her clothing more natural. Dark colours, united with one brighter blue, heavy knitwork with a simpler turtleneck. Her work is in balance. You got me, Josefin!

Aangezien ik volop in mijn inschrijving voor het AMFI zit, denk ik de laatste tijd meer na over mode en de rol van blogs daarin. De bekendheid van modeblogs is enorm gestegen afgelopen tijd, met namen als Susy Bubble en BryanBoy front row. Maar, hoewel alle blogs gehuld zijn in een eigen layout en banner, zien we voornamelijk head to toe Zara's voorbij komen. Ik wilde een echte, authentieke blogger vinden, zo eentje die niet elke maand een nieuw paar Lita's haar kast in schuift. Mijn zoektocht staakte toen ik per ongeluk bij Fashionsphere terecht kwam, een unieke vondst in de blogosphere.

De kracht achter het blog is Josefin Arestav, een Scandinavisch model-in-opleiding. Ik heb nog maar een paar dagen de tijd gehad om haar blog ondersteboven te keren en achterstevoren achter te laten, maar wat ik heb gezien stemt me vrolijk! Fashionsphere is in mijn ogen uniek en van ultieme kwaliteit. In principe zouden al haar afbeeldingen rechtstreeks gebruikt kunnen worden in tijdschriften of campagnes. De fotoshoots, haar houding, de kleren die ze combineert. De donkere, edgy invloeden die je telkens terug ziet komen in haar looks. Ze is, kortom, in deze korte tijd al een favoriet geworden. Linksboven in mijn favorietenbalk. Josefin en ik delen een passie voor Rick Owens en kleding geïnspireerd op architectuur. Hoekige vormen en strakke lijnen. Mevrouw Fashionsphere is absoluut een inspiratie voor layering. Het contrast tussen de drama en expressie in haar ogen en de natuurlijk ogende kleding eronder is groot. Ze kiest voornamelijk voor één fellere kleur tussen een hoop natuurlijke tinten. Outfits zijn een mix tussen materialen als flink gebreide truien en een simpele coltrui. Perfect in balans. Gestrikt door Josefin.