Major Lazer directed by Eric Wareheim
Fun fact: Even though there’s an abundance of massive women in tight, revealing clothing and a lot of crazy going on, I love these Major Lazer music videos. Eric Wareheim is obviously a fan of colour and lots of colour is okay by me. Except when it turns into a rave and then it just becomes worrisome.
Anyway, did I mention Diplo is wearing a very suave suit in this video? Because he is. And the people in video number two would probably not be encouraged to dance at any of my own parties but it’s certainly a laugh.
Patterns, Textures, Colours!
This may be very ‘old lady’ of me but this weekend, I was lured into the Oleana shop by their window displays of bright patterns, obi-like belts, and frilly neck warmers. I swear it was an accident!
Recently, I’ve been hoarding and eyeing different patterns and textures, visiting all kinds of shops including second-hand stores and expensive stores alike. The trending charts show that what I’m after include very orient-related styles, polka dots, and stripes, and velvet, silk, and sheer materials as well as anything brightly coloured.
Left: Second-hand trousers in light blue and peach stripes; orient-pattern obi style belt from Oleana. Right: Second-hand floral tie.
Instead of going around and looking for all kinds of wonderful things at a decent or not-so-decent price, I can foresee myself buying a sewing machine for this tiny flat in the near future. Perhaps I’ll start selling my own designs again this summer if I’ve made anything proper that I can actually part with. (I’m quite bad at selling things that I make because I end up loving them so much - oops.)
Also, since reading this article from the NY Times, I have a strong urge to learn how to create beautiful shoes.
The grey city of Stockholm
Carl Johan and I went out to gamla stan and söder today to walk around and take photographs. He carried my Nikon d80 (which I stole quite often) and I carried my new Canon 35mm which I received two days ago in a care parcel from the United States. My uncle bought it for me as a late birthday gift. I hope some of the photographs turn out proper.
“What’s a tomte like you doing out here in February?”
My giant coat from Tokyo Stop, in gamla stan
Construction in Stockholm
A year of reading Swedish childrens books
This year, I am on a mission of sorts to read classic Swedish children’s books. I’m told by friends that it’s a very important thing to do because “I’ve missed out” and also because it’s a proper way to learn more Swedish.
Alongside childrens books, I am also being introduced to famous musicians, television persons and shows, and other various popculture. Yes.
First up on the books list is Jag vill hellre äta ett barn. It’s not a classic but it’s definitely adorable and for ages 3-6, it’s definitely an easy read. It’s about a tiny crocodile who one day decides that he doesn’t want to eat any more bananas, sausage, or chocolate cake; he wants to eat a child. And that’s okay by me.
Second, John Bauers’ Förtrollande Sagovärld, so classic that I already know about it, and last, Det blåser på månen, which Carl Johan hasn’t read himself but he says it’s probably very important anyway. And so. Any recommendations?
Momus is Momus is Momus
It has come to my attention that most of my Swedish friends and all of my American friends haven’t any idea who Momus is. No, not the Greek god of satire although he is superb at basically that; Momus is Nicholas Currie, the 49-year-old originally-hailing-from-Scotland now-living-in-Berlin musician and journalist who has been releasing albums since the year I was born.
This man is my only celebrity idol (is he considered a celebrity?) as he acts like an actual person instead of a media whore with space to spare in their heads. He has an amazingly brilliant mind, a fantastic sense of humour and person, amusing lyrics, and I must mention, he does have great fashion sense: he’s always mismatching patterns, using bright colours, and wearing giant hats that would look silly on anyone else. He’s inspiring. Why don’t you people know about him? I don’t understand you.
Momus keeps a LiveJournal blog which is one of the very few reasons I ever go back to that website. He writes about a myriad of interesting things because he is an interesting person. The list of things he writes about varies from musicians he appreciates, modern architecture, excursions to book stores and tiny cafés, things I cannot begin to describe in a list, or his recent returns to Japan where he catches the eyes of women and compares himself to Japanese popstars. I am a fan; Why aren’t you?
If you still aren’t convinced of listening to his twenty-one or so albums in one day, there is no hope for you yet. But I’m certain that after my slight persuasion and your initial lack of interest, you will wake up sweating in the middle of the night, remembering this blog post, and do what is right which is help me this summer in persuading a friendly, local (Stockholm) promoter to get a venue for Momus. How about it?
The Magnificent Sculptors of Tulle
Do you know who I completely overlooked in writing about even though when I saw the show I said “oh my” in an excited manner and jumped up and down a little? Viktor & Rolf.
Yes, of course! I was out and about yesterday and found myself looking through magazines when I realised that not mentioning them could possibly become a tragedy. Or not.
The three pieces below are my favourites in the “okay, I could possibly wear that and get away with it” category. I also loved every single one of the mental, cut-out ball gowns but I can only ever see them being in a museum in the far future with a small child asking her gran, “Did people really wear things like that?” “No, dear, only at fashion shows.”
Space-Age Minimarket SS/10 at GARDE-ROBE
Two of my favourite pieces from the Minimarket SS/10 collection are now available for pre-order at GARDE-ROBE.
The entire line of Minimarket shoes for this season remind me of the illegitimate child of Neptune and a tackily-decorated Chinese buffet on acid. And if I do say so myself: the sunglasses, well, if you haven’t been informed, I think they look a lot like the specs available from Slow and Steady Wins the Race which I adore. Much love, much appreciated, and I want them in my wardrobe.
Okay, I know I’ve babbled on before about this collection but it just hit me this morning that the line reminds me very much of Andre Courrèges 1967. I wasn’t around then, of course, but from what I know of Courrèges, he was revolutionary. He “invented” miniskirts, gogo boots, and he made great use of the space age theme which has to be my favourite of favourites. What do you think, though, does Minimarket resemble Courrèges’ space age? Who is going to be the next Pierre Cardin then?
The photo above shows a Courrèges design from the book ‘Andre Courrèges’ by Valèrie Guillaume next to two runway looks from Minimarket SS/10.
Are we off to another 1960s space age? Personally, I hope so because I’ve been waiting forever to live off of freeze-dried ice cream and wear funny rounded helmets.
A box and what it contained, a tale
Yesterday, a postman speaking rapid Swedish way too early in the morning delivered a monstrosity of a box. Groggily peering at the box, I noticed it was for Carl Johan and upon talking to him, he waved a virtual finger at me and told me I couldn’t touch it until he got home. Which was about seven hours. Seven. Do not touch the box for seven hours.
Well, after taking a nap next to the box, eyeing it sideways, and peeling at the edges of the tape, he came home! Inside were several items including a minty green handbag, a funny photograph frame made to look like an old computer, a teapot in the shape of a sheep, and two books which upon discovering the word ‘journal’ on them, I asked, “Are we in therapy?’
No, no therapy. Carl Johan had the idea that we could spend a period of time filling out these journals - every page gives you instructions on what to write, draw, or do - and then we could post them to each other. Post them because the back of the book says to do so though I don’t know what the point of that is. Our deadline is December, giving us plenty of time to work on our many other internet projects.
Rage: the fashion industry, the trade business
I watched the film Rage by Sally Potter. It was really quite good but it wasn’t worth actually looking at. Blue screens and a single actor, as if an interview were going on, and that was unfortunately the entire film. The only thing that kept me looking up? The different wigs that Lettuce Leaf, er, Lily Cole wore. Download link, anyone?
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