reBIRTH:

spring...is almost here. It is still cold in Switzerland. I am back from hiatus with no regrets. Only a deep desire to get back into it. Here I am peeking forward from my nest after hibernating in adventures and melodies.

Speaking of melodies, my good friend Loren Lopez, an absolutely brilliant + talented girl, just released her first album - BLUE CANDY. Loren's voice is at once luscious, soft, rich, and tender. But it has strength & power to it. A bit of a jazz edge that reminds one of luminous evenings in the 1920's when subtle elegance was key. It's available on iTunes and her single "British Attraction" just got picked up by MTV, Virgin, MCM (French MTV) etc. I am bursting with pride. We used to be peas in the 9-5 pod but she broke away and concentrated full time on music, her true love. She always would sing and do gigs at night or on weekends after her day job. Little by little, she worked her way into her dream. That's the best story I think. Not the overnight success that makes it all seem like luck. But the very adult, real world story of working to pay the bills while chipping away at your dream one layer at a time. For many of us this is the one and only action plan.

So I am here to let you in on a sweet masterpiece by an emerging artist. The director and creator of the video is also a young, emerging French talent. They created the video with pretty much no budget. Just friends, a couple of plane tickets GVA to LONDON, a rented British taxi cab in Grenoble, France (for the interior shots), and maniac cool ideas. Oh, and some wicked fierce style from Miss Lopez courtesy of Zara and H&M (yes that's right! It doesn't cost much to look goregous. Don't believe what you hear!) If you dream of love affairs in Paris, luscious adventures around the world, and being a techincolor girl in a black and white world...Loren's music will take you away and inspire you.

Welcome to Spring! We're so glad you are here.

LOREN LOPEZ - "British Attraction" music video
envoyé par amourangora. - Regardez la dernière sélection musicale.

SHOW stop(!)-her...

celebrate!-ing a 9 years on the net... SHOWstudio is a living, breathing space where fashion designers, artists, photographers, and stylists interact with the public. Brain child of prolific UK photographer extra-ordinaire, Nick Knight, SHOWstudio sees to redefine the world of design & fashion.

Autumn 2009, saw the exhibition at Somerset House in London where the public was able to go behind-the-scenes and experience live photo shoots as a part of the exhibition. You can submit a video on SHOWstudio that may be chosen for the next Lady Gaga video...watch a visio-bio on designer Rick Owens...or download patterns from John Galliano, Alexander McQueen...etc. as a part of the project archives. The Galliano & McQueen patterns are wicked fierce...

You could spend hours just looking through the archives or the blog curated by the top UK stylists...or if you are awaiting spring, buy the bunny ears Lanvin's creative genius Alber Elbaz wore for the New Yorker magazine photo shoot...

“SHOWstudio is based on the belief that showing the entire creative process—from conception to completion—is beneficial for the artist, the audience and the art itself.”

Nick Knight

PHOTO CREDITS: All SHOWstudio.

Rock N' Rolla...

"Don'tcha wanna be a rock n' rolla?"...I know I do. Something's been on my mind lately. Something I've observed. It's like all these influences from the 60's, 70's, and 80's...these very distinct & different decades are happening all at once.

And I have a theory.

(of course I do.)

Earlier in the year when the f-bomb hit..(a.k.a. the global financial crisis)...up-to-the-minute coverage of "we're in a shitty place but we don't know where we're going.."...we were seeing influences in fashion and design from the art deco era..1920's and 1930's. Structured lines, clean color patterns, simplicity and hard edges. People were seeking comfort from the storm, reassurance, structure, straight lines & ironed flat hair. But now we're seeing hair tousled and shaken up, t-shirts slashed with carefully placed holes a.k.a. the 1980's.

And now... 

...Now there feels a slight head turn towards the future, towards 2010. Is there an upswing on its way to us?

All I know is that when people start to see glimmers of relief come end '09/early '10, they're going to want to break free...if only just a little. Not to spend money like they spent before or rack up more credit card debt. No, this is not what I mean..I think people will just want to let go of this past year's stress a little bit. -- Feel a little bit freer, express themselves more. Shout n' let the boogie man out.

And so this is my theory as to why we're seeing influences from the big 3 decades...60's,70's, 80's. It's because each of these eras reflected freedom & charisma in a different way. Zeigeist from expressive and carefree senses of time and place. 

Whether it was Woodstock, Studio 54, or an urge to Flashdance, get Footloose, or find some Fame...all these eras were inspired by the idea that "enjoy today...because you never know what tomorrow will bring.." 

Usually, one specific decade stands out in a fashion collection season. But this Fall & Winter '09, hints and nods are popping up all over the place in homage to these three vibrant decades...1960's...1970's...1980's.

forwardforward.com features collections by brands such as Superfine and my all-star favorite: Alexander Wang. Cuz this Fall's all about heavy metal. Being done up in zippers and studs, laces and braces. In the lines of Guy Ritchie's "Rock N' Rolla".

The Joan Jett movie "The Runaways" hits screens in 2010 with "Twilight" actress Kristen Stewart playing the infamous rock queen. And there's this whole kind of "I want rock n' roll all niight...and parrty everyday" kind of expressionism. We're tired of being good and responsible and counting our pennies through the f-bomb. We just wanna hang out with friends and party. Good times don't need to cost a thing...

>>>60's-70's

Then there's the whole 60's and 70's peace & love imagery coming through fashion brands like Wildfox Couture.

Their collection would've fit so well in the film, "Across the Universe". Brainchild of Julie Taymore (Creator of "The Lion King" on Broadway), the film featured young actors & actresses playing out a story line inspired by Beatles songs. With an appearance by U2's Bono as a Jim Leary-type character, a young guy named Jude lives with a girl named Prudence...and the story reveals itself through Beatles songs..a work of art really.

>>>80's

Then there's the lovely & talented Erin Fetherson's collection. Poufy skirts and structured jackets are topped off with saucy minx accessories. The new power suit shoulder jackets meets Madonna like-a-virgin vivacious-ness. Mini skirt outfits combine the audacity of structure with the delicate air of a ballet dancer. 

Like something for a recital scene in the Fame movie hitting theaters later this year. Ladies & Gentlemen, Welcome Back to the Future...via the 1980's.

I just think people are going to be more than ready come this Winter '09/Spring '10 to break out of the mould a little bit. Let their hair down and party like it's 1969. Or 1989. Even if just a little bit. And even if they do it BYOB or potluck style and get home by curfew, people are restless and ready to put down their calculator and take a walk on the wild side... 

ALL PHOTO & PRODUCT CREDITS: will be posted by 8/9. ;)