At Home | Rick Owens’ and Michele Lamy’s Paris Home

Oh thee cult inspiring Interesting Couple! Not exactly a style I would want to copy or live in, too ascetic for my feigned minimalism although I can see how it would salve after hedonistic adventures. I am inspired by its details and quality. When it comes to Rick and Michele, the consistency of their presentation to the public is supreme, despite Rick Owens brand not exactly playing the fashion marketing game. There are legions (did I mention the word “cult”?) that surface what it might be like in Owens-Lamy world through photos, interviews, articles the couple and the brand seemingly do not chase but nevertheless oblige. In the interviews, they are calm coolness, and seeing these photos of their home, it makes sense. They know who they are and what their aesthetic is. The way they present themselves and the way their home is are in sync.

PHOTOS via WSJ “Inside Rick Owens's Paris Home”

“There is something about yourself that you don't know.”

A still from Guy Ritchie's "Revolver"

There is something about yourself that you don't know. Something that you will deny even exists until it's too late to do anything about it. It's the only reason you get up in the morning, the only reason you suffer the shitty boss, the blood, the sweat and the tears. This is because you want people to know how good, attractive, generous, funny, wild and clever you really are. "Fear or revere me, but please think I'm special." We share an addiction. We're approval junkies. We're all in it for the slap on the back and the gold watch. The "hip, hip, hoo-fucking-rah." Look at the clever boy with the badge, polishing his trophy. Shine on, you crazy diamond. Cos we're just monkeys wrapped in suits, begging for the approval of others. – Jake Green, “Revolver”

Interesting Couple | Hello weekend! Rick Owens & Michele Lamy by Sofia Tchkonia

Fashion | Prada goes Julius and Gene for Candy

Shared it elsewhere, but this is just too cute to pass up!

Inspired by François Truffaut’s “Jules et Jim” falling for Catherine 1962 cool.

Art | Jean Paul Gaultier at Brooklyn Museum

Paolo Roversi (Italian, b. 1947). 

Tanel Bedrossiantz, 1992. 

Digital print, 

15 x 12 in. (38.3 x 30.8 cm). 

Jean Paul Gaultier’s “Barbès” 

women’s ready-to-wear 

fall-winter collection of 

1984–85. 

© Paolo Roversi

No, there is nothing wrong with your internet connection. It’s just…

The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk

October 25, 2013–February 23, 2014

Morris A. and Meyer Schapiro Wing and Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Gallery, 5th Floor

$10 / $15 +

Brooklyn Museum

200 Eastern Parkway

Brooklyn, New York 11238-6052

 2    3  Eastern Parkway/Brooklyn Museum

Work & Life | How to schedule your work hours a la Simone de Beauvoir

Simone de Beauvoir was a writer, intellectual, existentialist philosopher, political activist, feminist, and social theorist. And she did not spend 24/7 doing just that. Here is an excerpt from The Paris Review on her working hours. By my calculations, it added up to 7 hours a day: 10 am to 1 pm and 5 pm to 9 pm.  INTERVIEWER People say that you have great self-discipline and that you never let a day go by without working. At what time do you start?  DE BEAUVOIR I'm always in a hurry to get going, though in general I dislike starting the day. I first have tea and then, at about ten o'clock, I get under way and work until one. Then I see my friends and after that, at five o'clock, I go back to work and continue until nine. I have no difficulty in picking up the thread in the afternoon. When you leave, I'll read the paper or perhaps go shopping. Most often it's a pleasure to work. The Paris Review, Spring-Summer 1965 | Courtesy of Marcine Miller Read also: Slate “Daily Rituals: Life-hacking tips” by Mason Currey Mason Currey’s inactive Daily Routines blog

Fashion | The Fairy of Porn Chic called Carine Roitfeld

Who’d have thunk it. Me?! I didn’t. All I knew is that I gravitated to that je ne sais quoi on the pages of Vogue Paris. When I bought the December 2010 / January 2011 issue, changes were already afoot that I was clueless about. It was an issue that pushed buttons for some with its Cadeaux spread: kiddies made up for a late decadent night, swathed in major bling, all very grown up. The Cadeaux was, let’s say, provoking, creepy in fact, but to be fair the same issue contained Forever Love with very sexy, and also provocative, shots of two adults at the other age extreme. Equality for all age borders! Little did I know that December 2010 / January 2011 issue marked the end of a 10-year reign of its editrice – Carine Roitfeld. Supposedly, Cadeaux was the reason. Or maybe her final salve. Either way, controversy spread beyond the fashion industry. The dust might have settled by now, and you can draw your own conclusions. I found Forever Love quite welcoming and needed. Tit for tat, I suppose… Still, it took me a while to register the name in the middle of it all. When it happened, I was conflicted about the role of fashion editors as cultural mavens, celebrities, artistes in their own right, visual directors or dictators, poachers or patrons of talents, eagle-eyed aesthetes, or just a bunch of bulls**t.
Who’d have thunk it. All that thought about THAT?! But, I did gravitate for a reason, non? So couple of years later, courtesy of well thought out birthday present, I became an owner of irreverent and despite a well-meaning attempt at aloofness, curious of Carine. Oh, but it’s so easy to dismiss, to be disgusted, to laugh at the posturing of that world and the gluttonous triteness of it all; it’s harder to dismiss the quality of the vision and the titillating fantasy. I am sticking with “eagle-eyed aesthete” with a good dash of kohl-rimmed Rock & Roll cool and all the goodness that comes with that. She might’ve been The Client for W Magazine and fit the preconceived mold, but now we have Mademoiselle C and CR Fashion Book and I like to watch people at work, especially in artistic milieus. We all need trifles in our lives. Even me.

Read also: Harper's Bazaar “Fashion's Fairy Grandmother” by Anamaria Wilson

Food & Fashion | Make it a meal. Chanel encased meal.

I am not sure if this is quite the nosh Mademoiselle Coco would've indulged in, but let’s not forget that the reigning Kaiser, Karl Lagerfeld, knows about indulging in food. His strict diet was survived potentially only by Diet Coke, so much so that he advertised the drink. I am also not sure if “Fashion is the healthiest motivation for losing weight”, but boy, it can be a fierce one. Still, a burger meal encased in Chanel insignia?! I’d eat that with styling gusto!

Travel & Music | Paris & New York just want to dance

Peeps in the City of Light and the City that Never Sleeps struggle under gentile sensibilities, 
and then get creative.

Interesting Couple | Sofia Coppola & Thomas Mars

Hello hip, cultured, suave, creative! Yes, a Hollywood princess and a rocker are in the house – sorry, in a chic, bobo, mod pad – yes, such a place would be well suited for these two and their little ‘dahlings’. But honestly, even though “Somewhere” was, well… was, Sofia and Thomas have an inspiring ability to set the mood and subliminally communicate.

Music | B.B. was groovy

Movies | Revisiting behind the scenes of Persepolis

As a movie, this brainchild of Marjane Satrapi and Vincent Paronnaud, is still an artistic feat bringing together many moving parts. For full “The hidden side of Persepolis” and “Behind the scenes of Persepolis” you will need to get your hands on the DVD of it. Absolutely worth it. You will see the dedication of many over two-three years it took to make this movie. Meanwhile, here are some teasers.

Music | Très chic. Les bébés rockers. Les Plastiscines

Is the seventies-style rock living on as an all-female act? It just might, with a bit of dancey bomp. And I like Barcelona, the city.

Movies | “Glass of whiskey with an irresistible young actor”

One of the benefits, although ever so dubious ones, of being sick and in need of bed rest is a possibility of mini-home-bound-I-am-stuck-here-and-need-to-relieve-the-boredom-but-I-am-out-of-steam marathons. In my case it was movies. One set of selections was inspired by a photo of Ezra Miller taken by Garance Doré at the Martinez Hotel during the Cannes Film Festival 2012. It is a nice photo, non?

“Another Happy Day”: Some families comprise of individuals that are dysfunctional, self-absorbed, neurotic, argumentative, cynical, sensitive, mixed up, angry, and whatever else you want to add here, who are more than willing to dish it out or spread around the “goodness”. Cringe worthy viewing, if you are not into that sort of drama either at home or otherwise, “Another Happy Day” is a wreck I kept on watching mostly because, well, these people do not exist on celluloid only. I know a few…

“Beware the Gonzo”: High school misfit, outcast, and nerd revolt for the 2000s. Kind of cute and idealistic with a twist and some lessons to boot.

“Every Day”: Adults are sorting themselves out more clumsily than the kids.

I can see why IMDb rated them all below 7/10 and critics at Rotten Tomatoes were not more gracious (45% and below), but – remember – quality had a different meaning for me in this instance. We’ll see what becomes of him.

Interesting Couple | Serge Gainsbourg & Jane Birkin

© Helmut Newton 1978

Interesting to me on few basic fronts:

Their offspring, Charlotte Gainsbourg

“Je t’aime… moi non plus”

Jane’s swinging 60s style and the Hermès bag association

Serge’s provocative and “scandalous” offerings

Read also: Jane Birkin Official Website
Vanity Fair “The Secret World of Serge Gainsbourg”
Oyster #98: Charlotte Gainsbourg

Music | Le Petit Soldat under Mao’s Moon

“The Gift” illustration and design by 

Heung-Heung Chin, paintings by Trevor Brown

“Le Petit Soldat” posters by … let me know

I am OK with Jean-Luc Godard, but I like the music on John Zorn’s “The Gift” better. Still, “Mao’s Moon” from “The Gift” has the cinematic wistfulness that suits a B&W French movie from early 1960s and certain notions a movie like that can arouse if not actually watched – that is why a mash up of the two strikes the right note of around-five-minute-cool – cool jazz and snippets of La Nouvelle Vague. Except that “Le Petit Soldat” was not nostalgic. It was very current. It was, and still is, idealistically rebellious and young and willing to stand up for its convictions. After all, it dealt with darker themes – Algerian War and torture.

     Ah, the duality of art! Sean Westergaard wrote at allmusic by rovì about John Zorn’s “The Gift” that “despite the undeniable beauty of the music, underneath the pretty pink wrapping and bows of the outer slipcase, Zorn has included several paintings of young girls in the cover art that some people might find slightly disturbing, as if to underscore the idea that beauty itself is highly subjective” (and the girl with a gun is not the worst of it; sadly). So it’s a match! Both packages, the movie and the album, mess with us! Poke at us!

     Since I find the artwork for “The Gift” more than “slightly disturbing”, having part of its music enveloped in Godard’s – albeit dissociated – cool works for the times when one feels pragmatically compliant.

     Hear the album. See the movie.

or go here http://youtu.be/HK3PeVWrm1M

At Home | Helena Christensen

Originally featured in Vogue Paris May 2009 | Story : Carole Sabas | Photos : The Selby

Art | Because it looks like a geisha - Van Cleef & Arpels L’art de la haute joaillerie at Les Arts Décoratifs

Lifted from Anna dello Russo’s blog, AdR Factory, because … well, you know, it looks Japanesa. It is a piece that seems to be part of

Van Cleef & Arpels. L’art de la haute joaillerie

20 September 2012 – 10 February 2013

Les Arts Décoratifs – 107, rue de Rivoli

Paris

“

“Les Arts Décoratifs” hosts 400 pieces that have made the fame of Van Cleef & Arpels since 1906. These prestigious pieces will be shown with archive documents and drawings, in an exhibition design by Jouin-Manku. From the famous ‘Zip’ necklace to the Zodiac set, which include 12 pieces inspired by astrology. The history of Van Cleef & Arpels is based on technical inventions handed down from generation to generation. A signature whose hallmark is legendary mastery and savoir-faire, a passionate love of precious stones and a taste for innovation and metamorphosis.” 

”

Related: Fashion | Anna Dello Russo

Art | If you happen to be inParis Nov. 9-11, 2012 attend A Shaded View on Fashion Film 5

Movies | Shakki (2012)

SHAKKI, a short film by Julien Landais | Starring Daphne Guinness, Laura Eastwood, Andrea Ferreol, Julien Landais, Dragan Nikolic, Emily Caillon, Christophe de Choisy, Clémentine Landais, Gerhard Freidl and Sarah Biasini | Music Where Safety Ends/Revolte | Who hasn't dreamt of being someone else? Martin has the power to enter other people's bodies and dominate their souls thanks to Judith, with whom he made a Faustian deal. Judith abandoned him. He will persist tirelessly to conquer her again under different shapes. | ©FLAGSHIP 2012

Animation | Lovable insects of Minuscule

Minuscule (2006)

Cuteness! Minuscule – the private life of insects could make the spiders and ants appealing in this French-made series of short films. Production of a feature film was commenced in March 2012.