garçons de SS10

How futuristic we're talking about 2010's now!
Where are the flying saucer's already!

My favourite show was undeniably Paul Smith's collection, which was merry to the tee; a sensible palette with pops of Paul Smith audacity. The opening legion of suits were undauntingly tailored, comfortable yet sleek, uncontrivedly accessorised. My standout looks were the vinyl trenchcoat and pants in fire engine red, and the cream two tortoiseshell button jacket- perfect for nonchalant layering. The opening number with the db cardigan is chic and achievable for many. Dancing at the bow with Thriller: priceless!

















































Perhaps it is no coincidence that my favourite collection ever is the SS07 Louis Vuitton W show, which also had a backdrop of clouds.

Verano

Swedish 8 piece band playing on the pilot Monocle Summer series, wonderful work and oh so fitting for the summer; a cross between Diana Krall and Koop, below.





kcrw have been playing passion pit for quite some time and since they're going to be the opening for phoenix' next show I thought I'd give them a listen. the song and the clip are equally mesmerizing. substantially more amazing than amazing baby.

Process Story

It's Amore

Phoenix' 1901

España's humble pie

Spain gets their dose of reality check from a very unlikely team!

This morning when I flipped onto IHT the headline story was about how awesome the Spanish midfielder Xavi is, and he's ability to 'play the game like puppets', as a precursor I suppose to what they would anticipate as an inevitable thrashing in their semifinal against America. Slightly curious about this pocket rocket (there were way too many hobbit references in the article to count) I tuned in just then to watch the match.

Thankfully I was not at the pub.

The score ended up 2-0 alright, but it was to America!
yeh what the!














believe it!
The broadcast was in Hebrew from what I can gather so I was not able to decipher one word, but America most definitely gave Spain, the world #1 team who has been undefeated in 36 matches a good run for its money. The stats all pointed Spain's way but somehow USA were simply able to convert the few shots they were given.

It'd be interesting to see what USA can do come the actual tournament in SA next year. America, the country where it is pretty much good at every sport under the sun except for rugby and football, has now just beaten the world #1 team. Yes they deserve to gloat, if only for a few minutes and one news cycle (doubt). I will also accredit this perhaps to the power of Obama, because it is to me, otherwise inexplicable.

Which is also why, I'm SO EXCITED about USF1 starting on the grid next year!

Manhattan Brooding

In other news, Happy Fathers' Day AND Birthday, Daddy!

Merci Beaucoup Phoenix

vous êtes phénoménal.

Where's the pork in pork and beans?

I found two cans of this stuff in my pantry today, was intrigued so i opened one and was about to put some in my stew. It was only beans.
Why then, is it called pork and beans?
Shouldn't it be called beans- good as part of pork and beans?
Perhaps this is from the point of view of a beguiled non-American, where the notion of having no pork in a can of pork and beans is common knowledge.
I looked at the can and found that pork is indeed in the ingredients- 6th or 7th down the line. Where IS it? I could not see a smidgon of meat in the can- it was only congealed sauce and beans- a parade of addictive sugar and salt.
Up until now for my time so far in the states I have not had a single canned Campbell's product, mac and cheese or maccas, kfc or taco bell; it is not that I look down upon it; it is not snobbery- I simply feel like if I begin to eat like that it would slowly become a complacent addiction- one that I simply cannot get into.

I concede that Popeye's is my vice; it is my monthly guilty pleasure.

All I'm saying is if the labelling on some of the foods here were a little more explicit it could make life for somebody like me who is easily persuaded by labels and pretty fonts to make foolish culinary decisions that I will later regret.

Or What You Will

The wait for the tickets to see Twelfth Night in Central park yesterday was most definitely worth it.

Twelfth Night on the twelfth night!

It was very enjoyable and the players were all rollicking. Special kudos to bumbling Sir Andrew, played by Hamish Linklater, who had the crowd it fits of laughter with his awkward composure.

very fortunate for the beautiful weather. Summer is here!

Pretty adorable

Who's up for Elephant polo?

Hunting and Gathering for inspiration

I have begun my painstaking research for my summer project, which is to make samples and a website for my idea called hunt+gather industries. Merely choosing the font type has taken me a lot of time, and I am still mulling over it.

I am now doing a lot of research on competitor brands, currently looking at:

• Brooks Bros
  
• Turnbull & Asser
  
• J. Press
• Ralph

I've also been reading up on a few magazines:

• Interiors (Fashion special)
  
• Wallpaper*
  
• Fast Company
  

Something I found inspiring:




















Vintage monogrammed undergarment courtesy of WGSN
Although much of the material I am looking at is not directly related to my project I feel that looking at unrelated objects can bring about unexpected inspiration.
I put together an inspiration board that had a lot from the Sartorialist, magazines like Bazaar, FT, GQ. I found I gravitated to images that were more subtle in message; I especially liked grainy black and whites; you can never have too much of Grace Kelly.


















I have yet to open my Steve McQueen book, which I got from Taschen the other day. Currently he is mischievously grinning at me from my bookshelf.

When complete domination becomes boring

Slow down Brawn!

How beautiful and humble is Lewis Hamilton, almost on the brink of tears. His MP24 is quite simply too slow to be competitive on any level at the moment. But as he says, keep pushing. I can't wait for the day he will be on top again, and I know it won't be in the far future!!!

Naysayers

I would like to draw attention to that I shouldn't laugh but laugh anyway clip of one Alexsey Vayner and his video resume, and Michael Cera's spoof succeeding it, "Impossible is the opposite of Possible":





As cringefully bad as both these are (but Cera's acutely entertaining) I think what to take from this is there are some people who just put themselves out there, and that is okay, and I admire them for it. They may be ridiculed (Susan Boyle), laughed at (remember William Hung?), criticised (Sarah Palin) and verbally stoned at, but I think it can give them all the more great motivation and fuel to go out and prove them wrong.

Google Maps' sense of humour

I came across the beautiful blog 3191 a year of Mornings the other day, which is now being published into a book. The premise is that they two friends who are 3191 miles apart document their lives and keep in touch by nuanced photos of everyday mornings; a deep appreciation of beauty in the minutiae of little things, like an egg freshly cracked, or a box of bright buttons. I immediately thought of my best friends spread across the world right now.

A good friend of mine, for example, who is currently spending a year in Kyushu, Japan.

So I hopped onto google maps to see how far apart I am from her right now: 16,734 km, i.e. 10398 miles away.

The funny part was google maps took the liberty to work out a route for me as to how to get there if I had spare 40 days! Their mode of transport for those slightly longer legs of the trip I found particularly amusing. Merely imagining the trip exhausts my mind.

Driving directions to Manhattan, New York

16,734 km – about 36 days 20 hours

Suggested routes

Kyushu Japan

1.	Head west toward 県道404号線		0.2 km
2.	Turn right at 県道404号線		2.4 km
3.	Turn left		0.7 km
4.	Turn left		1.7 km
5.	Turn left		0.8 km
6.	Turn left		0.2 km
7.	Turn right toward 国道221号線		1.1 km
8.	Turn right at えびの駐屯地入口（交差点） onto 国道221号線		8.7 km
9.	At えびの市川原（交差点）, continue on 国道268号線		1.3 km
10.	Take the ramp to 九州自動車道 Toll road		0.2 km
11.	Keep right at the fork, follow signs for 熊本・福岡 and merge onto 九州自動車道 Toll road		275 km
12.	At 門司ＩＣ, continue on 関門橋 Toll road		9.2 km
13.	At 高速下関ＩＣ, continue on 中国自動車道 Toll road		64.6 km
14.	Take exit 山口ＪＣＴ toward 山陽道・広島・大阪 Toll road		1.3 km
15.	Merge onto 山陽自動車道 Toll road		94.9 km
16.	Take exit 有料道路大竹ＩＣ to merge onto 広島岩国道路 Toll road		12.6 km
17.	Take the ramp on the right to 山陽道・広島・大阪 Toll road		1.1 km
18.	Merge onto 山陽自動車道 Toll road		309 km
19.	Take exit 神戸ＪＣＴ toward 中国道・西宮北・大阪 Toll road		1.2 km
20.	Merge onto 中国自動車道 Toll road		30.1 km
21.	Take exit 吹田ＪＣＴ on the right toward 名神・京都 Toll road		1.2 km
22.	Merge onto 名神高速道路 Toll road		49.0 km
23.	Take exit 草津ＪＣＴ toward 新名神・東名阪・草津田上・名古屋 Toll road		1.3 km
24.	Merge onto 新名神高速道路 Toll road		49.7 km
25.	Take exit 亀山ＪＣＴ toward 東名阪道・伊勢湾岸道・鈴鹿・名古屋・豊田 Toll road		1.1 km
26.	Merge onto 東名阪自動車道 Toll road		22.0 km
27.	Take exit 四日市ＪＣＴ toward 伊勢湾岸道・豊田 Toll road		1.2 km
28.	Merge onto 伊勢湾岸自動車道 Toll road		17.6 km
29.	Take exit 高速飛島ＩＣ to merge onto 伊勢湾岸自動車道/名港トリトン Continue to follow 伊勢湾岸自動車道 Toll road		32.1 km
30.	Take exit 豊田ＪＣＴ toward 東名・名古屋・静岡 Toll road		0.4 km
31.	Keep right at the fork, follow signs for 東名・岡崎・静岡 and merge onto 東名高速道路 Toll road		303 km
32.	At 高速東京ＩＣ, continue on 首都高速3号渋谷線 (signs for 首都高速) Toll road		12.1 km
33.	Take exit 谷町ＪＣＴ toward 北池袋・霞が関 Toll road		0.4 km
34.	Merge onto 首都高速都心環状線 Toll road		6.0 km
35.	Take exit 江戸橋ＪＣＴ toward 向島・湾岸線・箱崎 Toll road		0.7 km
36.	Merge onto 首都高速6号向島線 Toll road		8.7 km
37.	Take exit 堀切ＪＣＴ toward 大宮・東北道・三郷 Toll road		0.5 km
38.	Merge onto 首都高速中央環状線 Toll road		0.7 km
39.	Take exit 小菅ＪＣＴ on the right toward 常磐道・三郷 Toll road		0.6 km
40.	Merge onto 首都高速6号三郷線 Toll road		9.4 km
41.	Take exit 三郷ＪＣＴ toward 常磐道・水戸 Toll road		1.1 km
42.	Merge onto 常磐自動車道 Toll road		37.7 km
43.	Take exit 高速桜土浦ＩＣ toward 国道354号線 Toll road		0.9 km
44.	Keep right at the fork, follow signs for 土浦・霞ヶ浦 and merge onto 国道354号線 Partial toll road		2.1 km
45.	Turn left at 中村陸橋下（交差点） to stay on 国道354号線		3.3 km
46.	Slight left at 千束町（交差点） to stay on 国道354号線		0.6 km
47.	Turn right at 亀城公園北（交差点） onto 国道125号線		0.7 km
48.	Turn left at 県道263号線		1.0 km
49.	Turn left		0.3 km
50.	Turn right		0.3 km
51.	Turn right		56 m
52.	Turn left		0.4 km
53.	Kayak across the Pacific Ocean Entering United States (Hawaii)		6,243 km
54.	Turn right at Kalakaua Ave		0.5 km
55.	Turn left at Kapahulu Ave		2.4 km
56.	Slight left to stay on Kapahulu Ave		74 m
57.	Continue on Waialae Ave		0.4 km
58.	Slight right to merge onto I-H1 W		8.5 km
59.	Slight left at I-H201 W (signs for Aiea/I-H201)		6.3 km
60.	Take the I-1/I-H1 exit toward Pearl City		1.3 km
61.	Merge onto I-H1 W		6.5 km
62.	Take exit 8A to merge onto I-H2 N toward Wahiawa/Mililani		12.8 km
63.	Take exit 8 toward Wahiawa		0.3 km
64.	Merge onto HI-80/HI-99/Kamehameha Hwy Continue to follow Kamehameha Hwy		13.7 km
65.	Continue on Joseph P Leong Hwy		3.2 km
66.	Continue on HI-83/Kamehameha Hwy		16.7 km
67.	Turn left at Kuilima Dr		0.8 km
68.	Turn right at Turtle Bay Hilton		0.2 km
69.	Kayak across the Pacific Ocean Entering Washington		4,436 km
70.	Sharp right at N Northlake Way		1.9 km
71.	Continue on NE Pacific St		1.3 km
72.	Slight right at Montlake Blvd NE/WA-513		0.5 km
73.	Merge onto WA-520 E via the ramp to Bellevue/Kirkland		9.5 km
74.	Take the exit onto I-405 S		5.6 km
75.	Take the exit onto I-90 E Passing through Idaho Entering Montana		1,313 km
76.	Continue on I-94 E (signs for I-94/Bismarck) Passing through North Dakota Entering Minnesota		1,326 km
77.	Take the exit on the left onto I-694 E		38.3 km
78.	Take exit 58B for I-494/I-694/I-94/US-12 toward Madison		0.4 km
79.	Keep left at the fork to continue toward I-94 E/US-12 E and merge onto I-94 E/US-12 E Continue to follow I-94 E Entering Wisconsin		399 km
80.	Continue on I-39 S/I-90 E (signs for I-39/I-90/Chicago) Continue to follow I-90 E Partial toll road Passing through Illinois, Indiana Entering Ohio		734 km
81.	Continue on I-80 E (signs for I-80/I-90) Toll road		123 km
82.	Take exit 218 to merge onto I-80 E Partial toll road		9.1 km
83.	Take the exit on the left onto I-80 E/OH-11 N toward New York City Continue to follow I-80 E Passing through Pennsylvania Entering New Jersey		595 km
84.	Take exit 47A on the left for I-280 toward Newark		1.2 km
85.	Continue straight onto I-280 E Partial toll road		26.8 km
86.	Take exit 16E to merge onto I-95 N/New Jersey Turnpike N toward Lincoln Tunnel Toll road		6.7 km
87.	Slight right at NJ-495 E (signs for Lincoln Tunnel) Partial toll road Entering New York		5.9 km
88.	Continue on NY-495 E Toll road		1.2 km
89.	Slight left at Dyer Ave (signs for 34 St/I-495/NY-9A/42 St)		0.5 km
90.	Turn left at W 34th St (signs for I-495)		0.9 km

Manhattan, New York