i-D magazine trip

I chose these covers of i-D magazine among my favourites. The choice was difficult because there're others wonderful ones! A short "trip" from the beginnings to the present and I note with interest the changes in fashion, photography and message. Amazing!

B.

CONTINUE >>

Don't WASTE anything!

Selected H&M stores are now distributing the "Waste" collection, made from fabric left over from H&M collaboration with Lanvin. The pieces obtained seem like that type of clothes recovered from markets, a bit patchwork and a bit eccentric. I love ittttt!

And you? What's your favourite?

B.

Dei negozi selezionati stanno ora distribuendo la collezione "Waste", confezionata con i tessuti rimanenti della collaborazione del brand con Lanvin. I pezzi ottenuti sembrano quel tipo di vestiti recuperati ai mercatini, un po' patchwork e un po' eccentrici. Li adoro!!

E voi? Qual è il vostro preferito?

B.

"revelation": at the beer, bourbon, and bbq festival...

"three city girls...lots of food"

i don't want imply that it's taken for granted, but a nose-to-tail, apple-in-mouth roasted pig-- lechon-- is not uncommon to filipinos. kid's first birthday, family reunion, wedding, summer picnic...basically, if you're celebrating something big, you're doin' it with a pig.

i myself am not a huge fan. they say the flavor is in the fat and the skin--and i don't like the flavor or texture of either. i like the white meat, but only with a generous amount of the sauce that traditionally accompanies it, a sauce made of liver and garlic and vinegar. maybe it doesn't sound tasty--liver-- but that sauce redeems even the most overdone meat. and actually my favorite rendition of lechon is when all the meat and skin and bits that have been hacked apart with a giant, scary cleaver are stewed in that sauce...it's called paksiw na lechon. served over a bed of white rice--it's leftovers, but it feels even more indulgent and delicious, in my opinion, than when it's freshly served.

so being at the beer bourbon and bbq fest was familiar territory, from a culinary standpoint. but it didn't mean it wasn't revelatory.

for example, the term "pulled pork" to me means meat roasted to such a tenderness that it's easily pulled apart with your fork. the gruesome and glorious sight of burly men, heavy duty gloves to their elbows, hunched over and reaching into a glistening, red, split pig and scooping a handful of thready pork onto your plate never struck my imagination. pulled pork, now i get it.

but what was true for me about the lechon i've grown accustomed to, was true for most of the meat i tasted last night-- a generous sauce, whether it's a runny, hot, vinegary variety, or a thicker, sweeter kind, with a strong smoky chipotle note, is compulsory.

there was one very exceptional surprise: hill country bbq. they roast the pork in the pig. i had to think about that for a second, but what a good trick. double the flavor, double the tender fun. we had almost skipped the hill country table, thinking oh, we could get it anytime here in new york, but it was our favorite bbq of festival.

to think, we almost took that for granted...

jerk! (from black sauce kitchen)

little red pig bbq

,

my dinner selection, from little red pig bbq (north carolina pulled pork, brunswick stew, and slaw)

best of the fest: hill country, texas-style, bbq via midtown west, nyc...

tickle tickle

pork, chicken and campfire beans with burnt ends

photos © anita aguilar

DECOR, DESIGN, INDUSTRY...

Currently at the museum of art and history of Geneva

Do not miss the exhibition about: 

"Decor, Design, Industry"

This exhibition aims to introduce a heritage and identity  of Geneva whose fame has often exceeded the city gates.

Openings:

Friday 15.10.2010 - Sunday 01.05.2011

From 10am to 6pm

Closed on monday

Adress:

Musée d'art et d'histoire | Rue Charles-Galland 2

Price:

From 3.-chf to 5.-chf

thundersnow 2011: after effects

haute couture (PARIS fashion week)-part III

Here I am again today to talk about trends in these fashion shows during Paris fashion week.

I want to start from Bouchra Jarrar who uses the lines as the main theme of the collection. The most used colors are black, grey, caramel and something red. Lines are used not only in shapes but as a real graphic design! Christopher Josse opens his fashion show in white and continues in pale tones such as ice or pale yellow, including three black dresses. We can see capes made of voile, silk or tulle, decorated with precious applications, particular ebroidery or drapes. Fabrics are lightweight and flowing! Let's go on talking about Eva Minge who presents a provoking and sexual collection based on black, red and a mini touch of white! Trasparence, glitter, stripes, leather inserts, tulle and boas surely help to make creations sexy! and also the white on the catwalk seems like a provocation and a contradiction of the whole mood of the parade! On Aura Tout Vu brings on the catwalk a strange collection based once again on black, white and pale tones (ice, grey, pale yellow and red). I love the unexpected in this collection! Shapes and materials, but also ideas are so creative! There're some pieces full of diamonds and bright decorations and some others simple or colored in metallic. And there's the last one that looks like a mix of Victoria's Secret wings and Lady Gaga's crazy dress!

And now...Valentino! We're in front of an icy collection which not reminds of spring, but it's equally classy and full of beautiful pieces! We find white, ivory or nude colors made of lace and opac or sheer fabrics. Lace floral applications, glitter but also curious shapes!

Delightful end of today: Stéphane Rolland haute couture creations. I'm in love with the colors, with the shapes, with lenghts and with ORANGE! Colors reminds me of a warm tropical forest. And when I look at the dresses, despite the strange shapes, they seem comfortable. The collection are simple, but details make it special. Satin, chiffon, silk or lurex, paillettes and crystals. New volumes collection, SIMPLY WONDERFUL. It's maybe one of my favourites at the moment. And what about you? Let me know!

B.

P.S. I was planning to to do a survey at the end of Paris week to know what do you think it's going to be the most beautiful collection. Do you think it's a good idea?

CONTINUE >>

thundersnow 2011: awe and wonder

you knew i couldn't stay inside, right?

though i wasn't outside for long before the camera and i were soaked.

jan 27, 2011. 1am. photos © anita aguilar

sweet: thundersnow 2011

park ave. 1am. dec 27, 2011.

snow day: before it turned to rain, and then...THUNDERSNOW

(i'm staying inside for the thundersnow.)

from my "beat": park ave and union square

oh look. we're plowing everything now, even the plazas on park ave.

(though these john deere's were probably privately hired...)

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haute couture (PARIS fashion week)-part II

As I told you, I want to keep you informed about haute couture fashion shows in Paris. I want to start from Elie Saab collection! It's based on pastel colors and pale tones of pink, green, grey, and something lilac, while red dresses stand out! Wonderful creations adorned with many details: floral applications, diamonds, glitter, drapes and laces. Designer of Elie Saab always stands out more to create truly special and classy clothes, in fact many celebrities choose those dresses on the red carpet! Now it's the moment of Alexis Mabille: we find once again pale tones, but there're also blue, red and black to enlive the show. Soft fabrics and floral prints complete a collection that ranges from short to long dresses.
We now turn to another stilist: Jean Paul Gaultier. It presents so particular creations: there're some male, some which reminds me of Crudelia Demon, some printed in a strange way, some decorated with tulle, fringe or other materials. I personally think that it's a very spectacular collections...and what about that awesome dress with that drawing inside??mmmm I'm in loooove!
The haute couture of Maurizio Galante is really...SPRING! A curious mix of colors and shapes. Violet, green, red and pink dominate the scene and we can see dresses rich of details and decorations, but at the same time simple and linear.
Double-face and double-color. Fantastic!
I leave you for now. Left a comment to let me know what do you think!
B.

CONTINUE >>

waft

jan 24, 2011

First look at the haute couture (PARIS fashion week)

Parigi fashion week is started and I must talk about the first fashion shows!

I want to start from Armani, Chanel, Dior...and some others!

The haute couture always fascinates me because it seems so unreachable and unattainable. One of those things that you can look but you're afraid to touch.

Something that you looks with admiration because it seems not to be equal to it. 

Haute couture is creative, exaggerated, amazing...it's really a dream!

Armani delights us presenting a fabulous collection based on iridescences and metallic colors. He plays with lights and unusual shapes and he gives the final touch with orbital hats; and he doesn't forget to insert colors such as fuxia, green and red!

Karl Lagerfeld chooses to make classics Chanel pieces contemporary, matching leather pants to tweed tailleur. He inserts swarosky crystals and, as usual, he has a preference for black and white; shapes are linear and simple. Dior fashion show opened in red and ended in white but believe me, colors and shapes are once again to boss the show! Drapes, silk and tulle are the protagonists and the ways to make a chiaroscuro effect. Givenchy makes pin on white and long size dresses, combining them with garish hats. What about Maison Martin Margiela creations? They're incredibly unusual...a mix of bright colors and materials which make us joyful! (I'm really in love with the jumpsuit! Colors are scaled-down and the special decoration on the neck makes me crazy!). I've been impressed by the collection of Alexandre Vauthier because, dispite its semplicity and basic colors, I like the creations in the shapes (I'm a lover of shoulder squared), in high-waisted gold belts and in bright colors and materials of the long dresses.

We're just at the beginning, what do you think for now?

B.

CONTINUE >>

fire...

a fire was called in from 125 park avenue (at 42nd street) at around 5:27 pm this evening.

how did it start? according to news reports, someone tossed a cigarette, which fell through the sidewalk grate, and began smoldering in a transformer box below street level.

this was the scene, an hour later.

firefighters had this under control by 7pm. no injuries reported...

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pershing square exterior (facing park ave)