More Milkshake Flavors for the Summer

For the last month I've been busy finishing and giving the last touch to the final update of this Summer 07 issue of Milkshake Chocolate.
This morning I upload the content and from here I would like to give a BIG thanks to all the artists and people involved in this issue.

Special thanks to Desiree and Ines, the women behind Bless, who supported me with their nice words every day I contacted them with questions and requests.

Interviews in FASHION with Bless, NY-based fashion designer M. Carter, Austrian Claudia Rosa Lukas, and a great fashion editorial in Los Angeles called L.A. Playa, by Mexican photographer Napoleon Habeica and Metal magazine fashion editor and friend, Angela Esteban Librero.


In ART, featuring 35mm camera photographer Heidi Johansen, latest summer trends in accessories drawings by lovely Estella Mare, and beautiful collages by Matthew Siegfried.

I hope you enjoy this issue as much as i did organizing it. We will be back for the fall 07 issue, up on September 21st 2007. Cheers! :)

Gabriel-Schwan

There is something very sweet about working in a magazine and being the fashion editor, and it's the chance of receiving press kits from new designers that you couldn't meet otherwise. You get to know a lot of people just for the sake of it.
Not long time ago two German designers, Gabriel and Schwan, sent me an email with pictures attached of their new collection of bags and accessories.

Their collection is made out of very playful and interesting items, like these 'triple' shawls and bags, perfects to give some extra coolness to your outfits.

The funniest thing was to know that they knew bobble-bee already, how sweet that was? :) when commenting them that i would love to feature their work in my personal blog, they said, of course, we know that blog already, it's in our links since some time ago... so not only they use their creativity for their fashion label, they also comment what others do in their own fashion blog; Trés Plus Cool.

African Corsets

Photographer Antoine Mouton is in town this week.
On Saturday we visited the Brooklyn Museum, that was surprisingly empty that day; we were the only ones around, a whole museum for us to enjoy!.
The Brooklyn Museum has a very interesting section of African Art. We spent almost our whole visit there.

Fashioning Africa was a book I read not long ago, and It amazed me the tight relation between art and fashion and politics in African cultures. Africans have an amazing sense of art and
fashion, they really know how to adorn their bodies, how to create symbols and make political statements with them, how to create gorgeous costumes out of anything.

One of the pieces featured at the Museum was this man's corset wore by the Sudanese tribe Dinka. Who said that corsets were a woman thing?

These corsets are gorgeous, made out of glass beads and sewn on tightly and worn until marriage. The height of the beaded wire at the back indicates weather the wearer comes from a family rich in cattle or not.

I've been trying to remember the name of that British designer famous for wearing really small corsets... but my memory failed...

NYFW Spring 2008

The registration for this upcoming Spring 08 NYFW [September 5th - 12th, 2007] is open already. Visit their site here. I wonder where the shows will be now that Bryant Park is out of sight for this purpose.
I registered already as a Fashion Editor of Milkshake Chocolate. Let's see what happens; 'registering' doesn't mean 'attending' ... After paying the fee, which they raised from $50 last season to $65, a Comittee will study your case and approve it or not.

Last season I was declined, although my information was put in a database that the designers themselves had an access to and those who wanted invited me to their show. That was very helpful and sweet, so even if you get declined, it worths a try to register in order of being in that database.
I hope this year i can attend more shows than last, and so the next. Let's keep fingers crossed.

Luxury

The Museum at the FIT is probably one of my faves in terms of fashion exhibitions as I mentioned before.
They are currently featuring a show about Luxury, a lovely excuse to show some of the most luxurious pieces among their more than 50,000 permanent collection's garments that couldn't see the light to the public otherwise.

I went this evening, and I am happy i did. The show is not very big as they placed it on the main floor instead of the basement, where the big ones and more important use to be. In any case, the pieces are gorgeous: Chanel, Balmain, Worth, Valentino, V&R ... If you happen to be in the city, go some lazy evening and take a look. It worths a visit.

Collect Colette

Rumor had it that Colette was launching an opening in NY... I heard so a month ago while visiting Screaming Mimi's. I was confused, a little surprised... Colette in NY??... well, anything can be possible in NY so why not?.
Some days ago I was taking a walk at night taking advantage that the air refreshed and there was a little breeze to enjoy. Just four blocks away from my house there is this art gallery called PS2, in order to make fun of the closest PS1. When I passed by I noticed the gallery had become a store... huh? I kept looking and the reason why it looked that way was the exhibition Collect Colette.

It was late so it was closed, but then i understood: Colette the artist was in town, not the store...
Yesterday I went by again and the show was being wrapped... i didn't quite understand as the date for closing it was August 31st... what was going on?... My curiosity grew so i started to snoop around, putting my face against the glass to see more.

There was a lady cleaning the space and she saw me. She opened the door and I asked her how come the show was being wrapped. I said to her that I would love to see it before it would be completely wrapped... She let me in, we talked a little while... This lady was Colette herself!
In our talking she explained to me all the problems she had had with this gallery and the reasons why she decided to close the show before the date. What a shame.

Collect Colette was about putting this artist's work affordable to everyone; She decided to sell her closet.
There was a funny paint in the wall saying out of the closet. She took her clothing out of her bedroom for everyone who wanted to buy it.
Unfortunately this show has seen its end earliest that agreed so I couldn't fully enjoy the experience. In any case, i happened to meet her, that was nice :) .

My Friend Derick featured in the New York magazine

My friend Derick has been scouted for New York magazine to feature his looks this week in their street-style section.
Congrats Derick! :)

"A lot of people ---bobble-bee included--- think I have some seventies porn thing going on."

Thanks Sartorialist for Featuring Thom Browne's Men

Thom Browne is nowadays my favourite men's wear suit designer.
His suits fit amazingly well the gentlemen and they look sexy than ever and elegant. It might sounds clowny when you mention ankle-length suit pants, but it actually fits awesome.
Why, again, men's wear clothing is far more interesting than women's ?? ...

* all pictures The Sartorialist

Abercrombie & Fitch, Back in the Days

If any of you payed attention to my Currently Reading section some time ago, might noticed during the last weeks that i was reading Water, Water, Everywhere, by Emily Kimbrough, a very funny lady who went to Greece with three friends during the 50's, and wrote this journey in a book that i highly recommend if you like Katherine Hepburn and Thelma and Louis.

This posting though is not only to speak about this lovely book, but also to speak about one of the fashion anecdotes that fill it...

During their visit to the little town of Pirgy, in Chios, the four ladies at one point showed to the inhabitants of the village their dresses...

" They were pleased, too, with Darn's [one of the ladies] skirt when she showed them it was divided, enabling her, should the occasion arise, to ride a donkey astride.

If visitors at Pyrghi next season find the women no longer wearing their native costumes, they can place the responsibility of this innovation, after nine hundred and more year of conforming, among Darn, Sophy, and Abercrombie & Fitch. "

* The drawing is by Romanian-born illustrator Mircea Vasiliu, who illustrated the book.

NYLON on sale !!!

Deaar readers,

I am getting rid of some of my collection of NYLON.
I don't want to just throw them on the garbage as some of you might be interested in having them.

I sell them for $2 [1.50 Euro] / each plus shipping

[ if you live in NY i will gladly meet you in the city so that way you don't have to pay the shipping]

I list the issue month, year and cover ...

01- November 2005, Fiona Apple on cover
02- February 2006, Alison Lohman on cover
03- March 2006, Camilla Belle on cover
04- April 2006, Lydia Hearst on cover [7th anniversary issue]
05- May 2006, Mischa Barton on cover [Hollywood's young issue]
06- June / July 2006, Be Yourn Own Pet on cover [The music issue]
07- August 2006, Ashley Olsen on cover
08- September 2006, Avril Lavigne on cover
09- October 2006, Kirsten Dunst & Jason Schwartzman on cover [The L.A. issue]
10- November 2006, Amber Tamblyn on cover
11- February 2007, Sienna Miller on cover
12- May 2007, Lindsay Lohan on cover

If you or someone you know might be interested in any of these issues, please write me an email at patri.le.crayon@gmail.com to arrange the shipping and payment or with any question you may have.

cheers!!

I Wish i Could Travel & Be in Berlin

I just got this invitation for the preview of SS 08 CLAUDIA ROSA LUKAS designer in Berlin from July 13th to July 14th.
What a pity i can't go because they are one of my faourite designers right now. So if you are there, please don't miss it!, and then don't forget to let it me know :)

Viola

As i said in the post about me, shorts are my soft spot. For some reason i love them. It can rain or snow, i will wear them mostly all the time. And i think the shorter the better, but unfortunately my legs are not meant to wear them as shorter as i would love so i have to cheer up myself with grandma-lenght shorts.

The other day i was taking a walk and decided to visit one of my favourite vintage stores in Manhattan, Amarcord.
Viola, the shop manager, a lovely Italian girl that is brand new in town, was wearing super shorts and she looked fantastic and chic on them. I asked her to take her picture and we tried different backgrounds as we weren't sure the best location. She was really nice with me, even if she was shy she allowed me to take the pictures and to publish them.
By the way, the shorts are from Amarcord, of course.

Pin-Up magazine

Being a magazine junkie as i am doesn't mean i stick on fashion magazines only.

It is a great pleasure for me to open any kind of magazine, and that implies that sometimes i open what i shouldn't or i open what i should have opened much time before.
The latest is what happened when i opened American architectural magazine Pin-Up.
The content, the graphic design, the layout... everything worths a dozen or more looks, really delightful. Interesting interviews and a format that captivated from the beginning to the end. Period.

* pictures from their site and A shaded View Of Fashion.

From Chip Shop...

Dear Mr M. spent a week in Manchester during May this year to participate in an Art workshop he was invited to.
On May 23rd he saw in the cover of the Manchester Evening News the face of a model he recognized as Bobble-Bee's 2006 woman of the year ... Agyness Deyn.
Knowing as he knows that she is one of my faves, he bought the issue and brought it to me.

The mini article, written by journalist Helen Tither, is a summary of how Agnes Hollins became Agyness Deyn, from working at The Village Chippy in Stubbins where she met then unknown designer Henri Holland, soon to be über-famous chief of House of Holland, to cover of Vogue Italia in 2006.

This is Me

I've never posted pictures of me for some reason, like i'm not very into showing my outfits, i don't find the time! and i think there are other topics i want to cover rather than me.
Today i will break that rule though, because someone very dear to me, again, took this picture of me that summarizes how i am and what i, 97.07 % of the time, wear, or carry with me...

- shorts
- magazines
- a scarf

Garbage Computers

I guess you're wondering what the hell has this posting to do with fashion... well, it does actually.
These pictures are from a project called Garbage Computers by NY-based T-shirt designer M. Carter. More artist than designer, if I can add so.
He has been recording with his camera every single computer thrown to the garbage. Some of the pictures are hilarious, like someone put the computers exactly there for the picture to be taken. Really FUN ny stuff.

Tide Up

Men find always interesting details to highlight their looks.
We women are far more exuberant in terms of fashion highlights, we like it BIG... So I enjoy far more to notice little details, hidden treasures for the mind in men's fashion, like this laces tided up at the ankle.

First picture from A Shaded View Of Fashion
Second picture by The Sartorialist //

Effortless Elegance

I randomly ran into this picture Irving Penn did in 1950 featuring a Balenciaga dress.
That dress... and that hat... and that woman!!
For some reason is difficult for us women nowadays to pull off outfits the way women knew back in the days. It still amazes me the effortless elegance of these women.

Cool Girl III

The web zine Cool Girl 365 is, or was, a must-seen publication in terms of originality and creativity.
The third issue is out now... and it is quite disappointing, not for the lack of good work but for the lack of work itself.
Only two editorials... Doll by Chris Heads and Oh You Pretty Things by an anonymous photographer and make up artist...

I wonder what could have happened because I know a few stylists and photographers that would die for publishing there, me included, so i wonder why they couldn't find more artists to feature. I dunno. In any case, it is good to have them back.

The fantabulous... Henrik Vibskov

For two years i worked as a fashion designer for a men's fashion company.
Since then i have a soft spot for men's wear and i always think that the designs for them are MUCH better than the ones for us. So i wish i was in Paris right now enjoining the Men's wear collections for Summer 08.

Browsing around i discovered in Fashion Reality the work of Henrik Vibskov, and if you don't know him yet, please do not hesitate and click on his name to enjoy.
He's a mix of Prada meets Jeremy Scott meets Alexander Herchcovitch.

Looks from his latest collection for Summer 08, The Fantabulous Bicycle Music Factory.