This video will give you an inside look into the careful thought process that went into the creation of APEX’s show Indigo, that will guarantee you appreciate the striking canvases in a whole new way. Kiya Babzani, owner of San Francisco boutique Self-Edge, oversaw the production of 14 samples in four different indigos of hiqh-quality denim from one of the oldest mills in Japan and TSS, a small garment manufacturer in Okinawa, over a period of six months. The various twills mean that each denim responds to the paint differently creating completely unique compositions, enjoy!!!

Freshcotton is one of my favourite stores online and for their Spring/Summer 2011 collection they have not only drawn inspiration from family and friends, they have also used them in their lookbook. Click any page shown below, and you might even see me there!!!

Photography: Boris Postma
Styling Street: Peter Kolks
Styling Selected: Alvar Piepers
Assistants: Rosalie van der Windt, Spencer Samuel, Elton van Bosse and Albert Visser.
Locations: Hotel V, Toko MC, Vondelpark, Uliveto and Westerpark.

Brands: Altamont, Anything, Carhartt, Libertine Libertine, Mark McNairy, Nike, Ontour, Pointer, Vans, The Hundreds, Sixpack France, OBEY, Penfield, Wood Wood, Pro Keds, WeSC, and Outerwear.

Rin Tanaka, a Japanese editorial photographer, was born in Yamaguchi, Japan in 1970 and grew up in his family’s hometown of Yokohama after moving there with his family in 1976. He started hitting U.S. roads in 1990 during his college days. He moved to San Clemente, California in 1998. Over the years Tanaka tracked down and photographed authentic clothing from the 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s. Mostly from the collection of hardcore collectors. One can go into this fanatical world and see incredible amount of clothing that tells that era’s obsessions and of course the craftsman’s skill in making these clothes. Through photography he documents how Americans do Americana. My Freedamn! 8 is another fantastic volume that colorfully depicts 1960s Pop Fashion with clothing from surf, motorcycle, car, and other cultures. All these images are from the new My Freedamn vol.8 and presents a unique selection of 600 vintage cloths classified in 4 chapters.

I bought ”My Freedamn vol.8” book for only 89 Euros at bookstore MENDO. Get it to remember, get it to inspire, get it to rip-off, whatever, just get it!!!

If fashion is at the forefront of your brain my fellow readers- I’m not even sure if this rhetorical questions is moving the story along – but have I got a movie for you! L’Amour Fou is a documentary by Pierre Thoretton about the rise of famous fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent and his partner Pierre Bergé. It is not the first documentary on the Fashion Icon but probably the most intimate to date. Designer Yves Saint Laurent met and fell in love with the industrialist and patron Pierre Bergé in 1958 and were inseparable until the fashion powerhouse’s death in 2008. Following his passing, Bergé decided to auction off the art collection that they had both collected for years, which was spread across three lavish homes. As you can imagine, the process was a quite a daunting task, both an emotionally and physically.

Two Other Excellent Documentaries on YSL made during his lifetime. The 1992 documentary – 10 years before the closure of Yves Saint Laurent haute couture : Provides the look at the life and career of the legendary designer.

Weekend’s Best Part I:

Weekend’s Best Part II:

Weekend’s Best Part III:

Weekend’s Best Part IV:

Weekend’s Best Part V:

Weekend’s Best Part VI:

The next Yves Saint Laurent Documentary – “5 avenue Marceau, 75116 Paris” : Fascinating look at the designer and his staff as they prepare the winter 2001 haute couture collection.

Weekend’s Best Part I: (NOTE: Click Here)
Weekend’s Best Part II: (NOTE:Click Here)
Weekend’s Best Part III: (NOTE: Click Here)
Weekend’s Best Part IV: (NOTE: Click Here)
Weekend’s Best Part V: (NOTE: Click Here)
Weekend’s Best Part VI: (NOTE: Click Here)
Weekend’s Best Part VII: (NOTE: Click Here)
Weekend’s Best Part VIII: (NOTE: Click Here)
Weekend’s Best Part IX: (NOTE: Click Here)

The work of London-based artist Ryan Gander is multi-faceted, ranging through installation, sculpture, intervention, writing and performative lecturing. Much of his work is concerned with tweaking common objects, situations or systems, and planting his own often inexplicable narratives within them. Commissioned as part of his installation ‘An Incomplete History of Ideas’ Ryan published a limited edition book in a faux-simplistic style taking the form of a children’s book, The Boy Who Always Looked Up. The book describes the events leading up to the death of the modernist architect Erno Goldfinger as seen through the eyes of a boy who lives in the shadow of Goldfingers Trellick Tower (1973), in Notting Hill, London. I wish I could get my hands on one of the original limited books instead of reading the online version!!!

I think about Don Draper a lot. All this fixation on Draper makes me wonder why it is he’s become so important to men in the present day. Don Draper plays such a great role on the series Mad Men because he makes bad decision after bad decision in his personal life, but instead of being a drunk loser, he’s leveled out and redeemed by what he does at work. He’s so goddamn good at what he does in the office, he’s almost untouchable. It’s a complex balancing act that the writers handle very well. But what makes Mad Men’s Don Draper always look so sharp? To help you rock the best of his classic vibe, award-winning costume designer Janie Bryant shares tips on how to dress like Draper without looking as if you just stepped out of your father’s closet, enjoy your Sunday!!!

Many things stand out about elevators, like how fast or high they are, but rarely do companies make use of the prime advertising space available on them. Although the role of the elevator is simple, but it does not hinder advertising agencies and marketing groups to make it creatively. Some of them are really creative and make you look twice. Here are some example of creative elevator advertisements from various brands, enjoy!!!

The fashion photographer Mark Borthwick has a new book, aptly titled “Not in Fashion.”  Mark is an amazing experimental fashion photographer but his creative doesn’t stop there. He often accompanies his photographic work with writing, drawings and even live performances. Mark gain recognition in the world of fashion by working in the 90’s with Purple magazine and he got to register many of the up and coming designers that nowadays are part of that decade heritage such as Martin Margiela, Helmut Lang, Maria Cornejo and Calvin Klein. Mark’s subjects are personal, his compositions striking. Some are bathed in sunlight — the result of intentionally overexposed film – and some capture blush-inducing intimate moments. Littering his photography with pages of original poems and collages, Borthwick draws us into his confusing world. The result feels more like an artist’s journal than a retrospective tome, and it’s all the more fitting for it. This Must-Have book showcases over 200 images from Borthwick’s best works. The vivid and over-saturated exposures are beautiful to look at, and create a cohesive element to this extensive and impressive body of work.

I bought Mark Borthwick, ”Not in Fashion” book for only 50 Euros at bookstore MENDO. Go get your copy today and Enjoy!!!

I’ve selected this street advertising takeover post for this Sunday, just for inspiration. “MaSAT (Madrid Street Advertising Takeover) is the second international SAT project, and the third in a continuing series of civil disobedience projects aimed at reclaiming space for public dialogue in a commercially saturated environment. It’s not a new insight that this is a new form of advertising, and this certainly isn’t the first advertising takeover, but I think there is something cool about these takeovers that I haven’t seen very often before. Now, of course, Kaws was famous for doing just this same thing, and see how far he has come. Anyway, enough of my rambling, here are some examples of the Madrid Street Adverting Takeover, enjoy!!!

I’ve selected some of Citizen Couture best street-pics for this Sunday, just for inspiration. I hardly ever do a blog post for girls. Today is a beautiful Sunday so… let’s change it up a little bit and do some different things. It also doesn’t hurt that these girls are as beautiful as they can be. So, girls what frames are you feeling this spring?

Banner. Reece Solomon in Moscot Sunglasses
Picture II. Karla Deras in Karen Walker Tortoise Sunglasses
Picture III. Preetma Singh in Ray-Ban Sunglasses
Picture IV. Julia Frakes in Alexander Wang Sunglasses
Picture V. Kristin Knox in Ray-Ban Sunglasses

All images © Citizen Couture

This project explores the invisible terrain of WiFi networks in urban spaces. A four-metre long measuring rod with 80 points of light reveals cross-sections through WiFi networks using a photographic technique called light-painting. Stunning, I can’t imagine how difficult it must have been to remove the man holding the rod from each frame.

Posted by: Abderrahmane

Wearing sunglasses to protect our eyes from the sun’s harmful UV rays is a given however we have to admit they are the best looking piece of protection around! With all these fashion weeks and all these fashion shows around the world, there are already fashion predictions for the upcoming season. While for clothing this includes which styles, cuts, and colours are in (and which are out), designer sunglasses are a bit subtle. Some designer brands, are already revealing their next collections. Most of the designs, so far, appear to be a step in a more classic direction. One particular style we’ve seen so far gain popularity has been wayfarer styles, for both men and women. The cat-eye sunglasses trend was, of course, sparked on the Spring/Summer 2010 runways back in September, and the look has caught on fast after a lot of celebs has been spotted wearing a pair of cat-eye shades recently. Of all the sunglasses designers, Persol Sunglasses probably have the most history, dating back to the 1900s. These are definitely my new favourite style, I love buying new sunglasses – it’s definitely somewhat of an addiction. The Persol sunglasses are so classic with a hint of vintage. The perfect pair of Persols for my summer in Indonesia and Dubai. Thanks to Mo Anwar I’ve selected some of the best sunglasses trends for 2011 for this Sunday, enjoy!!!

Pictures courtesy of: Yoga Priyautama

“An artist has no home in Europe except in Paris.” – Friedrich Nietzsche. Street art and graffiti, when spoken about by those who don’t enjoy the experience of discovering unauthorised art in city spaces. Paris has such fantastic street art. As I was doing some cleaning up of my study today, I came across the young street artist Lory Louves . Lory Louves is a young Paris-based guerilla street artist who calls himself Clarck. I’ve selected some of his best work for this Sunday, enjoy!!!

“She isn’t like anyone else, every time you photograph Kate, you feel you are seeing a girl in real life, not a model” he says…. Mario Testino, easily the best fashion photographer of his generation has released a book dedicated to his favourite muse Kate Moss. Testino has shot Kate countless times for covers, editorials, catalogues and portraits. As such it would come as no surprise that the famed photographer would have accumulated a huge library of photos of Kate over the years, ranging from the very start when he captured shots of her backstage at runways, all the way through to her career as the legendary print model she has become. All of this sparked the idea to collaborate on this amazing book. So.. that makes it not so hard to believe that this book features 128-pages of photos of the supermodel taken by the acclaimed photographer throughout their long-term work together. Even though Kate Moss is 37 years old, I would still settle for an evening with her at my favourite Surinam restaurant any day, LOL.

After the sold out limited edition, this book is now available in an unlimited trade edition at the price of 50 Euro at bookstore MENDO. It’s astounding value when you consider that the original hardcover edition, in an acrylic box, retailed at 350 Euros ( now easily worth 1250 Euros) and was a strict limited edition of 1,500, numbered and signed by the artist.

The rise of talented new designers and new labels has added colour to the Dutch fashion scene, showcasing fresh, bright ideas and innovative work. The emergence of new local labels certainly offers more choices for fashion lovers in town, pumping up fresh blood into the fashion industry. Last Tuesday Wella and Mynth Events presented Boutyq, a new Dutch style platform where Francisco van Benthum, Jeroen van Tuyl, Jan Boelo and the British label Unconditional showcased their new collection. Francisco van Benthum kicked off the show with notable pieces from his White-label collection like his stunning flannel pants, perfect dress shirts and the perfect 3/4 length parka. Jan Boelo and the British label Unconditional were show stoppers, but then again I’m mostly talking about their selection of music and models. Fortunately, the overall look was a little bit “too edgy”. Jeroen van Tuyl who is renown for his use of classic fabrics mixed with modern, slim cuts and tailoring showed some elegant, clean suits that were inspired by pieces of broken glass. So, I guess that was it… and enjoy this Weekend’s Best!!!

Pictures made by Team Peter Stigter

If you look on my book shelf you will find several publications from fashion writer Hywel Davies. He is the author of several useful books such as ‘Modern Menswear’, ‘100 New Fashion Designers’ and ‘British Fashion Designers’, all published by Laurence King. Hywel Davies’ latest book ‘Fashion Designers Sketchbooks’ is a must for any budding designer or fashion enthusiast alike, exploring many major names working in the industry today like John Galliano, Antonio Marras, Aitor Throup, Dries van Nooten and many many more.

I bought this book because I want to be a good fashion designer one day, this is just a small investment. You can learn a lot of things from reading this book, I’ve even learned how to draw fashion sketches. Who would have ever guessed that’s possible!!! I also really love the way Davies explores the individual design process of different designers, from what inspires, to construction ideas and methods, to the final product. The images practically jump off the page, and will have you running your hands across nearly every page, I LIKE YOU.

I bought the ‘Fashion Designers Sketchbooks’ for only 40 Euros at bookstore MENDO.

In the new book Eat Out!, followers of contemporary restaurant design will find a tasty bite. Publishing and design firm Gestalten, which specializes in volumes about visual culture, has compiled a wide-reaching overview of current trends in restaurant design ranging from the minimal to the baroque, and the traditional to the bleeding-edge. It delves into many of the most grand, creative, and minimalist restaurant interiors from around the world— and illustrates that theatrical dining has become a global phenomenon. It is not enough to merely engage the taste buds. In the selection you will find not only expensive popular restaurants like the Art Home in Paris but also fairly inexpensive lunchrooms like the Lloyd Bar in the Lloyd Hotel in Amsterdam.

Would you like to know how people are eating ice cream in New York or eat frozen yogurt in Jakarta, this book is a must – filled with inspiration and escapism on every page. I bought the Eat Out! book for only 30 Euros at bookstore MENDO.

Thanks to Yoga Priyautama, photographer Yasumasa Yonehara is currently one of my favourite photographers. Well, maybe for most men. He’s a Japanese photographer whose work is mainly focused on the women’s body. With seductious poses, he managed to deliver the art of women’s body. Pretty similar to Terry Richardson I guess but than maybe an asian version. I’ve selected some of his best photos for this Sunday- upon the condition that some hot girls should feature on them, enjoy!!!

While researching a documentary project in 2006 at Le Musée de la Préfecture de Police in Paris, Raynal Pellicer, a director best known perhaps for his series of 100 short films of people reacting to various art works, came across the anthropometric photo of Amélie Élie, a French prostitute known as “The Golden Helmet. This triggered Pellicer’s interest in legal photography, in particular the work of Alphonse Bertillon, and his decision to put together the Mug Shots book.

In 1882, Alphonse Bertillon created a scientific system for the identification of criminals and developed the anthropometric photo, showing the accused’s measurements and physical markings. Today, the mug shot is an essential police procedure worldwide. From Dreyfus to O.J. Simpson, this international selection includes notables like Lenin, Al Capone, Frank Sinatra, Martin Luther King and much more.

I think the celebrities would be particularly intriguing as this is one image they are unable to control. Each image is accompanied by an account of the subjects arrest and the trials that followed. I had a blast watching all these revealing Mug Shots, definitely a must read!!!

It’s the last day of an unusually long weekend, and there’s absolutely nothing on the schedule. I thought that maybe since I had been working out over the last 3 weeks I could just do nothing today. I’m always doing SOMETHING. Reading, blogging, texting, cooking, planning, exercising, driving… Sometimes I’m downright uncomfortable with silence. Ah well, I will just go to the city centre and spend my whole day reading magazines and books. There is nothing like holding a hardbound book in my hands and leafing through its many pages. Ah… and I cannot forget that indescribable book scent (especially from older books) that I can never get enough of. I hope you enjoy your weekend as well!