Samaritaine

March 29, 2013July 1, 2017 | Design & Culture by Ed

La Samaritaine (French pronunciation: [la samaʁitɛn]) was a large department store in Paris, France, located in the First Arrondissement. It is currently owned by LVMH (Louis Vuitton Moet Henessy), a luxury-goods maker. The store, which had been operating at a loss since the 1970s, was finally closed in 2005 because the building did not meet safety codes. Plans for redeveloping the building involved lengthy complications, as the representatives of the store’s founders argued with new owners LVMH over the building’s future as a department store or a mixed-use development. Samaritaine is decorated in Art Nouveau style and is really beautiful!

At Kong

March 29, 2013July 1, 2017 | Design & Culture by Ed

Kong is an architectural genius and at the same time culinary mistake! Lets start from the good site- Philipe Starck was the interior designer of Kong and he did a very good job. Hr revisted his Kartell classic the Ghost chair that is totally transparent and inspired with Old Era armchairs. He sticked on the back some amazing photos of women- a blonde European, and two Japaneese- one with purple hair and one with a elegant Geisha hairstyle! And the toilets are also fantastic! A big baby is sticked as a wallpaper in it!

And now the bad part. Service- horrible! If you put your jacket on the chair, the waiter “moans” at you “that you need to take this jacket off because it destroys the restaurants design” or when you come to the restaurant, just taking your place, from nowhere a waitress is rushing to you and asking “are you ready to order the food?”. Even if you still didn’t get the menu… Sick!
If talking about food… Poor. These were very normal European dishes, but all with wasabi, and lemon grass! Just to be more “Asiatic”. The plate of selection of rolls and tempura and meat…how was this connected? And how is it possible to spoil a spring roll? The beef carpaccio in Japanese Style… Aha. Beer Carpaccio in soya. Main course- tuna steak with… Tada, potatos, spinach and boiled carrot with ginger, wasabi and lemon grass! Horrible! :)

Look Du Jour: Saint Laurent

March 28, 2013March 28, 2013 | Design & Culture by Ed

Saint Laurent biker jacket, Rick Owens dress, Gucci leggins, Isabel Marant sneakers

Givenchy Bomber, Paris

March 28, 2013July 1, 2017 | Design & Culture by Ed

Alaia, Kate and Le Marais

March 28, 2013March 28, 2013 | Design & Culture by Ed

A day at Le Marais, the Jewish District, is like a day in other world, but still in Paris! It all began with Rue Moussy 7 where a mind blowing Azzedine Alaia boutique and studio are located. Here Stephanie Seymour and Naomi Campbell come and try out new designs of master of craft and laser cut! It was before a warehouse, now a huge boutique full of clothes and dresses. On second floor there is the studio where magic happens! The “shop” of Alaia is totally decorated with beautiful furnitures and art pieces.

Why is “Kate” in the title of this post? Because of the painting I saw in a gallery today! It shows of course Kate Moss naked holding a big pink teddy bear. She stands in a totally pink toilet looking at the viewer with a sexy look, just in ties and super high heels. A wish it could hung in my house!

Le Marais, as I said, is a Jewish district in Paris. It’s like SoHO in NY but not so great! Today there was really no people so it was quite boring, but still the shops there are amazing! For example L’Eclaireur. It holds labels like Comme des Garcons, Rick Owens, Thom Browne and Dries Van Noten in a big store that is loft like (also a copy of SoHO) and has a great vintage hourse in the middle! And the shoes I bought… Wow I just will sleep with them. They are hand made in England, Brighton and the label is Paul Harnden, Shoemakers. The print on it is cool isn’t it?

What I love insane in Le Marais are… Graffiti’s! They are really crazy! A cherry blossom, press killer, Keith Haring… Just amazing! You can really fell in love with them easily- you walk around and see them on every Marais street!