Frankfurt: Villa Kennedy

February 3, 2014February 2, 2015 | Design & Culture by Ed

Villa Kennedy, one of the Rocco Forte hotels, is located in a quiet Frankfurt neighbourhood surrounded with beautiful old buildings and parks. The hotel is kept in Colonial, a bit artistic way- full of wood and modern sculptures, it makes you feel like at home… Or even better! And, no wonder, the Villa is full of John Kennedy canvas photographs, making it feel pretty American. The restaurant is great with it’s Italian cuisine, and rooms are comfortable (and the balconies are really big!). This is certainly a lovely place.

Jean-Francois Lepage

January 5, 2014July 29, 2014 | Design & Culture by Ed

Jean Francois Lepage looks for unbalanced in his photographs. So he reworks his negatives with a knife to create strange images that can now be seen in Inside the mirror exhibition in Galerie Made, Paris. Jean-François Lepage does fashion photography on the razor’s edge. His images, with their bare compositions – solitary figures, no accessories, immersed in an endless lunar landscape or a vast, almost empty white house – express a brand of minimalism seldom seen in fashion photography. They are strangely motionless, as if suspended in a time and space where women are beings possessed by dreams, living in a world where the photographer, the model and the viewer’s imagination project and come together.

Paris: Comme des Garçons Store

January 3, 2014January 3, 2014 | Design & Culture by Ed

What I love about Comme des Garcons is it’s philosophy for women and men who wear it’s clothes. Thanks to it’s designer, Rei Kawabuko, the Japanese label known for fashion that is not always this what it seems to be, is keeping it always silent. While the clothes are chaotic (strange combinations of fabrics, lack of regularity in symetry), Comme seems to be eternally kept in silence. Well- in CdG stores, it’s normal that there is no music played.
What I must admit, the Comme des Garcons store on Rue Saint Honore is fantastic. As always crazy in it’s space (but located in quiet patio of one of the Parisian stonehouses), the boutique is like a wonderland. Huge, all covered in red, with huge tables and amazing pieces of art, the store is impressive. Just like the clothes! So architectural, bizarre and at the same time a bit eerie… But these are the reasons why Comme is so desired. Not only by Japanese CdG maniacs, but also by people who simply enjoy the logo- a funny, smiling heart.
The store also contains all 17 (!) lines of Comme des Garcons, Junya Watanabe and all men lines. And also all types of accessories, notebooks, umbrellas and others that are necessary for every Comme des Garcons lover!

Paris: Alaia’s 5 rue Marignan

January 2, 2014 | Design & Culture by Ed

This what is located on the small street of Marignan in the fashion centre of Paris (it is few steps from Avenue Montaigne), is something much more than a fashion store of a famous designer. Azzedine Alaia just opened a three-level boutique, all in white marble, where Alaia’s couture and ready to wear pieces are exposed. This is the second flagship of Alaia- the first one is much more cosier, and is also a home/studio of Mr. Alaia (located on rue Moussy 7). The new store is filled with art that was collected by the designer through his life- beautiful lamps, amazing shelves and sofas are just few that may amaze you here. There is even a garden in which you MUST drink some coffee during Summer… and of course the clothes here are masterpieces.

Black Says Don’t Bother Me

December 26, 2013December 26, 2013 | Design & Culture by Ed

I know it’s a bit out of date since Christmas fun ends today, but… Still, the Christmas feeling is not appearing to go away. The Alexander Wang’s New York flagship store in SoHO just got a Festive Season makeover. No wonder in what colour- black. Black only. The colour that is best friend of Wang. Decorated with black Christmas trees and teddy bears, the boutique looks as always raw and cold, but… Special. By this occasion, I also had a peek at the Resort 2014 collection of Alexander’s line, and just noticed how great it is for New Year Eve! Of course, it’s great for people who prefer black & white elegance than fussy-flossy sequins. Simple, sexy white dresses and black masculine suits are seen in the collection, while the shoes look comfortable and pretty cool. Worn with some silver jewellery and leather hand-bags, the outfits seem to be very occasional, but at the same time good for other events in the upcoming year…. Will you choose black for your New Year Eve galore?