Nr°30 - image of the day

Antwerp Six, Ann Demeulemeester, Dirk Bikkembergs, Walter Van Beirendonck, Marina Yee, Dirk Van Saene and Dries Van Noten.

Photo: Andrew Thomas for the International Herald Tribune

As a Belgian fashion lover, I could NOT resist posting this exceptional photo of the one and only 'Antwerp Six', 30 years after their legendary London show.

Ann Demeulemeester, Dirk Bikkembergs, Walter Van Beirendonck, Marina Yee, Dirk Van Saene and Dries Van Noten. Names that are today very respected and loved by the entire international fashion crowd.
Enjoy this group reunion picture, 30 years after their long gone student days, to celebrate their school’s 50th anniversary.
A rare moment.

For the ones that don't have a clue what I'm talking about: back in the 1980s the 'Antwerp Six' went to London to show together-mostly for budget reasons. The rest in history.

The 'Antwerp Six' in the 80 ties.

The 'Antwerp Six' in 1980 ties.Photo By Philippe Costes/WWD A

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Last week, Walter Van Beirendonck, head of the fashion department at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp, asked his old class mates to be the(5 star)jury for the school’s fashion graduates 2013. They said yes.

Front row for the Antwerp Fashion Department’s graduation show.
Photo Getty

http://www.antwerp-fashion.be

NR°3°- Formidable(Moving) image of the day

No words, just look at this 'formidable' (great word in French) clip of our world famous Belgian artist Stromae (Alors on danse, anyone?).
No fancy settings, no ass shaking dansers, no special effects.
We see rainy streets in the heart of the Brussels Louisa district, the star completely 'waisted' trying to make contact with the indifferent city crowd. A statement, a song. Formidable.

Hotel V Amsterdam-a life inspiration story

Looking for a cheap but stylish stay in Amsterdam? Than maybe Hotel V can be at your service.
Do not expect high luxury standards, you'll be disappointed. Luxury is space, and this a 'small' problem at Hotel V.
Standard rooms are really small, so please do take that small 'upgrade' of 20 euro's a night for a bigger one. It's worth every penny.
The nice part of this hotel?
First of all the very welcoming fire place in the lobby. Arriving late after a city diner or party, it's cosy to jump into the huge sofa with other guests for a night cap.
Bedlinnen is fresh, soft and crispy black (Black sheets). Always a plus.
Breakfast is ok. Good coffee. Also a plus.
And, there is definitely a great rock n'roll vibe, hanging in the hotel.
The light bulb 'V' is 'kitch', and my means very rock n'roll. We like.

http://www.hotelv.nl

Hotel V
Weteringschans 136
1017 XV Amsterdam
Netherlands
+31 20 662 3233

Starts from 69-139 euro/a room, but do take the bigger ones
in the back building-the rooftop rooms.(Nr° 34: no elevator,
nasty steps, but room is perfect!)

Nr°29 - image of the day

Artist Maurizio Cattelan exposition at Fondation Beyler Switserland horses with head in the wall

Photo: axel schneider, courtesy maurizio cattelan's archive

I saw my first 'Cattelan' in 2000, at the magnificent art show " The horror and beauty of contemporary art" in the the Royal Academy in London. http://www.absolutearts.com/artsnews/2000/09/28/27501.html

His work " Pope stroke by a meteorite" was funny, intriguing and a statement for sure. I knew from that moment I was going to find out more about Cattelans' critical but always humorous work.

He turned out to be one of the most discussed artists in the art world. I could have known.

Et alors, as he is exhibiting in Swiss and this image again is as memorable as can be, he made it The Squid Stories 'Image of the day'. Find out if you recognize Cattelans' signature drivers: the paradoxes in society and it's alienation, as well as the individuals’ struggle to find a place in this mentioned society.

Cattelan already presented some single hanging horses in the past, making poetic statements on loneliness. But these five look like they escaped or run away from something. An act of survival towards something better? Wonder what the horses see at the other side of the wall? Me too.

MAURIZIO CATTELAN JUNE 8 - OCTOBER 6, 2013

https://www.fondationbeyeler.ch/en/exhibitions/maurizio-cattelan/introduction

Photo: axel schneider, courtesy maurizio cattelan's archive

NR°28 - image of the day

Sometimes an invitation is as simple, as clean as this one from Ann Demeulemeester. The pure white, thick paper, the classic typography, .... Enfin, we couldn't make it last Saturday (Sorry, sorry...) but I wanted to show this beautiful card anyway.
In honor of simple luxury, and in honor of Ann's fashion. Same quality, same feel.
http://www.anndemeulemeester.be/chronology.html