Video of the week_a life inspiration story



Sometimes it can be so simple. Sometimes one little video clip hits the Youtube charts and smashes everone down.
This is a hit. Without a doubt. 3 weeks ago released, 71.134.120 viewers. Bingo.
Let's say a typical case of 'dream motion' or shall we say 'dreamaction', where youngster try to create a a fun lovin' dream world, a phantasy world back into their childhood but with a huge twist of silliness, hilarious stupidity and most of all crazy fun without any bad feelings what so ever.
take care: this tune will stay in your head for the rest of the week. I love it. Enjoy!

NR° 37_ Image of the day

Jan Vermeer paintings inspiration breastfeeding Ymre Stiekema Dutch Vogue october 2013

Loads of commotion in "Fashion Land"! 

Dutch top model Ymre Stiekema, breastfeeding live, in a series of fashion spreads in the Dutch edition of Vogue (October 2013, now instore). 
Especially American newspapers and sites are chocked by its "provocative character" and are arguing about it in several blog-and other posts. 
Everyone has it's opinion and the 'mommy-wars' are never far away.
Happy enough, we in Europe are much more 'chill' about these kind of stuff. Besides the fact that breastfeeding a child is a normal act of motherhood, this fashion story reflects one of the most important trends in fashion at the moment. It has nothing to do with being 'provocative' nor 'selling more magazines': the series 'The master and the girl' (yes, this stunning image is part of a series) show the growing inspiration of the fashion scene by the old masters, ancient times and previous centuries and their matching art.
The re-opening of the famous Amsterdam Rijksmuseum has triggered the entire Dutch creative, cultural, design and art scene to work together and push all the attention towards this big moment. Fashion designers being inspired by the ancient masters like Vermeer, product designers finding 'food' in old 'tableaux vivants', cooks enlightened by 'forgotten' recipes, ...you name it. All pointing in the same direction: The glory of the renewed Rijksmuseum. The right museum, at the right time so to speak.

So please, stop about provocation, mommy wars and other puritan opinions. Let's enjoy the beauty that comes out of it: the strong images that were created by one of my favorite photographers Erwin Olaf, the avant-garde, the (sometimes handmade) pieces by ultra-modern fashion designers like Aurélie Bidermann, Gassan, Belgian jewelry designers Wouters and Hendrix and Saint Laurent, the natural beauty of Ymre and her baby daughter Lymée Anna.
My recommendation? Buy that damn Vogue, as a time capsule-proof of our 'decadent' 21st century :-)and have a good laugh.

Model Ymre evoking portraits by the Dutch painter Jan Vermeer, wearing a magnificent mix of 17th century garments with 21st century designer couture. 
Jan Vermeer paintings inspiration breastfeeding series Ymre Stiekema Dutch Vogue october 2013

Jan Vermeer paintings inspiration breastfeeding series Ymre Stiekema Dutch Vogue october 2013
©Photos Vogue NL Erwin Olaf



Just to show you the roots of all this: some Johannes Vermeer paintings with his famous, subtile light 'effects', as a rich inspiration source for many. 

Wanna read some USA comments on this 'scandal'? Check out this one: http://theweek.com/article/index/249741/vogue-netherlands-breastfeeding-photos-fearless-or-naked-pr-stunt 
Quote: "At least they didn't put it on their cover"...

Nr°36_Image of the day

Driving, walking or biking trough Antwerp these days? Check out the 12 XXL containers with the most 'iconic garments' by Antwerp fashion designers photographed in super large formats everywhere in town.
Each time I pass by one, I'm touched by the absolute beauty of each visual, each model, each outfit. The impressive stapled containers turn these 'fashion icons' into 'fashion giants', exactly what they are in all senses. Call them towers, totems or modern statues.
Each 10-meter-high photograph represents the work of a celebrated graduate from the Fashion Department of the Antwerp Academy.
The legendary, let's say 'as-iconic-as-can-be-team' behind this all: Dirk Van Saene-styling, Ronald Stoops-photographs, best friend sand partner AB-FAB makeup artist Inge Grognard. More? Hair: Ed Moelands / Models: Lisa Verberght & Benoni Loos / Photography assistance: Jef Jacobs / Production: David Flamée – MoMu Fashion Museum Antwerp & Joris Goorden – Antwerpen Open 

Check them out before it is too late!
'happybirthdaydearacademie' fashion containers Antwerp city
©Photo Kate Stockman_the squid stories
'happybirthdaydearacademie' fashion containers Antwerp city
©Photo Kate Stockman_the squid stories
'happybirthdaydearacademie' fashion containers Antwerp city
©Photo instagram @happybirthdaydearacademie


OVERVIEW DESIGNERS AND LOCATIONS:





Wanna join the 'happybirthdaydearacademie' conversation? Tweet, tag and instagram your impressions with #happy #birthday #dear #academy#regramapp #happybirthdaydearacademie

http://www.happybirthdaydearacademie.be/new/eng/activiteiten/fashion-50-antwerp-academy

The Recollection_a life inspiration story

Recollected
A Memory, a souvenir
Lived trough atmospheres
Blathered paint, Oxidation
Reinterpretations
the RECOLLECTION store Antwerp_07sept The Squid Stories 2
©Photo Press The Wicked PR
 Very high brow words to introduce the Antwerp based new 
concept store ‘The Recollection’.
The idea: the 3 TRC curators with a 'big' love for the pure and poetic gather their favorite design, fashion, books and art objects in a white-washed gallery-like space. The integrated flower corner reflects perfectly the contemporary interest for XL ‘forgotten’ plants and flowers.(We know these flower arrangements from 70 ties porn books and Wallpapers* installation this year on Milan's Salone di Mobile)
New? No. 
Similar projects are happening in every 'creative' city. Paris has Merci http://thesquidstories.blogspot.be/2012/11/merci-merci-life-inspiration-day.html, Brussels has Hunting and Collecting http://www.huntingandcollecting.com/shop/, London and NY Dover Street Market http://www.doverstreetmarket.com to name just a few. The 3 curators present a lot of things and objects we all ready collected at home during city hopping in Paris, Milan, Amsterdam, Berlin, Brussels...
But that is the concept off course: collect for others what you like, and sell it back together with other beautiful stuff.
Very surprising? No. A nice collection of names, yes. Happy that we can buy Aesop in Antwerp, yes. (Only store so far was Senteurs d'Ailleurs in Brussels)http://thesquidstories.blogspot.be/2013/02/gourmand-scents-quest-life-inspiration.html
A happy reunion with Lore Ongenae. Oh yes! Fan from the first hour when she still had her shop 'Loreley Rocks'.




the RECOLLECTION store Antwerp_07sept The Squid Stories 2
©Photo Kate Stockman_the squid stories

the RECOLLECTION store Antwerp_07sept The Squid Stories 2
©Photo Kate Stockman_the squid stories

the RECOLLECTION store Antwerp_07sept The Squid Stories  Saskia The Wicked PR
©Photo Kate Stockman_the squid stories

the RECOLLECTION store Antwerp_07sept The Squid Stories
©Photo Kate Stockman_the squid stories

the RECOLLECTION store Antwerp_07sept The Squid Stories
©Photo Kate Stockman_the squid stories


The recollected object labels? Martin Margiela Furniture en Line 13, a selection of the Piet Hein Eek collection www.pietheineek.nl, and my favorites the highly recommended cosmetics of the Australian label Aesop http://www.aesop.com/.

Upstairs a super white, clean gallery space called Studio Attenzione. The studio selects young artists who can show their work and installations. Studio Maarten Kolk en Guus Kusters are the first duo who bring original ceramics inspired by the tides of the Waddenzee.
Uber & Kosher http://www.uberandkosher.com/splash.php Antwerp’s hip graphic design studio did a nice job with the signature look of The Recollection and curates the TRC's blog.


the RECOLLECTION store Antwerp_07sept The Squid Stories
©Photo Press The Wicked PR

the RECOLLECTION store Antwerp_07sept The Squid Stories
©Photo Press The Wicked PR

the RECOLLECTION store Antwerp_07sept The Squid Stories
©Photo Press The Wicked PR

the RECOLLECTION store Antwerp_07sept The Squid Stories
©Photo Press The Wicked PR

the RECOLLECTION store Antwerp_07sept The Squid Stories
©Photo Press The Wicked PR

the RECOLLECTION store Antwerp_07sept The Squid Stories
©Photo Press The Wicked PR

the RECOLLECTION store Antwerp_07sept The Squid Stories
©Photo Press The Wicked PR

the RECOLLECTION store Antwerp_07sept The Squid Stories
©Photo Press The Wicked PR

the RECOLLECTION store Antwerp_07sept The Squid Stories
©Photo Kate Stockman_the squid stories
 The Recollection (TRC)

Piet Hein Eek - Maison Martin Margiela - Petite Friture – The Recollection - The Gentle Factory - Jars - Studio Simple - Les Rebelges - Labels Inc. - Nico Uytterhaege - AESOP - ‘t Stad Leest - Kees Berkelmans flowers - Collected by BVVD - Styled by Uber & Kosher - Young talent by Studio Attenzione 3D

Address
The Recollection
Kloosterstraat 54
2000 Antwerpen


Check out the curators' moods to grasp what is dear to them on the TRC blog. 

http://recollection-blog.tumblr.com/
https://www.facebook.com/therecollectionstore

#therecollectionstore

Nr°35_Image of the day


Todays 'Image of the day?' Rihanna's new dental grill. 
Just because I like the image, her nasty little smile and the attitude with it's been shown.
Posted on her Instagram account(badgalriri), today my 'Image of the Day'

Grills have seen their share of popularity in the hip-hop community. Kanye West has had one. Madonna just revealed hers.Lil Wayne's is permanent. These expensive, mostly golden and flashy accessories are a symbol of wealth and (off course) a form of personal expression.

Hell Yeah!


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2400955/Grillz-Madonna-Rihanna-Miley-Cyrus-sinking-teeth-bizarre-mouth-bling.html

More B.L.C.K._a life inspiration story



I love black. Always have.
B.L.C.K.+ 
RICK OWENS DRK SHDW - RICK OWENS LILIES - V AVE SHOE REPAIR - AVELON - A FRIEND by AF VANDEVORST - LEON LOUIS - KONCEPTKRAMER - THE LAST CONSPIRACY - WERKSTATT MÜNCHEN ... 
My favorite?

B.L.C.K is there to stay_a life inspiration story

Some people are natural born retailers. They feel the 'zeit-geist' in lifestyle stuff (fashion, design, accessoiries) and most of all, they just A.C.T.!
Christophe Urbain is one of those real 'entrepreneurs' who just think and act at the same time.
Result (this month): a brand new store 'breeded' in the cellar of his (third) store Rewind Men, opened last week for the press and 'the Ghent-scene'.
B.L.C.K.
Fashion freaks know: black is always good but is back as never before. 
Black makes it possible to focus on pure shape instead of color and that is fascinating and liberating at the same time. 

What to expect? Only black stuff: fashion, objects, furniture, scents.
Labels? DRKSHDW en Lilies collecties of Rick OwensAvelon, The Last Conspiracy, A.Friend by A.F. Vandevorst, V Ave Shoe Repair, Konceptkramer, Private 0204, Byredo, Nmbr 9, Nico Uytterhaegen and Werkstatt München.
Beware: not everything is delivered yet, but hey, we're very happy to pop by once in a while to check out new arrivals!
Love the shop, love the energy of new retail stories in Ghent and love the people who keep on surprising us.
Chrisophe*, G.O.O.D.  L.U.C.K.!!

*You could remember Christophe from previous retail concepts. I wrote about another store HumØr he started some time ago. Check out blogpost http://thesquidstories.blogspot.be/2012/11/humr-op-zn-gents-life-inspiration-day.html

©Photo Kate Stockman_The Squid Stories



Rewind B.L.C.K. opening conceptstore Ghent September 2013 Christophe Urbain
©Photo Kate Stockman_The Squid Stories

Rewind B.L.C.K. opening conceptstore Ghent September 2013 Christophe Urbain

Rewind B.L.C.K. opening conceptstore Ghent September 2013 Christophe Urbain
©Photo Kate Stockman_The Squid Stories
Rewind B.L.C.K. opening conceptstore Ghent September 2013 Christophe Urbain
©Photo Kate Stockman_The Squid Stories
Rewind B.L.C.K. opening conceptstore Ghent September 2013 Christophe Urbain
©Photo Kate Stockman_The Squid Stories
Rewind B.L.C.K. opening conceptstore Ghent September 2013 Christophe Urbain
©Photo Kate Stockman_The Squid Stories
Rewind B.L.C.K. opening conceptstore Ghent September 2013 Christophe Urbain
©Photo Kate Stockman_The Squid Stories
Rewind B.L.C.K. opening conceptstore Ghent September 2013 Christophe Urbain
©Photo Kate Stockman_The Squid Stories
Rewind B.L.C.K. opening conceptstore Ghent September 2013 Christophe Urbain
©Photo Kate Stockman_The Squid Stories
Rewind B.L.C.K. opening conceptstore Ghent September 2013 Christophe Urbain
©Photo Kate Stockman_The Squid Stories
Rewind B.L.C.K. opening conceptstore Ghent September 2013 Christophe Urbain
©Photo Kate Stockman_The Squid Stories

Rewind B.L.C.K. MEN/WOMAN (cellar under Rewind Men).       Address: Sint Pietersnieuwstraat 13, 9000 Ghent_Belgium. Open Mo till Sat. www.rewindstore.be

https://www.facebook.com/pages/REWIND-STORE/41491062684