erindafydd

Jacket – Charlie May SS13 (similar here). Top – (Charlie’s) Alexander Wang. Jeans – Zara. Shoes – Thakoon. Sunglasses – Carrera via Sunglasses Shop. Bar necklace – Kirsten Gross. Skull necklace – Maria Nilsdotter; Thank you Charlie for the snapss!

I made a new friend today, so now I have FOUR friends in total, if I count my mother. Yay. Kobi is my bestest friend though, I’m going to make him a super special friendship bracelet out of spaghetti and string cheese, and he’ll chew my hair back when I hurl into the toilet after a good night out. No, I’d been nagging Charlie (Kobi’s hot day-time nanny) about meeting him ever since he was a wee puppy, and nine whole months later I got out of my PJs and finally paid her a visit. Well, that and the chance to fondle a rail full of serious sexiness from all the Charlie May collections – this amazing blush leather jacket, case in point. I also got to borrow the best accessory, like ever, despite the fact that it kept running after dandelions… so all-in-all, I must say that I’m pretty damn chuffed about this post.

The post Kobi appeared first on PARK & CUBE.

Emma Grownup – Emma Watson has seemingly made her transition from child star to adult actress wearing Louis Vuitton on the June-July cover of W Magazine. The dark-haired beauty and star of the upcoming film “The Bling Ring” shows off a sophisticated side in glossy images photographed by Michael Thompson. Styled by Edward Enninful, Emma wears looks inspired by film noir from the likes of Chanel, Erdem and Marc Jacobs inside the magazine.

Read the interview on WMagazine.com View More

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Autumn Essentials – Belgian top model Hanne Gaby Odiele is tapped for the fall 2013 campaign from Australian retailer JASU. Photographed by Georges Antoni, the blonde beauty wears designs from Aussie labels such as Rebecca Vallance, Dion Lee and Ellery. Stylist Katrina Sheiles dresses Hanne in a mix of bold colorful patterns, metallic fabrics and neutral hues. / Hair by Michele McQuillan, Make Up by Kellie Stratton View More

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Hard Candy – Ever playing the part of the vixen, South African model Candice Swanepoel smolders in the pages of Interview Germany’s June issue. In front of Sharif Hamza’s lens, the blonde bombshell poses in the backseat of a car in various states of undress. Fashion director Julia van Boehm selects sexy ensembles for Candice to wear including the designs of Burberry Prorsum, Valentino, Versace and others. View More

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Beach Babe – Loulou Robert models new season swimwear and summer apparel in Juicy Couture’s latest style update. Alexander Neumann snaps the French model on an isolated beach in Rincon, Puerto Rico, for the summer 2013 images. Roi Elfassy and Ray Chang oversaw the campaign’s creative direction. Loulou sports a natural face and relaxed do, courtesy of hair and makeup artist Carolina Dali, for the American fashion label.

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Cara in Cavalli – Cara Delevingne is the latest model to sport Roberto Cavalli at the 66th Annual Cannes film festival. The British beauty attended the Chopard Trophy Event yesterday wearing matching crystal embroidered jacket and pants from the Italian designer. View More

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Downtown Girl – Actress Rooney Mara lands her first major fashion campaign for Calvin Klein’s “Downtown” fragrance. The scent balances feminine woods with soft floral notes for a unique fragrance. “This campaign captures a woman with an original ‘downtown’ mindset – she leads a lifestyle that is authentic and defies expectations,” says Catherine Walsh, Senior Vice President of American Fragrances, Coty Prestige. Mara was lensed by Jean-Baptiste Mondino for the print advertisements while director David Fincher captures the television advertisements shot in black and white.

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Seventies Throwback – Covering the June issue of Vogue Spain, model Anja Rubik evokes 70′s chic in a low-cut white shirt and bucket hat inspired by the iconic Lauren Hutton. Giampaolo Sgura photographed the Polish beauty for the June edition with styling by Sara Fernandez. Marking her third Vogue cover of the year, Anja has previously appeared on Turkish and Mexican editions.

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When I showed my parents this clip from David Foster Wallace’s now ubiquitous commencement speech, delivered in 2005 at Kenyon university, titled This is Water, they had no idea who he was.

I couldn’t judge them (and if you don’t know, I certainly won’t judge you either). Frankly, the only reason I am familiar with the prodigious writer is because my parents are the very people who afforded me the opportunity to earn the precise “fancy liberal arts education” that Foster Wallace mentions and re-mentions through the duration of his speech.

Underneath the YouTube clip of this video, which is a fairly new, highly produced short-film-esque version of the original speech, a small note read “David Foster Wallace died tragically in 2008.” This, of course, prompted my mother to ask me the inevitable:

“You want me to take advice from a man who died tragically? How did he die anyway?”

“He hanged himself,” I explained, to which she shut her laptop and asked that we change the subject.

I tried to explain to her (and perhaps myself) that his suicide was an obvious testament to his clinical depression but perhaps even more importantly to his untrammeled awareness and understanding of life on earth.

I’m not sure that I should continue here–my cognition of suicide is rudimentary. Frankly, I hope that information never has to mature. But my point is simply that the knowledge Foster Wallace has bequeathed me in various collections of his work: Consider the Lobster, Girl with The Curious Hair, and even the fragments of Infinite Jest that I have been able read, never feels tainted by his death. It had never even occurred to me that taking life advice, no matter how powerful, astute, otherworldly brilliant, of a man who chose his death might register discordant. But whether the news bearer was capable of maintaining his own advice, harnessing the energy he emanates in his prose and essentially feeling the way many writers can’t–like after he’d let it all out, shared everything he could, and edited ad nauseaum, he wasn’t utterly empty–seems irrelevant when put up against whether we can accept the advice at face value.

When we suppose “face value” in conjunction with advisement and with the grand philosophical, non-platitudinous “meaning of life,” I think it’s in our best interest to assume that there is no other value option. There are no guarantees on earth and if we don’t function presently, consuming (which does not necessarily mean agreeing with) the utterances we’re offered as they come, without calculating what it might mature to mean because in the moment all that matters is what they mean right now, we’ll be more comfortable people for it.

After watching the above video–which comes in the wake of graduation season–you should know that none of it means anything, unless you’ve been able to take for what it is: insight that millions of people have come upon, but that is catered to you and for you, igniting a relationship indigenous to just yourself and the words.

"This is a new Versus.  it's for you guys…" said Donatella repeatedly on the Google+ Hangout to celebrate the launch of #newversus and the , where I a) lost my Hangout virginity and b) got lost in fascination of New York's rabbit warren Google offices.  The "you guys" she was referring to was a mix of us bloggers, the smartphone welding-generation who want instant gratification whether it's through an Instagram like or being able to shop for collections online as well as crossing disciplines to reach out to a crowd that aren't necessarily just hardcore fashion-heads.  And I was lucky enough to be along for the ride in New York to witness how Versus would wade into this new territory of "you guys".

When brands say they're "doing digital", it feels like they're merely ticking a box so that they fulfil expectations.  Versace threw everything into this Versus launch with gusto.  In the run-up, they have been avidly uploading sneak peeks, design inspiration, archive Versus imagery on their Instagram, Twitter and Facebook accounts.  The newly designed Versus site was counting down the days to the launch to build momentum.  Then there was the more official partnership with Google+ to enable Donatella to "Hangout" with bloggers and indadvertedly seduced me with the whole Hangout thing (brain is a-ticking as to how I can "hangout" more).  The hangout wasn't hitch-free but it's these imperfect and slightly haphazard convos that are appealing when a glossy and normally intangible figure like Donatella is involved.  There's a recklessness that taps into Donatella's own initial experiences of designing Versus back in the nineties.  "I feel the same rebellious energy that i felt back then," she said after the hangout.  "It's different because I can talk to the audience - to learn from other people.  It's great to have that dialogue."  A reported 1.1 million eyeballs saw the Hangout where Donatella also enthusiastically let slip that Lady Gaga would be involved in the music of the show.  This then introduced me to the army of "Little Monsters" contingency on Twitter, where I was temporarily mired in an ongoing spiral of trying to inform them of Gaga-goings-on with regards to the show.  

Speaking of which, I'm all about the no-holds-barred thing so cue HASHTAG AWKWARD conversation.  On the day I landed into New York, I was ushered into the New York Versace showroom, ready to interview Donatella and J.W. Anderson and lo and behold, Lady Gaga in Versace finery was there just errr… hanging out and just as she was leaving...

...important PR honcho asks me "Have you guys met?"  I say… "Oh no, I don't believe we've met!" in a faux-posh hoity-toity manner.  Have no idea what possessed me to say that.  Gaga says "No I don't think so either…." Tinkles of embarrassed laughter.  She saves the day by saying "I like your shoes.  They're furry!"  Finally I can get out of my flustered state and say something useful. "Oh, thanks!  They're actually Jonathan's!" looking down at my bearded J.W. Anderson shoes from his first season of doing womenswear.   Ground.  Swallow.  Please.   

Once we finally got the interview started though, what was striking was the working relationship and mutual appreciation between Donatella and Jonathan.  "There were things I didn't understand the first time I saw his work," said Donatella.  "I was so intrigued - "Why don't I understand this right away?  When there's a fixation like that, there must be something right about it."  It's not quite chalk and cheese but certainly Jonathan's own directional collections that question boundaries and push the eye towards something that's gone askew, doesn't necesarily sit perfectly with the va-va-glamour of what Donatella does at Versace.  

But it's in the archives of Versus where Jonathan, really extracted the original spirit of Versus from the nineties and made it relevant AGAIN for today.  One look at J.W. Anderson's Instagram and you knew he has been digging deep into the Versus archives to rekindle a spirit, where the Versus guys and girls looked like they were having a laugh, not giving a fuck and just looked like they were incidentally wearing Versus with a happy-go-lucky irreverence.  The resulting clothes and campaign imagery were energetic and there was something a bit "messy" or "off" about them - something Jonathan knows a thing or two about from his own collections.  And so Jonathan has revived that boy/girl gender dynamic of Versus, with his taken on unisex - a genre that can often go horribly wrong.  Guys and girls can both take on the Versus patent trouser or a knitted crop top with gold buttons at the shoulders.  They can both take on the satchel bags adorned with oversized safety pins (which traversed around on a pedicab type bike at the event).  You can crow "But what boy would wear that…?" all you like but to dare to put the clothes out there first and then see who takes the bait is far more interesting than holding back from what was clearly instinctive to Jonathan.

Showing love for Google with my nails and a bargainous piece of Versus by Christopher Kane which I picked up from TK Maxx for £120!!

What was surprising was how the Versus language somehow fused with Jonathan's own aesthetic so seamlessly.  You saw touches of the asymmetry in the passage of hot coloured knits in his own collection but the way they were cut on the body looked sexier and well… more in keeping with Versus style.  The cut-out black dresses that slinked their way around the body with drop down straps showed enough flesh but rejected a tight body-con fit.  An oversized blazer with a band of vinyl across the middle was signature Jonathan but that gold button gives it the Versace stamp of approval.  The energy was Versus through and through and the vibes of those archive campaigns came to life again in the collection.   A Versus core collection designed by an in-house team will also reflect something of Versus' iconography.  Overrun with gold chain and medallion prints, giant safety pins and op-art madness this will be the more accessible offering in Versus' arsenal.     

The way the New York launch event was conceived also tied in with the direct language of the collection.  "In today's world, we move so fast and get bored," said Jonathan.  "This is a 'happening'.  The looks are done in the same way.  There's no holding back.  It's to the point.   It's to get to the DNA of what Versus codes are.  It's important that we say "This is it!"  And so over 1,000 people were invited to a transformed Lexington Armoury rave, gaffered up with Versus tape and stacked with TV screens to transmit a trio of live performances by Angel Haze, Dead Sara and Grimes, interspersed with the showing of J.W. Anderson x Versus split in three parts.  The new core Versus collection was worn by the performance artists.  That idea of revealing all to the internet-world-at-large was reflected in the show setup as in a giant glass box in the middle, we saw Donatella and Jonathan prepping the models before they were sent out on to the catwalks at either side of the box.  A reflection on our goldfish bowl society perhaps.  It wasn't a standard fash-un party guestlist either with Donatella specifically requesting a more varied crowd - not just people in the fashion industry but a lot of art crowd people and club kids in New York - a mixed up motley crew that would actually give it their all on the vast dance floor as opposed to standing meekly on the sides.  

The journey doesn't stop at the event as the point of this out-of-season presentation style of Versus is to launch collections as an event concurrently with e-commerce.  I think the website design is great and it definitely sends Versus up the solo-brand e-commerce site top of the charts for me.   Currently, the core collection heavy with chain and belt bling prints, black and white op-art and yes, that ever pervasive safety pin is available to buy with prices lower than what Versus has been in the past.  J.W. Anderson's collection will apparently be launching in 3 days or so with price points TBC.  One final point  would be to say that whilst J.W. Anderson's collection was supposed to be a one-off, it seems like the rapport between Donatella and Jonathan is so good that ongoing collaboration could be imminent.  Donatella doesn't seem to want to put a time stamp on it either.  "I'm going to do what I feel is right.  At this moment, it feels so right."  It's that emphasis on what's going on "right now" that has Versus on course for a full reboot.  

Brooklyn Chick – Photographer Della Bass heads to Brooklyn, New York, with model Yuliana Bondar for an outing of casual yet stylish ensembles. Stylists Shanna Nicole and Elissa Aimee select looks from labels such as Friend of Mine, Rae Francis and Ash for the dark-haired beauty to wear. Hair stylist Marisa Bollman and makeup artist Miriam R keep Yuliana looking natural with understated makeup and tousled tresses. View More

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Festival Spirit – After collaborating with the brand for Christmas 2012, actress Kate Bosworth has teamed up with Topshop once again for a festival collection featuring 16 pieces. The collection celebrates summer and music with a range of designs inspired by Kate’s personal style. “Our intent was to create fresh, wearable, and effortless festival pieces. I am proud of our work together and I adore these pieces, they fit perfectly with the mood of the ‘Topshop Festival’ collection,” says the blonde star of the collaboration. Check under the cut for more campaign stills and the official video also starring Kate. View More

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Bunny Love – Daphne Groeneveld snuggles up to an adorable rabbit in the latest edition of Twin Magazine. Photographer Lachlan Bailey snaps the Dutch beauty and her bunny pal against simple black and white backdrops for the British glossy’s style spread. The rabbit dons his natural fur coat, while stylist Naomi Miller dresses Daphne in equally chic denim ensembles. / Hair by Rudi Lewis, Makeup by Benjamin Puckey

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Louis Vuitton Don – Danish fashion model Josephine Skriver wears 60′s-inspired squares courtesy of Louis Vuitton’s spring 2013 collection for the latest issue of Eurowoman. Lensed by photographer Jonas Bie, the enchanting brunette is styled by Gertrud Bøndelykke as she poses against a big city skyline. / Makeup by Sara Rostrup, Hair by Mette Thorsgaard

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Summer of Doutzen – After featuring a preview earlier this week, here are more images from H&M’s summer 2013 campaign starring the always stunning Doutzen Kroes. The Victoria’s Secret beauty poses in Tulum, Mexico, wearing summer essentials for the lens of Terry Richardson. Hunky male model Tyson Ballou joins Doutzen for a beach house outing full of casual separates. View More

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I must honestly say that this classic jacket with puff sleeves was not my first choice, but the shop assistant told me that I should really try it on. So I did and the jacket was actually quite nice! I will take pictures with my new jacket soon! *When it finally stops raining.. * * * * * * Mijn langverwachte shopping post van Maje / Maasmechelen Village is eindelijk online!  Ik moet eerlijk zeggen dat dit klassieke jasje met pofmouwen niet mijn eerste keus was maar gelukkig heb ik het toch gepast, op aanraden van de verkoopster. En hij stond eigenlijk heel mooi! Ik zal jullie snel een outfit post laten zien met het jasje!  *Als het eindelijk eens gaat stoppen met regenen..*

Haute Couture – Lensed by photographer Åsa Tällgård, the May 2013 edition of Elle Russia stars Polish fashion model Iza Olak. Styled by fashion director Daria Anichkina, the blonde belle dons striking haute couture looks from designer labels such as Valentino, Dior and Chanel Haute Couture in an earthy set designed by Cedric-Cyril Colonges and Alexandra Rivet. / Make-up by Karin Westerlund, Hair by David Delicourt, Manicure by Philippe Ovak, Production by Anna Bliznyuk

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Sidewalk Safari – For Free People’s May lookbook, Sidewalk Safari, the brand taps Brazilian model Aline Weber to wear the eclectic designs featuring bold patterns and colors. A tribal inspiration as well as metallic embellishments and neutral hues bring an interesting take to the safari basics. Aline also rocks braided and tousled summer hair styles inspired by beauty all around the world. / Photos by Anthony Nocella View More

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In the Swim – Jac Jagaciak sizzles on the shore for Vogue Germany’s June 2013 edition. Greg Kadel photographs the Polish model wearing a revealing selection of swimsuits. Nicola Knels dresses Jac in swimwear from leading labels including American Apparel, Lanvin, and Jean Paul Gaultier by La Perla. Click below the cut for more images, and see a video which documents the summery shoot here. / Hair by Ward Stegerhoek, Makeup by Mariel Barrera, Nails by Isis Antelo.

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Cindy in Cavalli – Supermodel Cindy Crawford stepped out at the 66th Annual Cannes Film Festival to attend the premiere of ‘The Great Gatsby’ on May 15th, 2013. The dark-haired beauty opted for a white and embroidered gown from Roberto Cavalli. View More

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