You open your eyes. And the first thing you see is a poster of Venice. You ask yourself every time why somebody chose such a kitschy poster to hang over that chair.
If you were in Venice right now, it would be embarrassing to send a postcard with that picture to your loved ones.
But when you lie in that bed, in which you sleep a few nights every year, you are happy about that yellowed sunset over the Rialto Bridge.
Because you know that if you are in Venice, you are in Paris.
With his latest Spring/Summer collection for his label Barre Noire designer Timm Süßbrich remained true to his casual, yet elegant lineage, this time under the heading “Life is a Pool”. In double-row he presented looks with clear forms from the men’s and women’s line that one could wear on practically any occasion. In addition to an Aztec pattern one could also find Timm’s beloved flower and leopard designs – especially eye-catching in a two-piece-suit, cleverly combined with a leather midi skirt or flowing trousers. Vibrant colours together with muted nuances and soft shades of pastel made a great combination. The outfits were rounded off with shimmering details on skirts and jackets and splendid round mirror shades. To get a closer look enjoy my backstage and runway impressions after the jump.
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Talented young Designer Franziska Michael knows how to create distorted beauty. From dark fairytales to tennis yard love we are in love with her abstract fashion creations from the beginning of her short but powerful career. Guest editor and photographer Alicia Kassebohm visited her show for us and was more than impressed with the distorted barbie creations.
“Team FM”, Dogukan calls to the models after going through the runway order with them. Surely one quickly realizes that this team interacts in a positive and fun way. Franziska Michael knows how to work contrasts and how to present an exciting show. The current collection embraces experimentation and is inspired by sportive 90s style and Science Fiction. It was not without reason that there was a rollergame pinball in the middle of the studio.
When it comes to the materials, there are skilful combinations of mesh, varnish, leather, neoprene, latex body suits and even hair fixed on sweaters – all worn to sneakers, belly tops, patterned leggings or wide cut trousers and jackets. Distorted barbie heads combined with blue lips or a net gym bag with ice cream cones made out of plastic.
All in all, the collection is modern , extraordinary and comes with a wink of the eye – some already said it’s the best one of Franziska Michael. More photos after the jump.
Since my earliest childhood days I was in love with books. The combination of paper, ink and colour was for me the diving board into my own fantasy world. Until the day I learned reading myself, I was forcing all kinds of people to read stories for me. My father worked for the university and we always had young students at home for dinner or even for parties all night long. I remember wandering around the crowded rooms as a little boy and picking up the prettiest girls to read a story for me. The most talented storytellers of the night would then get the honour to read from my dearest pop-up book. Like a small Houdini I was eager to impress the student crowd with the secret magic tricks and illusions my books were capable off.
Growing up I kept them and additionally started collecting more and more pop-up books. Nowadays, I have them on display behind glass in my living room. Some of these books are beautifully illustrated, some have funny gimmicks or even glow in the dark. Not all of them have an artistic or a monetary value. But all of them are impregnated with all kinds of memories from my childhood, when my imagination used to be way more vivid and was able to take me away from real life. Therefore, it let me venture deep into a fierce dark jungle with little monkeys to play, snakes to enchant and wild tigers to tame.
The idea of the beard goes back to its origin. In fact beards are one of the very few external distinguishing marks that show the basic features of us humans. I myself wear my beard convincingly because it simply is a part of me since I travelled to Peru five years ago growing my beard longer and longer. That’s when I became the „alemán con barba“ , the bearded German, who collected sun energy in the old Inca sites.
I spotted Töff in the „tent of the big car company“ during the Berlin Fashion Week. The dreamcatchers were on my list for beard accessories for quite some time now, but when I met Töff who spoke of his travels to South East Asia, green balconies, incense sticks, curly long hair, old music classics and festivals, I knew I had found the suitable beard model for them. Also, his last name translates to owl, how perfect. Enjoy another beard monologue with him after the jump.
My friend Anna and I have always enjoyed working together on collages or photos. She is the kind of friend who I confide in more than anyone else and through our work together we share things we don’t tell other people. Since she is more into writing and I am more into taking pictures, we wanted to combine these preferences in a short film this time. Having the same taste when it comes to Sofia Coppola films, Haruki Murakami stories or the philosophy of the Little Prince we wanted the film to convey a feeling somewhere between the songs of The xx and Lost in Translation, but with a Berlin tonality or in other words in our personal way of course.
Michi is the boyfriend of my lovely friend Lena. Lena has a passion for beautiful tableware – whether she brings me fruit salad in a cute box before our Sunday workout or serves you the best self-made lemonade in colorful cups – she really has an eye for those things! For this reason I just had to photograph the beard of her boyfriend with some kind of food or drink decoration. See for yourself after the jump.
Andreas is one of four beard models a friend of mine (being my designated beard agent) sent to me. He’s actually somewhat of a real nature-boy. I like taking pictures of beards with natural materials – the effect of plants and similar items around the face is the most beautiful I think. My mother got me the little garden gnomes that she found in a small deco store. By now she keeps her eyes open for all kinds of little objects that could pretty in a beard. In the end it’s quite good to have such lovely (little) helpers. More of the results and Andrea’s monologue after the jump.
Since I like Star Wars and have a lightsaber that a friend of mine gave me in my entrance, there had to be a beard theme with that topic as well. Besides I think Ewan McGregor as Obi-Wan Kenobi has a great beard. In this spirit: May the force be with your beard! Another beard photo set with and monologue by Bernard after the jump.