I see no frogs

sun-lit sunday

2011-01-16T20:54:00.000+01:00

my treasures

2011-01-13T21:44:00.002+01:00

family q.t.

2011-01-13T21:27:00.003+01:00

the last 120 h

2010-12-15T18:26:00.003+01:00

I love my morning ride

2010-10-29T09:02:00.001+02:00

cold & colorful

2010-10-26T12:42:00.000+02:00

una rondine non fa primavera

2010-10-24T12:12:00.003+02:00

red Sparowes @ La Maroquinerie

2010-10-24T10:52:00.003+02:00

Back in Boots

2010-10-17T22:18:00.001+02:00

Bonjour Paris.

2010-10-17T22:17:00.002+02:00

greige tourterelle

2010-09-14T09:35:00.001+02:00

Hipstamatic fun

2010-09-14T09:33:00.003+02:00

Versailles _ vertical

2010-09-14T09:28:00.003+02:00

Versailles _ horizontal

2010-09-14T09:20:00.004+02:00

color coordination

2010-09-08T08:52:00.002+02:00

tobacco and clouds

2010-09-06T13:48:00.005+02:00

away

2010-09-06T13:44:00.002+02:00

skyscrapers and skies

2010-09-06T13:41:00.002+02:00

dot dot dot

2010-09-02T08:43:00.002+02:00

mirrored skyes

2010-09-01T13:54:00.001+02:00

Back to Black. and Blue ?

2010-08-31T08:21:00.002+02:00

Le vin, les gourmandises, les cloppes. Et les Amies.

2010-08-31T08:17:00.003+02:00

eau et lumiere

2010-08-29T13:27:00.003+02:00

dolomiti # 7

2010-08-22T22:32:00.004+02:00

dolomiti # 6

2010-08-22T18:37:00.003+02:00

dolomiti # 5

2010-08-22T18:23:00.005+02:00

dolomiti # 4

2010-08-22T18:11:00.002+02:00

dolomiti # 3

2010-08-22T18:04:00.003+02:00

dolomiti # 2

2010-08-22T17:38:00.008+02:00

dolomiti # 1

2010-08-22T17:33:00.004+02:00

legs in the summer time

2010-08-10T22:39:00.002+02:00

untitled

2010-07-01T23:23:00.001+02:00

private venice

2010-07-01T23:16:00.004+02:00

homey

2010-06-30T22:03:00.005+02:00

fete de la musique _ dead prez

2010-06-22T23:15:00.003+02:00

Prix de Diane - Chantilly

2010-06-13T19:54:00.007+02:00

dear friend

2010-06-13T19:51:00.004+02:00

cupcakes allover

2010-06-13T19:47:00.001+02:00

sunset light

2010-06-06T13:32:00.004+02:00

Sunshine ride

2010-05-22T18:44:00.005+02:00

La nuit des musees _ grand palais + tokyo

2010-05-16T18:39:00.004+02:00

La nuit des musees _ musee d'art moderne

2010-05-16T18:29:00.007+02:00

institut suedois - sigvar bernadotte designer

2010-05-16T18:05:00.008+02:00

misty afternoon

2010-05-16T17:55:00.007+02:00

park day

2010-04-25T20:17:00.005+02:00

2010-04-19T23:06:00.000+02:00

"… music only exists because the pauses exist, and sentences only exist because the blank spaces exist. When I’m doing something, I feel complete, but no one can keep active twenty-four hours a day. As soon as I stop, I feel there’s something lacking. You’ve often said that I’m a naturally restless person, but I didn’t choose to be that way. I’d like to sit quietly, watching television, but I can’t. My brain won’t stop. Sometimes, I think I’m going mad."

P. Coelho, The Witch of Portobello

vive le printemps

2010-04-11T15:44:00.004+02:00

opera night

2010-04-11T15:36:00.004+02:00

party @ the laundromat

2010-04-11T15:34:00.001+02:00

b_day

2010-04-11T15:26:00.003+02:00

gildo medina @ galerie 13

2010-04-11T15:19:00.003+02:00

sunset @ the bureau

2010-03-14T14:22:00.002+01:00

ice skating @ hotel de ville

2010-03-14T14:20:00.002+01:00

+ 365

2010-03-14T06:33:00.003+01:00

A year has gone by, a year of thinking, of trying, of joggling, of pushing and punching and hoping. If i think back i can still vividly recall the smell of those days of march, the sun in the air, the white walls in the house, the buddying hopes and the buddying trees. Yes, the air was special, so fresh and sparling and the sky so blue. It feels like ages. I feel aged. I feel two epochs have gone through, leaving me changed and worn out. Recharged, but at a different source. Naive is the word that comes to mind remembering those days. A good lesson of life. And what i hope for the next 364 to come is more pushing and punching but above it all more hoping and more growing. But less grinding. less hurting and less hiding. It's all up to me and to me only after all.

EVERYDAY ROUTINE

2010-03-01T22:43:00.001+01:00

disavventura alle mandorle

2010-02-28T18:47:00.006+01:00

Ho quasi ucciso una ragazza l'altra sera. Con la pasta. Prima uscita tra colleghe: sono con loro da due settimane, socializzare è indispensabile e intendo fare bella figura. A cena ognuno porta qualcosa, e decido di sfoderare la pasta fredda di mia madre con mandorle e pomodorini. Bella, buona, molto italiana, e tutte vi fiondano estasiate la forchetta. Subito dopo una mi chiede stranita se non vi siano noci o simili nella pasta: non sente più la bocca. Impietrisco: l’allergia proprio non l’avevo considerata. Le onde di reazione si alternano, prima il labbro si gonfia poi la pelle si arrossa.

Altro che ballare: via in pronto soccorso, anche se l’interessata continua a sdrammatizzare. Qui la prendono subito in mano e io resto sola in corridoio in preda all’ansia. Tempo mezzora tutti sanno che mia fu la pasta galeotta, e persino un paio di medici passando lanciano battutine. La recupero poi rimessa a nuovo dall’antistaminico, e la riaccompagno a casa senza ormai più parole per scusarmi. Lei riesce ancora a sorridermi serena: le voglio già un gran bene.

boltanski @ grand palais

2010-02-28T18:34:00.007+01:00

fashion statement

2010-02-28T18:33:00.002+01:00

shakespeare & co.

2010-02-28T18:30:00.002+01:00

heater inconvenience

2010-02-14T22:21:00.001+01:00

Guerlain Window Design

2010-02-14T22:18:00.002+01:00

sunshine smiles

2010-01-17T19:56:00.007+01:00

I woke up and there was sunshine. As much as Paris is wonderful with all weathers i confess the wet greyness of the last weeks was getting me tired... with light my good spirits are back: it’s an early sunday morning, but i can’t resist the thrill of a much longed for run. The street is teemed with people, the air smells of fresh bread and scarves are especially colored today. The park too is already quite crowded: a multitude of kids runs around carefree, the elderly profit of the lukewarm rays on the benches, and the tourists enthusiastically take pictures.
It might be the sun, but the whole situation feels wonderfully surreal and the good spirits spreads around everyone. I join the other optimist joggers, and when we cross each other we even smile. Colors are dazzling, and i profit of a much-needed break to snap some shots of this perfect moment. Music, serenity, a sky so blue it seems to hold the promise for many more...
Tomorrow they forecast rain, but in the meantime i recharged my batteries and my spirits.

inspiration motivation

2010-01-15T09:54:00.004+01:00

busy beginnings

2010-01-06T21:52:00.000+01:00

holy inspiration

2010-01-06T20:31:00.002+01:00

Bureaux de Style e Tendenze

2009-12-20T18:13:00.012+01:00

Molto spesso ci si domanda cosa porti le passerelle di marchi tanto diversi ad assomigliarsi molto per atmosfere, temi e colori. Non è naturalmente opera del caso, nè di una geniale lontana intuizione. Ogni brand elabora gli orientamenti comuni secondo la propria estetica e la propria filosofia, ma la coerenza di fondo che poi orienterà di conseguenza tutto il mercato in maniera discendente è opera di ben definiti “manovratori”: i bureaux de style, o studi di tendenza se vogliamo tradurre impropriamente.

Strutture peculiari al contesto francese, la cui storia il sociologo Thierry Maillet ha ripercorso in occasione di una conferenza presso il prestigioso Institut Français de la Mode in presenza anche di illustri rappresentanti dei più famosi studi del settore. Un percorso affascinante, che prende il via nella Francia dell’immediato dopoguerra, poverissima di tutto e pertanto anelante di prodotti e consumi. Gli Stati Uniti furono rapidi a captare questa fame di immagini e stile, e immediatamente alla fine della guerra cominciarono a distribuire i film hollywoodiani in Francia con enorme successo.

Nel frattempo nel 1945 viene lanciata la rivista Elle ad opera di Helène Lazareff, proveniente da Harper’s Bazaar e convinta della necessità di una pubblicazione femminile di stile. Le cover di Elle da subito si fanno promotrici di una nuova immagine della donna più libera e dinamica, in pantaloni o piedi scalzi, accompagnandone l’evoluzione e la liberalizzazione.

Anche l’industria vive un momento di estremo fermento e desiderio di cambiamento, per rilanciare la produzione e rispondere alla domanda crescente di beni di consumo. Lo statista Jean Fourastié promuove allora l’iniziativa delle “missioni di produttività” insieme agli Stati Uniti: settore per settore, dalla meccanica alla moda alla stampa, i rappresentanti di tutti i livelli partono per qualche settimana intensiva nella corrispondente industria americana per apprendere e riportarne il modello produttivo. L’iniziativa riscuote un immenso successo e molto presto la Francia comincia a risollevare le sue sorti con entusiasmo.

Per la nostra storia è la missione del ’55 a rappresentare la svolta: partono giornaliste di Elle, radio, stampa, stile, tessile… e al loro ritorno subito vengono create le strutture che poi daranno corpo all’intero sistema della moda: il Comitato delle Industrie della Moda ad organizzare gli attori del settore, e il Comitato Francese del Colore, che anni prima di Pantone aveva il compito di armonizzare il colore per l’uso nei diversi campi.

Parallelamente la missione porta alla luce l’importanza della consulenza stile per una diversità di industrie con la necessità di rilanciarsi: ecco allora che nel 1957 il primo Bureau de Style viene fondato col nome di Relation Textile, il cui primo cliente è una farmacia svizzera desiderosa di rifare la propria immagine per rilanciarsi come distributore generalista. Siamo ben lontani dalla moda dunque, ma la genialità sta nell’aver compreso come nella consulenza e nello stile stesse la chiave per migliorare la produttività indipendentemente dal settore.

Negli anni successivi vengono fondati gli altri bureaux, ma l’elemento più interessante sta nella loro posizione geografica: non soltanto tutti a Parigi, ma anche nello stesso quartiere, l’uno dietro l’angolo dell’altro, e a stretto contatto anche con le sedi delle principali riviste di moda e lifestyle nonchè le organizzazioni di settore. È proprio nella prossimità della posizione che sta la forza di questi studi, la loro coerenza ed esattezza nelle previsioni e nell’orientamento delle tendenze: nonostante la feroce concorrenza essi non potrebbero esistere l’uno senza l’altro, ed è dall’assidua frequentazione che nasce il sentire comune che ne incarna la qualità maggiore.

Insieme sviluppano una vera e propria metodologia di lavoro che, pur diversificata secondo l’orientamento e la clientela di ciascuno, vede una base comune che alla creazione associa l’importanza della comunicazione, degli studi di mercato, della sociologia rapportata all’economia e allo stile. Nel frattempo le industrie si fanno sempre più pressanti nel loro costante bisogno di consulenza e orientamento, e i bureaux de style sanno coglierne il potenziale e tradurre la metodologia di lavoro per rispondere ad interlocutori più diffusi.
Ecco allora che avviene la transazione da consulente a vero e proprio editore di pubblicazioni di orientamento e tendenza. È il 1972 quando Promostyl lancia il primo cahier, dedicato al colore e presentato con 18 mesi di anticipo per dare alle industrie il tempo di mettere in pratica i suggerimenti. Da allora molti altri ne sono seguiti, e tutti i bureaux si sono lanciati sull’onda. Con l’evoluzione del consumo era diventato indispensabile essere in grado di parlare ad un pubblico più vasto e interessato, su scala più ampia sino a livello internazionale.

Gli anni ’80 vedono l’apice di questa espansione internazionale e il conseguente coinvolgimento nella struttura dei bureaux della figura dell’agente, rappresentante delle pubblicazioni di tendenza.

Nei decenni che seguono sino ad oggi i mercati hanno conosciuto crisi, contrazioni ed espansioni ma i bureaux de style hanno saputo anticipare e confarsi a tutti questi cambiamenti per preservare il loro ruolo di “consiglieri segreti”. Anzi, soprattutto in tempi di crisi è ad essi che le aziende si rivolgono ansiose, poichè più che mai diventa necessario orientare la produzione in maniera puntuale.

Oggi inoltre, con l’avvento di internet e la diffusione universale della caccia allo stile, alla tendenza sino a farne dei veri e propri corsi universitari, i grandi parigini che diedero origine alla disciplina resistono caparbi e si adattano aprendo pagine su facebook e twitter, nonchè offrendo servizi di consulenza a distanza e online.

A mali estremi estremi rimedi, ma nella miriade confusa di offerte odierne restano i bureaux francesi a guidare e dare l’esempio – e il mito non accenna a spegnersi. Gli altri Paesi sono stati rapidi a prendere esempio ma la recherche de tendance non avrebbe potuto nascere se non in Francia, e per quanto costi ammetterlo rimaniamo loro debitori fondamentali di stile.

Tanto di cappello dunque – o meglio, chapeau come si dice a Parigi.

Pubblicato su Luxsure.fr

christmas mood

2009-12-20T10:02:00.005+01:00

soft lights in paris

2009-11-28T23:07:00.004+01:00

time for changes

2009-11-28T22:56:00.004+01:00

New home, new neighbourhood, new rhythms to get accustomed to. A month of overwhelming questions and decisions, of fearful steps yet to be taken. The enthusiasm has now set into more quite mode, the rose-tinted glasses are off and I finally see it's not all roses and flowers (Italian play on words) here. Things haven't turned out as expected but I yet have to figure out he evolution.

What I miss? hugging. I have never been the affectionate type, although through the years I have developed close friendships and learnt to demonstrate my affection. Here I miss hugging a friend. I don't actually have a friend close enough to hug. And it feels awkward even for someone so spiky as me. Close relationships are hard to build, and I now realize I gave so much for granted before. I am learning about myself and my limits, I have been so up and then so down and only now am making great effort to keep a righteous middle. I am throwing myself into new territories, absorbing every new imput but I am so thirsty for challenge, rhythm, rush.

I guess I never spent so much time with myself before, and a good kick in the ass doesnt mind. But I am learning to miss people, places, habits and details. That was needed.

snapshots from the '70s

2009-11-28T11:27:00.010+01:00

zenzoo time

2009-10-31T10:18:00.003+01:00

Friends, nostalgia, fun, color, chitchat, mingling, distraction, bubble tea, energy, experiments.

la nuit parisienne

2009-10-25T21:48:00.004+01:00

Gauffres, crepes, churros, cacahuètes, popcorn, candyfloss, carrousel melody, accordion notes, laughter, hands holding, running children, sparkling lights, twinkling stars, flowing waters, a half moon.

And a five stars horoscope foretelling change.

Tonight looks magical and everything seems wonderful.
And I feel good.

street art / paris

2009-10-25T21:45:00.001+01:00

design love

2009-10-25T21:34:00.006+01:00

the beautiful life

2009-10-04T23:15:00.005+02:00

If there is any time in the yearly schedule to dare and become another person, to dare and take the most outrageous outfit out the closet, that time is fashion week.

I usually tend to ignore it, half scared by the fuss and the bling and half actually uninterested because my job ends way before the catwalk. This year, though, i’m in Paris and my collaboration with a fashion website entitles me to mingle. Or does so at least on paper. Anyways, so here i am getting ready for the Party of the night, looking for my hidden extra-high heels and the most unexpected (from me) combination of dark make-up, clothes and accessories. Black is the must, of course. Together with the bare legs – thank god it’s a very warm october! Dark lipstick and nail polish come to complete the outfit, although i didn’t go as far as to buy the new Chanel must-have jade shade for the occasion.

Still, i look pretty slick in the mirror and i’m even starting to identify with the character. I notice the difference already in th street and in the metro, where not only i get looked at but i myself also look at people with different eyes. More competitive. More sharp. As i get closer to the entrance i get a text my friend will be late: usually i would curse and linger walking the blocks while waiting, cos nothing scares me more than a lot of powerful people together. Tonight it’s different, though: i still curse, but then i straighten up my shoulders and get at the door. A smile gets me past the bouncer, and i quite enjoy the second glance i get.

Now i’m in. Time to prove myself and mingle. The bar looks like the focus of all sociality, and i therefore put myself in the line too, craving for that glass of champagne i’m sure will smoothen everything. And it works quite well: chatter begins and i even manage to introduce myself without studdering. This feels good indeed. I loose myself for a moment in the contemplation of the crowd. I admit i love studying people, and the privileged class is so intriguing. So much blondeness, so much gold, so much strass and above everything so much fur! Isn’t there a crisis, against bling luxury and show off? Didn’t they say fur is out? And yet, priceless hair tickles me from all sides, rigorously sleeveless pieces of course - cos we are only in october after all. The smell of all these people in a small windowless room hits me too: it smells good, expensive perfume and hair blow, moisturizer and make-up. Bling, glitz and glam all together.

People keep pouring, and it’s now an appropriate time for another champagne. We all start smiling at ech other and asking polite questions whose answers get lost in the pumping music, my eye drops into the abysmal necklines that everybody – men especially – parade. My friend finally arrives, and i get my dose of air-kissing and gossip. I pretend not to notice the fierce pain in my feet, while we stylishly surf the crowd and set ourselves on the terrace. To be and to be seen, models pr and whoever counts. I confess, i’m having so much fun playing this role! I chitchat here and there and get listened to.

Still, i sometimes catch up and look at myself from the outside and i suddenly realise this is not me. The flash comes and goes, though, and another couple of hours merrily fly by. Drinks have evolved to vodka something now, the music has gotten cool and everyone seems to be having a great time. I actually have never seen so much beauty and bling together. I’ve had my share of glam events and personalities, but fashion is another world. Fashion is so superficial, so fluttering and so evanescent it has to shine in all its glory, cos there’s nothing else underneath. There’s only constant novelty, constant recycling and renovating, and there stays its core: no core. Each one of these characters is so perfectly glam and chic and shiny i wonder what lies behind. They exist in the moment, in the second, and are already projected towards the next one. Parading is the only way to appeal onto the other. And become desirable. Actually i wonder how many of these people are actually what they look to be : confident, brilliant, beyond the present. Or if they are instead playing a role, just like me, and enjoying it all too well.

I am left wondering while the mass starts to move out, towards the next party - all together of course. I can’t find the bravery in myself to keep on, i have a conscience about being productive tomorrow, and i air-kiss goodbye. I even think i left some business cards around. I start my way towards the tube, and although a taxi is a very tempting way to end the night as deserved i profit of the plebeian night public transports. Gosh it was good to be among the rich and famous. And as i take my heels off i actually can’t wait to wear them again. Glitz ang glam!

london 100 % design festival

2009-10-04T23:06:00.004+02:00

sharing london

2009-10-04T22:43:00.010+02:00

3h delay = new book

color love

2009-10-04T22:41:00.003+02:00

paola navone/richard ginori @ merci

2009-10-04T22:30:00.008+02:00

back with a bang

2009-08-26T22:37:00.005+02:00

... meaning the train engine actually broke down in this charming little station in the middle of nowhere.

mountain_sporty nights

2009-08-26T22:23:00.004+02:00

finale Dolomiten Cup 2009
Zug - Kölner Haie 4-5

mountain_day 5

2009-08-26T22:03:00.005+02:00

mountain_day 4

2009-08-16T17:03:00.007+02:00

mountain_day 3

2009-08-16T16:44:00.004+02:00

mountain_day 2

2009-08-13T23:45:00.004+02:00

mountain_day 1

2009-08-13T23:14:00.007+02:00

Berlin Revival

2009-08-13T22:50:00.006+02:00

on the way back - temporarily

2009-08-13T22:39:00.003+02:00

Back home, jolly train ride with plenty of time to enjoy the marvellous landscapes. And to think about the future.

archishots_2

2009-07-14T13:02:00.010+02:00

Running at early morning can be extremely inspiring. And a camera phone prove very useful.

+130 + sunday merry stroll

2009-07-14T12:58:00.006+02:00

Merrily merrily merrily... Just like the childhood refrain. The best way to describe a sunday stroll through the Tuileries and the Luna Park, enjoying some very interesting crowd watching, sniffing sugar and candy and hot dog. And feeling on vacation, feeling like an enthousiast tourist and it's so nice once in a while... Am I taking myself too seriously, I wonder? It takes so little to have a good time. And I am happy.

+ 125 + rooftop party

2009-07-11T18:58:00.001+02:00

against weakness

2009-07-11T18:42:00.004+02:00

Weakness makes me sick. Weakness makes me angry. Almost as much as ugliness. And vulgarity. And ignorance. I know I am a pretty square person and I can get quite judgemental on these subjects. But I was raised in the cult of beauty, in the appreciation for harmony and proportion - in things, in places, in writing and in people too. I was raised in the cult of perfection outside, the inside is personal concern only and no way to bring it up. I am sorry if I hit too hard or cut too deep with the use of words, but I revere equilibrium too much to just let go. Therefore I see no reason in complying with someone that keeps complaining for the sake of it. It doesn't come spontaneously, I am a rigid bitch about this. I correct people, I can't help it. I dismiss pain and illness, I religiously self-medicate and cry my eyes out - but in silence - before admitting smthing's wrong. Therefore I expect the same in others, although I am conscious I have no right to do so. And a drinking hangover is something to deal with - pop a pill get rid of the nausea and get going. Time flies. Instead of drooling over the duvet and asking for my compassion. Unfortunately I am a selfish bitch and don't know much about compassion. And speaking about it I am a glorious contradiction too, since after all my preaching about swallowing pain and going forward I indulge in complaining and begging for attention too, but only to my long distance friend. I feel - poor one - entitled to such attention and compassion, exactly because I am far and alone. Luckily I tend to hide most of it though. I'm still fighting to demonstrate my strength at all prices. And I feel quite silly about this helluva pride that I can't get rid of and keeps driving my actions. There's a lot of growing up still to do.

archishots

2009-07-11T18:26:00.002+02:00

+105 + nice times

2009-06-18T21:42:00.003+02:00

Good times for the lonely hearted. Ups, downs and ups again. Antisocial supersocial. Nice to enjoy some [un]balance. Nice to enjoy some whatever. Being productive and then outing as a reward. Always wondering around with amazed eyes, looking for beauty on every surface. Birthday partying with friends while avoiding pictures taken. Swifting sweetly through the night and dancing and laughing and smoking and not drinking - that is nice for a change. Leaving when the time is right, when I feel ready, when I still know I'll be missed. Picnic-ing the day after with the survivors, lounging at the park and improvising a Supermarket Deli Dinner on the pavement while the canal water stagnates. Sun goes down and we accompany it with a nice bottle. No pretension, no show off, no playing. Just a nice company and a nice conversation. One of those weekends you remember for their niceness and their smoothness. One of the best ones in fact.

+105 + homesweethome

2009-06-18T21:39:00.001+02:00

the roof under my window

inspirational - old photographs

2009-06-18T21:33:00.006+02:00

+105 + Les Arts Décoratifs/permanente/1

2009-06-18T21:30:00.002+02:00

+105 + Les Arts Décoratifs/permanente/2

2009-06-18T21:28:00.002+02:00

+105 + Les Arts Décoratifs/Rouge

2009-06-18T21:24:00.005+02:00

+ 93 + city snapshots

2009-06-09T22:22:00.004+02:00