A new recipe page for you to tear out, ahah! Okay, off we go, I’ll be back soon with a million things tell you about. Big hugs!

One thing I loved about Amsterdam: Women just knew how to age well.  In the week I spent over there, not one time did I see those surrealistic masks made by plastic surgery.

It would be a lot better if I talked you about something else while showing you this photo of Lous. Perhaps her grace, her kindness, her energy. Journalist, photographer, opera singer and queen of the Dutch fashion world, I would have a lot more things to say.

But she’s a perfect example that at any age, you can reinvent your life, that at every age you can be open, engaged, radiant and passionate. Sophisticated and natural.  And be quite the dish too!

Translation : Tim Sullivan

Anouck is a photographer living in New York. She’s beautiful, she’s funny, she’s out of her mind, she made me drink the most disgusting organic smoothie and I love, love, love her photos.

Here’s a pile of her polaroids.  She’s got tons of them.  They’re everywhere. The gentleman with the glasses, just in the middle there, that’s Werner Schreier, the ideal man back in the 90s. No big thing, but it’s autographed. Hey, you never know…

And here, these are the glasses she wears when she’s shooting as, and I’m quoting here, she can’t see a thing. Like many of the most talented photographers.

Her books. I tried stealing a few photos from her, but it didn’t work out: she was just about to give them to me. She also gave me some chocolate, some advice, and lots of inspiration.

If one day you meet her, make sure you don’t forget to party with the girl. Whatever you do, say no to her smoothies, and instead ask for a soy latte. But in the meantime, go to her blog, her site, and give her a warm hug for me if you happen to cross paths with her in Berlin where she just flew off to, following around and shooting Depeche Mode and M83

Bonne journée!

Translation : Tim Sullivan

On inauguration day of the first New York TopShop, a funny little coincidence had me working just down the street at eight in the morning.

So I had a prime position to see the family-reunion of the hysterical yet poised fashion kids forming, wearing t-shirts that said Black Sabbath, or rebel, Never look back, or motherf***er, all quietly arranged one behind the other waiting for their turn to pick over this world of mass shopping.

Oh oui. This story is making me into quite the snob.

READ MORE

I love the concept of abstract inspiration that The Sartorialist often talks about. A fashion photo, whether it comes from a magazine or the streets, is most likely an idea, an emotion rather than a catalogue of things to buy.

Stop. Sometimes too, a photo’s just something that gives you the urge to blow off your credit card in a shopping spree.

Whoa, what happened to me wasn’t the slightest abstract experience at all. This fur hat and most especially, the boots below, are those things that I really wanted to grab and go running away from their wearers. And put them on together, which doesn’t quite pass as a good idea.

Enough with the romantic, sappy notions, okay? Sometimes, you just have to take action.

It’s exactly what I just did. I…um…

I actually took the pleasure of politely asking where those gorgeous flat fur boots came from, as the lovely pair was meant to be a refuge of comfort and warmth in the heart of winter, a cross between my grandma’s furry Moon Boots at Val d’Isère in 76 and… Non, I can’t bear to say its name, too horrible… The words just won’t come out of my mouth….er, um, ooh, ah, uuuuuuugg. Pfiou, that was hard. Okay, Uggs, for lack of a better comparison.

I asked and heard it well and good. Well, I only got what I deserved: an answer.

READ MORE

It’s funny how we find it hard to talk about things that are dear to us. I tried to write this post several times, halting each time I’m overwhelmed with emotion and redoing my piece a little later.

I had written this line to you months ago and it still holds true to this day. I was talking about a project that had been offered to me, that of writing and illustrating a book which got me all excited and stressed to death.

Since then, I often get mails asking when the book would come out. I smile in response. And tell myself that when the time comes, I’ll talk about it once and for all.

READ MORE

Fashion is nice but sometimes we just want to be elegant and beautiful.

This is how it usually goes with Caroline, director of über-hip magazine Tank. And what I love so much about her is the timeless beauty of her style.

Meaning, she makes me forget about wedgy heels that make up for the lack of height or the shortest skirts and the slimmest treggings* one could ever find.

And yet, it doesn’t mean that I don’t get caught up in the popular, of-the-moment trends. In a span of two years, I’ve seen fashion go from baby doll dresses reintroduced by Phoebe Philo for Chloé to Balmain’s seemingly tacky but happily embraced distressed denim or bold animal print jeans. Yes, I tend to follow the latest craze. Fads can be fun but sometimes I wonder…

For me, Caroline is a perfect example of a gal who doesn’t get carried away by crazy fashion ideas. Just take a look at these three photos and you become aware of how she understands everything and knows exactly what works for her.

Yet, it only takes, a pretty (oops, make that eye-catchingly gorgeous) belt or a fab pair of shoes to prove her point. Everything else gets a classic treatment—hemlines hitting a consistent flattering length, the simplest color schemes  and pared-down accessories.

While others may get bored with this look, it’s the kind I find very inspiring and would definitely go for.

Bonne journée!

Translation : Magali Eva Suárez.