SIDETHR33

b3njamin lowy

2009-02-26T13:50:00.003-05:00

BENJAMIN LOWY: taking a deserved timeout from the heat of warfare, lowy compelled a biography of his journey through the 09' fashion weeks. beginning his career covering the iraq war in 03, lowy has gone on to reside in afganistan, darfur, haiti, indonesia, and libya. currently situated in new york with his photographer wife, it makes sense his commissions come from the likes of ny times, fortune, time, the new yorker, and rolling stones. above are a assortment of the spectacular photos lowy covered during the course of spring 09' fashion month. shown: marison martin margiela (paris, sept 29.09, runway), miguel adrover for hess natur (sculpture and dress display @ matthew marks gallery, ny), rick owens (paris, sept 28.09, runway), christian dior (paris, sept 29.09, backstage), and marc jacobs (ny, sept 8.09, runway).

prot3ct ya' n3ck

2009-02-26T13:40:00.003-05:00

PROTECT YA' NECK: maison martin margiela has been wrapping oversized scarfs around necks for two seasons passed, now all designers are caught up. the best accessory award for adding dimension to a neckline is not the neckless, pff, it's a scarf. wear it in bulk. the following looks hail from iceberg (coincidentally), burberry prorsum, and gianfranco ferre.

manicur3d man

2009-02-26T13:29:00.005-05:00

MANICURED MAN: double-buttoned or double-breasted, suits from mens fall 09' emphasized resilience, power, and brawny physiques. well tailored jackets and bottoms gave dimension and seamlessness. oh, look at the shoulders too. slouch or padded? i'll opt for the latter. pay attention corporate guys. the following looks are from raf simons, prada, and calvin klein collection, fall 09.

product r3d?

2009-02-26T13:17:00.004-05:00

PRODUCT RED? orange was seen being used over, under, and as accessories during mens shows. this is the seasons casual wardrobe color. the three examples come from band of outsiders, michael kors, and junya watanabe fall 09.

ny tr3nds

2009-02-26T12:55:00.002-05:00

FAREWELL NY FASHION WEEK, HELLO TRENDS: credit crisis and economic doom halted headline designers from having the elaborate runway shows normally undertaken; marc jacobs hacked over 100 guests! yet, shows proceeded and persuaded us to unzip or wallets, devote our tax returns, and invest into depression chic. the images above are reoccurring pop-up's strut on runways the past week in new york; enough to call each a trend.

gal3ri3 d3 ysl

2009-02-25T01:36:00.004-05:00

GALERIE DE YSL: on feb.23.09, the late yves saint laurent and his partner pierre berge auctioned off their art collection. the works resulted in over $232 million profit. records were broken for several artists including piet mondrian, constantin brancusi, and marcel duchamp. however, the priciest painting, a cubist picasso (instruments de musique sur un gueridon), remained unsold which was expected to generate $32 million alone. the auction is being considered the 'sale of the century'. to match the grandeur, a lavish glass room in the grand palais showcased the art. the saint laurent collection offered cautious collectors a reason to bid: a celebrity owner of classic artists who scarcely become available to auction. all but 2 of 61 works sold, concluding the event was a success. henri matisse's 'les couscous, tapis bleu et rose' sold for $46 million but was quoted originally at $23 million. as for the unsold picasso, berge commented he'd keep it and for the meantime was 'very happy'.

armani.

2009-02-11T19:58:00.002-05:00

ARMANI: in progress since may 07', giorgio armani is set to open his fifth avenue flagship store next week, february 18th. the rumored 4 floor, 30,000 square foot shop will house armani signature, home, and jean collections. what the public knows is what armani hinted at in a previous press conference. the floors will be connected be a 'rolling steel' staircase created in italy to give a sculptural presence. on the lowest floor a realm of casual dresses, armani jeans, ea-7 sportsline clothing/equipment/swimwear will be shown. on the two above floors a refined selection of products becomes apparent; sophisticated perfumes, crema nera products, and giorgio/emporio shoes. shuffling along the top floor, customers can quench their hunger at the armani restaurant while enjoying fabulous views of central par in the background. look for it next week!

3ti3nn3 bossut.

2009-02-11T14:39:00.003-05:00

etienne bossut= myth busted: at the rodin museum in paris, french sculptor etienne bossut has proved marc newsom's orgone chairs are stackable. not only stackable but, flexible enough to bend in unconventional ways emblematic of a striking scorpion. in 2005 bossut exhibited a similar work as part of the ginette moulin and guillaume houze collection. the orgone chairs diversity to be mimicked as a sculpture and be visually impressive in itself adorns a new type of industrial design. design for art and practical use.

at3li3r jacob.

2009-02-11T13:20:00.004-05:00

IDS09: this past weekend marked the end of toronto's interior design show. students from the university of alberta, ontario college of art & design, and sheridan, among many others, featured products alongside firms around the world. the show embraced a range of furniture, lighting, ceramics, and textiles. among one of my favorite products was a chair called 'warp' by toronto's own atelier jacob; a studio started by peruvian born marco jacob. currently teaching at the ontario college of art & design, jacob obtained a masters from the school of architecture at the university of toronto. now operating at 36 maitland street, toronto, his multi-disciplinary designs focus on furniture, graphics, and architecture. atelier, a minimalist studio, outpours effervescent structures without the severity associated with minimalism proper. for example, jacob's 'pagoda side table' bears a striking resemblance to donald judd's 1990 piece, untitled (shown above).

"ballpoint stool"

2009-01-18T02:40:00.004-05:00

philippemalouin: who would've imagined that one day it'd be possible to create art whilst gliding on a flat surface? surely, the answer is in the ballpoint stool. this chair tracks users movements by distributing ink as a pen would, whilst supporting human weight. the ink is revealed throughout the four cylindrical crystallized legs and exposes the tracking, writing, and drawings as a user glides in different directions. this trendy conversation starter is seemingly willing to give jackson pollock a run for his money.

clic furnitur3.

2009-01-13T15:11:00.003-05:00

SIMPLE SOPHISTICATION: at the tokyo design fair, alexander pelikan showed his products for clic furniture. the chairs, done in bamboo, could be constructed in less then half a minute. pelikan addressed his interest in producing a similar product, however, instead of all wood, the arms would be in glass. fortunately, his promise has been delivered. the concept is simple, 'clic' the wood into the milled out material and relax. very easy, peddle pushing, and sustainable. pelikan's furniture is available at the strijp-x store.

r33bok.

2009-01-12T23:34:00.003-05:00

8O's CALLING: reebok, a brand that conquered 80's footwear is rejuvenating its image. the 09' lineup of highly polished, sleek high tops will surely give competing companies a run for their money and hipsters something to drool over. moreover, for $90 no one's pocket is busted. very late last year the company created its first-ever pop-up shop in a 3000-square-foot art gallery. reebok had done this to commemorate 20 years of the "pump", and the neon infested interior (as shown) recalls stylish eighties in ny and vintage sneakers. now in the new year, reebok plans on releasing its new line in early february. keep an eye out.

raf simons.

2009-01-09T02:34:00.004-05:00

HIS/HERS II: greetings earthlings! in every sense raf simons is a creative talent. first inspired by peddle pushing designers martin margiela and gaultier while still in school, the belgian has become a godfather to youth culture. it makes sense then his ss09 catwalk collection consisted of the 'astronaut boot'; a silver metallic high-top secured by velcro and lace. a stylish zip pocket hides goodies on the heel, while a leather cream interior morphs a classic sneaker into a raf simons delicacy. see you on the moon.

giv3nchy boot.

2009-01-09T01:54:00.004-05:00

HIS/HERS: givenchy flat boots! to me, the boot addresses riccardo tisci's conceptual leanings toward gothic touches. as the chief designer, he has pushed the french fashion house into a captivating dark space-age minimalism. tisci is very well the imaginative revitalization givenchy needs; as per the case with this black lace boot, intricately patterned to form floral motifs. the low wedge heel and open toe provide a perfect hint at warmer seasons ahead of us.

prim3win3 bar.

2009-01-08T03:55:00.004-05:00

hello friends, sorry for the delay in updates. with the holidays brought a vacation. so, new content was withheld a bit. we're right back on track with the new year! be sure to check routinely for your fix.

STOCKHOLM SYNDROME: situated in the heart of ostermalmstorg square, sweden, primewine bar is an up and coming importer for wine around the world. the architects at sandellsandberg have given the bar an inviting and warm atmosphere in hopes of dragging people from the busy 24-7 metropolis outside its doors. this has been achieved using 120 brass plates that cover the walls and entire interior/exterior ceiling. the plates have a relief which create a large grapevine but also function as the buildings ventilation. inside the brass are dim bulbs that reflect off the glass and illuminate a high gloss racing green epoxy floor, and white marble tabletops. the subtle light provides a perfect sophistication for wine tasting and evidently has become a phenomenon amongst pundits and commoners. the wine cup chandelier is also brilliant.

song music bar

2008-12-16T03:52:00.003-05:00

la-la-la-la-la: designer and owner, zhong song, coincidentally named song music bar after himself, and although a hallmark in bar interiors, he pleads "i wouldn't call it interior design. it's more like installation art or, to be more precise, indoor landscape art". song is a graduate of fine arts in beijing, though practices mainly as an architect. the curves, fluidity, exclusivity, and appeal come by way of a relatively limited material choice: red oak and white leather, throughout. like supperclub, song bar mutates from lunchroom to restaurant to nightclub. song shares the company with nee bing, a predominate chinese music producer, which in every reason explains why this is a song to remember.

b3d

2008-12-16T02:14:00.005-05:00

THE 21st CENTURY: for years, bed supper club has had me drooling about forward-thinking interiors. the space-age lounge is located in sukhumvit, a fashionable district of thailand. upon entering the large, all-white oval pod, divan-beds suspended from the ceiling, illuminated with soft blue neon light seemingly transports visitors into a retro-futuristic environment. the experience is a combination of upscale restaurant, club, art gallery, theatre and stage together. to tickle tastebuds, chefs change the meals once a week from authentic thai, to classic western. bed satisfies all musical appetites spinning house, funky, asian fusion, bhangra, and hip-hop with different theme nights monday-sunday. grab a supperclub cocktail and chill to the likes of dimitri from paris, miguel migs, oliver lang, or stephane pompougnac. the question this club asks is, "who will you go to bed with?"

ho3sch wat3r loung3

2008-12-11T16:08:00.004-05:00

BATHE EVERYTHING AWAY: especially throughout the chilly holiday season. the bath... a symbolic cleansing of body and soul, a means to starting a new day; washing away the stresses and strains of yesterday. the hoesch water lounge is a fascinating experiment to discover a completely new kind of wellness. traditional bathing bounds are destroyed as you lie in a transparent glass cube, that from all angles is equipped with a gentle air massage support for the utmost regeneration process. the water inflow is integrated in a 1400 mm high swiveling halogen lamp, while to the side, a swiveling round metallic table hints a book or glass of champagne. treat yourself to the delicacy of warm water, a sprinkle of epsom salts and a refreshed state of mind.

fram3bar

2008-12-11T14:52:00.003-05:00

MATERIAL: STARON, METHOD: DRAPED: 29-year-old architect, dimitrios tsigos, quoted upon completion of framebar, that- "this is a truly contemporary triumph: space that is anything to everyone". in this, he meant, one may walk into framebar at the wrong time of day but not feel disappointed because it is empty. he adds to this by saying, "in fact, framebar doesn't look like anything particularly at all, so you get to decide what it is". therefore, one person unfolds a laptop and begins to work, while another has a coffee. yet, in the evening from the southern balconies, a sunset view of the acropolis is offered, accompanied by one of five resident dj's. in the interior, tsigos draped amorphous pieces of brown spanish emperador marble with ribbons of white-heat-formed staron (the white atop of the marble- seen in the photos). stunningly, the staron forms the stairs, sinks, bar tops, cafe tables, chairs, benches, stands, partitions, floors, and dj booths. the synthetic precision of staron's flawless surfaces allows colored light to transform the space from a restaurant into a nightclub with the simple addition of, for instance, a violet light. this is a glamorous juxtaposition with the geological serendipity of spanish marble. framebar, a roomful of forms is a warm addition to tsigos design & construction.

2008-12-02T19:22:00.002-05:00

ATTENTION VISITORS:

it is currently exam time and posts will be withheld about a week. please check back then for "last minute christmas gifts". sorry for the inconvenience.

keep cool,

sidethr33

art attack!

2008-11-27T04:06:00.003-05:00

DIE FOR LOVE: greek artist living in london, christina koutsospyrou, is a renowned illustrator depicting contemporary culture. gaining much acclaim from her eye-catching pencil on paper like works, koustsospyrou has become vanguard in the london art movement. the artist has earned herself international recognition from companies like time out, elle, and fashion collection in russia, while working with fashion house rafael lopez. over the past several years christina has exhibited primarily in england with plans on exploring film, 3d work, and fashion. trust her words as a source of inspiration:

"my work is very much decorative and giving it a message would be almost futile... some may consider my work to be pointless, but it is precisely that lack of a message and a specific reason for its existence that makes it my own. i just enjoy creating sensuous imagery-and people have responded positively to it from the start, which has given me more reason to continue in this style"- christina koutsospyrou

yogurt tim3

2008-11-26T14:45:00.004-05:00

SWEET TOOTH: regardless of our dietary choices, now and again, we all crave a sweet. daily chocolate intake may be for the extremist, however, indulging into frozen yogurt might leave your guilty conscious less irritated. in the past year, frozen yogurt has experienced a stylish renovation. below, the paris based myberry, and singaporean frolick mix juice/smoothie/yogurt into lounge-like environments. the interiors mix bright colors and pop cultural references, while the eccentric flavors: peach and guinness, have customers filling cup sizes A-C daily. don't fret it, eat it.

whit3 t33

2008-11-26T01:33:00.006-05:00

CLASSICALISM: today street photographers snap the hip and chic; street fashion has become an epidemic. constructing an outfit has never been so fun, or, time consuming. intricate clothing garments produce wow-factors, turning heads of the public eye unaware of the fashion culture. often, you will see simplicity. though, this simplicity has become applied candidly to creativity. the blue jean, the white tee, or... black... which never fades. this week, i'll examine and show the versatility of the white-t; where individualism meets classic. though universally it has become a symbol for casual attire, the white-t's progression into a wardrobe staple is imminent. simplistic and pure, the body is converted into a canvas leaving the wearer an inventive-entity. dress it up, down, but always with class, the one time undershirt is a big deal.

thanks to sidethr33 friend,

nancy nashid for photo finds and idea.

d3sign tid3

2008-11-25T22:06:00.003-05:00

PAST IS PRESENT: designtide tokyo2008 finished earlier this month but the affects are still causing uproar. in its 4th year, this convention has attracted architects, interior, product, fashion, graphic, and textile designers alike. the unique trends we see arising from tokyo, and artists pharrell williams often recruits, are the brainchildren exhibiting here. designtide is an opportunity to reconsider design; as a concept and way of thinking. anyone can share and participate in the 5 day gala. it links creative talents, manufacturers, journalists, and buyers worldwide, spreading the word about design activities manifest in their everyday lives. still in its infancy, but sure to blossom, peel your eyes for an even larger 09 showing.

matth3w williamson

2008-11-25T21:40:00.003-05:00

THE BUZZ: h&m has announced the next campaign designer as matthew williamson. the swanky english style guru will tie his indian influenced garments into a women's line scheduled to launch april 23, 09. though these first releases will only be available to select locations, williamson is also in charge of a summer womens/menswear line available worldwide in may. the anticipation has been fulfilled in the past celebrity collections and i am certain the frenzy will continue. www.matthewwilliamson.com

3rik björk

2008-11-25T01:24:00.004-05:00

SPOTLIGHT: erik björk studied metal and woodworking at nyckelviksskolan and furniture design at the university of linköping. upon completing his scholastic endeavors, he introduced an independent design company, simply titled erik björk, in stockholm, sweden. specializing in lighting, he has initiated products for IKEA, MIND, svensk slöjd, and the royal art academy. björk has also worked closely with wood, which explains his sustainable philosophy. in his words, "products should not be to experimental, not to conventional, they should be easy to mass-produce yet hard to copy, the materials should be low-cost yet have an exclusive look". almost hypocritically however, his do it yourself bike does everything but this. it is easily reproducible. for that matter, it is encouraged and designs can be sent to your email by björk himself. with the help of a few salvaged bike parts and a hardware store, anyone can build it. the product is to ingeniously brilliant to pass, and so, the diy bike 1.0 is this weeks spotlight.

soho hous3: n3w york

2008-11-24T22:37:00.004-05:00

UP AND COMING: the meatpacking district (MePa) in ny, or as it is known now, gansevoort market, has easily become one of the most fashionable neighborhoods in the world. prior to the late 90s, before the district underwent a dramatic transformation, prostitutes, transsexuals, and drug dealers operated the over 250 slaughterhouses lining its streets. shockingly, under only 10 years, this number has substantially descended to 35. today, alexander mcqueen, stella mccartney, diane von furstenberg, and christian louboutin house boutiques here, while establishment restaurants like buddha bar, tenjune, and apt have recently opened to serve young professionals. soho house: new york is a jaw-dropping example of one transformation that has taken place in MePa. the 24 bedroom, 6 floor hotel, offers guests a combination of luxury and style. fully equipped with private eucalyptus steam rooms, a cowshed spa (www.cowshedonline.com), screening room, private library/seafood bar, and games room, the hotel may be less for sleep and more for exploration. in hot months visitors can sprawl on the all day rooftop terrace equipped with a heated pool offering fantastic views over the west village and hudson river. book fast, this place hustles.

www.sohohouseny.com

rashid's s3miramis

2008-11-20T21:44:00.003-05:00

MODERN GRECIA: "hotels today make you feel like you're living in the previous century. that's the last thing i want to do" says hotel semiramis designer, karim rashid. if you are unaware of rashid, he is a leading industrial engineer of our time. after introducing his first successful project, "the garbo", a plastic bin which has sold over three million pieces, rashid has went onto add modern simplicity to practically all items: mouse pads, soap dishes, kettles, vases, lamps, and coffee cups. the semiramis hotel, based in kifissia, athens, is a reflection of this. the 52-room hotel is nestled in a trendy suburb encircled by cafes, boutiques, and high-end restaurants. guests will immerse themselves into a product of 21st century chic while observing the hotels modern art collection. rashid's refusal to accept day-to-day environments is apparent... there is always room for design.

Patricia Urquiola

2008-11-20T02:08:00.002-05:00

TAKE A SEAT, RELAX: it's easier said then done. however, with the help of spanish designer patricia urquiola's 'frilly' chair line, launched last week in milan, lounging seems favorable. the furniture is constructed from polycarbonate and embraces the fabric affect of material furniture: pleats, grooves, folds, and lines. the high back chairs come in a variety of colors offering versatility as they have been designed to use indoors and outdoors. for more information link33 www.patriciaurquiola.com

2008-11-20T01:23:00.002-05:00

ART BUZZ: contemporary and minimalist design - although require a certain appetite - has become integral to nearly all new interior and architectural concepts. be it linearity, bold daring colors, or chrome, glass, and mahogany. minimalism accentuates form, disregarding all decoration that drapes most spaces. forms are stripped to the essentials. on the other hand, minimalism in the visual arts is relatively recent. it dates primarily to american visuals of the late 60s' with artists like donald judd and frank stella. minimalism's exact origins are skeptical but highly regarded as a reaction to abstract expressionism. more linear and precisely organized, new york artist sara eichner drifts away from the blurred images and drip paintings of abstractors. her work hints architecture, done symmetrically on patterned grids. in this sense, the reoccurring patterns cry escher. eichner states her inspiration came in geometry from homes in her neighborhood of williamsburg. the works zen-like shades; pinks, blues, and greens play nicely off the retina, as polygons and boxes are first applied to wood and paper then diligently painted overtop. sara eichner is a graduate from syracuse university and this is her sixth independent show. view her closely at33 www.saraeichner.com

2008-11-18T23:58:00.002-05:00

FOR THE RECORD: globalization has killed good design. in eyewear. one time premier italian fashion houses like gucci or armani manufactured sheerly from their headquarters. the inner arm read 'made in italy', wholly, and truly. flip to today, as economic dilemma heats higher, companies have begun production in labor markets providing limited salaries to employers. foremost, china. plastic frames are fully constructed in places like this on the exception of a single screw. by law, if a company inserts even a single screw they are able to stamp 'made in: italy, spain, new york, or france'. you pay $400 for $8 of plastic. among few businesses priding themselves as authentically french is jean lafont: 06' eyewear of the year tokyo/paris, and recent sunglass of year winner from silmo d'or. quality, elegance, trend, and workmanship grace all 60's vintage cateyes, cheetah or beehive tortoise shell printed frames, for instance. check out some recent looks!

BON APP3TIT3.

2008-11-18T11:39:00.003-05:00

SPOTLIGHT: who ever thought jeanne lanvin's (1867-1946) influential french fashion house of the 20's and 30's, after plummeting downward when the company died in 1946 would again reign supreme. a switching of hands between several investors like britain's midland bank, orcofi, l'oreal, and finally by harmonie S.A, who appointed the genius alber elbaz artistic director in 2001. elbaz has restored the lanvin embodiment with intricate trimmings, embroideries, and an elegant simplicity the company has not seen in over 50 years. the men's winter 08' accessories preserve an almost industrial spirit. metallic patent shoes transparent as mirrors, glasses with metal hinges, belt buckles covered in matte glaze, and the finest of material: flannel, velvet, and cashmere. ELBAZ-THE-RAZ-A-PAZ!

THE BLOUS3

2008-11-18T02:48:00.008-05:00

AN OBSERVATION: perhaps my submersion in style allows me to witness trends at the forefront, but correct me if i am wrong; individualism in garment choices has reached an apex. everything and anything has become usable. in its nature, fashion has always attracted the odd, unconventional, and colorful anti-mainstreamers. though there was a time isabella blow, anna piagi and iris apfel single-handedly dominated individualism. these women, overtly design oriented and lifesize art projects may never again be replicated, but prepared a revolution of fashion conscious 20-somethings who gallivant helsinki, stockholm, paris, ny, and other bustling metropolises. the 'tights phase' has been long established, so, pushing the envelope is refreshingly interesting. i'll go on a limb, take a risk like john galliano, and say: the greatest source of fashion is the psyche. subscribe to your own internal well being.

_________________________________________________________________________

au courant: versatility of the blouse; worn elsewhere besides the upper body is this weeks idiosyncrasy. think spring/summer 09', brr, it's cold now!

SIDE3

2008-11-17T22:51:00.003-05:00

theres you.

theres me.

theres design.

architecture_fashion_lifestyle