chasing ice

I highly recommend seeing "Chasing Ice", a documentary about the world's changing glaciers. Spoiler alert: they're disappearing at an alarming rate.

This is some crazy shit:



Available on iTunes June 4

Bucket bags

Lately I've been feeling the need for a new bag of some sort. I love the look of these bucket-shaped bags. I'm not really a bag person (I only own two) but in the warmer months of the spring and summer I hate carrying bags in the crook of my arm. I really want something that I can just fling over my shoulder.


Balenciaga's "Papier" drop zip around bag in black calfskin




Kurt Geiger's "Dash" rucksack in black embossed crocodile

On Jewellery

I've never really been much of a jewellery person. I admire it a lot, sure, but I don't really wear much of it to be honest. The only two things I wore semi-regularly were my Ann Demeulemeester feather necklace and a silver nail ring. My brother got me a Pyrrha necklace for Christmas this year, so those are the only three things I really wear on the regular.


Lately I've been moving from admiration to actual purchasing. I picked up a hammered ring from Werkstatt:München and a malleable tin ring from Goti. Unfortunately, after only two wears of my Goti ring, I took it off in a public bathroom to wash my hands and left it there. I hate that sick feeling of losing something. I hope whoever picked it up (instead of turning it in to the lost & found) is enjoying it. I really loved that ring, so I am probably going to replace it soon. And stop taking my jewellery off to wash my hands.


(can I just say how much I miss calgel? I stopped getting my nails done to save money, but I do miss it)



Hot on the heels of those two purchases, I have made a little list of things I want to add to my small jewellery collection in the future: a few more rings that will have to be custom made in smaller sizes and a leather bracelet from Werkstatt:München, a necklace and an amazing pair of Ugo Cacciatori earrings that are way beyond my budget, and some pieces from Montreal line Pearls Before Swine that have been on my list forever. The more complex leather and silver Goti bracelets are completely stunning, but way beyond my budget as well.


One more thing that is way.... way.... wayyyy beyond my budget, but that I covet just the same, is this stunning necklace from Rick Owens. I had seen pictures of it online, but upon handling it in person it far exceeds my expectations. The large transparent link, which I had previously thought could be lucite or resin, is in actuality quartz (!!!), and is paired with a solid gold link attaching it to the silver chain. The price of this baby competes with domestic compact cars.







It's safe to say I would be on suicide watch if this was lost in a public bathroom.


Thank you to Nicholas at Rick Owens New York for the images!

SOME / SLASH / THINGS

With the exception of a couple publications, I've pretty much stopped buying magazines. I used to spend obscene amounts of money on monthly magazines, especially during my days as a design student, but over the years I've just lost interest. Don't get me wrong, I love a good physical magazine now and then, but maybe it's because of the constant flow of information online that my magazine obsession has fallen by the wayside. I even tried online subscriptions through Zinio for a few of my "read once when bored" titles, in order to save space and paper, but I've even grown tired of those. The magazines I do buy are ones that come out bi-annually or even less often, and contain more interesting articles than just pages of verbal diarrhea about the hot "must-haves" of the season and new (scary) cosmetic procedures.


SOME/THINGS is decidedly different.
















In actuality, they are more than a magazine. SOME/THINGS is a multidisciplinary company which includes the magazine, limited edition productions, film, and an agency providing creative consulting.


There's something very appealing about a magazine that is designed to be more like a book. This is definitely not your "read-once-and-toss" magazine. The paper is recycled stock of a substantial weight, using various printing, foiling or embossing techniques depending on the issue. The spine is hand-bound with thick thread. Each edition is hand-numbered and some issues are even presented wrapped in perfumed cashmere from Rick Owens and placed in a laser-cut paper box. How decadent does that sound? No detail is overlooked.


Some of the objects SOME/THINGS have produced include unique steel hangers and book stands, notebooks, and bags and jewellery in collaboration with designers like Boris Bidjan Saberi and jewelers Nora Renauld and Alice Waese.







Unfortunately I haven't taken the plunge yet, but I'll be collecting my first issue soon, I hope, helping to keep quality print publications alive.


SOME/THINGS magazine can be purchased through their website here, or at boutiques like Maxfield's in Los Angeles, Dover Street Market in London, Colette and L'Eclaireur in Paris, and Rick Owens flagships.


All images courtesy of SOME/THINGS

Riposte

Steven Klein for US Vogue September 2009
[via tfs scanned by MMA]

I remembered this editorial featuring some of Rick Owens' Fall 2009 collection and fencing (sabres pictured) so I had to pull it up again. I love the icy pale greys in that collection, so much that ever since I have been collecting pieces to assemble a full outfit.

Rick Owens FW2013

interview rick owens fw 2013 from ANTONIOLI.EU on Vimeo.

Such a beautiful collection- I love the knotting and string details.

En Garde

Waaaay back in August I wanted to try a bunch of different fitness classes, and really, I only got to hot yoga. One of my (cliche) New Year's resolutions is to get more active, and coincidentally J got me fencing lessons for Christmas.

I've been doing it for a month, I really enjoy it! It's one day a week, but I wish I could go more often. It's not much of a full body workout, but there is a lot of lunging involved and holding your arms in certain positions.

I'm in a class of approximately 12 people, and after a few weeks of learning the right steps, stance, positions and some movements, last week we started sparring with each other. I have to admit I was a bit timid. Part of it was because I was afraid of hurting my opponent! If my video gaming is any indication, I hack and slash like a barbarian. Part of it was also that I wanted to practice more and get the moves right before trying to fight. I guess it's the perfectionist in me, but I was frustrated that both of us were just kind of waving our foils at each other and not really using proper moves. Then there are some people who are really... excited, and jump around swinging and poking like a crazy person. I guess I'll just have to go with it!

When learning something new, I'm the kind of person who likes to be very one-on-one with an instructor and fully understand concepts. I guess that's why I liked having a personal trainer so much when I used to have a gym membership, and part of the reason I liked doing hot yoga with a big mirror in front. It was very important to me to focus on the right form, rather than trying to bend back the furthest, hold something the longest, or get the most "touches" (points in fencing) Quality over quantity I guess.

Last week was also the first class we got to wear the jackets, which was exciting to me from a fashion standpoint. I've always loved the fencing jacket silhouette, of course the masks are super cool, and lately I've been obsessed with white head-to-toe (even though I don't own enough white to wear head-to-toe!). I have a bit of an armor fetish as well, so naturally I couldn't wait to put one on.


[via wikipedia]

Of course, inspiration from fencing, especially the "Plastron", an half-jacket that is worn under the fencing jacket to protect the sword arm, can be seen in one of my favourite collections from Ann Demeulemeester, Spring 2011.





The beginners class will go on for about 6 more weeks, so I will keep you updated if you're interested. I can tell this might be something I will want to continue long-term.