The Blick Girl, the myth of the girl-next-door.

LuxuryActivist
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Reading Time: 3 minutes

Blick is a german-language daily newspaper in Switzerland. It is published in Zürich since 1959 by the communication group Ringier.

Blick_logo

And one of the most popular section in the newspaper is the famous “Seite-1-Girl“, the Girl first page! In deed, it is one of the characteristics of the newspaper.

blick_Seite_1_girl
They choose a girl out of the public and she becomes the star of the day thanks to a sensual photo shooting. Girls can apply from all over Switzerland. They are chosen by the newspaper and they appear on the daily edition with several photos. Each time there is a different photographer and make up artist. The goal is to sublimate the girl in such a way that sometimes it is hard to recognize her. And that is the purpose of it. It plays on the myth of the Girl-next-door.

This legend or concept snow a timeless cultural and sexual stereotype. The girl next door evokes historically speaking the idea of “All-American-girls”. It indicates a kind of wholesome and unassuming femininity. It is the contrary of the Vamp of “femme fatale”. In literature, the first one who played on this idea, is for sure Thornton Wilder in his “Our Town” (1938) with the female character of Emily Webb. He won the Pulitzer price for this 3 act play. Much earlier, we could also quote Mark Twain and his “The adventures of Tom Sawyer” (1876) and the character of Becky Thatcher.

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The 40’s and the world war brought back the myth of the Girl-next-door with the American propaganda showing the girls waiting for the “boys” to come back from war. On this period of time we can point out Marilyn Monroe’s film called Love Nest in 1951 and more recently the role of Mary Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst) in Spider-Man.

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Blick is surfing on this trend by starifying girls in the newspaper. The idea is to give you the feeling that you could meet these girls just around the corner, or in the subway or even at the super market. They are young, quite fit and the challenge is to choose nice girls but not the “top-model” type, so that you can really believe that you could meet them. And the photo shooting takes place in-doors with some minimal decoration. Everything is focused on the girl and the photographer work. Of course all the glam-clichés are revisited linking to the “pin-up” look and style. Each day there is a new girl and at the end of the month, the “girl of the month” is elected.

See here some examples:

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blick girl

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photographer: Shane Wilkinson
Style: Sevi Cakir

blick Seite 1 girlblick Seite 1 girl

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photographer: Michael Mey
Styling: Sevi Cakir

If you want to know more about it, check the newspaper official website here:
www.blick.ch/life/stardestages

So the girl next door might be just around the corner then….

LA

 

info sourced at Blick official website. All images are copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. 

 

Girard Perregaux Vintage 1945 Tourbillon with three gold Bridges.

Sebastien Eich
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0
Reading Time: 4 minutes

Girard Perregaux highlights of the month is the reveal of its Vintage 1945 Tourbillon with three gold bridges. This edition will be available only in 50 units worldwide and represents the perfect blend of timeless elegance, excellence in watch-making and pure technology.

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All the heritage of Girard Perregaux in a master piece built on the acclaimed Tourbillon with threefold Bridges. A magnificent work of noble materials with high-end techniques.

Girard Perregaux has its origins back to 1791 and is a high-class watch manufacturer situated in La Chaux-de-Fonds. It is part of the Sowing group, a subsidiary of PPR. When Constant Girard founded his company in 1852. After a successful marriage with Marie Perregaux, he creates Girard Perregaux Manufacture in 1856. In 1906, Mr. Constant Girard-Gallet who took over the company from his father, took over the Bautte House and merge all companies into Girard Perregaux & Cie. Since that time the company wrote its history with golden letters. The 80’s is an important decade for the company as the strategy will reinforce the company’s position in the domain of prestigious mechanical timepieces under the control of the Macaluso Family. The years 2000 will bring a new breath as Girard Perregaux join PPR Group via the Sowing group (owned by the Macaluso family).

The company proudly designs and produces its own movements, which in the today’s industry it is a real advantage. While the watch-making industry started the race to components, some lucky brands can still survive thanks to clever investments in the past. So Girard Perregaux has an amazing collection of high-end movements, in which the Tourbillon with 3 gold Bridges is the emblematic piece since 1884. That was the date in which the company presented to the Patent Office a patent of a revolutionary Tourbillon with three gold Bridges. Thanks to this creation, Girard Perregaux got the gold medal at the Universal Exposition of Paris in 1889.

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In this limited edition, the Case and the Bridges are fashioned in Pink Gold. they form a striking contrast with the color of the main plate. The three Bridges are designed like double sided arrows and present a soft Art-Déco touch to this Timepiece.

girard-perregaux-vintage-tourbillon

There is an interesting purity on the overall design. And the secret: Several hand made details that contributes to the specific line of this timepiece. All the hand-made work results into this extreme delicate design.

The  tourbillon is also a challenge with its 72 components assembled inside a diameter of only 12 mm. The self-winding caliber (GP9600) has a integrated micro-rotor housed under the barrel. The sapphire back reveals in a generous way all the beauty of the mechanism.

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Here a more detailed list of the technical specifications:

  • Pink-gold case with domed anti-glare sapphire glass
  • Back: with anti-glare sapphire
  • Dimensions: 36.10 mm x 35.25 mm
  • Water resistance: 30 meters
  • Crown: pink gold, engraved with GP logo
  • Dial: matte anthracite surface treatment (NAC) on the mainplate
  • Hands: gold regatta, diamond polished
  • Movement Girard-Perregaux 9600-0019,
  • Mechanical self-winding
  • Functions: Tourbillon, hours, minutes
  • Dimensions: 28.60 mm x 30.30 mm
  • Total thickness: 3.20 mm
  • Jewels: 31 jewels
  • Power reserve: minimum 48 hours
  • Winding: automatic, hand-brushed platinum rotor
  • Frequency: 21,600 vibrations/hour (3 Hz)
  • Components Number: 257
  • Balance wheel: variable inertia with gold regulating screws (diameter 8.35 mm)
  • Balance-spring: Breguet, Philips terminal curve
  • Mainplate: anthracite (NAC) surface treatment, vertical guilloché on top,
  • pearling and guilloché below, hand-polished angles
  • Lower gear train bridge: vertical guilloché, hand-polished angles
  • Barrel: engraved cover with hand-applied circular guilloché and brushing
  • Rhodium-plated barrel, central and tourbillon bridges: in gold, hand-polished angles brushed top and edges
  • Tourbillon:
  • 72 components weighing a total of 0.3 grams
  • one rotation per minute
  • upper and lower carriages beveled and polished by hand
  • escapement and pallet bridges beveled and polished by hand
  • Alligator strap
  • Folding clasp in pink gold

Feel convinced? check here on the official Brand website for more information:
www.girard-perregaux.com 

 

LA

 

info sourced at the brand official website. All images are copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. 

 

Lamborghini Aventador J Concept by Prindiville

LuxuryActivist
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Reading Time: 2 minutes

Prindiville, the UK based cutting edge coach-builder is presenting its new J Concept for Lamborghini Aventador. Only 8 examples in the all world so a very exclusive edition.

PRINDIVILLE LAMBORGHINI AVENTADOR

  • 6.5 L
  • V12
  • 805 hp
  • 0 to 100km = 2,5 seconds
  • 350Km/h max (220mph)
  • Carbon fiber panels for extra-light weight
  • 5 inch LCD TV screen
  • DVD player
  • Satellite navigation with most famous race circuits around the globe
  • Sound system up to 1000-watt power

To improve performance and handling, the Prindville J Concept would be significantly lighter and agile due to many original panels being replaced in carbon fibre.

PRINDIVILLE LAMBORGHINI AVENTADOR J

The original 6,5L engine was remapped to bring you from 700 to 805 hp. The 15% power increase comes courtesy of a bespoke twin Prindiville titanium or stainless steel exhaust system.

lamborghini-aventador-by-prindiville-design

The interior panels and air vents of the Aventador J are presented in a high- grade precision milled aluminium, whilst the renowned Prindiville insignia has been etched into the jet black driver and passenger seats which are dressed with the finest Italian leather and alcantara. These can be matched individually to the chosen exterior color, either matt or metallic.

LAMBORGHINI

Check here a mood video about the new project with exclusive images:

Check the company official website for more details:

http://www.prindiville.co.uk 

Feel your heart race…

LA

 

Info sourced at official Prindiville press release. All images are copyrighted with no reproduction rights available.

Dancing Dragons by Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill.

LuxuryActivist
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Reading Time: 3 minutes

The american architecture cabinet Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill presented this month the plans for a magnificient double towers called Dancing Dragons. They will be placed in the business district of Yongsan International in Seoul – South Korea.

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Dancing Dragons are a pair of landmark supertall mixed-use towers for the new Yongsan International Business District in Seoul, South Korea. The buildings, which include residential, “officetel” and retail elements, consist of slender, sharply angled mini-towers cantilevered around a central core.  The design aesthetic is highly contemporary yet informed by aspects of traditional Korean culture.

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The mini-towers feature a dramatic series of diagonal massing cuts that create living spaces that float beyond the structure. This recalls the eaves of traditional Korean pagodas–a design theme echoed both in the geometry of the building skin and the jutting canopies at the towers’ base. The theme is extended in the building skin, which suggests the scales of fish and Korean mythical creatures such as dragons, which seem to dance around the core–hence the project’s name. (Yongsan, the name of the overall development, means “Dragon Hill” in Korean.)

dancing-dragon-3

Dancing Dragons’ scale-like skin is also a performative element. Gaps between its overlapping panels feature operable 600-mm vents through which air can circulate, making the skin “breathable” like that of certain animals. Towers 1 and 2–about 450 meters and 390 meters tall, respectively–share an architectural language and, therefore, a close family resemblance, but are not identical. In the taller structure, the 88-level Tower 1, the massing cuts at the top and bottom of the mini-towers are V-shaped. In the 77-level Tower 2, the cuts move diagonally in a single unbroken line; they are also arranged in a radial pattern around the core that is perceptible as viewers move around the tower.

dancing-dragon-5

n both buildings, the mini-tower cuts are clad in glass at the top and bottom, making for dramatic skylights above the units at the highest levels and a transparent floor beneath the units at the lowest levels. This offers the opportunity for special high-value penthouse duplex units with spectacular 360-degree views of downtown Seoul and the adjacent Han River, along with an abundance of natural light.

We can see that the 21st century becomes a free area for Architects to bring to live impressive projects that blend wellness, business, design and style together.

LA

 

info sourced at official press release of Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill on http://smithgill.com. All images are copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. 

Prometheus, Alien prequel. Soon…

LuxuryActivist
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Reading Time: < 1

Alien is a quadrilogy very successful that started in 1979 with a first movie directed by Ridley Scott. More than 30 years after, Ridley Scott comes back with a Prequel that is already iconic.

prometheus-ridley-scott

There is a huge buzz in the web about it. The casting is outstanding. Michael Fassbender, Charlize Theron, Noomi Rapace and Idris Elba.

Here is the official trailer. Still 26 days to come…

 

So, ready for a flashback?
LA

 

info sourced at the official movie website. All images are copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. 

Ronald Falloon, essence of the sixties…

LuxuryActivist
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Reading Time: 3 minutes

Ronald Fallon is one of the great names in photography during the 60’s. He introduced the legend of Marianne Faithfull as the symbol of a new youth. He is our photographer of the month. He is the photographer of the month at luxuryactivist.com.

Ronald-falloon-photographer

The 60’s represented a renew in the fashion photography. After all the classicism of the 50’s, this new decade inspired us with a “boutique spirit”. In deed, the ready-to-wear style was predominant on the 60’s, showing much more the energy and the sexyness of that time. We think about photographers like Richard Avedon or David Bailey but Ronald Fallon is also one of the top hit photographers. He basically captured the essence of the sixties with his camera.

This period was also called the “Swinging London”. It was a youth-oriented phenomenon that emphasised the new and modern. It was a period of optimism and hedonism, and a cultural revolution. One catalyst was the recovery of the British economy after post-World War II austerity which lasted through much of the 1950s.


After a summer holidays in the south of France when he decided to become a photographer, Ronald Falloon, get a position of apprentice at John French, famous for his fashion portraits in the 50’s. By this start, Ronald Falloon started his job in the crowded and effervescent London where his camera came across the air of times. He photographed the most it-people from Twiggy to the Rolling Stones up to a young Marianne Faithfull.

If we did not hear much about him, it is probably that his work basically covered just one decade. After a photography contract in Canada mid-sixties, when Ronald Falloon came back, he discovered a different London. According to Mr. Falloon himself: “When I came back the 60s were nearly over and the look was much more dour and hard-edged“.

So the fun was over. He steps backs from the spotlights and became artists agent and antiques dealer. Here is a video based on a londonian retrospective happened a couple of years ago:

The website vintageseekers.com proposes an interesting collection of some of the most iconic photographs of Ronald Falloon. Below, my preferred pictures of Ronald Falloon with some comments.

Twiggy-by-ronald-falloon

1967 – Twiggy in White Mac
Here we can see the model Twiggy wearing a white Valspar mac raincoat. The photography was taken at the model’s apartment.

courreges-by-ronald-falloon

1964 Models in Courrèges.
In this photography we can see 3 models wearing Courrèges outfits with chinoiserie hair style.

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Early 1960’s Model in Courrèges Coat and boots.

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1965 Marie Lise Gres wearing cutlery jewellery.

Mary-Quant-suit-Ronald-falloon

1967 Model in a Mary Quant Suit
Mary Quant was a british designer who brought fun and fantasy to fashion in the 1960s. As creator of the mini skirt and hot pants, she showed a generation how to dress to please themselves. Her instant success made traditionally cautious designers change their attitudes and make their designs appeal to the newly important youth market.

Shrimpton-susan-small-ronald-falloon

1962 Jean Shrimpton wearing Susan Small dress.
Jean Shrimpton was considered the first world top models in history and she represented the “Swinging London”. She made covers for all top magazines for more than one decade (Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, etc…).

In 2012, year in which London will be highlighted by the Olympics and the Jubilee of the Queen, it is great to review images from Swinging London.

rock’it.
LA

 

info sourced at vintage seekers website, wikipedia and telegraph uk. All images copyrighted with no reproduction rights available.

 

Zadig & Voltaire Tome 1 La Pureté for him

José Amorim
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Reading Time: 4 minutes

Zadig & Voltaire, the french fashion Brand is launching in this beginning of the year a new fragrance duo called Zadig & Voltaire Tome 1 La Pureté for Her and for Him. I got the opportunity to review the masculine version.

zadigVoltaireDuo

The Brand was created in 1995 by Mr. Thierry Gillier, grand-son of André Gillier (co-founder of Lacoste). The Brand name, Zadig & Voltaire, is inspired by the Novel “Zadig, or The Book of Fate” written in 1747 by the french philosopher Voltaire. The main character of the novel inspired Mr. Gillier because of his charisma, modernity and bravery. The fashion Brand has products for women but also for men and even a children line.

thierry-gillier

Zadig & Voltaire is well known for its cachemire with rock skulls in brodery, their tshirts and the mythic Touly bag. The creative universe of the Brand is quite broad as they have a Music label (collaborations with Daft Punk producers) and on mobile telephone accessories (in a partnership with Samsung).

sac-touly-zadig-voltaire

tshirt-zadig-voltaire

In 2009, the Brand launched its new first fragrance, called Tome 1. It was done “inhouse” and  it represented an unisex fragrance. By getting the complexity of the fragrance market. We remember Sephora having some doubts about the interest of the project, Zadig & Voltaire decided in 2010 to sign a development and distribution contract with Clarins Fragrance Group. They can then benefit from a high professional team for product development but also (and above all) of a Clarins distribution.

Now, with this new Duo, the Brand stays loyal to it’s rock & roll attitude with style. In deed the two fragrances have the “Angel-rock” symbol on the flacons and the advertising is also on this direction.

zadig et Voltaire fragrances

On the ad, we discover Poppy Delevigne, the it-girl of the moment and world known surfer Chris Del Moro. The theme presented is a vision of a white paradise in which the 2 characters play a modern version of Adam and Eve. Paradise is there but sin is not that far from this innocent sexyness. Are they the symbol of perfect creation or fallen-angels? We never know with Zadig & Voltaire. And that is precisely what we like! I could not find who was the photographer of this campaign but if someone has the information, please just add a comment here below. thanks! Here a video about the making-off.

There are 2 fragrances, one for women (the white flacon) and one for men (the grey flacon). I got the chance to review the masculine fragrance. So check here below.

zadig-et-voltaire-parfums

The first thing we can see on this creation is the original packaging. Loyal to the inspirational origins of the brand’s name, here Tome 1 is a book! Or a fragrance packaging in a shape of a book. It is elegant, original and minimalist in a way. The carton used looks recycled and the inks from vegetal origin. The book concept is played at all levels as we can see in the pictures here below.

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zadig-et-voltaire-tome1-la-pureté-for-him

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The flacon has a dark grey mate finish, done by the outside which gives a nice “soft-touch” feeling. The cap is metallic, simple with the initials Z and V on it embossed on the metal itself. Simple, discreet and well done. In one side we can see the famous Brand logo with the Angel surrounded by a crown of spines. On the other side we can read the name of the fragrance.

zadig-et-voltaire-tome1-la-purete-for-him

The fragrance now. What stroke me as a first impression was this kind of milky-powdery-wood note. Masculine yet soft. Interesting. I found the fragrance quite coherent with the concept overall. It is more a “smell” than a normal fragrance. We can see the “parti-pris” of the creation as we do not really have a traditional structure. I, personally missed the head notes. The brand talks about Orange flower that I find quite discreet. It brings a kind of cleanliness on top that makes it comfortable and yes, masculine. For me it is really the wood accord of Patchouli, Sandalwood and lactonic woods that makes the interest of it. The fragrance is elegant and clear.

I am not sure that this is going to be a big hit as it is definitely not following any mainstream trend. The Brand is quite confidential, very parisian oriented or fashion world oriented. But it is interesting to see how strong the Brand identity is.

So if you want to learn more, do not hesitate to check the brand official website and eshop:
http://www.zadig-et-voltaire.com/eu/fr/eshop-parfum.html

Tempted?
LA

 

info sourced at Brand’s official website and press release. All images are copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. 

Shakira “Addicted to you” new video

LuxuryActivist
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Reading Time: < 1

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Each time Shakira reveals a new video it is a full event. Here is the full video of her latest song “Addicted to you”. It is always very sexy, latino’s style.

shakira-addicted-to-you

It is the 5th single from her latest album Sale el Sol. The video was directed by Anthony Mandler. He did almost all videos for Rihanna, so he is used to highlight sensuality ! Check here the video:

Do not hesitate to visit the artist official website:
http://www.shakira.com

Addicted?
LA

 

Info sourced at artist official website and Youtube channel. All images are copyrighted with no reproduction rights available.
technorati code: X2PDZGMEVVW9

Victorinox launches new website about true stories.

LuxuryActivist
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Reading Time: 3 minutes

Victorinox, the makers of the original Swiss Army Knife, just revealed their new online concept for the website. It is a new Brand interface with the goal to bring a more emotional experience. Based on true stories received throughout the years from customers, the Swiss Brand is capitalizing on these amazing storytelling. Called “Victorinox Stories”, the new website proposes a diving-experience into each story.

victorinox stories

In 2012, Victorinox will communicate more about the company values, its products and the Brand strong promise: Companion for Life. According to Mr. Carl Elsener, CEO of Victorinox, it is not the story of the company that turned Victorinox products as Icons, it is about the stories that customers experienced in which products played a vital role: stories about memorable moments of adventure and expeditions on earth, in the sky, and in space. Dramatic stories in which Victorinox products contributed to solutions and saved lives. Even stories of prominent encounters where Victorinox knives opened doors, helping to create ties between politicians, opinion leaders and nations. Victorinox has more than a century of success based on the best products of their category in the world.

In the website; So basically, you can choose your story, click on “Experience the story” and follow a great voice and animation that guides you throughout the narration. It is by far one of the most emotional experiences I saw in a company’s website. It is very beautiful and design oriented. The pictures were taken in the precise place in which the story took place. So authenticity is key. See here some screen shots from the story called THE RESCUE.

victorinox stories

victorinox stories

victorinox stories

Each story ends with a nice conclusion. We can see the signature and the name of the person who wrote the story (and was the main hero too).

victorinox stories

Then, one of the cool features is that you can also share your own story thanks to a Victorinox exclusive App. This app can be found either on the website or on the company international Facebook page. You can share your story or/and read other people’s stories about their favorite Victorinox product.

victorinox stories

On the website itself, the product part was also revamped in order to blend to the new design. More features are coming and especially a local advertising roll-out.

victorinox-website

For now only the english and the german version of the new interface is implemented but other languages will follow during the month of May.

Victorinox worked things out with their global web agency Sapient Nitro, one of the top web agencies in the world.

Do not hesitate to visit the official Brand website for more information.
LA

 

Info sourced at Brand official page and press release. All images are copyrighted with no reproduction rights available.

Elīna Garanča is back!

LuxuryActivist
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Reading Time: 3 minutes

Elīna Garanča is back! After a break for personal reasons (She got a lovely little girl -congratulations) she is back and for her return, she is performing at one of the most elegant and mythic places – Vienna – during this Spring.

Garanca_Elina

From May 17th to May 27th she will perfom the role of Sesto in Mozart’s “La Clemenza di Tito” at the Vienna State Opera. La Clemenza di Tito, in english the Clemency of Titus, is an Opera Seria in two acts composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. In July 1791, the last year of his life, Mozart was already well advanced in writing The Magic Flute when he was asked to compose an opera seria.

Elīna Garanča performs the role of Sesto, a young patrician, friend of Tito, and in love of Vitellia (daughter of deposed Emperor Vitellio). Vitellia wants to get Tito, the emperor, killed as a revenge plan. She uses her influence on Sesto, Tito’s closest friend, to get him doing the job. Sesto gets into a delicate decision because he needs to choose between her beloved and his friend. It is a great role for an Opera singer. The first time this Opera Seria was played in 1791 by Castrato Soprano Domenico Bedini. Elīna Garanča is a mezzo-soprano, which makes an interesting historical vocal reference back to Domenico Bedini.

It is not the first time that she sings this play. See here:

Also, check here her interpretation of the Parto – one of the most popular arias in Opera:

 

In May, La Clemenza di Tito will take place in Vienna State Opera in Austria. It is beautiful Opera house built in 1869 in the elegant city center of Vienna. The Wiener Staatsoper is one of the busiest opera houses in the world producing 50 to 60 operas per year in approximately 200 performances. It is quite common to find a different opera being produced each day of a week.

wiener-staatsoper

Here is Ms.Elīna Garanča program for the incoming dates:

May 17, 21, 24, 27 – Sesto in Mozart’s “La Clemenza di Tito”, Vienna State Opera, Austria

June 1 – Sesto in Mozart’s “La Clemenza di Tito”, Vienna State Opera, Austria

June 4 – Liederabend, Teatro alla Scala, Milano, Italy

June 7 – Gala Concert, Berlin Philharmonie, Germany

June 12 – Gala Concert, Gasteig, Munchen, Germany

July 3 – Concert, Stadttheater Ingolstadt, Germany

July 7 – Gala Concert, “Klassik am See 2012” in Losheim am See, Germany

July 11 – Concert “Garanca and Friends”, Gottweig, Austria

July 12 – Concert “Garanca and Friends”, Linz, Austria

July 25 – Liederabend, Nationaltheater Munchen, Germany

July 28 – Liederabend Salzburger Festspiele, Austria

July 31 – Concert, Salzburger Festspiele, Austria

Do not hesitate to connect to Ms Elīna Garanča official website:
http://www.elinagaranca.com/

We are all happy to know that Ms Elīna Garanča is back. The Opera houses were missing you.

LA

 

info sourced at the artist official website, Wikipedia and the Vienna Opera house. All images are copyrighted with no reproduction rights available.

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