Shakira: Sexiest woman alive? Rabiosa…

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Hi,

I know it is not exactly on my theme but, as a brazilian, how can I let this under silence?!!!
Who does not know Shakira? We say that she is the sexiest woman alive… what we can say for sure is that her “hips don’t lie”. She is launching a new single called Rabiosa. It is on her last year album Sale el Sol (launched in october 2010). Rabiosa in spanish and especially in this context means: “hungry for love”. … “Rabiosa, come a little closer and bite me en la boca (on the mouth)“. Yes suddenly the ambiance gets a little hotter here…

Here is the videoclip. I chosed the spanish version but you can see the english version on Shakira youtube channel.
The spanish version is featured El Cata, a dominican rapper. He already collaborated with Shakira on her single Loca.

And here the making off with very interesting scenes on all the hard work behind.

The video is directed by Jaume de Laiguana. He is a Spanish music video director from Barcelona, born on June 14, 1966. He is best-known for directing the video for Shakira’s “No” in 2005. He is also the artistic director of Shakira’s 2006-2007 world tour entitled Oral Fixation Tour . Besides directing quite a few videos for the Colombian superstar Shakira (“Don’t Bother”, “No”, “Día De Enero”, “La Pared”, “Las de la Intuición”, “Illegal”, “Gypsy”, “Loca”, “Sale el Sol”) and Spanish singer-songwriter Alejandro Sanz (“Te lo Agradezco, Pero No”, “A La Primera Persona”, “No Es Lo Mismo”, “Regálame La Silla Donde Te Esperé”, “Tu no tienes alma”), he has worked on several videos of other Latin artists like Enrique Iglesias (“Esperanza”) and Miguel Bosé (“Hey Max”).

 

shakira rabiosa

Well, hot?

LA

Mugler Men Spring 2012 – Brothers of Arcadia… not convinced.

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mugler brothers of Arcadia
A Fashion week is always an intense moment where all Brands reveal their new fashion collections under, more or less, interesting themes. We have a hint of what it will be our “world” of tomorrow… at least from a fashion perspective 🙂

Last week, Mugler revealed its new collection for Men, Spring/Summer 2012. As you know, Nicola Formichetti is the Artistic Director of the fashion brand. Last March, we had the opportunity to watch live the women’s catwalk with Lady Gaga as special guest and as Sound Ambiancer.

This time, we were waiting to see what Nicolas Formichetti would propose for next year spring and summer collection for men. The Mugler man… between a greek god and a modern hero. The Fashion house built during all this years a powerful, anatomic and yet elegant vision of masculinity. All masculine myth were reviewed by Mugler and this time Nicola Formichetti also decided to bring his chapter in the olympus of Muglerian males.

mugler men spring summer 2012The show took place at the Galerie de Mineralogie – Museum of Natural science in Paris. The vast vaults welcomed a sparkling show revisiting the Muglerian imagery. Nicolas Formichetti revealed his inspirational theme called: “Brothers of Arcadia”. He explored myths and reality under a sleek iconography. From italian 60’s Fellinian cinematography to Olympian gods stories, we attended to a collection rich of symbolisms. Concerning my opinion on the collection, I was a little disappointed on the choice of the clothes presented. Nothing really astonishing or at least nothing that you could not find elsewhere. The colors and the design were not exactly representative to the Mugler signature, the way I know it. We are missing the lines that follow the muscles, the spiky cuts that made men powerful and also a lack of “couture” spirit. I know summer collections are always more complicate as the materials and colours are so specific but I was not hooked by it. I saw images I could see at Dior Homme, Dries Van noten, Alexandre Wang or even Gustavo Lins. At least I think the swimsuit collection will sell well as the shapes and the materials will fit the trend of the swimsuits market. Here are some of the looks that illustrates my words.

 

mugler men spring summer 2012

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

mugler men spring summer 2012

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

mugler men spring summer 2012

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

mugler men spring summer 2012

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is the only look that ì found quite Mugler, but then not very spring/summer:

mugler men spring summer 2012

Nevertheless, it is interesting to see how virtuose are the new fashion deisgners with the usage of video, internet and multimedia content in general. In order to support the fashion show and the collection inspiration, Mugler launched a Video called: “Brothers of Arcadia with the photographer and Director Branislav Jankic.
Branislav Jankic self-portrait

“Brothers of Arcadia”

Here are the words of Nicola Formichetti about the project:

“I was interested in the idea of fantasy, dreams and voyeurism. I also liked the idea of modern and ancient myths. I was looking at Italian neo-realist cinema and then post that, where Fellini and Pasolini become more about myth and fantasy. At the same time I loved the idea and accessibility of pornography and that everyday voyeurism on XTube. I wanted to bring some of that excessive drama and the look of fantasy back to porn – to acknowledge something as over-the-top as Tinto Brass’ Caligula. With the explicit sex scenes left in.” Nicola Formichetti

Fashion Zoo- episode one

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Hi you, fashion animal,
check the first video about fashion news made by me… humour, humour, humour and nothing too personal…
welcome to the fashion zoo!

funny no?
LA

fashionzoo by luxuryactivist

Marc Jacobs, new Louis Vuitton collection a/w 2011

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Hi,
since BANG, Marc jacobs new fragrance, it was hard to see a Mr. Jacobs in a serene moment. We had the feeling he was a little over the top. New life? Finally the beast is out? Well, what we can say, anyway, is that the creative power of his elegant mind is still doing marvelous things. Of course here it is for Vuitton and not for his own brand. We discover an elegant, simple, natural Marc Jacobs in a very arty, classical “with a hint” ambiance.
Marc Jacobs

He explains the philosophy of creation of the new 2011 Autumn/winter collection. He proposes a classical scenario but with a modern style by the choice of the female models, the accessories (puppies) and the image displayed. It is almost a modern Bonnie and Clyde ambiance without the guns and without Clyde :-).

Here are my preferred pictures out of the campaign.

Louis Vuitton 2011/2012
louis vuitton 2011/2012
louis vuitton 2011/2012
louis vuitton 2011/2012

While other fashion houses are struggling with their fashion designers, Louis Vuitton has a beautiful stability with Marc Jacobs. We could say a mutual respect.

LA

info scouted at new york fashion
photos: All rights reserved Louis Vuitton.

UNIL Summer 2011 – Hans Steiner Conference

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Last friday I attended to an interesting presentation about Hans Steiner, the great swiss photographer. It took place in Lausanne at Unil (the university). This presentation was a conclusion on the exhibition hosted by Musée de l’Elysée.
If you still want to have a look on the exhibition, check my previous article about it: http://luxuryactivist.com/?p=1373

We were quite lucky to have during this evening the different people involved on the making of this exhibition.

From Unil:
François Vallotton and Philip Kaenel

From Musée de l’Elysée:
Jean-Christophe Blaser, Manuel Sigrist and Elisa Rusca.

According to François Vallotton, Hans Steiner is a mystery. He was a “photographer without a face”. All his work brought perhaps one of the biggest influence in the swiss photo-reportage and still, he remained completely “under the radar”. Thanks to the rich collection available at the Elysée archives, they were able to make a great research work in order to put together a complete exhibition. In 1989, l’Elysée acquires the Steiner Collection, more than 106,000 negatives. Behind the exhibition that took place until the end of may, they were able to scan more than 100,000 images that are now available for research on a dedicated website: http://www.hanssteiner.ch

Now that the exhibition in Lausanne is over, it will travel around Switzerland (Bern, Winterthour) but also abroad (Germany, Russia…).

Check here an extract of the conference about the exhibition:

According to Jean-Christophe Blaser, Steiner passion for photography is quite premature. Although his studies and his first jobs were quite far away from photography, Mr Blaser believes that Hans Steiner always wanted to become a photographer. He attended a lot of friends and photographers, photo agencies and sportmen. His passion for sports, politics and the society revealed the themes he would explore during his entire career.

The subject that really satelized Hans Steiner to the international level was his exploration of Alpinism and especially the conquest of the Eiger north face. He was the first one to use a plane to make photos of alpinists on mountain tops. Unfortunately Hans Steiner work on the Eiger is linked to a tragic accident of alpinists that tryed to get through the north face without success. Men were killed and the images went all around the world. Check here the video about Steiner and his Eiger work:

Photo-realism or real photos?
LA

Victoria Jungfrau, Grand Hotel in Interlaken.

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Victoria Jungfrau, Grand Hotel in Interlaken.
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victoria jungfrau logo

Beginning of June I spent a few days in a beautiful Five star Hotel Spa in Switzerland. It is called Victoria Jungfrau Grand Hotel and it is located in Interlaken.

victoria jungfrau interlake

In 1856 an enterprising young hotel pioneer Eduard Ruchti (then only 22) purchased the Pension Victoria, which had previously been a doctor’s house. Eight years later he commissioned local architects Friedrich Studer and Horace Edouard Davinet to re-design the property completely. After only nine months’ work, the new Hotel Victoria opened for business in 1865. In 1895 Ruchti transformed his private enterprise into a joint stock company and acquired the adjacent Hotel Victoria (which had been built by Davinet in 1864). Two years later the ornately decorated Festsaal – now the “Jungfrau Brasserie” – was completed. And 1899 saw the two buildings linked by the distinctive dome-topped central tract fronted by an imposing façade.
During the decades, millions of Swiss Francs were invested, always to provide the best luxury services and facilities to the hotel customers. After beautiful luxury suites, the Brasserie was built and recently 2 luxury Spa areas: The ESPA exclusive Spa and the SENSAI Select Spa by Kanebo International.

victoria_jungfrau espa spa The ESPA was the perfect complement to the existing fine facilities, which range from tennis courts (indoor and outdoor), a 21-metre swimming pool, whirlpools, steam rooms, saunas and solaria to a fully equipped gym with regular spinning, dance aerobics, fit-boxing and aquapower classes, not to mention Tai Chi, Yoga and Pilates. A spa café serves healthy snacks throughout the day and all three restaurants’ menus feature spa food for those that choose to “dine-around” safe in the knowledge that they are within their regime. They propose a very interesting Spa formula in which you have 2 hour for yourself. During these 2 hours you decide, together with the therapist, which care you can have. It was marvelous, very professional and for once, we can feel we can take good care of ourselves.

The SENSAI SELECT SPA by Kanebo International opened their first spa internationally on 23rd December 2009. This luxurious addition has brought a new dimension to the well established and award winning spa hotel, making it the perfect wellbeing destination. The SENSAI SELECT SPA has six therapy rooms including one especially spacious zone where their 3-hour signature treatment is practised including the ritual Japanese cleansing bath. They offer seven luxurious treatments each featuring the exclusive Koishimaru Silk, the finest facial and massage techniques blended with traditional Japanese beauty treatments within a tranquil oasis..

victoria_jungfrau roomsThe rooms are well organized, decorated and blends luxury good taste and sense. Modern fabrics and elegant design are together for the pleasure of the guests. Small details like the Bang & Olufsen telephones, the small chocolates in the evenings or the Molton Brown London in the bathroom. Chic yet not over the top and practical. Check here some of my preferred pictures.

molton brown londonvictoria jungfrau chocolatesvictoria jungfrau bang & olufsen

victoria jungfrau room
Several suites are available from 35m2 up to the prestigious Tower suite of 247m2 with 2 terraces, one dining room and a small kitchen.

3 restaurants are available, one Gastronomic, one Swiss Brasserie and one Italian restaurant. The Gastronomic and the Brasserie are highly ranked at the Gault & Millaut guide, humm…. exquisite.

interlaken area by luxuryactivistThe Grand Hotel is in the heart of Interlaken, a beautiful city in the middle of Swiss Alps, just close by the Jungfrau, one of the top high mountains of Switzerland and of Europe. Interlaken is located between Lake Brienz to the east and Lake Thun to the west in the area called Bödeli. The town takes its name from its geographical position between the lakes (in Latin inter lacus). The Aare River flows through the town connecting the lakes.

In the nineteenth century, the world of the mountain, described in texts by JohannWolfgang von Goethe, Felix Mendelssohn, or Lord Byron, is rushing the first tourists in the Bernese Oberland. The construction of the railway in Wengen in 1893, and the one of the Jungfrau, from 1898 to 1912, give a further expansion to the region. Hotels constructions transform the appearance of the place.

victoria jungfrau library snookervictoria Jungfrau hotel
victoria Jungfrau fountain

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is a beautiful region and if you are looking for a relaxing and luxury stay, you need to make a reservation at the Victoria Jungfrau Grand Hotel. All the personnel are very kind, customer-oriented and will always be at your service in a discrete and efficient way. I love these 19th century Grand Hotel ambiances. It is very romantic and almost poetic.

victoria jungfrau grand hotel

If you want to know more, check the Hotel website

http://www.victoria-jungfrau.ch/

Convinced?
LA

Top 5 most viewed posts of the week – june10/2011

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Hello,
as usual, here are the top articles of the week. They are the ones most viewed during the past 7 days.
Have a nice weekend.
LA

#1- Dior VIII, Black is beautiful

Dior is launching a very elegant Timepiece called Dior VIII. The Timepiece House celebrates the passion for haute-couture. A black luxury timepiece inspired by the “1947 new look” of Mr Dior.
dior VIII
url: http://luxuryactivist.com/?p=1658

 

#2- SwissTV, VOD (R)evolution

SwissTV is a young company born in 2009 thanks to the aim of a small group of friends sharing the passion for Cinema. Their mission: to propose the best choice in terms of VOD in Switzerland. As a Swiss company, they propose quality, freedom, choice and reliability. All wrapped in a cutting-edge design.
swissTV box
url: http://luxuryactivist.com/?p=1688

 

#3- Sisley 2011 new product launch – exclusive

Sisley revealed the launch, next september, of 2 great products: SKINLEŸA, an anti-aging lift foundation and BLACK ROSE CREAM MASK, a real fountain of youth. All the event was like Sisley: a lot of good taste, generosity and a welcoming feeling.
skinleya sisley
url: http://luxuryactivist.com/?p=1626

 

#4- Anne Valérie Hash by luxuryactivist

ometimes fashion design touches poetry and according to me that is what makes Anne Valérie Hash a creative talent. She is our Fashion creator of the month.
anne valerie hash
url: http://luxuryactivist.com/?p=1721

 

#5- Diesel, from stupid to californian glamour

We all know the ad campaign “Stupid by Diesel”. Basically, Stupids do it better… That could be a nice tag line for a T-shirt or for twitter #stupidsdoitbetterThey kept the wicked context of some scenes and added a “cool mood”. Welcome to the “California girls attitude”.
diesel swimwear 2010
url: http://luxuryactivist.com/?p=867

Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty at The Met

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alexander mcqueen exhibition

Tribute to one of the most fascinating fashion creators of the 20th century, The Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art dedicates an exhibition to Alexander McQueen. It is called Alexander McQueen, Savage Beauty.

alexander mcqueenAlexander McQueen was a British designer and couturier known for his knowledge of british tailoring, his aim to blend female strenght and fragile sensuality. From his catwalks we could feel an extreme emotional power emanating from his provocative shows.

He is known for having worked as master designer at Givenchy from 1996 to 2001. I remember when I was working for this brand that he started the revamp of the french brand by introducing the british twist. It was not a success and in 2001, at the end of his contract, he decided to follow his own path. In 2000, the Gucci group takes over 51% of Alexander McQueen Brand and decides to develop stores around the world, Fragrances and accessories.

homogenic bjork album coverAlexander McQueen had a lot of celebrities friends, like the Icelandic singer Björk. She sought McQueen’s work for the cover of her album Homogenic in 1997. Years later, artists like Bjork, Lady Gaga or Ayumi Hamasaki used several pieces in their music videos. By wearing his designs, celebrities such as the above mentioned have further increased the notability of the McQueen brand.

McQueen’s runway collections developed his reputation for controversy and provocation, earning the title of “the hooligan of british fashion”. McQueen also became known for using skulls in his designs. A scarf bearing the motif became a celebrity must-have and was copied around the world. He brought drama and extravagance to the catwalk and he used technology and innovation to push the boundaries of creation.

alexander mcqueen oister dressAccording to The Met, the exhibition, organized by The Costume Institute, celebrates the late Alexander McQueen’s extraordinary contributions to fashion. From his Central Saint Martins postgraduate collection of 1992 to his final runway presentation, which took place after his death in February 2010, Mr. McQueen challenged and expanded the understanding of fashion beyond utility to a conceptual expression of culture, politics, and identity. His iconic designs constitute the work of an artist whose medium of expression was fashion. The exhibition will feature approximately one hundred ensembles and seventy accessories from Mr. McQueen’s prolific nineteen-year career. Drawn primarily from the Alexander McQueen Archive in London, with some pieces from the Givenchy Archive in Paris as well as private collections, signature designs including the “bumster” trouser, the kimono jacket, and the three-point “origami” frock coat will be on view. McQueen’s fashions often referenced the exaggerated silhouettes of the 1860s, 1880s, 1890s, and 1950s, but his technical ingenuity always imbued his designs with an innovative sensibility that kept him at the vanguard. The exhibition is organized by Andrew Bolton, curator, with the support of Harold Koda, curator in charge, both of The Costume Institute. Sam Gainsbury and Joseph Bennett, the production designers for Alexander McQueen’s fashion shows, served as the exhibition’s creative director and production designer, respectively. All head treatments and masks are designed by Guido.

THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM FOR MODERN ART
Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Exhibition Hall, second floor
From May 4th to August 7, 2011.

alexander mcqueen exhibition bookThere is also a book called Alexander McQueen Savage Beauty. Published to coincide with an exhibition at The Metropolitan Museum of Art this stunning book includes a preface by Andrew Bolton; an introduction by Susannah Frankel; an interview by Tim Blanks with Sarah Burton, creative director of the house of Alexander McQueen; illuminating quotes from the designer himself; provocative and captivating new photography by renowned photographer Sølve Sundsbø; and a lenticular cover by Gary James McQueen.

LA

 

sources: wikipedia, metmuseum.com, AlexanderMcQueen

Anne Valérie Hash by luxuryactivist

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anne valerie hash

Sometimes fashion design touches poetry and according to me that is what makes Anne Valérie Hash a creative talent. Her art is often a pure well cut “sensitiveness”. She is our Fashion creator of the month.

Anne Valérie Hash bares in her hands the beautiful career experiences she got after gratuating from the prestigious Chambre Syndicale de la Couture parisienne in 1995. Before she began her artistic education at Duperré Art School. During the beginning of her professional career, she worked for Nina Ricci, Chloé and Chanel. She also began a small activity in Bride dresses but quickly she met Phillippe Elkoubi, now her businesspartner, and launched a signature collection of handmade and ready-to-wear pieces, inspired by her whimsical muse: 14-year-old Parisian, Lou Liza Lesage.

10 years ago, she launched her first Ready -to-wear collection in Paris. By blending masculine clothes to her feminine collection, a buzz started around this creative work. in the years she developed a beautiful, elegant, chic style for active women. She develops true creation universes and in order to illustrate the fruit of her imagination, she usually works with talented photographers and plasticiens. Names like Bettina Rheims or Michelangelo di Battista joined their “eye” to the beautiful creations.

anne valerie hash mademoiselle

In 2008, she received the label for Haute-couture from La Chambre Syndicale and a couple of month after she launches Anne Valérie Hash Mademoiselle, a fashion line for young girls from 4 to 14 years old.

anne valerie hash mademoiselleanne valerie hash mademoiselle

 

 

anne valerie hash mademoiselle

Last year, she developed a new concept for the Fashion house: AVHASHBY Anne Valérie Hash. For the launch of this new line, the creator has designed a flexible and dynamic silhouette. A destructured cut mixing elegance, casualness and nonchalence. Subjects play the purity of cotton, viscose, jerseymilk fiber satin and tulle. This line, cheerful and warm, appeals in its simplicity and sophisticated energy. Graceful, elegant yet modern and dynamic, Anne Valérie Hash proposes a warm hearted universe where women are put on stage as iconic symbols of femininity. Here some of my preferred pictures from her latest collection Avhashby.

avhashbyavhashbyavhashby

avhashby

Women feel comfortable and highlight their femininity in a natural way.  That is the Prêt-à-Porter. I also wanted to show you some of her work on Couture as you can see a higher degree of sophistication. Noble materials and always a precise cut bring a beautiful natural femininity .

Some brands makes Haute Couture to hide the woman wearing the outfit. Here, Anne Valérie Hash reveals the woman. Her clothes are just there to underline a silhouette, a personality or simply the curve of a hip… Less is more and details count.
LA

All images are copyrighted – Anne Valerie Hash and collaborators

 

Twitter by Luxury Activist

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Check here the latest figures for Twitter. It is definitely revolutionizing the way people communicate with each other. Twitter-revolution? Yes indeed.

Also note that 50% of the entire US population has a twitter account, followed by Brazil (9%), UK (7,2%), Canada (4,35%) and Germany (2,49%).

The White house has more than 2 million followers, which makes it the most followed public institution.

Young people under 20 years old use more Twitter than regular email or SMS for daily messages.

Convinced?
LA

twitter by luxury activist

 

 

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