Surfing In The Arctic

So I'm waiting to hear back from Yassine Ouhilal to see if he'll let me interview him about his unbelievable arctic surfing series (below) for PSFK, but in the meantime I felt like I just had to share these incredible images. There's so little written on his portfolio site, but since I found the pictures on Visit Norway, I have to believe they're all taken someone near the northern Atlantic coast. 

(Above: the Aurora Borealis makes for epic surf portraits. Below: click the image for adorable small and color Norwegian homes)

I'd seen a documentary while I was up in Maine a few weeks ago (visiting SALT) about surfers who like to ride in freezing water because it gives them more of an adrenaline rush. Apparently, the wet suits they use are so heat protectant that they rarely feel the cold (but hands and faces can be a problem after constant exposure...and it seems there's a lot of constant exposure here, so I wonder about that...).

From what I COULD gather from his website: "Yassine Ouhilal is a photographer and filmmaker known for pioneering and documenting new and unchartered surf destinations including several in Arctic regions."

Apparently there also is a film, but the link won't play on my computer.

This little tidbit on the site leaves me worried I won't be getting answers anytime soon to my questions (Why? Where? How did you get to the arctic without dying?): "He is currently a recipient of a three year artist residency with the National Film Board of Canada and the Fogo Island Arts Corporation in Fogo Island, Canada."

When I was researching the Fogo Island Artist Retreat awhile back (whose architecture you should really check out) I got the impression that quick internet access wasn't a real priority.  I guess in the meantime, I'll just have to stare in wonder at all these brave Scandinavians (and Canadians?) who continue to defy nature in pursuit of perfect waves.

Love Letter To A Leather Jacket

"Did I ever tell ya that this here jacket represents a symbol of my individuality, and my belief in personal freedom?"

The above Nick Cage line from 1990's David Lynch masterpiece Wild At Heart has to be about my most favorite quote of all time. Nothing NOTHING, is better than the first time you hear him say "in-div-iddd--uaaal-ity", as he puts the make on a smokin' hot young Laura Dern. Cage's off the cuff remark (pun!) also encapsulates everything that makes a favorite jacket so powerful-- it's uniquely yours, it embodies your traits and characteristics better than an other thing you own/vwear/ are born with. Someone else can have that snakeskin jacket, but no one can wear it with that same bad ass flair.

For awhile now I've been rocking my Mike Korres leather jacket (purchased at Annie Sez) like it's from someplace someone would admit to shopping at, and each time I think about the above quote. So far while wearing it I've been mistaken for a member of the Italian Fashion press, a graphic designer, and a rich person, and one guy on a skateboard in Greenpoint told me it was "cool as shit". 

But despite all the fashion writing I've done, I still hate the idea that what someone wears is more important than what they have to say. However, I do feel that fashion, at its best, can be a universal way to express one's creative individuality. As an ex once described it: "It's how we wear our personalities on the outside."

So for this purpose, I think there's nothing more iconic than a good leather jacket. It just seems to have such a wide range of personalities:

Fun-loving rock and roll high school student:

(Ps. How emotionally scarred would you be if Joey Ramone broke into your room and tried to kiss you? I still get chills during this scene seeing his weird lizard body perched over a young PJ Soles. Also, side note: do you know they originally wanted The Velvet Underground to be the band in R n' Roll High? It must have taken balls of steel to ask Lou Reed to be in a lighthearted teenage musical...)


Punk Rock Poetess:

Adorable young musician from New Jersey:

And finally, person who can't believe they're in Aspen:

That said, have a happy New Year ya'll!

Nail Art Is The Best Art

JK! It's not the best art. German Expressionism is probably the best art. But nail art is a close second. Many have called it "the last bastion of art solely by and for women", but I call it simply good clean fun. Today, the wonderful Tracie Egan Morrissey of Jezebel introduced us to her favorite nail art of 2012, and I've got to admit there were some real gems:

First and foremost, Zooey Deschanel's year in nail art (above). Say what you will about the woman (I despise her tweeness), she has impeeecccable nail taste.

Then there are the Joy Division inspired Unknown Pleasures nails which pretty much blew my mind way open (below):

And what would a year in nails be if we didn't include a few memes, ala the Jesus Fresco fiasco:

Then this got me thinking about my own favorite nail art of 2012...

Mostly, how bad ass this chick looks. She's like the fun friend to the Mexican goth teenager shopping for Morrissey records in creepers.

And the below number from Spain's Ghetto Nailz is like the awesome stepchild of Jodorowsky and Greg Araki. I want to be rich enough to fly to Spain and have someone do this crap for me:

But of course, where would nail art be without haute couture, the ultimate form of wearable aesthetics?:

(Above) The Margiela decal might be the most inspired, but the Dior ones you could probably sell in Chinatown. (Below) Really, really on point COMME des GARÇONS nail art complete with sparkly purse that is also by them.

And finally, my all time favorite nails, from a random email from AnOther Magazine:

Credits: Unknown Pleasures nails by Sophie Harris-Greenslade of The Illustrated Nail, Jesus Fresco nails by Madeline Pool, rest unknown.

Weird Taiwanese Hotel Has Insane Batman Room

So in my endless explorations on the internet for interesting writing fodder, I came across a strange idea that turned into a complete rabbit hole of WTF. At Taiwan's Eden Hotel, you can not only rent (per night! 50$) a fully loaded batman cave of dreams (complete with bat signal showers and skylights, see below). But you can also get a full range of rooms: ranging from Hello Kitty type creepy, to full-on holocaust porn creepy.

             (above: the bats shower, below: the "fashion room" complete with erotic wall art)

A few of the rooms were kind of creepy bordering on "maybe?", like our friend from Egypt below:

But most were some kind of mix between a Mariah Carey video:

and Fifty Shades of Grey:

So basically, unless I'm really hard up in Taiwan, count me out. Forever. Nightmares.

My Life In Iphone Photos

I'm still waiting for the PR company to send me photos from this opening on Thursday, so for now I guess these'll do.

I always feel like a jerk saying this, but I go to a lot of really fancy events for work. You'd think by now I would be used to them, but this one had a sort of high- society- meets- Tribeca- art- worldliness that I'd only ever really seen in a Woody Allen movie. Truly divine, and comically out of place.

The event? The French Heritage Society hosted:

"...the first iteration of its New York cultural event series at Le Cabinet de Curiosités the fantastical contemporary art and antiquities exhibition presented by Marlborough and Steinitz galleries at the New York Mercantile Building."

To celebrate, a few writers and a lot of elegant older women with Hermes bags were invited for cocktails, and a private tour lead by the exhibition’s curator, artist, architect and designer Thierry W Despont.

Yes the art was interesting (Shoe bugs anyone?), and the theme intriguing, but the space itself was stunning. I couldn't tell what had been added just for the show and what was a mainstay, but it had this intoxicating Versailles-meets- library- of -congress feel, with a dash of old money successful gentleman.

The show's been extended till the end of February, so definitely check it out. But wear something nice.

Le Cabinet de Curiosités

New York Mercantile Exchange at 6 Harrison Street

"I'm Audrey Horne And I Get What I Want"

Something sinister is in the air: Netflix, longtime movie provider, has decided to ruin countless lives. How do they plan to do this? By making both Season 1 AND Season 2 of Twin Peaks available on watch instantly. The good part?

Sherilyn Fenn (aka Audrey Horne) is one bad-ass bitch with some serious style.

Part 50's school girl/part film noir, Audrey's sultry pout and razor-quick wit can make even an Athropologie- looking sweater seem provocative:





However, she really shines rocking the undercover-in-a-brothel little black dress. Can you say S-E-X-Y?





I found this look alike piece on The Outnet, but I doubt it would bring the full David Lynch effect to an ensemble:

However Lucy Moran, the Fine Whine, might be a little easier to replicate:

I think I saw her on the L this morning.

And the Absolutely Terrifying Award Goes To...

These dog sculptures by Swedish artist Frida Fjellman:




However, just because they will haunt my dreams doesn't mean I don't admire the hard work and creativity that went into them. According to the email I just received from AHAlife:

"Dogs are an endless source of delight and amusement to their owners. For Swedish artist Frida Fjellman, however, they’re also the subjects for meticulously crafted (read painfully difficult) sculptures in mouth blown glass and hand sculpted ceramics. Fjellman is one of the most renowned members of an important new generation of artists in Sweden, which has revolutionized the country’s aesthetic identity. Her hyper realistic pieces blur the boundaries between art, decorative objects and handicraft, areas that traditionally are held strictly separate in Scandinavian design."

While a certain amount of this must certainly be tongue and cheek, I'm wondering at what point something goes from avante-guard to straight-up Regretsy. Anyone have any thoughts?

Racked NY Visited Francine Pascal's Baroque/ Rococo Home

While my real loves in middle school were of the RL Stine Variety, the Sweet Valley High series definitely held appeal for me. They were cute, blonde, lived in California, one was a nerd the other a clothes horse- there was definitely a lot of room for escapism. As for Francine Pascal, I could never figure out whether she was a refined woman in a very girlie and ornate world, or a weird, slightly overweight cat lady hanging around her Upper West Side apartment in pastel pink sweats all day. Well, yesterday's Racked NY lifestyle piece confirmed that she's actually the former- and a serious Francophile to boot (Pascal actually divides her time between NYC and France, and has two sets of shoes for each each home. Francine Pascal's life is a Carrie Bradshaw dream come true).

Check out her fabulous abode below, and be prepared to cry gold-inlay tears of envy:

RuPaul Don't Want Me For a Sunbeam

I know that it's really hip now to miss Kurt Cobain, what with being Alexa Chung's style muse and the internet premiere of Jared Leto's homage- but how spot on fantastic and timeless is this picture?




















The best part is clearly Dave Grohl grinning in the background. Can you say Nerd Alert?

Amazing

In every permutation I got Cher as an option:



Celebrity Heritage