Shoes – Emma Cook for Topshop, Sweater & cut black jeans & black Outerwear Sweater – Zara, Bumbag – ASOS, Coat – Kappahl

I’ve had this post draft open by my bedside for about 30 hours – I have the flu equivalent of a death sentence in the 17th Century, or at least that’s what I like telling everyone around me to evoke sympathy and donations. (Le boyfriend keeps asking if he can have my DVD collection once I die) But when you’re 1) horizontal in bed and 2) 39 degrees and steamin’ from the ears, coherent sentences don’t come together, especially not for a blog entry. As I was drifting in and out of sleep the photos above started to merge into one dream and in a state of semi-high I somehow managed to relive this day trip I took to Oxford visiting Jen with Jill and Kit. Of course, this being a dream the trees were broccoli and Harry Potter was frolicking in the field with the cows (bits of HP were shot in Oxford)… but what an awesome way to re-experience a wonderful day in a beautiful city.

BTW, remember to get your annual flu shot, because as cool as it sounds to stay in bed the whole day and pick your own dream subject (should’ve watched Avatar…) to feel like you’re going to DIE is not very pleasant.

Shots of moi by Jen, thank you!

A few weeks ago I made this small day trip to Paris – some might’ve heard the racket outside your window, that was me twittering on my way to the airport in the morning, so early you’d have mistaken it for a night alley cat giggling. Vente Privee so kindly invited me for a tour of their headquarters in Paris, with the whole trip packaged like a secret mission which I was to fulfil as an agent. The small box I received at the briefing contained a miniature plane, so to the airport it was. Vente Privee, a brand probably most familiar to my French readers, is apparently the pioneer and leader of online sales events, first before everyone decided to open member-exclusive sales for discounted luxury brands for a limited time. Well, here’s a few snaps from my visit! (Feel free to skip this post if you’re not much for a scrolling marathon – again, here’s an exit link)

Atmosphere

Huge, correction: humongous HQ building with major contemporary art pieces (including the King Kong sculpture by David Mach and portraits of the Queen & Kate Moss [not of together, duh]) hogging every corner. Not uploading any for the sake of not getting sued over copyright blablas. Legals terms I know not. In the hallways there were hangers and hangers of product to be photographed, yet these weren’t just clothes – BBQ machines, school stationery and even Jacuzzi’s… apparently they even sold cars and apartments in the past. I’d like to say that to someone someday: I bought this flat at an online sale.

Sound Studios

Talk about DIY – Vente-Privee do all sound, motion, concept design for the products that go on sale in the site. Each sale is individually photographed – editorial and product pics; a 3 minute-long trailer is also made in-house to suit the sale. All sounds are created in the 6 studios managed by Jean-Reol Bonnerave.

Motion Design Team

3D, animation, cartoon, film editing, CG… everything motion, treated in the Motion Design studios. (Above: Marielle Devoyon, manager)

The Photoshoot Village

My favourite part, naturally. The photo department was in a whole other building – housing nearly 40 photo studios and one very sexy room full of big cameras and studio equipments – all the photoshoots for the products happen here. Everything that goes on the website is shot and edited in the premises, which I found was very clever as it does keep a solid consistency in quality. (Above: Keelin Tassy, manager)

Webdesign Team

The most familiar setting for me, the WebDesign studios. They deal with the aesthetics of the site, including the site’s ‘door’ theme that changes every month. Right now I believe they have polarbears in Central Park NY…? Always lighthearted and featuring an animal of some sort! (Above: Emilie Veillon, manager)

Jacket – Courtesy of H! by Henry Holland, Sweater – Topshop, Shirt as Dress – AA, Riding Pants – AA, Shoes – Zara, Bag, Belt – Jin Yoo 103684

Overall I must say I was immensely impressed by the work atmosphere and how so many talents are housed under one roof. It’s a bit like that one loft building in Shoreditch where all the artists, actors and designers supposedly live, flat next to another… a bit more purple lighting in this case. It really does make a huge difference seeing what happens behind the scenes in a company, makes you realize how much work is put in for the things we always take for granted.

Apologies for the long post – if you made it down here you deserve a pot roast, or a BIG TASTY carrot for the vegetarians. Thank you always for reading what I’m up to. xx

Thank you Vente Privee for having me over and Simona Saccà for taking me around the entire day!

Topshop Unique SS11 Show held in old Eurostar station

Disco glam enveloped in black silk chiffon smoke and flaming amber, orange, red photographic print drapery. And that cotton candy marshmallow hair that vigorously tickled my fancy…. hey wait, s’mores. Another huge success and a long long wait until Spring 2011. I just got used to the antlers, can’t we just settle on one season at a time? By Christmastime we’ll have to DIY reflective antler sunglasses just to keep up with the season’s latest and coming up’s.

Jacket & Shoes – H&M, Knit Dress – Market in Vilnius, Jeans – Cut Zara, Striped top – Topshop, Necklace – Courtesy of Mimco

Short film by Mimco, featuring Emma Balfour

Mimco approached me with a proposal to send over a piece from their new collection for me to interpret into a photoshoot, video or a bellydance, as long as it illustrated the theme of the collection – a story from the fluttering pages of a Victorian-age débutante’s diary, an Unpredictable Revolution. Within a fortnight, a jelly-acetate necklace cluttered with slick hardware arrived with a heavy red book. The cynical graphic designer in me couldn’t help but chuckle at the cliché of finding the book dug out and containing an antique key and wax-sealed letter, but the package sure delivered the mood. The brief suggested a few different storyboards that could be elaborated on, and I figured this revolution can start from me so I did my own mish mash of themes: Noir – Castaway – Ritual – Nature – Overload – Kaleido – Reflective…

Thank you Ellen for helping me out with the photos!

Sweater – Gmarket, Skirt – Courtesy of Storets.com, Bag – Solar, Socks – Courtesy of AA, Shoes – Topshop, Belt – Vintage, Shoulder thing – DIY

Clockwise from top left: Cracked-sole Boots; Bag; Pleat Dress; Tiered Top; Trousers & leggings; Multi-buckle boots

Quick post before going back to squat in corner making last minute pricetags for tomorrow’s yard sale – apparently Kit and some others are making banners as well?? Are we doing elections or summink!? Eery feeling, this rush of confuzzled panic + ultra-sleepiness…

Some picks from the latest in Storets.com – they were so kind to send over a generous box a few months ago, it just took me ages to put up. Storets is like a condensed version of Gmarket, sans epileptic window fireworks and out-worldly shopping procedures, MAIS avec the usual too-pretty Korean models that make me cut their heads off as in above collage. SMUG. FACE. I has. HA!