the Summer flash

2011-01-28T11:53:00.000-08:00

2010-12-29T06:41:00.000-08:00

time has come again to count the last couple of days until the new year begins. there are a very few days left of 2010 but even if the year passed by like sort of a rush, it was one of the most beautiful years i have ever lived to see.

this time last year we were planning and we actually held quite of a big new year's party with over 20 kids. it was chaotic but we knew there won't be another new year's party for us to gather all together and have a good time. a couple months later i found myself in paris wandering the streets and enjoying a two days sort of holiday. it was entirely beautiful to see my favourite musician for the first time live in a concert and especially in one of the most beautiful cities on earth, as they all say. not much later, we gathered together again this time to be part of the so-called prom where i actually last saw a lot of my ex-classmates. it was a brilliant time but it was also rushed. summer started then, temperatures were got higher and higher. look back in my stream and you will see that i had my birthday party in july 18th. three days after my actual birthday i woke up at about half past 4am and we left on a week's holiday to the black sea. i was heading to another concert and i didn't even know july 24th was going to be quite the best day of 2010 if not the best day of my entire life. i met new friends, i melted in the sun in a 12 hours queue and after all, danced on stage with my favourite musician and met him by the end of the concert. that day made my whole month. august brought me back to turkey for a week's holiday by the meditteranean coast. if you have ever been to turkey you definitely know what a colourful vibe you can find over there. if you haven't, you can imagine that. on september 1st i was getting off the plane in the rather windy and rainy romania, embracing the romanian autumn vibe and proudly coming home with the turkish tan that i got.

highschool started on september 13th as far as i can remember and it was not one of the most lovely day of them all. it was the beginning of something new, a little colder and a little cloudy. the whole autumn i tried to figure out how to react and how to begin to behave in this brand new area called highschool. after a couple months, i got used to the vibe and even if it's not the way i wanted it to be, i am OK with it. i know things come and go for some reason and eventually i am here for a good reason. we had ups and downs but after all, we managed to handle them all. fall is now over and so are the winter holidays (erm..almost). christmas was really nice, cozy and warm. just the way i wanted it to be.

comparing to last year, 2011 will find me in a completely new shape, broader, brighter and i am really glad it does. i am not into new year's resolutions just because i know i never follow any kind of plans. never. however, if there is something i would like to keep doing is meeting new people, following new paths, being eager to experience and to live life abundantly. these are all cliches but what if they are cliches for a damn reason. what if they are cliches because they actually work. i don't know. maybe they do. and i'd be glad if 2011 will show me the way to discover and experience some things that i haven't even noticed so far.

*don't judge me if 50% of my blog post has writing mistakes. i wrote this in a hurry just the way 2010 passed. seriously!

2010-12-20T11:11:00.001-08:00

this morning i was heading to an eldery home with my friend and a couple other school mates that we never said 'hi' to before. it was quite of a strange feeling but we actually enjoyed caroling to those old persons whose faces lit up with joy when they first heard us. the lyrics of the carols we sang were utterly unfamiliar to me and my buddy but instead of focusing on the songs, we focused on those people's faces and expressions that deeply touched us. we whispered to each other 'i am quite afraid of growing older, aren't you' and we both agreed. it is sad that we focus on such things from such a tender age. growing old shouldn't be a concern for some teens that haven't even tasted life yet.

i love old people though. i get so sentimental and inspired when i come across them. simply watching their face expressions or reactions to something beautiful makes me think about so many things. i want to live young, i am more of a modern peter pan. it makes me quite sad i waste my early teenage years with such things as thinking about the old me. what if there will never be an old me? i tend to concern myself with things i can not controll far too much and apparently i will only hurt my feelings with such things. i waste too much time doing this, esspecialy this time of the year. it is weird to go to people's houses that you often visit and notice how many things have changed since the last christmas. or the past couple winters.

for instance, i visited my grandparents a couple hours ago. my grandmother was making some cookies she used to bake every single year this time. i remember myself as a little kid staying with her and burning myself trying to pull out freshly baked cookies from the oven. i was eager to eat them before anyone else and i would have waited the whole damn year to eat those cookies. she asked me to eat a couple now but i honestly wanted none. and it was odd. on the other hand, i used to play some sort of weird game with my grandfather that we both invented when i was like six years old or something. we used to play that until we would drop and it was the best thing to do on winter afternoons. i poped the weird name of the game to him this afternoon and noticed the smile on his face. we will probably never play it again though.

nevertheless, i feel like i enjoyed things a lot more back then when i didn't use to think ahead everything i did and every step i'd take. i wish i could stop judging every moment of my life and stop thinking ahead everything that may happen. however, living young might be the best thing i have ever thought of. and yes i know it is an overrated cliche, but growing older is no excuse for growing up.

2010-12-01T11:28:00.001-08:00

December 1 is the national day of my country, Romania, and one year ago to this day I wrote quite a piece about what I felt at the moment. In one year, I have grown quite a lot and my thoughts have gone wild, they evolved. I haven't grown as a grow-up, I'm way too far to reach that and I don't want to. I have only become more open-minded, broader.

I can easily say I am not that angry anymore. I don't concern myself with things I cannot control, with things that happened in the past and things that are not up to me. I noticed I am in love with reality. Not necessarily the reality I live in but the universal reality. I love the real world, it’s nothing to do with fancy people. It's to do with people who come from different parts of the world, who embrace other cultures and don't take life for granted. Bad thing is that I have many many ideas but never make the most of them. I count on people far too much and I get the feeling that I should better wait for someone to come on my side rather than doing something on my own. I quit doing things so easily that sometimes I am afraid of even starting. I try not to give people more advice than I receive. I have not much experience, then how can I advise people correctly? I don't want to ride a high horse and talk about things I never seen or tasted. It is not worth it and after all, I have my own things to blab about.

I don't have a sense of belonging to this place in particular. I don't consider myself to be a patriot, either a nationalist. I sometimes feel like those two can get people at each other's throats from time to time. After all I don't need to impose myself or where I come from. Take me away from here I would probably come with you, but miss it soon after. I don't miss the place, I miss the people that I love and those I can't carry with me everywhere I go. Unfortunately, I am so attached to my family and friends that it has to be so hard for me to let go. This is why I love to procrastinate so much. Give me something to ask for and that will be time. There are not enough hours a day, days a week, weeks a month. I need space as well. I need space and time to create, to share, to taste. I love music so much. I love finding a tuneful song and listen to it until it is stuck there in my head and doesn't matter when I wake up in the morning, I can still feel the rythm. I love going to music shops and look for cds, I love buying cds that are catchy enough to make me pick them up. Like love at first sight, do you know what I mean?

Since last year's national day I have changed quite a lot. After all I carry the conclusion that we should really try to see the extraordinary in things that others consider ordinary. I should really try to understand the others but the most important of all, have fun. Have fun more than anything. Have fun in my very own way. I shouldn't be doing things just because others consider them to be fun. I shall find my own kind of fun. Meet people, share life stories, sing, feel the rythm, be eager to experience new things, learn. Fucking live.

Live life abundantly.

2010-11-10T08:37:00.001-08:00

there are a couple of weeks left and november will be over just as the other fall months did. autumn is the season i dislike the most just because you can barely see the sun and even if it comes out, you don't get to enjoy it just because it sets down no later than 5:30pm. i only realized how fast did fall pass today when i replaced the wisp of dried flowers that i had in my room for the whole summer and autumn, with some oranges, cinnamon and cloves.

i remember being 5 or 6 and going to kindergarden and still beliving in Santa. it was the most beautiful feeling ever that someone would come in the middle of the night and enter your house and leave presents underneath that tree people always set in their houses during Christmas. it was just normal to belive in such things. how could you ever not celebrate Christmas? there wasn't such thing for me then, but I later noticed that not everybody does and it was quite a shock. winter was also a good time to tidy your shoes so st. Nicholas would come and put gifts in your shoes on december 6th every year. the story says that naughty kids will only get a stick in their shoes and no gifts. my grandpa always did that but i always knew he was the one who did so i didn't care as long as the real st. Nicholas knew I was a good girl. then we would go back to kindergarder or school and share presents with the other kids.

i didn't even realize when did i stop saying 'what did Santa bring you?' and replaced that with 'what did you get for Christmas?'. but did you? it's like everything dissapears gradually and in the end you realize how many years passed since you last said or did something you enjoyed. however i used to be the so eager to see the first snow, and i still am. i used to ask my grandparents about it every single day since the begining of november. i have no idea how they did it but i remember clearly that everytime they said 'it is going to snow tonight, dear' well it did. who would have ever imagined that there are countries where winter is not necessarily about snow? deffinitely not me. i know it was quite of a disaster when it didn't snow on Christmas but not to have snow at all? that must have been weird.

we used to raise money or collect toys at school and donate them to poor kids. it was such a nice thing when we would go and sing carols to orphanages or hospitals and spread gifts. then we would go home and tell our parents how great we did and how good we sang and how beautiful is was. not long after it was time to decorate the Christmas tree and entire house. i remember that i used to weigh the tree so much that once it felt off and lots of things broke but however it was still nice to do it again.

we still do it to this day but it's like it has lost some of it's magic. people changed and i don't how kids approach the winter holidays lately. i don't like we now try to pass on the torch and do the same as we did every year but it doesn't came out the same. people are mean and they start to care less about being humble and kind during this season and care more about the material things that are actually less important. kids are getting to be more ignorant and this way the it is all coming to an end. i still hope this winter will be a dreamlike one, like all those winters that i remember since i was a kid and i will always do. there are a couple of days left until the Christmas holiday season begins and i can only smile thinking of that. i hope and i am sure you will try your best to put together one of the most beautiful winters of your life. let's make a deal and try to be as good as you can during this Christmas season. try to bring back to life those dreamy winters that you had as a kid. i can only smile thinking of that.

one - September 24th

2010-09-22T05:55:00.000-07:00

I am more of a free spirit. Take me for two months all over the world and I would be more than delighted to take part. Show me everything and there will be no thing that I wouldnt like to find out more about. Nationalism and patriotism.. these scare me. They are what had people at each others throats from time to time.. and still do.

I dont like being fenced or told to do something. These are merely the reasons why I get pissed off. I am obsessed with certain things, truly, and utterly obsessed. My obsessions do help me most of the time, but they push me back sometimes too. I love doing too many things at once mostly because I have too many passions. My passions or obsessions dont always show off. However they merely dont show off. I spend my entire day struggling to do something, to reach a goal, to pursue a dream. You are obviously not passionate enough if you dont.

I've learned that few people are lucky and they may steal your thunder, but you shouldnt give up whatever happens. It is funny enough when I say 'I have learned something' it doesnt really mean I use it in my own life. Most of the things I learn I don't use for stupid reasons. Youth is funny because you feel like you know them all, but there are only a few years to go and you will come at the decision that you know nothing. Youth is definetly the best time of your, my, our life. If everything, it should be encouraged.

Isnt it lovely that you can give up, be made a fool of, but still live. And you still have a bit of delight, that you are alive. You certainly dont think this way when people treat you bad or whatever, but you will, later. I am so happy that I see and know that many things at such a young age. I have kind of forced myself to grow up, but I dont feel sorry at all.. I enjoy life more this way. I cherish it more this way. And you cant even tell.. you cant even tell.

However, this is what I wanted to do for so long. To let myself go this way.. write whatever came thourgh my mind at the moment without setting up, without anything like that. Genuine things can be so brilliant sometimes and you dont get to discover that until you try it by yourself. Being yourself is probably the most interesting and beautiful thing you can ever do and I envy those who can, in a good way. Call it.. admiration? Yeah, they pretty much bowl me over.

Talent.

2010-09-08T09:26:00.000-07:00

In art there are only fast or slow developments. Essentially it is a matter of evolution, not revolution - Bela Bartok

I recently posted a photo on flickr where I mainly blabbed about my throughout the years photography fast-tracking. I actually got some pretty interesting replies, thing that made me actually realize how many people confuse talent with evolution and eventually, determination .

Talent is mostly defined as the natural ability to be good at something, esspecialy without being taught. It sounds quite suitable and no, I won't fight Cambridge. I don't deny the fact that there are certain people who have a turn for certain things, but let's not charge that Mozart was only a talented boy. He was not born with some God given enigmatic talent, but a power to go farther and develop what he already had. Talent is getting to be more like an excuse for so many folks who don't even try to look for something to give themselves some sense of identity. This is not right at all. You have to find something you can express yourself through.. doesn't matter what. People who get there, well they are not only gifted, but unremitting and purposeful.

As one of my readers' said, it's like if you have talent they don't have to feel bad for not being able to draw or write or sing or whatever. The thing is.. you don't get to realize how big the difference between talent and evolution is until you get to face it. All the people that I admire, doesn't matter they are writers, singers or photographers, got to be who they are now because they did what they thought would be suitable for them for hours and hours every day, years in a row. The so called talent is not going to show up if you wait for it to. Things aren't that easy as they may seem. They are not that hard either. Just do it..

more or less, a moodboard for Fall 2010.

2010-09-05T04:45:00.000-07:00

I mostly compile my moodboard by the beginning of a season, or a month, but I don't do them that often. Inspiration for my fall 2010 mood board came from loads of different weird places. I discovered some of the most talented illustrators this summer, mostly via Amelia's magazine - which is, by the way, the most delicious place to spend your time. Richard Hogg, Richard Perez, Heng Swee Lim, Dylan Haigh, Bobbin Bicycles are only a few names. Check them out and you will instantly be able to tell why. They are all an endless source of bright ideas and inspiration, God bless.

See, I mostly get inspired by illustrations, designs and sounds, or let's say I look for inspiration into these things. My photography would turn in some sort of copycat affair if I would only get inspired by photos. It doesn't work for me at all - I tried! But let me tell you something.. it's more likely to get inspired by different domains, yet similar to your comfort zone. It works way better for me to be honest. I always check my photo gods' things too, to be entirely honest.

Magazines definetly inspire me loads. Probably the September issue of VOGUE is the only reason why I wanted fall to come - for those who are unfamiliar, it is the biggest issue of the WHOLE year. I spent one entire week, while being in Turkey, analysing every single page of it and I feel very Vogue cultured right now. There are certain things you can only get from such a magazine and I would rather spend £4.1 for Vogue instead of buying icecream. If you know me, you know icecream is important to me right?

However.

Those who follow me on twitter probably know that I listened a lot to Habanera, Bizet lately. It is part of my moodboard for sure. It inspired the hell out of me lately, thing that you will probably notice in my upcoming photos.

Right now, I am designing a tshirt for a competition that I desperatly, I mean desperatly, want to win. I have a quite good idea, but I know it won't work as long as it is definetly not my comfort zone. Who knows? It would be a pity not to try. I can't tell you what am I doing, but I can tell you there are a lot of stamps involved. It is GOOD though.. for now.

I chase melody, shamelessly.

2010-08-15T04:57:00.000-07:00

Forget ever fashion rule you ever learnt: Mika's most flamboyant trend is all about colour, chaos and creativity. He blows us away with his colourful fashion style and explosions of breathtaking brights.

Michael Holbrook Penniman, better known as MIKA is definetly my favourite singer alive and a pop sensation of the moment. He claims that his fashion style or sense is mostly accidental, but let's get serious Meeks, you are a fashion genius. He often gets dolled up by designers such as Christian Louboutin (which we love), Matthew Williamson and Stella McCartney, but never ever wears them in a plain way. When he doesn't spoil himself with little more expensive designer pieces, he shops from stores such as American Apparel or GAP.

Some weeks ago I had the chance to be one of his 'dancers' (aka lollipop girl) and to take a closer look to some of his/the dancers' outfits. His mother makes all of them, along with some of his everyday outfits and she is really good at it. Details, embroideries, prints.. his stage clothes have them all. His mom is a kids' clothing designer most of the time, as much as I know, but she often does clothes for him in a very unique way. Quoting him, the more homemade something is, no matter how succesful if gets, if it's homemade it comes from the heart and you can always tell the difference.

He values freedom and egalitarianism and partly because of that, values Britain. Oh hells how could you ask for more? Even he is strongly based in London, he often feels there is nowhere that he truly belongs. Not only because the national identity is quite lacking, but it was when his father was taken hostage for eight months in Kuwait when Meeks was a child. He says 'that concept of complacency was never in my childhood whereas most kids don't understand that''. Even though he had a tough adolecence, he shares happy thoughts with us, mostly because of his happy sounding music. At first blush his music might be joyful, but he often combines upbeat music with dark lyrics. Ditto his music, Mika's fashion style glitters all the time.. thing that makes us feel alive and forget about the real world while listening to his music or while being at his gigs.

"I see colours and feel really happy or sad depending on what I'm listening to. I think my family always knew I would be a musician because of the way I responded to music."

Follow Mika on: Twitter
Or take a look at his website.

Nicolas Méphane - Sexties

2010-08-10T22:40:00.000-07:00

I recently came across Nicolas Méphane's work, which is nothing like the everyday photography that you see around. France based photographer, with a quite big passion for portraiture and human feelings, he manages to take your breath right off. Blending reality with some sort of fantasy, his photos are orginial in every single way. I managed to interview him yesterday, so here are some of his thoughts that he shared..

What made you want to become a photographer?

Honestly I have to say that it's pure coincidence. Ever since I can remember, I was 15 years old and I was walking around with my friend. It was the fashion blog then and I wanted to try something different with her, then we dicided to take photos as we can see on magazines. Unfortunatly we didn't know how complicated it could be to do it haha. So I guess this is what 'made' me become a photographer.

Where do you get your inspiration from?

World, it is my main inspiration. Otherwise I get it when I'm looking thoughr other photographer's work, or in my mind: There're lot of strange things passing by.

What would you most like to be remembered for?

Passion ? I would like to remember this passion all time. Because each action is completely unique. You can do hundred times all the same action on different situations, but the passion never change. And the result either. That's so wonderful.

What themes or ideas are you trying to share with this work?

I don't have themes or clear ideas on what I'm doing with my work. I just try to share my own feelings. I am constantly searching for better, to make my work look better. I recognize I like to keep my work away from reality, create something etheral and very unique. Even though everyone knows how hard is to be original today !

Does your country or homeland inspires you in any way?

Of course ! All locations have photographic potential. You need to take a good look around you, you could see lot of things! Lot of possibilities that you wouldn't see if you just have took a glance. So yes my county, and homeland gave me some nice ways to shoot.

Did you learn anything about yourself from photography?

Yes... I learn so much from photography. Mostly on myself, and obviously on people around. I learnt to see the world differently, and to be more prudent with what I want to do.

What are your current and future projects?

Well.. I don't like to share them before I finish them actually. But I'm going to make a change. So my projects are now to make a 'short film' and I won't say more about it ah! And then, I'm working on fashion style with a magazine. You'll see the result soon.

:)

You can find more of his photos on his website or on flickr: http://nicolasmephane.carbonmade.com/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sexties

Urban

2010-07-09T01:15:00.000-07:00

I tried to put together some pieces of inspiration that I get from flickr most of the time. Besides the great photos that flickr folks take, some of them are bloody stylish. Creativity, style and flair.. they and their models have them all. I asked them if it's okay to put them here and I was excited to see that they were all ok with it. Enjoy!

These are taken by Maisie Cousins and here is her website: www.maisiecousins.com

I have to say that floral dress is to die for. I'd love to have one.

These are taken by Christian Carocca which is also a singer and you can listen to his music here: http://www.myspace.com/christiancarocca

These are taken by Lauren and make sure you go and visit her other photos clicking on the link.

love, Alle

Hot Wax, City Cool and Solid Gold

2010-06-28T06:31:00.000-07:00

You know, I don't give a damn about trends. I don't follow trends, I ussualy don't like them. I have some certain fashion designers that I love whatever they do. Whatever the trend it, they always come with something delightful. I like to see different kinds of fabrics and patterns even the actual trend says they're not in anymore. I hate that in and out thing. It's just overdone in my oppinion.

Before you head to the mall to shop for the latest clothes of the season, walk into your closet and take a look at the pants, jeans, tops, skirts and suits that you already have. It may be surprising, but it is simple to create dozens of new looks with your clothes by mixing and matching. You can even make up your own trend to follow.

These are some of my mixes that I recently did on that damn polyvore :

Classy by Alle Swirl featuring Steven Alan blazers

Julep striped cotton blazer
$300 - net-a-porter.com
More Steven Alan blazers »

Vanessa Bruno Cropped cotton-blend pants
$140 - theoutnet.com
More Vanessa Bruno pants »

Forever21.com - Shoes - Casual - 2055986266
$18 - forever21.com
More Forever21 sandals »

Apolis Activism Market Bag – Commerce with a Conscience
$60 - commercewithaconscience.info
More handbags »

Small Peach Square Squares Bangle
$195 - alexisbittar.com
More bracelets »

Moss Ginger Retro Sunglasses, Moscot
190 GBP - liberty.co.uk
More sunglasses »

Le Vernis by Alle Swirl featuring Stella McCartney tops

Cashmere and silk-blend cardigan
$845 - net-a-porter.com
More Stella McCartney cardigans »

Skirt - Mini on Location Print Skirt
123 GBP - paulsmith.co.uk
More Paul Smith skirts »

LULA
75 GBP - kurtgeiger.com
More Kg shoes »

Swarovski Crystal Evening Envelope Clutch w/Chain Strap - Rodo
$1,190 - forzieri.com
More Rodo clutches »

SIENNA
140 GBP - kurtgeiger.com
More Kurt Geiger sunglasses »

Amazon.com: Chanel Le Vernis Nail Colour Spring 2010 INATTENDU…
amazon.com

CHANEL in Nouvelle Vague - The 15 Hottest Nail Colors Right Now -...
instyle.com

Miu miu by Alle Swirl featuring Miu Miu

Galaxy Distressed Top by Your Eyes Lie**
$88 - topshop.com
More Your Eyes Lie t shirts »

NYLON BLOUSON
582 GBP - mytheresa.com
More Miu Miu jackets »

McQ Rolled-up denim shorts
$105 - theoutnet.com
More McQ by Alexander McQueen shorts »

BL491 White Shoes
50 GBP - coggles.com
More Bloch flats »

SUEDE SHOPPING BAG
797 GBP - mytheresa.com
More Miu Miu tote bags »

Tortoiseshell effect square frame sunglasses
115 GBP - debenhams.com
More Miu Miu sunglasses »

MIU MIU Belts - Item 46148167
$175 - yoox.com
More Miu Miu belts »

So yeah. I would wear these to death if I could.

Fame, style and magic

2010-06-21T10:14:00.000-07:00

Michael Jackson was my very first fashion icon. Until I came across his clothing style and charm, I never actually felt that appeal to fashion. Thanks to him, I discoverd designers like Zaldy, Christian Audigier, Michael Bush and so on. One glove, red pants, white socks, loafers, leather pants and plenty of badges and accessories as well as the infamous military jackets; his style is outstanding, stately and never ending.

His fashion style is equally remarkable as his talent. He paved the road for so many people and taught them how to became what they are now.

Look.. his style is changed and developed all the time, but everything came from him. He deserves a lot of credit for that, don't you think? He is part of the fashion industry. He really is..

This is from Harper Bazaar, who payed a well deserved tribute to his unique fashion style:

(the golden one is definetly my favourite! those gold studs and glittery fabrics are just to die for)

And finally.. he is and will be my fashion icon for ever and ever again. There are a few days left and there will be 1 year since he passed away. I already wrote my 'speech' that I will post on flickr so anybody could see it. Check out my flickr adress on June 25th and make sure you read it all.

love, Alle.

2010-06-21T09:12:00.000-07:00

Howdy.

Basically, I am new in what I will start now. Being inspired by journalists like Randy Taraborrelli and a bunch of fashion designers, I am going to start doing reviews on different types of art, mainly fashion. I am into fashion design, but as long as there're a very few people who actually live doing that, I am going into journalism.

I have a whole summer to furbish this up and to decide what should I do to make it GOOD. Whatever, comments and suggestions are much apreciated so if you have something to say, feel free to do it.

You can also catch up with me on :

http://twitter.com/Cherisse_
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cherisse_/