The Eyes

Photographed By:Isabel Nilsson
Make-up: Karin Rydström
Model: Pauline

Busnel

Photographed By Ellinor Forje

They had me at the scarf.

La Grande Abbuffata

Photographed By Ellinor Forje

The decadence all-you-can-eat dessert buffet at Berns Asian.

Rachilde ("Monsieur Venus: A Materialist Novel"): No, no, don't let my vulnerable heart share in this sacrifice to lust! Let it disgust me before pleasing me! Let it be what others have been, an instrument that I can break before becoming the echoes of its vibration.

Ellinor: Oooohkaaay?

Glamour Me

Photopgraphed By Ellinor Forje

I'm guessing Victoria Silvstedt has first dibs on the entire Lexington Company collection.

On Lexington Avenue

Photographed By Ellinor Forje

Okay, I don't know under what rock I've been living, this past decade. But prior to attending the Lexington fashion show, I mostly associated the brand with bed and bathroom stuff. Cleary, somebody needs to keep themselves more updated.

But, how rad is their AW 2011 collection? I like the mixture of genres, the idea that there's something in store for every soul. Cool stuff.

By Berns

Photographed By Ellinor Forje

This is my view, from where I was seated, having dinner at Berns Salonger, on one of the days, in between the fashion shows. Of course I forgot to snap a photo of my meal - shame on me. But, it was a plate of salmon in some Teriyaki-sauce-tasting-thingy, paired with rice. Delicious. I love seafood. So, if you're a fish reading this; given the opportunity I'll eat you, and yes, your family too.

Back to fashion. The shows that I attended during Mercedez-Benz Fashion Week in Stockholm, were held both inside Berns Salonger, and in a tent at a park near by. It was kinda tedious walking back 'n' forth. Yes, to some of us, especially when wearing heels, 5-minute walks are tedious. But I enjoyed the fact that the place was busy.

The scene brought on throwback-images of dancers racing to make it to their audition, from some of my favourite flicks of the 80's. One girl, who grabbed my attention - while running to her next gig, had some Alek Wek thing going on. She looked so cool in her skinny jeans and faux fur by Lanvin for H&M. "A Model In Flight" - I wish I'd caught it on film.

On The Page It Looked Simple

Photographed By Ellinor Forje

At the presention of Altewai.Saome's collection for the next autumn and winter, all I did was stare at the details and the accessories.

Some Birds Aren't Meant To Be Caged

Photographed By Ellinor Forje

One of the highlights of my recent trip to Stockholm, was attending a press event hosted by designer and illustrator Lovisa Burfitt, in lieu of her latest collaboration with pottery and ceramics company, Rörstrand.

The bone china tableware set, with fashion illustrations by Burfitt, comes in five parts. And the sketches on the porslin, are based on the eccentric life of the fictional character, Mademoiselle Oiseau (Miss Bird), which is fittingly also the name of the collection.

The pastries you see in the photos, are from the bakery, Petite France. And as the true artist that I am, I pretended to create a culinary moodboard for the perfect photo shoot, when in fact, I was just looking for a way to pile a large quantity of macarons, on my dishware, unnoticed. "I need one of each colour for the perfect colour palette...I'm sure these are two different shades of pink, right?". Okay, let's make-believe that they are, and stop looking at my plate."

Anyway, I love the fact that Burfitt created a stage set for where Mademoiselle Oiseau, to act out her high drama. Although La Miss herself, was nowhere to be found. Believe me, I looked and looked. Then again, why should she be confined to such a small space, when her feathers shine so bright?

L'Ultimo Imperatore

Photographed By Ellinor

I finally watched the movie. My dramatic Valentino, you make me smile with my heart. I also recommend, "L' Amour Fou" - if you haven't seen it already. It's an introspective and intimate documentary about the love and life of Yves Saint Laurent. Melancholic, yet sweet. I intend to watch it again. This time on mute: So that I can enjoy all of the displayed artwork, in silence.

The Fashion Assistant

Photographed By Ellinor Forje

 She wore a green coat paired with a black hat.

How Do You Solve Your Acne Problem...

Photographed By Ellinor Forje

When I could spot them a mile away?

Ménage À Trois

Photographed By Alexandre Diallo

Stéphane - Alexandre - Stéphane - Alexandre, Je t'aime!!! Ah, mais non, I'm not really involved in a love triangle. But in a real case scenario: How would you pick your lover between the person, Stéphane Rolland, who designed the above collection; and Alexandre Diallo, who snapped the perfect images?
Rolland, as one of the potentials, "is rumoured to be the next best thing in (haute) couture". Well, I don't have time for rumours. And this particular one, has persisted for a few years now. So let's put it to rest, and conclude, that he is.

And where to be begin with his latest collection? There are so many iconic shapes. From the Alexis Carrington "shoulder pads" on garments one, four, five, 11 and 15. To the Roman Empirical cut of outfit seven. There's also the presence of architectural gravitas in all of the pieces. I find it hard to pick a favourite.
But, I think I've decided now. A selection has finally been made. And no, I'm no longer talking about the clothes.

The Sorrows Of Lucifer

Photographed By Ellinor Forje

In England, at the London Zoo, lives a lion with the stud number 666. His name is Lucifer. Befitting a supreme ruler, his mane is dark, and bigger than other Asiatic lions; it stretches all the way down to his stomach. He's magnificent to look at, especially when he stands on his podium. He's usually in a calm mood. But, occasionally he seethes. And at those times you wonder, what is eating the old light bearer?

Perhaps, it's his total exclusion from the fashion industry. Well, not total. Lucifer has through the ages, served as an inspiration for many a collar of a fashion designer's seasonal collection. But how many times has he graced the covers of the glossy fashion magazines, or been invited to, the equally glossy, fashion shows? What was that? Ah, yes, "you don't just stampede the front row".

The same story goes for the giraffe, with its perfect eyes and lashes. In its perfection, I'm positive that this creature has turned many an erect mascara brush, flaccid, with envy. Yet, we are still waiting for the day when we'll see it (not the mascara brush), in a major cosmetic campaign.

And yes, Naomi, I'm speaking directly to you now. That walk - the strut, was not invented by you sweetie. The Serengeti just called to inform us, that they're less than impressed by the swagger jacking.

What is the solution then - how can we stop Lucifer (Naomi, too - while we're at it) from pacing up and down with rage? Maybe it's time he's sent an invitation, I don't know - perhaps to the next Prada show? Then we could all enjoy the parade of zebra- mohawk - inspired shoes, seated at this event: Man and Beast together.

Les Enfants Du Paradis

Photographed By Alexandre Diallo

Christophe Josse's collection for the Spring and Summer 2011, reminds me of the movie "Les Enfants du Paradis" - "Children of Paradis" (1945). Mainly, the word association of the title of the film, and the feeling, that popped into my head, when I first saw the collection (this is what my DVD looks like). I didn't actually see it in person though. My friend, grad student, and sometimes photographer, Alex, attended the show. He lives in Paris (I should live in Paris).

The movie, set in the theatrical arena of the capital of France in the 19th century, revolves around a beautiful courtesan, Garance (Arletty), and the four men who are all in love with her. One of them, Baptiste (Jean-Louis Barrault), is a theater mime. He's a beautiful pantomime. Climactic as you can be in his white harlequin costumes.

The film is directed by Marcel Carné and was been voted as the best French movie ever to be made in 1995. I've seen a lot of good French movies since then so I can't completely agree. But, I do agree with David and Margaret's take on the classic.

MARGARET: David. Oh, God.

DAVID: It is. It's a great film and, as you rightly said, it was made under extremely difficult circumstances. They started shooting it in 1942. There was an awful lot of difficulty, which you talked about. One of the things was that when it was finally released in 1945, after the liberation, it was sort of seen almost as a kind of symbol of France re-emerging and French cinema re-emerging after this terrible period of war and occupation.

MARGARET: Yes, and Alexander Trowner, who is a wonderful set designer, the most amazing sets in this film, he eventually went onto Hollywood, where he designed sets for Billy Wilder's THE APARTMENT, for instance, among many others. He was a great designer.

DAVID: But, those sets are enormous.

MARGARET: Yes.

DAVID: And the number of extras.

MARGARET: Yes.

DAVID: This is sort of like huge. I think I read somewhere they had 20, 25,000 extras for some scenes. it's really amazing, given the circumstances in which the film was made.

MARGARET: I love this quote by Arletty, who was also accused of collaborating, because she had a relationship with a Luftwaffe officer during the war and she says, "My heart is French but my ass is international." I love that line.

DAVID: Yes. No, look, this is a wonderful film. I think you see it, you fall in love with it, you want to see it again and it's three hours long.

MARGARET: I know.

DAVID: But it is a masterpiece, I think.

MARGARET: Yes.

DAVID: Yes. Wonderful.