icon: Gloria Swanson

Over to NYC and our favourite hipster mag ‘Papermag‘ where our favourite writer (possibly of all time) shares with us an Icon from the golden age of Hollywood, and one who has possible never quite received the recognition she truly deserved.

A silent screen goddess and legendary style icon (are we alone in wishing that the screen sirens of today would be a little more, well, 1940’s in their style???), Gloria fell somewhat out of favour with the advent of the ‘talkies’ but rebounded to make a huge comeback in the 1950 classic Sunset Boulevard. Queen Kelly which she introduces on the video above was, though a spectacular flop – to find out why, and to read more word of his gorgeous wisdom visit the wonderful Mr Mickey and click, juuuuuuust.  Here.

 

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design: iconic; graphic design.

A look at some of our favourite iconic, and not so iconic but equally as beautiful examples of graphic design . . .

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music: Beyoncé exclusive! new album release and hot new look!

It’s not often that we hang out at a run down motel in New Jersey dressed like a 70’s gangster’s moll – and much less that we do it and still look fab-u-lous, but then we’re not Miss Beyoncé Knowles.

Thats where we found her this weekend hanging out at a faded freeway stop off posing for a new photo shoot in the New York ‘burbs.

She looks radiant off the back of press regarding her next album, let slip that it is due to drop in June this year by Sony Music Australia executive Denis Handlin after he was heard enthusing: “It was just amazing. She came in and played us six tracks from the album’ Going on to say, ‘These songs, the best description I can give is groundbreaking; she’s gone to another level.’

With a new album, expected tour later this year, headlining the iconic Glastonbury Festival in Somerset, and new film role as Esther Hoffman in a remake of A Star Is Born, with Clint Eastwood directing.  It looks like this could be a massive year for Sasha Fierce!

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architecture: waterhouse hotel Shanghai

As anyone who has been to Shanghai will tell you the Bund is where the action happens, and anyone can also tell you that the South Bund has, for some time, been the less glamorous side to be – well not any longer.

Like the South Bank in London, the left bank in Paris,the South Bund has enjoyed something of a renaissance.  There is no letting of the financial might of the chinese government and the money that was literally thrown at the the area along the Bund in time for the expo has brought a new lease of life to the area.  It is this new lease of life that see’s the Waterhouse hotel take form, and my what a form it is too.

Neri & Hu Design and Research Office, one of China’s leading architectural voices, entirely transformed the 1930’s building but maintained the original façade. Lyndon Neri explains the design ethos for The Waterhouse: “This is a hotel that puts the emphasis on the traveller in search of some meaning, and not just the luxury component of living.” A conceptual blending of the antique and the contemporary, The Waterhouse is a complex dissociation and amalgamation of interior and exterior as well as public and private spaces, leading to a unique and entirely new experience for guests and locals alike.

 

Most major hotels in Shanghai are in the vibrant Pudong district, missing the magnificent view entirely, whilst the Waterhouse puts that view at it’s very heart. The Waterhouse at South Bund prides itself on integrating into the traditional local environment while challenging its boundaries and distinguishing itself absolutely in order to provide each guest with an unforgettable experience.

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fashion: Just in! Marc Jacobs Spring Summer video.

Marc Jacobs presents his spring summer 2011 collection, in a film shot in New York’s Hotel James. We love the commercial look of the video, and the fun, direct way he reminds us of the name of each garment.

The video itself is nothing special, with a mediocre storyline and acting. But the naive look and the way they introduce the products give it a very personal touch.

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architecture: the financial crisis of 2008 keeps NYC skyscraper on the block.

Shown here is the marketing video for 56 Leonard Street.  Devised by NYC based TronicStudio it sets a new bar for marketing property.

The financial crisis of 2008 has set back many major building projects across the globe.  One of the major losses though has been proposed New York skyscraper, 56 Leonard Street, the 796ft (243m) residential tower designed by (archistars behind the iconic birds nest stadium in Beijing, and Tate modern in London) the Swiss firm Herzog & de Meuron.

The tower is planned for Leonard Street (Manhattan) in Tribeca and when completed will have 58 floors. The building is described by the architects as “houses stacked in the sky.” In January 2009, skyscraperpage.com has noted that construction of the building has been suspended, due to financial problems.  The tower was also due to have the first permanent sculpture by Anish Kapoor in NYC.   At least we have this slick video to keep reminding us what could have been . . .

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fashion: Yohji Yamamoto has something of a London moment.

To London then for the grand opening of not just one, but two Yohji Yamamoto associated schemes.  The V&A museum in London’s Kensington “presents one of the most influential and enigmatic fashion designers of the last forty years. Yamamoto is a visionary designer who has made a vital contribution to fashion, challenging traditional norms of clothing with his avant-garde style”

Whilst over in Conduit street in the ever upmarket Mayfair district Y-3 the adidas associated store opened it’s new flagship.  Looks like the financial troubles of the past few years which saw Yohji loose his favoured flagship store in New York’s SoHo could be well behind him . . .

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topshop: Bergdorf Goodman Spring window review.

Now we love a department store as much as the next person as a kind of retail cathedral, some of course stand head and shoulders over others.  Macy’s in New York for pure scale.  Harrods in London as a testament to retailing genius.  Printemps in Paris as homage to beauty.

There is one though who shines even amongst this illustrious company.  That department store is Bergdorf Goodman, the store founded in 1899 always strives to have the best windows in the whole of New York and the latest window scheme using just balloons for Spring in association with the incredible artist jason hackenwerth is no exception and we think the results speak for themselves . . .

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topshop: a New York Spring window review.

Over to NYC then for a review of Spring window schemes . . .

We have slick clean lines from Carlos Miele, Spring in abundance over at Stella McCartney with her flower power mannequins, and DVF builds on her highly graphic approach to Christmas with an equally bold graphic puzzle for Spring.  Who got your vote?

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fashion: boys backstage – the models prepare for their shows

Over to backstage@.com for some revealing shots of male model talent backstage at recent fashion weeks across the globe.

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