Everyone's favorite day to party is upon us, and it couldn't be nicer in New York.
Enjoy my favorite scary tunes:
"Everyday is Halloween" - Ministry
"Night of the Living Dead" - The Misfits (Danzig-era)
"Halloween" - Siouxsie and the Banshees
"Cryptorchid" - Marilyn Manson (Sidenote: This video provided the theme for our eighth grade haunted house, which I acted as creative director and included themes such as damnation and salvation, torture and redemption. It would have been a poignant commentary on modern teenage suffering, but there was an asbestos leak in the basement.)
This is pretty self-explanatory, and crucial (of course).
Friday, October 31, 2008
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Seoul Design Olympiad and The Cat That Came From Korea
Initially, the reason I wanted to go to Seoul was because of SDO (Seoul Design Olympiad). I wasn't aware until recently, but Seoul, in the next decade, is totally renovating itself, and getting hugely famous designers and architects to come in to help. So in an effort to keep Seoulites feeling connected, they hosted a "Design Olympiad" which was a crash course in all things design. (A design competition, exhibitions by Jamie Hayon and Zaha Hadid and an emerging designers market) It worked. I was enthralled.
Belinda and I went because of our late arrival, we had an extra day. We both were expecting to be disappointed, and if it wasn't for the damp, chilly weather, we would have had a completely flawless day. I did a bit of shopping, met up with Park Jong Chul (the completely English-less menswear designer) for some tea, and then dropped by the showroom of Lee Ju Young, who is Marilyn Manson's personal designer. But don't hold that against her - her eye for exquisite menswear details could give Marc Jacobs or Patrick Ervell a hint or two.
Then I met up again with Belinda for some sight-seeing, candy purchasing and worm smelling. Really, thats what I did. Exhausted, I limped into bed, with only the culinary delights of an impending breakfast to worry about the next day...
Belinda is entering the SDO. These are collected pieces of rubbish hung festively around the entrance. It was...effective, I suppose, if you like glittery bits of trash.
One half of the curvacious and ribbed conference center...
...the second half!
Here are a few of the "build your own bench" submissions, which encouraged citizens to come up with bench designs
The official (get this) FONT of Seoul. They have their own font.
Heh. Remember earlier when I said, "They use cute creatures to sell everything!" Welll....that's still true, but that one particular creature is "Arrrr...Ng." Yes, I'm spelling that right. He's some mysterious doorknocker, and he is certainly cute (well, maybe not here).
Belinda traipsing through the stadium. Watch her traipse!
I'm inside the conference center, which was awkward, because I said, "Take a picture of me! I'm inside the conference center!"
These kids were bloody talented. I kept peeking on their work, and I'm guessing art is taught with an iron fist in Korea.
JeeYoon taking a break, exhausted from leading us around.
This, my friends, is the most stylish life vest I have ever seen...If we gave up our orange things for one of these, I might be inclined to wear one more....
Ok, this is a dress for the military that converts into a tent. They don't offer any alternative to what you should be wearing when you are sleeping in your dress tent, which leads me to believe the military in Korea is mighty sexy.
A kind of janky but clever watering device.
Lights being all design-y.
Belinda and I sitting on a desk called the "His and Hers Desk", made for two people to work independently, but together!
Look closely, but that shirt has an imprint on the underside, allowing wearers to pull it over their head for a scary face.
Grossest clothes hanger ever.
This little guy was sitting in the corner reading his paper for over an hour.
This man (who didn't speak a lick of English) was painting shirts with biodegradable ink. He only made things out of refuse, and he gave Belinda and I a handpainted calendar.
Koreans love taking pictures of their pictures.
Arrrr...Ng in the flesh! He's adorable.
Inside of Lee Ju Young's showroom, which was a lush gothy fantasy (perfect for moi).
Leather embellishments.
Her men's color pallette
A shirt with netted ornamentation, very shipwreck-victim. Loved it.
When I headed back to Fashion Week, there were celebrities there and everyone was trying to get a picture. Koreans love their celebrities...
Doing something New Yorkers never do...waiting in line.
Seoul streets.
A Korean arcade.
Rice wine, which I brought home to discover it tastes monumentally better when served out of a clay pot with a wooden ladel.
The epilepsy attack that is a 7/11.
Belinda: "Should I get the one with the smiley little creature, or the one with the smiley little creature?"
Ok, maybe zoom in or click the picture for this one. That ketchup was SO pristine it looked like a food ad.
And, as promised, snail shells and stinky bugs. Those bugs smelled like rotting, I don't know...bugs?
Last morning!
Our dining view.
On the bus to the airport, toting the cat I bought from the Young Design Mart. That cat was the bane of that day, but I brought it around the world to hang out in Brooklyn.
Well, there's my trip. It was epic and a bit anti-climactic. I didn't learn Korean boxing nor did I get caught in a international heist, but I did learn a lot and come up with a zillion pitches. And I made a few friends too.
And the cat. Don't forget the cat. I came out of this with a lovely cat (and more press schwag than I can measure...).
Belinda and I went because of our late arrival, we had an extra day. We both were expecting to be disappointed, and if it wasn't for the damp, chilly weather, we would have had a completely flawless day. I did a bit of shopping, met up with Park Jong Chul (the completely English-less menswear designer) for some tea, and then dropped by the showroom of Lee Ju Young, who is Marilyn Manson's personal designer. But don't hold that against her - her eye for exquisite menswear details could give Marc Jacobs or Patrick Ervell a hint or two.
Then I met up again with Belinda for some sight-seeing, candy purchasing and worm smelling. Really, thats what I did. Exhausted, I limped into bed, with only the culinary delights of an impending breakfast to worry about the next day...
Belinda is entering the SDO. These are collected pieces of rubbish hung festively around the entrance. It was...effective, I suppose, if you like glittery bits of trash.
One half of the curvacious and ribbed conference center...
...the second half!
Here are a few of the "build your own bench" submissions, which encouraged citizens to come up with bench designs
The official (get this) FONT of Seoul. They have their own font.
Heh. Remember earlier when I said, "They use cute creatures to sell everything!" Welll....that's still true, but that one particular creature is "Arrrr...Ng." Yes, I'm spelling that right. He's some mysterious doorknocker, and he is certainly cute (well, maybe not here).
Belinda traipsing through the stadium. Watch her traipse!
I'm inside the conference center, which was awkward, because I said, "Take a picture of me! I'm inside the conference center!"
These kids were bloody talented. I kept peeking on their work, and I'm guessing art is taught with an iron fist in Korea.
JeeYoon taking a break, exhausted from leading us around.
This, my friends, is the most stylish life vest I have ever seen...If we gave up our orange things for one of these, I might be inclined to wear one more....
Ok, this is a dress for the military that converts into a tent. They don't offer any alternative to what you should be wearing when you are sleeping in your dress tent, which leads me to believe the military in Korea is mighty sexy.
A kind of janky but clever watering device.
Lights being all design-y.
Belinda and I sitting on a desk called the "His and Hers Desk", made for two people to work independently, but together!
Look closely, but that shirt has an imprint on the underside, allowing wearers to pull it over their head for a scary face.
Grossest clothes hanger ever.
This little guy was sitting in the corner reading his paper for over an hour.
This man (who didn't speak a lick of English) was painting shirts with biodegradable ink. He only made things out of refuse, and he gave Belinda and I a handpainted calendar.
Koreans love taking pictures of their pictures.
Arrrr...Ng in the flesh! He's adorable.
Inside of Lee Ju Young's showroom, which was a lush gothy fantasy (perfect for moi).
Leather embellishments.
Her men's color pallette
A shirt with netted ornamentation, very shipwreck-victim. Loved it.
When I headed back to Fashion Week, there were celebrities there and everyone was trying to get a picture. Koreans love their celebrities...
Doing something New Yorkers never do...waiting in line.
Seoul streets.
A Korean arcade.
Rice wine, which I brought home to discover it tastes monumentally better when served out of a clay pot with a wooden ladel.
The epilepsy attack that is a 7/11.
Belinda: "Should I get the one with the smiley little creature, or the one with the smiley little creature?"
Ok, maybe zoom in or click the picture for this one. That ketchup was SO pristine it looked like a food ad.
And, as promised, snail shells and stinky bugs. Those bugs smelled like rotting, I don't know...bugs?
Last morning!
Our dining view.
On the bus to the airport, toting the cat I bought from the Young Design Mart. That cat was the bane of that day, but I brought it around the world to hang out in Brooklyn.
Well, there's my trip. It was epic and a bit anti-climactic. I didn't learn Korean boxing nor did I get caught in a international heist, but I did learn a lot and come up with a zillion pitches. And I made a few friends too.
And the cat. Don't forget the cat. I came out of this with a lovely cat (and more press schwag than I can measure...).
Friday, October 24, 2008
Fashion shows + flourescent light = a very long day
I appeared at the Seoul fashion week at like, 10:30 AM when it was opening at noon. I walked around, the only Caucasian for kilometers and had to listen to some of the worst music I've ever heard. It wasn't that it was just bad or out of my cultural understanding - it was really, very bad. The drum beat sounded like an elephant dancing. An awful elephant.
The shows themselves were very strange, like slightly off, way more sober imitations of NY fashion week. Some of the stuff I didn't like at all. And I enjoyed other parts quite a bit. I saw Ha Sang Beg's show, which was a massive undertaking and apparently a tremendous amount of Korean celebrities were there. It was incredibly like Christopher Kane or Bernhard Wilhelm or someone out of that new British school.
Of course, after the shows, I met my friend Sai who is the buyer for the sickest store in Seoul, Space Mue invited me to Sang Beg's after show, and of course (well, not of course, I was entirely shocked) Henrik Vibskov arrived. Being one of my favorite designers - and consequently the closing act of fashion week - I was ecstatic.
Oh, of course. I did a bit of shopping. Because the shopping here is amazing. Incredible. I braved rain and crowds and giants mobs of cheery Korean girls to do it.
And I fell asleep in my clothing. Of course.
Day 2 outfit
This is my typical breakfast. There are dumplings, some delicious muesli/coconut combo, and a whole weat bun. Do you see that fruit at the top? No idea what that it. It has the consistency of a apple but tastes a bit like a plum meeting a pineapple.
Remember how I said everything sells with a cute figure emblazoned on it? Well, here.
Fashion week (at like, 10 AM)!
A totally organic/anatomical piece by Moon Kyung Rae
Details of Moon Kyung Rae's lung-like dress
This bag has a bit of a bicycle on it!
Le Conte de Asura - which is OK.
They had funny hats and kind of half-assed shoes.
I like the seperates I think. Seoul has a lot of mens-inspired womenswear.
The people in Seoul dressed a lot better than the shows in NY
Finale
They had this dramatic wedding/mourner to end the show. It was lousy.
Ha Sang Beg
Check the extreme ruffles on the shoulders and trim.
His menswear was very femme
See the front...
...now the back! The ruffles are great.
This dress was so beautiful.
Finale
I can't really get into bubblegum pink and mens clothing...
Ha Sang Beg came out to talk to me
This is the translator helping me with Park Jong Chul
After the interview, Jong Chul said that I was the best journalist that has ever interviewed him and he wanted to give me a gift.
On our way to dinner in the university district.
Some yoms
In Korea, giant men lure us into eateries.
Ordering din. We are all sitting on our knees.
We had lots to drink. This is Jee-Yoon. She is Jan's counterpart, except young, laid back and isn't afraid to laugh.
No one knew what this was. No one.
Soup!
Aaron investigates the underwear store.
This is Sai. She's very cute and I adore her. We've met up several times, and she is incredibly knowledgeable about underground European fashion.
HENRIK VIBSKOV
Sang Beg and the tall Dane!
I slept in this morning and took off running, completely fuzzy and confused. I was so exhausted from yesterday, and I could be content never chatting again. Though, interviewing someone through a translator is delightful because they get straight to the point.
The shows themselves were very strange, like slightly off, way more sober imitations of NY fashion week. Some of the stuff I didn't like at all. And I enjoyed other parts quite a bit. I saw Ha Sang Beg's show, which was a massive undertaking and apparently a tremendous amount of Korean celebrities were there. It was incredibly like Christopher Kane or Bernhard Wilhelm or someone out of that new British school.
Of course, after the shows, I met my friend Sai who is the buyer for the sickest store in Seoul, Space Mue invited me to Sang Beg's after show, and of course (well, not of course, I was entirely shocked) Henrik Vibskov arrived. Being one of my favorite designers - and consequently the closing act of fashion week - I was ecstatic.
Oh, of course. I did a bit of shopping. Because the shopping here is amazing. Incredible. I braved rain and crowds and giants mobs of cheery Korean girls to do it.
And I fell asleep in my clothing. Of course.
Day 2 outfit
This is my typical breakfast. There are dumplings, some delicious muesli/coconut combo, and a whole weat bun. Do you see that fruit at the top? No idea what that it. It has the consistency of a apple but tastes a bit like a plum meeting a pineapple.
Remember how I said everything sells with a cute figure emblazoned on it? Well, here.
Fashion week (at like, 10 AM)!
A totally organic/anatomical piece by Moon Kyung Rae
Details of Moon Kyung Rae's lung-like dress
This bag has a bit of a bicycle on it!
Le Conte de Asura - which is OK.
They had funny hats and kind of half-assed shoes.
I like the seperates I think. Seoul has a lot of mens-inspired womenswear.
The people in Seoul dressed a lot better than the shows in NY
Finale
They had this dramatic wedding/mourner to end the show. It was lousy.
Ha Sang Beg
Check the extreme ruffles on the shoulders and trim.
His menswear was very femme
See the front...
...now the back! The ruffles are great.
This dress was so beautiful.
Finale
I can't really get into bubblegum pink and mens clothing...
Ha Sang Beg came out to talk to me
This is the translator helping me with Park Jong Chul
After the interview, Jong Chul said that I was the best journalist that has ever interviewed him and he wanted to give me a gift.
On our way to dinner in the university district.
Some yoms
In Korea, giant men lure us into eateries.
Ordering din. We are all sitting on our knees.
We had lots to drink. This is Jee-Yoon. She is Jan's counterpart, except young, laid back and isn't afraid to laugh.
No one knew what this was. No one.
Soup!
Aaron investigates the underwear store.
This is Sai. She's very cute and I adore her. We've met up several times, and she is incredibly knowledgeable about underground European fashion.
HENRIK VIBSKOV
Sang Beg and the tall Dane!
I slept in this morning and took off running, completely fuzzy and confused. I was so exhausted from yesterday, and I could be content never chatting again. Though, interviewing someone through a translator is delightful because they get straight to the point.
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