The Collective

IMAGE

2012-05-19T00:28:00.000+02:00

Seeking out the human experience. I want to feel it all. Let me be in pain, let it hurt. Come out of the comfort. Step out, smell the rain beat down on the concrete. Feel its sting on your skin. Raw, cut and dry, the bare basics of this world. Let me feel the fear, the real empathy. Don't shelter me. I know nothing of this hardship. Down and out. Blue, through and through. I've got my best jeans on. But logic can't solve this. You haven't felt. You can't have because you haven't lived. What good is education without experience? People work for nothing you know. You're one of the people yet you run like you're from money. I'm no more foolish than the next. You silly people, you perform so well. Take frivolity as your companion. She'd be happy to have you.

I wish it was the summer of '94 when we stood by the gate and watched the storms come thick and fast. It restored the rightful blue of the pool and discharged the air. Things were simple. But the stuff stored in the walls has followed me here. And I'm no where close. That chasm is still gaping and the new spring light will surely have an effect.

Strange creature you are, going wandering, and all by yourself. Hot as a pistol, clear as a bell. You're alright- it's just another hopeless Wednesday. But surely if you wanted honey, you'd just buy honey and not apricots. Bite down hard- you've been put on artist watch. And still your face won't crack. It's visceral. What is going on? Don't ask me, I'm no more informed than the next. But I will tell you I'm not afraid to say too much. You're just a fashion image. Couldn't you at least try to make it cinematic?

PAULO SUTCH

DONNA TROPE

NOTTING HILL

THROWAWAY

2012-05-13T23:33:00.001+02:00

I can be whatever you want me to be. Magnetic and unhinged. The first of her kind. Ravenous. Work now and live later. The first to move. Stroke to the horizon. Lucid pearly whites. Bodies with minds to match. Catapulted- stay close and hang on. The burden of perfection is weighted and predisposed. Give trust without knowing. You feel too much. So delicate, so fine your intuition. You fall so hard. It changes things. It stops things, you're sensitivity is a hindrance. Complexities and smoke screens. What's real and what is not real- you question perspective. It's haphazard. You get overlooked. Pick your moment because that moment is it. Don't forget this is business. It's not about you. Objectify yourself. What exactly can you do and what exactly does that make you good at? The hunted becomes the hunter. In two minds. Don't mess with the underdog. What do they say- that being somebody doesn't make you somebody? Emote and hope for a response. They will never throw you away. When you meet people you never know if they'll disappoint. And there is something honest in that.

SELF SERVICE
PIRELLI
HELMUT NEWTON
PARIS VOGUE

GAME-CHANGER

2012-04-23T00:02:00.000+02:00

Lift and tone. Reduce and sculpt. Don't PLAY the game. It's not dignified. This is, you are THE GAME-changer. Tell them to look elsewhere. Have some humility ya' POSER you. WE WANT women of ACTION. WE WANT THEM to wear electric blue Lycra and be next to BARE. WE WANT to see heels and BIKES, silk and CAPS, shearling and SPORTSWEAR. Throw it on. GO for a run.

THIS TIME

2012-04-22T00:22:00.000+02:00

This time. It wasn't. It didn't. It couldn't. Work. Who said? Sadness is a lot to bear. Pack, shift and shelter. Lie low. Let bitterness sit and let it settle. Take it. Relearn. Remember. It's okay. We're just kids. Time will expand. Blunda. Close them. Stop seeing what you saw- it's gone. But there's more. Go under, let the salt sting. Wait. Listen for the crash. Water, it makes a mess. Don't forget to wash your hair. It's Saturday- turn it up. This world was built for two. Stop falling- you'll find it underfoot. Pace it out. Shake it off. I'm coming to see you.

Lana Del Ray 'Video Games'

Darren McDonald

THE BOOK

2012-04-15T20:41:00.000+02:00

A book is much more than the paper, ink and glue it's made of. Its materials are merely a hold-fast, its over-arching purpose to communicate. Printed on blank sheets it carries the voice of its time. It's content holds history in the illustrations, photographs and words. It describes the fashion of an era- what was of interest, what was important, what people wanted to know more about. They exist as a legacy. Lined up on the shelf or stacked in pile - immortalised, woven and bound. To be collected, cherished and passed to the next generation.

Carine Roitfeld Irreverent & I'm With The Band by Pamela Des Barres is on order and yet to be acquired is The Beautiful People's Beauty Book by Luciana Pignatelli.

GIRLS IN SHIRTS

2012-04-06T21:32:00.001+02:00

Girls in shirts are impossibly cool. All nonchalance in their cotton cuts. Without the interference of underwire and straps it sits cuffed, sleeved and collared. Covering the curves yet somehow enhancing femininity. She's the kind of girl who likes to hang out with the boys. A quintessential tomboy. She gets their humour and can mess with the best. Not the kind you'd expect to draw the eye of a man despite the fact that she's no plain Jane. But they do want her though she's unaware of her appeal. Empowered by the androgynous cut- a girl can be a woman in a shirt.

I SAW YOU

2012-04-03T00:46:00.001+02:00

I saw you first. I saw you through your work. Inexperienced and naive. Reserved and exposed. When it was just a hobby you picked up in some lobby. I saw white space and black lines. You have something. It can't be manufactured. You can't be taught. I saw movement in a paragraph. It moved. The images fell through the words. Gone. They disappeared. There's no context without image and no meaning without text. Collaboration is seamless in theory. What's mine is yours and yours is mine. But when the work is done we'll see what we become. There will be nothing more to find. Are we the fortunate ones?

Darren McDonald

The Droge and Summers Blend 'Two of the Lucky Ones'

Cindy Lauper 'Girls Just Wanna Have Fun'

SOMETHING NEW

2012-03-29T23:37:00.000+02:00

Show me something new. Throw away the generic. There's no place for it here. Start from the beginning. Strip it back. Show me something that cracks a smile. Give me something I can keep. Something I will want to keep. Do it don't talk about it. Let it be a messy process. Pour yourself into its pages. Be a maverick, a renegade. Let it be awkward in its youth and forthright in approach. You'll know it when you see it. When the weight of the paper hits your hands. It will be everything we want it to be.

Jessica Miller for Vogue Germany
Image curation via Designspiration

ELEGANCE

2012-03-19T21:03:00.002+01:00

There's something elegant about destruction. Knowing destruction, either out-sourced or self-inflicted. An understanding of the consequences and the acceptance that it will happen. It comes slowly, unravelling, mixing business with pleasure. It drains and clarifies. There is both a sense of control and a loss of it all at once. The quiet before the storm. Energy gathers and the air thickens- momentum amasses. Let pre-conceived ideas go. This is a new elegance.

Images Jeanne Damas, BASICWONDER

NOT LIKELY

2012-03-18T22:23:00.001+01:00

It's not likely. This can't be happening. It just might be too good. Throw it all in. It's the 90's baby- people scream and shout. The generations on the move. Spin me around. The music only sounds right when you play it. You know, I saw you crying at the Discotheque. Kate Moss is here. How could you be so sad? It's breaking my heart in two. You know you can get anything.

Images curated via BASICWONDER- Roger Deckker

'Crying at the Discotheque' Alcazar

'Wild World' Cat Stevens

JADED

2012-03-15T23:37:00.001+01:00

Will we make it out alive? Don't hold your breath, you'll be holding out for a while. The side walk is volatile. Deviate. Transition the intersection and see through the next light. All grit and dust we're blinded by white. Follow the blue line round. You expect to see something new. Observe the changing landscape. You become jaded and overwhelmed by concrete. The competition's fierce. Meet you at the finish line.

Images BASICWONDER

A CROWDED ROOM

2012-03-09T15:33:00.000+01:00

“The very powerful can afford to speak quietly in a crowded room, knowing full well that the audience will hush and strain to hear what they have to say. It is an impressive way to demonstrate strength, and – crucially at Paris fashion week – an elegant one.”

- The Guardian’s Jess Cartner-Morley on Celine via a website by zoe walker

Dress like you've got more important things on your mind. Because surely, you do.

self service magazine/blog

KALEIDOSCOPE

2012-03-04T23:22:00.000+01:00

It was the hottest day in August and we were heading for the sea. The light, it's not over yet as we've got the months of May and June in a bottle on the shelf. In its pink to peach hues, it sits waiting for the warm red to subside. Ahead of yourself but behind time, lost in an image and what it might mean. It speaks on behalf of itself, on behalf of its subjects. It tells you things you're not sure you should know. A bunch of freshly minted stars, Lost in Crystal Canyons they were. Misplaced, they stood with an eye of the tiger and a step too soon. Disappearing into its kaleidoscope we drove too fast with the music too loud. You put your arms around me.

Jens Lekman You Put Your Arms Around Me
Mirage & Russh Magazines

UNTAINTED

2012-03-01T23:31:00.003+01:00

'I actually feel like people like to make fun of people who are obsessed with fashion and clothes...It's an expression of one's self. When you wake up in the morning, what do you choose to make you happy? If putting on a cropped shearling coat makes Rachel happy then you know, you gotta put on the cropped shearling coat.' -Kate Hudson's words from The Rachel Zoe Project- don't judge.

This got me thinking. I too find people who are obsessed with fashion to be amusing. Even though I may be one of them, I don't consider myself to be in that deep. That's right I'm taking the high road here´- flat out denial. A lot of people think fashion is about narcissism and vanity and it's a damn shame. The overtly commercially-driven scene is where mode looses it's soul. It's a circus out there and it's nauseating. The art is being lost in this drive to sell. The pool has been tainted.

Magazine's are growing thinner in content, thicker with ads and heavier in product placement. All the while Bloggers write knee-deep in commercials and celebrities make appearances to endorse brands. So blatantly obvious it makes me wonder if they think it goes unnoticed. But put simply, if you're paid to do it, say it or sell it then all trust is lost, all bets are over and the gig is up my friend. There's nothing left to say, well nothing of note anyway. Can't we go back to being honest and broke?

Despite all this I still hold the flag for fashion, in all it's commercial stench because I know it is more than its glossy covers would have us believe. At heart it's something we all contribute to when the question, What am I going to wear today? is asked. It is a part of the cultural fabric of our society. The choices made standing at our wardrobe each morning are what see us make fashion something that concerns us all. It's not so much a choice of participation but a question of how far you want to go. It can be the ultimate fantasy turned into reality, given half the chance.

Mirage Magazine

FREEDOM

2012-02-26T22:40:00.001+01:00

Today I was listening to my boyfriend's parents LP collection on their record player. From Cat Stevens to The Mamas & the Papas, Carly Simon, James Taylor and Paul Simon amongst other classics. I sat there on the floor looking through their collection, transported I pulled them from the shelf one by one, the edges were worn and the cover art bright. With the live sound of the records playing in the background it dawned on me. I couldn't help but feel our generation missed out. That we missed out on a time that might have made us more human. A time that was more simple and more real. With things done in real time. Things like communicating.

Reading the news from newspapers, talking face to face, writing letters, learning from books and listening to vinyl. There's a pleasure in taking the time to do something properly without the help of modern technology. Don't get me wrong, I love being a part of the information age where everything is accessible but I also feel a deep sadness that I missed out on life before it got so fast and at times impersonal. Technology is the middle man who, if he isn't already, is becoming our right-hand man. Now I do realise writing a blog is contributing to this but the advantages of instant publication together with the ease of its reach is all too seductive. I'm weak. What with the access to imagery, connections to others and the chance to create what you want - it's almost limitless. Maybe this is our form of freedom?

Vanessa Jackman

LEOPARD

2012-02-25T00:17:00.000+01:00

I love leopard print. As shallow as this will sound, it's one of those things you need. This is quite a new realisation as I used to strongly dislike leopard print when it was on trend, almost as much as that expression. It can so easily be abused. Everything else should be moderated when leopard print is in the mix. The print itself is at its best when it's not too big or bright but still needs its moment without having to compete.

Though the humble animal print has it's roots steeped in riches with royalty using it to inflate their status, it was the Bohemian movement during the 60's that made it more accepted. Leopard print is still associated with the type of nostalgia that involves rock and roll, grunge and hippies but it's since been given a sophisticated edge. It's no longer just worn to attract the wrong kind of attention. A little mystery can go a long way.

POWDER

2012-02-21T00:26:00.001+01:00

Powder pink. Spring is coming. There's still snow and minus temperatures, but it's coming. Fashion is ready for us. The stores are starting to fill up with fresh stock. Today I bought Chanel's May nail polish as a bit of therapy for a tough start to the week and it's working a charm. Later on this week I plan to go to Lännamöbler to check out String pocket furniture in powder. There's an interior overhaul in the works. After a year in our apartment I think it's time to invest in side tables, a knit for the sofa, bed linen, somewhere to store magazines, something for the wall and something to keep me on time and in style.

Emily Senko by Alice Rosati for All Magazine

PRINT

2012-02-18T23:26:00.000+01:00

Edward Ruscha's art is arresting and interesting. It has an air of humour about it too. What I wouldn't do for a print of the COLD BEER BEAUTIFUL GIRLS poster in my apartment. Sophia Coppola has one after she took it home from the Somewhere set. With Sophia's taste it's probably impossible to find by now. I also feel the need for a print of a pineapple for my wall. Strange but I think it might work.

'I'm not just looking for pretty flowers to paint. There is a certain flower of decadence that inspires me. And when I drive into some sort of industrial wasteland in America, with the themeparks and warehouses, there's something saying something to me. It's a mixture of those things that gives me some sense of reality and moves me along as an artist.' - Edward Ruscha

SECOND SKIN

2012-02-17T21:44:00.001+01:00

It's that time again. Time to buy jeans. Oh yes and that means going through countless ill-fitting pairs in order to find that one true match. The golden pair that fit long in the leg, wide in the seat and narrow at the waist. With an ideal stretch and the perfect treatment. I love jeans. They have this uncanny ability to be whatever you want them to be.

However they should meet certain requirements. It's their job to make you look better, number one. Number two, they should always have separate length and width sizes so you've got a fighting chance to get it just right. There should be a variety of denim looks you can achieve within the brand you choose. Your choice should not be restricted to Bootcut or Britney, that's number three. Number four, you shouldn't have to wash them often and when you do, they shouldn't loose their colour or shape in an unflattering way. The fifth, the last and if not the most important requirement is that you should be able to eat in your jeans, whilst seated. Always. You'll know when you've met your match because you'll think you left the house without your pants.

Mirage Magazine is having a moment

LOVE ME DO

2012-02-14T23:44:00.000+01:00

He loves me, he loves me not. She loves me, she loves me not. Love me do. You know I love you.

Mirage Magazine

SWEET

2012-02-10T22:08:00.000+01:00

Living the sweet life is an appealing idea but also a boring one. Lately work has been all-consuming. So much so that I haven't had the chance to feel inspired where as usually a stolen moment will do.

It's been close to a month since we've been back in Stockholm. The tan lines have faded and the post-holiday glow is now gone. I was sad to see it go but it's nice to be back in the swing of things. A life of leisure is what so many aspire to but I think it's a waste. Contributing something by developing your talent or learning new skills is far more interesting. Although some days I would prefer to paint my nails, I like getting up and having somewhere to be. Here's to those moments where we can slow down and do not much at all.

WHOLESOME

2012-02-02T22:52:00.000+01:00

The girls of So Much To Tell You have ended their blog. It was a sad day. They were my inspiration for The Collective. Though it wasn't totally unexpected as there have been less posts lately but for good reason as they now have their own individual sites. An acceptable consolidation. I've already gone and had a flip through the archives and they're pretty great.

Nathalie always has such interesting content to share. She has declared this year as the year of being more sustainable with a list of high expectations but said she'd never give up her trashy treats. I'll admit I'm the same. There's too much pressure in doing everything right. In being wholesome and well-rounded. I think good deeds, like everything else, should be done in moderation. Even if that means your health in exchange for ice cream. Because ice cream can keep you sane.

BYE BYE BABY

2012-01-29T15:29:00.000+01:00

I'm always drawn to white. The combination of a white dress in the summer is unbeatable. It feels comfortable to be dressed in white though I'm not altogether sure why. It's fresh and says I'm pure of heart. It's what you put on when you don't know what to wear.

I think white can be sexier than black but it's reputation for innocence has people confused. It's a shade with more depth and potential than it's given credit for. It's got substance. The strength lies in it's weakness; the presumption that the wearer is youthful and perhaps unaware of the world around them. Those who wear white hold power but only if they understand how to use it.

Kate Moss by Mario Sorrenti, Vogue Italia

A CERTAIN KIND OF SADNESS

2012-01-25T23:25:00.000+01:00

Break-up songs are the best. But they're also the worst especially if you're going through one. It seems that there's no escaping their reach. Radio stations pump them out with no remorse because most songs are break up songs. They're all heart and cryptic lyrics but somehow you just get it. Like horoscopes you find what's relevant. And the world makes sense again. Someone has felt what you're feeling. You're not alone out there all washed up in emotions. Let's face it, we're addicted to love. Love and a certain kind of sadness. This is my current favourite. And it will always be the song from the summer of 11' in Australia. Break-up or no break-up.

GLOW

2012-01-17T23:04:00.000+01:00

Holidays leave you with this glow. It's a certain kind of glow. I've recently been told I have this glow. Not the kind you get from the sun but something more. It's a refreshed glow. The kind you get from excess sleep, good food, good company and hours of doing nothing in particular.

The greyness in your complexion lifts along with the circles under your eyes and the luxury of time slows you down. It renews your outlook. All of a sudden not much seems important enough to upset your day. Though strangely enough you don't notice a change until you're back at work. Heels drag as you resist the adjustment with the same conviction that had you convinced taking a break wasn't necessary. But as it turns out, it was.

Now it takes you twice as long to do anything but you're contented and unfazed by the faces on the street. Admittedly a holiday in a place where there's sun does speed up the process. I put my glow down to freckles and blonde hair dye. Now just to keep it up... Fake tan is hardly up to the job but it might just have to do. I don't think I'll bother. There's no substitute.