Tag Archives: Art

London Shopping, Art and Bar

Here is my ultimate London shopping, art and bar review: check my spring summer issue! For new comers: my city walks are one of the hallmarks of my blog (you can find all the city walks, full of exclusive address and tips in DESTINATIONS). I walk for hours and hours to capture, watch and take the pulse of the city. This time, I start to Piccadilly Circus, where was my hotel. Not really my usual London, I’m definitely more Portobello and East End than Soho or Covent Garden. Pictures 2 & 7: incredible, after so many trips to London, I’d never been to the National Gallery! I’m a big fan of the Tate Modern and the Victoria & Albert Museum (coming up post and if you like contemporary art, check my interview with Gilbert & George). In the picture 2, this piece of art (in gold or it looks like gold) of Elmgreen & Dragset  is placed in front of the  National Gallery. Honestly I don’t like it and I don’t dislike it, let’s say it intrigues me a bit. Picture 3: don’t miss the Radio Rooftop Bar, located on the top floor of the ME London (a newly opened hotel). For a drink or dinner with a panoramic view of the city … hoping you have a better weather than me (LOL!). Picture 4: totally by chance, on the side of Mayfair, I found in the lobby of a company’s building, my favorite work of the Portuguese artist, Joana Vasconcelos! I had the great opportunity to visit her workshop few years ago and see one of her famous giant sandals under construction! Small world! Picture 6: the most iconic London department store, Liberty! Beautiful wooden interiors,  in addition to excellent fashion selection and home selection, the place has  lots of character. A must do, I had the chance to photograph a famous London based blogger there. Pictures 8, 9, 4 & 1: Anglomania! In Soho, a poster of  the theater that displays a show about the Queen. Picture 9: I’ve always been impressed with all the mix of colors, patterns and materials of the English. Unique! Beautiful or not beautiful, that is not the question! Picture 1: beautiful Burberry‘s window in Regent Street. Where you must stop by the huge store of Anthropologie, if you want to shop for your home. Very nice design both contemporary seriously boho, a little regressive (LOL) and very colorful (plates, bowls, candles, furnitures …). In the store, I also like the great wall covered with plants. Picture 10: This small pedestrian street is full of shops and  leads to a nice place a little apart, with some (crowd out) terraces, St Christopher Place. Enjoy!

Photos : Mademoiselle Le K – copyright 2013, tous droits réservés. 

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DESTINATIONS & LIFESTYLE

Meeting Esther Perbandt in her shop in Mitte, Berlin

Quick stop in Berlin: no way not to visit 

my favourite German designer, the Berliner Esther Perbandt in her shop in Mitte. I really like her over sized bags and caftan dresses and scarves which folded, looks like a drawing of a folded shirt (picture 1,  “Format” collection / Spring-Summer 2012). Brillant and completely crazy, like the strong personality of Esther. 

If today her designs are qualified by the German press: “avant-garde”, few years ago, the same press named her: the “German Isabel Marant”! The ones who has followed my blog since the beginning, maybe you will remember an interview of Esther in Spring 2008! It was one of my first posts!

In the shop, I see a coming and going

of customers, friends and artists from France and California, assistant and trainees. Some goes to the workshop. The atmosphere is relaxed in spite of the preparation of the coming up show. Laughter, the team works and chats.

Undaunted, Esther explains me she has totally changed her life and mind for 4 years. She created her shop and finally assumes her workhalic temper. And finally she feels free to be herself.

Her today designs are refined,

stripped of any unnecessary ornament. New friendships have led to exciting artistic collaborations, like with the painter Jaybo (last picture). I’ve discovered one of his piece of art, “Rendez-vous avec la lune”, on a wall of the shop (picture above).

A few snapshots, barely time to see some of her next designs and I really have to go, me, Ms super champion for missing planes! Bye bye Berlin and long live Esther Perbandt!

Informations  

www.estherperbandt.com 

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INTEVIEWS & DESTINATIONS 

Rencontre avec Esther Perbandt dans sa boutique de Mitte, Berlin

De passage express à Berlin, impossible de ne pas

voir Esther Perbandt dans sa boutique de Mitte, ma créatrice allemande préférée! J’aime beaucoup ses sacs over dimensionnés, ses foulards ou caftans  type origami qui pliés prennent – littéralement – le dessin d’une chemisette pliée (photo 1, reférence “Format”, collection Printemps-Eté 2012). Super ingénieux et complètement déjanté, à l’image de cette jeune femme a forte personnalité, so berliner.

Grand talent aux créations aujourd’hui qualifiées par la presse allemande : “d’avant-gardistes” et il y a quelques années : “d’Isabelle Marant allemande“! Tous ceux qui suivent depuis le début ce blog, se souviendront parmi mes premiers posts d’une interview d’Esther Printemps 2008!

Dans la boutique, j’assiste à un va et vient de clients,

d’amis plasticien franco-berlinois et grafiteur californien, d’assistante, commerciale et stagiaires. Les uns transitent vers l’atelier, l’ambiance est relaxe en dépis de la préparation de son prochain show. Des rires, ça travaille, ça discute. Imperturbable,

Esther m’explique que depuis 4 ans, elle a totalement changé de vie, de mental, créée sa boutique. Elle assume enfin pleinement son tempérament de workhalic (dingue de boulot). Elle fait ce qu’il lui plait vraiment et se sent enfin libre d’être elle-même.

Ses créations s’épurent, débarrassées de tout ornement inutile.

De nouvelles amitiés ont débouché sur de stimulantes collaborations artistiques (dernière photo). “Rendez-vous avec la lune”, une oeuvre de son ami peintre Jaybo, habille un mur de la boutique (photo ci-dessus). 

Quelques snapshots, à peine le temps d’entrevoir quelques unes de ses prochaines créations, je file. Vive Berlin, vive Esther Perbandt!

 

Informations 

www.estherperbandt.com 

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INTEVIEWS & DESTINATIONS