Music/Art/Fashion/Weekender

For the past five days, I've been running around partaking in the events, and performances of Montréal's MUTEK Festival. Highlights have included the satisfying assault of bass from Berlin's Moderat, accompanied by the simple and stunning visuals of PFADFINDEREI; and performances from Japanese noise artist Ryoji Ikeda and Carsten Nicolai, German techno and visual artist Robert Henke, and a phenomenal presentation from Belgian Visual Label, Anti-VJ which entails the life size projection of visuals on the façade of a building.
As I head off on my bicycle to catch PIKNIC Électronique, the daytime edition of MUTEK (imagine a 'mini rave', outdoors in the sun in the centre of a beautiful park), I leave you with my final nugget for the weekend: Karl Lagerfeld observes, Elena Glurdjidze, the senior principal ballerina with the English Ballet as she tries on Chanel's customed-tutu for her performance in the Dying Swan. The tutus vitals? "More than 100 hours of work have gone into making the tutu, many of these at Lemarié, the Chanel studio that is devoted entirely to plumassiers, or feather specialists." (The Guardian)

City of Style/City of Cycling

This month, Montréal, a city robust with cycling enthusiasts, joined the ranks of Paris by installing a new public bike system called, BIXI ('bike' + 'taxi'). All around the city, solar-powered and wireless stations provide made-in-Québec bikes that are free for the first half hour of use which, in such a small city, goes a long way!

The BIXI is a strong example of where government can put its money where it's mouth is. Simply asking people to leave their cars at home is not enough; incentive must be provided and new changes have to be facilitated. This well-strategized project offers a bike that is simple; easy-to-use, and hard to vandalize. Its designers believe that the BIXI system will pay for itself through user fees.
Cycling in such a stylish city requires some thought to attire... how about a pair of gorgeous bike riding "Grand Tour" gloves from 'performance roadwear' label, Rapha? Enjoy and, try not to drool on your computer...

Vena Cava Adora!!

I've got a gala to moonlight at for one special evening this summer. Now I'm mulling over the delightful debate: do I go with a gold or silver Vena Cava gown? This represents my favorite version of the high-waisted look; a long, slim silhouette in an elegant fabric.

Young Kate, Ever-Iconic

I had an odd dream last night involving a young Kate Moss, the very same fifteen year old from her famously controversial shoot with Corrine Day in 1989.
There is something inexplicably arresting about her look in the second image. No wonder her face haunts me in my dreams.

VOGUE Editor, Anna Wintour (aka Darth Vadar), Interviewed at Long Last...

(Click on 'Darth' for Anna's first long-length American interview, aired on 60 Minutes with Morley Safer May 17/09).
"If I'm such a bitch they must be glutton for punishment." - Anna on rumors that VOGUE employees put up with her alleged bullying tactics.

Who needs Calvin?

About ten years ago, Thom Yorke of Radiohead told me about how the band's guitarist, Ed O'Brien, was approached by Calvin Klein's people to model for them. Sensible Ed unsurprisingly declined the offer. As featured above in the pic from the band's website, DeadAirSpace, Ed comes across as rock n' roll sexy, stylish with ease, and iconic. In photos, Ed is downright striking. Ditto in-person.

Practically Impractical