Fashion Fall

School is taking up most of my time - but I'm loving it. Fall is particularly beautiful this year. The whole of September was practically rain free. And I've learned how to use knitting machines, so there'll be a gargantuan knitted wrap around my neck (preferably in a Lanvin blue tone) ASAP. Fit for fight.

(Photos from Jak&Jil, The Sartorialist, NioTillFem, The Selby, and, ehm.. etcetera, random pretty blogs I can't remember as of now)

Waiting Room

Saw a really amazing art exhibition at the Nobel Peace Center today. Photographer Linda Bournane Engelberth has documented asylum seekers in Europe. She focused on the excruciating waiting time that these people have to endure due to the Dublin II convention (meaning that your application can only be processed in the first country you seek asylum). I really felt she manage to capture the insecurity, boredom and fear. There were pictures from Norway, Greece and Rome. Pretty mind blowing. I didn't know that much about the Dublin II convention, but apparently all your identification is being saved when seeking asylum for the first time and people even concider burning off their prints just so they can seek asylum in a second country. Most asylum seekers enter Europe by either Italy or Greece - very few, or close to no one get their asylum application granted.

OMG

Marc Johns is brilliant.

Florence + The Machine

I think I'm in love.

"Let’s talk about magic. Because music, at its best, is a kind of magic that lifts you up and takes you somewhere else. “I want my music to sound like throwing yourself out of a tree, or off a tall building, or as if you’re being sucked down into the ocean and you can’t breathe,” says Florence Welch. “It’s something overwhelming and all-encompassing that fills you up, and you’re either going to explode with it, or you’re just going to disappear.”

Her debut album ‘Lungs’ is made of harps, choirs, drums, elevator shafts, bits of metal, love, death, fireworks, string quartets, stamping, sighing, strange electronic wailing, lambs, lions, sick, broken glass, blood, moon, stars, drink, coffins, teeth, water, wedding dresses.. and the silences in between. The songs are full of Gothic imagery, of fairytale flights of fantasy, and although much has been read into her lyrics, Florence says it’s usually simple. “Everything is about boys!” she laughs. “The whole album is about love – and pain. People see my lyrics as crazy, but to me it’s an honest, heartfelt album. I didn’t set out to be wacky. I just want it to be emotive.”

(from http://florenceandthemachine.net)

Summer Apathy

School is way over and I had never expected my first year to go so well. Now I’m genuinely looking forward to starting classes in August. Bought some curriculum, fresh Pilot drawing pens (marquer à dessin) and colorful sketch books made of Japanese paper. Me like. A lot.

But alas, apathy has struck me. Big time. And I had so many plans for this summer. Garments to sew, books to read. But there was this amazing weather for a week or so and all I could think about was shakerato, bathing in the fjord and sandwiches with shrimp and aïoli. Then the weather turned sour and I got sick (possibly from dancing too much in skimpy outfits?). But it’s still only July.

I’m starting my summer job tomorrow. Four weeks full-time. I’m sure it’ll go swell. I’ll just make loads of articles on ice cream.

And in less than two weeks I’ll be heading North with my boyfriend. He has a cabin there, by the beautiful coastline and we’ll do nothing but fish, eat and read for five days. Then I’ll be heading back to work some more.

Things I would love to do before summer ends:

1. Read Cormac McCarthy’s Blood Meiridian.
2. See the Norway Says exhibition at the National Gallery of Design.
3. Find a basket for my new blue bicycle.
4. Sew a shirt dress of the beautiful cotton fabric I got at a yard sale. And possible some summer shorts of cotton canvas.
5. Bicycle around Oslo in said shirt dress.
6. Read french (i.e. Harry Potter et Les Reliques de la Mort) and take notes.

Summer summary:

On my plate:
Mozarella, basil and cherry tomato salad
Pad thai
Saaaalmaaaa, wasabi and soy sauce, and loads and loads of pickled ginger

On my lips:
Oliviers & Co: Baume Lèvres à l’Huile d’Olive

On my work table:
Sewing kit with colorful threads, fabric and buttons.

On my TV:
Casablanca
Everyone Says I love You

Hate/Love relationship:
With my Gmail. Love, love, love getting e-mail. Hate, hate, hate the fact that I’m totally and utterly addicted to checking at least five-six times a day. I don’t need coffee in the morning. I have never smoked. But I HAVE to check my e-mail. Sometimes I think I’m insane.

In my ears:
Deerhunter – Cover Me (Slowly)
Grizzly Bear – Too Little Too Late (JoJo cover)
Department of Eagles – Phantom Other
Florence and the Machine - Cosmic Love
Whitney Houston – I Wanna Dance With Somebody

Btw, I’ve realized that all my favorite bands have animal names. That’s pretty weird. Check it out yourselves. You’ll be amazed how many animals you’ll find. My iPod is like freakin’ Animal Planet.

Scott K. McDonald's funky faces

Animals in Fashion by The Selby & Aya Kanai