Sometimes It Can Be: Dior's "Secret Garden" and Depeche Mode

Yes, Raf. YES! This latest installment of the 'Secret Garden' promotional art videos for Dior features divine art influences, rich French landscapes and sleek fashions all set to the new wave perfection of Depeche Mode's "Behind the Wheel"  (off the anthemic brilliance that was the "Music for the Masses" album) 






There's a certain art school coolness attached to this icy new wave strumming over gallery-ready ready to wear against watercolor scenery (this is not the first fab fashion house that's banked on the slick synths of Depeche Mode to sell perfume) 



PS: Genius DIY project inspiration of CD pearlized opera glasses. Ooh, come on rainy day!  

Serving Up Dior and Depeche Mode Opulence

In Versailles. Does it get gayer?

Oh yes it does....





And I'm lovin' every minute of it!

"Bright Lights" Offers Up a British Two-For

"Minogue on my list / I ain't talkin' 'bout Kylie "

I think by now it's no secret I'm a British pop fiend. Ever since my sister introduced me to Depeche Mode as a kid, I've kept my eyes and ears on the other side of the pond. 

Pixie Lott is one of those straight up Euro additions to my pop portfolio I keep tucked away. I fell for her in 2009 with that "Uh-Oh, Uh-Oh" chorus to 'Momma Do' and right through her ballad wailer of 'Cry Me Out' and then, like too many before her she went silent. 

Well she's back. She's kinda been back since her sophomore album, Young Foolish Happy dropped to commercial and critical success in her native England in November, but now the push is on for the rest of the world (ie: America)

Teaming up with British rapper Tinchy Stryder for this little rap/pop nugget, 'Bright Lights'

"Tell Cheryl Cole and Rihanna that I love them"

Look a cockney rapper with a sweet little girl hook never fails to grab me, but this ain't gonna be the crossover to the U.S. they're hoping.


Just ask Cheryl Cole.



                       

Doin' It: When Saints Go Machine

With elements of Portishead like atmospherics, Depeche Mode keyboards and Bronski Beat vocalisation, Danish band When Saints Go Machine are indeed a holy concoction of men and moogs






Feeling this right now as a Summer jam for dancing in my room picking out the day's costume, although my job may not be happy with the dramatic results.

Go Bare!

Everyone from Gandhi to Depeche Mode to your bratty little sister who wasn't doing well in school has told you to walk a mile in their shoes. Now try walking without shoes at all.


All the world over people without shoes work hard to accomplish their daily tasks. In addition to the physical toil of going shoeless, there is an increase risk of catching deadly diseases and infections. And barefoot children are not allowed to attend school, thus locking them into a life of poverty. Toms has been dedicated since its founding in 2006 to donating one pair of their shoes to children in need for every pair purchased







So today, toss off your work shoes that pinch and proudly tell your boss it's for a good cause! Raise awareness for the shoeless by running around in your stocking feet (honey, if you go 100% naked feet in the New York streets, you deserve whatever snaggletooth nastiness you get!) and get the message out to donate and participate.


One Day Without Shoes event listings can be found at http://www.onedaywithoutshoes.com/ and here's a small NYC sampling;

Are you an NYU student? Well ditch those Tory Burch flats and mosey on down to the Carlyle Court dining hall tonite for a Sole Food dinner and a movie on the shoe-less experience. Free but open only to NYU kids.



From 7-9 pm, Carlyle Court, 25 Union Square West, 212-443-7474

http://www.onedaywithoutshoes.com/node/18656

At Triple Crown receive comped admission to improv comedy by Red Tie Mafia and laugh it up with your fellow hecklers without heels



At 8pm, Triple Crown, 330 7th Avenue, 212-736-1575



http://www.onedaywithoutshoes.com/node/13201

http://www.redtiemafia.com/Welcome.html

Gucci's Guilty Little Secret

Gucci's perfume ads have a formula: cast some sorta recognizable actors from circa 2004, shoot them in black and white and have some hot in Europe band cover some hot in Europe single from the 80's


















Worked with Gucci by Gucci/ James Franco/ Róisín Murphy covering Bryan Ferry's "Slave to Love".

Works here with Gucci Guilty/ Evan Rachel Wood+Chris Evans/ Friendly Fires covering Depeche Mode's "Strangelove".

If it ain't broke, Gucci....

My I-pod, My Enabler?

Throughout my fashion career I've made a few pit stops to retail island. But each time I land I try to make the most of it and increase my understanding of the psychology of the consumer. What makes them go from mild mannered Joe or Jane to crazed gotta have it Sam or Sally? I've learned how store lighting, visual placement, numerical allotment of goods, and decor set a mood of materialism.

And at each of these retail settings my I-pod (or cd's back when) inevitably makes its way into the beat of the store. "Put on your music, it always pumps up the customer," I'm told by the middle aged manager with the clipboard of year to date comparison numbers. Of course the customer is the tool used to reach these daily sales numbers (passed down by some always unseen mathematical oracle deep in the company vaults) and music is the most effective influence.

I bring all this up cuz unbeknownst to me, this trick is self-inflicted too. My I-pod is currently in the shop for some wonk-a-doo screen freezing ailment. The apathetic guy behind the counter at Best Buy informs me "two weeks" but I've always had a warranty through them. I know it's more like 4 weeks. One month. No music.

This freaks me out as my life in New York is I-pod daily dependent. But a funny unforeseen side effect is I have not even remotely gone near a store. Not spent a dime on clothes or other tra-la-las. Hmmm..... coincidence? Or mayhaps the Friendly Fires single bopping in my ears isn't so friendly afterall. Maybe the beats and the blips have bumped me right into French Connection to "just visit" that necklace or pair of jeans again. Has Bjork's bass bounced me right into the East Village vintage store and the Tricky track soothed me into a "cash or credit?" comatose haze. Is my favorite Depeche Mode lubricant for monetary mischief? I feel betrayed by my own I-pod. And by myself. I worked even my own psyche into "buy! buy! buy!"

Madonna once sang that music makes the people come together, music mix the bourgeoisie and the rebel. Hmm.. mayhaps but it's less the Utopian Soul Train she's painted and more everybody, c'mon, shop and spend. Besides, Madge is seriously in on the plot.