December | 2012 | THE HARLOW

Enlarge

EASTER

Posted on December 27, 2012 by Maxim Deluxe

“Every easter since 2005 we ve spent together blowing eggs and penises. First lately its been clear to us that our brothership was intended by the Godlike to bring something bigger to this world. Through our music you will, eventually, be able to face the most beautiful ass on the beach.”
EASTER aka Max Boss and Stine Omar Midtsæter from North Berlin are out on Christmas time with a new album: The Softest Hard via Ramin Ton Records
Follow EASTER

Enlarge

SEASON’S GREETINGS FROM THE HARLOW

Posted on December 24, 2012 by admin

‘A lovely thing about Christmas is that it’s compulsory, like a thunderstorm, and we all go through it together.’ Garrison Keillor

(Photo by Diane Arbus)

Enlarge

YOU WERE GIVEN A FLOWER BUT I GUESS THERE WAS JUST NO PLEASING YOU

Posted on December 22, 2012 by Teresa Cannata'

The world of nature as source of inspiration for fashion is nothing new, but a fresh perspective can really open new possibilities, as proven by Jan Jansen’s designs. One of the most famous Dutch footwear designers, he has been putting his imagination to the service of fashion since 1960s, but it’s only recently that he designed what is probably his masterpiece – the Orchid shoe.

Presented in October 2012 in Amsterdam, this style is part of his spring/summer 2013 collection: it’s the result of a complex mix of childhood memories (his mother loved flowers and thought orchids were the “apotheosis of luxury”) and personal studies about these fascinating flowers.
Continue Reading →

Enlarge

EUGENIA LOLI, YERBA BUENA

Posted on December 21, 2012 by admin

Enlarge

JUCO’S INTENSE LUMINOSITY

Posted on December 20, 2012 by Isabella Cecconi

Julia Galdo and Cody Cloud’s photography is simply cool. JUCO photography is simply cool. I know this is not the best literary way to start an article on photography or to describe a photographer (or two photographers in this case), but what can I say? It is! Fine art photographers, irreverent and colorful. Galdo was raised in Miami and attended the San Francisco Art Institute, graduating in 2004. She is a fine art and editorial photographer now based in Los Angeles. Julia met Cody at the time of the Art Institute. Ever since, their work have been involving humans and their various environments, their love for photography is everywhere and you can feel it if you browse through JUCO’s portfolio which include fashion, personal, editorial and ad work. JUCO’s images involve humans and unique scenes (you can’t miss the colorful shot with parrots). Some of JUCO’s clients have been Good Vibrations, Juxtapoz, Nike, 7×7 magazine and many, many more. Galdo and Cloud’s quirky anthropomorphic compositions are an intricate sort of mise en scene, which seem to dare a unique and sometimes disquieting narrative power. They get out the conventional advertising photography, snatching the moment, being sensual, provocative, exotic, surrealistic, sometimes sinister too. Their stories seem strange and mysterious, sexual and surrealist. Julia Gado and Cody Cloud are thus partners, a collaborative duo that met at The San Francisco Art Institue and has been working together since their first class assignments. The team is based in Los Angeles, CA and share a similar vision of the beauty of the world. So get started being mesmerized by their pictures and their magnificent lightly-sensitive-iridescent- chromaticity!

http://jucophoto.com/

Continue Reading →

Enlarge

NEW STRIPES, ACNE

Posted on December 20, 2012 by Marco Maggetto

As we approach the end of the world and this may be my last post at The Harlow , give me a break, the Spring Summer clothing is arriving into shops and online shops dressing windows and giving to this cold landscape some glimpses of positive vibes. The spirit of a new a season, the future again, the project of our lives to be re invented . So the world won’t end tomorrow and Acne is purposing the best stripes you ever imagined. Are you a fan of stripes? I’m one. After some years of classic black and white stripes, beige and black, and black and white, it’s time to change. For Spring Summer 2013 , stripes will be thicker, bolder and separating your body spaces with a new palette. Be ready to archive the old mariner t-shirt and embrace the new stripes. The New Era is coming? Some new stripes are ready.

http://shop.acnestudios.com/

Enlarge

PHOTO L.A. 2013

Posted on December 19, 2012 by admin

Since 1992, Photo L.A. has been a crucial event for the Los Angeles Art Scene and international collectors. Held at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, a fabulous sleek building constructed in 1958 that hosted the Academy Awards from 1961 till 1967, Photo L.A. had been seeing exhibitions of over 300 galleries, private dealers, publishers. It gave voice to more than 200 lectures and launched talents living in the City Of Angels that are now working globally. The “fair”, if we can call it like that, has been so important for the city that has influenced the transforming art/photography landscape of Los Angeles itself and it’s not only a cool event for photography lovers, it’s actually the best Californian platform for meeting gallerists, artists, collectors. The very rich program includes conferences with Birtt Salvesen of LACMA discussing about Robert Mappelthorpe and James Crump, Chief Curator at Cleveland Museum Of Art plus Ivan Shaw’s (Photography Director at Vogue Magazine) round table discussion on Art In Fashion. Other illuminating conferences about collecting, how to do it properly and why starting will span during the 4 days of the event. Visit Photo L.A. website for detailed program and list of galleries.

http://www.photola.com/

Enlarge

FLAKO – A GENIUS

Posted on December 19, 2012 by Maxim Deluxe

Unintentionally off-the-grid and committed to his personal sound evolution, Flako is more of a Soul-documentarian than a typical beat maker. With roots in Chile, raised in Germany, and currently living in London via Berlin – the man himself is a melange of flavors. His particular sonic palette is a mercurial blend of warm analogue colors and cutting-edge design. His writing is marked by manifest emotion. In a world jaded – caustic with sarcasm and packaged in plastic, he’s an example of an artist who’s fearless with his humanity. Not a fiend for the limelight, there’s no gimmick to his craft – ’cause in the end it’s all about an honest, well written tune.
Follow Flako on Soundcloud

Enlarge

WANT! LES ESSENTIELS

Posted on December 18, 2012 by admin

Do you travel a lot? Cause if you do, and you want to feel comfortable and clean and solve the problem of those questionable hotel floors, well, the zip-flat slippers are the best solution. WANT les essentiels is a cool company that features many great travel solutions, document holders, wallets, bags. The zip-flat slippers are easy, compact and very useful. Easy to do and to say, pull these out of your bag and you’ll feel home. An must-have for sure.

http://www.wantessentiels.com

Enlarge

GIVE US A ROPE FO’ SKIPPIN’ AND JUMPIN’ !

Posted on December 18, 2012 by admin

This is not a typical cut the ribbon as there’s not a real subject or inventor for this creation. But it’s always been charming, extremely earthy and totally youthful. Those wood handles with the alluring, strong leather amber-colored rope. The reddish cinnamon, those many skips those endless jumps. Whoever has been a kid has been skipping a rope, with friends, alone, at night, during the day. A lovely game, now a décor piece to most. No one knows who has invented the jump roping. Surely the Egyptians or the Chinese, somewhere around 1600b.c. . Egyptians would jump over vines, as a game. Rope skipping was taken to America by Dutch settlers during the 17th century and mainly performed by boys as the culture of the time did not encourage girls to be physically active. In the 19^th century both boys and girls would play it as a game. Girls later invented different rhymes and rhythms and singing games for their popular activity. In the 40s and 50s, jump rope became tremendously popular, and many children in inner cities used it as a form of play as it only required a rope, and anyone could play. Basic jump with both feet and combination jumps and styles were practiced. Nowadays it’s a real sport and competition but we rather remember it as the rhymes would do: Raspberry, strawberry, apple jam tart! Tell me the name of your sweet sweet heart!

Enlarge

MAN RAY PORTRAITS

Posted on December 17, 2012 by admin

Oh yes, the new year will take us some good- gorgeous exhibitions: Man Ray Portraits, at the National Portrait Gallery, is one of the most expected here at The Harlow. From the 7^th of February 2013 you will be able of visiting the first Ray’s major museum retrospective featuring over 150 vintage prints from his career in America and Paris taken between 1916 and 1968. The Surrealist artist and his Dada influences but also his revolutionary photographic technique such as solarisation and early experiments with color. James Joyce, Gertrude Stein, Jean Cocteau, Kiki de Montparnasse, Lee Miller, Pablo Picasso and Catherine Deneuve are only few of the gang.

“Of course, there will always be those who look only at technique, who ask ‘how’, while others of a more curious nature will ask ‘why’. Personally, I have always preferred inspiration to information.”

Photo: Lee Miller 1929

http://www.npg.org.uk/whatson.php

Enlarge

GINGERBREAD MEN, A CHRISTMAS CLASSIC

Posted on December 17, 2012 by Francesca Lanni

350g plain flour, plus extra for rolling out, 1 tspbicarbonate of soda, 2 tspground ginger, 1 tsp ground cinnamon, 125g butter, 175g light soft brown sugar, 1 egg, 4 tbsp golden syrup.To decorate: writing icing cake decorations.

Sift together the flour, bicarbonate of soda, ginger and cinnamon and pour into the bowl of a food processor. Add the butter and blend until the mix looks like breadcrumbs. Stir in the sugar. Lightly beat the egg and golden syrup together, add to the food processor and pulse until the mixture clumps together. Tip the dough out, knead briefly until smooth, wrap in clingfim and leave to chill in the fridge for 15 minutes. Preheat the oven to 180C. Line two baking trays with greaseproof paper. Continue Reading →

Enlarge

EUGENIA LOLI, MIST SURFER

Posted on December 14, 2012 by admin

Eugenia Loli originated in the technology sector, but she left that impersonal world behind in order to build new, exciting worlds via her collage and film making art. Her collages, with the help of the title, often include a teasing narrative, as if they’re a still frame of a surreal movie. The viewers are invited to make up the movie’s plot in their mind. The Harlow is proud to introduce to its readers this talented, visionary, artist. Once a week we will share one of Eugenia’s evocative collages. Just imagine, and of course, enjoy!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/eugenia_loli/

Enlarge

V AVE. SHOE REPAIR, FATWOOD CANDLE

Posted on December 14, 2012 by admin

Light some candles and stay warm (and scented). V Ave. S.R. , the well know Swedish fashion house, is proud to present its first artisanal candle. The distinct yet subtle scent of it is drawn comes from the heart-wood of Swedish pine. The name “Fatwood” is taken from prehistoric times when the name came from wood made for fire starting. V AVE. has created a scent that generates a calming surrounding and that reminds of the Swedish coniferous forest and its mystical surroundings. Ideal for Festivities and for a romantic, and cozy, night.

http://www.vave-shoerepair.com/

Enlarge

CUT THE RIBBON, COLUMBIA RECORDS

Posted on December 13, 2012 by admin

The really first successful vinyl LP in history? It was released by Columbia Records, its code was ML4001, its title was the “Mendelssohn Violin Concerto in E Minor with soloist Nathan Milstein and Bruno Walter conducting the Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra of New York”. The very first microgroove plastic record was invented by a Columbia engineer called Peter Carl Goldmark that in 1939 started a study to evolve the 78-rpm record forward to 33 in order to extend the playback time to more than 20 minutes per side. Goldmark wanted something that last longer but it wasn’t that easy. The Great Depression and World War II slowed everything down, including Goldmark’s team and its microgroove innovations. But once the war ended, the record business boomed and researches marched on. The LP invention was finally presented at the New York Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in 1948 introducing the commercially available long-playing record era. Whit millions of pieces sold , and music finally entering into every home, the LP caused a society transformation never happened before. The music business also changed due to this invention: LPS were into stores for almost 40 years untill CDS took over. And everything changed again.

Enlarge

BLOSSOMS DO BLOOM, THE ELISE BOULARAN PHOTOGRAPHY

Posted on December 13, 2012 by Isabella Cecconi

The first time I wrote about Elise, she was 26 years old and stranger to me. Not that I know her now perfectly, but I consider her friend to me. Back in 2010, she was a tranquil photographer of sublime visions. Simple, light in flowing, alluring and multilayered. Generally growing up happens to everybody. Surviving to trouble or to a struggle and then recover from it, creates professionality, skillfullness. Elise growed up or this is what it seems. Staring at her new images and works is to me an evocative reminiscence of pleasure. She is professional. She seems to have total control of her shooting eye. The images still glow, like they used to years ago, but they seem wiser, less shy they appear with more force. Her evocations are now thick, in space, in concept, in colors. He photography is pretty poetic, capturing the ethereal moment and making it super romantic. Photos are sensitive to beauty, to action, to exposure. The ordinary is transformed into something new, fresher, more and more engaging. A smile, a gesture, a brief moment, the one that changes everything. The past sometimes reminds us of the scars, those which are now a safe space of appreciation. Elise Boularan is a photographer whose ability will never stop to improve, providing from her personal experience her own guideline.

http://www.eliseboularan.com/

Continue Reading →

Enlarge

ROVER

Posted on December 12, 2012 by Maxim Deluxe

Rover is the name of the frenchman Timothee Regnier. He came out with a charming baroque self-titled album with echoes of the first Bowie, Beatles and Interpol! A Masterpiece .Watch the official video of Aqualast on

DanieleDainelli_Contrasto_SanPellegrino_FondazioneAltagamma

Enlarge

ALTAGAMMA – ITALIAN CONTEMPORARY EXCELLENCE

Posted on December 12, 2012 by admin

Fondazione Altagamma was created to bring together more than 70 brands working in the top end of the Italian and international markets in fashion, design, hospitality, perfumery, jewellery, food and well-being sectors. In few words it’s an association of companies that stand out for innovation, quality, service and prestige. A manner to preserve Italian culture and style and to promote its industry of excellence by supporting it and operating in the areas of knowledge, institutional relations, business culture, training and international development. To celebrate its 20th anniversary, Fondazione Altagamma presents ALTAGAMMA – ITALIAN CONTEMPORARY EXCELLENCE, a photographic project to recount the values that have enabled the assertion of Italian top of the range in the world, and the relevant companies, through the language of images. Continue Reading →

Enlarge

PAS DE CALAIS SPRING SUMMER 2013

Posted on December 11, 2012 by Marco Maggetto

How Harlow is this? On a clear day looking over the Channel, the white cliff of Dover come into view. The Famous “Dentelle De Calais” was there: one of the most beautiful laces in the world. On a clear day, the Pas De Calais concept was born. Inspired by the rich heritage of this region, its way of living, its marvelous and delicate lace. The purity and the nostalgia of that region inspired a brand that is based on modern casual design with a romantic touch. Launched in 1998 Pas De Calais embodies the best of the East and West. With a deep respect for tradition, fine quality and natural beauty, this Tokyo-based women’s wear label combines Japanese technical innovation and French timeless classics creating a balanced elegance that is full of subtle surprises. Proposing realistic ready-to-wear and accessories with impeccable taste and materials, Pas De Calais captures the essence of casual modern design. After opening its first store in Tokyo in 1998, Pas De Calais now has 20 stores in Japan. Stocked throughout the world in the finest boutiques and department stores Pas De Calais will be opening in Spring 2013 its first Flagship store in Soho, New York. The Pas De Calais Spring Summer 2013 was the right moment to simplify and go back to nature. Continue Reading →

Enlarge

PLEASURE TO MEET YOU! C.A.M. (CLASSE ARTIGIANA MONTI)

Posted on December 10, 2012 by admin

C.A.M is a trademark of the contemporary, of the odd and new, of the never obvious. C.A.M is slim and form-fitting, fabrics are luxurious, soft and comfortable and always chic, C.A.M is basically minimalist and revolutionary. C.A.M stands for Classe Artigiana Monti, a joint venture of fashion designers and friends Valentina Bacci and Giorgio Maroni which was born in Via del Boschetto some years ago. Situated in the heart of the historical Rione Monti, C.A.M is a jar of experiments and an endless ideas factory of the two creative and artisanal minds. This next Saturday, the 15^th of December from 7pm till 10 pm, C.A.M will open their new atelier location. It can be a good opportunity to meet irreverent and talented Valentina and Giorgio and their amazing creations.

Classe Artigiana Monti – C.A.M

Via Panisperna 238 -Rome

Continue Reading →

Enlarge

CUT THE RIBBON: TōRU IWATANI

Posted on December 10, 2012 by admin

Toru Iwatani can be considered God among men in the gaming industry. Do you know that we also have to thank a pizza pie for it? In 1977, a young Toru Iwatani was the first to program for Namco, a computer software company. During 1978-79 he had designed arcade releases like Gee Bee, Bomb Bee, and Cutie-Q. After working on these three titles, Iwatani wished to create a game that would target women and couples. His eureka moment came when he removed a slice of pizza from a pie, creating the visual inspiration for his next big thing. It was in this moment that, according to Iwatani, Pac-Man was officially born. Iwatani determined that food and eating would be the way to get the fairer sex interested. Iwatani was born in Tokyo, Japan. He joined the computer software company Namco in 1977, where he started his career in pinball machines. There, he came up with the idea for a game called “Puck-Man” and in 1980, and assembled a team to release the game within the same year. Continue Reading →

Enlarge

BETH HOECKEL

Posted on December 7, 2012 by admin

Beth Beth!We love you! Beth Hoeckel is an artist, an artisan, a crafty mind. Beth Hoeckel’s works are an experimentation of fresh air, a breeze from a faraway place. Her body of work is mainly in the field of collage, but she also makes drawings, photos, paintings. She mixes the media and plays with images and impressions. Vintage magazine images are mixed with savoir faire to real pictures so to get a surreal but believable and coherent idea. Beth is from Baltimore and Graduated at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Her works are full of colors and the images are vibrant. Her composition is simply beyond believe! What a chef d’oevre!

http://www.bethhoeckel.com/

Continue Reading →

Enlarge

THE HARLOW UPON DAVE (BRUBECK)

Posted on December 6, 2012 by admin

‘….And all that jazz’ we would say. The Harlow feels it’s a duty remembering beloved David Warren Brubeck. Dave to most. Pianist, composer, life of the 20^th century. American and most of all, foremost exponent of progressive jazz. The bombastic Dave Brubeck. He said goodbye yesterday at 91, we would have been 92 just today. He has left us his classical training and improvisational skills, those amazing contrasting rhythms, those meters, those tonalities that would bump to our ears like everyday life. A break between musical genres, particularly jazz and classical music. He was also the first modern jazz musician pictured on the cover of Time magazine on Nov. 8, 1954. Dave Brubeck, the master of jazz. “Take Five” will always be a musical milestone a complex jazz composition for millions of listeners. The Jazz, maybe America’s best genre and face to the world. We would like to remember his with his own words. When asked what he would think of Jazz, he would say: “Jazz is about freedom within discipline, many people don’t understand how disciplined you have to be to play jazz. … And that is really the idea of democracy, freedom within the Constitution or discipline. You don’t just get out there and do anything you want.”

Dave Brubeck 1920-2012

Enlarge

TRICLINIUS MAIUS? THE BARCELONA COUCH!

Posted on December 6, 2012 by admin

Designed in 1930 by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and signed by the KnollStudio design, the Barcelona Couch is one of those manufactured creation which will never bore our eye. Made out of sapele mahogany hardwood and framed with protective, clear lacquer finish, its legs are constructed of tubular steel with polished stainless steel. It’s always being considered a sophisticated couch. A sublime creation based upon the same design and quality of its forerunners. This fine piece of furniture is a 20th century masterpiece of style, curvature and fluidity. Its frame reminds the symbolic of power of ancient Egypt and Rome triclinius, with the the ‘less is more’ ideology of its Bauhaus pedigree. The look is luxurious and comfortable, embracing elegance and functionality. In reality, it’s a real icon, of classic design classic that endures for a lifetime. Suave sensual and sophisticate: Viva Barcelona!

http://www.knoll.com

Enlarge

KUSMI TEA

Posted on December 5, 2012 by admin

There’s a colorful range of wellness teas or Russian blends or gifts or accessories in this nice looking boutique. I’m in a Kumsi tea shop. I have nothing to do and I’d rather choose one of these marvelous tea sets with muslin teabags that contains classic teas or flavored teas. Tins are everywhere. I want to buy a load! For 140 years, Kusmi Tea has been offering to gourmets the finest in high quality tea blends. Nowadays the tea brand offers unique Russian blends like Prince Wladimir tea, Anastasia or Saint Petersbourg tea, whose recipes are kept secret for more than a century, but also many traditional and flavored blends. There are also wellness teas like the Detox, the Be cool or the stimulating Boost. Tea connoisseur, and every tea lovers know Kumsi. The brand is ever since headquartered in Paris, and it’s ever since of great quality and hippness. There’s no way to pick a favourite in this shop as they’re all so unique, and it’s fun to pick something out to match the mood or the weather. Tea for two then?

http://en.kusmitea.com/

Continue Reading →

Enlarge

WATER LANDSCAPES, SUSPENDED ENERGY

Posted on December 5, 2012 by Isabella Cecconi

Little I still know about this photographer, but I must admit it was a pleasure getting to know his photography. His, is maybe not a new way to interpret the ocean but surely a vehement manner to consider it. What you get by seeing his images of amazing big waves is an appeal to water in motion. Paul Bobko’s unique interpretation of the water started while sitting on a surfboard waiting for the perfect wave. In his short and meditative time he started seeing the shape and energy of the wave itself. Even if Californian by birth, Paul lives and works as photographer in New York City.
His series of work was photographed on the shores of the New York and California coasts. The composition of each image is similar to that of a formal landscape, the photograph shoots at the horizon and his point of view and perspective is the one just before the water changes into an approaching wall of water. Continue Reading →

Enlarge

PUMA FIRST ROUND LO

Posted on December 4, 2012 by admin

Just few words to share and describe this pair of sneakers which are unfortunately for us, an exclusive for Japan. How can’t you love this new pair of Puma shoes? It’s called Puma First Round Lo and it’s decked with suede and pony hair in two shades of caramel brown or black. The sole is made of rubber and the shoe tongue is leather. This is a limited edition and look like a perfect item for this winter. What do you think? For us it’s pure sleek appeal.

www.puma.com

Continue Reading →

Enlarge

MEMORY TAPES

Posted on December 4, 2012 by Maxim Deluxe

Davye Hawk aka Memory Tapes is out today with the 3rd album Grace/Confusion via Carpark Records. Listen and follow them on Veird Tapes

Cheveux-che-ris-frivolite-s-et-trophe-es-du-18-septembre-au-14-juillet-2013-au-quai-Branly_reference

Enlarge

BELOVED HAIR – CHEVEUX CHéRIS

Posted on December 3, 2012 by admin

Do you know all the variety of hairstyles that characterize different cultures? Ancient, modern, contemporary, ethnic, bronze and marble, black or white, multiple combinations.
This is Cheveux Chéris or Beloved Hair an exhibition about the care, the research, the consistencies and vitality that transcends the ordinary banality of hair.
The exhibition is about paintings, sculptures, photographs, prints, and multimedia objects that express the variety of physical and symbolic forms of hair. Hair care in cultures refers to issues of concern, seduction, ornaments, evoking the memory or power of a person in societies that practice and make trophies or headhunting. The intersection of anthropology, the history of ancient and contemporary art, fashion and manners, the exhibition examines individual issues of intimacy and sociability through the universal theme of hair. Addressing the idea that individuals and social groups display personality through hairstyle, presented first in terms of frivolity: competing blonds, brunettes or redheads, straight or frizzy as seen in a wide range of classical paintings, sculptures and author photographs. Continue Reading →

Enlarge

CUT THE RIBBON, MAURICE CHEVALIER

Posted on December 3, 2012 by admin

Maurice Chevalier was born in Paris in 1888. Despite his very poor origins, he knew hunger and pain, he was maybe the very first male actor-singer-entrataner to be recognized as a symbol of style. Always wearing marvelous suits and a straw hat, Chevalier was the epitome of French charme and sophistication. He was the poor guy coming from the street who made it, he was the guy that was playing the role of a frivolous dandy speaking with a made up posh accent. Chevalier started in show business in 1901 singing in a cafe’ for free. In 1909 he became the partner of the biggest female star in France, Frehel. But it didn’t last long, and Maurice, who was good looking and charming, skipped to another powerful woman who launched him at the Folies Berger. She was called Mistinguette, also nicknamed “the legs”. Continue Reading →