Fearing that I may have worn out my welcome in Florence after a week-long orgy of wine, cheese, proscuitto, salami and gelati, I, ever the intrepid hedonist, hopped on a train (a most civilised and agreeable form of transportation) and fled north to Turin where I met up with my classmate Pietro and his incredibly delightful girlfriend Francesca. I cannot even begin to describe the magnitude of their hospitality as I find myself luxuriating within the confines of a gorgeous sprawling triplex apartment in the heart of the city. I can only hope that I may one day be able to return the favor.
Compared to Florence, Turin is an altogether different beast, replete with wide imperial avenues and grand municipal buildings. I spent the afternoon wandering around the largely empty streets (this is high summer in Italy after all) with my wonderful hosts and indulging in a spot of retail therapy. After an uncharacteristic bout of indecision at the Mandarina Duck store - which i left empty handed - I managed to pick up a beautiful (and quite reasonably priced, if I were a russian oil baron) black Costume National sweater with a rather interesting shawl-like collar. Realising that I was on the verge of a cashmere induced coma following my purchase, Pietro and Francesca were wise enough to take me back home and stuff me with Pesto Lasagne and red wine.
Well thats all from me for now. One more day in Turin then im off to Paris for my birthday! Stay tuned for Part 3.
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Jon´s European Adventure - Part I : Florence
In fear of burning out after enduring yet another hectic and stressful year at the hands of the merciless NYU Department of Economics, I have decided to remove myself to more salubrious surrounds, exchanging the hustle and bustle of Manhattan for the languorous European countryside.
After the obligatory nightmare of security checkpoints, flight delays, economy class air travel and one particularly mad sprint between the terminals of Charles de Gaulle, during which I inadvertantly clobbered (and quite possibly maimed) a small child with my Tumi suit bag, I find myself basking in the glorious Florentine sunlight.
As to be expected, Florence is beautiful, with its narrow medieval streets and buildings suffused with brilliant, gorgeous light that is at times, almost too much to bear. My first night was spent drinking on the banks of the Arno with my gracious host Karel (a fellow econ PhD student studying at the European University Institute). Sufficiently intoxicated, we wandered the empty streets until we came across the back entrance of a bakery a few hours before dawn where we purchased and consumed the most amazing italian pastries. Quite frankly, I could get used to this life.
Thats all from me for now! I shall remain in Florence until the 28th. Next stop Turin! Stay tuned for the next installation of Jon´s European Adventure!!
After the obligatory nightmare of security checkpoints, flight delays, economy class air travel and one particularly mad sprint between the terminals of Charles de Gaulle, during which I inadvertantly clobbered (and quite possibly maimed) a small child with my Tumi suit bag, I find myself basking in the glorious Florentine sunlight.
As to be expected, Florence is beautiful, with its narrow medieval streets and buildings suffused with brilliant, gorgeous light that is at times, almost too much to bear. My first night was spent drinking on the banks of the Arno with my gracious host Karel (a fellow econ PhD student studying at the European University Institute). Sufficiently intoxicated, we wandered the empty streets until we came across the back entrance of a bakery a few hours before dawn where we purchased and consumed the most amazing italian pastries. Quite frankly, I could get used to this life.
Thats all from me for now! I shall remain in Florence until the 28th. Next stop Turin! Stay tuned for the next installation of Jon´s European Adventure!!
Friday, August 11, 2006
What's Wrong With American Fashion
There is little doubt that America remains the single most dominant force in the world today. In addition to being the largest and most dynamic developed economy in the world, America enjoys a political and cultural hegemony that spans politics, the sciences and popular culture. So why do I find myself so underwhelmed by American fashion despite having lived in New York for two years? Why is it that this nation, so rich and deeply committed to supporting the arts - like its universities the major museums and galleries in America are by and large privately funded and operated - has yet to produce spectacular and profound fashion design in the same way that it dominates business or academic research?
Sunday, July 30, 2006
Monday, July 24, 2006
Sunday, July 16, 2006
Drunk and Disorderly
After having one too many Jager shots last night at the Cock, I decided to grab my camera and wander around the upper east side. Here are the results.
Thursday, July 13, 2006
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
Jon's Catwalk Report - Paris Haute Couture Part II
As tensions escalate in the middle east following the death and kidnap of 9 Israeli soldiers in a Hezbollah raid, let us continue our excursion into this season's Paris couture collections.
Let's first have a look at Karl Lagerfeld's collection for Chanel. As one of the twin engines of couture (the other being John Galliano) , Mr Lagerfeld has managed to achieve a rare feat in haute couture, profitability. Unlike Mr Galliano, who challenges us with his extreme proportions and line, Mr Lagerfeld has taken it upon himself to demonstrate the relevance and modernity of couture. He typically achieves this through his exquisite and innovative daywear, constantly reinventing the ubiquitous Chanel suit in a dizzying array of permutations. This season he offers us a new silhouette via a reconstructed shoulder. After years of razor thin tailoring and cutting jackets high on the armpit, Lagerfeld has dropped the shoulder slightly, letting it stand away from the body, giving a rounded, softer shape. This should not however, be perceived as an opportunity for a bit of weight gain. As Kylie Minogue reminds us, the average woman still needs a good few rounds of chemotherapy to look good in Chanel.
Mandatory weight loss aside, one cannot help but marvel at the modernity of Mr Lagerfeld's work. The skinny denim boots and leggings imbue the outfits with a chic rocker sensibility, espcially when paired with a beautiful red coat or a navy tunic replete with a tulle train . Who would have thought that a cadaverous German man in his mid 70's be so darn cool? Then again, perhaps I have just answered my own question.
Next, we have Riccardo Tisci's creations for the venerable house of Givenchy. It is clear that Mr Tisci is very capable of producing beautiful pieces (see the beige wool felt top immediately below) but one gets the sense that he has yet to hit his stride.
Like Mr Lagerfeld, Tisci is obsessed with modernity, turning out fur panelled dresses in tulip shapes and keeping his palette to a strict monochrome. However, where Mr Lagerfeld gets us all to groove along to his bejewelled punk rock beat, Mr Tisci drops a piano with the word "Modern" painted all over it on us. It is clear that he has yet to master the disparate elements of couture enough to produce something that is truly greater than the sum of its parts. Nevertheless, it can only be a matter of time before we see something truly amazing from Mr Tisci.
And that's all from me for now! Stay tuned for the ready to wear collections in a couple of months. In the mean time, watch this space!
Let's first have a look at Karl Lagerfeld's collection for Chanel. As one of the twin engines of couture (the other being John Galliano) , Mr Lagerfeld has managed to achieve a rare feat in haute couture, profitability. Unlike Mr Galliano, who challenges us with his extreme proportions and line, Mr Lagerfeld has taken it upon himself to demonstrate the relevance and modernity of couture. He typically achieves this through his exquisite and innovative daywear, constantly reinventing the ubiquitous Chanel suit in a dizzying array of permutations. This season he offers us a new silhouette via a reconstructed shoulder. After years of razor thin tailoring and cutting jackets high on the armpit, Lagerfeld has dropped the shoulder slightly, letting it stand away from the body, giving a rounded, softer shape. This should not however, be perceived as an opportunity for a bit of weight gain. As Kylie Minogue reminds us, the average woman still needs a good few rounds of chemotherapy to look good in Chanel.
Mandatory weight loss aside, one cannot help but marvel at the modernity of Mr Lagerfeld's work. The skinny denim boots and leggings imbue the outfits with a chic rocker sensibility, espcially when paired with a beautiful red coat or a navy tunic replete with a tulle train . Who would have thought that a cadaverous German man in his mid 70's be so darn cool? Then again, perhaps I have just answered my own question.
Next, we have Riccardo Tisci's creations for the venerable house of Givenchy. It is clear that Mr Tisci is very capable of producing beautiful pieces (see the beige wool felt top immediately below) but one gets the sense that he has yet to hit his stride.
Like Mr Lagerfeld, Tisci is obsessed with modernity, turning out fur panelled dresses in tulip shapes and keeping his palette to a strict monochrome. However, where Mr Lagerfeld gets us all to groove along to his bejewelled punk rock beat, Mr Tisci drops a piano with the word "Modern" painted all over it on us. It is clear that he has yet to master the disparate elements of couture enough to produce something that is truly greater than the sum of its parts. Nevertheless, it can only be a matter of time before we see something truly amazing from Mr Tisci.
And that's all from me for now! Stay tuned for the ready to wear collections in a couple of months. In the mean time, watch this space!
Saturday, July 08, 2006
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