Based on this photo!

Sometimes I feel so ashamed that I’m not fluent in the language of the country I received my milkteeth in, where I shortened the hems of my skirts in teenage rebellion, where I decided I was adult enough to watch a gore flick. (wasn’t.) This beautiful illustration was sent to me by Julia from the handsome city of Kraków, and here I am, stuck thanking her in English as if I’ve never been to Poland before. Let me try at least, Dziekuje Ci kochanie za ta sliczna ilustracje :D

Pozdrowienia dla wszystkich Polskich czytelniczek (i czytelnikow?)! Przypominacie mi o moim rodzinnym domu!

(OK fine, I got help. Thank you Macku for helping with my crap Polish <3)

FACEHUNTER by Yvan Rodric; Published by Thames & Hudson 2010; Booksigning 12th March 2010

Yvan was indeed tied to a stack of his book (well, metaphorically) as the queue for the book signing extended around the bookshelves and into the Economics & Finance area of Foyles, which I must say was starting to look a little out of place. Think of it this way, a line of professors lining up for a Antony Beevor book-signing and the tail just happened to end up in the Fashion & Styling section… (Not trying to assign stereotype that fashion lovers must all be in the creative industry/education, in case anyone wanted to get started on that.)

Yvan was incredibly friendly; Kit and I were the first few to line up so I think we were the few that had a full-fledged conversation with him: What’s your name, what’s your blog, where are you from, what did you have for breakfast, why are you allergic to cats and dust?… from the 10th person I’m sure he reduced the conversation to the breakfast topic, signed a copy and yelled NEXT CUSTOMER!

We already know about the beautiful photography, but the best bit about the book was the delicious juxtaposition of the photos in each spread that somehow carried a story through the entire book. There was minimal text to worry about typography or layout, but how clever is the bar-code placement, on the spine of the book!

Probably one of the best surprises I’ve had in the past month was finding this bi-monthly print + digital magazine called DuJour. I’m sure you’ve heard of it in some form or another, it’s relatively new to the galaxy of magazines, but it sure does a milkyway tumble with its freshness. If I could put it in one word it would be Sweeeet – not in the sense of frothy pink cuteness of adolescence, but more in a sense of having the quality of a day-dream in a grown up’s world. (Also the Sweeeeet, dude sense) What I love most is the fact that the style of editorial varies from a hazy pastel theme, to rock heavy contrast theme, and also the fact that there’s minimal writing on the photography. I really admire that the magazine is more on celebrating lifestyle and art instead of merely trying to sell clothes that only a handful of people can afford.

So in one issue you can find fashion photography, illustration, DIY tips, fashion bloggers featurettes, shopping links… It’s virtually as thick as a phone directory, and the best thing is, the price is also as affordable. For $9.99 you’re subscribing for a whole year of fashion & arts phone directory, and I surely oogled their Vintage Issue more than twice for the past month.

Screenshots from DuJour Magazine Digital Vintage Issue