I've moved on...
...to a different domain. Why, what were you thinking? The truth is, I just woke up one day and decided it's time for a change—a metamorphosis, if you will; or, in layman's terms, if Britney can shave her head, then maybe so can I? Nevertheless, it's been a rather handsome 10 years of talking to you, and thank you for putting up with all my moodswings and terrible dad jokes. Fear not! The hormonal imbalance and jokes are more terrible on CUBICLE, see you there.
Watch – Calvin Klein class.

ParknCube_cK-Watches_001

Sometimes, just sometimes, you look up and around your hunch-back blanket-burrito and whatever deadline you’ve been quite professionally avoiding and think, my goodness the office looks like a tipped-over crap basket. The mountain of beauty products and pile of press releases printed on what seems like Peru’s last remaining trees have been long since shoved aside into a blind spot, but you conclude that the reason there are 19 irrelevant tabs open and three very very expensive things in the Net-a-Porter basket is all due to this mess. The juices simply ain’t flowing.

Of course, I do what everyone who has ever worked in the creative industry does and go out for fresh air, aka the equivalent of sweeping dirty laundry under the bed. When I was in Uni, I didn’t frequent much cafes – possibly something to do with the fact that my PC sang such noises (remember the ear-splitting Microsoft loading tune? That, coupled with my overheating spluttering Toshiba, burned coffees) and the fear of being judged by Mac-clad hipsters. I liked bright, big spaces instead… like libraries or museums. The British Museum was one of my usual haunts, with its vast, invigorating open spaces and architecture that made any dormant ‘good ideas’ to re-surface; on sunny days I’d sit in one of the triangle shadows cast by the giant glass-roof and read a paperback (gasp!) until I got hungry. Nobody bothered if you sat on the stairs for hours, and the staff only got riled up when a throng of schoolkids made too much noise or ran around. At which point I’d stop chasing them, but generally it was also a great spot to bring friends.

ParknCube_cK-Watches_002ParknCube_cK-Watches_003

Watch – Calvin Klein class. Ring – Calvin Klein beyond

ParknCube_cK-Watches_004

ParknCube_cK-Watches_005ParknCube_cK-Watches_006

I have fond memories of this place, which is why I brought Calvin Klein to shoot the class watch, as a means of sharing one of my old stomping grounds with you but also because FRESH AIR is what this blog always used to be.

In Collaboration with Calvin Klein Watches

Jacket – Dagmar. Crop-top – American Apparel. Jeans – Levi’s. Sneakers – MySwears. Calvin Klein watch + jewellery

ParknCube_cK-Watches_007

ParknCube_cK-Watches_008ParknCube_cK-Watches_009

Shirt – Filippa K. Jeans – vintage Levi’s. Watch – Calvin Klein class.

ParknCube_cK-Watches_010

art direction SHINI PARK photography assistance SIMON SCHMIDT location THE BRITISH MUSEUM

Bag – Coccinelle

Park-and-Cube_LFW-Outfits_0001

With every passing season it seems more and more apparent that I approach Fashion Week dressing exactly like how I prepared for my GCSE’s: Revise the crap out of the first exam on schedule (history), and then sob through the rest, cramming two years’ worth of curriculum every night before exams while simultaneously replacing water with Red Bull in my circulatory system. Fast forward about ten years later – same drill, different liquids. If ya know what I mean.

Here’s sort of a play-by-play:

All photo assistance by Simon Schmidt.

London fashion week
Day One
Confident. Prepared. Even bothered to wrestle with the printer to have the day’s itinerary at hand. Memorized the show schedule to the tune of Family Guy opening song. Three look changes neatly folded in the trunk with one to spare, we’re shooting a video throughout the day and the Hyundai Santa Fe is my changing room on wheels again. Windows not tinted dark enough but it’s Day One and I’m pumped.

Coat – Charlie May. Faux-fur stole – ASOS. Skirt – Joseph. Boots – Stuart Weitzman. Top – Zara.

Park-and-Cube_LFW-Outfits_0002

London fashion week
Day Two
Early start, breakfast in the car. Make-up completion level: 8/10. Pret plastic spoon in one hand, eyeliner in another, someone’s eating granola with an eyeliner again today… Balancing on 4-inch heels and feeling like I’m up to some good. Promises self to go home and blog everything I’ve seen today.

Cropped-trench – Reiss. Jeans – Levi’s CT. Heels – Gianvito Rossi. Dress – Razan Alazzuoni. Bag – Louis Vuitton.

Park-and-Cube_LFW-Outfits_0004

Park-and-Cube_LFW-Outfits_0003

London fashion week
Day Three
Hummed tune to Family Guy over breakfast and only managed to sing ‘sex on TV’ bit correctly. No idea what’s happening today, fingers crossed assistant knows. Wearing trainers in case there’s some running involved. Ran to the loo in McDonald’s between Topshop and Paul Smith.

Sweater – Isabel Marant. Jeans – Topshop. Bag – Marni. Scarf – Acne ‘Canada’

Park-and-Cube_LFW-Outfits_0005

London fashion week
Day Four
Stuck a hand inside the khaki side of the wardrobe and pulled out outfit at the peak of desperation. Figured you can never go wrong with khaki, except maybe looking like a farmer a little. Coccinelle bag surprisingly roomy and fits camera et al. Scooore.

Quilted Jacket – Barbour. Denim jacket – Levi’s. Belt – Vintage Louis Vuitton. Culottes – Topshop. Bag – Coccinelle. Fedora – Hoss Intropia
[hotspotter-13]

Park-and-Cube_LFW-Outfits_0006a1

London fashion week
Day Five
Peeled out layers from the laundry basket, ended up looking (and smelling) like a college student. Not sure what fashion even is anymore. Tommy, can you smell me? Turns out wearing everyday clothes = higher productivity level. No actual work done, but somehow managed to deplete phone battery by noon. Added this skill into CV with remaining 1%.

Bag – Aspinal. Jeans – Levi’s CT CT. Top & Blazer – POLO Ralph Lauren.

Park-and-Cube_LFW-Outfits_0007

Park-and-Cube_McArthur-Glen-Denim-Icons_001

Park-and-Cube_McArthur-Glen-Denim-Icons_002

Suede leather jacket – All Saints. Jeans – Levi’s 501. Heels – Malone Souliers. Rings – Monica Vinader

Park-and-Cube_McArthur-Glen-Denim-Icons_003

Behind scenes & interview, click to watch

Park-and-Cube_McArthur-Glen-Denim-Icons_005

McArthurGlen Denim Icons campaign, shot by photographer Nick Haddow

Chuffed – That’s probably not the most sophisticated word I could’ve dished out and certainly not a word that describes the amazing opportunity that’s being photographed by Nick Haddow, but that’s the word I’ll stand by when it comes to this McArthurGlen global campaign that I can finally share with you today.

I would never label myself an icon or a model (model what – model citizen? I pick up after my neighbour’s puppy, if that’s what they mean) of any sort, I was invited to be one of McArthurGlen’s Denim Icons, which at first I hesitated to accept. But the hero of the campaign was to be Denim, and the iconic versatility of it – so I accepted. Figured I owed a lifetime worth of uniform anyway – skinny, ripped, bleached or cut-off at any given junction in life…. and if it meant a few hours with Nick, then heck, let’s call meself an Icon. McArthurGlen Outlets so happen to have ridiculous discounts on designer/high-street denim too so happy to front that intelligent shopping game at the same time.

In collaboration with McArthurGlen; thoughts and opinions are my own as usual.

ParkandCube_Uniqlo-Merino-Wool-Installation_001

Stop terrorizing the playground, make your own indoor swing

ParkandCube_Uniqlo-Merino-Wool-Installation_002ParkandCube_Uniqlo-Merino-Wool-Installation_003

Step 1
An upcycle mission

You may have seen these colours on the high-street, lining the windows in technicolour lattice of one much-adored brand of the people… Uniqlo! (Although I’d have taken McDonalds for an answer too – McCheese-strings can totally be a thing.) Celebrating their 100% Extra-fine Merino Wool collection, Uniqlo had their windows bedecked in an installation that involved meters and meters of elastic strings – seven boxes of which ended up in my cave of a flat early last week for a rather exciting upcycling collaboration.

Now, don’t let the breezy number ‘seven’ fool you, because the boxes held over four hundred rolls in 65 different shades, which is naturally 64 more than my hamster brain can compute. Mind-boggled, I called Gyu (a CSM knitwear graduate, who, for long-time followers should be familiar from previous posts) for advice. ‘Oh jeez we can build an Oompa Loompa village with all this‘ was her greeting when she stepped into my apartment blanketed with a layer of awkward-shaped rolls of rainbow strings… We flirted with ideas like tents, trampolines and canopies, and tested the strings with various tension swatches (double-crochet, knitting, weaving, braiding…). Finally deciding on building a hammock, she left me after a few lessons on macramé techniques (promptly forgotten the moment she was out the door…)

Turns out one needs a company of veteran knitters to accomplish anything as big as your body. Well, I should’ve known, I have troubles applying body lotion.

So that’s the story of the swing.

ParkandCube_Uniqlo-Merino-Wool-Installation_004

Gyu testing single-crochet in a swatch

ParkandCube_Uniqlo-Merino-Wool-Installation_005ParkandCube_Uniqlo-Merino-Wool-Installation_006

ParkandCube_Uniqlo-Merino-Wool-Installation_007

Step 2
What you’ll need

Extra-strength yarn (I used three colours – 1 skein of the main colour and a bit of the other two) · knitting needles (appropriate for the choice of yarn, I used 6mm) · crochet hook or yarn needle · 7 meters sturdy rope (before purchasing, make sure to determine length by measuring height to ceiling) · 2 x stripwood (cut to 25cm long. Make sure they’re wide enough to fit the rope with enough room around) · 2 x D-rings · Optional and depending on method: Sandpaper · drill · 2 x ceiling hooks.

ParkandCube_Uniqlo-Merino-Wool-Installation_008ParkandCube_Uniqlo-Merino-Wool-Installation_009

Now, I really do recommend testing elastic tension for the swing seat by knitting up a square swatch before starting the project, and putting your entire weight on it. You might find that your yarn, or even knitting tension calls for some mini problem-solving/improvisation. Alternatively, this project can be done with cotton fabric, which can easily be sewn around the stripwood.

ParkandCube_Uniqlo-Merino-Wool-Installation_010

Start by knitting the swing seat – cast on 30 stitches and knit in moss stitch (Mine shows garter stitch) until work measures the width of ONE thigh – the seat will expand when sat on. Cast off. (If adventurous, try the herringbone stitch and knit until work measures about 30cm)

ParkandCube_Uniqlo-Merino-Wool-Installation_011ParkandCube_Uniqlo-Merino-Wool-Installation_012ParkandCube_Uniqlo-Merino-Wool-Installation_013ParkandCube_Uniqlo-Merino-Wool-Installation_014

1. Drill two holes big enough for the ropes at each end of the stripwood, leaving at least 1.5cm space around the hole. 2. Bind the knitted work to the stripwood using the Crocet hook or knitting needle. 3. Insert one end of the rope through the hole, and make a knot. 4. Loop the rope into the D-ring and hang onto ceiling, then repeat step 3 once the length is determined. Repeat on the other side.

ParkandCube_Uniqlo-Merino-Wool-Installation_015ParkandCube_Uniqlo-Merino-Wool-Installation_016

Step 4
Swing & tips

The best way to determine how high the swing should hang is to measure it about an arm’s length higher than your normal dining-room chair. That way, the swing seat will extend to a natural hanging-length. Adjust the rope knots for length if too long. Depending on the type of rope, you will need to secure the edge with duct-tape or seal with a flame. For mine, I wrapped a bit of yarn in a different colour over the duct tape for visual effect. Consider adding tassels or wooden beads to your swing if that’s how you roll.

I personally live in a flat with a mezzanine so I hooked the D-rings to the upstairs bars and let it hang it that way, but do purchase a strong ceiling hook if you wish to hang on the ceiling. Alternatively, skip the D-rings and simply loop the rope around the hook or bar.

ParkandCube_Uniqlo-Merino-Wool-Installation_017

ParkandCube_Uniqlo-Merino-Wool-Installation_018

In collaboration with Uniqlo; Photography – Park & Cube aka tripod

ParknCube_Levis-Pittsburgh-Station-to-Station_01

A happening in Pittsburgh, PA (I know right?)

ParknCube_Levis-Pittsburgh-Station-to-Station_02

ParknCube_Levis-Pittsburgh-Station-to-Station_03

ParknCube_Levis-Pittsburgh-Station-to-Station_04

ParknCube_Levis-Pittsburgh-Station-to-Station_05 ParknCube_Levis-Pittsburgh-Station-to-Station_06

Photo by Cup of Couple

ParknCube_Levis-Pittsburgh-Station-to-Station_07_1

ParknCube_Levis-Pittsburgh-Station-to-Station_10

Mike & Gabi of Cup of Couple

ParknCube_Levis-Pittsburgh-Station-to-Station_09

ParknCube_Levis-Pittsburgh-Station-to-Station_11

ParknCube_Levis-Pittsburgh-Station-to-Station_12 ParknCube_Levis-Pittsburgh-Station-to-Station_13

ParknCube_Levis-Pittsburgh-Station-to-Station_14

ParknCube_Levis-Pittsburgh-Station-to-Station_15 ParknCube_Levis-Pittsburgh-Station-to-Station_16

ParknCube_Levis-Pittsburgh-Station-to-Station_17

ParknCube_Levis-Pittsburgh-Station-to-Station_18 ParknCube_Levis-Pittsburgh-Station-to-Station_19

ParknCube_Levis-Pittsburgh-Station-to-Station_20

Gala of Amlul

ParknCube_Levis-Pittsburgh-Station-to-Station_21 ParknCube_Levis-Pittsburgh-Station-to-Station_22

ParknCube_Levis-Pittsburgh-Station-to-Station_23

ParknCube_Levis-Pittsburgh-Station-to-Station_24 ParknCube_Levis-Pittsburgh-Station-to-Station_25

ParknCube_Levis-Pittsburgh-Station-to-Station_26

Wearing: Cardigan – ATEA. Leather trousers – Raquel Allegra. heels – Alexander Wang. Full outfit coming SOooosooon.

Yonks ago – September last year to be exact – I woke up in a truly irregular setting: Pittsburgh, USA. Kidneys, did I have them? Both fine. I ordered up some breakfast room service, and got dressed to join the rest of the equally puzzled crew down in the lobby. We were going to see a train – one inhabited by artists, musicians and their various instruments – that had arrived at Penn Union Station the night before. Brought together by Levi’s, curated by artist Doug Aitkin, this train (an assortment of vintage carriages dating back to 1914) had originated from New York and over the course of 3 weeks was to travel through the country to the West coast, dropping off and picking up creatives on its way, putting on festivals in celebration of art, street culture, music and food in ten cities between New York and Oakland, California. Much like going West for gold, in fact, especially in how the journey itself transpires to be the more valuable reward. It was essentially a kinetic, modern art installation championed by one of America’s oldest, and most identified brands – an ad campaign, of course, but only technically. I must admit, much of the art was lost on yours truly, to whom the world of contemporary art is a dizzying mystery… I did although enjoy myself all the same as the world of food, is in fact a sanctuary (especially when ghost chili cucumbers are involved). All-in-all, given the similarly dizzyingly mysterious nature of waking up in Pittsburgh one September morning – like some kind of abstract performance art- I remember it all as though I had some kind of an official part in the expedition… Alas, I was no artist, and we – the motley crew (international press of all shapes and sizes) – travelled by air. My only regret is having spent too long checking if my kidneys were there and then gobbling down scrambled eggs that I didn’t allocate enough time to explore the city at all. Classic.

Huge thanks to Levi’s for allowing me to experience a small part of the Station to Station adventure.