Burton Winter Launch
Snowboard maker Burton is hosting a party with free drinks and prizes tmw at 798.
At Transport Event in Shanghai
Here I am with Wu Yulu, a farmer from outside Beijing who created the Wu Lao series of robots. Since 1986, Wu has single-handedly built over 40 humanoids capable of performing all sorts of tasks from giving massages to lighting cigarettes. The one pictured behind us is smoking.
The Florence Photo Shoot在佛罗伦萨的拍摄
Finally, here are some shots from the photoshoot that we did in Florence using the clothing on sale in LUISAVIAROMA.
Well, I am not a professional model – that is for sure. One thing I learned that day is that it is very hard to find entire outfits that both fit and go together reasonably well in a single store. Also I was pretty much doing this photoshoot right off the plane, sot there wasn’t much time to pick a wardrobe. Anyway, I did find this dinner suit from Lanvin (available here ) in a lightweight wool that was perfect around the thighs though the coat was strangely baggy. The shoes from patent shoes with a blue bow from Giacomo Morelli (find them here) were the most interesting part of the ensemble though. More pictures of those beneath.
These two are real models. We were able to go out onto the terrace on top of the shop for some shooting. This was overlooking the centerpiece of Florence, the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore or Duomo. From one of my least favorite brands, Dsquared, I found this rather appealing velvet coat with satin lapels (it is here) and oddly gratuitous feeling ticket pocket. It was amazing that the coat fit me almost perfectly. It would not really require alterations unlike the Lanvin suit above. In a midnight blue, the Burberry Prorsum suit (here) on the left features satin lapels that just about make it into a dinner suit, though there is always something a little improper about notch lapels and black tie. I suppose it is in that new family of suits that stylishly straddle the line between business attire and black tie and are, thus, most effective for going to fancy, but not altogether formal events.
终于能把在佛罗伦萨拍的照片放上去。我明明不是个专业的模特。我这里穿的一套Lanvin的正装 (这里可以买) 和一双比较有意思的Giacomo Morelli (find them 这里) 鞋.
跟两个真的模特在外面拍的。我穿的是件DSquared平绒西服(这里) 左边的模特穿的是Burberry Prorsum的西服 (这里) 。
At La Ville en Rouge
Photos: Xiao Yang
The reason I couldn’t make the Tod’s party is that I organized my own event to celebrate the launch of my dear friend Tally Beck’s new gallery in New York. The party also celebrated the launch of the Tally Beck Contemporary Website.
Global Times and CIB on Li Xiaofeng
The Global Times just did an article on Li Xiaofeng’s cooperation with Lacoste and the Porcelain Polo, for which I was consulted. My piece on this in China International Business also appeared recently. Check two pages back on Stylites for the posts in which I cover Li Xiaofeng, Lacoste and the 2010 Holiday Collector’s Series.
Love for Li Xiaofeng
As I’ve been involved with the Li Xiaofeng/Lacoste project since the start, I take a keen interest in observing the media response, particularly from other websites. Jing Daily picked up my coverage of the story. Interview Magazine carried a more in-depth piece called “Li Xiaofeng for Lacoste: The Armored Crocodile” and Yatzer included an interview. The T Magazine blog also mentioned Li and soon Hypebeast, Trendhunter, Maison Chaplin, High Snobiety, Slamxhype, Dinosaurs and Robots and ulike.net carried the story. Next, I will put an update about coverage from the China and global print media.
Party at the Musée des Arts et Métiers
The party to launch the Lacoste collaboration with Li Xiaofeng was Friday at the Musée des arts et Métiers. One of the many things Paris doesn’t lack for is good venues.
A Chubby Baby Print
The print of the polo represents happiness and exuberant youth in the eyes of Li Xiaofeng.
李晓峰认为，马球衫的图案代表着幸福和充满生气的青春。
The Cotton Porcelain Polo
In addition to producing the porcelain polo, unlikely to be worn or re-produced, Lacoste asked Li Xiaofeng to design some cotton polos for the Holiday Collector’s Series 2010.
李晓峰制作的青花瓷马球衫虽设计感十足，但可穿性并不强。
Porcelain Polo Details
Amidst the countless details on the porcelain polo, the most centralis the point where the pheonix meets the crocodile above the collar. Li Xiaofeng points to this as a point where the emblems of East and West meet. The Lacoste logo represents the West and the pheonix is a traditional symbol of imperial China.
I think that when considering this piece - especially as a commentary on the Lacoste logo - it helps to remember its predecessor: last year’s super-limited edition Campana Brother’s polo, of which there are 24 in the world. As comentaries on branding and logos, how do these compare?
First Glimpse: Porcelain Polo
Here is most valuable Lacoste polo made to date. Specially commissioned for the Holiday Collector’s Series 2010, the porcelain polo by Li Xiaofeng will become a part of the history of Lacoste, cooperation between Western fashion brands and Chinese artists, and the commercialization of traditional Chinese motifs in contemporary global culture.
Earlier Work of Li Xiaofeng
I just saw the porcelain shard sculpture that Li Xiaofeng created for Lacoste as part of the Holiday Collector’s Series 2010, and wil be posting photos here very soon. First – just in case readers have missed the links I have offered - here are a few examples of his earlier work.
Above is Clothes, 2008, Ming Periods Shards, 78x67x50cm
Li Xiaofeng at Hôtel Costes
Yesterday evening, I spoke with artist Li Xiaofeng, creator of the Lacoste Holiday Collector’s Series 2010, over a bottle of Chablis in the courtyard of the Hôtel Costes. Following are his comments on a number of subjects.
Fashion: This is not about fashion design. The print of the cotton polos is entirely based on the porcelain shard sculpture created for Lacoste.
Lacoste: The brand has a long history and does a good job of preserving its traditions.
昨晚，我有幸与2010年Lacoste 假期收藏品的设计师李晓峰在巴黎的Hôtel Costes 共饮了一瓶夏布利葡萄酒，并讨论了以下的话题。
时尚：这次的设计不是一个时尚服饰的设计。这一次为Lacoste设计的马球衫的花纹全部都会是陶瓷碎片的拼图搭配。
Arrival in Paris with Li Xiaofeng
Artist Li Xiaofeng, his wife, and I arrived in Paris last night and were escorted to sumptuous, compact, famously pretentious Hôtel Costes, my home for the next week.
艺术家李晓峰及其妻子还有我三个人在昨天晚上到了巴黎，被送到豪华简洁的以自命不凡闻名的Hôtel Costes，它是我们下一周的家。
The 2010 Lacoste Collector’s Series is created by Li Xiaofeng. He wanted his favorite bracelet to be photographed alongside the invitation to the release event, which is this Friday in Paris.
To Paris for Lacoste
In three hours, I will be boarding an Air France flight to Paris. There, I will attend the release of Lacoste’s 2010 Collector’s Series. The launch party is on June 25 at the Musée des Arts et Métiers (Museum of Arts and Industry).
三个小时后我就要乘法航的飞机飞往巴黎。在那里我将参加鳄鱼2010收藏家系列的发布会。发布仪式将于6月25日在巴黎工艺博物馆举行。
The Future Global Cognitive Elite?
Elizabeth Ho is the single person of 100% Chinese extraction in the “It’s My Time photoshoot, currently occuring in the Meatpacking District.
Here she is being interviewed by May Chang, Senior Editor of the Chinese edition of Milk Magazine. May is a Hong Kong girl based in Beijing. The other member of the Chinese media at the “It’s My Time” event was Quentin Li, Fashion Director at Elle. And then there was me.
Two Nights in the Meatpacking
Springtime downtown is heartbreaking – the incomparable light, the adorable architecture, and everyone so attractive and determined. It’s another whirlwind tour through Manhattan, this time to attend the shooting of “It’s My Time”. Lodging is in the Standard, cocktails with the 20 finalists are in the Boom Boom Room and the photo shoot by Josh Olins is at Superstudios. I am eager to experience life in the Meatpacking District.
Expressories
Check out this post on the most expressive accessories that I have found here in Beijing over at the Benetton “It’s My Time” blog.
“It’s My Time” Finalists
Just announced are the twenty finalists in Benetton’s “It’s My Time” campaign, for which I have been blogging. These twenty will be flown to NYC to participate in the photo shoot. China’s billions are not well-represented. There is no one from the PRC and just one girl from Hong Kong. Interesting to note is that there is a young lady from the Islamic Republic of Iran. She reminds me of many of the beauties I saw while walking around the streets of Tehran. The prettiest, in my opinion, is this girl from France. I was very encouraged to see that there was someone who is older than me and also a bit similar to me in appearance. Sumit Patwari would seem like a handsome local in Rio De Janeiro, Beirut, maybe even Valencia. His sense of style is a bit more Bollywood than mine though.
A Man for Our Eclectic Times
Over on the Benetton “It’s My Time” blog, I posted a photo of a man who represents the next generation of the self-made global cognitive elite. Anatole has such a mixture of ethnicities, homes, thoughts, and skills that he is in a great position to guide the multinationals and international organizations of tomorrow. Concurrently, he shows a curious conservatism that either is a warning that change for good will not be achieved easily or a reassurance that the things worth preserving will remain.