X-mas Aussie style vs Österlen

My marsupial brother from Sydney is blessing us with his presence this X-mas. Not only has he travelled to the other side of the planet, he has also left 35 degrees of summer and salty beaches with perfect surf behind him. So to make him feel like he is not missing out, we all went to the beach today, as he would have if he had been at home. The atmosphere in the car going there was probably pretty much the same as it would have been back in Sydney. Ivar was totally insisting that he was gonna go for a swim once we got there, and that he wanted to do it right a way for example. Once we got there the difference became a tad more apparent. Let's say it was on the windy and chilly side (on a lighter note there was plenty of parking). The kids didn't seem to care that much though. A day at the beach is a day at the beach regardless... Only Ivar was not as keen for that swim though... And as for my brother, well he didn't seem as excited as we were hoping he would be.

The world according to Gisele

I've had the British Vogue december issue laying around my living room for a few weeks now. I've flipped through it a couple of times, but not really sat down to read anything in more detail of its content. Now I have. The interview with Gisele. And I can only conclude that I've really missed out on something. And to think that its just been laying there, waiting to be read for so long. I've walked past it so many times not knowing what I've been missing!


So, what have I missed? Well, one of my favorite movies when it comes to comedies is the movie "Zoolander". Everything about that movie from the story, the cast, the script, the direction... everything is great! Reading this interview is just as entertaining. Perhaps it was not Vogue's intention, but they had me laughing out loud at home. This is by no means a total diss of Gisele, rather I'm awestruck by how wonderfully disillusioned she is. Reading through this remarkable piece one is served with one outrageously funny remark by her after the other. She very consistently just keeps them coming. So much so that I just felt obliged to share some of my favorite quotes with you. And these are just the quotes. When it comes to how Vogue has managed to shoe horn in how amazing she is on all other levels like buying media time and running commercials on TV with her husband to encourage people to "turn off the lights", or that they work at soup kitchens, or that she has an eco friendly holiday gettaway, I was rolling on the floor in laughter! So anyway, in true Letterman style here comes the top ten list of mind opening quotes by Gisele in the Vogue december issue of 2011. Oh, and as a bonus here is a link to the interview with Hansel in Zoolander to set the tone for the quotes that follow:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkVQoe2fEEA


10 / "I've really never been the kind of person who clubbed and stuff"


9 / "Well, Tom (her husband, NFL football star Tom Brady), he doesn't drink at all, so what am I going to do, have a glass of wine by myself?"


8 / "This place, it's my oasis. The kung fu I do here, the t'ai chi, it's like a metaphor for my life"


7 / "He's such a gentle giant (Tom). I'm so proud of him. When I go to watch him play, I'm like this big cheerleader, jumping up and down for him. I was born such a passionate person. I don't know if that's my blessing or my curse!"


6 / "Like I tell my five sisters, who don't work at it very hard at all, whatever you put in, you get out. I'm not afraid of working hard at anything, whatever it is. I just always want to be the best that I can."


5 / " I've been doing yoga for twelve years now, and kung fu for, like four. We always say, in another life I must have been a warrior"


4 / "I felt no pain giving birth // It's funny I only realised it afterwards, but I was "omming" during my labour"


3 / "My children, they are like white canvases. When Benjamin eats broccoli, he thinks it's dessert!"


2 / "There should be a world wide law for mothers to breast feed their children for at least six months" (Gisele did it for 16 months)


1 / "I love meat. C'mon, I'm Brazilian! But I also love animals. So what I find really helpful is that before I eat any meat I always take one second of silence to put my hands over it and bless it and be grateful at least that it was a life . . ."

She's the best paid supermodel (hey, is that
Hansel's outfit?) on the planet...

...she's a kung fu warrior...

...she's a yoga guru...

...she's into charities...

...she's got a celebrity superstar athlete husband...

...she's a cool mom...

...and she lives in a mansion in LA (no wonder she's
telling people to "turn off the lights")
What can one say? I guess she is as perfect as she
wants us to believe she is. Or does it sound just a
little too good to be true?

Daydreaming of the sweet life

Believe it or not I'm a little bit of a romantic (ok don't then, I wont blame you). Anyway, if you've seen the way my apartment looks you'll at least believe that when it comes to aesthetics I have a week spot for the "romantic" kind of look (and collecting old stuff with a story behind it). However, those of you who are enjoying the Stockholm weather right now may be forgiven if you are wishing yourself far, far away to a place where the evening breeze gently kisses your bare skin with its warm and humid lips. I for one am! The way that Stockholm has presented itself today (or yesterday and the day before for that matter) has not been in a very romantic friendly kind of manner I must say. So wishing myself away to distant shores I imagine not only a more pleasant environment, but also fresh crabs being pulled out of the salty waters, cooked over an open fire and enjoyed in the bodega of a sand stone cottage accompanied only with some melted butter mixed with garlic and an ice cold chardonnay to wash it down with. I let my mind wonder and picture the people in my immediate surrounding. They are the type of people who are without (what I can tell) any worries in the world, they are friendly and approachable, living in the moment and don't have to stress about the fact that there are no taxis available because it's raining. Or that their shoes, designed for a mediterranean climate, will give you cold wet feet for the rest of the day having walked through a swamp-like, drenched Humlegården on your way back from lunch. The people I envision are wearing bohemic, light, decorative and very much romantic clothing that unfortunately sure as hell don't fit in where I am right now. So just the style itself let's me know that I am in place that is well suited for me...

Meanwhile, on the other side of the planet (literally) they are in fact enjoying summer right now. Hence their editorial fashion does likewise. In the summer issue of Fashion Quarterly NZ we can see Mariana Braga showcase exactly the kind of style I'm talking about above. And I think the fitting title of the piece pretty much sums up what my daydreaming of today is all about.

Starry night

So I hung a Christmas star as a cealing light in my kitchen... Can't decide if this is good or bad taste? Not that I really care though because now it's up there, and will stay there anyway...

My choice for best dressed 2011

I've received some praise and criticism in regards to my post about best dressed last night. First of all I obviously was not clear enough when it came to the fact that my point really had nothing to do with Kate herself or the fact that she did not dress well. I'm sure she is a lovely person and yes she is very stylish no doubt. But the best dressed on the planet of 2011? No, that's where I put my foot down. And my critique is purely aimed at the lame editors of the fashion media who can't seem to find someone who more boldly deserves that title. Also I've been asked to come with a better suggestion, and I think that is a very fair demand. I myself dislike when people choose to simply be negative about something, but have nothing better to offer. So here we go...

My point of view now is very subjective and by no means should be regarded as a common truth, nor in any way am I trying to convince anyone to agree with me. It is solely based on what type of style that attracts me on a woman. Living in Stockholm one has become very used to most women dressing like they were going to a funeral. To claim that the colour black is dominent would be an understatement. I on the other hand like a broader palette. I also like classic feminine looks but with a more contemporary and provocative twist. On the other hand, speculative experimental fashion that seems to have the only objective to be different and shocking is not something that attracts me. It's a fine balance...

Someone who masters this balance in my opinion is the Austrian stylist Caroline Sieber. In an unforced and refined manner she lives up to what I've tried to explain above. She gets my vote at least!