LOWLANDS PART I

I've proven myself this weekend, as I went from camping dummy to, well let's not say expert, but someone who can take care of herself at a camping. Who would've thought that?

Because I already bought tickets for Lowlands, the Dutch festival which was sold out in a few hours, in January, I had to remind myself constantly I was going there. The last week before the festival everything had to be taken care of. We didn't have a tent, we didn't know when to go (because 55.000 people were expected, so the roads would be full of traffic jams), we didn't know what to bring. Gradually, we figured out how to do it, we would go on Thursday morning, to make sure we had a good spot for our tents at the camping.

The plan was to go with three girls, but in the end another friend was able to buy a ticket (they were back in sale for a couple of hours) and so there were four of us. Very practical, because we would be able to go separate ways if we wanted to see different artists. Anyway, two friends couldn't make it on Thursday morning, so me and another friend went before them. But we had to bring all the stuff (four bags per person) and as you may know, my shoulders are not that strong, so it was pretty tough. On top of that, we had to wait for 1,5 hours until we could go on the camping site, so we were exhausted when we got there.

The place was already very crowded so we got ourselves a little spot for the two tents. Right at the moment I wanted to build up my tent, it began to rain and thunder. Thank god two women who were staying next to us, threw a canvas over our bags, so our stuff was safe. But the tents weren't, and we weren't either. I have to add, I've never done any real camping. It's not like we went on very luxurious vacations, but my parents prefered to stay in an apartment or hotel. So I'm not that specialised in camping and I have never liked it either. Finally, the rain stopped, so we could build up our tents and enjoy our ready-made salads.

The night that followed, I slept in a wet tent, my clothes were all wet as well and it was freezing cold. The festival better had to be good. But of course, it was. It was really awesome. No doubt about it.

LOWLANDS!

I'm at Lowlands until monday. Can't wait to see lots of awesome new bands, relax with my friends and hope for a little sun. Perfect way to spend the weekend, right?

Lots of Love from Lowlands :)

James, oh James

Lovely Country Wedding

I'm not even thinking about my future wedding (if I even want to marry, time will tell) but this event looks just like a fairy tale. Probably exactly how I would want my marriage to be (again, I'm not that into marriages, I don't really get the importance of it), the dress, the flowers, the atmosphere. It's just perfect. Of course I hadn't expect otherwise from Kate Moss.

Wedding Kate Moss & Jamie Hince, photographed by Mario Testino

Nobody like Annie Hall

Often seen as Woody Allen's best and most intriguing film (perhaps because it seems based on his own relationship with Diane Keaton, who plays Annie Hall), Annie Hall is a classic. Not only an inspiration in the movie world (ever noticed 500 days of summer is exactly like it? the relationship, the focus on the feelings of the man, the crazy girl) but also in fashion. Annie Hall is an icon.

I've seen several films of Woody Allen. For instance Manhattan, Scoop, Match Point, You'll meet a tall dark stranger, Vicky Christina Barcelona. They all seem to have a lot of themes in common. Especially the films where he's in himself, like Manhattan and Annie Hall.

Annie Hall relates a story about love, a great and passionate love between two neurotics living in the most neurotic city in the entire world: New York City. Alvy Singer, a comedian, meets Annie Hall, an insecure yet really eccentric woman, during a tennis game. One thing leads to another and suddenly they're in a relationship. Like a lot of great and passionate loves, there is fire (in a good way) and there is war. I've also got to compare this with Carrie & Big, or Ross & Rachel. Can't live with the person, can't live without him/her.

But Annie Hall is more than just a love. It's about a couple that both can't commit themselves. They are both seeing a therapist and have issues. Annie Hall keeps running away from everything, and wants to experience everything. Alvy doesn't, he loves New York and doesn't want to leave the city for anything. Like Annie refers to it, 'You're just like New York. You're an island'. Alvy also has an obsession with death and antisemitism. He's a dedicated pessimist and incapable of enjoying life. But very funny though.

Annie Hall is a classic, but you gotta be able to deal with a lot of talk. Woody Allen is famous for his fast talking, and Annie Hall is good in it as well. People are constantly talking, so it's a bit uptight. Also, it's only a story about a relationship. I think the story is great, and the conversations are hilarious (Alvy Singer definitely is a good comedian) but if you are looking for action or tension, you're watching the wrong movie.

But if you want to see a typical Woody Allen movie, light with deep thoughts in it, and you don't mind seeing lots of wonderful things like: New York, vintage cars, the androgyn clothing style of Annie Hall, New York, Paul Simon, innovative filming techniques and New York, you gotta see Annie Hall. For the character Annie Hall is wonderful, and Woody Allen isn't so bad as himself (Alvy Singer) either.

"Alvy Singer: I feel that life is divided into the horrible and the miserable. That's the two categories. The horrible are like, I don't know, terminal cases, you know, and blind people, crippled. I don't know how they get through life. It's amazing to me. And the miserable is everyone else. So you should be thankful that you're miserable, because that's very lucky, to be miserable.''

Brigitte Bardot - Mister Sun, 1968

Bambi Northwood-Blyth

No, it's not the name of another fairytale-like story about a cute little deer.
Bambi is actually one of the most wanted models nowadays, and I can totally understand why. Her face is really eccentric, she has outstanding eyebrows (people compare her to Brooke Shields very often) and she's only 1.70 m. She has a little Bambi (now I am talking about the deer) tattooed on her wrist and she has modelled for giant companies, like Prada, Chanel, H&M and she's been on the cover of Vogue.
This spread is a Lookbook for Free People, where Bambi goes Boho. I love the collection as well, that will probably be because I love bohemian/gypsy/etnic touches in an outfit ;)

MASTERCLASS

Freja Beha Erichsen and Arizona Muse photographed by Mario Testino for the September Issue of Vogue UK.
I love this theme!

Downtown from Behind

Downtownfrombehind is a photographic series capturing people riding their bike on some streets, avenues and lanes below 14th street in New York City.

Broadway

Staple Street

Lafayette Street

Harrison Street

Waverly Place

Washington Street

Cooper Square

Center Street

Astor Place

Cristopher Street
All photos from www.downtownfrombehind.com

The Chronicles of Bob Dylan

I've just finished the first part of the autobiography of Bob Dylan.
He has written three books, so this was just a start.
He tells about the beginning of his career when he lives in New York and plays at these small bars. He tells about his contacts with great musicians, his influences, his family and why he didn't go to Woodstock for instance.
Great man, really.

My dad was recently listening to a radio program about Andy Warhol and Bob Dylan, and he heard some interesting facts!

At first, did you know Bob Dylan didn't like Andy Warhol? Though I saw quite some pictures of them together, he found the famous artist too edgy and he didn't really liked gays. He was quite conversative I guess.

Some other thing he heard was that Bob Dylan has written 'Like a Rolling Stone' (one of my favourite songs of all time) for Edie Sedgwick. He was really fond of her. After I listened to the song again (you hear it in a very different way, and suddenly really understands, though I always thought I understood, what it's about) it made a lot of sense too me. Edie Sedgwick was a rich girl with an important family and then walked away because she wanted to live her own life. The rest is history, she met Andy Warhol, became a star but died at the age of 28 due to drugs. I think she really felt 'all alone, with no direction home, a complete unknown, like a rolling stone'.

Anyway you should hear the song again, it's wonderful.