Song of the Day/Week/Month: Kentphonik- Hiya Kaya (Rocco Deep Mix)

Here's a nice loungy and deep house number that I've been humming for the past week. Enjoy!

Abed Mahfouz: Couture Fall/Winter 2010-2011

Hats off to another great Lebanese designer! Lebanon native Abed Mahfouz, like many other Middle Eastern designers started off his career as a child surrounded by a family of tailors. He quickly learned from his sister how to design clothes and then began to expand into his own beautiful style of designing. We can see the payoff today in his Couture Fall/Winter 2010-2011 collection. The collection is diverse in style and color but cohesive in theme. The almost metallic-like look of some pieces is offset by the more free flowing and softer silhouettes of others. The attention to detail in the pleated pattern of the pieces is amazing as well. Each piece can be seen as a variation on that pleated theme. The juxtaposition of rigidly pleated pieces that are fashioned into a certain shape and the cascading drapery in other pieces that use softer fabric is perfect.

Mahfouz is not new to the international fashion game and has shown yearly at the fashion shows of Rome and recently showed at New York fashion week. Hopefully we'll see more of him around the world.

Here are some favorites from his Couture Fall/Winter 2010-2011 collection: 

Achraf Amiri: Illustrator of the Underbelly

In the Bio section of his blog, Achraf Amiri states "I am the hidden son of the Addams family." Looking at his haunting illustrations, one gets the feeling that he's right. The Belgian artist does not shy away from controversial themes and his not so subtle artistic critique of pop culture, fashion and other aspects of society are refreshing. 

The 22 year old up and coming artist studied graphic design at Saint-Lukas University in Brussels. His illustrations however show a more unique and creative character. Amiri says he draws mostly from fashion but also from Art Nouveau, and old Flemish paintings. I absolutely love the dark humor behind his illustrations. 

Following are a few favorites from his blog which can be viewed here: 

Diwali Delights from Louis Vuitton!

Happy Diwali everyone! Follow in Louis Vuitton's footsteps and celebrate the Festival of Lights in style this season. This year, the luxury brand created a magical re-editing of 40 pieces from its Spring/Summer 2010 and Fall/Winter 2010 collections using fabric from authentic vintage saris sourced from all over India. Louis Vuitton even went a step further by decorating its store windows with Diwali inspired decorations in collaboration with famous artist Rajeev Sethi. This unlikely pair showcases how traditional India can blend seamlessly with modern fashion rules. 

The pieces from the Luis Vuitton Diwali collection are sure to wow guests at any Diwali celebration! Boisterously colored silk wonders are featured alongside more muted pieces creating a great range of color and style choices. And how better to promote these beautiful creations than by having Bollywood's own starlet, Priyanka Chopra, donning a piece from the collection on the cover of Vogue India's November issue! I say buy the magazine AND a piece from the collection while you're at it.

Think about the bank later:

Song of the Day: Stromae-Je Cours

Stromae ALWAYS does it for me!

Bidoun Celebrates the New York Art Book Fair!

Join Bidoun Magazine tonight as it celebrates the New York Art Book Fair! There will be music by Azizaman and Tim Dewitt.

Bidoun is a quarterly magazine that is dedicated to filling the gap of art and culture from the Middle East and its diaspora. For more information, visit their website: http://www.bidoun.org/

So come out tonight and support both art and the Middle East!

Thursday November 4, 9-12 Midnight
The Jane Hotel
113 Jane Street
New York
RSVP REQUIRED rsvp@bidoun.org