Photography by Steven Miesel and film direction by DJA.

Erich Heckel - Fränzi Reclining (1910)

1/ the playful pure yet determined girl from Hedi Slimane for Saint Laurent. Her playground is a NY loft. She didn't want to go to school and feels like dancing alone. She is elegant, soft and full of grace and her heart belongs to daddy like Charlotte Gainsbourg in "Charlotte Forever". 

3/ the beautiful inacessible girl from a fairy tale. The one that you can only dream about. Quite self-absorb and too conscious about her charms. See Candy from Prada inspired by Jeanne Moreau in the movie Jules and Jim.

4/ the wild doll, funny and charming, lively and smiling to life. She sees the world through her innocent playful eyes and refuses to be tamed. She is sophisticatedly natural, such as the intemporal Brigitte Bardot from a Nouvelle Vague movie. She is "iconic" in Dior Addict, inspired by the movie "Et Dieu créa la femme".

5/ the little girl playing the mature woman. She might be considered as a sex object and is too innocent, fragile or naughty (can we be naughty before 18 ?) to handle it. It's the old disturbing story of Lolita from Nabokov that inspired the campaign "Oh, Lola!" with 17 Dakota Fanning which has been banned in the UK or the movie Lolita by Kubrick. Reminds me also of Vanessa Paradis singing Joe le Taxi..

After 10 years of litigation, LVMH and Google have just reached an agreement to fight hand in hand the sell of counterfeits online. This union between the French luxury group and the biggest search engine is a cornerstone in the protection of brands online. LVMH had already reached similar agreements with E-bay, Yahoo! Japan en 2009 et Rakuten Auction en 2010. 

The issue was simple : with the use of Google Adwords, companies selling illicit goods (such as couterfeits of Louis Vuitton bags) would come up in the search results at the same ranking as legal products. Unaware customers would then buy illegal products because of powerful google advertising. For the record, Louis Vuitton was one of the first brands to protect its creations with the specific Damier Canvas pattern and a logo "marque L.Vuitton déposée" (meaning registered trademark).

Similar agreement between France and the US can be found in 1923, with the creation of an anticopyist society by Madeleine Vionnet and other designers such as Paul Poiret or Jeanne Lanvin. The so-called Association pour la Défense des Arts Plastiques et Appliqués aimed at lobbying for international copyright laws. Madeleine Vionnet was a real pionner in protecting her brand. She has introduced fingerprinted labels to authenticate her models : each of her garment would be sign with her right thumb ! 

Olympic games were created in 776 BC in Greece to celebrate Zeus, father to the 12 Olympian gods on Mount Olympus. They would promote the Greek culture, religion but also set of values. They continued for 12 centuries until Emperor Theodosius decided to ban these "pagan cults". 

Many ancient representations of the games have survived, including paintings and sculptures.  They are a great inspiration today for artist. It's quite an interesting trend to observe in the fashion and creative campaigns too. Healthy becomes beautiful, brave becomes cool and Greek sculpture becomes must-have.

First time I notice this influence was in the clip by Geneva Jacuzzi "Love Caboose". A twist of Ancient Olympic Greece with modern 90es representations (see the TV) and blurry pink / purple / yellow pastels. Geneva Jacuzzi has collaborated a lot with Ariel Pink and is a nice L.A performer and visual artist you should really discover.


Same Greek olympian style, with the wonderful class of Sexy Yoga by Lily McMenamy for I-D magazine. The also added strong geometric shapes with a surrealistic approach. It's the first time I find sport sexy, the naked sculpture of athletic bodies might help.

The anniversary is the perfect opportunity to lead a strong communication strategy for the brand : Habitat will sell by the end of September some limited editions, including some pieces of furniture designed by the studio Mallet-Stevens. As a big fan of Mallet-Stevens work (just like most of the people interested in design and architecture) I'm glad to be able to afford soon I hope some of its iconic items via Habitat.

This operation is strongly positive as it re-affirms the DNA of the brand : make design accessible for all, celebrating innovation and creation. I feel it will also conquer a new audience, people like me who feels Habitat is too expensive for quite-basic items and would rather buy furniture in Conran Shop or on the flea market.

For those who don't know yet Mallet Stevens, just a few words and some pictures below of his tremendous work. I strongly advise you to have a look at his houses either by le Parc Montsouris or Impasse and rue Mallet Stevens in the 16th. Or at the Villa Noailles when you'll go to Hyères Festival. In case you don't (and you should if you are really interested in fashion), the Villa is featured in the longest movie by Man Ray, "Les Mystères du Château de Dé".

Mallet Stevens is a French designer and Architect that had a great influence on the French modern architecture. The metal framing and use of reinforced concrete is specific about his style. You can also recognize in his work the influence of Cubism and Art Deco.

One of the nicest things in Paris are its food markets ! Usually it starts early, like 7 a.m or 8 am (before going to school) and ends up by 1 p.m. The good thing is either to go early and escape the crowd + pick up the best items or at the end, when it's getting calmer and sales people offer big discounts for last products.

Maurice Chevalier is an iconic Parisian music-hall singer who became popular during "Les Années Folles". He started to sing in cafés of Ménilmontant before being an ambassador of the French lifestyle especially in the US with his boater, bow tie and cane. He dedicated a song to the market of Ménilmontant.

What about some delicate thaï food and crazy big fishes gathering in a cool old school aquarium ?

Lao Siam is baguette d'argent since 1986. It's crowded, sometimes noisy but the food is fresh, very accessible and yummy. My favorite speciality is the TIGRE QUI PLEURE. Thin slices of beef in a hot pepper and mint sauce. You can find a great recipe on Kenzo's blog if you feel like reviving the tiger experience at home.You can also go wild on the desserts. They all look amazing and taste funny. Try the pumpkin and coconut milk or the fluo colors one if you hesitate.

Lao Siam is moreover in Belleville, one of the coolest Asian streets in Paris.

The excellent I-D magazine has invited cute models to give you a private lesson of their mother tongue.

How would you say "I want to have a karaoke" in Japanese ?

It's not only a good way to have fun and stress out the cool edgy DNA of the magazine. It's also a smart way to gather fashion communities from all the concerned countries and federate an I-D world.

One trend we can spot here, is the increasing use of random stupid scenario in the fashion world. It reminds me of this great & stupid (yes both work together very well) movie for 55 DSL : "Beyond Moutains More Mountains" by Canada. Use yellow or white bold subtitles, imagine the most random and non sense scenario, and here you go !

It's ok to be too shy to sing, but please try at least to listen to one of them. When I'm asked about the real cool things to do in France, Karaoké in Le Touquet would be in my top 10, proof in this video.

Dalida - Laissez-moi danser !

Fancy some good old-school couscous in the center of Le Marais, rue de Bretagne ?Go to Chez Omar, it's an institution. The place looks like an old Auvergnat bistrot. During fashion week, it's crowded with XS girls facing XL plates. Be ready for your first fashion couscous epxerience.