SKAGGS

Why must people continue to do cool things that I wish I had done?!

Just when I thought that the video game world couldn’t get any better, it was announced this week that Karl Lagerfeld, hater of children, lover of fish and creator of some of the most beautiful pieces today, will be playing a role in the much anticipated Grand Theft Auto 4. He’ll DJ on air at the game’s K109 The Studio station. Rockstar Games has produced a Lagerfeld animation and players will be able to listen to him spin as they play the game.

Players can pick from multiple radio stations for the soundtrack, ranging from licensed songs to new ones. Lagerfeld picked his favorite electronica and dance music and peppered the selection with some of his rapid-fire commentary.
“They had written a politically incorrect dialogue,” the designer said. “I loved it, [particularly] in a time when everybody wants to be so politically correct when they talk.”He didn’t have to dig too deep to find his music selection. “Music is part of the life of fashion, too,” he said. “Through the famous sound stylist Michel Gaubert, I’m very much ‘au courant’ and know what’s going on.”

[Source]

Anybody that’s played GTA4 knows that the radio station ads and commentary are absolutely hilarious at times. Couple that with “Uncle Politically Incorrect” and you’ve got one hell of a soundtrack for running wild on the streets of Liberty City.
Absolutely.Can’t.Wait.

In advertising and design you’re constantly told by the client and your inner Mad Man to think like the audience…It seems in their pursuit of ultimate audience thinking Via Group really did go the whole hog. Their work on the new Maidenform backless bra ad seems to prove this. I’m not sure what bothers me most…The dudes in bras, the fact that their “bras were too small for interns” comment was a little sexist (I don’t think I got the joke) or that the creative group seemed to be all men - working on a women’s ad. Maybe the “chicks” were off that day?
Joke sexism aside, it’s good to see creatives so passionate about thinking like the audience.

I met and interviewed Marjane Satrapi in October of 2003, when her graphic-novel memoir Persepolis was already a bestseller in France. The comic, the first part of which had recently been translated into English and published as Persepolis: The Story of A Childhood, was the focus of my undergraduate dissertation.

At the time, a major exhibition of her original artwork opened in Ravenna, Italy, where she also taught a comic art workshop. There was a real sense that Persepolis had the potential to push quality comic art into the cultural and critical limelight in Britain and the United States.
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Ok, I promise that is my last Kate Moss post of 2007. The SHOWstudio website and blog always have amazing fashion footage and I think their whole concept of “fashion live” is fantastic.

Their latest project was Flowers For Kate, a (literally) fresh perspective on fashion.
In a nutshell, Kate Moss was due to be shot for a story in V Magazine, SHOWstudio offered a unique chance to be part of the shoot - by sending flowers and floral greetings to Kate. (Some of the deliveries and messages were recorded and documented here) The flowers were then used to create a three-dimensional photo sculpture around which Mossy posed.
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That’s right folks…we’re in the middle of the Holiday Season — $anta madness and merriment is in full swing and of course the registers are ringing non stop. I’m pretty used to the Coca Cola Santa’s of the USA and mainland Europe, and have always been proud of Iceland’s no frills stance on Christmas and it’s ode to traditionalism, especially with the Yule Boys.

The Yule boys are the equivalent of Icelandic Santas. Sons of trolls (Gryla and Leppaludi - who had a fierce reputation for snitching and eating children who are naughty) there are 13 of them. They would arrive 13 days before Christmas and each one would do their best to “scare” the children that had misbehaved (even sometimes taking them back to meet Gryla and Leppaludi if the children were really bad) and reward the children who had been good throughout the year, with candy and small gifts.
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I recently came across a showroom in LA that combines fashion, art and design and is one of the main stockists of a very cool jewelery brand (that I’ll blog about later).

Ani Tzenkova over at Cyana Lab pointed me in the direction of their blog, where I came across this post — Prometeus: The Media Revolution by strategic net consulting firm Casaleggio Associati, I’ve reposted the footage below…it’s a must watch and definitely got me thinking…
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The guest at SKAGGS’ Holiday soiree didn’t have to worry about eating copious amounts of calorie laden appetizers thanks to Peter Kamieniecki, the mastermind behind Mrs. Le’s — fresh and innovative Vietnamese inspired food. His concept is good, wholesome food made up of purely organic ingredients.

Born in Vietnam and raised in California, Peter decided to bring his knowledge of Viet-Cuisine to NYC with a plan of launching his mouth watering rolls to New Yorkers early 2008. Peter approached us earlier this month to work on his identity. He wanted to “characterize” his mother, as she is the inspiration behind his company, yet also represent the contemporary elements that go into making his food. The result is an eye-catching graphic that pays homage to his mother.

I’ve never been a huge fan of spring rolls but OH MY GOD! I have never had any food so rich in flavor and taste, yet so light! His unique appetizers went down as a great treat at our holiday party and we’re thinking of excuses to have Peter cater for us again…New Years Eve party anyone?

How could it not be when the man himself, Stevie Wonder, was in the house! I was fortunate to be able to attend Harper’s Bazaar’s 140 year birthday party last night and to my great surprise, the secret “guest performer” was none other than Stevie Wonder himself!

Stevie Wonder has been an artist that I’ve known of my entire life. I’ve never been a huge fan of his, but then again how can anyone not be a fan? He’s always been there and his music is full of love and happiness. To see him last night was just spectacular. Held at the Highline Ballroom in the Meat Packing District of NYC, the event was attended by at least 200 loyal fans of Harper’s. Doug E. Fresh backed up Mr. Wonder(ful) while notable faces in the crowd included Alan Cumming and, the man, Samuel L. Jackson.

Thanks Stevie! It was an amazing evening and a great show! Now if I could only get lucky and pop into a party where David Bowie is the special guest…

Sticking with last months theme of Extreme Makeovers, Elspeth’s post and inspired by some of the most fantastic street art on display throughout Tribeca, we decided to finally — do something — with our fabulous little 2 story building (might we add that it’s one of the only ones left in Tribeca). With the permission of our very cool neighbors downstairs at Province Chinese Canteen, we set to work on the windows and already tagged door of 305 Church Street.

“What’s with the birds and the tree?” we hear you ask…Our birds are visiting relatives of Huginn and Muninn (Thought and Memory) — the ravens from our crest, and the tree is an abstraction of the World Tree - of which you can read more about here.

It took hours of preparation, one wrong doing and the braving of the winter weather…before we got it absolutely right! You can see more photos and the entire well documented process here.
We’d also love to hear your feedback and thoughts…don’t be shy!

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