Architecture and Stores Singapore Dec 2010

One day impressions of Singapore. It is always a positive experience : weather is great, people are friendly and inspiration everywhere ... also in the shopping malls but even more behind the big streets. What a difference- so modern and on the other hand so much tradition. Here some picture mix from Dec. 2010.

Architecture Sydney Event Location

Whenever you need a location in Sydney for a private party in a great penthouse atmosphere call the Ivy. It is one of the hot spots in Sydney a real multi purpose building with different locations as restaurants, bars and don't forget the pool area and club. Handsome owner Justin Hemmes created the different in- and out-door venues as his own "playhouse". My personal highlight is the private penthouse with great furniture and design atmosphere perfect for your next party with your closest 100 friends. Enjoy also the view from the private penthouse to the pool .... I would have loved to move in immediatly, but they just took out the bed ... sorry:).

Sydney Opera House

In this cold winter time it's the best place to be - so take the 24h journey and arrive in down under. First thing I saw was the Opera house in the early yetlagged morning - it was all black, like a monster in the sea. But after a while in the sun it gave me the feeling of an amazingly inspirational building with it's strange shapes and forms and change with every angle and with every lightchange. I loved also some details of the inside starecases and special rooms for different occasions. So don't miss to take some time to see it from its different angels and in its different moods of the day and night, even if you have like me only 24h in the city and lots of work to do. Thanks to the architect Jorn Utzon, who never saw the building finished. I will be back for sure !

4D Installation Ralph Lauren

Announced on the IHT Conference and a great example how David Lauren brings "Heritage Luxury" into a new century - not only with his great Marketing ideas already seen on the web and on social media but now an innovative hugh Installation of a new RL 4D world. Its not only what he is calling "merchan-tainement" to me its more in between and advertising and art installation.
Too bad he didn't say anything about the costs of such an installation (first question asked from a german company of course :)...but that let us dream a bit longer to do such great things for other brands... in a new way of course ! Don't imitate - innovate.

IHT Conference 2010

This week I visited the IHT Conference in London, with Suzy Menkes as a great host and this time under the title : Heritage Luxury. After last years conference in Berlin I came with big expectations and got lots of inspirations from the key players in the luxury market.
Starting with Alber Elbaz a humble speaker with lots of respect for the industry and now I know, after years of being a fan of his collections, that he is married to a women... Jean Lanvin :). And in the end
"He got the freedom to dream and to do - without fear" so thanks to that, we got the stone washed silk.
Another highlight is always to get the news about Burberry, this time Christopher Bailey came with Angela Ahrendts. What a chance to have such a power as a creative and finance team they can really get an image and a brand into a new century, it's amazing and shows its success in the numbers. The new project of the "bespoke trenchcoat" which can be ordered online in 12 Mio. variations will be a next step into the future.
Paul Smith a great speaker or better to say actor on the stage (great charts by the way).
Tommy Hilfiger, who started selling self made vintage jeans at school, still wants to remain true to his american icon and personal values ... even after he sold the company?
Mary-Adair Mcaire of Pringle of Scotland I appreciated her honesty to show that it is not easy to get an old brand alive with small budgets.
Love the Missoni family 3 generations of "seams to me" normal people. Had a long conversation with the "grandfather" Ottavio Missoni and maybe after that I understood Heritage the most.
After Victoria Beckhams explenation of "my husband just has to look good" we waited one hour for the appearance of Mr Karl Lagerfeld and his entourage. It is always a pleasure to listen to his stories and he seams in a distructive phase as he said "you can only build something new when you destroy the old".
I believe more in the words of David Lauren "keeping a classic modern is the most difficult" and its always about looking forward not looking back !
More in my next article about the 4D Installation of Ralph Lauren.

Miami Design District

Some impressions from my favorite places in the Miami Design District - enjoy the colors and the sun, and don't forget to make a stop at the Buena Vista Bistro et dit bonjour à Claude ! 

Fair Berlin, Bred & Butter and fashionweek

Hot days at this years BB and all other fairs that took place this week in Berlin (Premium, Green Room ...) and also for the shows at the fashion week. Still love the atmosphere at the old Tempelhof Airport where the BB takes place. Maybe today the big brands slowed down a bit the creativity of the first years but still some great ideas (e.g. bravo to Diesel - be stupid ... why not :) and also to a great organization team.  I met also some dear friends at the Michalsky style nite - no its not Paris or New York, but therefor its much more relaxed and its just sooo Berlin ! And Berlin is always worth a hot week-end. So see you soon fashion Hauptstadt.