Friday, January 6, 2012

"Don't judge a book by its cover"

Já todos nós ouvimos a expressão "não julgues um livro pela sua capa".
Hoje lembrei-me de fazer um post em volta desta expressão tão conhecida, porque o meu irmão faz hoje anos (15anos, custa a acreditar) e recebeu um livro e o que ele disse pôs-me a pensar, disse "Ah gosto do livro, gostei da capa por isso vou ler que deve ser giro.".
É bem verdade que os livros como muita coisa na vida são julgados pela capa e, se não se gosta da capa, não se faz por conhecer/ler o resto. Eu lembro-me de ter 10 anos ou algo assim quando saíram pela primeira vez os livros do Harry Potter, as capas eram horríveis, não puxavam nada, principalmente a miúdos, para ler, e eu recebi o primeiro livro num aniversário, mas não fui capaz de o ler, passado uns tempos voltei a recebê-lo com uma capa diferente, mais chamativa e colorida, e só o parei de ler quando cheguei à última página.
Um fenómeno assim dá que pensar, vai dos livros às próprias pessoas, em que a primeira impressão, ou seja, a aparência, conta mais do que às vezes nós próprios queremos admitir.
Não acho que seja uma questão de futilidade ou que seja completamente errado quando não cai no exagero, apenas é a realidade da sociedade em que vivemos e que, sinceramente, não acredito que consigamos mudar.
É muito importante a primeira impressão que damos, seja quando conhecemos alguém, numa entrevista de trabalho, no próprio trabalho, etc... Todos nós, inconscientemente ou não, nos preocupamos nem que seja minimamente com isso pois depois transfere-se para o modo como somos vistos e até tratados em determinado meio ou situação.
Quantas vezes não me dou conta numa loja ou restaurante (...), estou eu com as minhas calças de ganga e t-shirt, que às vezes sou tratada com sete pedras na mão, a despachar e sem nenhuma atenção e olho para o lado e vejo uma senhora mais velha elegante e bem vestida a ser tratada como uma rainha pela mesma pessoa. É a melhor prova desta "discriminação".
A verdade é que com este tipo de pensamento, apesar de eu própria ter que admitir que também o tenho, às vezes perdemos coisas muito boas. Perdemos a oportunidade de conhecer uma pessoa com uma história de vida fascinante só porque tem um aspecto diferente de nós, de ler um livro maravilhoso que nos iria transportar a um mundo mágico ou encher-nos a imaginação porque tem uma capa sem graça...
Às vezes é preciso termos um pouco mais de mente aberta e tentar ver o que vai além da primeira aparência ou impressão porque podemos surpreender-nos.
Acho que é um tópico perfeitamente apropriado a este espaço, apesar de ser um blog de moda, a moda não é só aparência é uma atitude e maneira de estar.
Além disso, quantas grandes tendências antes de se tornarem tendência, não eram consideradas "feias" pelas grandes massas? Até que pequenos grupos de pessoas influentes as começaram a usar independentemente da opinião geral e as tornaram em grandes sucessos.


Everyone of us has already heard the expression "don't judge a book by its cover".
Today I thought of writing a post around this well known expression because it's my younger brother's birthday today (he turns 15, it's hard to believe) and he received a book and what he said made me think, he said "Ah I like it, I like the cover so I'm going to read it, it seems cool.".
It's a true fact that books as well as many things on our lives are judged by the cover and, if we don't like the cover, we don't make an effort to know or read the rest. I remember having 10 years old or something when the Harry Potter books were first released, the covers were hideous, didn't make anyone want to read them, at least not me, I received the first one and couldn't let myself read it, but after some time, the next year or something I received the first one again with a different cover, more attractive and colourful and  I only stopped reading it when I reached the last page.
A phenomenon like that makes us wonder, it goes from books to people, where the first impression, the appearance, counts more than some of us like to admit.
I don't think it's mere futility or even that is totally wrong when it's not exaggerated, it's just the reality of the society we live on and, honestly, I don't think we're able. to change it.
It's so important the first impression we give, whether it's on a first date or when we meet someone for the first time, on a job interview or at the workplace... All of us, unconsciously or not, care, even if a little, about it because it is transported for he way we are seen and even treated on a certain environment or situation.
How many times I realize, at a store or restaurant (...), I'm there with my jeans and t-shirt, that sometimes I'm treated with no attention, rudely and like they don't care if I'm there or not, and I look to my side and there's an elegant well dressed older woman that is being treated as a queen by the the same person. It's the classic proof of this kind of  "discrimination".
The truth is that with this kind of thinking, and I have to admit I sometimes think like that too, we're missing really nice things. We lose the opportunity of knowing someone with a fascinating life story just because they have a different look, of reading an amazing book that would transport us too a different world and full of imagination just because it has a boring cover...
Sometimes we have to be more open minded and try to see past the first impression or appearance and we might be surprised ate what we find out.
I think it's a perfect topic for this space, yes, it is a fashion blog, but fashion as many of you know is not only appearance but an attitude and a way of being.
Besides, how many great trends before becoming a trend were considered "ugly" by the masses? Until small groups of influential people started wearing them not caring about the general opinion and made them such huge successes.












Lau


Tuesday, January 3, 2012

2012 Hopes and Wishes

Com o início de um novo ano todos nós, eventualmente, repensamos o ano que passou, os bons e os maus momentos, arrependimentos pelo que fizemos ou não fizemos, os "e se...", mas também olhamos para a frente, para o que queremos fazer no ano que acaba de começar, o que queremos mudar, atingir, e, não conseguimos deixar de evitar pensar naqueles desejos quase impossíveis mas que fazem sempre parte do começo de cada ano.
Todos os anos, ainda que inconscientemente, todos nós fazemos uma "lista" dos nossos desejos, objectivos e resoluções para o ano novo, desde mudar pequenos aspectos em nós próprios como deixar de roer as unhas, deixar de fumar, ser mais extrovertida..., a algo maior como fazer uma grande viagem ou a mudar de casa, de país, de cidade, mudar de emprego...
Uns cumprem-se outros não, uns por nossa culpa outros porque talvez apenas não era para acontecer naquele momento, mas o importante é continuar a desejar, a lutar pelo que queremos e chegar ao fim do ano com menos "e se..." e mais coisas cumpridas e realizadas e não ter medo de arriscar.

Assim, como primeiro post do ano, decidi partilhar com vocês alguns dos meus objectivos e desejos para 2012. Será que têm algum em comum comigo?


With the beginning of a new year, eventually, all of us rethink and revalue the year that has passed, the good and the bad moments, the regrets for what you've done or haven't done, the "what if...", but also we look forward, to what we want to do this year that has just began, what we want to change, achieve and, we can't help to also think about our wishes, even the wildest one, which seem almost impossible, but that always are a part of the commence of each year.
Every year, even if unconsciously, we all make a "list" of our deepest wishes, goals and resolutions for the new year, from changing little aspects of ourselves like stop biting your nails, stop smoking, be more open..., to bigger things like go on a big trip, travel the world or move somewhere else, change jobs...
Some happen others don't, some are our fault others because maybe it wasn't supposed to happen right then, but the most important thing is to keep wishing and hoping, and keep fighting for what we want and that by the time we reach the end of another year we have less "what if..." and more things accomplished and that we won't be afraid of taking risks.

Therefore, as my first post of the year, I decided to share with you some of my hopes and wishes for 2012. I wonder if you have something in common with me.

Lau


Viajar pelo mundo.
Travel the world.

Passar a passagem de ano em Nova Iorque.
Spend New Year's Eve in New York.

Arranjar um trabalho em moda. 
Get a job in fashion.

Redecorar o meu quarto.
Redecorate my room.

Ver Florence and the Machine.
Watch Florence and the Machine live.

 Ver um musical da Brodway.
See a Brodway musical.

(My master's final work. Photographer Alejandro Brito, Styling and Concept Claudia Figueiredo, Mafalda Sistelo, Marta Fonseca, Daniella Parra, Laura Montané, Estefania Rodriguez Hair and Make-Up Dani Moon.)  
Ter o meu trabalho publicado numa revista.
Have my work featured in a magazine.

Ir a uma das grandes Semanas da Moda, Paris, Nova Iorque, Milão ou Londres.
Go to one of the major Fashion Weeks, Paris, Milan, New York or London.

 Fazer a minha primeira tatuagem (só tenho que descobrir o que quero fazer).
Make my first tattoo (just have to decide what I want to do).

Tirar um curso de jornalismo de Moda na Saint Martins.
Take a fashion journalism course on Saint Martins.

 Ter um armário maior.
Have a bigger closet.

Voltar a ter aulas de dança.
Take dance classes again.

Viver uma aventura.
Live an adventure.

Aprender francês.
Learn french.




Monday, January 2, 2012

Favourite Albums of 2011



As with my favourite album posts for 2007, 2008, and 2009 as well as my favourite songs of 2010 (a year which I couldn't even concentrate on whole albums) have pointed out, my favourite albums over recent years have either been by established favourites of mine, or else new artists I've gravitated towards have been a select few. I've missed out on many an album released in 2011 out of the sheer exhaustion in seeking out new music but there have been a few artists that had piqued my interest that I'm glad I checked out. So here are the albums released in 2011 which I enjoyed:

Austra -- Feel It Break
Video: Austra - "Darken Her Horse" (Live on KEXP)
MySpace: Austra

The Weeknd -- House of Balloons
Video: The Weeknd - "High For This"
Facebook: The Weeknd

PJ Harvey -- Let England Shake
Video: PJ Harvey- "The Words That Maketh Murder"
MySpace: PJ Harvey

James Blake -- James Blake
Video: James Blake - "The Wilhelm Scream"
MySpace: James Blake

Thurston Moore -- Demolished Thoughts
Video: Thurston Moore - "Benediction" / "Blood never lies" (A Take Away Show)

Miracle Fortress -- Was I The Wave?
Video: Miracle Fortress - "Tracers" (live @ Soundscapes, Toronto, 13/05/2011)
MySpace: Miracle Fortress

Lykke Li - Wounded Rhymes
Video: Lykke Li - "Sadness Is A Blessing"
MySpace: Lykke Li

Saturday, December 31, 2011

CMJ & New York City (October 22, 2011)


  Peelander Z @ Public Assembly, NYC: photo by Michael Ligon

Last day/night of my trip to New York City and CMJ back in October 2011. (Next year, if I do the NYC trip again, I think I'll just post updates on a daily basis - this is too much work after the fact.)

For my last day/night in The Big Apple I took it relatively easier than the other days:

- Starbucks near MOMA
- Radio City Music Hall
- General Electric Building
- Rockafeller Center Ice Rink
- Museum of Modern Art (MOMA)
- Emmy The Great @ Spike Hill
- Born Gold & Peelander-Z @ Public Assembly (as part of Day 2 of the Brooklynvegan 'not a CMJ' party)
- Grand Central Terminal; while wandering around, a one Miss Rebecca Black (of "Friday" fame) was signing autographs and chatting with a few fans.
- back to MOMA only to find out that it closes earlier than I expected on Saturdays.
- raced on over to Central Park to check it out, especially Wollman Rink (although because the rink itself it was closed, I didn't get to renact the scene in the film Serendipity when John Cusack lies on the rink as snow flakes fall down. ;-)
- saw the Robert Indiana LOVE Sculpture
- raced across town to the World Financial Center for the Sonic Festival featuring the American Composers Orchestra with the headlining piece composed by The National's Bryce Dessner and featuring him as well as his brother Aaron on guitar [FREE things like this should so happen in Toronto more often].
- at this point, figuring what I'd do for the rest of the night, but nothing musically was really fancying me, nor was the prospect of traveling back to Brooklyn looking at all tempting on my last night in NYC.
- checked my Facebook on my iPhone using the free Wi-Fi @ Burger King (across the street from the Occupy Wall Street protest) and found that my cousin had just arrived in NYC for a week's stay for his birthday [too bad we could not get together since I was leaving the next morning].
- Starbucks, then Chinese Food near Canal St. and while I was in the area(near Lafayette St.) I saw that the show at Santos Party House (which I think was featuring a hardcore lineup) was just letting out; at that point I decided to call it a night.
- walked back down Broadway towards my hotel, to drop off my bag, and while waiting to get my key to the room, chatted with a cute Asian girl at the counter apparently having problems with her booking; wished her well and then left to explore the Bowery / Soho neighbourhood for the remainder of the night until a little after 1 am.
- pondered even going to one more CMJ set [Peelander-Z was in fact playing a set just down the street from my hotel at the Bowery Poetry Club] but since the band weren't set up yet when I passed by, I decided not to stick around; I did notice how busy the Bowery strip was on a Saturday night.
- called it a night.
- will it be a third year in a row for NYC / CMJ this October for me? We shall see.

Photos: CMJ & New York City (October 22, 2011)

Friday, December 30, 2011

CMJ & New York City (October 21, 2011)


  Emmy The Great @ Public Assembly, NYC: photo by Michael Ligon

- started out the morning exploring the neighbourhood around my hotel (walked down Bowery and then turned on Prince; nice Ralph Lauren and Gant Rugger shops on Prince St, although both way too expensive for what I was willing to pay (I've slowly become a clothes horse over the last few years, although I never buy regular price)
- walked to Lafayette for coffee at Dean & Deluca then went window shopping (David Z, Converse, Ben Sherman store @ Mercer St.)
- random chat with older dude I passed walking down the street, as we both looked back at the same cute girl who just passed us. ;-)
- logged on to the free Wi-Fi @ a Starbucks to check a few things on my iPhone.
- browsed the shops on Canal st.
- spent some time @ the Occupy Wall Street protest at Liberty Plaza (now known as Zuccotti Park)
- checked out the site around Ground Zero
- that afternoon headed to Public Assembly in Brooklyn for the Brooklynvegan "not a CMJ day party" feauturing sets varying from interesting to terrific, including sets by Young Magic, Emmy The Great, Silver Swans, A Place To Bury Strangers, Chelsea Wolfe, Hospitality, Xeno & Oaklander, and J Mascis
- the whole afternoon, Public Assembly was serving free booze courtesy of Sailor Jerry as well as giving away free organic snacks!!!
- one thing that stood out from Emmy The Great's set was when she mentioned that she'd also be playing the day after at a venue in Brooklyn who's name she couldn't recall and so I yelled out "Spike Hill" which she then queried whether I was a Fleetwood Mac fan (I'm still not sure what the reference is there) at which I was left speechless at that point.
- J Mascis played a cover of Edie Brickell's "Circle of Friends" and also a song called "Several Shades of Why" the title track of his first solo album released earlier this year; he also played Dino Jr. classics, "The Wagon" and "Get Me", video which you can see here.
- after that full afternoon of CMJ day partying, decided to try to check out the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) (which had free admission that night from 4 pm to 8 pm (as it does every Friday night) but in error I ended up going to Metropolitan Museum of Art (MMOA)
- I then hopped on the 5th avenue bus to head down to MOMA but got there just as it was closing.
- while I was in the vicinity, I went to check out the new Uniqlo Global Flagship store that just opened; it was effin' huge, and bright, and busy.
- hopped on the 5th avenue bus again to continue south to Madison Ave and East 23rd to go to, drumroll please...Shake Shack! Verdict? Not the tastiest burger I've ever had but it was pretty darn good, or perhaps I was just really hungry.
- for the night time portion of my CMJ festivities, I headed straight from Shake Shack to trek back down to Brooklyn to Glasslands Gallery where I checked out a terrific set from a new local act called Caveman (who are coming to Toronto in January!) and from our own Canadian act, Memoryhouse.
- however, it was such a cluster-fuck of people (who all seemed to be not over the age of 25) and it was too much for me to bear to stay for the rest of the bands on the bill (which was at least 2, maybe 3 more acts) and so I bailed.
- walked to Bedford and then down Bedford to the Bedford subway station, along the way picking up my only taco (from a Taco Truck) during my whole trip.
- it'd been a long day, and I was glad to call it a night relatively early (don't get me wrong it was still after midnight, I think closer to 1 am, by the time I got back to my hotel). Sleepy-time.

Photos: CMJ & New York City (October 20, 2011)

Thursday, December 29, 2011

CMJ & New York City (October 20, 2011)


  Givers @ Ace Hotel, NYC: photo by Michael Ligon

So yes, I'm pretty late on posting this (and still have two more days from my CMJ/NYC trip in October to post, so bear with me). And so here it is, point form, with a link to the photoset below:

- swung by the CBGB's site again (noticed the etching in the concrete this time).
- saw the Joey Ramone Street sign
- @ Ace Hotel to catch tailend of Widowspeak's set, part of the 2nd CMJ day show sponsored by radio station KEXP.
- coffee had @ Stumptown Coffee Roasters (connected to Ace Hotel)
- still @ Ace Hotel, chatting with volunteer due at KEXP free swag table who told me that his daughter goes to York University in Toronto but comes homes to NYC in May; and then we chatted about the plethora of free music in the summer that NYC has to offer.
- headed to East Village on a successful quest to see the Joe Strummer mural up close
- hot dog had @ Papaya Dog; (not the same as Papaya King as once referenced in an episode of Seinfeld).
- Ace Hotel for Givers' set (good but not too excited about them).
- hopped on over to Times Square (failed quest to get to that Shake Shack location).
- back @ Ace Hotel for Dum Dum Girls' set (good).
- on my way over to Brooklyn, caught NYC subway soul singer sensation Danny Smalls AKA Geechee Dan busking on the subway platform!! If you don't know who Danny Smalls, check this video out.
- swung over to Brooklyn to catch the Pop Montreal / Smoked Beats CMJ day party at Public Assembly with Miracle Fortress (good), Pat Jordache (good).
- Pop Montreal brought in FREE smoked meat sandwiches from The Mile End deli, a Montreal Jewish delicatessen in Brooklyn
- ginormous pizza slice had @ Anna Maria Pizza & Pasta
- massive backup of people on the L Train subway platform due to subway delay.
- back in Manhattan, saw the Flaming Cactus street art installation near Astor Place subway station as well as the Alamo sculpture at the same location.
- headed over to Thompson LES Hotel for the free CMJ shows sponsored by Purevolume.com; caught sets by Dum Dum Girls (well the singer and guitarist anyway) (great set), and Unknown Mortal Orchestra (wasn't paying too much attention as this point as it was pretty cramped); I won a free set of ear buds.
- also during the Purevolume.com show, there were guest DJ's working the turntable.fm app(sorry, it is only available within the U.S. currently), with guest DJ's including Nancy Wang (LCD Soundsystem), Amrit Singh (Stereogum), and Ayad Al Adhamy (Passion Pit)
- my night time portion of CMJ for this day was spent at Littlefield in Brooklyn featuring Blues Control, Talk Normal, Widowspeak and Frankie Rose, a varied, interesting and satisfying night of indie music.

Photos: CMJ & New York City (October 20, 2011)

Say Goodbye to 2011

Estes dias têm sido a loucura, entre o Natal e dias que se seguem, agora os saldos e preparar para a passagem de ano.
Saldos, uma altura que tenho que confessar adoro, mas acho que não me lembro de uma correria às lojas como a que houve esta vez, em que mal abriram portas às 10h da manhã do primeiro dia, já as lojas estavam a ser invadidas por um mar de gente à procura das melhores oportunidades. Acho que tanta conversa sobre a crise fez o efeito contrário, em vez de se gastar menos ao não comprar, esperou-se por esta altura de preços mais baixos para aproveitar e comprar o que não se compra numa altura normal, apesar de assim acabar por se gastar mais dinheiro na minha opinião. Sou sincera houve lojas que nem fui capaz de entrar tamanha era a confusão que se via lá dentro, roupas no chão, pessoas quase a atacarem-se por uma peça de roupa (não é preciso tanto, aposto que não era assim tão bom preço) e filas intermináveis.

Mudando de assunto, no post de hoje, e sendo o último post do ano, deixo apenas algumas imagens e citações para acabar 2011 e começar o novo ano com alguma inspiração.
Assim sendo, desejo-vos um feliz ano novo, que todos os vossos desejos e objectivos se realizem e que tenham uma óptima passagem de ano. :)


These days have been crazy, between Christmas and the days that follow it, now there are the sales and the preparations for the New Year's Eve.
Sales, a time of the year that I must confess I love, but I think I never saw such a rush to the stores like this time, where as soon as the the doors of the stores opened at 10am on the first day, they were invaded by a sea of people in seek of the best opportunities. I think all that talk about the crisis had the opposite effect, instead of people spending less and not buying, they waited for this time of year when the prices are lower to "attack" and buy what they don't buy normally, although I think we end up spending more money this way.
But I have to honest this time there were stores that even I couldn't go in with all the mess that I saw inside, the floor full of clothes, people almost attacking each other for a piece of clothing (it's not necessary, I bet it wasn't that good) and endless lines.

Changing the subject, on today's post, and being the last post of the year, I leave you just with a few images and quotes to end 2011 and start the new year with some inspiration.
With that, I wish you all a happy new year and  may all your wishes come true on the next year. :)

Lau