A Very Important Woman Named Sylvia
February 6, 2010
People may come and people may go but there’s one very special woman in my life and thanks to the amazing Miike Snow, she’s been immortalised in an incredible song that (along with my new favourite crush) I just can’t get enough of.
The lady is question is named Sylvia. She has spend her entire life relentlessly, tirelessly and lovingly caring for others and i’m in absolutely no doubt she will continue to do so. She is of course, my one-and-only mother.
Looking past the minor spelling difference (Miike Snow opted for Shakespeare’s Silvia as opposed to the more modern Sylvia) I’ve had this song consistently on repeat for the last week. So on that note, it seemed only fair to give the song, its fantastic video and my lovely mum – who’s birthday it is next week – more than just five minutes of fame.
Happy birthday Sylvia.
The Fashion Office Recommends…Songs about Numbers
February 5, 2010
Three, is the magic number according to De La Soul, but what about The Fashion Office? Best prepare yourself, it seems this week there are some risky (but still rather good) recommendations.
Without further adieu, here they are…
A Work in Progress picks: Prince – 1999. Good call.
Ellie from Notes on the High street elects: Ricky Martin – Un Dos Tres. To quote the lady herself, “Prepare for the ear assault.” Thanks Ellie.
Favourite Thing opts for: Nena – 99 Red Balloons.
Sartoriology recommends: 2 Unlimited – No Limit.
Soldiersailor suggests: Judy Clay and William Bell – Private Number.
Turning the myth of only eating ‘air’ on it’s head, last week The Fashion Office were inspired by Food. Listen to the tracks made us hungry here.
The Fashion Office Recommends…Songs about Food
January 29, 2010
Anyone else feeling the need to eat up and hibernate? Well, this week’s The Fashion Office Recommends, all about Food, probably isn’t going to help. Sorry.
However fear not, what we can promise you is a fabulous selection of lip-smacking tracks to get your taste-buds tingling and your toes tapping.
Here’s what the girls have chosen this week….
A Work in Progress picks: Kelis – Milkshake.
Ellie from Notes on the High street elects: Be Our Guest from Beauty and the Beast.
Favourite Thing opts for: Louis Prima – Banana Split for My Baby.
Sartoriology recommends: Peaches – Presidents of the USA.
Soldiersailor suggests: a song not strictly about food but a one often overlooked by Massive Attack – Black Milk. And, if I’m not mistaken, the track my friend Damien (aka Kantha) sampled in his productions Lost World and Light at the End of the Tunnel.
Unbelievably, we hadn’t ever devoted our weekly feature to Girl Bands…that is, until last week. Check out the fantastic female-only groups that made The Fashion Office’s choice tunes here.
Three Freezing Days in Berlin
January 28, 2010
Tired of hearing myself utter the words “I really want to go to Berlin”, I set about ticking off my new years resolutions (get to Berlin, go out more, pay off credit card…errr) and unwittingly booked myself an impulsive, totally last minute unaffordable affordable trip.
However, stepping off the plane and into seriously arctic conditions, I was fast to think “Why did I do this?” Over the following three, bitter-cold days I found out why; I whole-heartedly love Berlin and couldn’t help wonder why i’d waited quite so long.
Wrapping up and venturing out, my long weekend was spent sight-seeing, sampling the local beer, visiting late night cafés and plenty or rather hip bars and clubs. So, I thought it only kind to share some of my finds, particularly the incredible restaurant Entweder Oder. Whether it’s for breakfast, lunch or drinks, Entweder Oder’s super friendly staff, delicious food and the coolest vibe make it by far one of the best places to kick-start your adventures.
Three days in freezing Berlin went something like this…
Thursday
We stayed at: a lovely little apartment in the heart of fashionable Prenzlauer Berg, that’s owned by British/German creative duo Mark and Heike.
We drank: cocktails and local beer at late night café Kani Mani which boasts a totally cool, authentic Berlin vibe and is perfectly placed on the famous Kastanienallee Strasse.
Friday
We walked: the route of the wall and saw the spot that marks Günter Litfin, the first person to be shot (at only 24) attempting to cross from West to East Berlin.
We defrosted at: the hippest bar in ‘Prenz L’berg’; Schwarz Sauer. Despite its thick smoky atmosphere, this is where cool girls and guys take up residence from morning ‘till, well, morning.
We ate at: Entweder Oder…the food, ambience and service was so good, we headed back for breakfast the following two days.
We made enemies at: Küntsliche Beat Mung bar. Cool décor, excellent tunes and sadly, totally unfriendly crowd.
Saturday
We saluted: the dead, at Denkmal für die ermordeten Juden Europas (the Holocaust memorial) and carefully stepped through its terrifying break-your-neck-and-everything-else ice paths. Go in summer to experience this haunting yet amazing installation to its full effect.
We shopped at: vintage mecca Garage. Priced by the kilo, it’s needless to say I was in paradise and after loosing several hours, walked out with an entire bounty of leopard print for as little as 45 euros.
We pit-stopped at: a Louisiana themed hostel bar where we snacked to the soundtrack of the loudest American starting a heated debate. We made a sharp exit and hopped over to super cool bar/restaurant White Trash.
We practiced our German at: Café Oberwasser. After being handed a native-tongue menu and a ‘language’ book, we welcomed the surprise element to our evening, including the impromptu arrival of a four-piece jazz band. The perfect place for an authentic, romantic German experience – just make sure you can spend all evening there, you’ll need it.
We danced at: Klub der Republik. After a mission trying to find it, it turned out it was the bar we’d passed twenty minutes ago and said “hey, doesn’t that look cool?”
Sunday
We haggled at: Mauerpark fleamarket, Prenzlauer Berg. It didn’t go well. The old lady continued to rant incomprehensible German as we swiftly moved on.
We photographed: old cameras and the biggest collection of vintage boots I’ve ever seen. Like being in a once-loved-wonderland, ‘jaw dropping’ is the only description that cuts it.
We rushed: back to the airport, leaving just the way we arrived; catching the plane quite literally by the seat of our pants.
Addresses (with the underground (U bahn) or overground (S bahn) station you need).
Kani Mani, Kastanienallee 95, U2, Eberswalder Stasse.
Schwarz Sauer, Kastanienallee 13, U2, Eberswalder Stasse.
Entweder Oder, Oderberger Strasse 13, U2, Eberswalder Stasse.
Küntsliche BEATmung, Simon-Dach-Strasse 20, U1, S3, S5, S7, S9, S75 Warschauer Strasse (Friedrichshain district).
Denkmal für die ermordeten Juden Europas (the Holocaust memorial), Cora-Berliner-Strasse U2, S1, S2, S26 Potzdamer Platz.
White Trash, Schoenhauser Allee 6-7, Mitte. (We walked from Rosa-Luxembourgplatz, but the U bahn closest is Schoenhauser Allee).
Café Oberwasser, Zionkirchstrasse 6, U8 Bernauer Strasse/M1 Zionkirchstrasse.
Klub der Republik, Pappelallee 81. U2, Eberswalder Strasse.
Flohmarkt am Mauerpark (Mauerpark fleamarket) Bernauer Strasse 63-64, Mitte, U2, Eberswalder Strasse.
Vintage boot shop as pictured below (so in awe, i forgot to take its name) Eberswalder Stasse, U2, Eberswalder Stasse.
The Fashion Office Recommends…Girl Bands
January 22, 2010
Girl bands, how could we ever have forgotten them? This week, The Fashion Office are standing firm for feminism and picking their recommended tracks from some of the world’s most unforgettable, ladies-only groups. In the immortal words of the women once known as Ginger, Posh, Sporty, Baby and Scary, prepare yourself for some ‘girl power!’
A Work In Progress picks: All Saints – Never Ever.
Ellie elects: Girls Aloud – Love Machine.
Favourite Thing opts for: Shampoo (remember them?) – Trouble.
Sartoriology recommends: Spice Girls – Say You’ll Be There.
Soldiersailor suggests: Sister Sledge – Lost in Music.
Last week, WordPress decided to promote our weekly The Fashion Office Recommends feature to their homepage. From the traffic it then generated to Tinker Tailor, it certainly seemed you were all in need of a bit of a boost. Still feeling a little flat? Don’t worry, you can still check our tunes guaranteed to get your motor running right here.
Cocoon at Amnesia Ibiza 2010
January 18, 2010
Can 2010 better last summer's ten year celebrations?
For those of you as partial to Sven Väth’s Cocoon club and recordings as I am, you’ll be pleased to know the dates for this year’s Ibiza parties at Amnesia have been announced. Hopefully the lineups won’t be too far behind…
Let the flight booking commence!
Opening party – Monday June 14th. With 2009’s incredible laser-strewn robot having set the standard, bigger and better things are sure to be afoot!
JUNE continued – 21st, 28th.
JULY – 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th.
AUGUST – 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th.
SEPTEMBER – 6th, 13th, 20th.
Closing party – Monday September 27th.
I’ll be waiting to for the DJ news before booking to see if i can top 2009’s amazing night with Mr Väth and Loco Dice…which dates will you be heading to?
Robot image by Kryoman
Robert Babicz – Sonntag
January 17, 2010
By total coincidence I stumbled upon Polish-born Germany-based tech producer Robert Babicz and his track Sonntag this evening, indeed on a Sunday. Released way back in 2005 on his Mister Head vinyl, it’s one of those timeless tunes that still sounds as fresh now as it did then.
This cool little track owns a bit of a Nordic sound too, enough to somehow remind me of Swedish electro duo Plej. What’s more, it’s the first track that’s rattled my bones since the Daniel Mehlhart remix of Okain’s Acrobat earlier this month, so with that, here it is. Give it a shot, you might just like it too.
From The Post Bag
January 13, 2010
What arrived today. Er, thanks.
