Sonia Rykiel, eyes for the whimsy of la femme

Sonia Rykiel, a whimsical French Designer with ethnic Polish Jewish roots, was born in Paris in 1930. She started her career in 1962 by chance, when she just couldn't find any soft sweaters to wear when she was pregnant. So she used a supplier to her husband from Venice to design her own. Sonia Rykiel created her first maternity dresses and tiny sweater and all began. With her trademarked red hair, a unique shine in her eyes and the sweater as her symbol, she was crowned "Queen of Knits" by the Americans in 1967. Now, the same baby that was in her womb, Nathalie, is the dedicated CEO of the company and lets mom still run free with the creative thoughts. Visit the website at http://www.soniarykiel.com/en/soniarykiel.html You may watch her latest collection, Spring 2010 at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDZKXkpjg7s

Sonia was the first designer to put seams on the outside of a garment, and to print words on her sweaters. In particular, she favours long clinging sweaters or small cropped pullovers, large rolled-back cuffs and long shawls. Her colours are usually beige, grey, dark blue and charcoal. Listen to her own words in the creative animation by Fashion Nation bellow.

"The Day Before", from Sundance channel,  documents the 40th anniversary of Rykiel’s brand, now managed in large part by her daughter and exposes the creative synergy between them.  As a surprise, Nathalie had renowned designers create garments inspired by Rykiel. After the show Gaultier told Sonia that he “owed so much to Rykiel”, to what she answered that she was waiting for a check...

Martin Margeila tribute to Sonia Rykiel

Christian Lacroix tribute to Sonia Rykiel

Paul Gaultier tribute to Sonia Rykiel

Sonia and Nathalie decided to bring Paris to New York and in February 2005 where Henri Bendel launched an in-store shop for the Sonia Rykiel Woman line. There are three Sonia Rykiel boutiques in the U.S. and they are in Boston, New York and Guam. Her collection can also be found at Saks.

Recently this month, Sonia Rykiel and H&M introduced a collection of underwear, "Sonia Rykiel pour H&M", the first of two operations with the Swedish retailer (the second will be available in February 2010). A prestigious event was held at the Grand Palais in Paris to celebrate the event. Visit the website at http://www.hm.com/us/#/soniarykiel/ and watch videos of the event and collection bellow.

Rafael Moneo, architecture that respects the site

José Rafael Moneo Vallés, born in 1937, is a renowned Spanish architect who won the Pritzker Prize in 1996. After graduating in architecture from the Technical University of Madrid (UPM) in 1961, he worked in the Denmark office of Jorn Utzon for two years. He then worked as an assistant at the Academia de Espana until 1965 when he established a private practice in Madrid. He taught architecture at various locations around the world and from 1985 to 1990 was the chairman of Harvard Graduate School of Design, where he is the first Josep Lluís Sert Professor of Architecture. And also in 1997, he became Academic Numerary in the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando in Madrid.

Murcia Town Hall on the Cardenal Belluga Plaza. Learn more about the project at http://www.galinsky.com/buildings/murciacityhall/index.htm

Unlike many contemporary architects, Moneo does not borrow from the trends associated with European utilitarianism and expressionism. Instead, Moneo produces a softened version of Nordic and Dutch traditions. To this conception he adds an evaluation of his own historic traditions. This range of influences and aims is especially clear in his works of the 1960s. During these years Moneo was one of the centers of interest and excitement in Madrid architecture. "For others … the reality of the building will be sought in its lasting tangible presence, which speaks about the architectural principles behind its construction. That is where I would like to be.” - Rafael Moneo.

Art and Nature Centre of the Beulas Foundation, in Huesca. 

Learn more at http://www.mimoa.eu/projects/Spain/Huesca/Centre%20for%20Art%20and%20Nature 

and (Spanish only)  http://www.arkinetia.com/Articulos/art132.aspx

Against a growing trend for ephemeral designs, Moneo works to maintain the competence of architecture. He sees architecture as a vast history in which the architect conscientiously looks for models and resources to transform. Today, as both an architect and as a teacher, Moneo remains one of the most important figures in Spanish architecture. "The site is an expectant reality, always awaiting the event of a prospective construction on it, through which will appear its otherwise hidden attributes.” - Rafael Moneo.

Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, Los Angeles. 

View more detail photos at http://figure-ground.com/ola_cathedral/0001/

His scholarly work includes numerous articles and lectures published throughout the world. His projects include the Bankinter Building in Madrid, the Museum of Roman Art in Mérida, the L'Illa building in Barcelona, the Pilar and Joan Miró Museum in Palma de Mallorca, the "Kursaal" Auditorium and Congess Center in San Sebastián, the extension of the Prado Museum in Madrid, as well as the Davis Art Museum at Wellesley College, the Houston Museum of Fine Arts, and the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles.

Watch a great special about Moneo, showing him analyzing and explaining the thought process behind all his buildings, at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bp8XgBBE-7w&videos=ZQuePHIAe3M&playnext_from=TL&playnext=1 ( 4 videos in Spanish only)

National Museum of Roman Art in Merida

Library of the University of Deusto in Bilbao.

"Kursaal" Auditorium in San Sebastián.

Rhode Island School of Design's museum. www.risdmuseum.org

Extension of the Padro Museum, Spain. 

You may learn more about the Prado Museum extension at http://www.bdonline.co.uk/story.asp?storycode=3098889 and http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com/index.php?fuseaction=wanappln.projectview&upload_id=1522

Talented Alexander McQueen and Lady Gaga

Alexander McQueen was born in London in 1969, son of a taxi driver, draw his first dress at the age of three. At 16 left his home to work for tailors and theatrical costumiers.  After receiving his Masters degree in Fashion design at the Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design worked for Givenchy and later for his own label. Visit his website at http://www.alexandermcqueen.com/ and his most young and rebel label http://www.m-c-q.com/

Alexander McQueen is known for both the emotional power and raw energy of the shows as well as the romantic but determinedly contemporary nature of the collections. Integral to the McQueen culture is the juxtaposition between contrasting elements: fragility and strength, tradition and modernity and fluidity and severity. An openly emotional and even passionate viewpoint is realised with a profound respect and influence for the arts and crafts tradition. Alexander's collections combine an in-depth working knowledge of: bespoke British tailoring, the fine workmanship of the French Haute Couture atelier and the impeccable finish of Italian manufacturing. Watch his Fall 09 runway at http://www.style.com/video/fashion-shows-by-season/fall-2009-rtw/12062822001/alexander-mcqueen-fall-2009-rtw/15404479001 and previous shows at http://www.style.com/video/fashion-shows-by-designer/alexander-mcqueen/1896809711

He is known for his lavish, unconventional runway shows, such as a recreation of a shipwreck for his spring 2003 collection, spring 2005’s human chess game and his fall 2006 show, Widows of Culloden, which featured a life-sized hologram of supermodel Kate Moss, dressed in yards of rippling fabric. One of McQueen's passions when he is not working is scuba diving. In a 2009 video interview he described diving as one of his greatest pleasures and also as a source of inspiration. An undersea influence was clearly evident in his latest October 2009 fashion show, 'Plato's Atlantis'. Watch his latest runway show with cameras that followed the models and projected on a big screen and in realtime on the internet, with Lady Gaga as background music.

Watch the entire collection at http://www.style.com/fashionshows/complete/S2010RTW-AMCQUEEN?page=1 and the incredible details and accessories at http://www.style.com/fashionshows/detail/S2010RTW-AMCQUEEN

And you may wonder who would dare to wear his collection... I have to admit the black coral inspired pumps are incredible! That would be the Icelandic singer Björk and emerging from the scene of New York City's Lower East Side, american singer / entertainer / ultra fashionista Lady Gaga, that has definitely a voice aside from her more than daring attitude and a strongly backed high production. Watch her wear McQueen and other designers in her videos bellow.

Watch more Lady Gaga fashion at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZlBjzXjfMU&feature=channel,  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAoPJxTvZOQ and if you don't believe she has can sing watch the song she wrote for her father http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRILEQhJqoo&feature=related

McQueen also partnered with Puma in 2005 for an unexpected and unique exploratory footwear collection and Samsonite in February 2007 resulting in a cutting edge luxury travel range. You may watch the presentations bellow.