Illustration by Attire Club
REX MUNDI
Editorial: Make it Happen! Billionaire Warren Buffett is known not just for his investing skills, but also for being an optimist and someone who has a rather positive outlook on things. It’s likely that his mentality, to build rather than to conquer is part of what has made him one of the richest people in the world. When listening to Mr. Buffett speak, one is sure to be mesmerized by his attitude towards events and people. He is a humble man who sees deep into people and understands their potential, he does not discredit things based on the current outlook - he sees everything as a flowing experience. “Be determined to succeed” is a motto that can be attributed to Mr. Buffett, as he is someone who knows that pushing through is just as important as having a distanced look over things. “Be the person you admire” is an essential tip the CEO of Berkshire Hathaway gives the world. In a talk he once gave, he told his audience to make a list of the qualities they admire in their friends and to then realize that they themselves can have those qualities. It’s a fabulous exercise. This is a fascinating lesson about the alchemy that can be applied to the human spirit: if you “know thyself ” and others, you can model your outlook and perspective over things in the direction you want in order to achieve the things you want. Surely, this is not all it takes, but it is half. In the end, according to Mr. Buffett, it’s kindness, honesty and other qualities of this type that make people successful. The trick is to work on them early; don’t wait to get old or rich to be a person others will want to work with and be around. In the end, your habits form your character and your character defines your destiny and who you are. “Don’t sleepwalk through life” is a great piece of advice from Mr. Buffet - think of what you want to do and do it. The Attire Club Team
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InCompanytAttirehClub Released by FRAQUOH AND FRANCHOMME Chief Executive Officer Dan Dimitriu Creative Director Iosif Trif Write letters to the editor iosif.trif@attireclub.org Visit our website attireclub.org Contact & Advertising office@attireclub.org Address Theresiengasse 50 Top 1 1180 Vienna Austria Telephone 0097 150 12 801 73 Follow us Facebook: facebook.com/attireclub
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Lake Como in 2019 Photo: Attire Club
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Contents
Spring 2019
Editorial
Make it Happen! Doing it right. u3 Fashion World iCONiC Releases Its New Collection “In the Middle of Nowhere” What’s new. u 10 In Their Own Words Baritone Drew Santini The artist opens up about the ways in which music and his life intertwine. u 12 Style Guide The Gentleman Rules What are the 4 habits of stylish men? u 16 A Report on the Party and the Guests Polo by Day, Party by Night A look at the 35th edition of the Snow Polo World Cup in St. Moritz. u 18 Style Guide A Guide to Spring Accessories Ties, bow ties and more. u 28
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In Their Own Words Racing Driver Juan Manuel Correa The F2 driver in full throttle. u 32 Watch Watching Baselworld 2019: The Year-Long Edition The ups and downs of the most discussed BW of the decade. u 36 Travel and Culture M for Mulhouse A trip to France’s city of museums. u 54 Current Obsessions From Basel to the World An extra selection of Baselworld watches. u 60 Metafashion An Attempt at Clarity Great artists and thinkers on deep subjects. u 63 Fashion and Technology Artist Erina Kashihara Clothes with lights. u 70
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Cars Hispano Suiza Unveils the Maguari HS1 GTC A car with extra power. u 74
The Attire Club Mood Diary Our Moodboard as a Visual Journal Spring in Old Russia. u 76 Cinema Culture The Film Dossier. Bad movies, superhero movies and how Orson Welles invented vlogging. u 86
The 4x12 Pop-Up Store in Paris Shopping in Le Marais. u 94 QR Code Glossary Discover the Brands Presented in this Issue Use your phone or tablet to discover the webpages featured in this issue. 8 | InCompanytAttirehClub
u 96
YListen to a song with the cotents!
AC World
InCompanytAttirehClub
The Smart Magazine Attire Club is offering a complete men’s style, fashion and lifestyle experience, centered around the AC website. To discover our universe and over 1000 articles that will offer you the tools to develop your style, as well as fashion inspiration and cultural insights and to interact with us and be part of our community, visit us online.
attireclub.org +See our QR Code Glossary at the end of the magazine
FA S H I O N
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iCONiC Releases Its Newest Collection “In the Middle of Nowhere” Thai label iCONiC recently released their spring-summer 2019 collection titled “In the Middle of Nowhere”. The collection features a rather retro vibe and puts an American spin on the aesthetic of the brand. In pure iCONiC style, the clothes feature highly saturated, yet calming colors and bring a dreamy world to everyday life. 10 | InCompanytAttirehClub
From the Online Edition
Attire Club is the ultimate resource for complete style guides, fashion inspiration and cultural insights that provide you with the tools you need for a continuous style development. Geared towards the sharp modern man, Attire Club offers practical “you can do it, here’s how” articles that will make you not only look better, but also feel better and more confident. With a groundbreaking new concept, AC is the essential online publication that brings out the best in who you are.
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Baritone
Drew Santini
Baritone Drew Santini is a strong stage presence on both sides of the Atlantic. After receiving degrees from The Juilliard School (MM) and Manhattan School of Music (BM), he embarked on a very diverse musical journey, singing concerts and opera from many periods and of many styles. Drew is currently based in The Hague, but the 18/19 season will take him to places like Toronto, New York, Amsterdam, Brussels, Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. In this InCompany by Attire Club interview, he looks back at the way his life intertwined with music and shares his thoughts on performing and the challenges of working in the arts.
“I’ve been playing, singing, and listening to Bach’s music since I was six years old and I will until the day I die” What was your first impactful musical experience? Drew Santini: When I was a teenager, just starting to consider a career in music, one of my music teachers took me to Toronto to hear Bach’s St. Matthew Passion performed by Tafelmusik Baroque Ochestra & Choir. This was the defining moment for me. I remember sitting there in total awe. The sound was so powerful, so perfect, and I felt home. That night, having no idea if I would ever manage, I decided I would do everything in my power to do that. This past Christmas, sixteen years later, I went home to Canada and made my debut with Tafelmusik singing Handel’s Messiah. Dream come true. Who are some of your favorite composers from the past and present? DS: Whoa! Big question and one I’m always stumped by. But here are some that I particularily love. First of all — J.S. Bach. Very few days go by when I’m not in contact, one way or another, with Bach and I think I share this experience with many musicians. I’ve been playing, singing, and listening to Bach’s music since I was six years old and I will until the day I die. Bach is a fact of life. In a way it is somehow diminishing to call him my favorite but I guess, at the end of the day… More favorites: Mozart, Debussy, Brahms, Mahler, Strauss,
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Poulenc, Ravel, Debussy, Stravinsky. Some of my favorite living composers: Kaija Saariaho, Jake Heggie, David Lang, Caroline Shaw, Gregory Spears. Is there a particular song or musical passage that never fails to move you emotionally? Why does it move you? DS: I went through a few difficult teenage years, as most do, grappling with my sexuality and then coming out, fighting to convince my family that a career in music was actually a thing - even though I really had no idea myself beyond knowing that I just had to do it, and coping with my parent’s marriage that was breaking down and ended later in a bitter divorce. I had a big portable stereo system from the early 90s in my bedroom and in some of those darkest moments I would blare Rachmaninoff ’s Vespers as loud as the machine would go. I’m revealing a lot here about what kind of teenager I was but to this day the big choral entrance in the first movement chokes me up. Do you have a favorite piece to perform? DS: Recital singing has always been my favorite way to perform — just singer and pianist doing songs. I find it the most demanding, direct, and powerful way to communicate with an audience. There are no costumes or
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characters to hide behind; it’s just us two and the audience. One song cycle that I particularly love singing is Poulenc’s Banalités with poems by Apollinaire. The final song of the five, Sanglots (Sobs), is one of my all-time favorites (and arguably one of Poulenc’s best). Apollinaire wrote these poems in 1915 during World War 1 and Poulenc set them to music in 1940 during World War 2. Both the poetry and music are such poignant commentaries on the two situations in which they were written. It’s hard to explain it in words but this is a song where the poem, which sits on the page in black and white, comes to life in full color through the music. It seems like a film in my mind—and hopefully the minds of the audience! What is your favorite part about your work? DS: The challenges of this job never stop: earning very little money, travelling constantly, fighting to prove that art is necessary and relevant, competing with swarms of talent, facing constant rejection; the non-musical, non-glamorous work never ends. But this is one thing I love (and hate) about my career. I will never be truly satisfied, which means that I have the eternal privilege and frustration of being a student. Every day I learn something about how to improve, in one way or another. It can seem very difficult at times, but satisfaction comes when I manage to open and soften someone’s heart who’s sitting in the audience. Then it’s all worth it. Do you get nervous before a performance? DS: Of course! If I am well prepared, then I usually just feel “good” nervous — the kind that adds energy and vitality to a performance. Standing before an audience doesn’t essentially make me nervous. But then of course there are moments when I feel less prepared and the “bad” nerves will come, simply because I am less in control of myself on stage. What advice would you give to young men who want to pursue a musical career?
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Photo: Evelien van Rijn
DS: If you can imagine yourself being happy doing something else, do that. If you can’t imagine doing anything else and you’re ready to defend yourself every day for the rest of your life, become a professional musician. That sounds harsh but it’s true. This isn’t a career for people who kinda sorta like it. You have to be obsessed. Especially at the beginning music has to be a huge part of your existence. In a way, I thank my parents for challenging me so forcefully when I was considering this career. They taught me how to fight for myself from the very beginning, something that proves invaluable to my career. If you’re obsessed: practice, study, repeat. Find good teachers and mentors. Go to concerts. Don’t let anyone “teach” the magic out of you. Stay curious. Stay flexible. Stay open. Thank you! Discover Drew’s new website at drewsantini.com
Style Gazing
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Men who are extremely stylish know that style is not just about looks. This is why they always make sure to add a “layer” of perfume or cologne to complete the experience, as perfume will make you more identifiable. Even though perfume is not visible, it is a great way to make a lasting good impression and to make yourself more confident. Find a perfume that is right for you two would be better, one for daytime and one for evening, make sure you don’t spray too much of it and that you refresh it every few hours and you are all set. 16 | InCompanytAttirehClub
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Being stylish does not require much effort and can be achieved by anyone who takes a few easy steps: making sure your hair looks right, wearing only clothes that fit, spraying on some cologne and wearing great shoes are four ways you can amp up your style game in no time. While it may seem hard at first to always be on your best level of style, practice makes perfect, so keep doing it and soon enough you’ll find yourself among the club of the best looking guys in the world. attireclub.org |
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A R E P O RT O N T H E PA RT Y & T H E G U E S TS
POLO BY DAY,
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The Snow Polo World Cup is an annual event, which takes place in the Swiss resort town of St. Moritz. It is the only polo tournament in the world which is played on a frozen lake, the ice being between 50 cm and 70 cm thick. Even though the St. Moritz Lake is situated 1,768 meters above sea level, the weather is usually warm and sunny and combined with the pristine natural surroundings and the luxurious resort, creates a great setting for one of the world’s most sophisticated events.
PARTY BY NIGHT Photos: Attire Club
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L
ate this January, Sankt Moritz was again the host of the Snow Polo World Cup. The 35th edition of the tournament took place on the frozen lake of St. Moritz and was a state-of-the-art event, encapsulating everything the small Swiss resort town is: elegance, excitement and a lot of fun. The event started on Thursday, the 24th with the presentation of the teams, as there were many new players coming to St. Moritz to compete in one of the four teams which played for the cup. The teams were: team Cartier (which won last year), team Maserati, team Badrutt’s Palace and team Azerbaijan Land of Fire. On Friday, the event kicked off with two games. Firstly, team Cartier played against team Azerbaijan Land of Fire in what was a very tense and exciting game. Team Cartier had 10 goal Juan Martín Nero on their side, which made the boys from the Land of Fire fight as hard as
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they could, an effort which eventually paid off, as Azerbaijan Land of Fire won with 5 ½ – 5. The second game was between Melissa Ganzi’s black- shirted team Badrutt’s Palace, which played against team Maserati. The match started out rather slow, but the tension and dynamism grew more and more during the last two chukkas, and especially towards the closing bell, as the score was an equal 5 – 5, with just
seconds to play left. It was Max Charlton who tilted the score in favor of team Maserati right at the end of the game, which ended in a close 6 – 5.
end, it was team Badrutt’s Palace that won the game.
The second day of games gathered many more spectators than on Friday, as the weather was warmer than on the previous day and the sun was out and bright. On Saturday, the first match was between teams Azerbaijan Land of Fire and Badrutt’s Palace. Unfortunately, not very long after the start of the game, Adrian Laplacette, the team’s highest handicapped
The second match of the day was between team Cartier and team Maserati, which was a smoother game than the previous one. Frenchman Robert Strom of team Maserati played a hard game and scored several goals. It was a close game, as both teams played hard to get qualified in the final, but in the end it was team Maserati’s game, which won with 7 ½ – 6. On Sunday, it was the day of the finals. First-
player, suffered a badly cut ear and had to be rushed to the hospital for small surgery. Afterwards, it was a rather slow game, but Badrutt’s Palace’s Alejandro Novillo Astrada found himself in full shape and scored goals and blocked the efforts of the Azeri team. However, soon enough his dynamism was curved due to a tumble, which was suspected to be a broken arm. Fortunately, it turned out that it was just a bad bruise and so Astrada was soon back in the saddle to play. Towards the end of the game, both teams were playing to win and the game stretched out on about 1 ½ hours. In the
ly, team Cartier played against team Azerbaijan for the small final. Adrian Laplacette was back in the game, despite having been in the hospital the previous day and spectators were excited to see how the game would turn out. Before the start of the tournament, many people had thought that the two teams would be battling for the first prize, but as Jan-Erik “The Voice of Polo” Franck said, in polo anything can happen. Team Cartier, which consisted of the father son duo of Marc and Team Captain, Grant Ganzi, alongside Engadin star Tito Gaudenzi and 10 goal maestro Juan Martín attireclub.org |
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Nero was definitely seen as a favorite by many, who had a big surprise that the team lost with a staggering 5 – 0 for team Azerbaijan Land of Fire. As time passed, the snow that was slowly setting started to turn into a small Alpine blizzard, with the snow and wind giving the players of teams Maserati and Badrutt’s Palace an extra challenge as they battled for the Cartier trophy in the grand finale. Despite the wind, spectators gathered around the field and watched closely the match, many of them wearing red Cartier blankets, which, by the way, looked amazing against the white snow which was now covering the frozen lake of St. Moritz. Both teams brought their A-game, which made the match a nail-biting experience, but unfortunately there were also falls and hits included. In the end, it was a 22 | InCompanytAttirehClub
clear win for team Badrutt’s Palace, who won the game with 7 – 3. This win was very special; as it marked not only the first Cup win for team Badrutt’s Palace, but also the first win of a team lead by a woman. The Cartier Trophy was presented to team Badrutt’s Palace by Mrs. Laurence Bourgeois, Cartier Managing Director (Switzerland) and Mrs. Kaethy Dobers, the Boutique Director of Cartier St. Moritz. The award for best Playing Patron was presented by Peter Schmid, Head of Wealth Management Northern and Central Europe Deutsche Bank and was awarded to Melissa Ganzi. The Most Valuable Player award was given to Alejandro Novillo Astrada and the Polo Times Best Playing Pony award was offered to Pantera, played by Alejando Novillo Astrada in the fourth chukka. The 18 000 enthusiastic spectators of the Cup
Reto Gaudenzi is the “godfather” of snow polo. In 1983, he and legendary tourism director Hanspeter Danuser came up with the idea of playing polo on snow, which at the time seemed to be very “out there”.
French polo player Robert Strom lead the Maserati team
had once again a wonderful time in Sankt Moritz, as they could enjoy an event that combined sports matches, great culinary experiences and a lot of glamorous parties, all in the beautiful setting of St. Moritz and the breathtaking landscape of the Engadin Valley. The magical frozen lake, the passion of the players for the game and the sophistication and elegance of the overall experience, in the form of great food, great Perrier-Jouët champagne and great music, made the 35th edition of the Sankt Moritz Snow Polo World Cup a 5-star tournament and one of the world’s most refined and luxurious events.
Not only was the 2019 win the first win for team Badrutt’s Palace, but it was also the first team lead by a woman.
parties and dinners held in some of Switzerland’s most exclusive locations.
Perrier-Jouët and Maserati were among the main sponsors.
Swiss hospitality is known worldwide as a great experience of friendliness, attention to detail and elegant simplicity. When you combine it with a five-star event such as the Snow Polo World Cup, the result is a series of fabulous attireclub.org |
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Jan-Erik Franck, known as “The Voice of Polo” commented the games.
S the event.
pectators and participants of the 2019 edition of the Snow Polo World Cup could enjoy not only three days of great games of polo on the frozen lake of Sankt Moritz, but also a series of parties and dinners that celebrated
In the evenings of the Snow Polo World Cup, the fur coats were traded for designer suits, gorgeous gowns and diamonds, as the guests of the Cup enjoyed a series of parties, which were held mostly at the Badrutt’s Palace hotel. Glamour and style were the defining characteristics of these luxury-packed nights. St. Moritz has been the go-to destination for billionaires and royalty since 1846 and has since become the gold standard for great hotels, restaurants and experiences. With over 300 sunny days each year, Sankt Moritz is a resort known for being not only the birthplace of Alpine winter tourism, but also for being the highest expression of luxury tourism. In St. Moritz, you can find only the most exquisite of hotels, such as the Badrutt’s Palace and the Carlton hotels, fine restaurants and some of the world’s most glamorous shops. Even though the resort is small, there is a lot to do here: if you want to take a romantic trip, you can take a train to Tirano, in Italy with the 24 | InCompanytAttirehClub
Bernina Express, a ride that takes you across the Bernina pass, past mountain peaks and impressive glaciers. Some trains on this route even have windows that go up to the rooftop of the carriage, thus allowing you to enjoy the beautiful Engadin valley in its entire splendor. Because of its uniqueness, the Rhätische Railway’s Bernina route was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2008.
The Snow Polo World Cup features many events held in the evening, including a glamorous cocktail party followed by a private dinner at the Badrutt’s Palace hotel.
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For those not wanting to get away too far from the resort, they can simply take a walk through St. Moritz, as the architecture is eclectic and offers a lot to see. The skyline is unusual, but unexpectedly cohesive and coherent. Architectural highlights include Norman Foster’s Chesa Futura and the leaning tower, but the hotels themselves are architectonic jewels in their own right as well. Those who prefer to stay inside can enjoy a traditional Engadine walnut tart. This specialty is filled with cream, caramel and chunky walnuts and is a true delight which can be found in iconic cake shops such as the Hanselmann. Over the years, Sankt Moritz has become associated with the caviar and champagne lifestyle and offers its visitors nothing less than top-notch experiences. The Snow Polo World Cup is an event that essentializes the St. Moritz lifestyle, as it offers its guests a well-balanced experience, consisting of entertaining games, fun parties, great food and never-ending waves of champagne.
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S T Y L E
G U I D E
A Guide to Spring Accessories
The spring-summer season is a great opportunity to play with your clothes and to style up your outfits by adding accessories that express your personality and taste. From a sartorial point of view, summer allows one to be highly creative, as the spectrum of accessories that are available in the spring-summer season is a lot wider than the range you come across in the fall-winter season. Summer accessories are usually more dynamic than fall accessories: they are more colorful, they feature more patterns, prints and textures and they are made from a larger variety of fabrics. Wearing interesting accessories will make you reflect the season through your clothes and will indicate that you are a man who pays attention to every detail, as this is what accessories are all about. 28 | InCompanytAttirehClub
Photos: Attire Club
Bow ties: Attire Club
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Owning statement pieces is a great way to enhance your wardrobe. The fact of the matter is that good accessories can style up even the blandest of outfits and can take your style to a new level. From nautical to pastel, almost anything goes in the summer. Let’s take a look at the main categories of spring-summer accessories we recommend sporting this warm season:
Ties and bow ties
Ties are one of the most common men’s accessories in the world. They give a man elegance, they make him look more polished and sophisticated and they add a dash of refinement to his look. In the summer, you can opt for ties in brighter colors such as orange, red or pink. Remember that if you are wearing a tie, its width should be proportionate to your body (bigger men should opt for wider ties, while thinner men should go for skinny ties) and that a tie should always touch your belt line, it should never go above or below it. Bow ties are a great alternative to ties. These days, bow ties come in all shapes and sizes and in a very wide range of colors. The thing you need to know about bow ties is that the shiner the bow tie, the dressier it is. Therefore, if you want to wear a bow tie in a casual setting or in an academic environment, it is most recommended to stick with a matte bow tie. Moreover, colorful bow ties are a great way to style up your outfits and bow ties that feature prints, patterns or interesting textures can add a lot of visual interest to any outfit and make it very warm and welcoming, which is something you should go for.
Belts
The warm season is the best time to make use of your colorful belts or of belts that are not made from brown or black leather. The main rule when it comes to belts is that they need to match your shoes and, while this is an important thing to follow; you can also break the rule, especially if you are putting together a casual summer outfit. Learning about color coordination will help you make wiser choices and more interesting combinations. For example, colors that lie closely to each other on the color wheel such as red and orange go great together. Colors that are exact opposites, such as orange and green also go together well. Of course, this does not mean that you cannot match your colorful belt to your shoes: get a pair of colorful shoes and wear them with your belt!
Pocket squares
Pocket squares are a very good way to add flair to your outfits. Since not many men are sporting pocket squares, putting a pocket square or a pocket round in your jacket’s pocket will draw everyone’s attention in a good way. Remember that if you decide to wear both a tie or a bow tie and a pocket square, you should make sure that they are opposites both in terms of colors or patterns and fabrics. attireclub.org |
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Racing Driver
Juan Manuel Correa
Juan Manuel Correa is a young Ecuadorian-American racing driver. Since 2008, the now 19-year-old has had a flourishing career, participating in the Toyota Racing Series, the ADAC Formula 4 and the Italian F4 Championship. Last year, he raced in the GP3 series. Recently, Alfa Romeo Racing has announced that Juan Manuel has joined the F1 outfit as a development driver. In this InCompany by Attire Club interview, he discusses how he became a racing driver, how this has shaped him, his plans for the upcoming months and more.
“This lifestyle has shaped so much my values and personality that I honestly don’t know who I would be right now if I had never started racing” What can you tell us about your background? Juan Manuel Correra: I was born in Ecuador and lived there until I was ten years old, when I began racing gokarts. My family and I then moved to Miami, where I continued karting and attended middle and a bit of high school. In 2014 I moved to Italy by myself and began chasing my Formula 1 dream by racing throughout Europe. Currently, I am still based in Europe and have lived in Italy, France, Switzerland and Spain. How does one become a racing driver? JMC: In my case, it began through karting when I was seven years old. Most of the drivers nowadays all begin with karting when they are very young. After racing in Ecuador for some years, I began racing in the United States, and eventually in Europe as well. In 2016, I moved up from karting to single-seater formula cars. I did two years of Formula 4, one year of Gp3 and I’m now beginning my first year of
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Formula 2. It takes a lot of hard work and sacrifice to become a successful racing driver. Just recently, Alfa Romeo Racing has announced that you have joined the F1 outfit as a development driver. What does that mean to you?
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JMC: It’s an amazing opportunity for me. The development role means that I will be tightly linked with the team helping them develop the car in their simulator and also accompanying them through some of their race weekends. Apart from the knowledge and experience I will get out of this deal, it also gives me a very good link with the team for a possible future F1 seat. On a more personal note, how do you relate to racing? What significance does racing in general have for you? JMC: Simply put, racing is my life. I have eaten, breathed and drank racing for as long as I can remember and I have sacrificed so much for this passion. This lifestyle has shaped so much my values and personality that I honestly don’t know who I would be right now if I had never started racing. How do you prepare mentally and physically for a race? JMC: Since we have limited testing in the car, we have to do a lot of preparation outside of a race track. Such preparations include lots of physical fitness training as well as mental training where we work on reflexes, pressure management and coordination among other things. We also
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drive on the team’s simulator to learn and get a good feeling of the track we will be racing on.
Looking forward, what would like to accomplish next, what is your goal for the coming months?
Do you get to have much free time or time for hobbies or traveling?
JMC: During the next months, my main focus will be my Formula 2 campaign. It is an important year for my career and I need to impress in my debut season. Down the line, who knows? Possibly a Formula 1 seat...? I certainly hope so.
JMC: Away from races, most of my free time is spent training. The little time I have away from that I usually go back home to Miami to see my family, or I travel with my friends somewhere. I think it’s important to find a good balance between family, friends and hobbies to keep myself happy and motivated.
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WATC H
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BASELWORLD 2019: THE YEAR-LONG EDITION Photos: Attire Club
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The 2019 edition of Baselworld started technically on 21 March, but in practicality, it started the moment the 2018 edition ended. The 2019 edition became one of the most talked-about editions from the day the show ended, as the fair was faced with a storm of problems. In the end, the 2019 edition became a cornerstone edition in that it would be the edition deciding the direction in which the fair would go in the 2020s.
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A Fresh Start and Bad News reparing the 2019 edition of Baselworld was not an easy endeavor – that is a sure thing. The reason for this was that the moment the bottom line was drawn and the math was done, the organizers realized that there is a lot that needs to be changed for the next edition. The watch and jewelry fair was faced with a series of issues that needed mending before the next edition. And, while it seemed that there’s enough time to fix everything, a year is actually not so long. Before the 2018 edition, Baselworld had a rocky couple of years, as, after the 2016 and 2017 editions, 57% of the brands who were showcasing during the event pulled out from the show. This has led to a decrease of the show – not just in terms of number of booths, but also in number of days and attendance. Thus, the event has been at the center of many discussions. First, there was talk about focusing more on quality than on quantity, which could be a fair point. But then, many media outlets started talking about the very sustainability of the Swiss trade show. Problems such as the high prices for attendance and for accommodation in Basel during the show seemed to be some of the top problems. To reshape and reimagine Baselworld, the MCH Group, which is in charge with organizing
Baselworld, hired a new managing director for the show, Mr. Michel Loris-Melikoff. However, this news was in large part eclipsed by the even bigger bad news that the Swatch Group has pulled out of the next edition of Baselworld. The news broke on 29 July in the Swiss newspaper NZZ am Sonntag, as announced by Nick Hayek, CEO of the Swatch Group. The Swatch Group owns 18 brands, including Omega, Tissot, Blancpain, Jaquet Droz, Longines, Breguet and Harry Winston and was a very big part of Baselworld, as the group took about half of Hall 1.0. To many, it seemed that Baselworld is a giant that has a hard time improving. And, it can be said, that such a fair has indeed a lot at stake: any wrong move could have negative impact on it. But Baselworld has changed a lot before, over the course of the last century, as the fair has shown it can and wants to change. Being aware of your problems and of the concerns participants may have is definitely a first, and probably most important step when it comes to rethinking an event of this magnitude. Michel Loris-Melikoff replaced Sylvie Ritter who had been in charge of Baselworld for the last 15 years, so it rapidly became clear that the intention was to new wind blowing into Basel. The show organizers announced that for the 2019 edition, they will focus on an entire day for media, “further innovations” for catering, hospitality and events, and strategies to reinvigorate the jewelry sector of the fair. Indeed, talking to people at Baselworld, one gets the idea that more structure and more hospitality is what is needed, which is why it can be argued that the right problems were identified. Moreover, the organizers have announced that they are in talks with the hoteliers of Basel in order to make the city more economically appealing to those who come for the show. The bleak news about Baselworld don’t show the fact that the fair is still the go-to place for independent brands such as MB&F, Louis Moinet and Schwarz Etienne. These are labels that create truly stunning pieces and for whom it seems that a fair such as Baselworld is the right place to be. The bottom line is that Baselworld organizers had their work cut out for them: they needed to find key retailers, as this would make the big brands
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We’ll do the show, but will they come?
stay and they could also make it easier for the smaller brands to connect with their audiences, may it be through the press or in other ways. Today we live in a world that is more and more open, but at the same time connected, and this is the change that was natural to come to Baselworld as well. “We want to conduct the fair in 2019 as attractively as possible, in a new style and with a new way of thinking,” Loris-Melikoff said in a statement. In the end, this is a good way of thinking, as a fair that is all about innovation and creativity should be able to redesign itself and stand up from the ground. Later, the organizers of Baselworld also decided to have a warmer approach, to both their clients and their visitors. Firstly, they announced back in October that their event newspaper will return (an interesting choice to bring back a print publication – does this mean print is indeed making a come-back?) and later during the same month they announced the establishment of a “Show Plaza”, destined to act as a strong attraction in the Jewellery Hall 1.2. Such an endeavor seemed a good move. The “Show Plaza”, was designed to be in the heart of the hall. A 240° catwalk would feature three live shows every day with international models presenting the newest fashions and the latest collections from various exhibitors. Seven huge LED walls were to be added for close-up images of the jewelry, which makes sense, since jewelry is hard to be seen from afar.
As Baselworld approached, the trade show became the center of many discussions and talks and of many announcements coming from the organizers and participating brands. After many labels checking out and people complaining about the extremely high costs of living in Basel during the show, the organizers partnered up with many hotels in the city to make sure that the accommodation prices during the event won’t be as high as they were before. Opinions and Discussions Michel Loris-Melikoff, Managing Director of Baselworld, explained back in the autumn that they had partnered up with lots of hotels in the city to make sure that exhibitors and visitors wouldn’t have to spend too much on staying in the Swiss town for the duration of the show. This was one of the major complaints about Baselworld, which is why it has been tackled so hard. On another positive note, looking ahead to the 2019 edition, Baselworld has announced that jewelry manufactures Gellner, Jörg Heinz and IsabelleFa will return to Baselworld. In this regard, Martin Heinz, CEO of Jörg Heinz said in late November of last year that “Michel Loris-Melikoff and his team have set out to break new ground and revitalize Baselworld, especially in the jewelry sector. We would like to accompany them in this process, because change and transformation also mean new opportunities.” The Mössner family behind IsabelleFa released a statement saying that “the new concept, which promises a completely new start, has persuaded us to accept the offer. We are excited to see how attireclub.org |
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The Chopard booth
the show will develop.” Indeed, the new concept of Baselworld promised to be extremely interesting, as it was a due or die moment for the show. More connectedness, more engagement and openness are what both exhibitors and attendees have requested and these are the exact things the organizers are working on. As the show approached, more and more people wondered whether the level of the expectations would be met. Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, Co-President of Chopard also voiced his opinion about the changes occurring at Baselworld saying that “it is important for us that the basic requirements of the exhibitors are being taken care of: the overall experience, hospitality and working conditions for the trade and the press must be perfect in all aspects. We have repeatedly made remarks in recent years, and now the changes are actually being implemented. Baselworld must offer a platform in keeping with today’s standards in order to deserve the leading position. I am very eager to see how the show will present itself with the new environment and fewer exhibitors and also how the visitor and customer figures will develop. I know that everything is being done to create an attractive design for the show and I believe the signs are promising. After all, I am expecting a good response to the changes: the new infrastructure, for instance, will enable representatives of the media to carry out their press and public relations work better, more efficiently and in a more pleasant manner. The agreements made with the hotel trade also appear very promising. In my opinion, another positive development is the offer of a stage and an event area on the second floor of Hall 1 that gives companies an opportunity to present themselves. A lot has been done to create more convenient and more
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efficient conditions and the new show management has already achieved a great deal in this respect. As I see it though, Baselworld will still be in a state of transition in 2019: The show will face the major challenge in 2020, but here too are some very promising visions.” Toshio Tokura, President and CEO of the Citizen Watch Group gave an interview back in December, also voicing con-
cern over the 2020 edition, in which he said: “we would appreciate more clarity on the format and positioning that Baselworld plans to adopt from 2020. Whatever changes are implemented, we hope they will make the show even more significant than it is now.” Sascha Moeri, CEO of Carl F. Bucherer talked about the changes coming at Baselworld as well, saying “our expectations of the show are high. We are proud to be amongst the brands to participate in the upcoming Baselworld and excited to see how well the concepts and new ideas that the show management has proposed will be implemented and perceived by the public.” The general audience was also on the mind of Julien Tornare, CEO of Zenith who claimed that “end consumers should become the real focus of attention and this will include restricting the pricing model.”
1 BW Trend: Cars
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ars were on display everywhere at Baselworld, mostly due to collaborations between watch brands and luxury car labels. Hublot had a collaboration with Ferrari, Jacob & Co. with Bugatti and so on and there was even a new Bentley jewelry line. Mini Cooper was also present and everywhere you looked you could see cars and the occasional motorcyle. One could even check out some impressive car clocks and racing watches.
Constantin Wild, gemstone dealer from Idar-Oberstein expressed his thoughts saying “compared to all the other international trade shows that we participate at, Baselworld enjoys an exceptional position with regard to its audience, its professional visitors, its atmosphere and the quality of its exhibitors. The show has established itself over the years as an important meeting place for the international jewelry scene and it has successfully positioned itself in the luxury brands segment. During the past thirty years of our exhibiting at Baselworld, we were accordingly able to make valuable contacts with high-end jewelry producers, designers and jewelers from around the world.” And indeed, his point is a very valid one, as given the criticism that Baselworld had to con-
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front; it could seem that it was a no-name brand. The Media’s Bleak Outlook Many voices in the media questioned the very reason for having a trade show like Baselworld, as most presentations and commerce is done online. However, this can be considered as a rather weak point, as today, more than ever, people want to see the quality and products before buying them, talking about them and making them part of the culture. Otherwise, we risk flooding the world with bad watches and jewelry whose only quality is to photograph well. In this regard, trade shows such as Baselworld are still extremely important and their endeavors improve and keep up with their audiences can serve the greater good. In December, Shinji Hattori, Chairman and CEO of Seiko Watch Corporation also discussed this point saying “These days, when everyone is aware of the growing power of the digital world, it could be easy to forget the importance of face-to-face contact with customers and the press people. Our products, luxury watches, are ones that people can only understand when they touch and feel them and when they can be demonstrated in person. Because of this human dimension to our industry, a show like Baselworld, if
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properly organized and economically viable, will always be important.” In November, SRF was reporting on their website a Stadtgespräch (city talk) that had recently taken place in Basel, where one of the main points was the fact that the 2020 edition will be the true test for the fair, as the 2019 edition, with all its tweaks will make it clear as of how the show will continue… and… even if it will continue at all. New News Despite all the pessimism going around, in mid-December the big news broke that Baselworld and the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH), held in January in Geneva would line up their calendars as of 2020. This is quite a relevant announcement, since many people had issues with the two events being about two months apart, as many professionals had to travel to Switzerland twice in a short time frame, which was especially difficult from those coming from far away countries such as China or India. Fabienne Lupo, President and Managing Director of the Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie, which organises SIHH, said: “Our
two events have always been different, yet complementary. Resynching with Baselworld will further confirm Switzerland as the foremost destination for watchmaking in the world. This is something we welcome wholeheartedly, as it is in the interests of all.” But, not only was it announced that the two fairs would be in sync, but that the organizers had established the calendars until 2024, which proved everyone who thought Baselworld would end in 2019 to be wrong. Despite this, the destiny of Baselworld was not written yet. The 2019 edition would be, however, clearly a turning point edition, as it would set up the future of Baselworld. Jeremy Oster, co-founder and co-owner of Oster Jewelers, said in an interview which was released in February: “I am expecting this year that Baselworld is going to be a transitional show” – and yes, the 2019 edition was marked by both highs and lows before even beginning.
ials and excitement.
The months leading up to Baselworld brought with them a series of conversations about the show. The key words were always pretty much the same: change, innovation, development, success, digital, millen-
In some ways, Baselworld became a story similar to the plot of “America’s Sweethearts”, the 2001 film in which people create buzz around a movie before its premiere, without them actually seeing the movie or knowing anything about it. On March 1, it was announced on the Baselworld website that about 500 brands would be exhibiting, less than the year before, but quite enough, given the troubled times the show had gone through since the 2018 edition. Rolex, Patek Philippe, TAG Heuer, Citizen, Seiko, Casio, Zenith, Chopard, Breitling, Hublot, Chanel, Tudor and Bulgari would all be there.
The 12th Hour The event started officially on the 21st, but there was an extra day before where only press could access Baselworld and to see what is going on. The first feeling that seemed to be flying in the air was a question of “we’ll do the show, but will they come?” as the last details were put into place. In the end, members of the media did come, even though in smaller numbers than last year. There was again an opening press conference, which was almost exclusively about the fair and concepts, a wise decision after last year’s opening ceremony was all about the big brands that represent the pillars of Baselworld. The days that followed were a bit underwhelming in the morning: it was clear that there were far less brands showing, but there were also quite little people going around. In the weekend though, there were more buyers, retailers and visitors who brought more movement to the show. The space that was left out by the big brands that did no longer attend was filled with the improved press center, with sitting places, an eating area and so on. The reason for this was because the big brands had paid the rent for the places and did not allow others to build their booths there. There were also fashion shows taking place a few times every day as announced, but unfortunately these were a bit off: the choreography was not well done, the stage itself was not appropriate for a fashion show, the rhythm of the shows was dull and some of the models didn’t have great skills of walking and posing. The idea of doing jewelry fashion shows is a good one, but it needed to be done better - maybe next year? In terms of watches, since, those are still the focus of the show, the key word that would describe this year’s main trend was “unconventional” or “new”. Many brands went out of their way to create pieces that respected their label’s image and defining characteristics, but that had a twist. There were interesting spins put on watches this year in terms of designs. From Rolex and Casio to Chopard and Breitling, there were many interesting ideas put into the new releases. There were also some really amazing pieces coming from the watch incubator, where smaller independent brands could showcase their
And so, not too long after the Basler Fasnacht (Carnival of Basel) came Baselworld.
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ideas (have you seen the watch going backwards from Raketa?) and there were also many things to see in the “Les Ateliers” hall. Probably the most talked-about watch in this area was MB&F’s first women’s watch, which translated the brand’s very masculine vibe into a women’s piece. The creators of the Académie Horlogère des Créateurs Indépendants had a series of novelties to show and there were also many beautiful pieces to discover in the jewelry area. This approach to watchmaking, namely to put a twist on a classic design, is a bold, but smart move. As we are closing one decade and opening up another one, it’s only normal for customers to seek the new and fresh, which many brands delivered - for example, Casio offered a purple and a rainbow watch and Chopard proposed a classic men’s wath with a wool strap. Also, in a growing market, bringing something new while staying on brand is always important. The brands that participated really did put in much effort into creating astounding pieces and great quality items for their customers and they do deserve more buzz to be created around them. This could be a focus point for Baselworld for the next years. While there were more spaces where people could sit and talk this year, there was a lack of a unifying factor. For example, in 2018, Chopard held an entire press conference around ethical gold, which was accompanied by a great lunch, where people could connect. The conference acted as a connector, which created a talking point (which helped Chopard consolidate their message), but also acted as
The countdown
connector between people (which is indirectly helpful for the brand). Thus, it can be said that, while it was a great idea to have more open spaces for people to connect, there is also a need for a connecting factor - maybe more brands or the organization of the fair itself could learn from Chopard’s 2018 endeavor. Ultimately, it needs to be said that even though Baselworld has received a lot of criticism, the organization has indeed done its best given that the new administration had less than a year to redefine the show. When talking to brands, you could see that they do want Baselworld to succeed. Raj Mehta from Rosy Blue told us that BW has always been a very important point on their agenda and that they wished for it to stay that way. Following the fair, Maria Carola Picchiotti said for AC, “Baselworld is, without a doubt, the premiere trade show in the world in terms of product excellence and brand communication. It serves as a common ground for meeting new potential clients from different geographic areas and for meeting current colleagues and assessing global trends. Despite the drastic reduction in exhibitors and a 22% visitor drop, Baselworld is still Baselworld, and nothing compares to it.” Maria Carola Picchiotti’s words do sum up this edition of Baselworld: it wasn’t the biggest and it wasn’t the best, but Baselworld is on its way finding a new concept. The fair has a charm of its own and deserves much consideration from the new management. It is a hard act to balance out the needs and wants of the brands, of the buyers and distributors and of the press (who have been some of the least happy people with Baselworld and for a series of good reasons), but it can be done.
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In the stones and pearls area
Photo: Chopard
Highlights attireclub.org |
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From household name brands like Rolex and Chopard to independent watchmakers and even microbrands, there were many interesting watches we could see this year at Baselworld. Here is a selection of both novelties and timeless pieces that were showcased during this edition of the fair.
Patek Philippe Calatrava Weekly Calendar
Breitling Aviator 8 Curtiss Warhawk
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Rolex Yacht Master 42
Hublot Big Bang Scuderia Ferrari 90th Anniversary Platinum
Chopard L.U.C XP
Breitling Premier Bentley Centenary Limited Edition
Louis Moinet Mars Gold
Ferdinand Berthoud Chronomètre FB 1
Louis Moinet Moon Steel
Edox Sharkman III Casio MRG-G2000GA
Lang & Heyne Konrad
Casio MTG-B1000RB
ArtyA Race 250 GTO full black Raketa Russian Code Black
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Mauron Musy Armure
Claude Bernard Aquarider
Yunik Bora Bora
Jowissa LeWy Manufacture Royale Androgyne Sinn The Frankfurt Financial District Watch
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Konstantin Chaykin Cinema
Briston GMT Traveler
Menintime LePaon Urwerk Maverick
Académie Horlogère des Créateurs Indépendants Portraits by Attire Club
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Áaron Becsei
John-Mikaël Flaux
Áaron Becsei is a Hungarian watchmaker who comes from a family of watchmakers. Given that his home land does not have a watch manufacturing tradition, he started out by doing repair work and now creates some truly amazing pieces (many of which are highly personalized works) and has customers from all over the world.
John-Mikaël Flaux is a French watchmaker who, before going independent has worked for the Swiss label Ulysse Nardin, where he worked as a watchmaker in the great complications department. He is known for his creation The Wasp, but also for his Car Clock, which was one of the first creations of its type. Today, we can see car watches and clocks being created by many brands, both big and small.
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Cyril Brivet-Naudot
Luděk Seryn
Cyril Brivet-Naudot is both a watchmaker and a restorer. He is the grandson and great-grandson of watchmakers and today creates pieces with an aesthetic inspired by the early 20th century. In 2018, he launched his first watch called Eccentricity. His atelier is based in Brittany, France.
Luděk Seryn is a Czech watchmaker who developed an impressive watch called the Karel Rotation. He worked for two and a half years on the watch, which can be bought for 200 000 euros. However, according to Seryn, he would not make more than three of the type, in order to keep the model exclusive and make sure it won’t lose its market value. When creating the watch in a studio overlooking Prague, he first developed bigger-scale models of the watch’s parts with a 3D printer.
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Daizoh Makihara Daizoh Makihara is a Japanese watchmaker who is pushing the boundaries of watchmaking at the same time as taking traditional Japanese culture into the future. In his watches, he uses classic Japanese motifs finely cut with a technique that many people did not think could be achieved. Through his forward-leaning work and the buzz he creates, he gets young people to discover his country’s arts and crafts and to make them think of the new possibilities in which these can be used in the future. He is a true innovator and avant-gardist, who has the potential to develop an entirely new watchmaking concept.
1 BW Focus: Picchiotti
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iuseppe Picchiotti founded the Picchiotti brand in 1967 and turned it into a strong family business. Today, Picchiotti offers some of the most exquisite jewelry you can find - they are made with an impressive precision and craftsmanship and are made of stunning materials. Geared mostly towards women (even though they do offer some men’s pieces), Picchiotti jewelry can be worn by day or by night and is sure to make a lasting impression. The company has also developed a collection of jewelry called Xpandable, which features expandable rings and bracelets. These make amazing gifts, but also heirlooms. They are a strong presence at Baselworld each year, as every new collection is unveiled during the event.
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Photobook
After last year’s record for most diamonds on a handbag, Coronet, a Swiss brand of Aaron Shum Jewelry, was awarded its 9th Guinness World Record for ‘the most diamonds set on a watch’. The ‘Mudan’ watch features a staggering 15,858 diamonds (400 ct.) set in 18k gold with artist Reena Ahluwalia’s diamond painting on the dial
The Patek Philippe booth
An ArtyA watch in ice
Strom family values: great watches and jewelry
Blogger Dan Widanarto wore a jacket that rapidly became a star on social media Taiwanese musician Jay Chou at Tudor
Breitling private restaurant Breitling presentation
attireclub.org | The opening cermony seen from afar
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Natuhrzeit clock by Miki Eleta
T R AV E L
&
C U LT U R E
M for Mulhouse
The French city of Mulhouse lies at the crossroads of two major axes: Zurich-Paris and Rhine-RhĂ´ne. For many, it may not sound as a popular touristic destination, but it is in fact a fascinating city with a rich history and with some amazing museums, as Mulhouse ranks 8th of all French cities for the most frequently visited museums. Discover some other amazing facts about the city. Photos: Attire Club. 54 | InCompanytAttirehClub
Postcard from 1904
Flag of the city
MULHOUSE is very close to France’s border with both Germany and Switzerland.
zens on 4 January 1798, it became a part of France in the Treaty of Mulhouse signed on 28 January 1798, during the Directory period of the French Revolution. After the Prussian victory in the Franco-Prussian War (1870–1871), Mulhouse was annexed to the German Empire as part of the territory of Alsace-Lorraine (1871–1918). After World War I, French troops entered Alsace. Germany ceded the region to France under the Treaty of Versailles. After the Battle of France in 1940, it was occupied by Ger-
THE CITY DATES BACK to the 12th century. A LEGEND mentions the origins of the city dating back to 58 BC.
City map
man forces until its return to French control at the end of World War II in May 1945.
THE TEMPLE SAINT-ÉTIENNE is the main historic monument of the city. It stands on the significant Place de la Reunion. The Protestants acquired the cathedral from the Catholics in 1890. They demolished the entire building and built the entirely new temple. The only one thing preserved today is the 14th century stained glass, which is now exposed in the corridors. The church was designed by architect Jean-Baptiste Sacre who also constructed the 97-meter / 318-foot high bell tower. Due to its location right in the center of the city, the temple is sometimes referred to as the Cathedral of Mulhouse. YRead this article with a song!
HISTORICALLY, the town was part of the southern Alsatian county of Sundgau in the Holy Roman Empire. From 1354 to 1515, Mulhouse was part of the Décapole, which was an association of ten Free Imperial Cities in Alsace. The city then joined the Swiss Confederation as an associate in 1515 and hence it was not annexed by France in the Peace of Westphalia in 1648 like the rest of the Sundgau. An enclave in Alsace, it was a free and independent Calvinist republic, known as Stadtrepublik Mülhausen, associated with the Swiss Confederation until, after a vote by its citi-
WITH A POPULATION of 112 063 in 2013 and 284 739 inhabitants in the metropolitan area in 2012, it is the largest city in the Haut-Rhin département, and the second largest city in the Alsace region after Strasbourg.
MULHOUSE, pronounced [myluz] is also called Milhüsa or Milhüse in Alsatian and Mülhausen in German. The name of Mulhouse is derived from the German word for “mill” (Mühle), which is also shown as a symbol of the city. attireclub.org |
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THE PLACE DE LA REUNION is the major square in Mulhouse. The pedestrian zone contains many picturesque houses dated to 17th century, which are beautifully painted and well preserved. The Place de la Reunion surrounds many narrow streets where people can have a coffee or buy delicious pastries.
THE CITÉ DU TRAIN in Mulhouse is the largest train museum in the world. It features a fascinating exhibition of steam powered trains. The exhibits are showcased by time from the oldest to newest technologies. One can also see the principles and mechanics of trains.
THE AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY is a very important part of the city. Thus, the Cité de l’Automobile is a museum featuring cars from the automotive designer Bugatti as well as some great old models of Rolls Royce and Ferrari. The nickname of Mulhouse is “the French Manchester” or the “city with a hundred chimneys”. The name comes from the city’s many industrial underpinnings. MULHOUSE IS TWINNED with several cities, including, among others, Walsall in England, Antwerp in Belgium, Kassel in Germany, Bergamo in Italy, Timisoara in Romania, Giv’atayim in Israel and Arkhangelsk in Russia.
IN 1833, the industrialists of Mulhouse decided to keep an archive of their creations of the textile industry. With time, they created an archive of items not only from France but also from other countries. The archive became really important and is now made up of textiles from all around the world, but still centered on Alsatian printing. The intention behind this endeavor was to inspire and learn the textile designers. This archive was later an inspiration to create a local museum that was opened in 1857. Today the archive contains over 9 000 volumes.
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A GOOD LOCAL DISH to try is the sauerkraut, which is a meal made of pickled cabbage, sausages, smoked bacon and potatoes, best eaten in a winstub. THE MULHOUSE CARNIVAL celebrated its 65th edition in 2018.
IN DECEMBER, a colorful Christmas market is organized that lights up the city. TWO RIVERS run through Mulhouse, the Doller and the Ill. YOU CAN GET TO PARIS in about 2 hours 40 by TGV from the Gare de Lyon or by car in about 5 hours via the A5 autoroute de l’Est.
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The coat of arms of Mulhouse and an image from “Le vieux Mulhouse. Documents d’Archives” (“Old Mulhouse. Archive Documents”) from 1895
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Current Obsessions From Basel to the World Gucci
Porsche Design Tavannes Graff
Andersen Genève
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Cover
TAG Heuer
Oris
Nautische Instrumente Mühle Glashütte
Swiss Military
Zenith YCheck out this feature with a song!
Charriol attireclub.org |
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LievArts.com
Seeing Sounds
M E TA FA S H I O N
An Attempt at Clarity The world of material things would not be complete if it were not supported by what we call “metashion”, which is defined by your attitude and perspective on life. In this sense, many great thinkers of the past have expressed their thoughts on some of daily living’s essential pillars: originality, excellence and genius. Image: The iconic drawing from Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s Le Petit Prince attireclub.org |
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E.E. Cumings on Being Yourself as an Act of Bravery
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he pronaos of the Temple of Apollo at Delphi in Ancient Greece read “Know Thyself ” – a phrase that has become one of the bases of philosophical thought and which has been the root of many books and speeches. And that is for a good reason, since knowing oneself is the first step one needs to take in order to have a better grasp of everything. Many centuries later, American poet E.E. Cummings was talking about the importance of being yourself in a famous quote that says “To be nobody-but-yourself — in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else — means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight.” This remark is a very important one, because it takes us one step further from knowing yourself. With this thought, Cummings remarked the fact that it is an act of courage to be yourself, especially in the face of criticism – which of course implies first that you need to know yourself, as, how can you affirm your personality without knowing who you are? 64 | InCompanytAttirehClub
And indeed, serving values and knowing who you are is not easy. In fact, this is such a hard thing, that even the Bible places it at its forefront, in one of the first biblical stories, where Abraham is asked to sacrifice his own son to prove his belief. Symbolically, this story can be interpreted as the courage to suffer for who you really are and / or for your beliefs. Susan Cheever, one of Cummings’ most incisive biographers talked in her book about the poet of how he “despised fear, and his life was lived in defiance of all who ruled by it.” Shortly after the poet’s 59th birthday, a Michigan paper publish a piece by Cummings titled “A Poet’s Advice to Students”, which was filled with thoughts on art, life and, of course being yourself as an act of bravery. The text was later included in “E.E. Cummings: A Miscellany Revised”, a book which Cummings described as “a cluster of epigrams, forty-nine essays on various subjects, a poem dispraising dogmata, and several selections from unfinished plays.” In it, he touched a lot on the subject of what it really means to be an artist. He addressed those who aspired to be poets and echoed the poet
Laura Riding’s fantastic letters to an eightyear-old girl about being oneself and wrote: “A poet is somebody who feels, and who expresses his feelings through words. This may sound easy. It isn’t. A lot of people think or believe or know they feel — but that’s thinking or believing or knowing; not feeling. And poetry is feeling — not knowing or believing or thinking. Almost anybody can learn to think or believe or know, but not a single human being can be taught to feel. Why? Because whenever you think or you believe or you know, you’re a lot of other people: but the moment you feel, you’re nobody-but-yourself. To be nobody-but-yourself — in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else — means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting.”
Cummings was rightfully addressing the subject, as four years later he had received the Academy of American Poets annual fellowship, but at the same time, he had been harshly criticized for his poems. Thus, his insistencies were quite motivated, when he wrote: “As for expressing nobody-but-yourself in words, that means working just a little harder than anybody who isn’t a poet can possibly imagine. Why? Because nothing is quite as easy as using words like somebody else. We all of us do exactly this nearly all of the time — and whenever we do it, we’re not poets. If, at the end of your first ten or fifteen years of fighting and working and feeling, you find you’ve written one line of one poem, you’ll be very lucky indeed. And so my advice to all young people who wish to become poets is: do something easy, like learning how to blow up the world — unless you’re not only willing, but glad, to feel and work and fight till you die. Does that sound dismal? It isn’t. It’s the most wonderful life on earth. Or so I feel.” It can be said that those who are true rebels, who go their own way are often the most charming of people. Cummings was definitely one, according to Cheever, who wrote about him: “Everything he stood for— a puncturing of pretension, an openness to adventure, a deliciously uncensored attitude when it came to sex, a sly sense of humor fueled by a powerful defiance — is in his opening phrases. He stood at the lectern under the fifty-foot carved ceilings and won the hearts of the audience in a few words. «Let me cordially warn you, at the opening of these so called lectures, that I haven’t the remotest intention of posing as a lecturer.»” attireclub.org |
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i carry your heart with me(i carry it in) i carry your heart with me(i carry it in my heart)i am never without it(anywhere i go you go,my dear;and whatever is done by only me is your doing,my darling)
i fear no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true) and it’s you are whatever a moon has always meant and whatever a sun will always sing is you here is the deepest secret nobody knows (here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows higher than soul can hope or mind can hide) and this is the wonder that’s keeping the stars apart i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart) E.E. Cummings, 1952
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Kahlil Gibran on Love as a Continuous Pulse
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ahlil Gibran was born in 1833 in Bsharri, Lebanon. As a young man, he was told he was a mystic and began to see himself that way. Decades later, his book “The Prophet” is one of the best-selling books in the world of all times. It consists of 26 prose poems, which are delivered as sermons as a fictional wise man in faraway time and place. Since its publishing in 1923, the book has become the source of inspiration of many speeches and writings and is a considered by many a fundamental text about humanity and love. “The Prophet” is used in birthday cards, in self-help books and even in advertising. The reason for this is that it is highly accessible, despite its meaningful messages. One of the most known passages from “The Prophet” is a paragraph in which love is described as a living entity, which has a pulse of its own and is part of the greater universe. In it, the prophet says:
“Think not you can direct the course of love, for love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.
Kahlil Photograph by Fred Holland Day Royal Photographic Society National Media Museum Science & Society Picture Library.
Love has no other desire but to fulfill itself. But if you love and must needs have desires, let these be your desires:
And to bleed willingly and joyfully. To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving; To rest at the noon hour and meditate love’s ecstasy; To return home at eventide with gratitude; And then to sleep with a prayer for the beloved in your heart and a song of praise upon your lips.”
To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night. To know the pain of too much tenderness. To be wounded by your own understanding of love;
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William Wordsworth on Genius Taste
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n the world of art and culture, there is a continuous discussion on what art, beauty and taste really are. The positions people take are divisive and create true polarizations among art critics, artists and art enthusiasts.
ture. Genius is the introduction of a new element into the intellectual universe: or, if that be not allowed, it is the application of powers to objects on which they had not before been exercised, or the employment of them in such a manner as to produce effects hitherto unknown.”
English Romantic poet William Wordsworth (April 7, 1770–April 23, 1850), who, together with Samuel Taylor Coleridge, greatly contributed to the launch of the Romantic Age in English literature with their joint publication of the book “Lyrical Ballads” (1798), examines in a prefatory essay from the 1815 edition of the two-volume set “Poems” by William Wordsworth the definition of the concept of “genius” and how it can be applied in aesthetics. Wordsworth was of the opinion that genius, whether in art or science, has the same root, expressed his views on artistic genius, saying “Of genius the only proof is, the act of doing well what is worthy to be done, and what was never done before: Of genius, in the fine arts, the only infallible sign is the widening the sphere of human sensibility, for the delight, honor, and benefit of human na-
For Wordsworth, a brilliant work of art is active in nature, it does not just create a passive experience, but it transforms the consumer and the audience. In other words, a genius artist is someone who has the power to move the world, to change minds and hearts and to expand people’s horizons.
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In this sense, he added: “What is all this but an advance, or a conquest, made by the soul of the Poet? Is it to be supposed that the Reader can make progress of this kind, like an Indian Prince or General — stretched on his Palanquin, and borne by his Slaves? No, he is invigorated and inspirited by his Leader, in order that he may exert himself, for he cannot proceed in quiescence, he cannot be carried like a dead weight. Therefore to create taste is to call forth and bestow power, of which knowledge is the effect; and there lies the true difficulty.”
Alan Watts on the Personal as a Mirror of the World
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lan Watts was a philosopher who brought many of the teachings of Eastern philosophy to the West, where he explained them and made them understandable for the occidental mind. Today, his works are cited with great frequency and people find a lot of meaning in the texts he wrote and con-
Photo from the Alan Watts Foundation
flections of things happening in the depths of one’s own mind. It is almost as if the world gets calm as you keep calm yourself, and vice versa. Yet it would be absurd to imagine that one could actually control the course of events in that way because this would imply the belief that oneself alone is real and all else a figment of thought. But it convinces me more and more that there is a universe inside one, which contains […] all forms of human madness as well as love and beauty.”
I have realized that the past and future are real illusions, that they exist in the present, which is what there is and all there is. -Alan Watts ferences he held. In a letter dated May 6, 1940, he wrote a paragraph in which he discussed the idea that the outside world and his inner world sometimes feel more connected than they should. In it, he said: “I have faith that something good will come out of this in the end like the phoenix out of the fire. But in the meantime it’s almost impossible to know how to plan for the future. Things here are as good as can be expected, but under such strains you never know when people are going to go crazy! Sometimes I get the queerest feeling that things going on in the world around one, are in some odd way reattireclub.org |
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FA S H I O N
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Artist
Erina Kashihara
Erina Kashihara is a Japanese visual artist whose work revolves a lot around clothing and light. In her works, she uses technology to create pieces that change color depending on various conditions. In this interview, she offers insight into her wearable art and discusses her inspiration and the themes she works with when creating her bright clothes.
“I work with light in order to visualize what is normally unseen” How and why did you decide to work with fashion and light, or “wearable light art” as you call it? Erina Kashihara: In the early days of my career as a light artist, I created works using various luminescent materials and exhibited at light art and technology art exhibitions in museums of art and science. In an effort to create works in which light changes interactively over time, I began to produce works that react to human movement, voice and pulse. Later, they turned into works which reacted to the person wearing them. At first, they were like art objects, sort of like a “body objet d’art” or simply accessories. After that, I started
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producing them as costumes and dresses. Can you explain a bit about the use of technology in your clothes? EK: Technology was necessary for dealing with various light sources in my art of light and for works which interactively respond to human movements, voice, pulse, etc. in order to change the characteristics of the light. Gradually, various sensors and electronic circuits came to be incorporated, such as those which change light according to the environment and to the positions of multiple performers.
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What are the main themes and sources of inspiration you work with? EK: As a theme, I work with light in order to visualize what is normally unseen. My sources of inspiration are varied, but mostly I draw my inspiration from growing plants and creatures, from my childhood experiences, from space and from deep waters. What narratives do you work with? EK: I am aiming at visualizing traditional Japanese tales, which I have read and heard before using available technologies and connecting them with the future. What is your intention with your wearable light art? What message do you want to convey? EK: Many lights in the world are primarily functional; they provide brightness, emit signals and information
and prevent dangers. For me, it is not those roles of light that are important, but the beautiful appearance of light expressed together with the energy possessed by people; which is similar to particles. This is what makes me want to create works that are beautiful only because of their existence and not because of their function. I also want to be able to visualize things which usually cannot be seen. Generally speaking, how do you view the worlds of fashion and art today? Do you think we are at a good point or do you want to see big changes in the future? EK: From the times when things which are worn were required to be functional, a wide variety of things came to be recognized such as those which are only meant to be enjoyed. By incorporating technology into fashion, I feel that it has expanded wider in the direction of functionality as well as in the direction of enjoyment. This can be said not only about fashion and art but also
about social life. Technology, fashion and art all change with the flow of society and that flow will only become faster in the years to come. What kind of innovative art do you think we will see in the next decade? EK: 3D may move to 3.5D or 4D. What I mean by that is the mixing of mediums. For example, in Japan, some people call theater plays that feature videos “theater in 2.5D”. If you add a dimension to a form of art, it adds a “D”, but if you mix it with something you only add 0.5 D - it’s all about the various mixes and matches you can do. I think VR can also change the game a lot as well and bring a new way of experiencing art. Thank you!
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Your Style Is Worth Your While
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C A R S
Hispano Suiza Unveils the Maguari HS1 GTC Hispano Suiza Automobilmanufaktur AG has set out to bring back the glory of the early 20th century. The Spanish brand which was founded in 1904 and was responsible for creating a wide range of luxurious vehicles similar to those put out by Rolls-Royce and Bugatti at the time, is best known for its pre-World War II luxury cars and aviation engines. In February, the brand presented a new hypercar. The The Maguari HS1 GTC a Lamborghini-powered supercar with unbelievable performance figures. Named after a stork native to South America, the new release does seem to fly – a 0-100 kph / 0-62 mph time of just 2.8 seconds has been 74 | InCompanytAttirehClub
announced, with a top speed of 380 kph / 236 mph. The car features a V10 engine that is said to be from the Lamborghini Huracan connected to a seven-speed paddle-shift gearbox which transmits the power to the back wheels. Instead of the 602 horsepower that the Italian car exhibits, the Maguari HS1 GTC goes up to a staggering 1,085 bhp due to the addition of two turbos. First deliveries of the cars with a starting price of 2.2 million euros are scheduled for late 2019.
LievArts.com
Four Seasons Art
THE ATTIRE CLUB MOOD DIARY Our mood board as a visual journal
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Spring in Old Russia Spring Holidays Three different holidays frame spring for many people around the world. In March, there’s International Women’s Day, which was actually a soviet holiday that the world adapted, then there’s Easter, which is the most important Christian holiday, and then there’s International Workers Day celebrated on 1 May, which originated in the USA, but caught on strongly in soviet countries. Discover a collection of vintage Russian post cards that celebrate these three holidays.
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1 Are Comic Book Movies a Sign of Social Childishness?
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omic book movies have been one of the defining themes of the 2000s and especially of the 2010s. There have been so many comic book films made, that, unless you are a big fan of the genre, you can barely keep track. Some years ago, it was quite the novelty to have a comic book hero turned into a real-life action character and to use CGI to bring the whole universe you imagined as a child to life. But then, because of both a push from studios and because of public demand, pretty much every other movie screening in cinemas was a superhero film. While these movies and television series are not controversial in the hard sense of the word, they are rather polarizing, as some people like them, but others give major eye rolls only when hearing about them. So what are the mechanics of superhero movies and why have they become so popular? When they first appeared, comic book heroes were designed and targeted to children, especially to young boys. They were, if you will, ideal men who boys could look up as an unattainable standard of strength, virtue and man-
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liness. It can be argued that ideals are ideals because of their high standards and that is what makes them a great thing to look up to, wherever they may come. Someone who does the impossible is often a great ideal to have, as you will never be able to reach that ideal, which means that you will always strive for becoming better. Soon enough though, Superman and other similar superheroes were not the only ones around and teenage boys started to read comic books featuring a more wide and diverse panel of heroes. These came in all shapes and sizes, but all had pretty much the same in common: they had superpowers, such as throwing fire, becoming invisible, creating thunder and so on. Some of them could also morph. Most superheroes wear special costumes and are incognito, so that people cannot attack them when they are dealing with their day to day life. Also, these characters usually have a rather sad background, focusing mostly on one highly tragic event. Moreover, comic books became not just a connector between young boys (for the most part), but also a refuge. Psychologically, this is a very interesting and complex, if not downright complicated phenomenon. Comic books became associated with “geeks” or “nerds”, namely with boys who were not on the dominating end of the social spectrum within which they lived, i.e. their schools and neighborhoods. Thus, these comic books served as a form of
superpowers. Moreover, “geeks” and “nerds”, the target audiences for these cultural products are archetypically known to be very little assertive. This, of course, implies a lack of communication skills. Thus, comic books, it can be argued, became a secret language for them, which they did not even know they were using. For example, when two or three boys were talking about what they liked, what they disliked and what they were fascinated by in terms of comic books, they would unconsciously express in a symbolic manner their relation to the world. By doing so, they would connect with each other in a fundamental way, as they were expressing their deepest thoughts in an unconscious manner to their friends and were receiving back the same type of depth. For example, when talking about a superhero they admired and how they enjoyed the episode in which the character fought, they were emotionally telling the story of their own suffering and of how this impacted them - the response (the attack on the enemy) being the projection of the suffering they wanted to throw back in the form of a punishment or just of a release. Simply put, because of their pain, they would harm those who were causing their pain by throwing fire at them.
psychological sublimation. In psychology, sublimation is a type of defense mechanism, in which socially unacceptable desires or impulses are morphed into socially acceptable actions or behavior. This concept is also discussed by art theoreticians, who talk about artistic sublimation, a process where an artist channels his impulses into creativity and transforms them into works of art. In other words, it is very likely that these physically and socially weak boys channeled their fury and hatred towards the world through these comic books. In order not to become aggressive and hateful towards others, they released those emotions by consuming comic books, in which “nerds” and “geeks” become the ultimate alpha men and destroy their opponents with the help of their
This anger and frustration is often twofold: one, directed towards the minions of evil (in this case the other students who would bully them) and two, towards the overlords. The overlords (who often come from other worlds) can be argued that are symbols for their parents. When talking about aliens or other outer-worldly beings, children will attribute them the characteristics they see their parents to have. For example, for some, aliens may be cool and advanced and bring them resources and technology that will help them develop, while for others, aliens mysterious sources of destruction which they fear. This comparison is relevant in the context in which we can compare parents to aliens and creatures from other worlds: they come and go (from work), they go to places we don’t have access to and they bring things (good or bad) to our world that ultimately shape us. attireclub.org |
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Bullying and social weakness are caused by a bad and weak bond with one’s parents or other adult figures of influence. Thus, a teenager knows deep down that his irrelevant suffering is in part because of his parents. And so, comic books are a world of escape, defined by rudimentary emotions (one moment of suffering, which defines the whole development of the character, little depth of feelings and other similar traits). Comic books are also lacking empathy; there is a lot of violence going on without any trait of affection. This, however, it needs to be said, is very normal when it comes to children. Children and teens can engage in play that mimics things that would be unacceptable in the real social world. This is why, it needs to be stressed that not all fans of comic books are children with bad backgrounds or bad social standings; many are simply boys discovering power, technology and other boyish things which fascinate them. If we are to take all those considerations in and apply them to the world of superhero cinema, we can see why many people roll their eyes to them, while others love them so much. While the idea of having a superpower you feel obligated to use for the good of society is a great idea and flying and punching are things we all would like to do every once in a while, comic book movies are highly immature and a reflection of a childish society. The idea that we are now in a childish society is hard to be argued against: everything has become extremely infantile: from politics, where everything is black and white, to relationships and sexuality, which people approach like a headmaster of the 1970s, who would tell chil88 | InCompanytAttirehClub
dren “these are grown-up things”, to pretty much everything becoming a caricature with no more than two traits (if you think about it, cartoons are often built like this: for example, “he’s a big guy, but he’s fearful”) - almost every facet of today’s culture is defined by high immaturity. When it comes to adults consuming comic book movies, it’s not so much anymore about connecting with others in a symbolic manner, it is more about indicating that you have not done a lot of self-reflection, that you are not someone who is empathetic, someone who is emotionally mature or someone who can engage in deep conversation. Simon Pegg, a US actor known in the “geek community” had some harsh words to say about comic book movies. He claimed that “films used to be about challenging, emotional journeys or moral questions that might make you walk away and re-evaluate how you felt about… whatever. Now we’re walking out of the cinema really not thinking about anything, other than the fact that the Hulk just had a fight with a robot”. Comics guru Alan Moore described the genre with which he is associated as having become a “cultural catastrophe”. In the end, it can be said that superhero movies are indeed the junk food of cinema. They’re cool and entertaining once in a while, and that its high prevalence is more a symptom than a cause. Ultimately, consuming only superhero movies constantly, just like in the case of junk food, is a symptom of deep issues (loneliness, delusion, frustration, etc.) and will result in negative outcomes.
2 Cinema Today is Quite Bad. Here’s Why.
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any people have commented and noticed the decline that cinema has had over the last two decades or so. Films today seem to be increasingly lighter, very little complex and often downright laughable. Of course, there are still great movies made, but they barely make into the mainstream or in the public consciousness. The tone is set of course, by American cinema, which influences the worldwide trends and cinematic experiences of viewers from all around the world. When cinema first started, it was a novelty art, which only a few could access. Then, it became an alternative to live theater. After the 1950s, it can be said that cinema had turned into a veritable form of art and entertainment. The movies of the 50s, 60s and even some from the 70s can be considered veritable contenders to novels and even to philosophical books. And, while those films were not necessarily for everyone, if you come to think about it, they were part of the public conscience and people were looking forward to seeing Tarkovsky’s or Kubrick’s newest releases. Dialogues of the 1950s movies were complex and meaningful and the symbols of the films released during the 60s gave many people goose bumps.
Later, television appeared and movies overall reached wider audiences. As technology developed and international accords become more friendly, Hollywood movies made it into the projection halls of the whole world. At the beginning of the 21st century, most US blockbusters could be watched anywhere in the world: from Eastern Europe to China and the Arab nations. However, at the same time, the quality of film making decreased considerably. Films now are highly immature, they rely on clichés too much (instead of relying on archetypes), they are uberpredictable and don’t convey much meaning. It can even be said that cinema has reached an all-time low, although, it can get a lot worse. There are a few factors that have contributed to the decline in quality in cinema. The first one is the expected one: the changing age of the average movie-goer. If in the past, adults with high education and strong cultural knowledge were the main people to attend a screening, now it’s mostly bored teens who scroll through their phones during filler scenes. Given that the quality of education has decreased in most countries, most teens don’t really have many cultural references anymore; it’s hard for them to connect dots and discover hidden meanings by themselves.
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would be at least one or two markets where certain topics are taboo and they can’t really have cool dialogue either, since most viewers will watch dubbed versions of the film, so no plays on words make it to the screen. The characters in the films of the 2010s are washeddown so that anyone can relate to them, which unfortunately makes them bland and uni-dimensional. Controversy is, of course, out of the question, since it can cost a lot of money at the box office.
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Can cinema recover? Of course. But, in order to have the much-needed renaissance, we need to establish a common ground of dialogue, a pyramid of true values and the respect for these and to add meaning to our lives. Otherwise, not only cinema will be doomed, but everything else will go with it too.
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Hollywood movies of today are divided into two main categories: firstly, there is the bulk of movies made for American audiences. These movies are based on American pop-culture and convey a feeling of being full with meaning and depth, even though they don’t really have any. Moreover, given the tense political situation of the States, most of these movies are made to lecture people about what Hollywood and their overlords consider to be social morality. The second category is described by the movies made for export. These are the usual blockbusters featuring many explosions and tons of CGI (which makes films look more and more the same, à la the “orange and teal effect”), ending with a huge fight between two monsters. These films, which makes most of Hollywood’s money, are made by design to appeal to international audiences: they don’t feature any cultural references, since at least one or two markets would not understand them, they don’t discuss any deep topics, since there
Popular, widespread culture has become very monotone and algorithm-based. So-called “patrons” of the “arts” pour money only in formulas they know will succeed, and people are looking towards the past, when films and television were more authentic. These two factors are the clear reasons why today we see so many prequels, sequels, re-inventions, adaptations of old movies and repackaged stories.
3 How Orson Welles Invented Vlogging
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rson Welles is known for being a great movie director and for being the creative mind behind “Citizen Kane”, a film many people consider to be the greatest achievement in cinema. While this is a topic that is up to debate - even Orson claimed that the ending was a bit of a cliché taken from a B-shelf book, there is a no doubt that the director was a true visionary. In 1955, Orson did a series of 15-minute shows for the BBC, where he picked one or more subjects and talked about them in a monologue in front of the camera. The show was called “Orson Welles Sketchbook”, as Welles used to draw sketches of the stories he was telling in order to make the show more dynamic. “Orson Welles Sketchbook” was the first vlog. It was a personal account of personal stories and of stories seen or heard and of opinions on various topics, all condensed into a simple man-and-camera format, each episode lasting for just about 15 minutes. In the world of the 1950s, this was quite the novelty and goes to show the genius of Orson Welles who foresaw what could be done through the then new medium of television. In his talks, Orson discussed in his captivating way stories of diverse topics, such as theater
audiences in Dublin, how Houdini did a trick at the Kremlin or shared his own stories and thoughts. Probably one of the most powerful videos is the one in which he talks about how everyday peaceful policing is a great issue that blocks and disturbs a peaceful citizen’s daily life. All the small checks, controls and rules made Orson feel that the people of the time were treated like “delinquent children” and that this had to be stopped. He also shared a personal anecdote of how he was once asked to open his suitcase during a border control and told the customs officers that he had a small atom bomb in it that would go off if he did so and that he was planning on doing it at the Scala because he didn’t like their shows. Of course, the story turned into a gag he later regretted. In contemporary vlogging style, Orson also shared some thoughts on “The War of the Worlds” and how he managed to do something really amazing with that broadcast, namely to get audiences to question what they heard on the radio, and he was encouraging people to question the magic of the new medium, television, itself. Fakes and illusions were one of Orson’s favorite themes, his 1973 film “F for Fake” being the exact expression of that. The Sketchbook, even though it had only a few episodes, went down well, and a few months later Welles started doing a series of ITV travelogues recorded throughout Europe. With them, Welles brought a new type of “televisual” grammar to the screen. In 1979, he even did a pilot for a talk-show format TV show, which didn’t actually air (it is available on Youattireclub.org |
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Welles at the press conference after “The War of the Worlds” broadcast (October 31, 1938)
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A master of an art is not only someone who can convey messages through the mean(s) of expression, but also someone who can use the medium itself in an original and creative way in order to transmit his messages and Orson Welles was definitely someone who made a name for himself for being a master of radio, film and television.
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Tube though), which captured a lot of Orson’s storyteller persona.
It’s All about Passion for Fashion
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The 4X12 Pop-Up Store in Paris For many, Paris is the world capital of fashion. And there is a good reason for that, as some of the most preeminent fashion icons and brands have emerged from the City of Lights. This has turned Paris not only into a creative hub, but also into a great shopping destination. This is why, late last year, a group of brands from various countries have set up a pop-up store in the amazing Le Marais quarter in Paris, called the 4x12 Pop-up Store. The store was open only between the 13th and the 16th of December 2018 on the Rue du Vertbois and included new clothes, accessories and jewelry from some amazing designers from Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan. Attire Club was an official media partner for this store, which featured many original and cool clothes, which customers who stepped into the shop could buy.
Photos: Constantin Enquist
This endeavor, which was also featured in Marie Claire, is a great idea, as this way, people can discover clothes and accessories they wouldn’t normally see in boutiques.
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SUBSCRIPTION
Subscribe to InCompany by Attire Club to make sure you receive your beautiful print copy of each edition. With a focus on quality and sophistication, InCompany by Attire Club magazine explores the fashion world in an original and creative manner. Featuring interviews with creative talents, style guides, stunning photography and carefully curated products and travel recommendations, the goal of the magazine is to present more than the typical fashion publication. Capturing a compelling image of the fashion world, the issue covers both the independent and mainstream areas of fashion and from the very ethnic and old-school to the latest high-tech innovations. Go to levolny.mozello.com to buy the subscription for just â‚Ź90 (about $102) or just scan the QR code on the left.
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Discover the websites featured in this issue!
iCONiC u iconic.co.th Page 10
Liev Arts u lievarts.com Pages 62, 75
Drew Santini u drewsantini.com Page 14
Erina Kashihara u instagram.com/lightart.erina Page 72
Juan Manuel Correa u jmcorrea.com Page 36
Hispano Suiza u hispanosuiza.org Page 74
4X12 Pop-Up Store u facebook.com/parisian.popup Page 94
96 | InCompanytAttirehClub
Always Addressing Power Dressing
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Swiss athlete, 1905
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