We could probably say he was robbed of his magnum opus. But Alexander Lee McQueen’s last collection highlighted the untimely nature of his death so much. The eerie allusions to angels and demons, displayed posthumously in the salons of Pinault Printemps Redoute (PPR), seemed both like a glowing eulogy and a hint at the designer’s last torments.

The 16 ensembles were a triumph of historical art at Paris fashion week. PPR, the conglomerate which carries the McQueen brand, pulled the collection out from the crowds of the ramps and rarefied it through a private viewing among fashion editors.

The memorial was as reverent as the collection. For among the quiet rustle of hand-gilded dresses, burnished with golden motifs paying homage to Boticelli’s angels and Bosch’s demons, the Byzantine invocation of frighteningly pale divine lustre, McQueen’s artistic depth and rigor showed. His tailoring was at its most meticulous, his vision almost hallucinatory. But unlike the edginess of his most recent haute couture stunt, the reptilian collection for 2009’s spring, this last one secures his legacy in haute couture, albeit prematurely.

It is, perhaps, his most elaborate collection. And if there was ever a doubt that McQueen’s own workmanship would be desecrated by the team bereft of his direction, it didn’t show. McQueen was said to have filled the mold of this vision, cutting away at fabric and overseeing the imprints.

Heavy and ornate, the dresses were put together in dark, royal colors, feverish gold prints and trimmings and regal silhouettes. The flounces were no less than those of very rich silk, satin, chiffon, organza. And the accents, from crocodile skin-trimmed platform shoes with hand-carved wooden soles and fierce mohawks, could only be traced to the late designer’s unique mindset.

Sources: Wall Street Journal, The Guardian

It’s the gold statuette that cements your name and reputation in Hollywood, but if it would come at a hefty price, say a relationship, would you still want a coveted Oscar?

CNN noted a bittersweet trend–recent Oscar winners, particularly best actresses, have lost marriages or long-term relationships shortly before or after their winning moments at the Kodak Theatre.

To top the list is Julia Roberts, who got a best actress Oscar for Erin Brockovich in 2001. America’s Pretty Woman was escorted on stage by her then long-time beau Benjamin Bratt. Sadly though, Roberts’ “I love the world” speech was short-lived as the two parted ways a few months later. continue reading…

Photo: Uryah

You’re thousands of feet above the ground and had a little too much to eat, and to make matters worse, you’re a dude.

If you’re a frequent flier with All Nippon Airways (ANA) and happen to have an XY chromosome, then you wouldn’t be happy to know that Japan’s largest domestic carrier is introducing women-only lavatories.

The new rule, which will take effect starting on March 1, will cover ANA’s international routes, excluding those points serviced by its Airbus A320/ Boeing B737 planes.

The women-only lavatory will be placed at the back of the passenger cabin and will be available for women passengers from all classes. continue reading…

When “Abbey Road” is mentioned, you can almost hear John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr sing All You Need Is Love. That is how iconic this London studio is.

But with speculations swirling around that its cash-strapped owner, EMI, is putting it out on the market to ease its debt, the building’s unique character is being threatened.

Good thing British Culture Minister Margaret Hodge declared it as a national historic landmark. Hodge gave Abbey Road a Grade II, meaning any future alteration should first consider the preservation of the structure’s original character. continue reading…

Another city World Cup visitors are bound to tour is Pretoria. Now this city has lived in the shadow of the economic capital, Johannesburg, despite being South Africa’s capital—and unfairly so. It has a foothold on many of South Africa’s historic monuments and landscapes, and it’s quite a relief FIFA officials had it in good authority to distribute the football matches across several of the country’s cities. If they didn’t, South Africa would have lost another chance to show off Pretoria.

The uniqueness of Pretoria as a city lies in the fringes, and not so much in the center. There are several townships that flank its border, as well as nature reserves that bring to life the most basic imaginings about Africa. continue reading…

Photo: Jim Epler

It takes balls to own up to your mistakes, and it appears troubled golfer Tiger Woods has finally found his.

After about two months of hibernation, Woods is now scheduled to speak to a small group of people on Friday at the PGA headquarters in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. Aside from an anticipated apology, Woods is also expected to discuss the skeletons in his closet and his future in golf. continue reading…

As the old movie quote goes: if you build it, they will come.

This is probably the reason why the people behind Boing Boing website had come up with a novel way to promote the DIY (or ‘do-it-yourself’) ethos they adhere to. The end result is the Boing Boing Bazaar that can be found at the Makers Market. continue reading…

Real men don’t need fifty things in their bags. Cram a wallet, some documents, and your mobile in this sturdy leather satchel for those light days, and you’re good to go.

This hand-stitched Billy Kirk leather shoulder bag was modeled after a WWII Belgium Map Case, and it has the same vintage good looks highlighted by an adventurous kick you’d expect from the original. continue reading…

Kobe Bryant hoisting Lakers' 2009 trophy (Photo: pic.chick14)

What’s an NBA All-Star game without Kobe Bryant?

With only a few days to go before Sunday’s highly anticipated West versus East scuffle in Dallas, there’s still no word if the reigning Finals Most Valuable Player would suit up or sit out. Bryant, who shared last year’s All-Star MVP nod with former teammate Shaquille O’Neal, is nursing a sore left ankle.

The flamboyant Lakers guard has suggested he would stay on the sidelines if his bum ankle won’t heal on time. He sustained the injury in Philadelphia last week and aggravated it in the next game versus Charlotte when teammate Lamar Odom accidentally stepped on his foot.

“If it’s an injury where I feel like I can play through it and have it heal while I’m playing, then I’ll play,” Bryant told the Associated Press, adding, “but if it’s the type of injury where it’s going to get worse when I play, then I won’t.”

The injury has forced Bryant to miss three straight games as of Wednesday night, but Lakers coach Phil Jackson is not complaining. The team has won all three games minus its franchise player.

Naturally, the Lakers would rather have Bryant skip the All-Star game to get healthy come spring when the playoffs kick into high gear. But don’t tell that to NBA commissioner David Stern, who always makes sure the league’s best interests supersede any single team’s welfare, never mind if it happens to be the league’s most popular. continue reading…

Candies and confectionery should not be taken lightly. Connoisseurs of gourmet sucettes (lollipops) must have a moral obligation to make their products more palatable than cigarettes. They’re the go-to institutions for relatively harmless oral fixations. And unlike pubs and bars, they’re not driven out of business by prohibitions and public condemnation. If only their status as a vice could be elevated more, their presence might rejuvenate the Parisian night life.

And in the case of most traditional confectioneries, they are a part of civilization, in the reverse way that other hedonistic commodities (such as cigarettes) are refused their place. So one can fully understand why Le Succès Berckois is a revered purveyor of sweets. Not only will it easily appeal to children’s fascination for colors, swirls and anything sweet that might have come from a fairy tale, but adults, specifically tourists, are also bound to be taken by the artistic intricacies involved in pocket-sized goodies such as candies. continue reading…