Another website I came across is WorldChanging.

"WorldChanging.com works from a simple premise: that the tools, models and ideas for building a better future lie all around us. That plenty of people are working on tools for change, but the fields in which they work remain unconnected. That the motive, means and opportunity for profound positive change are already present. That another world is not just possible, it's here. We only need to put the pieces together."

The site is full of very interesting articles and ideas on making the world a better palace.

There is a whole section on urban living and cities:

"We live on an urban planet. For the first time in history, a majority of us live in cities. How we grow those cities, how we build neighborhoods, how we provide housing, how we choose to get around, how well we incorporate nature into the places we live - these are the challenges that will largely determine our future.

And with millions and millions of people moving every year from the countryside to the city, all of these difficulties seem even more insurmountable. Appearances, however, can be deceiving. For, along with the boom in urbanization, we're seeing a boom in urban innovation. Simply put, we're getting better at building better cities."

www.worldchanging.com

Surfing the internet late a night I came across the SWSU project, StyleWillSaveUs is an independent digital magazine (no paper here, they’re saving trees) that loves all things super-stylish, organic, eco-friendly, vintage, recycled and sustainable.

"It’s easy to get freaked out in our current climate of global warming and toxic overload, especially when hair shirted eco-warriors (or indeed eco-worriers) are continually telling us to give up the little luxuries that make life worth living. Quite frankly, we’d rather not live in a tipi. In fact we don’t think there’s any need – by making a few smart choices we can live lovely lives safe in the knowledge that what’s good for us can also be good for the environment.

Small things make a big difference when we do them together – all we need to do is stop for a moment, think about things and change a habit or two. That’s where StyleWillSaveUs comes in. We’re desperate to tell you about all the cool things you can do and buy so your hard earned cash goes on something you truly believe in."

It time to start thinking about these issues in the glorious world of style and fashion (and child labour). I like their approach. On the site you can find lot of interesting articles and products, there is even an Eco Dictionary!

www.stylewillsaveus.com

I just love to check out the new collections on style.com. Once more the Dutch design duo Viktor & Rolf have caught my attention. The new collection "cosmopolocal" is very fresh, fun and surprising. They suggest some kind of dialogue between big city slick and small-town folksy. Everything is paired with traditional Dutch clogs in bright yellow (the clogs traditional color). They also changed the traditional look by using pop prints in bright colors on classic shirts. I don't find the Liechtenstein-like prints very inspiring - there are other ways to emphasize the contrasts of our lifestyle. But without doubt they are very talented!

Since some time we have been looking for a cosmetic line that is 100% natural, smells nice and looks nice. I like aveda, weleda, hauska  products but these are too big lines for a shop like ours. Organic Pharmacy looks nice but I did not get hold of their products so far.

Recently I discovered Susanne Kaufmann:

Susanne Kaufmann™ cosmetics are based on the traditional knowledge of plant remedies from the Bregenzerwald area and manufactured using the most modern production processes. The raw materials are mostly plant and herbal from the Bregenzerwald area.  All body care products are produced in by Ingo Metzler in Egg (approx. 10 km from Bezau). No chemical preservatives, mineral oil supplements (paraffin etc.) or artificial colouring/scent products are used. This means that the products have a restricted shelf-life, while providing a very gentle aroma with a natural colour. Liposomes based on vegetable lipids are used, together with encapsulated hyaluronic acid and blossom honey, in order to boost effectiveness and assure deep penetration into the skin. It is a unisex product.

http://www.susannekaufmann.com

Susanne Kaufmann Products are 100% Natural and smell very nice and discreet. The Oil Bath is a dream.
Susanne Kaufmann™  Cosmetics are now available in Kitchener Plus.

In Mailand treffen wir nicht auf malerische Villen, Olivenbäume und romantische Parks. Die Bewohner dieser Stadt zelebrieren nicht " la dolce vita", sie arbeiten. Mailand ist das Zentrum Italiens, was Wirtschaft, Mode, Design und Medien betrifft und gilt als "moralische Hauptstadt". Wir finden in Mailand so viele Banken wie in Rom Kirchen. Es gibt wohl fast keine andere Stadt, in welcher die Konzentration von Boutiquen so gross ist wie hier. Mode gehört zu Mailand genauso wie das Teatro alla Scala und der Dom, ein Meisterwerk der italienischen Gotik.

Doch vor dem 2. Weltkrieg glänzte Italien noch nicht als Fashion Center. Italien war international nur bekannt für die Textil- und Lederproduktion, aber nicht für Modedesign. Es aenderte sich erst in den '50s und '60s als die Designer Valentino und Roberto Capucci ihre "made-to-order" Couture Kollektion in Florenz und Rom präsentierten. Natürlich half die Filmstadt Cinecittà in Rom "the Italian way of living: la dolce vita " zu promoten. Unter anderem auch die Schauspielerin Sophia Loren, welche die mediterrane Schönheit bestens repräsentiert. Mit der wachsenden Wichtigkeit von "ready-to-wear" im Weltmarkt, begannen die Einkäufer und Editors in den '70s auch nach Mailand zu pilgern, um die Kollektionen von Missoni und Krizia zu sehen. Aber es war der Einfluss von Giorgio Armani und Gianni Versace in den '80s, der Mailand zum Shopping Mekka machte. Sie zeigten eine Alternative zu der dekadenten "Pariser-Mode", elegant und doch casual. Der Film "Amercian Gigolo" verhalf Giorgio Armani zum internationalen Durchbruch. Die Armani-Sakkos, die Richard Gere trug, wurden zu Fetischen!

Booth Moore von der Zeitung Times beschreibt Mailand wie folgt:

"...Really, the beauty of Milan is its everyday hustle and drive. It's in the office buildings, fashion studios, design showrooms and pizzerias. And it is in the stores, the jewels that dress up this ugly stepsister to Rome and Florence."

Cityguide Milan

Es ist faszinierend, japanische Zeitschriften durchzublättern und die Strassenbilder zu studieren:

Eine Ansammlung verschiedenster Styles, getragen von der Jugend in Japans Hauptstadt. Sie ist führend im kreativen und kontrastreichen "mixing and matching"; "eclectic styles", welche weitgehend im Westen kopiert werden. Diese Jugendlichen wiederum liessen sich von uns inspirieren und verbinden traditionelle Elemente mit westlichen Stilen, imitieren, absorbieren, verwandeln und durchbrechen jeden existierenden Style:
From Jungle to Fetish, Acid Jazz to Techno, Hip Hop to Punk.....sie kreieren eine neue unabhängige und individuelle Mode. Eine Welt ohne historische und geografische Grenzen, wo alles möglich ist und nichts ist, so wie es scheint zu sein.

Hier zwei links mit Bildern von den Strassen Tokyos:

Style-Arena
www.kyoritsu-wu.ac.jp

Der Fotograf Mark Wigan beschreibt Tokyo wiefolgt:

"The Style Surfing capital of the world:
the Club Kids come out to play dressed in clothes that come from Britain, the USA and Europe (as well as from their own designers). In a virtual encyclopedia of the entire history of Western streetstyle, these Tokyo Clubbers cruise both history and geography recreating the Mod look of Swinging London circa 1964, in one club, the latest Techno styles from northern Europe in another. "

Bild aus dem Buch "Style Surfing" von Ted Polhemus.

Ein Kochbuch der feinen Art. Der Chefkoch Roberto Abbadati, geborener Italiener, zeigt in seinem neu erschienenen Erstling was Fusion Kueche auf eine elegante doch witzige Art heisst.
Das Buch ist gedacht für bereits bewandte Koeche/innen:

„....in writing these recipes I consciously took for granted you know the most part of information about the merely practical technique. This is not out of ignorance or negligence coming from the author’s part (nor for the gigh cost of paper, as well…) it is only a matter of this book to be addressed to people who are already in the business or own the know-how of the culinary art.“

Ich kann mich nicht zu seiner Zielgruppe zaehlen, doch das Buch ueberzeugt auch durch sein Sein: Wunderschoen dokumentiert mit Bildern, grafisch schlicht und edel gestaltet und witzige Rezepttitel.

Ein inspirierendes Artwerk für die Kueche, bei welchem auch die Weinkenner nicht zu kurz kommen. Die Weinspezialistin Nicola Bonera wählt zu jedem Gericht den passenden Wein aus und liefert Hintergrundinformationen gleich mit.

Buon appetito

Bild oben links:
"Per La più bella del reame / To the beauty queen"
Dedicato a / Tribute to Audrey Tatou

Bild oben rechts:
„Domenica a pranzo da nonna hi-tech / Sunday lunch at high tech grammy’s“

Bild unten links:
"Surrealist Dish /Surrrealist Dish"
Dedicato a / Tribute to Salvador DAlì

Bild unten rechts:
Cover

www.robertoabbadati.it

I just read this book by Tony Parsons and really liked it.

Heres the Synopsis (taken from amazon)

"This is a book about growing up and being young, about sex and love and rock and roll, about the dreams of youth colliding head-on with the grown-up world. Sometimes you can grow up in just one night...It is 16th August 1977 - the day that Elvis dies - and Terry is back from Berlin, basking in the light of his friendship with legendary rock star Dag Wood. But when Dag arrives in London he sets his sights on a mysterious young photographer called Misty, the girl that Terry loves. Will the love of Terry's life survive this hot summer's night? Ray is the only writer on the inky music weekly "The Paper" who refuses to cut his hair and stop wearing flares. On the eve of being sacked, Ray finds comfort in the arms of an older woman called Mrs Brown. But John Lennon is in town for just one night and Ray believes that if he can interview the reclusive Beatle, he can save his job. Can John Lennon and the love of an older woman really save a young man's soul? Leon is on the run from a gang called the Dagenham Dogs who have taken exception to one of his bitchy reviews. Hiding out in a disco called The Goldmine, Leon meets Ruby - the dancing queen of his dreams. But will true love or the Dagenham Dogs find Leon before the night is over? Tony Parsons goes back to his roots for this deeply personal book - the story he has been waiting to tell."