PRETTY THINGS: summer wardrobe

pretty things summer wardrobe by au pays des merveilles

While you are reading this, I’ve arrived in Lisbon and I’m soaking up the sun.  Going from 17 degrees and rain in Belgium to 32 degrees in Portugal (and even up to 37!) asks for a little bit of preparation.  Therefore I’ve gathered some items that would fit perfectly into my summer wardrobe.

  1. Nothing is more fun to wear than a maxi dress (instantly makes me feel like a princess, and super comfortable at the same time), especially when it’s hot.  This one is by Mango and available here.
  2. Bikini with a fun and unexpected leopard print by Anna & Boy.  Available here.
  3. Espadrilles are my favorite footwear for the summer.  I usually by mine for a few euros in the supermarket, but I wouldn’t say no to a pair of these two toned espadrilles by Mint & Rose.  Available at Just Julia.
  4. Leather might not be the first fabric that crosses your mind to wear in summer, but how amazing does Laura from The World Looks Red look in these leather shorts.  Makes me want to order these rightaway.
  5. When it gets a little colder at night, these scarves with a gorgeous photo print by Jen Altman would perfect to keep me warm.  Available at Cisthene.
  6. On a hot day, I prefer one simple piece of jewelry that makes a bit of a statement.  Like this upper armlet, found on etsy.  Simple, but effective!
  7. Gorgeous sunglasses (unfortunately way above my budget) by Illesteva, available here.
  8. Give black and white graphic print, combined with some gold and I’m happy.  So here’s the perfect boho bag, available (on sale!) at Plümo.

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PEOPLE SLEEPING PROJECT

people sleeping project by susana chaby lara via au pays des merveilles

People Sleeping Project is an ongoing series by Portuguese photographer Susana Chaby Lara, who photographs her friends while they are asleep.  It’s a wonderful combination of the beautiful rooms filled with personality and the vulnerability of the sleeping person, letting you into their world.  Find out more at the project’s website or facebook page.

people sleeping project by susana chaby lara via au pays des merveilles

people sleeping project by susana chaby lara via au pays des merveilles

people sleeping project by susana chaby lara via au pays des merveilles

people sleeping project by susana chaby lara via au pays des merveilles

people sleeping project by susana chaby lara via au pays des merveilles

people sleeping project by susana chaby lara via au pays des merveilles

people sleeping project by susana chaby lara via au pays des merveilles

people sleeping project by susana chaby lara via au pays des merveilles

people sleeping project by susana chaby lara via au pays des merveilles

people sleeping project by susana chaby lara via au pays des merveilles

people sleeping project by susana chaby lara via au pays des merveilles

people sleeping project by susana chaby lara via au pays des merveilles

people sleeping project by susana chaby lara via au pays des merveilles

all photos by Susana Chaby Lara

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THINGS THAT MAKE ME SMILE

au pays des merveillesArchitectural heroes on a t-shirt, available here.

au pays des merveillesGilles Houben paints Belgium’s most tasty vernacular architecture: the fritkot.  (source)

au pays des merveilles[vimeo=http://vimeo.com/67102137 w=830]

Two architecture students created the perfect notebook for the architects among us: it contains several sizes of grids so you can easily draw on the correct scale, but most importantly, it also is a guide with measurements of all frequently used building elements, design information such as line weigths and font sizes, technical guidelines for structures, architectural references and living scenarios of different kinds of rooms.  You can support them here to get the A:Log in production!  (source)

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The Architectural League of New York and the Pen World Voices Festival choose 10 designers to build Free Little Libraries in downtown Manhattan.  This one is designed by Venezuelan design firm Stereotank.  (source)

au pays des merveilles[vimeo=http://vimeo.com/52857351 w=830]

Charles Sowers designed a kinetic installation on the facade of the Randall Museum in San Francisco, consisting of 612 rotating aluminium weather vanes, all moving individually and together visualising the flow of the wind.  Pretty cool.  (source)

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Kanye West compared himself to Le Corbusier, claiming he is a ‘minimalist in a rapper’s body’.  Architizer decided to put him to the test and compared Kanye’s lyrics with Corbu’s designs.  See how that worked out here.

au pays des merveilles

Design studio Nendo is responsible for this pop-up Starbucks coffee shop in Tokyo.  The shop resembles a library, where the book covers have nine different colors, representing nine different coffees.  The empty books have explanations on the cover about the type of coffee, and by taking a book to the counter, clients can order the corresponding coffee.  Even though I refuse to buy coffee at Starbucks (I prefer supporting the local coffee shops and I think Starbucks is way overpriced), I think I would have a hard time passing this one up…  (source)

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WATERSCAPES

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Most of these photos, you have already seen in different blogposts, but I wanted to gather all of them together and share them in one post.  While in Portugal, I became fascinated with the river and the ocean and how the water always looks so different in every photo, how much strength the waves could have, beating down on you while you are trying to keep standing up in the  breakers, the water pulling on pushing on your legs and the sand swallowing your feet a little bit more with every passing wave.  Living so close to the ocean and always having a view at the river Tejo around the corner, really changed how the city felt.  I miss having such openness and immensity so close.

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au pays des merveilles

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au pays des merveilles

au pays des merveilles

au pays des merveilles

au pays des merveilles

all photos by me

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THINGS THAT MAKE ME SMILE

via au pays des merveillesIf you’re in the middle of studying for your exams, like me, you should probably avoid The Useless Web.  But if you’re bored… this will take you places!

via au pays des merveillesGraphic designer Jenny Stieglitz rethinks design classics for the Actief Wonen magazine, creating DIY versions of these famous pieces of furniture.

via au pays des merveillesFun animal sweaters brighten up any day if you ask me!  Horse sweater from here, cat sweater unknown.

via au pays des merveillesThis is one hamburger us vegetarians can eat!  If you want to have a go at making this cake yourself, take a look here.

via au pays des merveillesLittle kid making friends with kangaroos…  Too cute!  (source)

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LIFE BACK IN BELGIUM

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Unfortunately, it’s that time of the year again: the exams are coming up, so us students are locked up behind our books and not allowed to think about anything else, like… let’s say blogging.  Which means it’s probably going to be (even more) quiet here in the next few weeks, especially since these are the last photos I saved up to share with you.  Today I’m sharing a little bit of randomness: my favourite boots on the grass during that first day of spring back in march, some impressions of Antwerp during a school trip (luckily on one of those other rare spring days), the view on Leuven from the top of this year‘s Existenz location and Portico Quartet in the AB, one of the few concerts I’ve done since I got back (I’m saving up to go back to Lisbon!) but definitely one worth remembering.  There were very few tickets sold, resulting in a very intimate concert in the AB club covered in twinkling lights and a little talk with the super friendly band afterwards.  I’m ending this with ‘Ruins’ by Portico Quartet, because even though I loved how intimate the concert was, they deserve a much bigger audience!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQH0GPL33uc&h=37]

antwerp via au pays des merveilles

leuven via au pays des merveilles

portico quartet via au pays des merveilles

portico quartet via au pays des merveilles

portico quartet via au pays des merveilles

all photos by me

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THINGS THAT MAKE ME SMILE

things that make me smile via au pays des merveilles

Beautiful series of illustrations called ‘Plants’ by Rachel Levit.  (source)things that make me smile via au pays des merveilles

The purpose of reading books: demonstrated by Radiohead. (source)

things that make me smile via au pays des merveilles

Les Bains, a nightclub in Paris, couldn’t be saved, so the owner Jean-Pierre Marois and gallery owner Magda Danysz invited several artists and turned it into a temporary secret street art gallery.  By now, the renovations already started and all the work is destroyed.  (source)

things that make me smile via au pays des merveilles

ryan gosling won't eat his cereal via au pays des merveilles ryan gosling won't eat his cereal via au pays des merveilles ryan gosling won't eat his cereal via au pays des merveilles

Ryan Gosling won’t eat his cereal, or so does Ryan McHenry make you believe.  More here.

things that make me smile via au pays des merveilles

Tree Drawings is an installation by Tim Knowles, attaching drawing tools to the tips of tree branches and recording the effect of the wind on the tree.  (source)

things that make me smile via au pays des merveilles

Kolle Rebbe designed this wonderful Tea Calendar for Hälssen & Lyon.  Tear of a day, put it directly in your teacup and there you go, a daily dose of tea.  How wonderful. (source)

things that make me smile via au pays des merveilles

David Suhami designed this animal pocket knife as part of his studio course at shenkar college of engineering and design in tel aviv, israel.  It’s meant as toy for adults who still enjoy playing with small objects.  So cool!

things that make me smile via au pays des merveilles

 

You can llamafy which ever words you want here.  Yes please.  More llamas.

things that make me smile via au pays des merveilles

This flower shaped Throw & Grow confetti contains seeds of wildflowers and is completely bio-degradable.  Designed by Niko Niko.  (source)

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HATCHING

hatching by gijs van vaerenbergh via au pays des merveilles

One thing I didn’t show you in yesterday’s post about this year’s Existenz week, is this installation called ‘Hatching’ by architects Gijs Van Vaerenbergh.  Together with the students from Existenz, they designed and executed this installation at one of the floors of the old Stella Artois bottling plant.  For more information, a really cool video of the construction and more photos (by me!), you can take a look here.

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