Baroque the Streets

Part of the Dulwich Festival for 2013, Baroque the streets is a celebration of street art. New murals have been executed, all based on works held in the permanent collection of Dulwich Picture Gallery; stunning fresh images appear on the most unexpected places. Having visited the Art House on Lordship Lane I am astounded by the colourful transformation of the place and sad by the fact that it is going to be demolished very soon (i want a piece of the ex-office wall).

Work by The Rolling people

My stylish friends from a roller-coaster of fashion

Work by Dscreet

Work by Christiaan Nagel

the Circus Issue

The first issue of the bookazine series by Herznote Publishing is released on September 14. It’s all about fashion. But don't think of the usual stuff. Bloggers from all over the world worked exclusively for CIRCUS Fashion. They took a look at the hidden stories of the fashion world – far away from top model shows, beauty tips and brandmania.

The Athenswears team has contributed to this issue with an article about the parent-child relationship and how they influence each other in terms of personal style and fashion. We interviewed mothers and their daughters as well as fathers with their sons and focused on their inner code for style. Do they share the same beliefs or not? How important is individual style and what does their style say about them?

More coming soon..

To order the Circus Issue visit http://circus-bookazine.com/shop/

Daphne near Syntagma Square

Daphne works as a journalist and a copy editor. She likes fashion but not shopping. She always goes to the shops alone and with a plan in mind.

"Shopping with other women can be problematic. They get confused searching for the perfect outfit and can spend hours thinking about it. I, on the contrary make quick decisions. I shop two or three times a year when I want to renew my wardrobe. I go to specific shops that sell clothes that fit my personal style. I prefer small boutiques with professional employees that will help me to put together the right outfits. It is a pity that such shops seem to go extinct.

Generally, I prefer to wear clothes that are comfortable as well as stylish. I like eccentric details and I am not afraid to combine bright colours with floral prints.
I like long skirts because they give me the freedom to move. I wear jumpsuits for the same reason. I don't like to attract attention so I dress simply and sometimes I add one piece of clothing or an accessory that makes a difference; but it’s only one piece. For example, I never wear high heels with my long skirt. It is my personal rule.

I usually don't spend a lot of money on clothing. Today, I am wearing a Zara jumpsuit, a pair of shoes I bought in Rome and my beloved large summer bag. I wear a belt, originally belonging to a pair of jeans, in an attempt to match it with my denim shoes.”

Confront your fears with a cobalt blue Jumpsuit

Stella is an architect and a mother of a cute four-year old girl. Her style is unique and she stands out in the crowd because she has a flair for putting together outfits that look like they were made for her.

"I wear uniforms, that's all. I always had my issues and that’s why a uniform enables me to choose outfits that I know for sure they will work on me. That way, I conceal my insecurities." When I asked her what is it that she wants to hide behind a uniform, she referred me to Marina Abramovitz's video performance The Onion. " In that video Marina Abramovitz speaks on behalf of me."

In this photo, Stella wears a necklace by Christina Darra and plastic Marni shoes. "They are so comfortable", she says, "I've spent all last summer wearing as I was going in and out of the sea."

Marina Abramović, The Onion , 1996 – 20:00 mins



The first shot is a close up of Abramović looking upward and holding a large onion. Her fingernails are painted bright red, just like her lips. Slowly she brings the onion closer to her mouth, taking a large bite from it and beginning to chew. Her voice-over keeps repeating the following as she devours the onion: ‘I’m tired of changing planes so often, waiting in the waiting rooms, bus stations, train stations, airports. I am tired of waiting for endless passport controls. Fast shopping in shopping malls. I am tired of more career decisions: museum and gallery openings, endless receptions, standing around with a glass of plain water, pretending that I am interested in conversation. I am tired of my migraine attacks. Lonely hotel room, room service, long distance telephone calls, bad TV movies. I am tired of always falling in love with the wrong man. I am tired of being ashamed of my nose being too big, of my ass being too large, ashamed about the war in Yugoslavia. I want to go away. Somewhere so far that I’m unreachable, by telephone or fax. I want to get old, really, really old, so that nothing matters any more. I want to understand and see clearly what is behind all of us. I want not to want anymore.’

source: http://wmuvideo.wordpress.com

two girls and a fedora hat

Sometimes I meet people that want to talk about fashion but they do not like being exposed.However, I recently met two girls who were willing to do so creatively. They stroke a pose and concealed their faces behind a fedora hat.

"I am a dentist. I have to wear specific clothes to work; a white robe etc, but I replaced the white clogs with colorful crocks so I made this outfit mine. When I am not working, I dress casually but never conservatively. The essential piece of clothing in my wardrobe would have to be the pants. I have a large variety of pants from which I accessorize with others items. They all are unique designs and I like them to be comfortable on me as I don’t like them to outline my body.

I like 80's fashion and fluorescent colors. On a special occasion, I would wear a dress but only something that is unique because I like to be different. I say no to mini skirts, heels and in general whatever limits my comfort, my movement. I like accesories, I will always add something to my outfit, like this hat for example. I wear rings, usually on my right hand, but I keep it simple. Often, I would wear something that reminds me of a person in my life, like a ring I wore for years that belonged to my grandmother."

The other girl I spoke to is a student at the school of fine Arts. " I don't think much about fashion" she says "you ask me if I wear accesories and I said no, but I cannot think of a reason why I don’t. Actually it's the first time I think about it. Probably it’s because I would rather spend my money on other things. I dress depending on my mood. I like colors and when I am in a good mood I indulge wearing lots of colors. I like the romantic style, dresses with floral patterns. At school I wear jumpsuits because they make me feel comfortable."

installations and performance at TAF

WhiteBox & Eva Pyr: Female Desires
11-25.5.2010
TAF (the art foundation) and the WhiteBox in collaboration with the performer Eva Pyr present the installation-performance, Female Desires. The performance explores the variety of expression of different types of women, through fashion design.
The exhibition - happening takes place within the ground rooms of TAF where each designer- artist presents her own female prototype in the form of an installation, construction, clothing or object. Simultaneously, Eva Pyr directs a fashion performance (Female Desires), in which the female prototypes shown within the rooms act and move in a way as to justify their uniqueness within the public space of TAF.

The Art Foundation
info@theartfoundation.gr, www.theartfoundation.gr

Athena Promachos

When I interview people about fashion, I try to focus on their personalities. I concentrate on specific things they say that make them differ from the mass and I've come to the conclusion that every idividual is unique. Fashion is just a way of expression, like art, like political commentary. These days, when I talk to people in Greece, in their words I sense indignation and desperation. Individualism seems to have dissappeared, people are united by fear and anger. Since I focus on peoples' feelings and thoughts, and since a picture speaks a thousand words, I would like to share some photos from the demonstration of multitudes that took place on the 5th of May 2010 in Athens in protest of the strict measures taken by the goverment that will worsen the lives of many. One can only hope for a better future and that every crisis is an opportunity for change.

The wonderful photos are courtesy of Stratos Safioleas

back to the future

Giorgos and Charalambos @ Thisseio

Blue hair, spike collar, deathly T-shirt illustrations and a cool attitude.
That was my first impression of Giorgos and Charalambos, two guys who are not afraid to speak the truth.

"I always trust my personal instincts when I choose my outfits." Giorgos declared. " I have no conventions, I choose and mix my clothes depending on my mood, I experiment and I treat it like a game. It’s like wearing a costume where I play a role depending on my mood. I do not believe in labels, most of my clothes come from women's stores like the jacket I am wearing today. I believe being yourself is the norm and I use clothes to express myself. The way I dress, attracts like-minded people and keeps conventional minded people at bay. Generally, I mix and match but I also love the style of Comme des Garçons and Digitaria, an innovative fashion label by designer Eleftheria Arapoglou. "

When asked about the way Greeks dress, he said that "the majority of Greeks show a lack of confidence in fashion and in themselves. They do not feel secure enough to express themselves and I believe that this kind of behavior is deeply rooted in a wrongful interpretation of society values and the strong influence of family and religion. I find their dress style dull, boring and miserable and I don't see them changing in the near future."

Charalambos however, is more optimistic." I think there is hope. The new generation is more open-minded since they travel more than they used to and are influenced by other cultures. As a fashion designer, I hope to change old habits. My designs feature futuristic elements and I try to visualize the new style I am dreaming of."

costume exhibition @ Benaki Museum

To Dress

The Peloponnesian Folklore Foundation is organizing a costume exhibition at the Benaki Museum, from the 24th of March until the 23rd of May, titled: “Endyesthai (To Dress). Towards a Costume Culture Musuem”. The scope of the exhibition is to display the important costume collection of the Foundation and to underline the necessity of the creation of a Costume Culture Museum in Greece.

The exhibition aims to present to the public a global consideration of the act of dressing and to examine it through as different aspects as possible. The exhibits will be organized following two parallel and complementary concepts: the main one will show the evolution of dress, mainly in the West, starting from body painting in primitive cultures up to the extravagances presented on the modern catwalks. Parallel to this, there will be a series of smaller units, extensions of the main one, which will approach costume following its function, such as ceremonial garments, traditional costumes, uniforms, disposable garments, theatre costumes, etc.

The costume collections of the P.F.F. are no longer confined to Greek regional costume but are continually enriched with fashion pieces. It remains the only organized collection of haute couture and prêt-à- porter in Greece. At present, the collection consists of 5,500 pieces and includes examples of work by Mariano Fortuny, Jeanne Lanvin, Christian Dior, Issey Miyake, Paul Poiret, Paco Rabanne & other as well as Greek designers, known internationally like, Yannis Evangelidis, Jean Dessès, James Galanos, Dimis Kritsas, George Stavropoulos, Yannis Tseklenis, Sophia Kokosalaki & other.

If you want to see the exhibition through the creative eyes of a fashion pro
you just have to check the following dates:

Saturday 24 April, 12:30 p.m. Vaso Konsola
Sunday 25 April, 12:30 p.m. Yannis Tseklenis
Friday 30 April, 7:00 p.m. Ioanna Papantoniou (curator of the exhibition)
Friday 7 May, 7:00 p.m. Ioanna Papantoniou
Saturday 8 May, 12:30 p.m. Erifili Nikolopoulou
Sunday 9 May, 12:30 p.m. Erifili Nikolopoulou
Friday 14 May, 7:00 p.m. Ioanna Papantoniou
Saturday 15 May, 12:30 p.m. Vaso Konsola
Sunday 16 May, 12:30 p.m. Markellos Niktas

(photo courtesy of the Peloponnesian Folklore Foundation)

the laughter yoga teacher

Eleni Skrekou, laughter yoga teacher

We met Eleni in Thisseio and were attracted to her by her big smile and positive energy. A lively, spirited person, she is working as a laughter yoga teacher and also is participating in the Free Hugs campaign. We actually show her in action and shared a warm hug as well.

We asked her about fahion and the things she likes to wear. She said that she likes comfortable, colourful, joyful clothes, things that represent her mood. Her aim is to give a pleasant and positive image, to make people smile. "Colours represent our mood," she added "and I don't like the way in Athens wear so much black; especially in winter it's like seeing crowds of darkness walking around. I like to be a splash of colour in the crowd! Even on these black trousers I'm wearing I've sewn on happy words like 'love' in colourful threads to break the blackness."

We asked her if she has favourite clothes or accessories and replied that she loves Anna Theoharakis' jewellery, an artist based on Aegina island. "She makes everything by hand and uses fabrics and threads. I probably have been very affected by her work, her combination of colours, and now I can't live without her jewellery! When I go out without wearing colourful jewellery I feel as if something is missing. If I'm in a flat mood I find I don't feel like wearing any jewellery at all. Also I have a very comfortable jean-skirt that's hand-made and has colourful details and is below the knee. I like loose trousers like I'm wearing today and tops in bright block colours, rather than items that have lots of colours together. Several times I've been told that I look Indian because of my physical features but also because of the way I dress - and that was before I ever went to India too."

Her opinion about greek everyday fashion is that people should be more daring. "Although we live busy lives and taking time to choose what clothes to wear can be demanding, perhaps people should spend less time watching television and more on focussing on their personal expression. My mood is very affected by my clothes and I wish people would dare more to be themselves. Sometimes I like to feel like a rainbow in the way I dress and overdo it, but so what?!"