Kinfolk magazine on generation grey_a life inspiration story

We are a society that focuses on eternal youth. Stay young, look even younger and getting older is in a way not a desired option.

But times are changing. People all over the world are getting older, but also healthier, fitter and very active. Forget all the stereotypes about people over 60. Flat Agers (that’s how they are called) of the future aren’t defined by their age, they’re moved by their interests, passions and ambitions, just like everyone else. It’s great to see how more and more media are picking up this trend, and show older people as they are, beautiful, active and with loads of personality and (some times) wisdom.

One of my favorite magazines, Kinfolk explored in Nr°10 how the older folks in our lives can teach us how to live more fully and how to embrace each new candle on our cake with style and grace. As some anonymous old chap once said, “Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.” While many magazines pressure readers to hang on to youth, Kinfolk investigates how our lives are enriched by the people, meals and traditions of things past: beautiful pictures of older woman, realizing they’re turning into their mother. Even more tasty images of birthday cakes when you turn 70, 80 or even 100. Who said life after 60 will be boring, dull and grey. Think again and enjoy this issue, you still can order online. And remember, everything in this issue gets better, or tastier, with age.

Check also ‘The Gentlewoman’, another magazine that puts the 72 years young Vivienne Westwood on the cover. Graceful, elegant but with very naughty twinkles in her eyes.

But the best in class is our own Belgian fashion design duo behind Bernhard Willhelm features 65 + models for his AW14 Look book. This catalog features a charismatic set of mature models showing off Willhelm’s luxe sports aesthetic which combines very loose, or very tight, high-tech fabrics with boldly printed motifs. Bernhard Willhelm ‘s designs are known for their singularity. Instead of following trends, the designer duo often creates new ones by breaking with all manner of established conventions. 

Well, to be honest, they didn’t. They are completely trendsetting. Willhelm didn’t offer any backstory regarding his casting choice but he doesn’t really need to: the models perfectly capture his kooky fashion game.

Great work guys!

I’ll be spotting more proof of this refreshing, exciting evolution in society. Embrace and get to know them!

Cover Photograph Kinfolk by Neil Bedford

http://www.kinfolk.com

Bernard Willhelm: photography: Bruno Staub

http://blog.mykita.com/2013/10/new-mykita-bw-hubert/

Nr°43_IMAGE OF THE DAY

(The) Jane is dressing herself.

Visiting the website of the soon-to-be-open_long-expected Antwerp restaurant of star chef Sergio Herman and Nick Bril, you are entertained by a strange moving swirl, or shall I say by fairy dust sparklings on the home page.
The Jane (that will be the name of Sergio's restaurant) is been constructed at this very moment in a magnificent chapel, shown on a black & white picture, the background of the fairy dust animation.

This animation is an art project called "Reversed Striptease" by Rahi Rezvani. When the website just launched in November 2013, I took this screenshot, intrigued by the full frontal naked 'Jane' surrounded by builders scaffolding. At that moment you don't realize Jane was going to be transformed. 
Off course she does.

So today, checking out the waiting list for reservations (the Jane opens March 25 th and is already fully booked for the next 3 months), there she was again: Jane, now wearing underwear, and after some extra sparklings, a small part of her dress or skirt appears.
A very fun and surprising evolution, and I love it. Jane and The Jane are dressing themselves, to be ready for the 25 th. Simple, strong and attitude. As I like it.
That's why Jane made it to my 'Image of the day' post.

As Nick Bril,Sergio Herman’s right-hand man at Oud Sluis and responsible for the kitchen at The Jane mentions in the press release: "‘We felt from the start that the restaurant should have a woman’s name, but it took us a while to decide which woman’s name. Jane is the name of a fictional woman with the same qualities as our restaurant. The Jane will be sensual, exciting and chic. It will have an attractive international air, but also a hint of darkness. It will be tasteful and sophisticated, but also rock-’n’-roll. Like our perfect woman.’

About The Jane
The Jane restaurant opens at the 25th of March 2014 in the chapel of a former military hospital in Antwerp. The restaurant is an initiative by Sergio Herman, his right-hand man Nick Bril and designer Piet Boon. ‘We want to create a cosmopolitan atmosphere at The Jane,’ explained
Nick Bril. ‘Guests will be welcome throughout the evening. Whether you are looking for a cocktail and a snack – which we will be continuously preparing and serving in The Upper Room Bar – or a comprehensive tasting menu, we’ll be open for everything and everyone. Our plan is to develop The Jane into an Antwerp classic.’

About the Upper Room Bar
The food and cocktail bar associated with the restaurant will be called The Upper Room Bar. When choosing the name, Sergio Herman was inspired by his favourite places in London and New York. The Upper Room Bar will serve cocktails and quick snacks, prepared behind the bar. Like The Jane, it will be open Tuesday to Saturday for lunch and dinner.

About Rahi Rezvani

Rahi Rezvani (1978) was born and raised in Tehran, Iran, where he studied graphic design. At the age of 19, after making a reportage perceived insubordinate, he was forced to leave his family. Rahi ended up in the Netherlands and started a second study at the Royal Academy of Art, The Hague.

Don't look for The 'naked' Jane. She's gone. That's the nice part of this artwork. Everyday the reversed striptease goes on, and Jane, she doesn't look back, or restarts her dressing up. That was for the lucky early birds.

http://www.thejaneantwerp.com

http://www.sergioherman.com

http://rahirezvani.com

©ALL photos by Rahi Rezvani for The Jane

Brand new food magazine Brother_a life inspiration story

When a new magazine hits the net or the stores, I'm always curious to find out more. I'm a true magazine addict and the more niche tittles are starting up, the happier I get! A few days ago I discovered a brand new food magazine straight from the US. A food magazine you think. Another glossy mag filled with artfully styled food photographs, molecular based recipes and hard to get niche ingredients? NOP.

The guys (Ryan Smith, Andrew Thomas Lee, Alvin Diec, and Wyatt Williams) behind Brother , a quarterly journal on food bring their stories with a touching honesty and a nose-to-tail approach to the matter. This single-topic food magazine brings no frill stories on what we eat, following one item per issue on its journey to our plate. The food photography in Brother is cool, natural and not styled. They do bring beautiful pictures of food in general, the people behind the food preparing business but there not afraid of showing the bloody details of a live slaughter moment, the cleaning of the organs and entrails. By doing so, they are cutting away the alienation of animal to pre-packaged product.

The first issue of Brother followed poultry breeder Brandon Chonko on breeding pasture-raised chickens. The magazine is filled with images and stories of being a poultry farmer, including some gory shots of chickens that many consumers might not expect to see. In the poultry issue, pictures are taken at Brandon's Grassroots Farm, a small place near Reidsville, where Chonko lives with his wife and kids and raises poulet rouge chickens. Brandon got his start as a farmer by walking into a restaurant unannounced with a bag of quail in his hand. One thing led to another and now he makes his living and supports a family raising poultry. His chickens are served in some of the best restaurants in Georgia. Brandon personally manages each step of the process with his own hands. Brandon does things in an honest and right way, and that’s the kind of story Brother brings. It's a great way to get to know everyone who's behind your meal.

The second issue follows the travails of the clam harvester Dave Belanger and the hard work involved in getting oysters and clams from the sea. From the hard labour of fishing through to the end product and everything in between. This results in beautiful images, colors and textures of the clams, in its rural, authentic habitat.

After many food scandals and food related injuries, consumers are more conscious of where their food comes from. This is a growing trend and that's good. 

In his introductory note, editor and co-founder Ryan Smith writes:  "When we started Brother it was all about food. We wanted to find out how the stuff on our dinner plates got there, wanted to think about food as something other than a commodity. But after our first issue, about Brandon Chonko’s Grassroots Farms, we realized it’s hard to just talk about food. You always end up talking about people, too. At Brother we’ll introduce you to some people who make good, honest food. And we’ll show you pictures that tell the whole story, without flinching at the moments some magazines would rather ignore," continues Smith.

Brother is one of the most intimate magazines I've ever read.  Not only content wise but also the choice of paper, the look & feel in general, the lay-out/typography and visual images are extra ordinary, modern and fresh. A relieve after all the hyper-commodified presentation of photography common among the food scene. The magazine shows in detail the hard work, patience and persistence needed to create decent, delicate, qualitative food. Brother is a place where people meet over a good meal.

Brother is available to preview in selected exclusive international press shops or subscribe to here. 

Magazines ares dead? Tarara! It's all about what content you bring. Not everybody's bullshit blablah, not the news all magazines, Tv shows and journals bring without any filter, until you are fed up … No, it's about surprising insights, honest opinions with a strong expertise behind and a strong vision on your chosen subject. Niche content for a selected, informed bunch of like-minded. 

A good magazine brings people together and gathers them in a joined interest and belief. I love it.

http://www.brotherjournal.com/

Later!

Kate

©ALL images by Brother.

Nr°41_IMAGE OF THE DAY

It took us a while, to set up the right template for my blog, I know. Creating something for yourself is always more difficult. You keep questioning yourself if that's what you want, if the vibe is good, if it reflects what you want to express. 

But we did it. Happy? Yes.

Time gives you time to reflect. Thats good. Always.

So, whats new besides the brand new lay-out and template? 

Even more focus.

I always had multiple sensors, aerials or antennas” as I call them, to feel what’s going on in the world, what is coming and why. It always felt natural. I try to cover an interesting scope. From fashion, over design, food, modern art, communication, nightlife and other stuff that keeps me going. Beauty, disturbance, emotion, curiosity, warnings and hope.

“ It’s about seeing the first ripples in the sea, to be ahead of the wave and not behind.”

I see it as grabbing contemporary culture. The culture that influences our behavior, our choices and our values. It's personal. Off course.

Hope you like it. Let me know. React. Talk. Discuss.

Welcome back! Kate

©Photo Kate Stockman_the squid stories/ November 2013 Bricklane London 

New website Thomas Vermeer_a life inspiration story

Thomas Vermeer has a new website!!!
Always happy when creative people bring out new stuff. Even more when these people are friends whose work you really admire.
Thomas is one of them.

We met during a fashion shoot for one of my clients Xandres where Thomas was our fun, crazy, very stylish and o so pro stylist. Working closely together with great photographer Wendelien Daan, they make a fab team.

Xandres SS14,Thomas himself showing a pose,Photography Wendelien Daan, 'Instagramed' by Katepoes for The Squid Stories

Thomas is one of the Dutch 'Elle' regular stylists but is now 'freelancing' on his own' for even more exciting jobs all over the world.

Check out Thomas' web hub. It's worth it. Love you Thomas!

Glamcult 2010, Sophie in Viktor & Rolf, Photography: Barrie Hullegie

Gravure Magazine 2012, Anine in Maison Martin Margiela, Photography: Wendelien Daan

Glamcult 2011, Irene Hiemstra in Issey Miyake, Photography: Barrie Hullegie

NR°38_Image of the day

www.katestockman.com If you know Kate Stockman, you'll know what to expect ... It's a lot. But it's all good. If you don't know Kate Stockman, this is a good chance to get to know Kate & her netwerk & her skills & much more. Come on over, have scroll and be inspired. www.katestockman.com