Lectura de dimineata de weekend

„Am mers intr-adevar drept de tot. Oraselul parea parasit, marea nu se vedea nicaieri, doar abia o boare care ma facea sa simt prezenta ei peste tot. „Lumea, atata cata e, trebuie sa fie la plaja, m-am gandit, iar localnicii, desigur, la treburile si gospodaria lor.”  Simteam in aer toata vacanta, plina de fagaduieli.[…]

Un vant sarat care mi-a amintit iar de Constanta si de copilaria mea, m-a oprit in loc.  Ca o linie puternica la orizont, mi-a aparut marea, imensa, verzuie ca jadul si umflata ca o respiratie uriasa. Am privit-o cu ochii deschisi, insetati, dorniici sa o cuprinda toata.  Era o lumina involta si un aer limpede si tare, pe care mi se parea ca l-as putea pipai.  O pulbere de aur aprins juca intre cerul inalt si marea grea.

Pe drumul care cobora un dig lung am alergat la inceput, apoi m-am oprit cu o bucurie care crescuse in mine prea mare si pe care as fi vrut s-o strig, sa auda lumea intreaga. In dreapta, unde digul o cuprindea ca un brat prietenos, marea era cu fata linistita, ca un lac de smarald.  De partea cealalta plaja, cat puteau ochii cuprinde, era ca un camp de aur, si in fund iar marea, ici colo albastra, ca o piatra opaca, altminteri verde-transparent, ridicandu-se in spume albe, parea ca vine de dincolo, de la temeliile cerului.

In capul digului era o baraca, mirosind a porumb fiert.  O voce din dosul farului cerea zgomotos o dulceata de smochine.  O fata sedea pe o stanca, mancand un porumb, langa un baiat care ciugulea seminte.  Cu spatele la mine, un om privea marea.  Purta pantaloni galbui, mototoliti, prafuiti, o camasa de panza de culoarea nisipului si un pulover cenusiu, foarte gros, cum poarta pescarii, legat cu manecile dupa gat.”

 Nu stiu ce muzica ati asculta voi pe fundalul acestor imagini si al acestei povesti (este din „Panza de paianjen” a Cellei Serghi, acum reiau intrebarea catre voi: ce alte descrieri frumoase ale unei veri stiti?). Eu fredonez putin din Ive Mendes, putin din Catia Werneck si Bebel Gilberto, mi se par facute pentru zile toride, in care aerul este nemiscat, cerul e aproape alb din cauza luminii soarelui, iar vara pare nesfarsita… Noroc cu umbra si racoarea teraselor si umbrelelor in dungi alb-rosii si alb-verzi, ca sa si putem  citi cateva ceva.

Inhale the beach – „Imagine, for a moment, walking through a garden of honeysuckle and wild roses, down a sandy path of beach plums and tall wavy grasses. Then, at the exact moment you come upon a wide stretch of beach, a soft, salty, generous breeze comes up from the ocean to welcome you home for the summer.” In Wall Street Journal.

The second life of Gemma Kahng – “It’s a small pool of fashion designers who get the chance to make a comeback. Gemma Kahng, whose heyday was in the 1990s, counts herself lucky to be in that pool.” In On the Runway.

Golden state of mind: LA’s new young designers – “New York is still one of the world’s leading fashion capitals, but in recent years a number of Los Angeles clothing designers have emerged as a creative force to be reckoned with.” In The Telegraph.

Marvin S. Traub, impresario of Bloomingldale’s, dies at 87 – „“One of the most creative retailers of his era, Mr. Traub made Bloomingdale’s synonymous with luxury, introduced many of the world’s best-known clothing designers and created a national chain that acquired a reputation for status-conscious merchandising and chic interior moods that dazzled the eye.” In NY Times.

Urban cool, jungle-style – „From Dolce & Gabbana’s luxurious punched suedes to Bottega Veneta’s washed nappa leather styles, Canali’s elegantly tailored Indian-inspired reworkings, Yves Saint Laurent’s look back and Valentino’s leather-trimmed “couture” military twill cottons, the original multi-pocketed “country field sports jacket” is still the perfect hybrid of smart tailoring and easy, thrown-on practicality.” In Financial Times.

The Fancy’s e-commerce expansion continues – “This week, New York-based The Fancy, a Pinterest-like site with a focus on not just browsing, but buying from its collection of inspirational imagery… The ‘Buy’ button is targeted at bloggers and other publishers, not online merchants or e-commerce sites, of course. In Tech Crunch.

More men are taking a size 007 – “That is, Daniel Craig as Bond himself, who in a pair of short, tight GrigioPerla swim trunks caused a splash in the otherwise placid pool of men’s swimwear, the effects of which are still reverberating.” In NY Times.

Resurgence of Rome with art & craft – „“The resurgence of Rome comes from the idea that Milan, long the capital of Italian fashion, has an aging roster of mighty designers; and that the city’s industrialized fashion, while still a hub for international brands, lacks the emotional engagement of products crafted by human hands.” In International Herald Tribune.

B2B fashion sites on the rise – “Designers, brands and retailers have used the Internet to deliver interactive commerce and editorialized experiences, as well as satiate a consumer desire for deeper brand engagement — but a select group is now creating more sophisticated experiences online for a B2B audience.” In WWD.

Has The Hermès Birkin Bag Lost Its Appeal? – “Masako Kumakura, a global communications practitioner who recently moved to China, believes that the Birkin has become a bit démodé especially among the stylish set. ‘Too many people who are not all that fashionable have it. And they carry it everywhere. In Asia, I have seen women carry their big Birkins to dinner parties. So not chic,’ she said.” In Forbes.