Mini-dress and -5 degrees.

I've been looking through some photos at The Sartorialist (http://thesartorialist.blogspot.com/), and I love how smart and elegant these people look - it looks very effortless, although I'm sure it's not... But maybe it's just a different way of thinking about dressing in Paris and Milan? For them it's all about the aesthetics. Here in Norway you have the horrible cold weather to adjust to, and it's not that easy to look effortless chic when the wind is ruining your hair, your legs are cold and your high heels are struggling with the slippery ice. Most people dress for functionality alone - trainers, woolen jumpers and big coats. It's not very inspiring... 

I've given up on dressing for the weather, really. Most of my dresses are short and thin, my jackets as well. Today I wore a mini-dress with tights and a short fake fur in -5 degrees. Ouch. I've bought some proper boots though, finally, and do have to give in to that functional, warm wollen jumper sometimes. But only when alone!

A Damien Hirst exhibition and bad excuses

I'm not even gonna try and explain why this blog has been down for about two months now... Let's just say it's got something to do with me doing a journalism degree. Funnily enough, I'm writing now, two days before my exam! I'll try and keep the blog updated more often - need to keep my English up and running... 

A few weeks ago I went to an art exhibition in Flø, about 40 min from here. It's a small island with just a few people and one art gallery. The owner of the art gallery is a young man, and he's been doing good things there. This time he actually got the English mastermind Damien Hirst to exhibit his works there! I went to see the exhibition and it was really interesting, especially in that context - you look outside and see the waves coming against you and can hear the old school building (which is what the gallery used to be) bending over... There were a couple sculptures, including the famous head skull, and about 20 prints. It's only the second time Hirst's work are being exhibited in Norway, and they came straight from New York, Tokyo and London. Talk about sensation! The gallery owner talked us through the works, and even my grandma got something out of it.

The exhibition is open 'til the 28th of December in Gallery Hugo Opdahl, Flø.  

It's the best time of year! (Fashion week)

N.Y Fashion week is almost over, and we still have London, Milan and Paris to look forward to! As much as I love taking a peek at the spring shows, I find myself often looking at the frontrow and behind the scenes pics first. Here are a few of my faves so far:

(Pics off Style and Facehunter)

Chuck Bass I hardly knew you

The new Gossip girl season has begun, and man does it kick ass!! I've just seen the 1st episode and the 2nd one is out tonight. Epic comments and outfits gives hope that this season is even better than the first one! Not surprisingly it's CHUCK BASS who steals the show... who gives a crap about Serena?

Some legendary one-liners:

Blair: "Damn that motherchucker!"

Eric: "He's got the PA on speed dial???" (about Chuck)

Watch it here: http://www.sidereel.com/Gossip_Girl

Let's put on checked shirts and chop some wood

(In case you didn't get it: Checks will be BIG this season!)

Øyafestivalen 2008

All in all, this year's Øyafestival line-up disappointed a bit. Too much depressive indie (and that's coming from a die hard Smiths fan!) and too little danceable fun. However, it all made sense Friday night when Fleet foxes went on stage - the sun even came out. I've raved about this Seattle band before, and had great expectations before their set y'day. Somehow they managed to fulfill those, and more! The band's still not bigger than that they do their own soundcheck. Looking part grunge, part 70's hippie in their lumberjack beard and checked shirts, their sound is more of the latter than the first. From the opening verse of the first a-cappella song we, the 3000 people who missed N.E.R.D to see the new CSNY, were swept away by the amazing presence and warmth of singer Robin Pecknold and co. Beautiful vocal harmonies backed by eminent guitar playing and songs that carry you into a dreamlike state. The band were very chatty in between songs and clearly touched by the audience's response. Best gig I've seen in a long time! I spotted the guitarist Skye Skjelseth later and expressed my gratitude towards the band - according to him, they might be back in Norway in November. I suggest all who missed out this time keep their ears and eyes open, 'cause the tickets will most likely be sold out as soon as they go on sale!

So Fleet foxes was definitely this year's Øyablikk (=highlight). What else? Well, Sonic Youth, My Bloody Valentine, Sigur Ros and Dirty Pretty Things all delivered respectable sets, and Okkervil River, Diskjokke, Telepathe and Lightspeed Champion were the most talked about "newcomers". Unfortunately the club nights were completely sold out, so I missed my favorites Whitest boy alive.

Oh Versace!

So it turned out the blazer I found in my trusted £3 shop in Manchester is actually an original Versus by Versace!! For 3 quid, I would say that's the best buy I've ever done! It was quite disgusting when I found it, but after a dryclean and removal of the shoulder pads it's looking pretty swish I would say. I've worn it heaps already; I prefer it with my name necklace and cheap sunglasses to extort a Miami Vice coolness....