Posts from — April 2010

“There isn’t a sad song in the world that doesn’t sound better (and sadder) in a
Mariachi arrangement with those soaring horns and strings. Viva el Mariachi
is putting some surprising UK vocalists in touch with their inner Mariachi and
encouraging them to sing to hide their tears.” - The Barbican.

Ay, Ay, Ay! I went to see this FABULOUS Mariachi concert the other night -yes,
Mariachis, as in the Mexican folk who wear costumes and sing like they are crying- 
and yes, in London, how cool is that! But of course, with London, being London,
the Mariachis HAD TO come with a twist, after all, this is Wonderland,
home of the weird and wonderful…

Au contraire of what you must be thinking, it wasn’t so much my inner latina girl
feeling home sick what made me strut in my heels all the way up to my least favourite
area of London – North London that is… Yikes!!! In London you see, you are either a
Northener or a Southener. I am a South London chick and like most Southeners, I tend
to REALLY dislike the North.

Nothing personal, just the fact that whatever you wear in the streets of North London,
you can’t help but end up feeling, AND LOOKING like a cheap hooker on drugs!!!

Bloody North London. Yuk!!! The streets are so dull and so unglamorous, there’s
far too many prison-like estates, where you have to walk miles throug to get from
one bloody place to the other and those ugly tunnels… Blah! Get me back to South,
East or West! North London is just soooo not my scene, but I really liked these guys,
so I had to make the effort and grin and bear it (I am totally lying here of course,
I was cursing all the way to the Babican and back, thinking that I should have written a huge sign to wear on top of my head that said: “NO.REALLY. I AM NOT A WHORE! ”

Seriously, the looks men give you up there… How can your outfit be so right
EVERYWHERE else and suddenly turn into a dirty-man-looks-magnet? I do not know,
but hey, that’s North London for ya! (Now if you live in North London and are reading
this and get cross, come over to Facebook and lets wrestle!)

Now that is bloody election time in London I was thinking that I should go and ask
Mr. Clegg, Mr. Brown and Mr. Cameron what are their plans to make ugly North London
more of a  fashionable place, or at least one that looks nicer and goes with my outfits!
And if they DON’T plan to do anything with the appalling place, then can they bloody
move the Barbican South?!

Anyways… Rant over. Back to the Mariachis! Ay Ay Ayyyyy!!!

Now, ’cause I know that the majority of non-latin american people can’t even spell
the word Mariachi, I’ll explain briefly what such thing is. (Bear with us Americans,
we know that YOU know) is the European lot that may struggle a bit with this…
(especially the English but I didn’t just say that)

Without giving you an old boring lecture, Mariachis are a musical ensemble typical
of  Mexico. The Mariachi ensemble generally consists of violins, trumpets, an acoustic
guitar, a vihuela (a high-pitched, five-string guitar), a guitarrón (a large acoustic bass)
and on occasion, a harp.

They dress in tipical studded “charro” outfits with wide-brimmed hats. The original
Mariachis were Mexican street musicians or buskers. Many Mariachis are professional
entertainers doing paid gigs in the mainstream entertainment industry. Professionals
are normally skilled at more than one instrument, and they also sing. Oooh and do they
sing!!!

In most of Latin America, we grow up with a HUGE exposure to Mexican culture,
which finds its way to us via TV – yes, those Mexican soap operas - and of course
via the Mariachis. So, back where I am from (Bolivia not Mexico)  it is also costumary
to celebrate very especial occassions, with Mariachis. (If you can afford them that
is, they don’t come cheap these guys!) You can choose from a band of 5
Mariachis, up to a fully fledged band of 28, depending on your budget.

The outfits, will undoubtedly also vary according to the price that you pay, tipically
the more embellished and fancy the outfit, the finer the act. Their “charro” outfits -
the original ones made in Mexico – are very expensive, beautifully embellished
and absolutely exquisite, so you get what you pay for…

My earliest memory of Mariachis -and the funniest one ever- is that of the eve of my
15th birthday -a very important date in the life of a Latin American girl-as supposedly
this is the age at which you “officially become a young lady”.

So it is a tradition in Latin America to celebrate your 15th birthday, not your 16th like
the Americans do. A girl’s 15th birthday in Latin America is the first most important
event in her life as a woman, where her parents throw a RIDICULOUSLY huge party –
you have a WHITE dress -or two-coutured for you and the guest list is
bordering 500 people. I KNOW MADNESS!! The second event like that in your life is
ment to be your wedding, but I am still not over the trauma of “My 15s” to have to
go throught the second one just yet Mum! Ta.

So, on the eve of that very especial night, as I was asleep, my boyfriend at the time
had secretely arranged with my mum that at 12:00 o’clock at night, on the dot, he’d
turn up outside my window with a fully fledged, luxury set of Mariachis, clad in posh
black charro outfits, and the biggest arrangement of roses that I had ever seen, that
and copious amounts of champagne to celebrate the occassion (I know! how lovely!) 
and as I woke up to the sound of the lovely Mexican tunes….

We all (including the Mariachis) were SHOCKED to see ANOTHER 28 Mexican blokes
with a tash, clad in charro outfits (these ones dressed in blue) and another big flower
arrangement with a card… errr… someone wasn’t very happy.

My mum’s main concern? Feeding them all, as she had only planned to cater for 28
musicians not 56?! It was sooo funny!  – Well, I thought it was funny, it was like having
two football teams playing against each other. The old boyfriend wasn’t very happy but
hey! what is a pretty gal to do?

This chick outdid me though, she got three sets…

But still… I outdid Shakira, Ha!

My 56 Mariachis however, were nothing like these guys that I went
to see last night.

As part of a latin american series of shows called: “La Linea” (I know sounds terrible!)
The Barbican had this show on Monday night, in its posh theatre like venue called
“The Barbican Hall”, a huge venue with stalls, circle and balcony seats, which to
my surprise (and I am sure to the surprise of the performing artists too) was pretty
much packed, considering it was a “foreign”, not so huge and not so well marketed act
and the fact that it was a Monday night!  

I am not saying that the acts were not GREAT acts, I just feel that they could have
done a better job at promoting them, or at least make more noise about them. I only
happenned to stumble upon this, one day before the gig, and by sheer luck really! It
wasn’t even my latin american antennas picking up the latino electromagnetic
radiations, I am telling you, it was pure dumb luck!

The acts were absolutely fantastic, especially the band that I particularly went to see,
which you guys over in the USA must be more familiar with, than us folk this side of the
ocean. For me it was totally mind blowing when I first saw their videos, these guys are
absolutely amazing, so seeing them live in London was such a treat!

They are called: Mariachi El Bronx and they are not your tipical old Mariachis, they
come with a twist…

Mariachi El Bronx is the fourth studio album by the Los Angeles rock band
The Bronx, released on September 1, 2009 through Swami Records in the
United States and Wichita Recordings in the United Kingdom. It marks a
divergence from the band’s usual hardcore punk and hard rock sound
in favor of a Mariachi style. To promote and perform the album the band
adopted the alter ego persona “Mariachi El Bronx”, and have performed under
both identities concurrently.

How cool is that!!! a rock Mariachi band. Check this amazing video of their song
“Cell Mates” which the cute vocalist Matt Caughthran said, was written after watching
too much “prison television”.  Hahaha, my kinda guy! Oh, I am in love…

Aren’t they amazing? I love the skinny, tall guy with the tash, he is my favourite,
(appart from Matt of course who stole my heart!) He is just so chilled and so cool.
I love the rest of the band too, they are all great and their outfits are sooo extremely
cool. Here is another FAB video of their song called “Holy”:

As for how a rock band can turn into a Mariachi one, this is what they say:
As time went on the band started to indulge their taste for Mariachi – the
music of much of the Mexican sub-culture in LA. Mariachi, Matt Caughthran
has said: ’was something that was a part of us that we didn’t really realize.
I mean, being from Los Angeles and, you know, growing up and surrounded
by Mexican culture, it just kind of happened’.

The band now operate and perform under both rock and Mariachi identities
concurrently. ROCK ON! – I love these guys!!!!

They performed in London with another band called: Mariachi Femenil Nuevo
Tecalitlán, a very dynamic bunch of  Mexican Mariachi ladies who are said to be
a new presence on the male-dominated Mariachi scene and they were really good
too.

Also present was another chick called Emmy the great which to me
wasn’t so great but that is just a matter of tastes me thinks. She
is just a bit “stiff” for my taste… and the name doesn’t click with me
either, not sure I’d call myself Nona the Great… (especially if I AM NOT)
Judge for yourselfs though, it may be your cup of tea?

I liked that she made an effort to sing the last song in Spanish in the end,
along with El Bronx and the Mariachi women, that bit was awesome,
even Matt sang in Spanish HOW CUTE THAT IS! but I was left thinking:

“OH COME ON Emmy the Great!!! Dance a bit, go grab Matt’s cute butt girl!
or at least look at him in the eyes!!! Don’t just stand stiff singing!! It’s a
Mariachi show for Christ sakes! and PS – If I was you, I would be ON Matt,
not next to Matt, singing along!!!” – but that is just me… After all, you can take
the girl out of Latin America but you can’t take Latin America out of the girl!

Ay Ay Ay indeed! which brings me to my final thoughts on the dreaded
“British audience”. Hahaha! I can’t help but feel a bit sorry for the acts
from other shores that I go see in my little adventures around London,
as I see the performer’s shock/fear/confusion and nervous response to
the Great British public, which if you are not familiar with, must be the
thoughest crowd in the world to be in front of and you know why?
Because YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT THEY ARE THINKING OR FEELING!

It was even more the case on this show, because it is a Mariachi show
for heaven’s sake, and although there was a fair share of Mexicans in the
audience, they were like a handful compared to the rest which were mainly
British people, so you can imagine, NO DANCING WHATSOEVER! and Mariachi
is a type of music that is supposed to at least make you swing your hips!

At one point it was so quiet that Matt – the vocalist of The Bronx said:
“It’s so quiet in here that I even heard what you said” to a bloke in the
audience who murmured something.

Then, there was another hilarious episode when Matt was singing a song
that kind of hanged onto the words: “aaaaaand tomorrooooow I’ll beeeeeeeee…….”
“GONE”-said someone in the audience in the most miserable and boring
voice ever and we all heard it, and burst out laughing - even Matt and he
went: “yeah buddy but not quite like that, more like Gooooooooooooone!”

It was soooo funny! I like that the guys kept their good vibe despite that it
was apparently their first time performing in front of so many people (I think
that he ment to say in front of so many miserable people but he was just being
nice, hahaha) So, Bronx guys, if you ever read this, please note: We loved you
here in London, that is just the way the British public are. IN LIFE. So don’t
take it personally and please DO Come back soon!

It was hilarious! Poor performers, but then again when a Mexican girl who was
sitting in front of me got all over excited with a tune and started moving on her
seat like she was being electrocuted, EVEN I felt like gently tapping her on her
shoulder and saying: “Calm down dear, you are in England“. The adopted Brit in
me? Hmmm…. 8 years don’t go in vain you know? Although, the Bolivian in me
swiftly kicked the Brit’s arse right away during the last song. No amount of years
in London, cobwebs or sticks up my… could stop me from getting up and dancing
a-la-Shakira con Mariachis in her MTV unplugged gig…

… and singing my heart away IN SPANISH to this classic tune that they played
in the end all togheter and it must have been kind of contagious, ’cause before
we knew it, the whole of the Barbican Hall was up off their butts, dancing and
clapping away to this song, that is sooo cool that even PAVAROTTI and Speedy Gonzales sing it!

The Mills Brothers did an English version too but it just ain’t the same is it?
The song is called “Cielito Lindo” and it kinda goes like this…

“Ay Ay Ay Ay canta y no llores, por que cantando se alegran cielito
lindo los corazones…” (which kind of translates as “Ay Ay Ay Ay sing
and don’t cry, because it is by singing that hearts become happy, my
little piece of sky…” *Sorry folks but that is the best I could translate it as)

Mariachis are back in fashion everybody!

Now sing along with me en Español:

Ay, ay, ay, ay,
Canta y no llores,
Porque cantando se alegran,
Cielito lindo, los corazones.

Ay, ay, ay, ay,
Canta y no llores,
Porque cantando se alegran,
Cielito lindo, los corazones.

De la Sierra Morena,
Cielito lindo, vienen bajando,
Un par de ojitos negros,
Cielito lindo, de contrabando.

Ese lunar que tienes,
Cielito lindo, junto a la boca,
No se lo des a nadie,
Cielito lindo, que a mí me toca.

Love,
Nona

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Image courtesy of www.thamesandhudson.com

Hey you guys! We are running this fab contest over at modelmanagement.com that I thought of reblogging it here, so that you can also come PLAY!
Read in Español

When French Elle ran an article on ‘How to Become Hip in 15 Steps’, there was no question about Step 1: have your photograph taken by Face Hunter.

Long gone are the days when fashion trends were created by designers, celebrity
models and fashion editors, now fashion stems from the streets of the globe to the
runway, sometimes even bypassing the fashion industry completely!

Image courtesy of www.thamesandhudson.com

Face Hunter is at the forefront of this fashion revolution, snapping some of the most stylish looks found in the streets of the world, as he travels the globe, discovering beguiling individualists in and around 30 countries.

These unexpected new icons of style are gathered together in over 300 photographs,
accompanied by Face Hunter’s sharp observations from the new frontline of fashion:
the street corner.

Image courtesy of www.thamesandhudson.com

32-year-old Swiss-born Yvan Rodic, is the one man behind Face Hunter, one of the
most innovative and influential fashion blogs on the internet, as well as being one of
the world’s most widely read fashion blogs with up to 30,000 hits a day!!!

He also has his own show called ‘The Face Hunter Show’, check it out:

VOGUE featured him on the March 2010 issue andThames & Hudson has just published his book called ‘FACE HUNTER’, which is a fantastic recollection of his amazing work.

Yvan is also a regular contributor of magazines such as:French GQ, Tokion (Japan and
NewYork), Cover (Denmark) and Modette (Sweden); and we are delighted to have him as one of the official judges in Paris, at our modelmanagement.com
FRESH FACES 2010 contest.

Image courtesy of www.thamesandhudson.com

But how did it all happen? What is the secret to becoming a succesful style hunter?
What characteristics will he be looking for as a judge at our FRESH FACES 2010 contest? Where does he find the time to do all of this? Where does he live? Is he single?

This is YOUR chance to ask him!


Image courtesy of www.thamesandhudson.com

Modelmanagement.com is marking the launch of the FACE HUNTER book by inviting
our readers to put their questions to Yvan Rodic.

The best questions will be published on our Blog in an exclusive interview next month
and the winner of the best question will receive a free copy of his book: ‘FACE HUNTER’
- including a note from the man himself!

And the best news is? you can participate from absolutely ANYWHERE in the world,
just send us your question to be in for a chance to win.

To take part, simply add yourself onto our Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/modelmgmt and Twitter:http://twitter.com/modelmgmt and send us one question for Yvan Rodic, along with your name, occupation and location to: nona@modelmanagement.com by the end of Friday 7th May 2010

We’ll put the best questions to Yvan for the interview to be published in our Blog and the winner will be chosen via our Facebook page!

modelmanagement.com – Are you in?

With special thanks to Marc Charach, David Naveira, Sara Robles Romero and Thames & Hudson

XO
Nonita

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This weekend Tate Modern celebrates its 10th Birthday. It is so amazing that the Tate is only 10 years old, yet it is such a tremendous art institution and one of the most iconic London landmarks.

Home of Picassos, Mattisses, Rothkos, Pollocks, Lichtensteins, among many other
incredible works of art, the Tate Modern is a magical place, where it is not only about
the art on its walls but also about the building itself: a former old old riverbank power
station, magnificently adapted by the fantastic duo of architects Herzog & de Meuron
to become one of the most iconic and unique modern art galleries in the world.

The Tate’s amazing Turbine Hall: a huge open space where once the turbines of
the old power station used to function, is now one of the biggest open art spaces
for grand scale works of art, which look even more stunning when displayed in this
magnificent canvas as opposed to being in a more traditional space.

Some of the most amazing and powerful works housed at the Tate’s Turbine Hall
were:

Olafur Eliasson’s “Sun” part of his “The weather project” series, which was a huge artificial light installation that looked like the sun and was constantly shining inside
the Tate’s Turbine Hall, seeming like an eternal sunset. This piece had a tremendous effect on its visitors, who would sit in front of it and contemplate it for hours, truly,
one of the most amazing modern art pieces that I have ever seen.

Here is a video of it which is not even half as amazing as it was seeing the real thing, but it gives you a pretty good idea of the scale of the magnificence of this work:

The most shocking thing for me was the huge power that this light had to touch
people, provoking what seemed like the same reaction on its onlookers, regardless
of what age, background, colour, culture, education, sex, income or religion they were.

As soon as you laid eyes on it, you couldn’t help but stare at it in owe at how
powerful it was and to take a moment to sit in front of it and contemplate it,
surrounded by hundreds of other people who were there, with you, witnessing
the very same thing, at that very same moment. It was just incredibly humbling.

It also had the power to stop you dead on your tracks and make you think about
nature, about the planet, about the sun, and the way our ancestors worshiped it,
about the universe and how little we are compared to it. All of these feelings and
thoughts provoked by one single work of art, displayed, not in a conventional white
wall art gallery but in an open space, as embracing and including as the Tate’s Turbine
Hall is.

The empty Turbine Hall in itself is a work of art. You can walk down the ramp on your own, on a quiet morning and feel its vibration, the echo that its vast space makes and how cooler the air feels in there, it is just magical.

I remember going to the Tate early one morning and seeing an RSPCA van parked right in front of it with its telescopes out, pointing towards the Tate’s chimney. I asked them what was going on and they told me that peregrine falcons had nested at the top, on the Tate’s chimney and they have returned ever since. Isn’t it amazing?! See? Even endangered species seek refuge and feel safe at the Tate.

Other amazing shows that I was lucky to see at the Tate were:

Rachel Whiteread’s “sugar boxes” at the Turbine Hall:

Louise Bourgeois’ “Maman”:

Mark Rothko and the amazing Rothko rooms:

The controversial performance artist Jonathan Meese:

Joseph Beuys:

I Like America and America Likes Me 1974
Beuys’s most famous Action took place in May 1974, when he spent three days in a room with a coyote. After flying into New York, he was swathed in felt and loaded into an ambulance, then driven to the gallery where the Action took place, without having once touched American soil. As Beuys later explained: ‘I wanted to isolate myself, insulate myself, see nothing of America other than the coyote.’ Tate Modern

Frida Kahlo:

Robert Frank: “The Americans”

Edward Hopper:

Doris Salcedo’s “Shibboleh”, a massive crack on the floor inside the Turbine Hall,
which to me, was another colosal work of art. It questioned me so deeply with its
presence, making me think: if the earth was to crack open and the world as you
know it was to break apart in this very moment, what are you taking with you…?
How do you feel to see the thing that you love the most (the Tate in that instance)
suddenly being ripped apart, totally broken in front of your eyes…?

I really don’t understand how people could fall inside it and deem it “a health and
safety risk to the public”, oh come on! That’s like me tripping on my nouse on top
of a van Gogh and calling it dangerous. It’s the same! It is an art piece people,
open your eyes and watch your steps!

These are just some of many other fantastic art pieces that we have seen at the Tate
over this past 10 years and most of them ABSOLUTELY FREE OF CHARGE! Yes, the Tate
Modern is FREE, besides the temporary exhibitions, which charge between 5 to what, a
tenner? to see some of the world’s most amazing art and artists from all over the world.
But the main collection (which includes works by the most renowned artists of the 21st
century) is absolutely free and open to everybody.

The Observer marked the occassion of the Tate’s Birthday today by featuring the man
who has been orchestrating the exhibitions of these and many more fantastic works of
art, that we Londoners, have been so lucky to see over the past 10 years: the Director
of the Tate, Sir Nicholas Serota. In an interview called “Artists, critics and readers on
10 years of Tate Modern”, Sir Nick responds the questions of the public, including my 2
questions to him: (they made a sweet lil typo on my name which makes me sound Japanese) You can read the interview here:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2010/apr/25/serota-tate-modern-tenth-birthday

Nevermind some of the negative comments there, it is customary in Britain to
complain for absolutely no reason whatsoever at things such as: the weather
or something so AMAZING such as the Tate. How can some people fail to appreciate
its magnificence is beyond my mind and I can only see this as the spoiled, naive
comments of “rich children” who don’t know how rich they are, because they
grew up surrounded by plenty of access to art and culture and somehow along
the way they ended up taking it for granted. Whereas to the art starved eyes
of this third world country child, who grew up looking at paper reproductions of
Picassos and Monets, in a country where the notion of art goes as far as a sheet
of paper and a box of coloured pencils, being able to have this National treasure,
as the open, free, inclusive and fantastic art school that the Tate is, is absolutely
priceless. And it is so fantastic to hear that Sir Nick and the Tate will be focusing
also on bringing art from other shores, such as Latin America and Eastern Europe.

Like fashion, art is not exclusive, not superficial, not a priviledge for the rich and
not difficult to understand at all either. Art and fashion are what you make of them,
they are what they mean to YOU, personally. It is your unique relationship with them
what matters and in order to feel that you have to expose yourself to them with an
open mind, without any fears, judgements or preconceptions and experience them by
yourself.

You never know how a painting, a sculpture, a performance, a poem, a fashion show
or a dress can totally challenge your perceptions, teach you something new about
yourself that you didn’t know before or connect you with the essence of this world
that we all live in. No art or fashion school can teach you that, you learn it through
your own individual experiences.

‘Words don’t teach, it is life experience that teaches’

So, if YOU haven’t been to the Tate Modern yet, you really don’t know what you
are missing! Come over and spread the love!!!!

Happy Birthday Tate, here is to another million years! ♥

Love,
Nonita

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Ahhh! la folie. Love is a temporary madness some say. It is funny how sometimes
our brain can play tricks on us, making us see mirages of cristal clear ponds of water,
when we are in the middle of the desert, sweating, hot and thirsty…

My friend lent me this movie called: “He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not” with the fabulous
Audrey Tautou and it is absolutely brilliant! You must watch it if you haven’t, here is
the trailer:

I also found this wonderful little classic on Youtube, which made me giggle a lot,
“helpful stable lads”  hahahahahaha!

Also, the other day I came across this statement by Lady Gaga relating
to her love life…

“I am totally confident that I am an incredible artist and performer.
I am extremely confident about my body, the way I dress, the way I want
to look. But I have no confidence when it comes to men. Men are a disaster
area for me. It’s so weird because I believe I am super sexy. I believe I am
incredible, but I have absolutely no luck with boyfriends.” – Lady Gaga.

Apparently, whilst all the “queer sorts” and fashion forward gals of this world
love, worship and dress like Gaga, this lot (as in the plain heterosexual British
men) find it rather difficult to “understand” her or “be seduced” by her (Oooh!!!!)
Here is what they say in a hilarious article called “Men still trying to fancy Lady
Gaga”:

Man Norman Steele says: “I’m a bit of a pervert and also a keen amateur
oceanologist, so Gaga – a dirty girl who frequently dresses like a crustacean –
should be right up my staircase. Yet somehow I can’t even crack a semi over her,
it’s most perplexing. Am I on the turn?”

Man Tom Logan says: “They are perfectly good, female human breasts and
buttocks. Normally that combo alone, even if grafted onto a toad’s back, would
be sufficient to heat my juice. Plus in her new video she wanks a marmoset while
dressed as a kind of fetish combine harvester, or something. And yet… and yet,
try as I might, I simply cannot muster any sexual enthusiasm for La Gaga”.

You can read the rest of the article here.

Suddenly, looking like Gaga doesn’t seem that appealing no?

Oh! and if you love art, don’t miss this Sunday’s edition of  The Observer, they will
be publishing my two questions to Sir Nicholas Serota, Director of the Tate, in an
interview to mark the 10th birthday of the Tate Modern. Yay!!!

I can’t wait to read the interview! Sir Nick Serota is one of my favourite British
curators and the Tate Modern is a place that I hold dearly in my heart. It is my
absolute favourite art space in the world and one of my most beloved London
landmarks.

For me, it was like going to art school going to work there, every day, for three
years when I first came to London. I learnt so much at the Tate and had so many
magic moments there, as well as meeting and being inpired by some of the most
fabulous and creative people. It is a place that never ceases to inspire me and I
shall continue to remember even when I am old, gray and mad! ♥

This is one of my favourite pieces exhibited at Tate Modern, a 30-foot (9.1 m)
tall spider sculpture by Louise Bourgeois called “Maman”. Now if you know me a tad,
you will know that I am absolutely petrified of spiders S-E-R-I-O-U-S-L-Y  I am (in
fact I could say that I class as a severe case of aracnophobia, due to being bitten on
my knee by a huge tarantula when I was little) but still…. I would go and sit beneath
Louises’ spider at the Tate during my lunch break, and stare in owe at its magnificence
from below, whilst eating my sandwich.

It is one of the most powerful art pieces that I have ever seen. For me it represented
the unthinkable: sitting beneath my greatest fear, which had been totally blown out
of proportion and yet it was incapable of frightening me… all I got from it was, what
I can only describe as a sense of warmth and protection, a very “maternal feeling”  
emanating from it. It was like if the spider had grown taller than humans, to protect
the lovely creatures that stood beneath her legs, which suddenly seemed to turn into
the loving wings of a protective mother swan, who takes her babies under her wings,
it was such a beautiful feeling.

It completely openned my mind to the idea that you can take the thing that you fear
the most and turn it into something beautiful. One of my favourite art pieces ever!

I wrote a little tale about phobias too, you can read it HERE if you are curious. Come
along and check out the Blog at ModelManagement.com too, we are running a fab
international photography contest and many more exciting things coming up next week. 
Also, check out my latest gorgeous vintage finds too at Pigtails Rock  including my fave
SMV pieces.

Now here is a fantastic version of the classic “addicted to love” by Robert Palmer,
sung by the fabulous Florence Welch, which I can’t get enough of…

Your lights are on, but you’re not home
Your mind is not your own
Your heart sweats, your body shakes
Another kiss is all it takes
You can’t sleep, you can’t eat
There’s no doubt, you’re in deep
Your throat is tight, you can’t breathe
Another kiss is all you need

Whoa, you like to think that you’re immune to this stuff, oh yeah
It’s closer to the truth to say you can’t get enough
You’re gonna have to face it, you’re addicted to love

You see the signs, but you can’t read
You’re runnin’ at a different speed
Your heart beats, double time
Another kiss and you’ll be mine, a one track mind
You can’t be saved
Oblivion is all you crave
If there’s some left for you
You don’t mind if you do

Whoa, you like to think that you’re immune to this stuff, oh yeah
It’s closer to the truth to say you can’t get enough
You’re gonna have to face it, you’re addicted to love

Might as well face it, you’re addicted to love
Might as well face it, you’re addicted to love
Might as well face it, you’re addicted to love
Might as well face it, you’re addicted to love
Might as well face it, you’re addicted to love

Your lights are on, but you’re not home
Your will is not your own
You’re heart sweats, your teeth grind
Another kiss and you’ll be mine
Whoa, you like to think that you’re immune to this stuff, oh yeah
It’s closer to the truth to say you can’t get enough
You’re gonna have to face it, you’re addicted to love

Might as well face it, you’re addicted to love
Might as well face it, you’re addicted to love
Might as well face it, you’re addicted to love
Might as well face it, you’re addicted to love
Might as well face it, you’re addicted to love
Might as well face it, you’re addicted to love
Might as well face it, you’re addicted to love
Might as well face it, you’re addicted to love
Might as well face it, you’re addicted to love

Love,
Nona

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If I ever understood you…

All the Woulda-Coulda-Shouldas
Layin’ in the sun,
Talkin’ ’bout the things
They woulda coulda shoulda done…
But those Woulda-Coulda-Shouldas
All ran away and hid
From one little Did.

Let me just walk away quietly and you will never know that I was ever here…

XO
Nona

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Here is a short but sweet little interview to one of my favourite young models from
London town, the lovely Yohan Agelou.

Yohan’s style is really cool. I love his relaxed, rock and roll, effortlessly chic look.

Enjoy the interview and the pics!

- Hi Yohan. Where are you from and when did you start modelling?
I’m French, with a mixed heritage from North Africa and Europe, grew up in the South
of England. I started modelling about 5 months ago.

- How would you define your style?
Arty I guess… being an art student, I just like clothes to be a bit different, expressive I guess.

- I love, love, love this flower print jacket that you are wearing with the bow tie, who’s it by?
Those were vintage sets, the bow tie was just from Camden but the jacket was ancient, I could feel it when I was wearing it.

- Who’s your style icon?
My style icon? Uhm… anyone who wares what they want and aren’t slaves to trends I guess.

- Any favourite photographers?
Yelena Yemchuk at the moment. I really admire her work. I like dreamy creative pictures.

-Favourite music, bands, albums?
Florence and the machine, Coldplay, Nutini, Mystery Jets & Blur are the more
commercial ones and many, many more. I like to think I have a pretty wide music
taste /range.

- Best read?
Saga of the exiles, the wheel of time, lady of Avalon, the kite runner… I read quite a lot, love stories.

-Best movie?
Would have to be American history X- really got to me.

- Best London hangout?
Someones house, I like house parties more than an anything. Though I go to
Camden or embankment a lot.

-What are you obsessed with or can’t live without?-
I got really obsessed with cashew nuts, I think they’re all I ate for the most of last year….

-Share with us a tip or trick…
A confidence tip would be to always be comfortable with yourself (pretend if you have too) and not to take things to seriously, I get in trouble for saying this but life’s a bit of a game. You win some you loose some, especially work related. If you’re having fun though, it doesn’t really matter and things get really good naturally.

-Thank you Yohan and finally please choose the song of the day…
Lemon tree by fools garden…I like this strange song for some weird reason.

Check out Yohan’s profile at Oxygen Models and in case that you are wondering who the gorgeous blond is, she is Yohan’s girlfriend and yes she is also a model.

Talking about gorgeous couples! I ♥ these guys!

XO
Nonita

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Jewellery Design by Anna Heasman

When the fabulous Pippy Jolley invited me to her Central Saint Martin’s
BA Jewellery Design show I knew that I would be seeing something, but
I wasn’t quite prepared for all this!

To see the complete collection come over and read the article I wrote
about it for The Blog at Model Management.com

Now here is the most amazing video of the Martin Margiela coat that I have
been lusting over for the whole winter… courtesy of the fabulous people at
Showstudio:

http://www.showstudio.com/project/makeupyourmind/

Don’t you just love it??? I really like what Nick Knight is doing with video,
performance and fashion. Makes heaven seem one step closer…

…now here is the final video treat of the day, this had me laughing all afternoon!
I still have it on replay:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/video/2010/mar/31/jamie-oliver-does

XO
-Nona

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Well, for the past two days I haven’t been much of a…

It all started yesterday, when I ran out of the house to the bank at 4 pm.
Got on the bus paying for a single ticket with 2 pounds that I happened to
have in my pocket. Got to the bank, pressed the doorbell and a lady comes
out saying: “Sorry lav we are shut!” slamming the door on my nouse.
But it is only 4.30!!! – I thought. Ah, It’s Easter…

So, I go back and wait for the bus *ages* Bus comes and tada! I forgot my
travelcard inside my purse. and my purse. at home. which means… I am stuck
outside with: no money, no travelcard and no bankcards. And I am a girly girl.
The type that can’t read maps… I check my pockets and hear clink*clink*clink
YESSSSS! Money!!!!! Pull it out, just in time as my bus was coming up again and
surprise, surprise: it’s 2.50 EUROS.

Aha! post office, exchange them for 2 Pounds and get on the bus- says brain.
So I go. Huge queue. Cute guy in front of me. I might not be so unlucky today
afterall - I think. My turn comes and I say: “Hi dear, good afternoon! I have
the most ridiculous exchange transaction to make I am afraid Sir. Here is 2.50
Euros, do I get 2 quid for that, or a bit less?” – I say. “Sorry Miss we don’t
exchange coins” – says the foreign exchange man. What, What? What do
you mean Sir? – I say. “I mean what I said Miss. We DO NOT exchange coins,
only notes.” — says the man.

I walk back outside laughing at my own bad luck, as I look up and say “what else are
you going to throw at me today hey? Go on, I am ready, bring it on!”… Just as I finish
saying that, it thunders and rain starts to fall. hard. Perhaps I shouldn’t have asked?

So I had no choice but to walk home, following the route of the bus. Not the romantic
vision that I always have of walking under the rain but hey! I made it home in the end.
Soaking wet, I get in and my mate says: “Gosh haven’t you got an umbrella?”
Tomorrow will be a new day – I though and I sent myself off to bed to sleep
off my “bad luck day”.

So, I woke up with the sun shining through my window this morning and decided
to kickstart the day with a homemade DIY Pampering session. Got straight in the
shower and after it, I covered myself in oil. Olive oil. Head to toe, hair included.
(I am not mad, olive oil is really good for your skin and hair. really. try it. And it is
the best eye make up remover too!!!) Go back up wrapped in a towel and… my
bedroom is locked. from the inside. keys, money, cards, laptop, mobile, clothes,
shoes, everything is inside. and I am out. * naked. covered in olive oil. * I could
not believe it. I know none of my friends mobile phone numbers, my housemates
are away for the Easter holidays and I am home alone. * naked. covered in olive oil *

Thank God there is the good old landline and after a few calls, I was able to track
down a locksmith who would do the job on a Good Friday Bank Holiday in London.
He was really good, came in a flash and got me in.

I was left wondering what must I have done over the past 3 days to upset the
natural course of the universe… hmmmm…. what bad karma am I paying for?

Or maybe it is just the effing bad luck “elfs”, messing around as they do sometimes,
to try to annoy us. But the key to make them go away – as I learn’t recently – is to
not get annoyed. Not swear. Not get angry. Not panic. Whatever life throws at ya
and to try and see the “good side” of it (I know this sounds so cliche but it’s true!).

You are gonna have to deal with it anyway, so why not try and have fun sorting it
out, even if it can be hard sometimes, just keep cool, smile and be nice to people.
You never know why things happen to you, so don’t get caught up in the frustration
of the moment but look around instead, there might be a lesson around the corner,
or something that you need to see, learn from, experience or come across.
The universe has funny ways to teach us stuff.

So, the next time that life throws something godawful at ya, remember: keep cool,
smile and don’t forget… BE A LADY.

PLAY!

They call you lady luck
But there is room for doubt
At times you have a very un-lady-like way
Of running out

Your on this date with me
and the pickin’s have been lush
And yet before the evening is over
You might give me the brush

You might forget your manners
You might refuse to stay
And so the best that I can do is pray

Luck be a lady tonight
Luck be a lady tonight
Luck if you’ve ever been a lady to begin with
Please be a lady tonight

Luck let a gentleman see
Just how nice a dame I can be
I know the way you’ve treated all those girls before me
Please be a lady with me

A lady dosen’t leave her escort
It isn’t fair, it isn’t nice
A lady doesn’t wander all over the room
And then blow on some other guys dice

Why don’t we keep this party polite
Never get out of my sights
Stick with me baby, Im the girl that you came in with
Luck be a lady tonight

Luck let a gentleman see
Just how nice a dame you can be
I know the way you’ve treated all those girls before me
Luck be a lady with me

A lady never flirts with strangers
Shed have a heart, shed be nice
A lady doesnt wander all over the room
And blow on some other guys dice

So why don’t we keep this party polite
aha?
Never get out of my sight
No way!
Stick with me baby, I’m the girl/guy that you came in with
Luck be a lady…

luck be a lady…
luck be a lady…
This very night
This night
Be a lady.

Happy Easter my lovely lil bunnies!
XO
Nonita

All pics via Google image search.

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