Huney'Z World: Gossip Girl

Hi Huneybees,

Voilah! French Festival returns in November 2012!

Starting 9th November to 9th December 2012 come celebrate French Art de Vivre in Singapore as the annual festival Voilah! turns five! French art, culture and lifestyle will take centre stage at Voilah! French Festival Singapore 2012.

Mr Olivier Caron, Ambassador of France to Singapore addressing the audience at the press conference.

For more than a month, there will be a full-scheduled lineup featuring over twenty events in PERFORMING ARTS, VISUAL ARTS, MUSIC, CINEMA, GASTRONOMY, FASHION and EDUCATION, audiences will be able to enjoy the very best of France’s rich and diverse cultural offerings.

A picture with the Ambassador's wife - Mrs Olivier Caron

Organised annually by the Institut français Singapore and the French Chamber of Commerce in Singapore, and managed by Encore! The European Season, Voilah! aims to increase the appreciation and accessibility of French culture in Singapore, and to promote cross-cultural understanding and collaborations.

Until 24 November, Art PluralGallery will be hosting renowned contemporary artist Bernar Venet’s first solo show in Singapore. Best known for his monumental arc sculptures, Venet will unveil wall reliefs from his GRIB series, and paintings from his Saturations and Shaped Canvases series.

Tableaux-Tables, held at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts galleries until 27 November, presents a unique take on the latest lifestyle trends. Organised by NAFA and the Institut français, and curated by Elisabeth Couturier. This traveling exhibition of ten tablescapes features outstanding collaborations between French designers and manufacturers of tableware, together with four tables commissioned to rising Singaporean designers.

Lights, camera, action!

Come discover cinematic history at screenings of beloved classics Belle de Jour and Les Enfants du Paradis at the National Museum of Singapore.

The Tales of Hoffman presented by Golden Village Pictures.

Be the first in Singapore to catch the latest releases at the 2nd Societe Generale Private Banking Rendezvouz with French Cinema. From 5 to 6 December, a feast of French films will be screened at Cathay Cineleisure and the Alliance Française Theatre, including Sophie Marceau’s Happiness Never Comes Alone. This eagerly awaited event opens with a glitzy red carpet premiere, graced by a spectacular delegation of French celebrities and directors.

Also returning for 2nd year are two culinary events organised by the French Chamber
of Commerce in Singapore, giving us a literal taste of fine French fare.

At the French Marché, sample a wide selection of regional products and delicacies, from Provençal tapenades to Burgundy wines. This week-long market in the typical French fashion will be held at Plaza Singapura from 19 to 25 November.

Food and festivities come together at La Paulée de Singapour on 2 December at Fort Canning Park. Held in France, New York, San Francisco and now Singapore, La Paulée will be one of many worldwide fêtes celebrating the end of the grape harvest. Guests will be treated to a traditional French lunch prepared by chef Gabriel de Balasy of L’Angelus, a selection of delicious wines, and music from a live band.

Collaborations between French and Singaporean artistes will add a distinctly local flavour to
the festival. Sébastien Ledig spent his formative years in Singapore before pursuing his
dance career in Paris, where he worked with noted choreographers such as Jean-Claude
Gallotta and Carolyn Carlson. On 4 and 5 December, the young emerging talent returns to present a new work with T.H.E Dance Company at the Esplanade Theatre Studio.

Also at Esplanade Theatre Studio is Frontier Danceland’s Double Bill: White, Blur, an exciting production that features original pieces choreographed by French-American Stefanie Batten-Bland and prominent Singaporean dance artist Low Mei Yoke.

The Arts House also plays host to three more international collaborations.

From 26 November, gain a new perspective on an often misunderstood condition at I Am Special – The World of Autism. Supported by St Andrews Autism Centre, this exhibition consists of two concurrent photography shows that capture the daily lives of autistic people in Singapore and France.

From 28 November to 2 December, the multinational cast of Bellepoque will perform Another Murder on the Orient Express, a classic ‘whodunit’ murder mystery in the style of a French operetta.

Karen Vourc’h and Frédéric D’Oria-Nicolas

For music, we will jump from classical music to energetic rock’n’roll, the rest of Voilah!’s musical lineup will delight music lovers from all walks of life. Soprano Karen Vourc’h and piano virtuoso Frédéric D’Oria-Nicolas will to bring to life the magic of classical composers.

For a head-banging evening of indie rock, join The Plastiscines at Zouk on 24 November. This Parisian all-girl trio has worked with bands such as Panic! At The Disco and Cobra Starship. Their songs have been featured on popular TV shows Gossip Girl and True Blood (Both my favourite TV Series!).

Also, be seduced by the French chansons of Charles Berling at the Alliance Française. A prolific actor, director, producer, and now singer, Berling recently released his debut album Jeune Chanteur, bringing with it the singular mix of ambition and humility that characterises an artist’s beginnings. His concert on 9 December will be the closing show of the Voilah! French Festival 2012.

With their improvisational duo Mecanation, conductor-composer Pierre Bastien will man his mechanical orchestra while Singaporean transgender musician One Man Nation mixes electronic loops and processed sounds. These two experimental musicians team up on 23 and 24 November, creating truly avant-garde music that defies expectations and transcends genres.

Here comes the highly anticipated fashion event - Haute Couture Week 2012!

Dr Frank Cintamani

More glamour and extravaganza will take place at Haute Couture Week 2012, where eight
French couturiers will present stunning, handcrafted designs from 29 November to 2
December.

With Couturier Maurizio Galante.

Couturier Maurizio Galante previewed his collection during the press conference and everyone were standing in excitement to catch a glimpse of the wonderful collection.

With this prestigious event, Singapore remains the only city outside of Paris to present a dedicated week to the rarified world of haute couture. Haute Couture Week is a part of the second annual Fide Fashion Weeks, and will be hosted at The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands.

Group photo!

Voilah! French Festival Singapore 2012 – Calendar of Events

Click for a better view

For updates, check www.facebook.com/voilah and www.twitter.com/voilahsingapore .

Hi Huneybees,

Here's Day 3 of the Men's Fashion Week 2012. It was Japan Night and yes, designers and performers from Japan. I was super hype that day because anything Japan, Jpop is my life! I practically grew up listening to SMAP and watching Takeshi Sorimachi 反町隆史 & Takenouchi Yutaka 竹野内豊, on Beach Boys. (Oops, did I reveal my age? LOL!)

Hehehehe, none of them were here in Singapore, but performers like H Zett M, Yusuke Kamiji and Yuna Ito, blew our minds....

Okok, so here's the designers that had their collections on the runway - Diet Butcher Slim Skin, Jun Hashimoto ジュンハシモト, Pascal Donquino and FACTOTUM.

The models were accompanied by the beautiful tunes of H Zett M.

Designer Hisashi Fukatami started wanting to integrate his ideas for a sleek version of modern street fashion, without conforming to the normal ideals of what street fashion was at the time. Diet Butcher Slim Skin consists of jeans, slim pants, footwear and T-shirts, with a decent variety of options for men.

Fukatami claims that much of his inspiration comes from his experience with punk music, including bands such as That Jam, The Clash and Sex Pistols. Through his working experience with a fashion house after graduating from university, he has cultivated passion and drive for fashion and desire to link it with music.

With this stong influence at the time, he opened his flagship shop "Venom" in Nakameguro, the centre of the designer's district, at the heart of Tokyo. He has presented his collection in various ways that does not adhere to form, such as the catwalk show, installation and audio-visual.

I'm infatuated with the prints on the clothings. The gradient blue and red suits made a very deep impression on me. They are definitely something not seen before, and when you wear it to events, it will definitely be the subject of the night.

Super shy Designer Hisashi Fukatami.

More photos here.

With a background of working and being inspired by Maurizio Altieri, designer of CDIEM in Italy for 3 years shows that designer Jun Hashimoto has been living and breathing fashion. Upon returning home in 2004, Hashimoto set up his first fashion house "wjk" at Shibuya, Tokyo in 2004, which was then distributed all over Japan.

2008 was a turning point for the Japanese fashion designer as he had the desire to build up an original brand with his own name "junhashimoto" making him stray away from "wjk". Its flagship store is located in Japan's fashion sanctuary, Omotesando Hills.

Long scarfs were the statement piece of this collection and the bright orange is nothing you can run from. I love bright colours and if they had these in ladies cut, I would surely fly to Japan when it's snowing wearing them...

Designer Jun Hashimoto.

More photos here.

After a stint as a pattern maker for Comme des Garcons, designer Akira Takeuchi dirst started out with the ladies in his line Theatre Products, a common face at the Tokyo Collection. His long awaited men's line Pascal Donquino debuted in 2009, exhibiting casual elegance with a hint of the British Dandy.

Making no compromise to the standard of material used, sourcing takes the designer from rural Japan to some of Milan's best manufacturers. Though his forms take on relaxed styles, they are collectively well put together and executed alongside a bright colour palette.

I can totally see Chuck Bass (Gossip Girl character) in this collection. There's clothings for work, for play and even weekends on a yacht! It's definitely for the sophisticated men who don't want too much fuss and still look sharp and smart where ever you go...

"Fashion to me is anincredible and miraculous way to express oneself." --- Akira Takeuchi, Designer of Pascal Donquino

Designer Akira Takeuchi with his models.

More photos here.

Japanese fashion designer, Koji Udo is the designer for the Japanese fashion label FACTOTUM. Esthablished in 2004, FACTOTUM made its international debut at Tokyo Collection in 2006 when the first flagship store opened at Shibuya, Tokyo.

The name FACTOTUM was derived from the Charles Bukowski novel. Koji is inspired by his travels around the world and has been inspired by countries like Ireland, Berlin and India. Each season, he is inspired by a new place that he visits. FACTOTUM is sold in Isetan Japan, Beams Japan, United Arrows Japan and around 40 dealers.