Next Big Thing: Eleven Paris

Eleven Paris is an upcoming brand focused on an urban, sportswear, aesthetic. Nearly every piece has either hip graphics or unmissable pop culture references. A collaboration with Disney, (which can be found on their website for kids, for women and for men) was just released at a pop up shop at the Galeries Lafayette on May 14.

Top Left: Fix Hamby SW 65.00 Euros

Top Right: Sundambijump W 59.00 Euros

I first discovered this brand whilst shopping in Paris, and I spent about an hour in the store freaking out about the insanely awesome graphics and how much I wanted everything. The same is still completely true, especially in the new Spring/Summer collection. I think what I love most about the designs is that they are insanely cool I'm both silhouette and graphics, yet most of the pieces are still fairly minimalistic. There is never too much going on with the graphics, and if the graphics are more involved, the silhouette is simpler. They have achieved the ultimate balance to create excellent garments with an intensely urban feel.

If you want to see more, check out their website!
Also, the Spring Summer look book, it has a whole story that goes along with each photo and it's one of the coolest ones I've seen in a long time.

Cigarettes- European Accessory of Choice?

For the life of me, I cannot determine why cigarette use is increasingly more abundant in Europe than it is in America. It seems as though the cigarette is this seasons hot accessory, gracing the fingers of many a person. The air contains a consistent fragrance of smoke, mixed in with the food aromas and smells in the surrounding area. 

Throughout my life, I have been shown infomercials and power points and fliers about how bad smoking is for you. It can cause lung cancer, and contains rat poison and nicotine. I feel that the amount of people who smoke has drastically decreased in my generation and the previous few in the United States. Is the difference that the younger generations in Europe did not receive the same anti-smoking propaganda that we did? Or do these young people see those who are successful and wealthy and beautiful smoking cigarettes and want to do the same? 

It shocks me even more to see that the older generations (60+) and the younger generations (30-) are smoking but the middle ages are not. The older people smoking makes sense, as a result of years of addiction and not being able to quit. I still cannot figure out why the younger generations smoke as much as I have seen the past week. I wish I knew why, but unfortunately I don't. If anyone has any insight please let me know, I'm extremely curious about this topic now. 

*i am in no way, shape or form condoning smoking or saying that it is an acceptable behavior, especially in those underage.