The Sartorialist recently posted the image of a homeless person but Scott Schuman had the elegance to apologise for what could be perceived as a lapse in good taste. I almost did exactly the same Boulevard Haussmann in Paris last week when the scruffiest beggar flashed his private parts to relieve himself on a parked car. He was wearing a “I Love Paris” jumper… I won’t elaborate on his sartorial style but I couldn’t help thinking about the sad irony of such an attire for someone whose life has been hijacked by the French system and by Paris’ outrageously high cost of living. He should have been the last one to wear a jumper made for American rich kids doing bogus art degrees in the Marais. Stockholm Syndrome?
This is a bitchy way to announce that Turnleft is back to London after a lengthy Parisian exile. This is great news because most of the team is here – we’re already working on new ideas for aw09-10, including a collection of downloadable architecture tours of our favourite cities. If I keep a soft spot for my French hometown, many things won’t be missed: among them €12 drinks in nightclubs that turn down half of your friends because they need to keep a gender balance (La Fleche d’Or being the worst offender) and mi-cuit de thon aux graines de sesame in every new restaurant… But the great thing about Paris is that anyone can dip in and out of it safe in the knowledge that things will never change: same faces on tv, same faces at parties and still the same debate on Paris v banlieues [more on this topic soon]. In contrast London already feels like the schizo mix of same old and frenetic change. The recession hasn’t helped – every second shopfront on Westbourne Grove seems empty (not that I particularly like them) – but the party continues and a few months away are enough to make me feel alienated. I will do my best to catch up!
