Amsterdam's 'Black Pete'

In Amsterdam, Santa doesn't have Elfs or even little helpers he has Golliwogs!

Or as they are traditionally called "Zwarte Piet" which loosely translates to 'Black Pete', however with blacked out faces big red lips, white teeth and afro wigs they are pretty mum life size golliwogs. Everywhere we went in Ams we stalked by Black Pete dolls hanging in the butchers windows, toy stores, supermarkets, on cakes, even on a snickers advert!

It's Amsterdam's best kept secret, and I definitely know why. Back in the day, if Santa did have 'helpers' I'm pretty sure they didn't get paid cause they were probably slaves, stolen from their homeland and imprisoned in the cold arctic.

Even still, get with the times Amsterdam- gone are the days of the minstrel show, slavery was abolished years ago, minimum wage exists and the cheapest labour is probably now from eastern europeans. It was just bizarre to realise that Amsterdam was left behind when the world realised racism especially public racism is not right, yet the dutch think that blacking yourself up in the name of christmas fun is cool?!

Erm Wrong

Please just google image search "Zwarte Piet" to understand the extent. Then tell many others to stop this from being Amsterdam's dirty little secret and force a change.

Amsterdam 2010

Its Yewande's birthday on Friday so we popped over to Ams for 5 days. I've never been before so it satisfied my need to go to a new country every year. Our friend Vince aka Mr 22Tracks was our amazing host to the most liberal place on earth. A city that has more bikes than people, produces 12% beer, is obsessed with black Pete, legalised cannabis, prostitution and having sex in Vondel Park also happens to be superduper beautiful.

18-11-2010 to 22-11-2010

J’aime mon Carre!

I Love My Scarf!

Hermes are hosting I love my scarf parties in east and west london to celebrate their current campaign. I have alwaaaaaays wanted a Hermes scarf as I have a scarf collection they are the ultimate silk scarf!

J’aime mon carré will find its way to both East and West London, unexpected locations for a strictly limited time. East - celebrate the who and how of the scarf at the Rochelle School of Art in Shoreditch between the 18th and 21st November. West – join the celebrations on Ledbury Road from the 25th November.

Imagine one photographer, one art director, one stylist all working together four cities New York, London, Paris and Tokyo with 7 girls, 4 boys, 250 scarves, a lot of photo booths, 2 dogs, 79 birds, 8 miles of pavement, 680 cups of green tea, 30 cakes, 10 hot dogs, 300 knots, some friends from 24 Faubourg St Honoré in Paris and suitcases of talent and fun – singing, laughing, dancing, posing and kissing.

East – Rochelle School Of Art, Club Row Entrance, Arnold Circus, London. E2 7ES

18^th and 21^st November

West – 79 – 81 Ledbury Road, London. W11 2AG

from the 25^th November

Paris November 2010

With so many great exhibitions on in Paris I popped over for 4 days to see as much good stuff as possible

The most complex and beautiful bus map I've ever seen

The BlackRainbow Shop - to see the Amazing Ben

Baaaaare Brick

French strikes are what we call in London the notting hill carnival; flags, loud music and hot food!

Cheeseburger from my fav restaurant Radowski

Tour Effel

Murakami exhibition

Is one of the most amazing exhibitions I have ever been to. The legendary contemporary artist Takashi Murakami is showcasing his manga inspired art in the most prestigious venues in Paris; Chateau de Versailles. Home to generations of the French royal family, a witness the French revolution and the signing of numerous treaties such as the Treaty of Paris (1783) which ended the American Revolutionary War and the Treaty of Versailles which ended WWI. The juxtapose of Murakami's brightly coloured crisp paintings and metallic sculptures against the hundreds of antique chandeliers, 10 ft renaissance paintings and hand made wallpaper produce an incredible pleasure for the eyes.