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Choose The Best creative Boutique Agency In India

A boutique agency is a relatively small company that focuses on providing a high-end service to its customers. The term "boutique" is used to describe this type of agency because it's usually focused on one specific area, such as advertising or design. Boutique agencies often have smaller teams than larger agencies and work with clients who have more specific needs than those who would be served by a generalist agency Boutique agencies are often chosen by clients because they can offer a unique approach to marketing or design that isn't available from larger competitors. A boutique agency can also offer personalized attention, which may be appealing to clients who want to work with someone who understand their business and goals better. Why do you need a boutique agency? A boutique agency will know who you are and what you want, they will be able to communicate with you more quickly and easily than larger companies that rely on multiple teams in multiple locations. You'll also be able to leverage their expertise and knowledge to help achieve your goals.

When you work with a boutique agency, you get more than just the same old thing. Here are some of the benefits: Relationship - Working with them is like having an extension of your own team. You can expect the same level of attention and dedication but you can also expect it to be more personal. Boutique agencies typically have fewer clients, so they can focus on you and your needs without being distracted by other assignments or deadlines. Flexibility - Working with a boutique marketing agency can provide your business the flexibility you need to focus on your core competencies. They will be able to provide you with marketing services that are tailored specifically according to your needs, so that you don't get to worry about having to accommodate the needs of multiple clients. This means that you'll receive personalized attention from a team of experts who understand the nuances of your industry which will ensure that you get exactly what you need. Targeted focus - They also provide a more targeted focus. When you work with a larger agency, you might get lost in the shuffle and have your project passed off to an intern but when you work with a boutique agency, you're working directly with the people who are authorized to solely do your project. This helps in keeping things focused and on priority. Innovation - The best marketing agencies are not the ones with the biggest budgets but the ones that understand your business and its needs. A boutique marketing agency is an independent, one-person shop or a small team that can meet all of your marketing needs. While working with a boutique agency, you will receive a high level of personal attention which is ideal for many businesses. Boutique agencies are able to provide their clients a high level of innovation because they are more focused on organizing their clients’ specific needs instead of simply following the trends in order to stay competitive. They also tend cast a small group of people in their team and therefore have fewer clients. This allows them to be more flexible in terms of offering personalized services and tailoring their approaches based on each client’s unique needs and objectives. The best creative agency in India

Apppl Combine is a standout boutique agency in India, specialized in digital marketing services, website design, online reputation management, social media management, email marketing and graphic design. We understand the process of marketing from start to finish – from strategy to execution and are ready to help you market your business in the best way possible. We take an unusually proactive approach in developing a comprehensive marketing strategy for your brand that goes far beyond from simply creating good-looking pieces of creative. We believe in creating effective solutions that will deliver the desired results as you desire.

This post was originally published on: Apppl Combine

Elevate Your Brand: Your Boutique Digital Marketing Agency in Singapore

In the fast-paced digital world of Singapore, businesses face the ever-present challenge of staying relevant and engaging amidst stiff competition. In such a landscape, the right digital marketing strategy can make all the difference. Enter Elavan August Media, your premier boutique digital marketing agency in Singapore, committed to propelling your brand to new heights of success.

At Elavan August Media, we understand that every business is unique, with its own set of goals, challenges, and aspirations. With our tailored approach and unwavering dedication to excellence, we offer a comprehensive suite of services designed to unleash your brand's full potential and drive meaningful engagement in the digital realm.

Lead Generation:

In today's hyper-competitive market, generating high-quality leads is essential for sustainable business growth. Our lead generation strategies are meticulously crafted to attract, engage, and convert prospects into loyal customers. Through targeted campaigns and data-driven insights, we help you identify and nurture leads effectively, ensuring maximum ROI and long-term success.

Social Media Management:

In the age of social media dominance, maintaining a strong presence across various platforms is crucial for brand visibility and engagement. Our seasoned experts specialize in crafting compelling content, fostering meaningful interactions, and building a loyal community around your brand. From content creation to community management, we handle every aspect of your social media presence with precision and finesse, ensuring that your brand resonates with your audience on every platform.

Social Media Ads & Google Ads:

Harnessing the power of targeted advertising, we create bespoke campaigns that amplify your brand message and drive tangible results. Whether it's social media ads or Google Ads, our team leverages advanced targeting techniques and creative storytelling to maximize your reach and impact. With a keen focus on performance metrics and optimization, we ensure that every advertising dollar is spent wisely, delivering maximum ROI and driving sustained growth for your business.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO):

Achieving visibility in the vast digital landscape starts with a robust foundation of search engine optimization. Our SEO experts employ proven strategies and best practices to enhance your online presence, improve organic rankings, and drive qualified traffic to your website. From comprehensive keyword research to on-page optimization, we employ a holistic approach that positions your brand for long-term success in the competitive digital landscape.

Graphic Design & Website Design:

In a visually-driven world, captivating design is paramount to capturing attention and conveying your brand's story effectively. Our talented team of designers combines creativity with functionality to deliver visually stunning graphics and intuitive website designs that leave a lasting impression. Whether you need a logo redesign, website overhaul, or custom graphics for your marketing collateral, we bring your vision to life with flair and precision, ensuring that your brand stands out in a crowded digital marketplace.

Media Productions:

From captivating videos to immersive multimedia experiences, our media production services are designed to elevate your brand and captivate your audience. Whether it's brand storytelling, product demonstrations, or promotional videos, our team of videographers, editors, and content creators work tirelessly to produce high-quality multimedia content that resonates with your target audience and drives engagement across channels.

At Elavan August Media, we pride ourselves on our unwavering commitment to client satisfaction and measurable results. With a collaborative approach and a passion for excellence, we partner with businesses of all sizes and industries to unlock their full potential in the digital landscape.

Your brand deserves nothing but the best. Partner with Elavan August Media, your trusted ally in navigating the complex world of digital marketing, and let's embark on a journey of growth, innovation, and success together.

Experience the difference. Elevate your brand with Elavan August Media, your boutique digital marketing agency in Singapore.

Top 10 web design companies with discounted rates in 2022

jsut read this post to find top web design agency in USA with affordable rates from the top 10 web design agencies in the USA

Top 10 web design companies with discounted rates in 2022 Find the best web design agency from the top 10 web design agencies in the world. They would be based on rates, expertise, and location team size. it can set up an impressive digital presence. Website design plays an important role in the online presence and growth of any business. In today’s digital age your business website should be…

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Based at Surat, Gujarat, India, we, “ROYALICA.” incorporated in the year 2020 are one of the leading Manufacturers, Exporters, Wholesalers and Suppliers of Garments like GOWNS , KURTI , Dress Sarees, Pure Silk Sarees,Tussar Silk Saree etc. Our range of sarees includes Designer Sarees,Paithani Sarees,Brocade Sarees and Art Silk Sarees. Our wide range of garments are fabricated using high grade material and other optimum quality fabrics, thus are highly appreciated among the clients for durability, eye catching colors and comfortability. These garments are well stitched with neat finish by our highly experienced designers and have perfect fit with various colors and designs range. We also customize these garments as per our customers’ specifications, in compliance with latest market trends which give the international quality standards.It can be use for Gifts, Wedding, Festival and many other ceremonial occasions. 

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Qipao/Cheongsam Taobao Shop Recs

A while ago I received a direct message asking for recs on where to buy qipao/cheongsam, and I figured I’d make a post for others who’d also be interested. 

First of all - I think qipao should be tried on and bought in-person if at all possible, since having the right fit is important - especially if it’s for a formal occasion like a wedding. However, since that’s often not possible, I’ve compiled a list of online shop recs, mainly for more casual occasions.

Since English-language online qipao shops are plentiful and easy to find, I’ll be focusing this list on Taobao shops only. Please note that these are my personal recs, based on my own aesthetic preferences. Thus most of the recs are for shops focused on retro-inspired, minguo-style qipao made using the traditional 平裁/pingcai (flat tailoring) method. Also, I have not actually purchased qipao from any of these shops (all my qipao were bought in person) - this is based mainly on how appealing I find the designs.

1. 嬉姷/Xi You - Elegant qipao modelled closely on historical designs, mainly from the Republican era/minguo. Careful attention paid to historical details. My favorite qipao shop to browse for fun:

2. 海上芳时/Shanghai Fancy - Specializes in chic minguo-style designs of the 1920s-1940s. Recently came out with a neat art deco-inspired collection:

3. 唐之语/Tang Zhi Yu - Retro-style qipao in a variety of bold prints, with a focus on the form-fitting designs of the 1950s-1960s, including those from the film “In the Mood for Love”:

4. 繁莳/Fancy Dream - Dreamy, delicate retro-inspired qipao and modified qipao. Also has a nice selection of winter majia (vests):

5. Top Ulara - A large selection of classic, retro-style qipao with a hint of glamour. Offers lots of long/thick/layered qipao suitable for colder weather:

6. 梦回故里/Menghui Guli - Nostalgic, conservative retro-style qipao for all seasons. Old-fashioned in a good way:

7. 柳园旗袍/Liuyuan Qipao - Retro-style qipao with bold and interesting prints, in styles from the 1910s to the 1960s. The shop currently doesn’t show any products, but hopefully it’ll restock soon:

8. 限时赏味/Xianshi Shangwei - Streamlined, retro-style qipao in subtle colors and prints that exemplify understated elegance: 

9. 茉茉/Momo - Tons of options for simple, cute, and casual retro-style qipao suitable for daily wear. Designs tend towards monochromes and all-over prints. Another review/rec here:

10. 珞珞如石/RoseEra - Simple yet elegant retro-style and contemporary qipao. I love the shop’s use of sheer fabrics & layering in its designs:

11. 向南飞FLY - Offers a selection of casually stylish retro-style qipao and modified qipao for daily chic:

12. 川黛/Chuan Dai - Soft, feminine, pastel-infused qipao & modified qipao in retro-inspired and contemporary styles:

13. 四斤自制/Sijin Studio - Creative, avant-garde takes on (modified) qipao & qipao-inspired outfits:

14. 密扇/Mukzin - Colorful, playful, and irreverent modified qipao and qipao-inspired outfits. There’s also an English website here:

If you like the above qipao but still want an English website, there are several Taobao resellers that carry similar designs - for example, Beth and Brian Qipao.

Finally, when it comes to in-person shops, I want to highlight Xiangjiang Silk Co., a relatively new boutique in New York City specializing in actual vintage 1950s-1960s qipao. There’s an article here on the boutique and its founder Heather Guo (who was featured in Vogue). Store visits are appointment-only, so you’ll have to reach out to Heather via her social media if you want to drop by.

If anyone has reviews of the above shops and/or more qipao shop recs, please share! ^^

Bonus: I also have online shop recs for hanfu (1, 2), modified hanfu/hanyuansu (1, 2), hanfu accessories, weimao, and hair accessories. 

Traveling the most beautiful places this 2024:

“Visit to Europe (Vienna)"

In my opinion, traveling is the most interesting thing that is liked by almost half of the people on Earth. Traveling is an adventure that broadens horizons, opens minds and enriches lives. It makes the person happy and fresh of any age, whether it’s about exploring exotic destinations, immersing oneself in different countries and cultures, or simply seeking relaxation in nature and embrace.

Traveling to different countries in a very short time is very difficult to memorize, and making all the events perfectly fully organized or managed is a big task, but having something that makes us memorize about our events in advance is a big support, like tinyti.me website makes this problem easier in today's world by making their website available for us to create events which help in perfect management.

I think Vienna is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. The historic core of the city is a massive UNESCO Heritage Site brimming with incredible museums, beautiful galleries, and sprawling Baroque palaces.

The city is a history buff’s dream. There’s an incredible café culture, a nearby wine region, tons of amazing eateries, awesome live music (including world-class opera), and much more.

I’ve been coming here for years and I never get tired of visiting. Technically speaking I love the city so much that I used to run tours here!

Naturally, I’ve stayed at countless hotels during my visits. Here’s my list of the best hotels in Vienna:

1. Hotel-Pension Wild

This two-star hotel is one of the few affordable lodgings in the city center. It has simple but bright rooms that feature comfortable beds, plenty of space, and large windows that let in a lot of natural light. The design is a bit dated (the carpeted rooms don’t look particularly stylish) but everything is clean and functional. Rooms include basic amenities like a flatscreen TV, desk, and free Wi-Fi. The bathrooms are pretty small, but they’re clean and the showers have good water pressure. The hotel offers a hearty continental breakfast and the owner is friendly and welcoming. If you’re on a tight budget, there are small, no-frills single rooms with a shared bathroom available as well.

2. Hotel Domizil

This boutique four-star hotel has small, clean rooms with décor that makes you feel like you’re back in Vienna’s imperial past. The rooms have plenty of light and lots of antique touches, such as wooden desks and tables, and upholstered armchairs. Rooms also have free Wi-Fi, a flatscreen TV, and a coffee/tea maker. The bathrooms, while not particularly fashionable (the tiles are kind of ugly), are very spacious and the showers have excellent water pressure. The breakfast, which can be included in the price, has tons of variety, including lots of different fresh breads and cheeses.

Located in the city center, I think this is one of the best value places to stay if you want to be in the center of it all.

3. Hotel Mozart

One of the few hotels in the Rossau neighborhood (just northwest of the city center), this budget-friendly three-star hotel boasts large rooms with lots of natural light. Rooms are spacious and decorated in light colors and feature hardwood or parquet floors. There are lots of other wooden touches too, such as desks/tables, and large wooden headboards. Free Wi-Fi is included, as is a flatscreen TV and AC (a must if you’re visiting in the summer). Some rooms include coffee machines. The hotel boasts a filling breakfast spread each morning with lots of fresh fruit and pastries. There’s also a bar on-site and the staff are always happy to share their tips and advice too.

4. Hotel Johann Strauss

Located in the Wieden neighborhood, this stylish four-star hotel is named after the eponymous 19th-century Austrian composer. The hotel is set in a historic Art Nouveau building that’s been entirely renovated, with rooms that have lots of natural light and a soft, welcoming color palette. Rooms include a flatscreen TV, minibar, coffee/tea maker, desk, and sofa. I really like that there’s a lot of art around the property, including in the rooms (naturally, much of the art is music centered). The tiled bathrooms are huge, with lots of light and great water pressure. I especially like that the breakfast buffet is enormous and features a lot of variety. The staff is exceptionally friendly too and happy to help you make the most of your stay.

5. Hotel Am Konzerthaus Vienna

Located in Landstrasse near the iconic Belvedere Palace, this luxe four-star hotel feels more like a five-star property. It has a chic lobby and large, bright rooms with super comfy beds. Everything is fashionable and trendy, with lots of rich colors from a darker palette. The large bathrooms are bedecked with dark tiles and are well lit, featuring plush bathrobes and relaxing rain showers. Rooms also include a flatscreen TV, desk, and coffee/tea maker. The breakfast buffet is huge and has a lot of options, but I especially love that the on-site restaurant has a Michelin star (it does amazing modern takes on traditional Austrian dishes).

The hotel is a perfect choice for travelers who want some luxury without breaking the bank.

6. The Ritz-Carlton Vienna

This is arguably the fanciest hotel in town. A five-star property right in the heart of the city, this hotel is spread across four historic palaces (yes, actual palaces). While the hotel feels palatial, it has understated décor with a chic minimalist design (think lots of white space with touches of color or artwork). The marble bathrooms are huge and the showers have perfect water pressure. The rooms are also massive and have big, comfy beds (as well as desks, AC, sofas, and electric kettles).

There’s also a gigantic breakfast buffet offered each morning and a free glass of champagne when you check in. The hotel also has a pool that plays music underwater, a fitness center, sauna, steam room, and three different spas on-site. In short, it’s the pinnacle of luxury in the city and the best choice for travelers looking to splurge on an elegant stay.

I hope this blog helps you a lot when traveling next time to Europe (Vienna), So, whether you're embarking on a solo adventure, a family vacation, or a romantic getaway, This spirit of travel guides you on a journey of exploration, discovery, and adventure.

I misread one word, ONE (1) WORD, and now my head is full of anal training AU again. 😩 It's been too long, anyway.

Human AU, student!Hob, rich who-knows-what!Dream. So, Hob has a sexual awakening when he signs up to a sugar baby website (he's putting himself through college, working as a dishwasher AND at a gas station, and he is still short on money and tired all the time) and makes a mistake, accidentally signing up for daddies instead of mommies. He never took the time to think deeply about the fact that he finds men attractive as much as he does women. But when a gorgeous older man messages him and asks whether he'd be alright with regular dates so the "daddy" can make sure Hob is really studying and not blowing his money on alcohol and parties, Hob realises that he'd really like to suck this man's cock under the table of some expensive restaurant. He says yes and accepts the offer.

Dream spoils Hob. Like, absolutely spoils him. Expensive foods ("no, little one, you cannot eat ramen six times a week"), buying schoolbooks for him, pretty clothes and jewelry, and all he asks for most of the time is a date, 1-2 hours of Hob's time. Sometimes, Hob is told to get on his knees - in a toilet stall, on the floor of Dream's limousine, in Hob's own room if all his roommates are gone for the night - and he quickly learns how to suck Dream's cock in a way that makes him groan and tug at Hob's hair. But mostly, it seems like Dream just wants company.

That all changes when Dream learns that Hob is a virgin when it comes to butt stuff. After having his brain blue screen and reboot seven times in a row, Dream offers to buy Hob any car he chooses if he lets Dream fuck him and pop his proverbial cherry. Hob, who at this point is head over heels about his mysterious and charming sugar daddy, says he doesn't need a car but he'd like Dream to be his first. And as the "price" for that, he conveniently suggests they could take a short vacation at some luxurious resort. A nice rental cottage with full service where they'd be comfortable but have a lot of space to themselves. Dream readily agrees to that and books such a place for the first week after finals are over.

That's one month away. And that has to be enough time to prepare Hob to be the best anal slut that has ever walked the Earth. Of course Dream's cock is above average and Hob's slims waist speaks about how tight he'll be. So, Dream supplies Hob with silver, gem-decorated butt plugs and has him wear them to their dates or even just during the day, increasing their size day by day. Of course, Hob doesn't have to wear them to his finals, but he actually... really likes being full while taking a test. It keeps him grounded. And it reminds him that if he gets good grades, Dream will reward him handsomely.

- 🚒

I do so adore sugar baby Hob. He's the cutest little himbo, isn't he? Thank goodness he's got Dream to take care of him now.

I just love thinking about Hob getting absolutely spoiled by Dream. He's never had any luxuries but Dream takes him to designer boutiques and has clothes tailored just for him! Hob is absolutely shook by how confident and attractive he feels in clothes literally made for him. He gains a bit of healthy weight, now he's eating better and Dream has given him the use of an entire private gym. Dream takes huge pride in showing him off to all his fancy friends/colleagues.

Hob does feel like he owes Dream for all this, but... apart from that, he feels this massive affection for the guy who's just meant to be his sugar daddy. He's got a major crush on Dream at the bare minimum. He wants to please him and make him happy. He's also absolutely feral about losing his anal virginity to Dream. He's secretly hoping that if he makes it the most amazing night ever and performs to absolute perfection, maybe this can be the start of an arrangement that will go beyond sugar-dating and into real dating.

Hob is very book smart and surprisingly, training his hole fits in very well with his studying regime. He smashes his way through his exams with his tight little hole clenching around the gorgeous plug Dream lovingly wiggled into him in the morning. With his last test finished he heads straight to the bathroom and snaps a picture of his arse for Dream - with the jewel winking between his cheeks.

Hob is a little shy when he turns up for their getaway. Dream has booked a gorgeous cottage (it's so big it looks more like a mansion, but it's still cozy) with a small but private stretch of beach. But he quickly loses his inhibitions and is soon shedding his clothes and playing in the waves. Dream watches (and paddles a bit) and enjoys the excellent view of Hob’s very gorgeous arse. He's seen a lot of it lately with all the training, but that view is never going to get old.

Hob gets to have his first time bottoming in an enormous, beautiful bed surrounded by twinkling strings of lights. There may also be rose petals. Dream is a romantic at heart, and he really wants this to be special. Something that Hob will look back on and remember with true happiness.

And of course his hole is just perfect. It's been perfectly stretched to accommodate Dream’s size, but it still remains amazingly tight. Hob doesn't hold back his noises as Dream fucks deep inside and slowly jerks his cock at the same time. Its like a perfect embodiment of how Hob feels when he's with Dream: safe, content, and more well taken care of than he's ever been before. If Hob accidentally squeaks out a little "I love you" when he cums on Dream’s cock for the first time, who can blame him?

(Dream is honestly just relieved because he's organised so many romantic activities for their time away together and it might be a little bit embarrassing to declare his love for his sugar baby over champagne and caviar only to be rejected. Dream knows he can be a bit much. Luckily he's starting to work out that Hob loves it when he's too much <3)

What about the other people the family interact with? It's pretty obvious gyro is a mad scientist but what about Fenton, Is he still still gyzmoduck? What about Daisy ?

Continuing the Daisy discussion from previous ask first, because I like her and she deserves it.

Daisy in the addams au has abandoned the idea of sucking up to a boss that doesn't appreciate her, and instead is starting up her own business in clothes design. That's not to say it's going super well yet, but it's a work in progress. She has a website and a plan, just not a boutique. That is until she runs into Donald. A kooky, clumsy guy with no fashion sense and a fishy disposition. He weirds her out and has octopuses in the pockets of his wading suit. But... at least he's polite? If confrontational... He's also not bad looking... discounting the deep rings under his eyes and the shiny scales stuck in his hair. But if you're imagining a scenario wherein Daisy swoops in to try and woo the nephew of a renowned billionaire in the hopes that she'd get access to his money and finally get her business up and running... you're wrong. No, what happens is Daisy is appalled and taken aback by the obviously overworked-to-being-crazed sailor, but promotes herself by saying if given the chance, she could construct a glamorous wardrobe that anybody would die for. And Donald... takes her seriously. Asks for the price of the commission. Daisy needs cash. For the sake of her business. She had no idea she'd end up taking measurements in the dank halls of McDuck Manor but she's a professional about it. Even though there's a ghost on the stairway. And the children are throwing a fizzing bundle of dynamite like a ball. And there are cracks and holes and spiders everywhere. And the maid (?) tried to kill her with just her glare alone. And now she's trying to appeal to the abstractly galling fashion sense of a weirdo from a whole family of weirdos, and... it's just the last straw. All Daisy's stress boils over. She has a breakdown and rages - crying about nothing ever working out the way she plans, even as hard as she works. About this crazy house, her life, her failures. But Donald sits with her and listens, talks her through it. Offers genuine understanding and encouragement. Daisy sees him for the who he is, then - a kind and supportive and wacko man who happens to have unusual interests. And, oh..... well, he does have a sort of... eccentric charm about him doesn't he?

You're right that Gyro is a mad scientist. That's not even a question. He's almost unchanged from his canon self, except his mad science isn't constrained by what's permitted by his employer, who permits everything. Gyro is unhinged, unchained and unmatched. His hair is crazy, his goggles charred and he's living his best life. Don't mind the giant red septic tank at the back of the lab, that experiment is on a time out.

Fenton is tired, stressed and needs a hug. He's a down on his luck young adult who has been kicked out and fired from every job, gig or side-hustle he's tried after graduating his robotics class. All he really wants is to help people and make a difference, but that's a pipe dream he doesn't entertain. Life is unfair and tough. He'd pretty much given up on being a scientist too until late one night he follows a strange light and the sound of screaming into a dark corner of the city, and falls (literally) onto a scene of carnage orchestrated by one Gyro Gearloose. The mad doctor yells at Fenton to stop gawking and help out with these escaped brain beetles already before they overrun the neighborhood. Fenton of course panics and starts whacking gross, squishy thing that moves with his bag until Gyro casually hands him an iron maul to fight with. When the bloodmist clears, Gyro laughs in triumph and gloats over his victory over his creations. This knocks a traumatized Fenton out of his white-faced shock and the guy instantly starts questioning how, why and HOW Gyro created those malignant monstrosities!!! He starts listing biological inaccuracies, scientific queries and all manner of hypothesis while Gyro "hmmms" in thought. Then Fenton has panic #2 when Gyro snatches the back of his collar and starts dragging him off into the night, decrying that he'd been thinking about asking Mr. McDuck for a new assistant recently, anyway. Which shuts Fenton right up. (Fenton's mother is a Detective. She knows about the crazy McDucks in their hellish mansion on the top of Killmotor Hill. So, naturally, Fenton's heard about them too. She told him scary stories about them when he was little. But....... Blathering blatherskite, is he desperate for a job.) And honestly.... I might have to think about the Gizmoduck aspect for a bit. It's a tricky one. I might have an answer later.

WHAT A MERRY-GO-ROUND

I have been on an Alexander McQueen kick recently, which apparently just means having a zillion Wikipedia and Vogue tabs open, immersing myself in every runway show the late designer put on from his debut to 2010, going through them as I would a director’s filmography. I am interested in how shocked and thrilled I can still be by images I first saw as a high schooler in the early 2000s, waiting patiently for the little QuickTime video compilations on the official McQueen website to load. Somehow as an adult nearing the age the designer was when he took his own life, I can understand with more nuance the charges of misogyny lobbed against him in his earlier work, the revulsion many had to the uglier images and nihilism his clothes seemed to express. But even moreso, I am realizing how much I have internalized his work and how much truth I found in it even before I had the words to identify it. Even when he evolved out of bird-flipping youthful rebellion against the often cruel and stupid industry he worked in, a brutality remained, enshrined in increasingly baroque and elegant structures, but refusing to go away, a thousand memento mori strutting with bald-faced honesty down the runway. 

I am thinking about a kind of feminine or otherwise alternative understanding of violence. I only use the shorthand of "feminine" because our mainstream western understanding of violence is so inseparably male. Mainstream violence is punctuation. It is a narrative device that incites problems and solves them. It is a thing to be overcome, to wrestle with and win or die. In Alexander McQueen’s work I find an ambient violence, one I think I understood on an instinctual level even as a merely macabre teen in Iowa. Violence can never be overcome, violence will happen to you and violence will live within you in equal measure. And so one must find ways to live alongside it, to lie down in it, to press ones hands against it and stare into the darkened mirror. Until it becomes something beautiful by force of will.

I just finished watching A Murder At the End of the World, and near the end there’s a dialogue between its two young protagonists, amateur sleuths chasing a cold case of serial killer and the women he murdered. There comes a moment where the days on end living and breathing this violence breaks Bill (Harris Dickinson.) As a man he is revolted by this scourge, in the way one is revolted by anything one could potentially be complicit in. It becomes clear to him that solving this murder solves nothing, that it is in the very fabric of the world. He is inconsolable, transformed by the epiphany. Darby (Emma Corrin) — the daughter of a Iowa coroner, who is probably on the spectrum anyway — can’t relate. She has grown up immersed in, perhaps desensitized by, this world. She wants to bring the killer to justice in the way one wants to solve a Friday crossword, because it’s the one thing she feels she has the power to do. This impasse, a seemingly subtle difference in perspective, proves insurmountable; the couple parts ways. I was mixed on this series by its conclusion, but this conversation lingered with me. In a TV landscape rife with men avenging murdered and violated women, you rarely hear a man talk with this kind of holistic despair about the phenomenon. Whether or Bill or Darby are the more evolved in their understanding of violence is left up to the viewer’s interpretation.

When Alexander McQueen killed himself I was living in Downtown Los Angeles, slowly emerging from what had been the worst year of my young life thus far. I remember reading the news and being driven out of my apartment by a sudden urge to walk. I headed up Spring Street in the morning before the pathetic little hipster boutiques of the gentrification-resistant north end were open. It would have been a Saturday. In my memory the streets were wet with one of those frigid Los Angeles winter rains that had left the sky stingingly clear and blue above the roofs of the darkened loft buildings. I was in a daze. The world that had killed this man that I did not know but had felt tied to and changed by, as so many had, felt impossibly bleak. And yet, at this point, I knew I had decided to keep living in it. My face was wet and I blinked against the light I had been so rudely dragged back into.

This week it is -22 degrees in Iowa City. The wind chill is -40. We are told not to go outside, that exposed skin can be frostbitten within 10 minutes of exposure. I am watching a lot of YouTube clips of McQueen shows and slowly exiting what has been the worst year of my young life thus far. I had a dream the other day where I gave away my dog, because, I reasoned in the dream, he had given me enough happiness and it was time to let someone else own him and thus be made happy too. Immediately I regretted this decision, and spent the rest of the dream searching for him in vain, cursing myself and my shortsightedness. Because, I realized, love and beauty are also ambient. They are not means to an end, means to some imagined stasis we call happiness. We have to live alongside the things that make us feel good, which is easier said than done. We have to press up our hands against our contentment and not fear it, let it overtake us and make us stronger. This has been shockingly difficult thing for me to learn. It was so much easier to lie down with violence.

The posthumous retrospective of McQueen’s work at the met was called “Savage Beauty.” That interpretation of his body of work never quite sat right with me, but indulge me as I try to re-interpret it to my liking: In his two or three years before his death McQueen made liberal use of an engineered printing technique he’d developed. Using patterns from the natural world and his eye for tailored cuts, his highly structured dresses and jackets became kaleidoscopic mirrored bursts of color that created an impossible dimensionality on the wearer’s body. They looked like butterflies, and they were the signature of Plato’s Atlantis the last show he staged before his death. In McQueen’s body of work I see both beauty and violence not as some wild thrashing thing slashing garments and flesh, nor as a mere state of being, but as the means of cracking open a confine. Of splitting a hardened cocoon and continuing on in a new body, no matter how boneless and weak it leaves you at first. This is the savagery: the uncultivated self and the sheer force and unruly optimism it takes to live in it.

January 14, 2024

https://edenmarsh.co.uk/

sorry to the anon but I couldn't figure out how to edit my answer once it was in my drafts (great website).

the question was (badly paraphrasing) shouldn't we try to preserve the livelihoods of ceramicists and weavers too? and instead of saying 'mass production already killed this industry, and it will happen to others,' try to save more art from it?

basically yes! deskilling due to industrial capitalism sucks and mass production makes commodity fetishism infinitely worse. I think it's important to preserve craft knowledge and don't think we should just cede everything to industrialization, but that feeling isn't going to shift industrial trends -- only industrial action will do that. for what it's worth, it's really annoying to hear 'just unionize!' as an artist, when many, like me, are self-employed/freelance, and without sudden mass interest in some kind of low-entry-requirement sectoral guild, are not very unionizable because we don't have workplaces in the traditional sense. but by sheer numbers a lot of the job loss to AI would be corporate-level, I think, and there's more potential for people employed by like, marvel, to actually do something significant about the use of AI, than for individual customers trying to throw their weight around by buying or boycotting. I'm happy to get proved wrong here by some targeted mass boycott campaign, but I'm not holding my breath.

on a personal level I regularly spend money on handmade ceramics, fiber arts, and original art commissions both physical and digital because I find them valuable and beautiful. but I also use my IKEA plates and print-on-demand t-shirts, functionally devaluing those crafts. no amount of hypothetical discourse shaming me for 'stealing from working craftsmen' would really change that due to the economic realities. (tangentially, I don't use AI as a stand-in for commissioned art because they are not at all interchangeable to me.)

broadly though, isn't every kind of automation 'taking a livelihood' from someone in theory? my original reply to metamatar's post was basically asking where you draw the line. digital printing is taking the work of typesetters and sign painters, canva presets are taking the work of graphic designers, slip casting is taking the work of ceramicists. yet those trades still exist, and if anything I think their creative horizons are a little wider when the drudgery of the industry is taken up by machines. I know that's paltry compensation for a vanishing job market under capitalism, but isn't it a good thing when ceramicists and weavers are free to explore their ideas and not confined to backbreaking work of making the same bowls or yards of tweed for years on end? (especially in The Good Society with robust social protection that we should all be fighting for anyway)

there can be different use cases for these things (artisanal vs mass produced) and one use doesn't mean 1:1 something is being stolen from the other. personally I'm never going to pay someone to render my likeness instead of taking a photo; the money that's being 'lost' by a realism portrait artist there is purely hypothetical. same for when people get mad about others generating AI art for fun. 'you could have paid an artist for this [generated meme in the style of hr giger]' ok but they weren't going to and you can't make them.

I think people are unthinkingly flattening all kinds of creative labour when they talk about what might happen with AI. to start with, people are often talking about the job market of the first world/imperial core/etc despite the huge amounts of creative labour in/outsourced to other countries. but wherever you want to apply AI -- I don't think boutique client-based work is ever going to vanish, because the stuff that AI can do well is limited to certain types of digital illustration and animation, and you need human, creative problem-solving for new creative work, even on industrial levels with lots of automating tools in the workflow. art directors with good sense can see that. big name editorial illustrators are going to remain big name editorial illustrators. etc. (tbh, I think even the stuff AI is 'good at' looks dogshit a lot of the time, hence my disinterest in it, but that's a personal valuation and has no economic bearing.)

I'm not saying there's nothing to worry about, especially because managers and execs are often stupid and have bad taste and want to 'incorporate AI' when it makes no fucking sense, and would gladly thin out their staff for any reason. but that is ultimately a labour problem and not an artistic one.

need u to ramble more about clothes i just bought that kashiko top for xmas its gorg.. i’ve been really into chinese indie designers recently like that is where it’s at!! No Romance, FlowersBirdsMarket and DoublePunch have taken all my money i even bought a bikini cuz I thought it was cute even tho I hate the beach 🥲🥲 also fall is the BEST SEASON FOR FASHION AND FUNKY TIGHTS i just bought the cutest Anna Sui tights with red and grey stars and hearts i love them sm they match my cherry red vintage bag.. i want Emilio Cavallini tights but they’re so expensive idk if i can justify that.. do u envision a specific wardrobe and clothes for RipMC when ur writing ?? sorry this was a bit of a ramble i just love talking about clothes THAT’S ALL BYE

emilio cavallini tights are GOOD QUALITY i'd splurge on them tbh i have the red ones!!!! but yes chinese designers have been going OFFFF my taobao shopping bag keeps on getting bigger and bigger 😭😭 i couldn't shop as much as i wanted to in japan because i had already bought so much luggage. my mistake. IM SO JEALOUS OF YOU WEAR THAT KASHIKO TOP FOR ME. im waiting until my next week paycheck to buy it LOL i actually love how it's styled on the website. the second the weather's nicer im pairing it with some red heels hehe

as for ripmc all of her clothes is from either shoko or going shopping with shoko (and ijichi). both of them have good eyes and shoko loves playing dress up doll with her while ripmc is kinda head empty no thoughts put on whatever shoko wants me to. i think there are a lot of skirts and sweaters. the classic skirt and loafer combo. linen pants and wide legged jeans. just comfortable stuff that also looks good. they went into a wedding dress boutique once because shoko wanted to see the latest summer collection and ripmc was like "is someone getting married...?" and shoko went "you are. now get in the dressing room" anyway ripmc is shoko's dress up darling <3

Why Do We Love...

Lee Starkey

The first time we knew about Lee Starkey was at Sentimentalist's "Little Willow" website. In this great (and so much missed) Mauren fansite, there was a page for her children, and, of course, Lee was there!

[Lee at her dad's "Time Takes Time" album release party in 1992. Our scan]

We were teenagers and this photo was the first we saw of Lee's (a very tiny version of it). She had this gothic/grunge/neo-hippy/rocker style that we loved! Her marble skin, her blue eyes, the long brown hair and the dark clothes combined with the chokers, pendants and rings was all that I loved then! (still do haha) We were just little girls in the 1990s and I wanted to be like this when grown up.

[Lee designing in 1991, our scan]

[In 1989 with her older brothers Zak and Jason, at their mother Maureen's wedding to second husband Isaac Tigrett in Monaco]

[Lee in 1992 with her older brothers and Mary McCartney, daughter of Beatle Paul]

Besides her style and beauty, soon we found out that se was the co-owner of a 1960s style fashion boutique in Los Angeles called "Planet Alice", which was very cool; and also that sadly she had a brain tumour when she was only 25, one year after loosing her mother.

[Lee and her mum Maureen at the opening of Planet Alice in 1991, retouched by Lynn from Something About the Beatlegirls]

[Lee in 1992 with Stella, younger sister of Mary, and Maureen. She is wearing a dress she sold at her boutique]

[Pictured in 1996 after her brain tumour was healed is Lee with her step-mother Barbara Bach, her brother Zak, their father Ringo, their half-sister Augusta, and Zak's daughter Tatia Jayne]

This was around the time George Harrison died and Lee had her second brain tumour herself, so we were sad and worried about her, but luckily she survived.

As with other muses, we built a website for her and a yahoo group, getting many beautiful and rare photos of her, specially from the 1980s and 1990s, our "favourite" Lee's eras.

[Lee with her purple hair in 1989 with dad Ringo]

Thanks to all these websites, yahoo groups, facebook pages and now here, we can share our love for Lee and made lifetime friends who share their pictures and information with all of us.

We know Lee is a very private person, so everytime there is a new (or old!) picture of her we are thrilled, specially from the time she toured with her dad and was her stylist, or when she modelled for and worked in her Planet Alice shop!

[1991 - Lee inside her Planet Alice shop in Los Angeles, modelling the designs she sells. Our scan]

We wish her shop would have been successful, we think today it would be, but hopefully we can collect pictures of back then, same as we collect her most recent ones. She had triplets and is living a healthy live, just as she deserves!

[Lee in 2016 with her partner, musician Jay Mehler, and their triplets Smokey, Jakamo and Ruby Tiger]

Today, for her 53rd birthday, we wanted to share with all of you, dear followers, how we knew about Lee and what made us love her.

Here we share:

OUR BIOGRAPHY OF HER, WITH LINKS TO AMAZING SITES

HER POSTS IN OUR BLOG

OUR PHOTO COLLECTION HOSTED AT GOOGLE PHOTOS — 1970s — 1980s — 1990s — 1990s Planet Alice — 2000s — 2020s (all the photos have been collected from the net, photographers, details, websites etc are credited when known)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR HIPPY GOTH CHICK!