Mademoiselle Aki

End of the blog

2010-06-13T19:14:00.000-07:00

Now, follow me on my Tumblr : MissAki

:)

Artsy Paris #1

2010-05-13T17:54:00.000-07:00

Pics by me

Tonton

2010-05-08T18:54:00.000-07:00

Ben l'Oncle Soul - "L'ombre d'un père"

Kikoumaru Café

2010-05-07T13:49:00.000-07:00

Kikoumaru is a cute bubble tea spot located in Bastille (Paris).

For now, this is the best one I ever visited in Paris.

They offer a HUGE variety of bubble tea with almost 50 flavors !

Even though I don't like tapioca pearls (it bothers me), I tried a hot kiwi milktea and I loved it !

Here's the place :

Pics by Elleadore.com

Kikoumaru café also sells asian grocery, pastries, vietnamese sandwiches (banh-mi), salads and many other yummy and kawaii stuffs :)

You should go visit :

KIKOUMARU
43-45, rue de la Roquette
75011 Paris

Wishlist #1

2010-04-13T06:55:00.000-07:00

Spanish fashion ain't a joke.

2010-04-13T06:43:00.000-07:00

Stunning work by Juanjo Oliva

I'm in love with the 1st dress, the shape and the colors are just C-R-A-Z-Y.

March

2010-04-13T05:08:00.000-07:00

It's already been a month since my comeback in Paris.

I know I didn't update my blog often, but unemployment isn't inspiring me at all.

I hate doing nothing and feeling useless.

I need to work. I need money.

I need challenges fgs !

Well, at least I have enough time to enjoy my (broke) life alone or with my beloved ones :)

@ My 23 Bday dinner, Paris

@ My Master's Grad Ceremony, Rennes

@ My room. Good to chill in :)

@ Salon Living Colors, Paris

(Leatik pics are dope, don't you think so?!)

@ José James' concert performance, Paris

Kiffe my life !

2010-03-30T09:33:00.000-07:00

23 ans, diplômée et comblée :D
(23, graduated and happy)

"Eat, Pray, Love": the movie !

2010-03-22T03:16:00.000-07:00

OMG ! I'm so looking forward to see it !

I read the book few months ago, and I loved it.

Elizabeth Gilbert story has been such an inspiration for me.

She totally expanded my vision of spirituality and deepened my self discovery journey.

I strongly recommend you guys to read it before watching the movie :)

I'll be there !

2010-03-15T05:31:00.000-07:00

SALON LIVING COLORS

Blah !

2010-03-13T09:33:00.001-08:00

Job Hunting Sucks !!!

Bella.

2010-03-09T10:40:00.000-08:00

Nikia Phoenix . Model

Do you feel me ?

2010-03-03T19:29:00.000-08:00

Lauryn Hill - Sweetest Thing (Mahogany Mix)

Back...

2010-03-03T19:16:00.000-08:00

I'm back in Paris...

HOME !

Have you ever been in a place where you feel both at home and as a stranger ?

Well, that's what I'm experiencing right now.

Weird...

Day trip to Philly

2010-02-23T09:24:00.001-08:00

Last thursday I went to Philadelphia for the day.

$10 dollars' return ticket + 2 hours bus ride from New York and here I am.

Welcome to Philly !

The 1st thing I did was going to the African American Museum.

The current temporary exhibition was about the Montgomery Bus boycott story.

Then I walked around the city.. Philadelphia is small compared to New York, so it wasn't a big deal.
The city in itself didn't attracted me much. However I met great people during this day.
I'm telling you, when you really want your day to be special, it works !
Shout out to Alhassane the Malian student, Fransisco mi amigo Mejicano, the charismatic Rastafari vendor, and the sweet Nuala (thanks Mee for the introduction !).

Italian Market

Mexican Grocery

Fransisco a very attaching Mexican mechant. He made my day :D

Funny !

Oh it's me ! :p

3 snow storm in less than 2 weeks. Philadelphia's winter isn't a joke.

This picture, showing the developped side of African cities (the one that Western medias never show),

should be known by all.

This poster was on South street, a very frequented street of Philly.

I was so happy to see it that I decided to enter into the Rastafari store displaying it.

I wanted to acknowledge the store owner for this great idea: he was glad.

He told me that many people from all around the world entered into his shop to tell him that they didn't know about this aspect of Africa.

Sometimes, the simplest things are enough to educate people.

A picture. A story. A dialogue.

It can work for almost everything :)

An expensive and not so exciting thrift store.

Un bonhomme de neige.

Downtown Philly

Fresh!

Walnut street from Urban Outfitters

And I discovered Serena's art (here)

Hope you enjoyed it :)

Chinese New Year

2010-02-18T21:55:00.000-08:00

Last week end, the Chinese community of NYC celebrated the Tiger year in Chinatown.

It was fun...

...but better after eating the best ice cream on earth, the one from Chinatown Ice Cream Factory !

Indian art lover

2010-02-16T21:02:00.000-08:00

I love Indian creativity :

clothing, singing, dancing and cinema.

I like Indian food too (except curry things).

I also like the English-Indian accent. Yeh :)

I wish I could visit India one day...

For now, the only thing I can do is watching this video over and over again. I love it !

Devdas - Dola Re Dola

Oh !

2010-02-15T19:08:00.000-08:00

Oh.

I got new kicks too !

Picture it.

2010-02-15T19:04:00.000-08:00

Park Slope

Williamsburg Bridge

Bedford Avenue @Williamsburg

MoCADA

2010-02-15T18:49:00.000-08:00

Right after shopping at the Brooklyn flea, I went 2 blocks nearby, at this place called MoCADA (Museum of Contemporary African Diaspora).

The current exhibition was about Gentrification in Brooklyn.

"Gentrification is when construction is done in old neighborhoods. They make new and larger buildings that don't belong in that neighborhood. The building rent are high and the rent for the houses go up so people have to move out because they can't afford it..." (X. Carrington)

Local Brooklynites artists who have already been affected by gentrification expressed their feelings trought their art.

It was definitely a worth see:

The little shop at the main entrance of the museum also had interesting stuffs.

Brooklyn flea market

2010-02-15T18:03:00.000-08:00

I went to the indoor Brooklyn Flea Market last saturday.

Can you imagine three floors full of vintage and thrift vendors? I was going crazy !

Fortunately, I only I had $20 on me. So I ended up buying this super cute blouse from nice Haitian vendors.

Check their website !

Mani-pedi + BK Museum

2010-02-07T22:30:00.000-08:00

Saturday was a lovely day. Really.

I pampered myself a little bit at Cure in Clinton Hill (Brooklyn, NY).
I did a mani-pedi there, it was AWESOME.

The place is great: kind service, nu-soul.jazz .hip hop as music background, green tea, lovely interior design and affordable price. Simply perfect !

Merci à la Travelingirl pour le bon plan, tu déchires !

Then, I took a trip to another free museum: the Brooklyn Museum.

It was very convenient since the museum is located two blocks from my place.

Every first saturdays of the month, the Brooklyn Museum entrance is free. Free programs of art, free entertainment from 5 to 11pm. At the end there's even a DJ and a giant party...
Luckily, the day I went, the museum was also celebrating the Black history month :))

So, since pictures speaks better than words (especially in my case), there we go :

Nice mani right ?! :p

My two 'future new friends' on the left...before I met them :)

We attended a dance, acting and singing show performed by young Brooklynites. Loved it.

When Lamacca and Iris (my new friends) left, I walked throught the different exhitions.

I watched a dope Jazz/Hip Hop performance at the main hall.

I took a break in front of an interesting photography...

... and I met another new friend: Colin :D

We striked a pose...

... before I started paparazzi-ing again :

When suddenly, the party started :

It was truly CRAZY.

Everybody started dancing, whatever ethnicity, age, style, background, they were all enjoying the music.

The DJ was playing a mix of Afrobeat, House, Latino & Caribbean music.

It was just beautiful.

I wish the world would be like that someday...with less barriers and differences, with more unity and share. Well... it was my utopic side talking.

Anyway, I'll never forget that moment.

Visit to MoMA

2010-02-07T20:45:00.000-08:00

Last Friday I had nothing special to do and I didn't want to spend money (which is kind of impossible in that city). I finally ended up at MoMA (The Museum of Modern Art), which turns out to be free every Friday Night :)

The museum's architecture was really nice,

and the bookstores were so tempting with an impressive selection of art books.

Of course the exhibitions were great too. I really enjoyed it !
Here are some more pictures of my visit :

Loved the Tim Burton's exhibition !

Pics of the (last 3) day(s)

2010-02-05T11:35:00.000-08:00

Look what I captured:

On my way to Park Slope :)

In my neighbourhood (Franklin Ave, Crown Heights)

Somewhere in East Village

I ♥ thrift stores.

2010-02-05T11:17:00.000-08:00

Nneka in NYC

2010-02-05T11:13:00.000-08:00

Last tuesday, I've been to Nneka's concert at SOBs (NYC) with June.

It was my second time seeing her. The first time was 2 years ago in Paris for her 2nd album release.

The funny thing is that Americans just discovered her, she is considered as a "new" artist here.

The album that she released in Europe and Africa in 2008 has just been launched in the US (this tuesday).

Same songs (almost) but different album title.

I loved her amazing voice. I loved her deep vibes. I loved her truthful and attaching personnality.
And most of all, I love her music: an incredible mix of Nu-soul/Raggae/Hip-Hop/Afro Beat.
She killed it !

Check this out :

Pics by me

My new (temporal) crib.

2010-02-01T12:15:00.000-08:00

Crown Heights, Brooklyn.

I'm subleting it for a month. This is pretty cool. The room is full of character.

I can feel the creative-artsy personnality of the room owner.

I also noticed some dope vintage clothes - through the wide open closet doors - and interesting arts & travels books. I'll ONLY touch the books tho (lol)

I'm sharing this appartment with 3 other roomies (artsy too) and 2 obese cats.

It's close to lot of interesting places: Metro, Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn Botanic Garden,
Prospect park, African hair salon and shops, bodegas, cozy cafés, thrift stores...

I really like this place :)

This dress is sooo cute.

2010-01-29T22:46:00.000-08:00

I so wanna buy it. But I can't :(

Found it here : Luphia

Pics from Luphia Online Fashion Boutique

Bye Bye Montreal !!!

2010-01-29T12:11:00.000-08:00

You know what ? Today is my very last internship day. In other words, my 8-month Montrealer life has (finally) come to an end !!!

I'M SO HAPPY !!!!!!!!

This journey was full of up and downs: I experienced joy, doubts and pain learning how to be a soon-to-be Marketing expert and a (kind of) grown up and well-adjusted woman. I can't pretend all this worked, but what I'm sure about, is that I've changed positively :)

My North American journey isn't over yet though.

To reward myself from the hard work and efforts produced during my graduate studies + internship over the last 5 years, I've decided to give myself a little gift :D This gift is an entire month of total chill in a city I've discovered during my getaway week ends. This city inspired me so much that I wanted to take a closer look at it while absorbing some of it energy before going back home...

So, my next destination is NYC (baby) !!!

Picture by me

Lovely hair + dress

2010-01-26T15:06:00.000-08:00

Corinne Bailey Rae.Singer.

Tribute to Mali

2010-01-25T07:24:00.000-08:00

Oumou Sangaré - Seya

When Asian turns Black

2010-01-24T19:14:00.000-08:00

Mey Bun, Rila Fukushima & Ai-li Wang

for Herringandherring

Clothes, clothes, clothes...

2010-01-22T15:31:00.000-08:00

Like most girls on this planet I have a passion for clothes.

However I'm not really interested in fashion shows and "what should be wear this season" stuffs.

When I have a crush for an apparel it's only a matter of shape, style, color and material but NEVER because it's trendy or labeled.

My style is very versatile but I have two main obsessions:

1) The first one is 70's and 80's shaped clothes, shoes and accessories

2) The second is the Japanese Mori Girls' look. Think it's weird, uh ?!

In fact, me too. I just discovered that my style had a name and was a trend followed by a little community in Japan.

If you are not familiar with Mori Girls style, here's a brief overview from Alice & PeterPunk blog:

Mori Girl (Forest girl) fashion describes a “girl who looks like living in the Forest”.
Mori Girls are noticeable in Harajuku (Tokyo), their shopping customs are mostly in shops selling vintage and second hand clothes.
Mori Girls prefer natural colors and earth colors like beige, white, dark green, dark blue, dark red.
They like fur, fluffy hats, knitwears, small gold things rather than silver, frills, floral retro patterns and animal motifs, leather bags, puff-sleeves, blouses, rosarios…
The Mori Girl fashion is not only about style but also about acts and customs : being part of the Mori Girls community imply following 60 rules.
Mori Girls magazines are : Spur, Fudge, Spoon, Mori Girl Papier and others.

Although I see myself in most of Mori Girls' characteristics I'm def' not part of their community. We just share common tastes and interests like a desire to visit Scandinavia, taking pictures, "explore old neighbourhoods, discover hole-in-the-wall shops and read in cafes". ^^

I love those looks !

If you wanna know more about Mori Girls, check out this cute blog:

MORI GIRLS

Image source: SM2, Bulle de savon

Some more things I should do this year...

2010-01-20T18:31:00.000-08:00

- Learn how to cook
- Improve my English
- Take yoga classes
- Be more outgoing

Lola & Emily

2010-01-18T13:15:00.000-08:00

Pour être honnête, Montréal n'a rien d'extraordinaire à offrir en terme de mode.

Une bonne partie des magasins situés dans les centres commerciaux et rues commercantes vendent des immondices dignes de C&A ou du marché de Clignancourt (Cli-Cli pour les intimes): même qualité, même style mais à des prix franchement trop élevés (+ taxes).

En revanche, si avoir du style t'intéresses tu as le choix entre:

Option 1 - Miser sur la facilité en allant dans de jolis concept stores et boutiques de designer.(par contre prépares toi à manger des pâtes plus souvent).

Exemples: Urban Outfitters, Boodwar, Unicorn & co

Option 2 - Jouer la guerrière en arpentant ventes de garage estivales et friperies pas-glam-du-tout pour espérer trouver la perle rare.

Exemples: Village des valeurs, Salvation Army, coin de rue, pelouse...

Perso, j'ai opté pour la 2e option. Plus économique et franchement plus jouissive :D

Cela m'a surtout permis d'être stylée et au chaud cet hiver sans cloner la Montréalaise type: UGG Boots (berk) et doudoune Canadian Goose/North Face.

Bien entendu cela ne m'a pas empeché de faire ce que j'adore: "Visiter" de jolies boutiques.

Je t'expliques. En tant qu'amatrice de déco intérieur (et cliente souvent fauchée, qu'on se le dise), j'aime prendre le temps de ressentir l'atmosphère de la boutique et admirer la déco et la mise en scène imaginée par le merchandiseur pour mettre en avant les vêtements. Sûrement un kiff de marketeuse vous me direz.

Bref, tout ce blabla pour vous présenter ma boutique Montréalaise préferée :

Lola & Emily

Un savant mélange de design épuré et de vêtements colorés.

Un display façon "dressing de tes rêves".

Un lit pour le côté artsy décalé.

De jolis oiseaux en papier en vitrine. So cute !

Mais c'est aussi de fabuleuses pièces de créateurs en quantité limités, une ambiance cozy, de jolies couleurs pastels et une petite musique électro lounge (lors de ma visite hein)

Un pur bonheur !

Lola & Emily
3475 St Laurent
Montréal, Quebec

Canada

Pics from Lola & Emily website

Fabulous

2010-01-13T22:45:00.000-08:00

Do I really need to explain why I totally felt in love with Tina Kalivas's Polyrhythms collection ?!

Coup de coeur 2009

2010-01-13T21:51:00.000-08:00

Sara Tavares - "Voz di vento"

The flyest fairtrade shoes ever.

2010-01-13T15:21:00.000-08:00

Cute Jazzies and Booties by Osborn Design Studios

I so wanna go there...

2010-01-11T12:05:00.001-08:00

Japan

Mali

Brasil

Cambodia

India

And more...

TUCKER by Gaby Basora

2010-01-11T11:18:00.000-08:00

Do you know the label Tucker ?

Created by Gaby Basora - a traveler, art enthusiast, mother and treasure hunter -
Tucker is a clothing line mostly featuring colorful prints and silk fabrics.

As a fabric junky, I think Gaby's design choices are just perfect !

I ~~want~~ love every single piece of her collections ♥

In process

2010-01-09T20:25:00.000-08:00

Freezing Mtl

2010-01-09T20:19:00.000-08:00

My overall impression of Montreal hasn't been encouraging at all since this summer.
At that time I had so much fun with the wonderful people that I met : Satou, Fred, Eler, Tania, Jimmy, Hawa, Léa, Aline...

But then most of them left the city for various reasons and others where just too busy with school.

I've been busy too. From october to december 09 I was on my own with... my thesis.
This paper got me crazy and nerdy. Honestly ! I've spent weeks between the office, home and the library barely seeing the daylight and without any social life :(

Right after finishing (hoora!) I headed to Puerto Rico for a wedding (awesome !) and when I got back I was soooo pissed ! Really ! It was freezing and I hated the grey-ish snow that made me walk so slow.

Glad 2010 finally came ! I don't know why but this new year makes me so optimistic and alive !

From now on I've decided to enjoy my life to the fullest !

So I've started January with the firm intention to make the best of my last month in Montreal :D

Well, I had to admit this : Montreal is also dope in winter !

You just got to find the right places to explore and most of all pick the warmest clothes you have in your closet ;)

Here you go !

Wax

2010-01-08T17:58:00.000-08:00

Look at these stunning African wax print !

I captured it from this swimwear brand' website : Bantuwax

"Bantu is the gateway to an Africa full of vitality and life.

No longer is Africa doomed a victim, declared an underdog, or forever backward.

Bantu is Africa remixed."

2010 is here YAY !

2010-01-07T16:05:00.000-08:00

Cette année je veut (ordre aléatoire):

- Mon Master

- Passer plus de temps avec mes proches

- Un job intéressant et bien payé

- Découvrir de nouveaux quartiers, villes, pays !

- Économiser (!!!)

- Un nouveau portable

- Prendre un abonnement ciné

- Flâner dans des expos, cafés, restos, concerts plus souvent

- Faire de nouvelles rencontres enrichissantes

- Prendre des cours de ~~méditation~~ yoga

- Reprendre la lecture
- Me perfectionner en photographie

...

Bref savourer la vie !

Fierce.

2010-01-07T07:30:00.000-08:00

Kelis.Singer.

Relax...

2009-12-30T12:31:00.000-08:00

Amos Lee - "Soul Suckers" + "Black Rivers"

Nikki Farquharson

2009-12-30T08:35:00.000-08:00

Nikki Farquharson - www.nikkifarquharson.com

Collaboration with photographer Brooke Nipar for Missbehave Magazine.

Paisley

2009-12-30T07:53:00.000-08:00

Paisley is a droplet-shaped vegetable motif of Persian and Indian origin.

It is unconditionally one of my favorite type of fabric.

Here is a cute Paisley cardigan I found in Beacon's closet (NY). I love it !

The art of travelling

2009-12-25T21:06:00.000-08:00

I have no special interest for LV (or any other luxury brand), but I really like this ad.

The video is just beautiful and I totally feel the message.

I think travelling is the best way to experience life through the challenging discovery of another culture and its people. When travelling in an unknown country I always have the feeling that I'm starting everything from point zero: making new friends, learning a new language, discovering new ways of thinking... Destabilizing.
Personally, the most treasured memories I bring home after travelling are the things I learn about myself (personnality traits, adaptation capacity, own limits...). Also, conversing with locals and sharing moments with them are priceless "souvenirs" that I'd like to experience over and over again.

I really enjoy being a traveler (~~no touris~~t) !

Vintage black leather purse

2009-12-25T16:10:00.000-08:00

Salvation Army - Montréal

$3.99

Mademoiselle Aki

2009-12-25T15:31:00.000-08:00

Purple is my favorite colour.

Kanga

2009-12-24T21:23:00.000-08:00

The kanga is a colourful piece of printed cotton fabric, usually worn by women throughout Eastern Africa and Madagascar.

♥

The NY brand SUNO only uses vintage kanga for its collections. Inspiring !

More ?

Suno

Kanga

Dope

2009-12-24T15:21:00.000-08:00

Liya Kedebe. Model.

I ♥ fabrics

2009-12-24T15:04:00.000-08:00

I'm a fabric junky.

I can spend hours in fabric stores, even when I don't plan to buy anything.

I just admire the patterns and color combinations with a preference for bright colors (bollywoodish, u see?).
Sometimes I can see myself dreaming about wearing a jacket, a dress or a tunique made with those fabrics.
Seriously, I'm really thinking about taking sewing courses and make my own clothes, accessories and cushions...

2010 new year's resolution ?

Credit

Classic.

2009-12-23T20:34:00.000-08:00

Little Dragon - "Twice"

Budget freak

2009-12-23T07:05:00.000-08:00

I feel grown up from that Canadian experience.

I've been through all sorts of troubles since I've been here: health, professional, academical and most importantly financial problems... Being a student & an intern partly explain this, but my unability to save money is with no doubt the reason why I've been so broke.

It may seem crazy for those who believe that I do have money since I often travel and I can't spend a week without buying clothes. Well yeah: I'm broke.

I mean I WAS broke, ~~stupid~~ and in the red for a while.

But few months ago, I figured out that it was way too selfish to behave that way and I suddenly changed (my bank helped, I'm telling you...)

Now I'm such a budget freak, you can't imagine. I don't even recognize myself !

It's sad to admit that I've been waiting for such an extreme situation to sort myself out of this mess, but here I am : more than ever addicted to garage sales and thrift stores (I don't buy new clothes anymore...well, sometimes), and most importantly I know how to save money now !

It may seems obvious for some people but before, I used to spend every single cent I had in my purse on useless things. I'm telling you, I've never been the one saying "Oh, I found 5€ in my pocket !". My other bad habit was to always use my VISA card... even when my bank account was empty. I kept saying "It doesn't matter if I have an overdraft, in XXX days I'll have money".

I know, I sucked.

Honestly, saving is a new pleasure for me. It feels so good to actually spend what you saved for months. It's like being rewarded for your efforts. I love it !

But the question is: For how long ?

It's freaking cold outside !

2009-12-22T06:50:00.000-08:00

Winter officially started yesterday. But you and I deeply know that it started wayyyy before... isn't it ? (If you disagree, I hate you.)

Being originally from Paris, Montreal's winter is the coldest I ever experienced in my life (-20°c !!!).

And guess what : the worst is yet to come...

Anyway, to warm ourselves up a lil bit, I wanted to share this video with you.

This is simple but I love the atmosphere, the colors AND the music.

ENJOY !

Montréal

2009-12-19T21:40:00.000-08:00

It's been almost 7 months that I left Paris to make an internship in Montréal.
The following pics are a compilation of the best moments I've spent here.

Summer is definitely the best period to explore the city !

I can't believe all this is almost done...

Soon a new chapter of my life will start and I'm soooo excited !
No more school, no more internship, no more thesis and no more "broke student lifestyle".

Finally I'll know if spending the most part of my life studying was worth it...

Freshly open

2009-12-19T18:37:00.000-08:00

Once again, I'm starting a new blog :)

Hopefully this one will last more than a couple of months...

Here you'll find what's on my mind as well as what

ENTERTAINS, INSPIRES and makes me feel HAPPY !

No negative vibes in here.

You'll mostly find pictures and videos. I might also write articles in English or French depending on my mood.

If you're not bilingual, I apologize in advance for my laziness to write all articles in both languages ;p

Enough said : Welcome to my blog !