Symphonie Fantastique

A 9-year-old musical genius and fellow pianist of mine decided to share his favourite work with me: Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique. More specifically, he asked me to check out the 4th movement entitled March of the Scaffold. Rather dark for a little boy, I thought. Also surprisingly not your standard Mozart of Beethoven. Immediately however, I plunged into the piece's twisted setting and was awfully impressed by his taste. So on a quiet afternoon at my little computer corner, an apple in my mouth, I looked up this piece's origins - quite particular indeed. A hopeless love in the midst of the romantic era leading the composer to write this piece while consuming opium, turned into a five-movement favourite of the French people. Almost an autobiography, Berlioz himself notes. I realize that I can absolutely love popular music, but remains that I cannot be impressed by it, as opposed to classical music. I also realize that the fact that this symphony has a story to it makes it so much more interesting. Each of the five movements represent a stage in the story, the final one sweeping the auditor away into a macabre world of shades and witches dancing at the lover's funeral through sound alone, that is. It is a whole universe worth entering. 

It finally feels like summer here in Montreal, and boy am I glad to wear light layers. Liiiiiiinen pleated pants add structure to an opened top, and the soft colours scream summer. 

Pictures by Dahye!
Top and Trousers: American Apparel
Monk-strap creepers: Zara

Enjoy!
Katia

Philia

I have this theory about friends.
It all started one tiresome morning in philosophy class last year, where my mind was elsewhere. Not that I didn't enjoy the classes, but I was dozing off. Ironically, I don't know how and why, my mind started philosophizing about friendships - more precisely, its structure. As I was doodling, I came up with this diagram that I still use today as visual support to my explanation (haha). With my skillz on Paint, let me depict this for you.

1. Squares: The best friends. Note that the number of these people can vary a lot. You've been through so much with them, have so much in common and connect deeply. You'll definitely want to keep contact with them throughout your life.
2. Triangles: Great friends, who are super chill to be with and with whom you share significant experiences. Definitely feel their vibes, text and can easily hang out together. Life may separate you from them, but if you get the chance to meet up again, things will most likely be as they were when you left off.
3. Swirls: Your entourage, fun people, friends of friends, those you happily say hi to in the hallways but conversation rarely extends to anything deeper. It's always fun to see all of them at events.

I admit I'm quite peculiar but I guess the timing is also right. Being at the end of Cegep, I realize that it is a time when most of us go through a mini identity crisis, or at least start 'filtering' through our friends, choosing to stay close to a few and distancing ourselves from the remaining. I'm sure this is done many times throughout life, but nevertheless, a somewhat similar diagram can apply to one ultimately.

Anyhow, this shoot is a little more editorial. And don't worry, the escalator was shut off.

Photos: Dahye :) (Thanks for another pair of shoes hehe)
Pants: Zara
Mink jacket: my Grandma's

Enjoy!
Katia

Reactions

Happy Chinese New Year! If you're born in the year of the sheep, your year should be pretty awesome. If you're not born in the year of the sheep, your year should also be pretty awesome.

How French girls do it - Isabel Marant FW'14

Original sketches from my 3 last looks.

Photos: Dahye Jung
Clutch: Want les Essentiels de la Vie
Hat: Vintage

Enjoy!
Katia