fashion

No breaks, one gear, no inhibitions

Ségolène — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 18:25:36 +0200

Photo posted on Flickr by "nabiis" June 23.

Without breaks, freestanding wheels, and possessing only one gear, the "fixie" can already be seen tearing down the streets of the world's metropolises. This new kind of bike has lured fans with a fervour from San Francisco to Tokyo.

The "fixed gear" was born in San Francisco, the hub of non-motorised wheel enthusiasts. The movement is a kind of idealised version of messenger-style bike riding, cruising through the cities and slaloming between cars. The so-called "hipsters" have turned the idea into a veritable urban art form in which the aesthetics of the engine are as important as its performance.

The phenomenon has gone beyond the bike messenger circle and can be seen in London, Paris and even Tokyo.

In France these bicycles, which work on a system of backpedalling, are not authorised to venture outside the area of competitive biking. But the best underground bikers are enthralled by the idea, as it requires an unparallelled mastery of the engine's technology (riders mustn't stop pedalling).

The tinkerers are also in on the game. The "fixies" (fixed gear bicycles) are most often the result of customised discontinued bicycle frames. In Japan, some are worth their weight in gold.

China's "White Warriors" make their way to Europe

Sophie — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 18:21:38 +0200

Thirty years ago bright white Warrior trainers were worn by only those privileged and cool enough to own a pair of them. Now, they find themselves on the feet of cleaners, construction workers and peasants. So why is student Shumeng Ye trying to get the seventies classics back from "China's working class heroes"?

Shumeng placed herself in the daily lives of the Chinese last year when she came back to China to photograph people sporting White Warriors. She has now compiled the photos to make a book, which is sold online, accompanied by a pair of the legendry trainers.

Britons praise Carla Bruni-Sarkozy's French chic

Julien — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 15:43:45 +0100

The British public was wowed by Carla Sarkozy's elegance and beauty yesterday when she met the Queen. And they didn't miss out on the chance to compare the French president's wife with that of Prince Charles, Camilla Parker-Bowles, who rarely enjoys any praise. We listen to the view of a British "appearance management" consultant on each woman's choice of style.