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‘Tapetenwechsel’ is a very used up expression in German to say the least. Literally translated, it means something like ‘change of wallpaper’ (whereas by wallpaper I mean the good old analogue flowery wallpaper that our grannies used for their walls in the 70ies). In the general sense, ‘change of scene’ fits the meaning of it the most. People would use it if ever they don’t have a better advice to give when somebody is generally fed up with life. Now when I was about to leave for a trip to Scandinavia, ‘Tapetenwechsel’ for some reason became the most common word for my friends to end their good-bye speeches with…
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I’m not a big fan of used up expressions and so little do I appreciate if they are dropped to advice me. So before my trip, my beloved ones made me consequently see red by mentioning ‘Tapetenwechsel’ over and over again. Well, I have to admit that all the rage wasn’t for nothing. I had been a generally annoyed yet desperate fellow. My brain was on an unsatisfying round trip through a desert of inspiration without an oasis for miles around, all that made me wake up in the mornings was a term paper I hadn’t much more left for than a great bouquet of swearwords, and as if this wouldn’t have been enough, another arduous boy story cast long and senseless shadows on my existence as a life-loving young lady. As a result of all this, my moaning had been tiring me so intensely that I could hardly stand myself. The closer time proceeded to the departure of my trip, the more convinced I got myself that a ‘Tapetenwechsel’ was maybe really just what I needed.
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On the day of the take-off, I staggered to the airport around 4.30 am as frustrated as one can get after having experienced a pre-holiday day between endless to-do-lists, unpacked bags, a great ache in ones skull (I had failed to drown my sorrows in drink the evening before) and a sleepless night of the kind that makes setting alarms useless. I wasn’t in the mood to wake up and least of all to travel the world. By the time I arrived at the gate, the sun was about to rise and I decided to at least get hold of a pole position to that spectacle. Well believe it or not, when the first ray of yellow sunlight floated Zurich’s airport, I was in all probability the only one that still sat in the shade. I had chosen my seat in the only effort to get some badly needed energy from the raising sun, but to make matters worse, I had somehow managed to sit down in the exact angle of one of the very few window bars the huge glass façade of the gate contained… This could maybe have devastated me totally at some other time, but in this very moment, the shadow of the bar on my forehead felt so ridiculously ironic that I could no longer pity myself and had to burst out laughing instead.
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Well, the combination of not taking myself so serious anymore and a breath-taking departure over sleepy Zurich partly covered with residues of fog yet to be dispelled by the soft light of the morning sun is what finally made something in me click. A Tsunami of inspiration floated my mind out of the blue and all my sorrows that had been torturing me with dreadful lifelessness were gone. My brain was back, operating at full speed, finally gaining the satisfaction that it had been missing out on for so long. My ‘Tapetenwechsel’ was fulfilled.
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As much as used up expressions might make me want to puke, if this was really what ‘change of scene’ – or if so ‘Tapetenwechsel’ – was all about, then they score at least for once. Now if ever you are fed up with life, stop pitying yourselves for a moment, go to the local furniture shop and get new wallpaper, too. A couple of new roses on your wall and you will smile again!
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Ela (newly wallpapered)

The combination of not taking myself so serious anymore and a breath-taking departure...

It is that time of year, the end of the carefree days and the beginning of reality setting back in – that’s right – it is back to work time!

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Ok, so maybe you are not ready to enter into negociations with your boss, shopping for your brand new diary, or stuffing your handbag with goodies for the day – but you can’t help but notice the transition of seasons and the desire to wear your latest laid back business woman style!

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So, even if you aren’t dashing out the door to catch the cab – don’t be afraid to wear your best version of the Quiksilver working girl.

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Pair the Sweet Thing dress with tights, knee-high boots and the Yesterday jacket !

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The Yesterday jacket : your bestfriend for the transition of seasons

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Get more styling ideas, more tips, more stories… by checking brand new European website : quiksilver-women.com

Ending the Getting Dressed series is Chantal Van der Meijdena, whimsical nymph of a girl living in New York’s Upper West Side inspiring the fashion world as a trend forecaster, but personally is an original fashion artist. Her sense of style is based solely on her childhood dreams and fantasies, and everyday she flits and floats through city streets.

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Let’s see how she dresses up the Quiksilver Women’s Fall Collection!

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Chantal wearing the Black Queen top

Chantal wearing the Encore dress

Oh My! Remember our rockin Quiksilver Woman of the Week, Gin Wigmore? She just came out with a ridiculously fabulous new video featuring her hit single “Oh My”!

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Check it out!

She sashays down Stockholm’s city streets carrying off the chic rock-and-roll vibe with what seems like no effort. She is the fashion editor of Swedish blognetwork Feber.se, and she is inspiring girls all across the globe daily with her personal blog.

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Her style mixes deconstructed denim, 90’s biker shorts and leather jackets galore. She pulls you in with her piercing eyes and forever long legs. She is our Quiksilver Woman of the Week: Caroline Blomst.

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Finally, our last closet to visit during our New York City adventure belonged to Sora An, a rock and roll tomboy living in Brooklyn’s mysterious and alluring Hasidic Jewish neighborhood. She is a whirlwind of activity – rocking out on her guitar daily, whipping up scrumptious meals as a personal chef, and serving it on the rocks at The Standard Hotel’s bar scene.  She is fashion at it’s best – tossed together and effortless.

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Let’s check out her spin on the Quiksilver Women’s Fall Collection.

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Vagabond Boyfriend Jeans & Taylor Tank

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Knockout Skinny Jeans

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Photos by: Marissa Kaiser

Once you’ve heard Gin sing, you won’t forget the name.

Gin is 23, a Kiwi, a gifted songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and she sings like you’ve never heard anyone sing before. Gin was born in Auckland, lives in Sydney and has just recorded her brilliant debut album, Holy Smoke, in Hollywood’s famed Capitol Studios.

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Gin created Holy Smoke with Mike Elizondo as her producer [Fiona Apple, Regina Spektor, Eminem, Nelly Furtado, Maroon 5] and with The Cardinals as her backing band [as in the very same Cardinals from Ryan Adams & The Cardinals]. Cardinals’ guitarist Neal Casal has described Gin as “unquestionably one of the most exciting new artists to emerge in many years. Her song writing is at once diverse, intelligent, melodic, and soulful. Her voice is raw and emotional, with phrasing far beyond her years. Her debut record is a fully realised statement of intent, promising a great career ahead.”

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Exactly how did a blonde-and-blue-eyed young Kiwi find herself in Hollywood’s most famous recording studio, sitting on Frank Sinatra’s old leopard skin chair and putting down tracks for her debut album with one of the world’s best rock bands?

 Personally, Gin has always felt she’s had a sort of guardian angel – or rather a team of guardian angels – guiding her through the formative years of her music career. At 16, Gin won the US-based International Song writing Contest with an aching acoustic ballad called “Hallelujah”, a song she’d penned in honour of her father who’d recently lost his fight with cancer. “Hallelujah” was actually one of the first songs she’d ever written, but it made Gin the competition’s youngest ever winner, and also the first unsigned artist to win the major prize, beating 11,000 songwriters from 77 countries.

In late-2007, Gin signed to Island Records in Australia, the local label’s first ever signing. In 2008, she released her critically-acclaimed debut EP, Extended Play, which featured “Hallelujah”, as well as another epic ballad, “These Roses”, alongside celebratory tracks such as “SOS” and “Under My Skin” – songs that left a lasting impression on anyone who heard them. On the back of the EP, Gin started touring extensively through Australia and New Zealand. Aside from her own shows, Gin was invited to play support act on Australian tours by Pete Murray and Sparkadia. In New Zealand, she performed on an arena tour alongside John Mellencamp and Sheryl Crow.

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In August 2008, Gin was signed to Universal Motown Records USA by label President, Sylvia Rhone and undertook her first US promo trip in October, performing shows in San Francisco, New York and Los Angeles to rapturous media and music industry audiences.

 Extended Play went top 10 at home in New Zealand, and together with her next release, as guest vocalist on a track called “Brother” by Kiwi hip-hop outfit Smashproof, made Gin a certified new star in NZ. “Brother”, released in January 2009, would go on to top the local singles charts for a record-breaking 11 straight weeks.

 Since then, the young artist hasn’t stopped and with the release of her new album, it looks like she’s on the good path to stardom…

Discover more about Gin on this video :

And listen to her music on:

www.myspace.com/ginwigmore

Ready for the premiere in my Quiksilver Women Ian dress from the Fall 09 collection (Photo : Lucia Griggi)

Last weekend, Newquay in Cornwall played host to the surf and music festival the Relentless Boardmasters and I was there to premiere the new Kelly Slater film CLOUD 9.  Rather unusually for the UK, sun split the clouds on the day of the screening and thousands of people flocked to the beach to enjoy the surfing, the entertainment and of course the beer tents!

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On the morning of the premiere, Gabe and I decided to double-check the technical aspects of the screening in advance of hundreds of people turning up at 5pm.  It was just as well we did, as the first problem we encountered was a distinct lack of a DVD player to play the film on!  Having tracked one down, we then faced the issue of the screen being too light for a daytime screening.  With the premiere hour fast approaching, it looked very likely that fans would either be watching a faint outline of Kelly or that I would have to read the script aloud and act the film out myself!

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However, despite the pressure of the clock ticking, with the technical team on side and with Gabe running between autograph signings and the venue, we all pulled the event together with minutes to spare.  I had a few minutes to change into my Quiksilver Women T-shirt dress (Ian) in a shimmering gold beige that was perfect for the night.  The crowd poured in, I gathered my breath and I jumped on the stage to present the film.  Action!  The projector whirred and there on the screen was the film I have been working on with Director Nicolas Dazet for the past year.  To the public, it was a seamless premiere.  It just goes to show one never knows the chaos going on behind the scenes.

The premiere crowd watching Kelly in action (Photo : Lucia Griggi)

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I was happy to hear a huge cheer as the final credits rolled and it was then time for Ben Howard to play us into the night.  His music was fantastic as ever, the crowd sang along and he brought a tear to my eye by dedicating the film’s title track CLOUD 9 to me.  After he had played, Ben, Gabe, Ben’s manager Owain and I could finally relax and enjoy the party. 

Job done! Ben Howard and I enjoy the aftershow party (Photo : Lucia Griggi)

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Two days later, I dressed in a Quiksilver Women rock graphic T (East Village) with a denim mini to attend the final day of the music festival.  There really is an outfit for every occasion in the collection.  Joined by beautiful British actress, Emma Pierson, who has just joined the Quiksilver Women team we watched Ben, his drummer Fabian and cellist India, play to thousands from the giant stage in Watergate, prior to jetting off to tour America with Jason Mraz.  For me, it’s back to work on a new book and a new script.   

Emma Pierson and I watching Ben on the giant stage!

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Owain, me, Ben and Gabe at the Watergate music festival

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CLOUD 9 continues to tour and will be shown on TV before long.  Stay tuned to quiksilver-europe.com for details.

May be divided internally, but smiling externally... Photo: Timo Jarvinen

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I don’t like clichés. But growing up in the Swiss Alps forces you to accept clichés, unless you want to grow up having serious issues with identifying yourself. My childhood was all about clichés and there was no other way to go than to accept that. Yes, I grew up drinking milk straight from the cow. Yes, I was one of these little girls smiling out of horse sleighs decorated with paper flowers. And yes, I was put on skis before I had done the first two steps on my feet.

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Consequently, my first rebellion around 12 was to save money to rent a snowboard and make an example out of it proving I was now a defiant teenager and would no longer ski, as my educators wanted me to. What grew out of this juvenile revolt was true love for board sports and its lifestyle. But, when growing up from a ‘teen’ to a ‘twen’, I realized that there was more to life than just a board to ride on. All of a sudden there was literature, fashion, art, music, cinema and some other urban trends that fascinated me, while my heart with much love for snowy hills still beat in my chest. And right before the inner tension became so intense that I risked getting torn into two pieces, was the time when I met Quiksilver.

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It was love at first sight. I had finally found a label that reflected exactly what I was all about and that supported me on my real talent (which I dare to say is writing) but also vouched for what I wished I were talented in (by name board sports). Realizing this opened a totally new world to me. It was all of a sudden okay to find Oscar Wilde just as inspiring as Kelly Slater, which meant it was okay to be me… Not that I have had serious personality disorders before but being associated with Quiksilver just offers me advantages which makes it a pleasure in other spheres to be Ela.

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One of the finer things little me got to experience in the last half-year was a surf trip to Fuerteventura. Well actually, not a surf trip in my case, since I lay on the beach more than I dared to throw myself in the cold water of the wintry Atlantic (to be honest, I didn’t even go near the water and the closest thing to surfing I did was to carry someone else’s board). However, I was invited to go on tour with the Euro force of the Quiksilver surf team and that meant a week of highlife in a nice Spanish casa, exploring Fuerteventura’s coast side in a 4×4, eating the healthiest and best food the Canary Islands have probably ever seen and apropos of nothing, observing pretty decent shaped male bodies while stretching before the surf sessions…

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Messing around… Alain Riou, Arantxa (wearing the Hunter dress), Fredo and I (with the Yesterday jacket) Photo : Timo Jarvinen

Considering of how bad I wanted to get rid of my roots as a Swiss mountain girl when I started to fall for urban vogues, it might be surprising how well I can live with being internally divided after this trip. Check a few pictures of our trip here below. To see the full album, go onto Quiksilver Women’s Facebook page.

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And always remember, it can be very useful to let all the hearts in your chest beat every once in a while…

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Ela (happy to be divided)

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PS: And in case you still wonder, yes, I do scream and shout as loud when the guys of the Quiksilver team succeed on the World Tour as when I receive another box of clothing!

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Philosophing about the world in the beautiful nature of Lobos. Arantxa wears the White Plains maxi dress and the Yesterday jacket. I wear the Pretty Tough jeans and the Dream of Life cardigan. Photo Timo Jarvinen

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Arantxa and I making the find of the century...She wears the Dream of Life cardigan and the Sweet Thing dress. I wear the Fictions cardigan. Photo : Timo Jarvinen

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Alain and I, exploring Fuerteventura’s backyard...I wear the Little Sister Jacket with the These Days sweater and the Pretty Tough jeans. Photo : Timo Jarvinen

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The crew in a pretty decent pad to chill at: Arantxa, Aritz Aranburu, Alain Riou, I, Fredo Robin and Miky Picon. Photo : Bernard Testemale

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Never without good old notebook: Ela capturing moments her way (with the Christa cardigan) Photo : Timo Jarvinen

Born and raised in New Zealand, Mahara Mc Kay moved with her family to Switzerland in 1991. This multicultural woman expresses her creativity through her devotion : Music. As a professional and recognized DJ, Mahara aims at giving positive energy to people while playing. Free spirited and confident, Mahara is a Quiksilver woman at heart.

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Photo: Helen Boast

Can you describe your music?
When I DJ, the first thing I do is try to get a feel or a vibe from the people I’m playing for.  It’s really important to me that they have a great time and I love to see them enjoying what I play.  I really love to play rock, but also mash-ups from Rn’B/Hip Hop with ’60s, ’70s and ’80s. They make great party tunes! If the mood is right, I sometimes also enjoy a more mellow side, with some easy listening and chill-out.
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If you were not a DJ, what/who would you be?
Definitely something that taps into the creative side of my brain.  Fashion designer or stylist.  Photographer or artist. Music finder for movies/soundtracks.
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Dress code for a fancy night out?
A nice dress with some hot boots (flat) and a rockin’ leather jacket.  If it’s really fancy then I’d change theboots for a sexy pair of pumps.
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The quote that defines you?
All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them
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If you happen to be around the Basque Country, Mahara will be mixing at the Quiksilver Airshow next Saturday 9th August in Zarautz.

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For everyone else, meet this incredible Quiksilver Woman in the video below:

http://maharamckay.ch