2012 Beauty Club Awards, the annual competition for cosmetics brands launched by Debenhams to involve cosmetics addicts to vote for their favourite beauty products, has its winners. To celebrate the closure of the 2012 edition, the British retailer commissioned 2DM’t talent Carolina Melis to design and direct an animated film, which shows the most-loved products chosen among six different categories – make-up, skincare, fragrance, new kids on the block, body and tan – and selected by a panel of experts.

Floating among colourful dots, lines, and geometric figures, Carolina Melis displays the winning cosmetics on the screen creating wonderful kaleidoscope effects and charming images. From the lipstick by MAC and the women’s fragrance by Marc Jacobs and Jimmy Choo, to the best night cream by Clarins (just to mention a few) the video presents in a magical and imaginative way an array of must-have beauty products women can do without.

2DM celebrates the renewal of the Facebook page by launching a contest based on unleashing the creativity that may or may not be sleeping within everyone. The point of the contest is to create an image including the motto “It’s now or never”. The pre-buzz has already generated many photos including the motto poster, but we want to emphasize that to participate to the contest one doesn’t need to photograph the poster, but to compose any kind of image using any kind of tool, style, media and inspiration.

The idea behind the motto came one day after too many years of working nine to five in an atmosphere too grey and sleepy. “It’s Now Or Never” was printed into posters to spread the message to everyone to encourage them to adopt the carpe diem mentality, that we are now celebrating with this contest.

So whether you can release your creativity the best by using paints, pencils, magazine cut-outs or Lego bricks, we strongly recommend to find and join the Facebook group It’s Now Or Never to see the entries, participate yourself and to vote. You will have the whole summer to plan and produce your image. The winner will be the creator of the image that has collected the most ‘Like’s on the group’s Photo Gallery.

The prize will be a lovely trip for two with a B&B stay of two nights located in the continent the winner belongs to. We will be sharing more information on the group page.

Modernism, especially in brutalist form, is an understandably misunderstood beast: its unfriendly concrete and absolutely unadorned exteriors are lightyears away form classical notions of beauty. Its major works are relics from a simpler time, when it was believed that human behavior could be easily influenced, predicted and planned for. And while many were poorly executed dilutions of their grand ideological underpinnings, others remain supremely important places that despite their controversy are key pieces of world architectural patrimony: more than Stonehenge or the Sydney Opera House, they are important because they reveal deep truths about the realities of human society.

Robin Hood Gardens, a social housing estate in London’s Poplar neighborhood designed in the 1960s by Alison and Peter Smithson, is a prime example of just such a place: its design was remarkably innovative and still distinctive and had a huge impact on successive architecture. And in a blow to the design community around the world, its definitive demolition was announced just this week. The news comes after a drawn out battle between a local council strapped for money and eager to shed its ghetto image and many prominent voices such as Zaha Hadid within the architectural community who have been outraged at the prospect of its demolition. The place was even a subject of a book, Robin Hood Gardens: Re-Visions, in which several practices pitched in ideas for its renovation and preservation.

But today in London, with the exception of the Barbican, the Commonwealth Institute (slated to become the Design Museum‘s future home), the Goldfinger towers and a small handful of others who have managed to achieve “protected” status, Robin Hood Gardens is now among many major modernist sites that are systematically being demolished to make way for other, less-offensive and less visionary projects meant to solve urban problems as cheaply and unremarkably as possible.

Still, the overwhelming truths about places like these have been well documented. From Pruitt-Igoe’s colossal failure in St. Louis, Missouri to the continued plight of South London’s rotting, crime-infested Aylesbury Estate and the notorious United Nations Plaza in San Francisco, gang violence, disproportionate poverty and blight all seem to be the standard aftermath of modernist solutions to urban problems. Apart from those which have been heavily gentrified and/or colonized by architectural connoisseurs like the Barbican and, more recently, Trellick Tower, the places are just dismal. Peter Pan Gardens is no exception: it is today in a shambles, with tons of blown-out glass and its lower floors entirely boarded up. But that’s a product of decades of neglect – what would these spaces have become under better circumstances? Perhaps models for an equally optimistic 21st century modernism?

It’s no great wonder that many want these places demolished, but it’s a nevertheless a shame that the grand ideas will be destroyed to make way for anonymous cookie cutter houses. But in the end, architecture’s role in society is that of open-minded innovator rather than sentimental preservationist. But I just can’t help but believe that many of these these last, iconic, exotically beautiful brutalist spaces can’t be preserved and responsibly updated. They could stand for centuries as reminders of the last time we humans fancied ourselves all-powerful creators…

Happy Sunday! From here on out, the week’s most relaxing day will bring a tasty treat to The Blogazine from Alessia Bossi. She’s a bona-fide breakfast buff who runs the popular Love For Breakfast blog, packs Lomo-credentials and knows more than a thing or two about luxury. So pull up a chair, bring your appetite and join us every week for Sunday Breakfast!

A traditional French breakfast. The sweet smell of a hot pan au chocolat. A freshly baked crusty baguette. The intense flavor of a strawberry tea is the antagonist of a spicy cinnamon cappuccino.

Bouke de Vries had an extended stay in Milan recently while he exhibited in a solo show, Signs (Metamorphsis) at the always on the vanguard Maria Gloria Gallery. De Vries is an artist polymath, his career shifting across mediums and his work always remaining devoid of compromise. His trajectory has taken him from restoration of art to the spotlight of the pop culture art scene, commercial art, jewelry (he released a line in collaboration with Anoushka earlier this year) and on to political activism. His most memorable works are perhaps those which openly criticize chairman Mao Zedong, and . His pieces look like otherworldly pastiches of a hedonistic, ethereal dreamscape, and they showcase flaw to great effect.

“In this flawed world, perfection seems to be an attainable goal… But not-quite-perfection is often easily dismissed and discarded…”

Bouke De Vires Filmed by Matteo Cherubino

For the occasion of his stay, 2DM’s Matteo Cherubino filmed and interviewed the artist among the eerie, surreal backdrop of his recent sculptural work: surreal cross sections and self-contained worlds of a parallel universe. Or a Cherubs. Butteflies. Cigarettes. Dramatically combined with porcelain. In conversation, the artist reveals inner working of the artist’s mind, his depth of perception, and his extraordinary and unbound working process.

De Vries also presented together with Gloria Maria Gallery at this year’s MiArt, showed at Artissima this year, and often exhibits at his home gallery, London’s Vegas Gallery.

Tag Christof – special thanks to Bouke de Vires & Gloria Maria Gallery

Before you read another word of this, watch this video.

Now, don’t you really really want a cigarette now? I’m not generally a smoker, but I weakly went out and bought a pack after I watched it for the first time – it is importantly only the third pack I’ve ever bought. Ever. So just try to imagine the models in this excellent video doing exactly what they’re doing without them: it is unabashedly sexy because of the smoking.

Top Tung Walsh for Pop, Above Juergen Teller for Paradis

Theories about why smoking is so sexy abound. Each one as ridiculous and impossible as the next. “The cigarette is phallic.” (Lesbians think smoking is sexy, too…) “Virile young humans smoke, which has made us over time equate smoking with virile young partners.” (Plenty of fat old humans who don’t get much sex smoke, too…) “Humans had ancient ancestors with long incisors that resemble cigarettes which evolutionarily makes our brains equate cigarettes to long incisors, which equal good mates“ (Yikes. I’d like to meet the storyteller crackpot who came up with that one!) And the list goes on. And on.

Greta Garbo by Cecil Beaton

In any case, this video directed by Saam Farahmand for Tom Vek’s latest single somehow taps into smoking’s sexiness in the most positively provocative way in recent memory. Here smoking is a romp through a garden of pure, unabashed pleasure. Here it is sex. Soma. A journey from arousal to climax. And without diving into the many, many pitfalls of the habit (we know, we know, we know), fashion’s continued flirtation with the act has been unyielding, which might suggest that there is a deep, primordial connection to it after all.

Jolijn Snijders

Think of Cecil Beaton’s famous portrait of a smoking Greta Garbo. And every major fashion photographer from Avedon to Testino to Richardson to Goldin have used it in some capacity quite successfully. Juergen Teller shot vehement smoker and artist (in that order, I think) David Hockney last year. 2DM’s Skye Parrott (a disciple of Goldin), Jolijn Snijders and Bruna Kazinoti – all of whose images are laced with undercurrents of emotional and sexual tension – have each used the cigarette extensively in their imagery to brilliant effect. Tung Walsh (himself a disciple of Teller) and Vicky Trombetta, whose styles are more distant and hard-edged, as well as low-key, polished Nacho Alegre and Pablo Arroyo, have also skilfully made sexy even sexier by handing their models a cigarette or two…

Top Bruna Kazinoti, above Vicky Trombetta for Wonderland

So just as the United States one ups Europe’s screaming text warnings and follows other countries such as Australia in adding gut-wrenching images to cigarette packs, there remains quite the uphill battle. What’s wrong in mainstream society is so, so right – and per in the subversive world fashion. Even if there isn’t anyone among us who doesn’t have a hacking, wrinkly aunt somewhere to remind us by example of smoking’s devastating long-term effects…

Top Jolijn Snijders, above Skye Parrott

But the cancer sticks continue to seduce. And will until continue to do so until their un-sexy consequences become something other than distant, far-off, vague threats on crisply designed packs.

So in any case, be quite sure to augment your sexy with extreme caution. I’m throwing away my still unopened, brand-new pack today. Well, maybe I’ll smoke just one…

The Noisettes in Morocco / Jolijn Snijders

2DM’s Jolijn Snijders trekked to Morocco recently to shoot Shingai Shoniwa, lead singer and bassist of London’s The Noisettes, in the north African sunshine for Modzik. The results are punchy, bright and up-close and personal.

Shingai whose incredibly powerful style is infused with a very African brand of flamboyance, has ‘tude by the truckload. Her fans know that she’s quite the amped up performer. And the editorial, called “Black Panther” brings it brilliantly to the surface. (The accompanying interview, for anyone who speaks French, is also a nice read – Shingai even mentions her goal to complete a London-Brigton course on a leopard-print bicycle.)

Styled delightfully by Flora Zoutu. Jolijn’s usual hard-edged beauty shines through… Fashion includes Aurélie Bildermann, Tom Ford Eyewear, Viv Westwood and others. Catch it in the current issue of Modzik (with a track by The Noisettes as a sweet bonus).

“Now, here’s the sum total: One gang could run this city! One gang. Nothing would move without us allowing it to happen. We could tax the crime syndicates, the police, because WE’VE got the streets, suckers! Can you dig it?”

Those memorable lines of the 1979 American cult movie “The Warrior” have echoed through the past thirty years. The story of the chase and fight between the gangs on New York has inspired the stand out editorial “Tribe” in the brand new issue of Tank.

The editorial is not only inspired by the cult movie but also carries strong elements of the iconic Comme des Garçons campaigns from the 90`s and Yohji Yamamoto‘s minimalism. Put it all together and you’ve got “Tribe” which is a gorgeous story flow giving the hints of youth culture.

The editorial was shot, appropriately enough, in an East London warehouse, by photographer Bruna Kazinoti and styled by Pandora Lennard. As warriors work behind the scenes – gang members were named after historical people in line with their characters – the casting was very much in tune with the story. There is a strong statement, character and reality among the models rather than just poses – Bruna strong imagery brings it out. The young models, who together look like a band are Eloise who is daughter of Cissy Chong (Creative Director of Cutler & Gross), then there is photographer David Bailey’s son Sascha and The Clash’s Paul Simonon’s son Louis. When the heritage of cult names come together with Bruna’s sense of character and Pandora’s amazing styling, we get a visual narrative flow of subculture and youth.

Jack Skuller is on fire. He made waves last year with his toe-tapping, singalong single “Love Is a Drum” and has just followed it up with the every-bit-as-catchy “Secondhand Smoke.” His music is pop in original sense: engaging, approachable and instantly classic. The Ruckus hailed him as the “Anti Bieber,” and he certainly provides refreshing relief from the leagues of overproduced marketing machines that have ruled the international pop airwaves recently. He’s lightyears away, and is a stellar musician first and foremost.

Combined with his addictive rhythms, uncanny knack for songwriting and good looks, we’re convinced Jack’s going big places. 2DM photographer Roberta Ridolfi spent an afternoon with Jack – and they got on famously. With The Blogazine, Jack talked musical style, his favourite album of all time, and life in Jersey.

I hear a modern-day Ritchie Valens in your music… but you’ve been called a mini Jack White! So how would you define your style?
I am simply a rock and roll artist with a 50’s twist. There is a lot of blues incorporated into my writing and melodies and it mixes with modern rock and roll, which is what you are hearing.

And how do you feel about being called the “anti-Bieber”? (We’d feel pretty good about it!)
Well, I never know if it’s good or bad! (Haha) To be honest, I never really focused any of my aspirations on becoming the “anti-Bieber” nor the “next Bieber.” Our music is completely different from one another’s – we’re musically in separate galaxies!

And who do you consider your greatest musical influences?
There are so many that I can’t even name all of them! But some of my biggest influences are definitely Elvis Presley, Eddie Cochran, Little Walter, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, and The Kills. A wide range of music I just covered, I know… Some may call me a hybrid!

Dream collaboration?.
A blues covers album with The Black Keys or Jack White.

How do you listen to music? Vinyls? iPod?
Great question! My family owns a lot of vinyl, but I usually use my iPod or my laptop.

What’s your favourite album of all time?
The Beatles’ Revolver

Let us in on your songwriting technique. Does inspiration flow when you sit down with your guitar, or do ideas strike more randomly?
It’s both. Sometimes I’ll think of a melody or a chord progression based on how I’m feeling and then the lyrics just write themselves. Other times, I’ll have an idea and just sit at my desk and go nuts on the paper. Most of my songs come from real experiences.

If you could choose to live in any era, when would it be?
Without a doubt, the 50’s – first generation of rock and roll!

Tell us a little about life in Jersey!
It’s splendid. I’m 10 minutes away from New York City, where most of my gigs are. I love school and my friends are so awesome and supportive.

How do you spend your time when you’re not rocking out?
I’m usually writing, rehearsing, running, playing basketball or baseball, or completing an assignment for school. But I don’t have to do that again for a while since I’m on summer break!!

Ilaria Norsa / Hannelore Knuts for Tar

In the world of modelling, there’s legendary and then there’s Hannelore. The “Belgian Wave” wunderkind has left an inestimable mark on the world of fashion. She graced three consecutive covers in a row for Vogue Italia in the early 2000s (Sozzani knows when she’s on to a good thing), and has walked for countless big names. More recently, she’s appeared on the cover of hardbacks Grey and Self Service, as well as in Industrie, Dazed & Confused, Purple, 032c, Muse and, of course, several international editions of Vogue.

For the shiny new issue of Tar – which we’ve yet to see in the flesh – 2DM’s Ilaria Norsa styled Hannelore for photographer Leonora Hamill. The 18 page spread, appropriately billed “Holy Hannelore,” was shot in the lavish trappings of a home in one of Milan’s most glamourous neighbourhoods. And as is usual for an editorial styled by Norsa, the fashion is equally as decadent as the backdrop: here Hannelore wears the likes of Trussardi, Fendi, Alberta Ferretti, Stella McCartney, Vuitton, Vhernier, Giorgio Armani, YSL, Dries Van Noten, Vherner, Hermès and several others.