Wonder Room – Lisbon Fashion Week Summer Pop Up Store

David Bowie’s best-selling record until the day he died was launched 35 years ago today. The move to sing for the many not the few did help his career but would cost him his hardcore fan base who would return to him only on occasion after that when the launched three of his more obscure masterpieces like “Outside”, “Heathen” and the haunting “Blackstar”.

By the time you read this it will be already April 14 in Australia, the continent he took to in order to film the video clip for the song “Let’s Dance”. It was 1983 and there were more folk dancing to David Bowie than ever before. “Let’s Dance” was the main single from the eponymous album and suddenly a considerable part of the world discovered the icon gone global after fourteen albums where he appealed mostly to a crowd that felt motivated to live up to their different music tastes, clothing, sexuality and whatever Bowie stood and stands for ever since he appeared with his new approach to music and fashion. Assisted by funkmaster Nile Rogers, better known as founding member of Chic and producer of major hits from bands like Sister Sledge the record made its way to dance floors. But despite the clear funk influence Bowie did not give up his rock influences having invited Steve Ray Vaughan to add his guitar riffs thereby launching an album with the right funky feel that suited the early 80’s but with a pint of rock here and there. The image, another distinguishing feature of David Bowie seemed to follow the popular spirit of the new Bowie. Wearing immaculate suites in pastel colours and his hair dyed blond Bowie looked rather like an northern-European holidaymaker than the alien he had impersonated in some records.

35 years after being released “Let’s Dance” is still a difficult album to digest for the hardcore Bowie fan and marked a period of some creative decline in the man’s career. The Bowie for the many not the few was not the Bowie the few waited for and he would regain his particular fanbase only after “Outside” which followed the popular “Tonight” and the not so popular “Never let me down” and “Black Tie White Noise”. After that he failed again when trying to have a go with drum’n and bass with “Earthling”, when he launched “Hours” a mild album and “Relity” equally mild, the album that preced “Heathen”, the record that hinted somehow to the path he would follow when he launched “The Next Day” and his final epos “Blackstar”, the record that proved that despite some failed attempts he was still the man he stands for for many – avant-garde, unpredictable and master of reinvention.

Carlos Tomé Sousa

Praça do Comércio, the iconic square right by the River Tagus, from where once ships used to set sail and bring wonders from the seven corners of the world, was the chosen location to host the second edition of Wonder Room, a pop up store organised by Moda Lisboa, the association in charge of hosting Lisbon Fashion Week for more than two decades. Upon entering the eastern tower of this square, past the DJs, who will be there for relaxed entertainment, and the improvised street café, we can find as of yesterday and until July 14 a thorough selection of emerging fashion and lifestyle and emerging brands from clothing to furniture through to bicycles and accessories.

On the first day we came across the modern and sustainable furniture design of Around The Tree and its superb tables and chairs, jewels by avant-garde designer Valentim Quaresma, the fine selection of vintage clothing by Change, sustainable clothing in organic cotton by Best Sunday dress and the interesting shirts, dresses and blouses in vintage fabrics by Daniela Ponto Final.

These are some of the brands that caught our eye on the first day. But others will follow. As of this Saturday we can also find items from the Summer collection by outernational Portuguese designer Alexandra Moura, along with the creations by three other designers who regularly show their designs at Lisbon Fashion Week, e.g. Filipe Faísca, Dino Alves and White Tent.
Wonder Room promises daily surprises and is worth a repeated visited considering that every two days new brands will display and sell their stuff here.
Further brands worth mentioning until July 14 are Antiga Barbearia de Bairro, Castelbel and Aldeia da Roupa Branca, grooming, soap and scents and household products brands, respectively designed and represented by 100 ML company. In a country with strong links to Africa, check as of Thursday A Barraca da Mariama, a selection of African fabrics, the ideal choice to make groovy garments from shirts to simple sarongs.
Wonder Room is an excellent venue and worth a visit to linger in a lazy afternoon and to check the work of some of the most iconic Portuguese brands and designers.