Update 6/21/08: a recent issue of Vogue Nippon (Japan) includes a fashion spread entitled “Angels,” in which female child models wear Fafi-inspired outfits. It’s adorable and visually appealing, the colors and props bringing Fafi’s alternative world to life. But my feminist sensibilities bristle somewhat at the sexualization, however slight, of young girls. While the child models wear clothing that provides enough modest coverage, it was an unusual decision to use children as models for very sexual women characters. Oh, well. You can check out some pictures here.

Recently I was able to visit Amsterdam, which is a beautiful, unique and really fun city. There are many canals and everyone rides bicycles, plus they have cookies called stroopwafel which are like two firm round waffle cookies glued together with a sweet syrup. Yum.

While exploring the city on foot, I was so happy to encounter this graffiti by Fafi, even though it was partially covered by many stickers and tags. Fafi is a French lady graffiti artist who paints sexy and mischievous-looking female characters on city streets throughout Europe and the world, creating beautiful, soft, feminine images onto hard, dirty urban walls. She has also developed non-human creatures for toy and action figure lines.

Partly what intrigues me about Fafi, and what sets her apart from many graffiti artists, is her accessibility in the consumer world. Last year she launched a bag collection with LeSportsac, this year she designed a makeup line with MAC. I also really like this video, basically a commercial for her 2006 limited-edition Adidas sneakers, in which a very pregnant Fafi describes her creative process.