Saturday 16th October: i-D x swatch interviews

i-D invited me to take part in their partner project with SWATCH for which they selected their fave bloggers to test out the new "Gent" colour series. I came on board with both Bryan Boy and Gary Card to represent the magazine in an international scheme with other periodicals entering participants. Sleek magazine have Susie Bubble who chose white and purple, Diane Pernet chose black (obvs) and red to match her lipstick and give her energy........... style.com have Tommy Ton ...........
Head over to i-D to watch our video where we explain our choices and get a glimpse into our creative worlds and how we have arrived at our current careers. Its quite funny that when i-D approached both Gary and I they had no idea that our studios are only seperated by one flight of stairs! London is so large yet we reside in the same space! Photographer Ben Dunbar-Brunton travelled to Sweden to track down international jet set Bryan Boy to add to the mix...........who chose red as a sign of affection for his new love in Stokholm! You can read more about that in the written interview and see Ben's portraits here............ View the interviews here

Whilst your watching the videos, click to vote for i-D and you have the chance of winning your own watch in the competeion........Vote for i-D here

Friday Oct 15th: Adorn - House of Organza

So here it is, the second edition of "House Of Organza" - a collection made by a collective of connected designers. The show launched yesterday as an exhibition and film projection in the window of Vogue Fabrics and screened simultaneously over on SHOWstudio. Jez Tozer shot Jourdan Dunn in each designers piece in a moving set of stills that graduates from black and white to subtle painted pastel hues that intensify to deep golden tones.
To incorporate the allocated 200 gold pins into my submission I sewed them down in a gold-work embroidery technique with brick stitches. Ive wanted to do goldwork for so long since learning the basics at Hand & Lock Co. and finally I had the perfect opportunity. I geeked out for days carefully couching down the tiny dressmakers pins and larger hat pins, which you can see in this print of Jourdan peeping through.
Here are Craig Lawrence's cuffs and Lyall Hakaraia wearing one of Craig's S/S dresses by his own piece for House of Organza. The final portrait is Dr Noki in his installation in the hallway of Vogue Fabrics for the Frieze weekend of events "Dalston Hotel". If you go over to SHOWstudio you can see each adornment )LYALL HAKARAIA, JUDY BLAME, DR NOKI, PIERS ATKINSON, CRAIG LAWRENCE, PINS LDN) styled by curator Kim Howells. The collection is now available for press loans and we cant wait to see here they end up as last time both Lyall's and Laura's appeared in the Tim Walker willow pattern story in British Vogue.

Check Kim's blog for more photos incoming from the party......... here.

Friday Oct 15th: Happy Birthday Jessie Ware

Last night when I met someone who works at The Barbican, she already knew who I was from seeing Jessie Ware wearing my accessories. Its a great extension to my motto of opening up dialogue and interaction between strangers thru tactile accessories - that I myself get to meet new people via other people wearing my work!
Happy Birthday Jessie, thanks for being such a great ambassador!
Check out Jessie's new track "Nervous" here.

Friday Oct 15th: Future Beauty @ The Barbican

Last night, ROWDY and I were invited to The Barbican for the opening of the new exhibition "Future Beauty - 30 years of Japanese Fashion".
In a word - GO.
The garments from Issey Miyake, Rei Kawakubo, Yohji Yamamoto, Junya Watanabae, Jun Takahashi etc. comprise Europe's first exhibition of avant-garde Japanese fashion. Its all of those super tactile iconic pieces you wanted to grab off the pages of the Kyoto Costume Institute book............... brought to London. On the ground floor each incredible invention is concealed in an isolated pod, hidden behind screens of white gauze which adds to the anticipation. Upstairs the larger partitions are home to more looks from classic collections with the best being Issey Miyake's folded polygons printed flat - then drop into a garment when worn. So affirming for me to see. I make garments based on origami just because that's what I like doing - it never occurred to me that all of these historical wonders were derived from the same source. Its invigorated my enthusiasm for running riot with what I love most - weird materials and bizarre shapes.
I remember so well the bliss at discovering Jun Takahashi's first Undercover collections, in particular A/W 2000/1 when he covered the whole body top to toe in tartan complete with full face paint in line. These Melting Pot pieces are on display and commented on by Colin McDowell as "its half Chanel, half Vivienne Westwood" *SIDENOTE* I admit to loitering behind the man at a few intervals to overhear his running narrative to his friend along the way!
Congrats to The Barbican on another stellar fashion exhibition with perfect positioning and display of these prize and genius pieces. The added bonus is the extensive and equally well researched events calender. Go to their website to check out evening sessions hosted by the likes of Diane Pernet, Cassette Playa, Alex Box, Charlie Le Mindu, The Broken Hearts, Shelley Fox, Amy de la Haye, Noki, WAH Nails, Sharon Kinsella............... and me and ROWDY in discussion about fashion and performance on Oct 28th!

Thurs 14th Oct: Fred does Frieze

Think that Ive selected pretty much the same artist's work as I do every year! But highlights include this telephone costume by Frances Stark, this classic fractel Olafur Eliasson yellow light, David Shrigley fun drawings, Bishi - a walking artwork.
I only got to see inside the tent but I think that there is a sculpture park and a cinema so make sure you take a whole day to get round everything..............

Frieze Art Fair

Weds 13th Oct: Bendy Bandz Craze

Ive noticed kids wearing elastic bands on their wrists. WHY? I dunno. But I thought Id give it a whirl to find out. So Ive got involved in the new accessory craze and its a great party trick. The animal and number shaped bands stay exactly in shape when you take them back off - so you can play a guessing game of what each colour will be. Ive had this lot on for nearly 2 weeks and they are still perfect. Try it out for yourself! I got mine from Christopher Shannon's local nik nak shop but I'm sure you can pick them up anywhere!