Sat 26th July: POP!

Our postcard photobooth stall at the "V&A Friday Late" was a real success and lots of fun thanks to all the help of our fantastic team: Mishkin photographers, Sara on front of house, Josh and Addie on printer tecknicalities and Maki in wardrobe department. The postcards that were created will be uploaded onto the French Connection website so I will post a link here when it is live. Here is the last one of the weekend when we jumbled the whole thing up and jumped in together (l-r Teo, Sara, Anna, Maki, Amy)

The balloon image is from the Village Fete fold out brochure by the event's graphic designers Robert Boon and David Lane of www.inventorystudio.co.uk

Thurs 24th July: Bishi Performance at Viktor & Rolf Exhibition

Bishi's performances are always one-off experiences and never the same as the last. This was no exception and a privilege to witness. She embraced the theatrics of the setting and had a choreographed entrance with a cortege and lace canopy costume. She then climbed the steps of a tower platform installed next to V&R's dollhouse where she performed set against a backdrop of visuals that accompanied each tune.


Specially commissioned photographs: Anna Leader

Fri 25th July: V&A Village Fete

Thurs 24th July: Sweatshop

Maki is in dying lanterns today................

Wed 23rd July: Gifts from Grizzly Bear

On a recent trip to Germany, James Ganio picked me up some point-of-sale bits from dry cleaning company "Fred Butler" including these cute little sweeties in the shape of thier penguin logo. Super lush surprise, thanks James!
It is due to this company that my business has become "Fred Butler Style" as they already owned the domain "fredbutler.com" when I first bought mine. So I suppose its good fate because I like the way I had to improvise to find another name ..........

Tue 22 July: Clinkerchink!

Preparations have been under way, getting ready for Friday late / Village Fete at the V&A museum where Teo and I are masterminding a photo booth stall "Pose Me A Postcard". Mishkin are our chief photographers and many hands have been helping make the props and costumes to replicate the postcards selected from the V&A catalogue.
Its a timed game which was our main objective with this project. To reinstate that adrenalin frenzy once encountered with the "chocolate game" at kids birthday parties. Or perhaps a little like the erratic anxious energy of the contestants on the "Crystal Maze". So if you fancy a go at our dress-up portrait bonanza head down to Exhibition road at the weekend. Other stalls include "Helium Kareokee" and "Foam Topiary". Other stall holders include Tatty Devine and Rob Ryan.

Sunday 20th July: Street & Studio

The new photography exhibition at the Tate Modern is "Street & Studio". I was mislead by the Juergen Teller "Go See" picture on the poster and thought that it would be all contemporary. But it is actually a complete history from the 1880's with so many different subjects and photographer's that it is a great investigation. I loved seeing the glamorous Richard Avedon's as much as the gritty Henri Cartier-Bressons. Don't miss this as I nearly did!

Here is one of my own "Go See" pics from about 2002 when I was helping AsFOUR cast for their show.

Sat 19th July: Charleston House

The ladies (Me, Vicky & Anna) went on a Saturday field trip to Charleston house. It was home of the Bloomsbury Group's artists Vanessa Bell and Duncun Grant since 1916 with various changes of inhabitants (their interchanging lovers and offspring). They free-hand painted every surface in the house aswell as using thier own textile designs to upholster. Its such an inspiring and magical place to visit. The tour explains how the duo left presents for each other in the form of a portrait on a bed head or still life on the reverse of a door panel. The best description is written by Vanessa's grandaughter Virgina Nicholson:

"Charleston was a place where, for both children and adults, messy creativity was a way of life....Art was something that everyone could do. Paint and clay, mud, glue and matches, were all endlessly available. ...There is a wonderfully uninhibited, irreveverent quality to the decoration of the house which is that of a child let loose to experiment and which is extraordinarily liberating. Part of the exhilaration that people experience from looking at the brilliantly colourful designs that crowned the Charleston walls and furniture, comes from that sense of confidence and fearlessness. The Charleston artists did not deal with caution. What if the surfaces weren't properly prepared? What if there was rising damp?...Their creative wells never showed any signs of drying up, so if the table top decorations wore out, they could always just paint some new ones on top....."

Its a great time to go as there are numerous Duncun Grant paintings on loan to Charleston until November as it is the 30th anniversary of his death. These are dotted around the rooms and help add to the story told by the tour guide........






Photography is not permitted in the house so here is a snap from the book and exterior thanks to Anna Leader

Fri 18th July: Heads Up

"A collaboration between Michael Pybus and Dazed & Confused magazine aims to explore the link between art and fashion through a direct collaboration. This involves the two worlds interacting together to produce a series of images which play with the idea of display, fetishization, and surface. Dazed & Confused have held a photo shoot with selected models set within an installation of sculptures, plinths and paintings by Michael Pybus. The Dazed and Confused team include: Photographer: Jenny Hueston, Stylist: Kim Howells, Hair: Amiee Robinson using Bumble and Bumble, Makeup: Hiromi Ueda using Dermalogica, Accessory designer: Fred Butler".

Thurs 17th July: Helen Goes Online.........

The uber talented Set Designer Helen Macintyre has just launched her website which is very exciting news that I would like to share. I am a big fan of her meticulously crafted props and folklore/fantasy aesthetic.
Her nimble fingers have created incredible "Worlds" for both fashion shoots and music videos. Here is a still from the recent "Late Of The Pier" Single...................

Weds 16th July: Presents From Maki

I spotted a rainbow in the Candid Studio post pile.............got a twinge of hopeful excitement.............and my optimism proved fruitful............Maki sent me a surprise bundle of wonder............a lorry shaped tape measure keyring being the highlight...........now I just need a bonafide excuse to whip it out at an opportune moment to show off the miraculous mini HGV .........

Mon 14th July: More refurbishment

Sunday 13th July: Fruits of Diggin the Crates in Charity Shops

Fri 11th July: Summer Studio Soiree

An impromptu Friday eve drink to celebrate a re-visit to the studio from Holly MacDonald and a farewell to Mari after her placement...............

Left to right:
Mari, Flo, Maki, Holly, Sarah Magnay

Fri 11th July: Fashion DJ's Part 2

Thank goodness I worked out how to watch aswell as listen yesterday because when I heard Simon Foxton introduce his session I knew something was up. Not seemingly the Foxton voice I am familiar with; we investigated the video stream and it soon became clear..............Here was the impostor- one of Simon's assistants presenting the show from his office/shed with notes on " and this one is particularly special to me". Attired in a fresh "&Son" Dazzle polo shirt, he struck pensive poses as if reminiscing whilst listening to the eclectically chosen tracks. Over the hour, different camera angles zoomed in and out to frame him showing each viewpoint of Simon's shed and garden. (Here you can see some shots of the interior of his workspace, which he kindly took for my Kicker's research last year.)
This contribution to the day's schedule shone out for its idiosyncratic humour and beauty in planning. Both of which being Foxton trademarks. Thankyou for brightening up our day!

Meanwhile back at Abbey Road Studios, Stephen Jones had me abandoning my desk to crank up the volume and dance to Donna Summer's "Our Love": Mari was lucky enough to witness my embarrassing Abigail's party/mum style dancing before her last day at the studio.
Then Anthony Price's priceless tales of Moustique had me blissfully distracted from the 2nd round of VAT scrambling............

Today is the last day of showstudio.com on air so catch it while you still can................ 87.7 FM

Thurs 10th July: Tidy Up

Alex has been integrating some left-over props in and around the studio today. A definite perk of the job that we can adorn our walls with a myriad of randomly lush paraphernalia. The loo is turning into a mini museum with a swarovski lobster, newspaper noahsark, graffitied cross stitch sampler, fligarich toadstools, space rocket, string of teapot lids, giant silver bauble.............

Thurs 10th July: Fashion DJ's

Yesterday "fashion dj's" hit the airwaves for a 3 day programme organised by showstudio.com. I missed the day session but was blessed when I tuned in for the night's entertainment to get me through a pile of agonising paperwork. The time flew by listening (and laughing) along to the Boombox karaoke star "The-O" and his rendition of Macy Gray. It didn't matter that the performance wasn't visual as you normally encounter with his outbursts, because his voice was so hilarious. So in this way, it was quite unique.

This was followed by a desert island disc type session with Peter Saville which held some great tunes ("Road Runner" Jonathon Richman) and anecdotes (flying to San Francisco overnight for a meeting with Paul Macartney) . I had no idea that Saville was responsible for Wham artwork! Or that George Michael wrote, performed and mixed all the tracks himself!?

I'm looking forward to Stephen Jones and Simon Foxton's turn on the decks today and then Paloma Faith and Michael Clark tomorrow.................check the link for the full schedule.........

(Here is a pick I took of The-O and Chycca earlier in the year)

Weds 9th July: Gifts from Kidders

Emma Kidd very kindly brought back these gifts for me all the way from Mexico, via New Zealand....................Thank you so much I LOVE THEM!!!!!!

Tue 8th July: When Fletcher & Hay met...............

Beyond The Valley was the venue for the launch of Fletcher & Hay's Book that they compiled last year by asking the question "What are you thinking about?". Thier hit list of contributor's included (in Fletchers words) a performer, a painter, an artist, a friend, a brother and sister, a sister and sister, a stranger, a lover and a girl I once knew, a nude in New York, a beauty in bed

I am not quite sure what category I fitted into on thier hitlist but here is the printed postcard I returned to thier request.
The book is a really neat insight into snapshots of people's immediate brainspace.
I need to have a proper read to digest all the answers but when I have I will re-enter some chosen quotes here.............

Mon 7th July: Bangsalishous

Kim Howells and Fumi Nagasaka came to the studio today. Fumi is a photographer based in New York (where we crossed paths once before, in 2005 when she was shooting for Street Magazine) but travels to Europe in the Summer to visit friends and combine work. She is off to Berlin Fashion week on Wednesday where she is having an exhibition of photography and film. Kim is travelling in the opposite direction and packing her bags to spend a few weeks in NYC to take her work transatlantic. Bon Voyage Miss Howells!

Sunday 6th July: We Are Robots

The cousin crew...........representing for half of the force..............my nephew and niece..........

Sat 5th July: Village Carnival

I came home to join the family on the quiz team and help run the BBQ at the village carnival. The theme this year is Nursery Rhymes. Jean's regalia cracked me up so much! I think she is puss'n'boots and chose to denote this through belting a cross-stitch cat cushion to her front. You aren't gonna pick up sartorial tips like that in Grazia! And to add to the fashion pack, here are the WI on their cake stall with their on-trend flower facsinators.

Thurs 3rd July: Victor & Rolf

I met up with the third member of Victor & Rolf at the Barbican for thier new London show. No, Im only joking of course! This is Peter and Emma who I graduated with in 2003. We had a lovely impromtu reunion where we all ended up at the late night opening (the fashion slaves that we are).

This exhibition is *sick. Sick for so many different reasons. But essentially just because Victor & Rolf themselves are sick. To have been so prolific with so many insanely truly inventive concepts. Where is there left to go? They seem to have covered every conciebale idea that has never been thought of before. Then pushed it to the limit of earthly possibity. This show houses the whole shibang and reminds you of all the details that you have either forgotton or just missed the 1st time around.

The other notable trumph that needs to be flagged up, is the precision of The Barbican's curation. I had even forgotton this factor..........that The Barbican is so spot on in pushing boundries...............


THIS IS A MUST SEE!

*Sick: So good, it makes you feel a bit ill

Thurs 3rd July: Victoria And Albert

Teo and I were welcomed into the hub of the Victoria And Albert Museum for a meeting about the Village Fete. Their studio is a hive of activity as the team are currently putting together the next fashion exhibition "Fashion Vs Sport". The show will comprise of 60 outfits from designers such as Bernard Wilhelm, Jeremy Scott, JCDC , Y-3, Kim Jones, Casette Playa, Galliano, Comme for Speedo etc. We liked the elephant hoody by Aitor Throup which has been photographed for thier press images by Tim & Barry.

Tue 2nd July: The Culture Show

The Culture Show visited St.Luke's church last week to cover the LSO concert with guest collaborator Bishi. Here are screen grabs from last night's episode showing the hair pins that she comissioned from me to match her pinstripe dress. She also had another look for the feature, which was a spectacular dress made for her by Ada Zanditon. The program is repeated on Sunday night on BBC 2 or you can watch it online at the bbc website iplayer............

Weds 2 July: Mr.Carr

My beloved Mr.Carr in London for one day ...............and his latest footwear, where our worlds collide in shoe appreciation with his new Raf Simons S/S boots that remind me of Japanese action figures........

Tues 1 July: Website Update

The world's best web-master Luke Tarpey is tinkering away updating the content on my website..........a few bits might pop up over the next few days but its ready to go ................www.fredbutlerstyle.com

Sun 29th June: Reykjavik Grapevine

I don't have enough insight and authority to write a comprehensive statement about the message of the concert on Saturday. (The crux is that large areas of Icelandic countryside are being demolished to build dams to run new Aluminium plants to export. With other knock-on implications to the countries economy......... )

For the best explanation, follow this link to a Reykjavik publication to download and read an article and interview with Bjork who initiated this event.

(illustration from front cover by Bobby Breidholt)

Sat 28th June: Reykjavik: Náttúra

Sat 28th June: Reykjavik: Aftur

Here is the boutique of the line "Aftur" which Raven runs with her sister Bara (seen here). Their signature style is to compile recycled materials into their own voluminous designs. Some are cloaks of plaid patchworked together in circular seams and some are oversized sweatshirts in horizontal stripes of polkadot jerseys. Textiles are hand dyed/bleached and embellished to make each garment a unique piece.

Sat 28th June: Reykjavik

I arrived late Friday night/early Sat morning to begin a weekend of never setting sun.............here are a couple of snaps to set the scene of the blue sky. I met Raven in Boston Bar which is a new destination in the city since the lamentable closure of legendary "Sirkus" owned by her friend Sigga. The decor features illustrations on the bar by artist Gabriela Fridriksdottir who represented Iceland when I was a the Venice Biennale in 2005.