Saturday 16th August: Cut The Brand

The last Friday late event at the V&A was "Cut The Brand" installation by artist/fashion designer NOKI. It took place in an empty shop on exhibition road which is the official off-site venue for the Fashion Vs. Sport exhibition. You were invited to chose a T-Shirt from a rail of rainbow 2nd hand stock and turn it into yarn. After choosing an orange addidas number, I learnt how to cut it into shredds and loop them into a continuous thread. All the balls of NOKI-NHS-DNA-YARN is going to be turned into garments for his S/S garments. During the evening a mini dress was made by Dr. Hook crocheting onto a panel of a leather jacket. After being modelled by Carly it was then styled as a snood on a mannequin in the window for the next day's session.

It was a really fun evening to witness the concentration on people's faces as they got to grips with the whole process. The atmosphere was a lush relaxed vibe with JJ Hudson's dog "Bail" toddling around helping with the proceedings. I found out how he got his name .........JJ got him from a rescue home and literally bailed him out!

I have borrowed these photographs by Olivia Hemmingway from the FvsSport live blog.........

Friday 15th August: Cooperative arrive at Browns

Congratulations to new generation Knitwear label "Cooperative Designs" (Annalisa Dunn & Dorothee Hagemann ) who have just landed Browns as a London stockist. Their next show will be on 17th September, 12.00 at the Baden Powell Scout Hut, next to the NaturalHistory Museum in South Ken. They have sent me this print design for a taster of what to expect of the Spring Summer Collection. Here is a quote to explain their style and method from a recent post on vogue.com "Like to use traditional knitting techniques with modern machining and explore them in unusual and modern ways, combining and contrasting colour and scale".

Thurs 14th August: A MAN called Shannon

The new contender to step up for the MAN show is Christopher Shannon whose last luxe collection was inspired by the shell suits and Northern styled trackies he grew up with in Liverpool. His design process is concerned with turning everyday street sportswear references into unexpected beautifully finished pieces via fabric and finishing. Here is a snippet from his current inspiration wall at his studio which has kindly been sent over for my blog.

Chris has quite a bio already so take a deep breath to learn the following:

- won scholarship onto CSM MA from Louise Wilson, the 1st in 10 years
- won the Dunhill Menswear award this year
- has collaborated with Eastpak, Nike, New Balance & Levis
- teamed up with Judy Blame on a print label for 2 seasons (some for CDG)
- MA collection currently stocked at Colette
- has assisted Kim Jones, Richard James, William Baker/Stevie Stewart for Kylie,

Chris will be showing alongside James Long and Hans Madsen at MAN which is the Fashion East Show in conjunction with Topman Design to firmly assert London menswear on the map.

Weds 13th August: ""This is Krazy! But, oh! It is so Chic."

New York based Brazilian photographer Marcelo Krasilcic has started a new venture. It is a label of goods aptly named "Krazy Chic" which includes thongs, t-shirts, hats, dog outfits, baby outfits, mugs, watches and more..........
Marcelo has a hilarious cheeky/ naughty sensibility and I love the quotes that he included in the press release "“Buying Krazy Chic products changed my life. I have finally found happiness" (also see title of this post).

Instead of attaching images of the products here I have chosen some of his photographic work instead. Marcelo is known for his portrait work (Michael Stipe, Chloe Sevigny etc) and also campaigns for Nike and United Bamboo. Recently he has been developing sculptures comprised from pillows which I believe started from his own pillow collection at home. I don't think its common for photographers to go the extra mile and do their own prop styling, so this has become one of his trademarks. I remember one of the first times I witnessed him shooting was with Nicola Formechetti for Dazed in 2001 and they made little gold wings for his cats to wear in the pictures. CUTE!

Tue 12th August: Nice Surprise

Thank you Holly Macdonald who tipped me off when she discovered this fashion story on Retts Wood website. Susie Lloyd styled this beautiful Summer story and here she used one of my archive pieces - a bricolage necklace.

In addition to fashion there is an amazing portrait portfolio on Retts website featuring the recent Laura Marling picture in Vogue and my favourite of the bunch is of Graham Coxon with Julie Verhoven. There is also a portfolio of reportage and travel journals to explore..............

Tue 12th August: OOh Frankie

Andy Hillman is officially off work and on baby-sitting duty for his daughter Frankie but had to pop in today for a meeting with video director Simon Owens. We tried one of my bow ties on her which she seemed to really like..........

Monday 11th August: AOI Images 32

This year's book by The Association of Illustrators No.32 is the best of British Contemporary talent and features work by my studio mate Andy MacGregor. Here are couple of examples of his portrait work which he conjures up using "Pencils, Paper, Paint and Pixels". He sits very quietly, occasionally sharpening a pencil, sipping a constant stream of tea and by the end of a day has produced something incredible like this:






There is an exhibition to accompany the launch of the book:


30 July – 27 August 2008
London College of Communication, Elephant & Castle,
London SE1 6SB
10 – 4pm Saturdays
Closed Sundays
Admission free

Monday 11th August: Dazed Digital Relaunch today

Saturday 9th August: Who are Mishkin?

Mishkin are a fashion photography outfit who operate from an East London studio which they co-habit with a giant knitted Manatee.

Here are some self-portraits.

Of who, you ask?
Laurel and Hardy, who'd dya bleedin well think!?
(That is one of my mum's favourite jokes. I apologise for the questionable humour content, justified only by my own nostalgia.)

Saturday 9th August: Tinkerbell Gladwell

I have recently done 3 different portrait shoots with the lovely "Mishkin" ladies. Here is a picture from the 1st when we visited a Lido last month in search of blue water to set off my bluebell outfit. Despite the English Summer doing its best to rain off the proceedings, driven inside we discovered this fantastic rainbow changing room. Perhaps it was just meant to be!

Fri 8th August: Greetings from Norway

Another treat in my mail box from Mari Stolan at home for the summer in Norway............

Lets hope there is going to be an email backlash and more hand written and decorated messsages...........and envelopes..........and bizarre international stamps..........hooray

Thurs 7th August: Pigeon or Peacock

I am so lucky to be sent new magazines that editors think I may appreciate. Even better to get an envelope with a jazzy felt-tip address and accompanying blue letter with neon orange stickers that gave me quite an optical trippy read.

So thanks to editor of "Pigeons & Peacocks" John William, I have a fab new periodical to add to this quarter's collection. It is published by London College of Fashion and is a collaboration of students and industry establishment. This 1st issue features interviews with Giles Deacon, Tatty Devine and a great insight into the musings of Gary Card. My 2 favorite fashion stories are seen here, but I cant write about why yet because my copy has already journeyed into other hands. I brought it into my studio to show the others, and it swiftly departed onto another graphic design studio on recommendation.

To get your own copy: http://www.fashion.arts.ac.uk/courses/prospectus.php


Photos courtesy (nicked) from blog: http://wunderbuzz.wordpress.com/

WEds 6th August: Long Time, No See Part 3

I also missed the opening of the new exhibition Fashion Vs. Sport at the V&A but here are some snaps I asked a friend to take for my blog. Here is a recognisable look by Casette Playa and another by NOKI. This weekend Noki is running a pop up shop at the V&A called "Cut The Brand" It is a work shop installation so you can go along and create your own shredded T-Shirt and contribute to the yarn pool for his next collection. 1-5 Exhibition Road, 9-10 August, 12:00 - 18:00.

WEds 6th August: Long Time, No See Part 2

I sadly missed the opening of the new exhibition at the Jerwood Gallery featuring the collaboration of artist Michael Pybus and Dazed & Confused. Kim Howells styled my accessories in the shoot and here is one of her snaps from the shoot and a couple of the final images. (I took these pictures from the report on dazed digital - see link for details)

Weds 6th August: Long Time, No See

I have been away for a week hence the absence of posts...............

But whilst I was out of the country, here is a snap of what was happening with the Hillman Studio in the Countryside. Alex Cunningham sent me this pic of thier mobile workshop in Suffolk. They have been rustling up another Tim Walker extravaganza for British Vogue. Here Hannah Wood is putting the tailgate to good use as a sewing table and if you look closely you can spot Andy Macgregor in amongst the cargo. Its English Summer Af Fresco prop making................

Sat 26th July: Kylie

My friend Neel took me to the 1st night of the Kylie tour at the 02 arena. The set is an incredible floor of LED's which link up to the backdrop screen. As the production of dancers move around the floor, the light show flickers patterns beneath and around them. The outfit changes were a blend of Jean Paul Gaultier, Stevie Stewart, David Holah, Gareth Pugh, Gloved Up accessories and Emma Roach props. Her voice was on fine form and so were the devotee audience who left thier seats and danced in the alleyways, and then later instigated sing-a-longs on the tube ride home...........

My camera has broken so i am relying on my computer snapshot for images at the moment. Here are some pictures from 2004 when we dressed up for a rainbow brite photobooth and a postcard he once sent me with his motto "live life to the full........have fun". And that is exactly what we did last night................Thanks Neel!

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