Monday 27th October: Rainbow Day Part 1

Annalisa Dunn of Cooperative Designs has been a knight in knitwear armour at the end of my panic stricken emails recently. I need advice and she has been obligingly supportive and reassuring. So nice to have a little fashion family in close quarters. On top of the pearls of wisdom, I got a bonus snapshot of her newly organised yarn store! Hello!

Sunday 26th October: It Must Be Love

I'm back home for some R&R and the last time I was home, was for my parents Ruby Wedding. That's 40 years for anyone who doesn't know their jewels. They had a party and got out all the photos / contact sheets which I wanted to scan but still with no device to hand, I have just photoboothed them in for now. So cute. So 60's! Especially my aunts! They look like the East End's equivalent to The Supremes!

Sat 25th October: Block Party

The last block party I went to was in the Summer of 2006 when I was living on 123rd Street, Harlem NYC. The venue was "Billy Jean's" braid shop and the fierce competition started with "girls Age 6 and below" and literally ended up in blows with "Girls 16 and above". Potentially one of the most fun and informative nights in my dancing career. Dosed up on generous donations of blue liquor and rice'n'peas, I had to keep up with the winners of both heats till the early hours. I have to hold that day as a fond & special memory and not get despondent about the lack of such riots in my London neighbourhood.
So when I ran into Tina Turnover at the BFC earlier in the week and found out that Dalston's own "Work It" is having a special one-off at the ICA...............I promptly got out my Sharpie and penned it in the calender...........I don't know if the The Mall is gonna match up to the sidewalk of Malcolm X Blvd, but Im there already................very very excited

photo courtesy of Sara El Dabi



Work It Block Party
15 November 2008
Take a trip down Memory Lane and reminisce on the 90s. Complete with movie screening, hula hooping, double dutch, photo booth and more. Brush the dust off your Nike Air Max and bump'n'grind to the sounds of the Work It DJs spinning the freshest hip hop and R&B.
Free.

Date Time Venue Book
Saturday 15 November 2008 10:00 pm Bar

Friday 24th October: Incoming info on illustrator Laura Gill

A work update from a project called 'Sink or Swim' about the falsely accused and the idea of the witch hunt.
This will be shown and printed as part of an exhibition by Toy Pirate and will take place at No:One, Kingsland road, Shoreditch, E2 8AA, Private View Thursday 30th October.

There is also currently an exhibition at the Macbeth Distillery, 70 Hoxton street, N1 6LP, by the collective The Horn of Plenty, featuring Laura and ten others from RCA, Central Saint Martins, Camberwell, who have taken the theme of fear to produce new work. This show is called 'On The Night' and a closing party will be taking place on Monday 27th October with live music and dancing.

Thurs 16th October: Synphonic skulduggery Part II

So a week after our shoot, here are the final images that have gone to press for the Cube PR press day invitation.
Note the stunning Cooperative design knitwear which is just becoming ever increasingly covetable the more I see it...............
Also note the cheeky integration of the photographer's name by my cunning "Mishkin" sign on the speaker...........
As I don't actually work in a record shop (my second love) I manage to wangle it into my artwork...........yipee..........I love it when a plan comes together............

Weds 22nd October: Pop Up

Its the 10th anniversary of Tank Magazine. I remember shelling out the 8 pounds because it was the most exciting mix of shoots that didn't seem swayed in any direction other than its own creative joy. Stories that had obviously taken consideration and attention to detail in a time when it was about the "incidental" if not grimy snapshot. So congrats to Tank! You can take a peak at the back catalog at a celebratory pop up gallery. From 24th to 31st October the images will be on show and sale at 9 Newburgh Street, London from 10a.m to 6p.m. The birthday issue has been a long time in production so I can't wait to see what will be in store in the latest edition to the empire........

Tue 21st October: MySPACE literally

I am a featured profile on MySPACE fashion today so check it out to see lots more portraits by Mishkin .....................

Mon 20th October: Horticultural Hilarity Part II

How did they know at 125 Magazine that this is actually what I look like up my brother in-law's allotment! Here is another recent tearsheet for my press book with Bambi Ear Friends from my A/W collection being put to good use. In actual fact it was a visit to said allotment that gave me inspiration for a piece in the new collection...........unveiling next week at the Cube Press Day................

Sunday 19th October: Frock Me

Today was my television debut on Henry Holland's new T4 Fashion Show Frock Me in the episode focusing on "Club Chic". Can't think why I was hired?! It finally becomes clear why all those Boom Box nights were actually legitimately work related! Sheepinshly remembering events such as accidentally bumping into my assistant Holly in the Tube when I was done up to the nines on my way out when she was on her way home for a school night in. But relentlessly sporting those headdresses on a weekly basis has evidentally payed off. Not to mention the fact I love to dance and a certain degree of therapy on the dance floor was also necessary at the time! Thanks go out to K A B I R who first plucked me out of the crowd at a fashion week party, on the onus of my headgear which started my London clubbing career.
So I went on to show my secrets in a Blue Peter style format of no brand Pritt Stick assembly. All considered, it went well so hopefully the next generation of suburb stars have been inspired on a Sunday morning. My fascination with all things Bromley Contingent, Studio 54, Mudd Club, Disco Bloodbath (the original please), Kinky Gerlinky, Taboo etc etc has finally made sense. My professor of Fashion History at Brighton. Lou Taylor was always refreshingly understanding when I obstinately focused on these "subcultures" for thesis work!
I don't have any pics of the actual day so here are some tenuous HOH snaps from my Kickers installation at fashion week Sept 07. Maki's incredible pop up - cut out of Agyness with a winking eye and lit cigarette........

Sat 18th October: Namazonia

I'm updating my press book and here is the latest piece that has appeared from the A/W collection. Namalee Bolle has used my sequin top in this month's Super Super magazine. She has modelled it herself in a story shot in her own bedroom and my boxes have been incorporated as props in the background which is great. I'm so chuffed that the boxes get their own appearance rather than just being containers!
Super Super have lots of exciting news which I will do a feature on next week but just for now here is the flyer for the premier of their new night which has relocated from Punk to Shoreditch...........

Thurs 16th October: Synphonic skulduggery

The Mishkin girls and I disturbed the peace at Synphonic Records on Lamb's Conduit street yesterday to shoot the artwork for the Cube PR press day invite. Much fun was had as always, with the dancing divas who literally don't stand still in the same spot until they have to press the trigger. All in a days work.................

Thurs 16th October: Who's a Lucky Girl!

Look at this silver baloon Andy Warholian looking present!
The contents was Chloe's rainbow swimsuit!
Bloody Hell, I am overawed!

Tues 14th Oct: The Convenience Store

I had such a magic day on Saturday due to the sun that decided to make an appearance in debt to its shameful performance over the Summer and also due to discovering a new pocket of London. I took Anna up to Rellik to get some feedback on a Vivienne Westwood jacket and we ended up spending more time on Golborne road than we had bargained for! We escaped the cattle market squash of Portabello and stepped out Mr. Ben style, to a laid back (virtually horizontal!) little community road lined with food stalls serving up tantalising world cuisine. On deciding which to try, Vanni's quote of the day was "its not a case of being hungry"............true, but still too many to sample in one day so a revisit is in order.
But this is not the only reason to return. We discovered and duly had a good poke around the new Kokon To Zai west side boutique which has taken over a traditional tiled butchers premises. Then furthur up the road, we came across a converted cobblers that is now home to The Convenience Store. So this triangle of shopping loveliness is a new mecca for style seekers under the architectural feet that is Trellik Tower.
The Convenience Store is holding an evening of music and merriment this Thursday to celebrate and spread the word of its launch. Andrew Ibi has set up a definite unique environment to secure your key item for the season. He might even prophetically know what it will be and hold onto it just for you! Within his selection of old guard and emerging stars, he brings together pieces to compose a story that will regularly change in chapters according to his instinct for the next mood. I was excited to see a Sophie Hulme Sequin parker along side a Rick Owens blazer and an opportunity to get your hands on some Clare Tough. Another exclusive that Andrew gave us a 1st hand explanation and experiment is Boudicca's venture into fragrance. It sprays onto skin the violent violet "Wode" colour and then disappears like vanishing ink. So to have a go yourself or if you fancy finding some Hannah Marshall dark side feminine treasure, join the fun on Thurs..................
Thank you to Andrew for these atmostpheric snaps

Mon 13th Oct: Mary Katrantzou

From a post about Athens to one about a London based designer who originates from the city, Mary Katrantzou. I first blogged her work when Michael invited me to the Central St. Martins M.A static show and only 6 months down the line, he now informs me of her success with sales for S/S. No wonder when you see her identifiably beautiful trompe l'oeil jersey dresses in the new zingy bubble gum palette inspired by Jeff Koons. From an "accessories-appreciation-party" point of view, I lay down my hat in respect to the concept and construction of combing jewellery into the digital print. Here are some detail shots of the new collection from her showroom in Paris. Her signature woven bonded silk jersey/wool shifts look to me like a perfect blend of the technological advances in the futuristic patterns but a classic chic sensibility with the interjection of naval stripes. So now the question is what are we going to see popping up from this glossy pop art offering.............will the dresses or necklaces be most popular...........or both..............? (I'll have one of each!) I can't wait to see these graphic punchy pleasures saving the pages of the new season's fashion spreads.

High-Five to Mary for such a fantastic collection and taking the time out of her production negotiations to send me all of these images.

Sat 11th October: Athens Fashion Week

Athens Fashion Week has just been held in the newly re-located downtown Technopolis which is an old gas factory complex. It is the 1st year that it has become a complete cultural festival with music, film and exhibitions in addition to the runway schedule. This season the guest Art Director is Jean Charles De Castelbajac who has set up a retrospective for the event.
Athens based style magazine "Ozon" interviewed me for the street style special addition in conjunction with the fashion week. Here is the page of my feature and you can download the whole magazine at the link below to see what is going on ...............

Friday 10th October: AWOL

Apologies for my absence in posting. I have been in uncomfortable territory of deciphering different application forms in dyslexic terror. Hopefully abandoning the sewing machine and picking up the pen will result in some funding to keep the sewing flowing.............

However I have been mucking-in with the overly familiar glue gun for a night shift...........assisting Andy MacGregor with the next installment of Uniqlo flagship installation. The rainbow gaffa tape web has been replaced with multicolour pipes which rotate in the display tubes reminiscent of Disney Land Fairytale Rides...........to tie in with the new soft fleece collection.........

Tues 07 October: Rainbow Water Baby

I still can't get over the Fredtasticalaesthetical heaven that was the JCDC last week. Clouds on blue sky? Rainbows? House Hat? Sgt Pepper Jacket in primary felts? Ouch, its a 'tick every box' in my dreamland overload. I kind of don't want to believe it really happend. Just the store opening in London left me with a heavy dose of chromatic psychosis.
So I need a few more days to process all the information.

I had a similar incident when I discovered these insanely cosmic colour delights on Chloe Bells blog "Chloe Makes". On an application to join me at the studio I knew she would be an instant addition to the team. Look at the attention to detail with the mosaic steps! I would swim every day if this was my bathing outfit............or can you imagine on a white beach or...........in a rainforest waterfall..............

Tues 07 October: Iredescence

Photo coutesy of Chloe Bell

Monday 06 October: The Best Beauty

Mishkin shot my S/S 09 look book yesterday with the beauty team behind these exceptional images they both worked on for Super Super Magazine last season. The wizard waving the makeup wand was Megumi Matsuno and the sorcerer with the hair spray was Kunio Kohzaki. I first got hooked on Kuni's hair styling when he made card wigs covered in colour photocopies of hair cut in angular box shapes - genius! I'm was so chuffed to have Kuni and Megumi on board for my look book so can't wait to share the images soon.................

Sat 4th October: Bishilicious

Friday 3rd October: On The Box Again

In life's bizarre twist of fate, I found myself on set of a TV production again. This time in the hub of BBC Television Centre for Jonathon Ross. I had a last minute call from Bishi to make her a red necklace for her performance on the weekly chat show. I scrambled round for 2 hours and put together a cute choker to go with the white hair pieces I made for her before. I bombed down to White City and delivered and fitted the necklace before she headed off to the Green Room to join..............Faye Dunaway. Wow, what a dream come to life! It was an incredible experience to sit at the side of the set and watch at such close range and also through the camera monitors buzzing around. So tune into BBC1 at 10:30 tonight to check out the result and the defining moment to place Bishi into the greater consciousness. Congrats!
(Thanks to Alex for buying fabric, Chloe, Laura and Laura for helping scalpel, stick and sew!)

Here are some beautiful shots of Bishi by photographer Mads Perch where she is wearing a shoulder piece I made earlier in the year, styled by Susie Lloyd.

Weds 01 October 08: On the box

Yesterday I had my first encounter with the TV world. I surprised myself immensely by a) agreeing to do it b) actually finding myself doing it on the day. Its not in my nature to do this kind of thing at all. Im too shy to even say boo to a ghost.
But I told myself that I should do it because I love watching old TV clips so much on youtube............especially the few rare appearances that Leigh Bowery made on incongruous chat shows. Seeing him out of his normal comfort zone and a bit nervous is so endearing and enlightening. Here is a perfect and bizarre example. For anyone who hasn't see this before, wait for the quote of Gary Glitters career when he innocently retorts about knowing how to please young boys.................
Hmmm anyway, back to Bowery. So it made my day and the whole thing worthwhile when I found out that the show had borrowed in an actual vintage Bowery outfit to feature. Heaven! What a fantastic sign from above that it was the right decision............
.........well, lets wait and see.............I will post when it is going to be aired so watch this space..........

Monday 29th Sept: Tinsle Tinkering

I have the good fortune to have Maki and Chloe helping me at the moment. Here are my knights in shining armor trying out some shiny accessories we are whipping up for a job tomorrow. So here is your first introduction to illustrator Chloe Bell and a regular appearance by Maki Lou Lou who is sitting here amongst the boxes for the new S/S collection..................

Sunday 28th September: Golden Phone

I have been trying to catch Micachu at one of her many recent performances after finding out about her in The Cut Magazine earlier in the summer. A very last minute decision under September sunset rays on a rooftop in Dalston, I made a dash all the way down to to New Cross for the 1 day event "Nail on The Cross". It was a whole day of art, music, stand up and film screenings across 5 venues for which I met up with ex-Goldsmiths student Vicky Langdon to see the final acts. At last, I got to witness the talent behind the ukelle, cow bell and vacuum cleaner musical chemistry. Micachu is joined on stage by "The Shapes" who accompany her with a plethora of percussion and smiles. You can see what I'm talking about in this cute little film. Humour is my elixir and I think these guys are on the same vibe..........
The other act I was chuffed to see is thecocknbullkidd who I have blogged before and can now tick off my "to see" list. The night was a strange and surprising mixed audience including the assistants of an international stylist, casting for models. I love the idea that this is the length that is gone to for street casting................to go all the way to the Amersham Arms on a Saturday night. I didn't feel quite so mad after all!

Sat 27th: Conference Call

Whilst we had a 3 way Mishkin conference call via Skype to Anna in Switzerland she showed us her new local Charity Shop Goldmine finds. Check out the unworn Charles Jourdan she snapped up for £4 (equiv in Swiss Francs)! Geez! Get us on the first Ryan Air flight out there!

Thurs 25th Sept: Good One

After Maki & Chloe's friends painting exhibition opening in Hackney we headed up the road to see Esser play at the Macbeth as part of the Levis "One to Watch". It wasn't until we were en route that Maki disclosed that she had done the set design in the exhibit in the upstairs gallery of The Macbeth! So we went straight upstairs to admire her massive logo for ethical clothing label " Good One". Here is a picture from the early stages of making the letters.
Esser's performance was excellent and I'm so glad I have seen the act the behind the music. They are about to embark on a national tour so be sure to go and search them out before it blows up..................next single will be "Satisfied" which they are shooting the video for today.........

(I forgot to add that on our journey we also by chance saw Chloe featuring in a film............ (these are prolific ladies!)..........walking past the gallery of jaguarshoes with a film in the window featuring Chloe dressed as an owl in her friends work "Today I am a Polar Bear". Hanna Waldron's exhibition of illustration and print "Tonight I am an Owl" is on at No.1 Kinsland Road until 18th October.)

Weds 24th Sept: Aurevoir Miss Honey Penny

Yesterday was the end of an era for the online pioneer Penny Martin who has left the mirrored doors of SHOWstudio to take up a professorship in fashion imagery at The London College of Fashion. Although Im sure they will greatly miss her I reckon they will be equally pleased to share her as Nick Knight's touching post revealed:

"When you work with Penny, whether it is a 6 hour non-stop live interview with Dame Vivienne Westwood or a quick soundbite backstage to a Vogue journalist, everybody comes away from the meeting feeling better about themselves."

This is very true for me as Penny has been a driving force in propelling me out of obscurity by taking a chance and trusting her instinct. So I am eternally grateful for this breath of fresh air in a very blinkered industry. I entered a competition which I ended up being a winner for. Out of sheer surprise I sent a thank you card followed by posting various other random communications. One day Penny got in touch to ask me to contribute to a project and this multiplied with time (no-one else has ever sandwiched me between Giles Deacon and Chrisoper Kane!..........im talking schedully, not bodily.........!). Not only have these invitations helped my journey immensely but Penny has always been a lush personality behind the work. For example kindness in taking me out with the team for a night and kindness in allowing me to blog through their site. That was my 1st experience of blogging and the big gulps of apprehension as I clicked the upload button to the live feed thru to SHOWstudio's homepage. Cripees that was a responsibility! But she cured my paranoia by sending me an encouraging text message.
Always a reassuringly smiley face in the fashion pack crowd, Penny is a shining light. And here I have only mentioned her personality. To describe her impact through developing and establishing the force of SHOW would need a whole other post.............

Weds 24th Sept: Madame Butterfly

Yesterday I was reading an article about Amanda Harlech and found something out that I didn't know. She first worked with John Galliano after his graduation by asking him to make costumes for the Malcom Maclaren record sleeve "Madame Butterfly" which she was styling. I have the record but had no idea that the artwork was such a seminal point in this historical partnership of designer and muse. Galliano must have revisited this reference for Dior S/S 2007 Madame Butterfly inspired collection!.

When trying to find out more, I discovered this charming extract from the book "Two Million Miles" by celebrity photographer Andrew McPherson.

"This was the birth of a new romanticism, a fshion imperative that we lived, breathed, and dreamt. Fashion was our everything, our religion, our nourishment, and our entertainment. This wasn't just a fad, it was a revolution against the chrome-slick sexiness that defined high fashion in the late seventies. I was indoctrinated into the movement by Amanda Harlech, a young fashion editor who was already a style icon. Our influences ranged from Rossetti to Tastafari, from Coco Chanel to Chaplin, an each set of photographs we made sent us on a new visual adventure. Amanda met John Galliano on a Madame Butterfly project during the autumn of 1984 and was one of the first fashion editors to champion the talented young Londoner. They subsequently became one of the brightest teams in the whirlwind of the Paris fashion shows in the late eighties and most of the nineties."

Tues 23 Sept: Art Director Alun Davies

Another intern talent I come across at SHOWstudio in 2005 was Alun Davies who had just graduated from graphics at Kingston and was interested in Art Direction. Fast forward a few years to fashion week and I was very excited to read on an invitation that Alun had done the set design. The event last Thurs was the book launch for Hwyel Davies 100 Fashion Designers at Diesel HQ. Alun was asked by Penny Martin of SHOWstudio to create a typographic installation for their part of the collaboration with the Future Tense film season. At the initial meeting a happy accident resulted in the decision to use hi-vis gaffa tape as a surface for hand drawn stencil names of the designers as credit titles up the long ramp of the site. Slick 3D titles were also hand made from mirror card and outfits for performers seen in the last picture. The live window installation which Alun set up as a site specific intrigue to entertain the que of guests which apparently had hilarious mixed response!

Since setting up his own Art Direction studio back in April he has had a variation of connected events.........set design for photographer Vincent Peters for Vogue Italia, Italian GQ and portraits for Monca Belluci and Vincent Cassel. Vincent Works in Paris mainly so Alun has been having a fantastic time learning the tricks of the trade in another city.
He has also been making connections with a LIVE aspect to Art Direction, thanks to Beck Rainford - Theatre Set Designer. He has been involved with productions from Edinburgh Fringe festival such as the Collector, recently transferred to London. Future projects include, launching his newly re-designed website, installations for Act Art 6 and Emergency Festival and future Art Direction and costumes for Singer and DJ, Rod Thomas.

Thanks to Alun for sending these great pics from his records

Mon 22nd Sept: The Beautiful and the Damned

Here is Aimee Grundell who runs a night at the infamous North London rock'n'roll hotspot "The Boogaloo". I came across the wondrous beauty at SHOWstudio where I inadvertently siren sung her to join my team last summer. She soon flew the nest to dabble in her own ventures and "The Beautiful And Damned" is her latest scheme. It is a timezone-jumping decadent disco curated (as opposed to ‘DJ’d’) and the dress code is "timelessly stylish". Last Thurs took a Circus theme and Aimee was lucky enough to be lent a new hat by prop's maestro Helen Macintyre . It is a carousel that is wired to a motor and literally spins around whilst causing a stir from its impressive intricacy.
For more info on this delightful new destination check out their myspace for upcoming listings and events.....