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.....

Thurs 18th Sept: Dazed Digital by Jerry O'Sullivan

An extended version of the interview that is in the current issue of Dazed is now uploaded to Dazed Digital online:


DD: What were your key inspirations behind this range?

I didn’t want to think too much about it or be too affected by anything so I just started making. It’s like when you are in education and you have to do mood boards of research, I just decided to skip all that. There did end up being one recurring theme and that was triangles.


DD: Did you have a muse?

I have had a picture of Anna Piaggi up on my wall as inspiration for a muse; I love her sense of colour.


DD: Is there a message behind your collection?

It is a collection of accessories which are pieces designed for a man or woman to wear in their own way. Some pieces are versatile so although something may have been made as a belt, it could be worn on the shoulder or head, the possibilities are endless.

DD: What type of person is it designed for?

Someone that has a magpie sense of style drawn to special shiny things and someone that has no self doubt in their appearance coupled with total conviction in wearing things as an experience to enhance their happiness. It has been quite a self-indulgent process so ultimately I may have just made them for myself!


DD: What are you inspired by in day-to-day life?

I like accidental things like I saw a lamppost that had danger tape on it and the way it had formed made this nice geometrical pattern.

DD: What influences your own style?

A lot of kids programme’s and books I read when I was little, particularly the pinball machine in Sesame Street and I also like bright colours.

DD: You have worked with Patrick Wolf in the past, what is it you like about him?

He has a totally individual style and manages to pull off lots of different looks. I’ll be interested to see how his style evolves and where he takes it next.


DD: What is the best thing about being Fred Butler?

It’s good to be doing something I have always dreamed of, I feel really privileged to be able to make a career out of being creative. I’m just happy making stuff.

Weds 17th Sept: WOOLY WELL GENIUS

Wow. Cooperative Designs outdid themselves today with a runway show commencing with a spine tingle inducing film and soundtrack. Amy Gwatkin made a projected animation of models in knitted samples, posed to make up the letters of the girl's logo which was so awesome I clapped before the models had even stepped out. When they did, every lady in the house was drooling in lust for the loops of yarn in this sexy confident collection. Blocks of heavy gauge primary colour and monotone stripes were broken up by flashes of flesh and body hugging neon digital prints. Step back, Im 1st in line to procure a Coop playsuit............ well perhaps 2nd after Amy herself who I have borrowed these pictures from @ http://spadgerdisco.blogspot.com/

Tues 16th Sept: They Call Us Mellow Yellow

The beautiful Alex Cunningham and I at a Swarovski party for which I donned an archive AsFOUR Supernova Swarovski Broach (pinned on my barnet). There wasn't a mirror at the studio to see what I was doing with the carpet-tape secured crystal makeup so I discovered a new fangled technological development by default...................in such instances simply make use of the photobooth function on an Apple Mac which works equally as well! Can't believe I never thought of it before.............

Party Photo Credit: Billa @ Urban Junkies

Tues 16th Sept: Nasir Mazhar

Nasir Mazhar presented his millinery via a live interactive event today enabling you get close and really see his incredible head wear. This format was so refreshing, if not a bit scary as you walked around a dimly lit room, serenaded by a Flamenco style Cardinal (?!) accompanied by a Mary Shelley character pianist. The construction of the "hats" was immaculate and each one a masterpiece in its own right within the flow of the collection. I was really pleasantly surprised to see this living and breathing showcase, having expected a static exhibit. Expect to see them cropping up in many of the new seasons editorials!

Tues 16th Sept: 95 Chapel Market

The launch of Mariano Vivanco's book "95 Chapel Market". Named after the address of his 1st residence in London where he shot new faces over 5 years which amassed this beautiful collection of Polaroid portraits.
The young subjects seem wide eyed and open although they are new to being photographed (note an extremely Bambi fresh Lily Cole). Perhaps this is down to the nature of the photographer who graciously signed my book and generously is donating all profits to the children's ward at St. Barts London Hospital.

Mon 15th Sept: London Fashion Week

Louise Amstrup
Inspiration from Wim Wenders "Paris Texas".

Sunday 14th September: Work It

Probably the best party night in London.............

Tina and Sara (the hosts) looking KILLER

Friday 12th September: Palace Knit

The London Design Festival starts tomorrow and last night was the preview of "Inverted" around Carnaby Street curated by 'i-am' and 'Beyond The Valley'. We went along to see the new knitwear collaboration for BTV by Colin Henderson. Henderson is an illustrator who has previously designed prints for T-shirts and recently integrated his trademark pixilated patterns into textiles. Here is a scan of a sketch book page where the black & white jumpers started out life. Similar drawn characters have featured in publications such as Nylon, The Illustrated Ape, Amelias Magazine, If You Could. These ideas have jumped off the page in his art direction in conjunction with director Daniel Brereton and the duo have produced music videos for These New Puritans, Late of The Pier & Metronomy. So sooner or later you may well notice a brand appearing with cubic colour formations creeping into more disciplines................ Here is the face behind the name in a balaclava self portrait.

Thanks to Colin for sending the pics. Perhaps my camera breaking is not necessarily such a drawback as it has given rise to a new chapter in my blog identity with all these great submissions in recent weeks...........

Thurs 11th Sept: They come in three

A write up in the new Dazed & Confused, i-D (written by Lucie Greene) and a piece used by Nicola Formichetti in the 1st issue of Vogue Homme Japan............if you look closely there is my multicolour craziness sparkling through.............

The portrait for Dazed was taken at my studio by Fumi Nagasaka and styled by Kim Howells who had the idea of seeing how much of the collection she could fit onto one person!