Tuesday 5th December: "THE COME UP" by Charles Jeffrey at NOW Gallery

Charles Jeffrey's runway shows are always a work of art in themselves with theatrical set design and performance happening alongside the LOVER BOY muse models.  His clubnight which has self-financed his business has emerged from the basement of Vogue Fabrics and blossomed into a legitimate design house.  That is why I was so pleased to see Lyall Hakaria at the private view for Charles Jeffrey's debut solo show at NOW Gallery because it was Lyall who first told me about his talent.  Lyall not only supported Charles with his nightclub to host parties but also studio and skills for sewing the first collections.  Here he is in character as "Collector" at the opening night of this art show as part of the characters Charles has devised for the project, including himself as "The Artist".  For the private view he addressed the crowd behind a lectern of a myriad of fake microphones for a speech to thank everyone and himself for blessing us with this show!  The whole night was a riot with Theo Adams theatrics, turning the gallery into a pseudo Studio 54 with Josh Quinton spinning disco and confetti canons covering the sculptures in showers of colour.

The shapes that hang from the seven metre ceiling and take up the circular floor space are like Jack and the Beanstalk come alive.  It's Charles Jeffrey's own illustrations given a new perspective out of the sketch book and blown up to a magic, major scale.  He's not just leaving it at that though.  He's inviting visitors to add to the narrative by joining in and drawing directly onto the works.  Calico also hangs on the wall as a blank page for pattern from the hands of all the footfall which he'll later use as fabric in his collection.  This work of art will become a new work of art in the future!  The show "The Come Up" is installed for three months so be sure to check it out and leave your Sharpie shapes on the cooperative canvas!

See archive posts here.

Saturday 7th January: London Fashion Week Men's AW17 - Charles Jerffrey LoverBoy

Oh My Deities! Charles Jeffrey "Lover Boy" goddesses by Gary Card with a choreographed runway by Theo Adams Dance Company at the MAN show. (sculptures now on view installed at Dover Street Market)

Saturday 11th June: London Collections Men SS17, Day 1

Per Gotesson at MAN

Charles Jeffrey at MAN (invite artwork on floor w/ set design by William Farr)

Bobby Abley's "Magic Carpet Airways" (head pillow & back pack, backstage)

Novelist X Joy Rich collection launch at Ejder

Mon 15th June: LCMSS16 - Charles Jeffrey's "Loverboy" at Fashion East

For me, fashion should be fun.  Especially shows.  This is the one chance we have to create an experience to uplift, escape and create a magic special memory.  Not only are there now double or triple the amount of "fashion weeks" per season but also the slots are are so swift that to keep up with the daily schedule is like the manic hysteria of a game of musical chairs.   Run in, plump your rump on a packed pew, get subjected to a blast of moronic music and jump up quick enough to run to the next before it finishes. 

In the past Ossie Clark set the precedent for a happening with dancing models in the 60's / 70's,  and BodyMap brought it thru the 80's with Michael Clark and network of cosmic muses.   Thank fuck there is a glimmer of that flame still flickering, burning bright against the suffocation of the straight up and down sixty second runway.   

Today Charles Jeffrey gave me faith in the future of that legacy with a presentation using his own club-night as the formula.  Models were cast from his Central St. Martins contemporaries, the soundtrack was the DJ spinning live at the centre of the dancefloor catwalk.  The "Loverboy" collection took its name from the night which is held at Lyall Hakaria's "Vogue Fabrics" venue and the production was actually funded from the business's takings.   Under his art direction the interior recreated that underground world, with the trails of bog roll that get stuck to your shoe when you leave the loo.  I hope to God that actually happened when a fashion editor visited today.  If there weren't a few terrified reporters I don't think Lyall would have considered that he'd done his job properly.  And this is why we are London and why the Menswear week is literally called "London Collections".  Props to Fashion East for using The ICA to host this kind of event with its own history of the avant-garde and risk-taking.  

It seems to me that we are celebrating McQueen at the V&A with recreations of his theatrical stagings and simultaneously stamping out any platform to honour his subversive success.  If only the industry could step off its whirling carousel of cramming in these superflurous seasons we might all have a chance to catch up.  Take a breath.  Appreciate clothes that have taken time to be made and want to invest in them as key pieces for a timeless wardrobe...................... agree?  Lets shake on it and have a dance.