Sunday, 10 February 2008

Sunday 10th Feb: Modernist

I started London fashion week with Modernist as my first show as a voyeur. Intilted "Voodoo", the inspiration came from The Wicker Man and Twin Peaks. The collection focused attention on experimentation with manipulating the sleeve. Of course my interest was absorbed by the "Make-do-and-mend" collage neckpieces comprised of silk ribbon ruched circles, perspex and cashmere pom poms. The show was styled by Mary Fellowes and the Makeup created by Georgina Graham............who you can read an interview on in the complimentary magazine of this week "Fashion Journal".

Sat 9 Feb: Headman

I LOVE Benjamin Cho's new collection with the hand finished craft detailing.......very up my street.........so much infact that there is something very familiar ..............here is the giraffe outfit that Andy Hillman and I created for the Headman music video directed by Simon Owens in 2005...............and the other image is the great portrait that my friend Annie Collinge uses on her business card from a shoot for Tank Magazine............great minds think alike.........or should I say great Animal Heads think alike?.................





Sat 9 Feb: Saturated

Photographer Solve Sundsbo's first solo exhibition in the UK has just opened at Spring Projects in Kentish Town. There are 12 of his hyper-real, high gloss and literally colour "Saturated" portraits. 2 iconic pictures of Karen Elson which highlight her modern unusual beauty, reminiscent of a classic Vermeer subject. There is also an understated but carefully plotted pose of Gareth Pugh and a gorgeous veiled image of my favourite model Georgia Frost. Despite wanting there to be more to see, it is quite a good opportunity to have a nose at the refurbishments at Spring!

Saturday, 9 February 2008

Fri 8th Feb: Bonachela Dance Company

Hannah Beal took me to the Southbank centre for the performance of "Square Map of Q4". Choreographer Rafael Bonachela collaborated with an amazing list of creatives on this piece........... The Production Designer is Alan Macdonald who is know for film credits with John Maybury and direction of Kylie's tours . The composer Marius De Vries (worked with Bjork, Massive Attack, Madonna) actually played and conducted the musicians at this performance. The white and sheer geometric patterned costumes were designed by fashion designers Meadham Kirchhoff. Lighting designer Guy Hoare incorporated laser projections onto the dancers to create moving sculptures. What an unexpected treat since I had no idea what I was going to see! Added bonus was Embankment lit up with a whole palette of dazzling lights along the length of the Thames.

Friday, 8 February 2008

Fri 8th Feb: My Muse

I am currently making my first accessories line which will launch in April. I just found this picture of Anna Piaggi that I must have torn out of a magazine a while ago. It has now come in use as my Muse to put on my studio wall.

Thursday, 7 February 2008

Thurs 7th Feb: New Shoes!

Weds 6th Feb: Bite Fight

Private View for my friend Laura Gill's exhibition "Bite Fight". A mixed media collection of work based on the theme of biting and the social interaction of such an exchange! My favourite piece was a large illustration of the chewed end of her pencils. I also loved her Bio in the catalogue that outlined her history in one sentence documenting the event of biting her tongue as a child. It is showing at the new exhibition space "The Distillary" above the Macbeth until 17th Feb.

Tuesday, 5 February 2008

Tues 5th Feb: 2 Peas from the same Green Pod

I had an email from the photography duo Metz & Racine today to kindly (and intuitively) let me know about the work of the artist Helga Steppan. In this work from 2004 she photographed all her belongings in colour groups. Wow. That is how I actually live my life! I don't think that it ever crossed my mind to document it like this! It reminds me of the dinner plate photographs of Sophie Calle. I love it..........and also relived that it is not just me with this particular predisposition..........

Mon 4th Feb: Luke Tarpey

A trip to visit my webmaster to update my site. Here is a picture of Luke's artwork on his studio wall. If you zoom in and in and in and in you can find lots of treats that comprise the total image..........

Sunday, 3 February 2008

Sun 3rd Feb: Iqons Magazine Launch

Here is an image I took a while ago at my desk..............which I submitted to the new Iqons magazine that is launching today in New York..............I can't wait to see the issue when it comes to London next week...............

Sat 2nd Feb: THREEASFOUR NY Fashion Week

So exciting to click onto Style.com and see that the show featured on the home page is ThreeAsFOUR..............and such a rave review! This particular dress features a print by their friend Luis Cascante. He has been illustrating portraits of ADi, ANGE and GABi for the last few years. Here is a picture of the gigantic puppets that he made of them for the Deitch Project Pararde in the Summer of 2005.



Friday, 1 February 2008

Friday 1st February: New Gift for Miss Pink

This is the hair stylist Lyndell Mansfield who I like to congratulate on being such a colourful soul by offering additions to her wardrobe. I do this in sending her gifts of pink accessories to adorn her beautiful candy colour hair. Here are 2 pieces from last year..........I incrusted this star fish with Swarovski stones which she wore to Fashion Rocks. There is currently a new piece awaiting her arrival back from New York Fashion week ..........

Thurs 31 January: Dr. NOKI?

I went to Bishi's party at The George & Dragon to celebrate her nomination for the South Bank Awards. In the toilet I discovered this graffiti which makes the "Miss.Marple" in me, suspect that perhaps NOKI may have been here recently?! His new line is named NHS and he is notably partial to a marker pen ....................hmmm I wonder.............

Thursday, 31 January 2008

Weds 30 January: Spadger Disco

My photographer friend Amy Gwatkin has started a blog to document her artwork and also her ongoing street-style snaps. This is a portrait I took of her last year at the SHOWstudio revue event. Click on the link below to follow her blog.......

Wednesday, 30 January 2008

Tues 29th Jan: Studio Visit


Here is a section of Annalisa Dunn's yarns. She is currently knitting her new A/W collection which will be photographed by Amy Gwatkin to take to Paris for the press week. Annalisa shares her studio in Hackney with Louise Gray and Scott Ramsay Kyle. I've included here a shoot of Louise Gray's looks from last season to show off the beautiful model Amy Grundell who is an ex-assistant of mine .................(photography Ben Lennox, styling Kim Howells)

Monday, 28 January 2008

Mon 28th Jan: SHOWstudio political film submission

Today was the deadline to hand in the film for Nick Knight's "political" film request. This is the entrance of showstudio which is a box of mirror inwhich you can easily get lost and feel like Alice in Wonderland................



Mon 28th Jan: rubbish magazine

Here is a picture from a shoot that Helen and I took part in this time last year...................but I have only just discovered it in the new edition of Rubbish Magazine..............Anna Murray organised a day to partake in Mallets Mallet with the one and only Timmy himself..............he brought along an outrageously extensive collection of his original clothing from his 1980's hey dey..............and demonstrated his styling techniques by having an outfit change for every new guest............officially the best range of novelty sunglasses Ive seen................

Sunday, 27 January 2008

Sunday 27 Jan: Marilyn Caramel

I took a day trip to Brighton to catch up with old friends...........this is the work of my buddy Gemma Butler (right hand studies) and also her alter ego Marilyn Caramel (left hand).................her studio is situated in the arches on the beach with this incredible view of the West Pier.................. inspiring and incredible



Friday, 25 January 2008

Thurs 24th: Arts Foundation

It was the award ceremony for Andy Macgregor's Arts Foundation nomination in the category of animation. He travelled back from Norhumbaland where he has been on a shoot with photographer Tim Walker. This is an archive portrait of Andy taken by Tim at the same location on a Summer shoot...................a million miles away from the ice of this week............the Scottish snow topped mountains on the horizon from where they were staying.............

Thursday, 24 January 2008

Weds 23 Jan: Pick up

I had to pick some things up from the office of i-D today. The last time I went I wanted to take this picture of the door glass but didn't get it. Just as I was holding my phone ready in a conspicuous stance, Terry Jones got out of a car right there so I scarpered in embarrassment..............getting pictures for this blog often makes me feel like a bit of a secret surveillance freak .............

Tuesday, 22 January 2008

Tues 22 January: The Sun has put his hat on

We have been waiting for days to film our clip for the new ShowStudio film season. Luck was on our side and we managed to achieve what was needed before sunset and without the incessant rain. This is Maki who was behind the lens in today's adventures................and will be editing the final cut................watch this space.................

Sunday, 20 January 2008

Sunday 20 January: Andy Macgregor


I had a nice suprise this morning in The Observer. I saw this image and instantly loved it so took a longer look............ on closer inspection I recognised the sewing machine to be mine..........and then I realised this is a set design job by my studio mate Andy Macgregor............its funny that we never see what each other does away at shoots until they are published............

Friday 18th Jan: Reordered Books

Wednesday, 16 January 2008

Weds 16th Jan: Subtle colours

I noticed a nice styling theme going on in the studio today...........a miniature detail shock of bright colour peaking through in an outfit............an acid fuchsia blouse under Alex's coat and scarlet stockings under trousers on Adele...............


Weds 16th Jan: South Bank Show Awards



Its the last day to cast your vote for Bishi in the Times/ South Bank Show Breakthrough Awards 2008. She is the nomination for the pop category. Follow the link to place your vote ! This is a picture from The Black Balloon club night which she performed at (wearing my irredesscent origami head pieces)...............

Tuesday, 15 January 2008

Tues 15th January: Kickers on Dazed Digital

There is a feature about the Kickers collaborations on Dazed Digital today which features the still-life pictures from the campaign which I shot with Tara Darby.........I borrowed items from the 8 designer's workspace to prop their boots to make each one personal........an extension of my fascination with studio spaces and how creatives collect different references and nic-nacs..............This is thellustrator Charlotte Mann and stylist Simon Foxton............

Monday, 14 January 2008

Monday 14th Jan: Eat Your Chiffon Part 2


The 2nd part of the dinner party film was released today with the final installment to come next week............Have a look to see Nat Weller in coversation with Zandra.........giving away her musings whilst carefully watching over her custard cooking.............

Monday 14th Jan: Selfridges Paper Windows

At last I can blog the work I have been doing for the last couple of months...........Today Selfridges unveiled the new window scheme inwhich I installed 27 different head pieces/hair on the mannequins.........here is a picture of the prototype taken in my studio and 2 pictures from the actual windows...........I am so chuffed with the result and amazed at how all the elements have come together in integrating my pieces into their set and styling ..............



Saturday 12 Jan: Going Underground

Travelling home from Selfridges I thought that I would snap something Im very fond of but never think to do...............Tottenham Court Road Tube Station Mosaics............There is always a new detail to notice when you are hurrying past............I love the mix of rainbow sections and then Black/White walls..............


Thursday, 10 January 2008

Thurs 10 Jan: The Daily Nice

For anyone that doesn't already know of this site then please take a look tomorrow............its one of my daily clicks...........it is the work of photographer Jason Evans............"is about my enthusiasm for looking and being. Everyday I show a photograph of something that made me happy"............so this is why I look...........the happiness is contagious............


Weds 9th January 2008: Its a Girl!

Andy Hillman and his partner Katie Jones had their baby at 4a.m. Here she is in her first fashion moment sporting a very on-trend polka dot number .........little Frankie Ellis! And here is another picture of her pre-birth! Its a snapshot featured on p109 of the recent British Vogue from a fancy-dress wedding they went to in October.