Thurs 28th August: Movie Star

My friend K A B I R who is the fashion editor of Drama Magazine has recently been consulting with Roisin Murphy so I have been pestering him for some behind the scenes pictures. This weekend he boarded her tour bus for festival perfomances in Brighton and Manchester. Here she is on stage wearing a Swarovski coat by Katie Eary and later on the bus in her civies.

K A B I R helped style and cast her latest video "MovieStar" inspired by John Waters films. He features alongside some familiar faces.......... Richard Mortimer, Bethan Wood and the fabulous Leo Belicha done up as Divine which is just genius casting! Roisin was on the front cover of 2 Sunday magazines at the weekend noted as the muse to Roksanda Ilincic whose outfit she wears in the video.

Weds 27th August: Tommy

Here is a new face from Storm Models - Tommy Ricketts. We had an evening of fun in Clissold Park, shooting in the trees nextdoor to the fallow deer enclosure and parakeet avery. So nice to have an evening outside before the onset of Autumn despite the torrent of spandex clad runners making us feel totally inadequate in our lifestyle choice. This is one of Alex Cunningham's snaps who styled the shoot. For the official shots, check out Amy Gwatkin's photography blog: spadgerdisco.blogspot.com/

Tues 26th August: The Cut

The 2nd issue of "The Cut" has just landed. Organised by Nendie and Nina of "HIMTM", it is an initiative to give young people a platform to produce their own magazine. The writers and photographers from West London are aged between 13-19 so the insight in articles is totally fresh without PR driven news as is usually the norm of the magazine world.
There are great music profiles on Micachu, Natty, Twizzle and a gig has been organised in Sept at The Royal Albert Hall with Nels and thecocknbullkid. The are numerous art and fashion features with an 8 page shoot "Road To Carnival". What a great opportunity to have editorial published before your 20!
The next issue will be focused on "creativity" and is a special edition commissioned by the ICA as part of the "Nought to Sixty" season which promotes the top 60 upcoming artists in the UK.
The Cut is free to pick up and distributed across London or download the issue at the website............

Mon 25th Aug: I got Candy

One of my favourite extracurricular activities is riffling the vinyl boxes of a certain undisclosed stretch of North London charity shops. BINGO on Saturday!
I found this album by Bow Wow Wow from 1981 which aside from the hit "Go Wild In The Country" it is famed for the controversial cover. The band were the original line up of Adam and The Ants with Adam replaced by 14yr old Anabella when their management was taken over by Malcolm Maclaren. Ever the Agent Proveocater (sorry for the pun, couldn't help myself) he wanted the cover to recreate Manet's painting “Dejeuner Sur L’Herbe". Annabella's mother had an investigation launched against Maclaren for indecency and tried to have the the artwork banned. The original cover was only printed in a few European countries wheres the UK and US used one with her in a white dress. So I am really chuffed to have found this copy! Geek Central!

Mon 25th Aug: Fashion In The Mirror

I finally made it down to The Photographer's Gallery for the fashion exhibition. I wish there was actually an official Fashion Photography Gallery permanently. I would be in heaven!
As is the magnetism of London life, I bumped into Penny Martin (Editor In Chief @ SHOWstudio). She is going to be hosting an evening discussion about the show with the Curators and Photographer Joanthan de Villiers on Tues 2nd Sept.
Jonathan shot the artwork for Roisin Murphy's album "Overpowered" which has the Sandra Buckland and Nazir Mashar combo on the cover. Nazir Mashar is the featured artist on today's schedule of FutureTense on showstudio. Full circle link up there?!

Here is my fashion photography book collection and my flatmates (plushpatterns). Our third house mate (English Literary graduate) also has her novels in rainbow order. The colour crisis is certifiably contagious!

Friday 22nd August: From Gig To Runway

From Gig To Runway is a feature in this week's Grazia about the latest breed of young Brit rock chick . Missing from thier list is Thecocknbullkid who is the "one word no apostrophes, please" name for the singer/songwriter Anita Blay who will be playing at the JCDC after show party at Paris Fashion Week on Oct 3rd.
Her latest single release "On My Own" was produced by Metronomy (as previously featured here in gig review and video prop info). This video was directed by Ollie Evans who made his name with the Klaxons "Atlantis to Interzone" and is now signed to Partizan.
To get more tunes to stick in your head and block out The Coldplay Coldwar go to her myspace : http://www.myspace.com/thecocknbullkid

Thurs 21st Aug: Presents From Maddy

Madeliene brought back a heap of treats for me from India and Nepal. A beautiful hand stitched parasol with even the handle covered in fabric. Some packets of Bindi's that are a wondrous spectrum palette. A recycled bag to illustrate how all bags are newly made from old ones - in this case popcorn. And the cheeky piece de resistance - a carton of my favorite smokes......... legendary prezzies

Thurs 21st Aug: Horticultural Hilarity

In tradition of cultural excursions with Maki, we dressed in theme when we went to Kew Gardens last Friday for research. Since our last outing to the Science Museum dressed as .........um scientists,,,,,,,,,,,for this garden trip we donned our hats in a fusion of Ascot/Chelsea Flower Show. Thank God the Sun also put his hat on. The only blue sky to have graced London for what seems like the whole of August.............







Photos courtesy of Maki Lou Lou
My camera is still dead : (

Weds 20th August: VOGUE HOMMES JAPAN

Nicola Formichetti's new project will be out on Sept 10th and then published bi-annually from Conde Nast Japan. The cover image is a black and white portrait of Ash Stymest (Models 1) by Hedi Slimane but I have put this Oliverio Toscani pic here because I like a bit of colour! And I love this fish hat hiding in the flowers! I look forward to seeing this new magazine and seeing who is behind all the fun inside........

Tues 19th August: Current Hillman Studio Editorial

The 1st of two Beauty shoots with Miles Aldridge and Cathy Kasterine. This saturated day-glo story from Italian Vogue and contrasting "Kiss of Death" dark-side story in Vogue Nippon. We have inherited the strawberry glasses and pink straws from this shoot which I enjoy on a daily basis. However we sadly didn't get to keep the puppet orangutan which for while entertained me - sitting it at Alex's computer when she left the room.............

Tues 19th August: Neels World

The latest costumes and adventure to come from "Neels World" was Gay Pride in Iceland on August 9th. Neel lives his life from one dress-up occasion to the next and co-ercing friends and making new friends along the way. Earlier this year he went to Egypt and got everyone to wrap themselves up as mummies for portraits infront of the pyramids. Who knows where the next destination will take him and what outfits it will inspire...............a true magician of costume and carnage.

The next organised event on Reykjavik's gay calender is "Bears On Ice"11-14 September.

Monday 18th August: Work It The Next Installment

From the club night behind one of my favourite blogs "http://www.youworkit.blogspot.com/" comes the latest edition falling on carnival weekend. If you can't make it down, just check out the blog for the best in observational untainted street style from East London to L.A. Quite often with a dash of humour . Such posts have picked up on the "bow tie" trend and comments such as "you cant swing a cat in hackney without seeing someone in a high waist!!!".
. ( The writer is also a contributor to
http://betterneverthanlate.blogspot.com and racked up 44 comments in unamused outcry to this post:

Ive been known to throw on a checked shirt from time to time, lets be honest it just works.

But the question is HAVE YOU HAD ENOUGH OF PLAID*?

*including flannels, gingham, checks and tartan).


Surely someone had to say it?!





Photographs from a Work It attendee: http://www.spadgerdisco.blogspot.com/

Sunday 17th August: Pomme Frites

ASi also sent me a link to this technicolour fun music video "Ce Jeu" by French Artist Yelle. Not only is the video very up my spectrum street but I recognised the costumes from this year's winner of the Hyeres festival Jean Paul Lespagnard. The accessories in his outrageously resplendent collection were inspired by his native Belgium "Pomme Frites"! I love the way his clothes have become something new, taken off the catwalk and used to full effect in the whole look of this music artist's clip.

Saturday 16th August: Gold In My Hands

This is quite the best thing I have discovered in a long time so I want to share it. My friend ASi left a clip from youtube on my MySpace page and I had to investigate further..............

It is a documentary about Irene Williams who was a secretary in Miami but made all her own clothes and hats and customized her accessories to match. This outfit was made from a beach rug and you can see that she even covered shoes in the same fabric! She had over 100 hats which she started making because when she felt down it would transform her into feeling like a movie star by wearing a one. She was self taught and hastens to add that although she doesn't work from patterns, it is in the same way that Elsa Shiaperelli worked from instinct. Her sense of humour is so smart and the editing does great justice to her remarks and ideas on fashion and life. Infact my hand was over my mouth during most of the 23mins.


I have totally fallen for this character as her dressing was motivated by brightening up other people's days just like me. Her home also has a scary similarity to my own wardrobe organisation. Sadly her life ended with dementia in a nurse's home and she insisted on not being clothed at all. I hope that our similarity will not extend to this detail! But for anyone that knows me, its probably not wholey unlikely!

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................