Weds August 4th: Theresa Davies

I absolutely LOVE bonkers makeup............. using the face as a canvas for artwork to adorn the beauty of eyes, lips and cheeks.......particularly sticking 3D objects to the skin...........
So when I saw this image from the London College of Fashion degree show, it grabbed my attention! Here are some preliminary sketches, stop frame animation of the process, and final shots from Theresa Davies project "Armour" and her makeup chair.......where the magic happens......

Q: please can you tell me who or what inspires you and what your art background is............... also what's your plan or dream for the future.


"I have had a fine art background, but chose to turn this into a future in fashion make up and hair.
I have been studying at lcf for 2 years now, and owe all i know to the the teachers there.
Especially Lucy Wearing an amazing make up artist who has taught me so much about the industry and creating a future in the field. Shes definitely one of my inspirations!
Other inspirations are the queen of british talent Vivienne westwood. Also make up artist Pat Mcgraph!

My mum is my biggest inspiration for too many reasons!!

My biggest achievement so far has been working with Drapers Magazine they are such a great team and i enjoyed working with them especially the recent womenswear spring 11 shoots!
I have so many massive dreams but my moto is Aim high - Get high!"

Tues 3rd Aug: Chrissie Abbott for The Gainsbourg Catelogue

Last evening was the private view of "The Gainsbourg Catelogue" at The Curzon Cinema in Soho to launch the new Gainsbourg film. The group show is a collection of illustrations based on alternative movie and record artworks around Serge Gainsbourg.........here is Chrissie's sexy'n'smokin Bridget Bardot piece.
The show is now on until Aug 30th
To see more photos click here for Sweet and Sound.

Tues 3rd Aug: Chrissie Abbott

Along with new people moving in, some are also moving out : (
A few of my partners in crime up the road in the studios of Print Club are packing up to reestablish in new territories...........however, not too far away so I'm still in range for a visit to another dimension via the Abbott portal. Here are a few of the last of Chrissie's belongings being boxed up..........

The first time I visited their studios last year was for the opening night of the "Secret Blisters" poster show. 40 artists produce a special screen print in an edition of 40 to be retailed at £40..........they fly off the wall! Exhibitors are selected from an open submission and this year the event will take place in the Winter with a brief of "Blackout". The idea is to print using glow-in-the-dark ink and the work will be lit with UV bulbs............(ringing bells of Patternity's Tapestry!)........deadline for entries is 30th Sept so get scribbling...........check here for details

Monday 2nd August: Field Day Festival

To continue my music festival coverage, here are Rosy Nicholas's photos from Field Day in London's Victoria Park. Over the last year Rosy has been making accessories and props for Matthew Herbert both for his Big Band performances and the One Club show which played yesterday. The tour of Matthew's One One album has culminated in a few festival dates with another next weekend at The Big Chill.
(Top to bottom: Matthew on stage, Accidental posse ROWDY SUPERST*R & Dave Invisible, Hannah Barton in her rain-hoody, Verity Keefe in her ButlerStyle)

Sunday 1st August: Ben Dunbar-Brunton's Automobile

Last week I had a visit at the studio from photographer Ben Dunbar-Brunton who arrived in his 1963 Dodge Custom 880 (brought over from Fairfield near San Fransisco). The mint green exterior was replicated throughout the interior in varying shades from the dashboard to the original upholstery fabric. The chrome hubcaps were also echoed within the cabin as detail trimming along the inside of the doors and switch panel. I was lucky enough to get a spin round the block to experience the vehicle in motion and not just admire it stationary as most passers by who stop to inspect the unsuspecting sidewalk attraction.
Ben is a keen classic car enthusiast and his passion extends to collecting imagery of bygone days and the awkward shots of owners with their motors! He has trawled this collection for the i-list feature on the new online i-D online where you can see his "Top 10 Vintage Snapshots"

Friday 30th July: Peter Jensen Sample Sale

Its that time again...........Peter Jensen Sample Sale.............Yes Please!
I was actually the first customer. Bit embarrassing but worth it. Ive got a fresh jersey with applique bunny on. Yum.

31st July 10am - 6pm
1st August 12 noon - 4pm
Elastic Studios, Studio 1, Shackelwell Lane, London, E8 2EZ

Friday 30th July: Post Card Greetings from Cooperative Designs

Since blogging about Cooperative Designs earlier in the week, Craig and I have received this lovely post card from the girls..........wishing us happy holidays / good luck for fashion week!!!!

(Shot by Amy Gwatkin, styled by Elizabeth Cardwell)

Thurs 29th July: Self Styled London by Anthony Lycett

Here is the same top worn the right way round (although it is reversible!!!) using my print design collaboration with Brie Harrison and the whole shape designed with Camille Jacquemart. This photo which Ive just changed on my twitter profile was shot last year by Anthony Lycett for his project "Self Styled London".

Thurs 29th July: Lulu & The Lampshades

I have just discovered this film from VOLT magazine styled by Cynthia Lawrence John featuring an archive piece of mine worn inside out............it was a nice surprise to stumble across this and even nicer to recognise the soundtrack from Lulu & The Lampshades............whose homemade video of "Cups You're Gonna Miss Me" is a brilliant watch I highly recommend for its genuine charm and genius. You can find out how they learnt it on their myspace and also check out tour details with Standon Calling next weekend........... or read an interview at SUP with photos by Dan Wilton.

Weds 28th July: Gemma Slack & Hermione De Paula

I first came to Dalston in 2001 when I was interning at Dazed & Confused. Fashion director Cathy Edwards took a call from Peter Jensen in desperate need of help at his studio so I jumped up and got on a bus to the uncharted territory of E8. Id never been before and little did I know how much time I would spend here in the future. Since I worked for Shona Heath in the same block during 2003/4, the lane has changed from a Fashion Factory District into a Fashion Designer's District. This week Hannah Marshall has moved in adding to......the current rosta comprising of Christopher Kane, Peter Jensen, Emma Cook, Shona Heath, Kim Howells, Mark Fast, Gemma Slack, Hermione De Paula, Craig Lawrence, Gary Card and apparently Marios Schwab is round the corner and Gareth Pugh at the junction?! Its fun guessing which work experience student works for who.........judging by their outfits mooching around at lunch time.......for example the guerrilla print t-shirt spotted yesterday was a dead giveaway!
I'm now back in the hood in my own studio with Craig which we found via Hermione De Paula who was the first to find our new space (another converted sewing factory!). Hermione has moved to a larger loft space which she shares with Gemma Slack who she met last season during Paris fashion week. Here are the girls enjoying a champagne flute of ......... popcorn...........fuelling creative juices working on their new collections for Spring / Summer. Its brilliant to locate some allies within the building for company and distraction in those crazy hours leading up to crunch time of fashion week........nocturnal sew fests........

(Top Five images of Gemma's garments, photographs, and giant metal skirt now residing in the beams, Bottom three images Hermione's shnickle shnackle including a metal key of her logo which incorporates the initials of her great great grandmother Agnes who she takes after in the family tree.........a creative force who lived till she was 104......)

Tues 27th July: Cooperative Designs Online Store

Cooperative Designs have just started up an online store to sell their one-of-a-kind and special pieces, including those of their collaborators.......... its a cooperative after all! So check out the new function to find lots of lots up for grabs, like this devine denim triangle bra top!

(Here is their muse Amy Gwatkin who I snapped at their presentation last season of which you can read the full report I wrote for the LFW website)

Mon 26th July: Production

Just finishing off pieces to deliver to KABIRI...........production at FBStyle involves alot of TLC. Folding, folding, folding, ...............

Sun 25 July: Designer's Jumble Sale

From one of Jo Corre's experimental retail experiences to another - Through The Looking Glass - a conceptual book store in collaboration with Faye Marie. Named after the Lewis Carroll classic, the shop stocks specially selected unusual new, used and antique titles alongside holding book clubs and film screenings.......all fuelled by tea served in Mad Hatter style tea sets.
Thanks to Tom Ryling for tipping me off about the Designer's Jumble Sale which opened its doors today having taken over the book shelves with wares from the closets of a handful of London's fashion collective. Industry sources have unearthed some of their personal surplus runway shoes, samples and inspirational pieces from their own wardrobess including Judy Blame, Pam Hogg, Aimee McWilliams, J.Maskrey, Ben Westwood, Johnny Blue Eyes and A Child of the Jago.
Here are snaps of Judy's jewellery, pin badges and even flip flops which are on sale with some of his t-shirts and parcel tape. Pam Hogg has dug out a few of her vintage pieces from white leather trousers to black patent leather stilettos and even Siouxie Sue records. Downstairs are a few original World End's Westwood separates including tartan bondage trousers, cheese cloth button up slacks and even a pair of Vivienne's own worn geisha platforms.
Unlike a regular jumble sale held on a weekend, this assembly of goods has been extended to a week long event returning again for London Fashion Week in Sept.

As usual tea will be served in the finest china and random film nights in the basement to be announced..........from 12 till 8pm every day until Sat 31st July.........check here for details.

Through the Looking Glass 63 Amwell Street EC1R, Angel