Sat 6th Sept: NYC fashion week

If you are there, this evening is threeasfour's runway show, 135 W. 18th St. (6th & 7th Aves.), 7 p.m.

Friday 5th Sept: Design Cities

We headed along the river, through the newly planted highrisers and fountains, for the opening of "Design Cities" at The Design Museum. It is a neat history of contemporary design from cities at their most creative hey day: London (1851), Vienna (1908), Dessau (1928), Paris (1936), Los Angeles (1949), Milan (1957), Tokyo (1987) and London (2008).
It starts with London and William Morris and ends full circle back to current London with Peter Saville and Paul Smith. It felt quite nice to be appreciating the possibility of international focus back on London, standing in this special space on South Bank. Although the design crowd wear far too much black for my liking!

Along the way are some classic pieces of furniture, industrial design, print and textiles. I wanted more from the Dessau Bahaus section but thats just because it is my favourite era and I can't get enough!

Thurs 4th Sept: Bye Bye Bugaboo

Last eve I dragged my sleep-deprived self into town for the UK launch of the Quinny collaboration collection with Henrik Vibskov. I have been a big fan of the Danish prolific talent since I saw his insane boob sculpture garden at last year's Arnhem Biennial.
To display the range of prams and kiddy paraphernalia he had filled The Vinyl Factory venue with large wooden star jack shapes stacked up together.
The line was inspired by a fairytale devised by Vibskov. The story starts with outcast colourful misfit characters that live in a wood and play music in a band. Over time the songs gain notoriety and they become accepted by the outside world and end up as a world famous collective! This story resulted in 3 psychedelic prints called "Mad, Rainbow, Raindrop".
HELLO! I like the sound of this! Not to mention the penguin baby-grow!
I was overjoyed to find this poncho in my goody bag which I have shot on one of Andy Hillman's props in keeping with the woodland fairytale theme.

Thurs 4th Sept: Louise Amstrup

Today's film on SHOWstudio is from London based Danish designer Louise Amstrup who's notoriety has come from her dexterity in draping, cut to flatter and complement the female form. She is also known for her impeccable attention to detail (including her own prints) and emphasis on fine finish. This is carried through into the slick film which was shot by Mads Perch and Set Design by Alex Cunningham.
I scanned this image from a recent Obserber article where Louise goes through her favourite outfit which includes her own coat to show to full effect the perfect combination of beauty and wearability in her design.

Weds 3rd Sept: 3 a.m Rainbow Gymnastics

WEds 3rd Sept: Going Merino down at Uniqlo

Overnight we helped Set Designer/Illustrator Andy MacGregor and Rich Stevens of Odd Design with their installation at the Uniqlo flagship store on Oxford Street. The new Uniqlo line is Merino wool and the idea was to extend threads incorporated in the vinyl font on the windows through the shop fixtures, across the ceiling to the back of the store. It was great fun weaving in and out of each other with rainbow colour gaffa tape up 8ft ladders. What a great night's work! Aided by Maki's homecooked butterfly cookies and mobile phone radio cranked top notch to provide midnight melodies. We finished in time before the dawn chorus to stand outside and look in at our web of joy and give Andy and Rich a well deserved high 5 for another successful graphic mission.






Photography c/o Alex Cunningham

Weds 3rd Sept: Tommy Ricketts

One of Amy Gwatkin's superb portraits from the shoot last week styled by Alex Cunningham of Storm "New Face" Tommy Ricketts. The shoot comprised of some motion shots and clever double exposure, painterly images but I particulary love this symmetrical, graphic image.

Tues 2nd Sept: 30 under 30

Here is Alistair Carr (head of women's design at Chloe) who nominated me for the Grazia compilation list of the industry's next generation. Its out today and features me in the title of Art Director or in their words "Scene Stealer". Hopefully this will help explain what I do to my Nan who is never quite sure! There are 29 other names to check out so go to page 63 to see who else has been nominated and who by.................

Tues 2nd Sept: Scirocco Studios

I picked up a little booklet in a cafe the other morning on the strength of the lovely portraits inside. I read the credit which was Neil Bridge and here is one of his photos of music video director Kinga Burza. (I got very envious of her book collection but on closer inspection I suspect it might be the library at Partizan because the books have catalogue stickers on the spine!).
As I looked at each portrait I began reading who the subject was and discovered the purpose of the cute little brochure. It is to advertise an exhibition which starts today just of Carnaby Street. "Traffic" who are the founders behind Insection magazine have curated a showcase of the VW Scirocco but inviting 5 designers to create a one-off piece inspired by the car. BORING! That's what I thought!? But no, it actually looks interesting because of the choice of exhibitors:

Industrial designer Phillipe Malouin has previously worked with Tom Dixon, Droog and Hermes.
Product designer Ben Wilson has collaborated with Adidas, Levis, Nike, Stussy and Swarovski.
Light Engineer Moritz Waldemeyer is the brain behind Hussein Chalayan's light collections.
Graphic Designers Hudson-Powell designed the recent London Fashion Week Industry newsletter.
Kinga Burza is the talent behind videos for Kate Nash, Tilly and the Wall, Calvin Harris and the MTV nominated" I kissed a girl"

The exhibition is on from today until Saturday at 5-6 Lowndes Court, London 10 a.m - 5 p.m

Monday 1st September: Window Shopping

Shoplifter (Hrafnhildur Arnardottir) has just relaunched and updated her website which includes her most recent project at the MoMA, NYC.

I last saw her in May when she was showing at The Deitch Gallery, Long Island as part of the AVAF (Assume Vivid Astro Focus) show (middle pic). Her signature hair sculpture took on a more acid colour direction to integrate with the Neon lighting work's by Eli Sudbrack. The MoMA attended the private view and asked Eli to do in installation in the window of the restaurant "The Modern".’ Here is a detail shot of the this new work between the artists “aimez vous avec ferveur” which I have lifted from an interview with Shoppy on http://www.nyartbeat.com/nyablog/. It is the most incredible rainbow to have graced my blog for some time! I wish I could see the real thing!

Here is a picture I took of Shoppy (and Michael Portnoy) some years ago when we were part of a show at the Palais De Tokyo, Paris.

Sunday 31st August: Happy Birthday

Alex Cunningham has her annual birthday celebration in Regents Park and decorates a tree canopy to contain the customary picnic fun and games. The £1 pound shop always comes up trumps for props. Last year's theme was rainbow umbrellas and this year was pastel ones. These were accompanied by giant plastic pom poms which she whipped up the night before from £1 rolls of scented bin liners so they were doubly sweet!
They were so beautiful, I'm really chuffed to be the owner of a multicoloured candy colour puff of joy, which I have adorned my tailors dummy at home.

Sat 30th August: Backstage at the Brits

K A B I R has just sent me this clip from when we were in the dressing room backstage at the Brit Awards after party. I have forgotten about it since I blogged this back in Feb when it happened, so its so funny to revisit the hilarity of the event on film.
I couldn't understand why K A B I R had cast me (dancing on stage) to appear alongside the other "BoomBox" scene faces. His explanation was down to my notable "hand dancing". I could not think what he meant until Maki took this pic of us at the most recent Matthew Stone party which has since shed some light on the situation!................

Friday 29th August: Emma Roach

When I went to a Kylie concert last month, I was so excited to see that Emma Roach was credited for costumes and props. I thought that everyone else would be as facsinated as me to know what the process was, so I asked her how the project came about. I normally edit snippets to go with images but I like her explanation so much, I have left it intact:

"I had been working with William Baker since he spotted my work in Italian Vogue. The joan of arc inspired, satin armour piece, originally commissioned by Jacob K, was then remade in miniature for Kylie. After that, the tour was a whirlwind somehow, I started producing armour and robocop induced helmets for the dancers . With a common interest in 70's sci fi and all things camp, I understood William's references and within weeks of the opening dates, we began work on the props for the tour. The stage had been designed with a video floor, on which stage props were to breeze through for a song or two. It was a pleasure to work alongside costume designer Stevie Stewart, she is hilarious. There were times when it felt trapped in a perpetual Doctor Who mirage but it was great. If I had known when I was younger, that I might not grow up to be a car mechanic, but still wear dunagrees and work with Kylie, I think I would of been a very happy girl.

Since the tour I have been working on window displays for MCM along side Fiona Golfar, editor of Vogue. I am also working on concepts for next seasons editorial shoots, traveling and fine tuning my table tennis skills.".


To find out about the rest of Emma's job archive refer to: www.emmaroach.com which will be updated in the next couple of weeks.....................

Thankyou so much Emma for taking time to compile this for me, its really fantastic, can't wait to see what else is in store......

Thurs 28th August: Can't Get You Out of My Head

I don't yet have any visuals for this.
But its all in the ears anyway.
I am obsessed with these tunes, check it out:

http://www.myspace.com/esserhq

Thurs 28th August: A Shaded View

Although I have many a favourite blog, the ultimate defining and original perfection of the art (pioneer) is ashadedviewonfashion.com by Diane Pernet. I met Diane in my first week of interning for AsFOUR in Paris in 2001. She was making a documentary about them and came to film them installing their show at Colette. This film is on her website entitled "Chapels As FOUR" which she made with Disciple films where I took this snap of her whilst editing some footage. Funny that at the time, I took this snap it coincidentally had my favourite colours on the screen.
She has always been an outstanding support to me since I began out on my own and has certainly contributed immensely in helping to raise awareness of my business. She is always first to find out about something new and the archive on her blog is the best tool to research anything and everything within the creative and fashion industries. But I guess that we all know this so I will stop stating the obvious about this legendary site and just say a big THANKYOU!

Weds 27th August: K, D & L in K Town

I have been listening to "Kitty, Daisy & Lewis" playing live on Radio 6 this evening. I often noticed this exceptionally well groomed and attired young man (seemingly from another era) around my neighbourhood and was very intruiged. I got my answer when I was introduced to him at Kashpoint a couple of months ago where I got this snap. Then I found out that he was in a band with his sisters and joined by their parents for performances. Between them they play guitar, piano, banjo, lapsteel guitar, harmonica, double bass, ukulele, drums, trombone, xylophone and accordion! They are signed to Sunday Best and have just launched thier self-titled album. Here is the video for the current single "Going Up The Country" which is shot around (in my own non-biased opinion) the best neighbourhood in London: Kentish Town.

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!