Spring Some Fashion

Entering February always feels like entering the dramatic climax to winter. The chapter where dreams - or shall we say resolutions - are broken; a cold blast before the fresh hopes of Spring bloom and change is inevitable and exciting. So what better time to check out some of the fashion talent that's waiting out there in the wings to take over the stage this Spring. 

Literary metaphors and borderline poetic ramblings aside, let's talk fashion and best of all underground labels that are as refreshing as winter sunshine (can't stop sorry)...


First up is Black Milk...
Here's a label that's really causing a stir at the moment with geeky graphic stand out pieces ranging from amazing skeleton swimsuits, cat body suits, intergalactic leggings to a Steve Buscemi Dress! Black Milk create clothes that need to be seen to be believed!

WHAT?!

Norwegian Wood are label that are consistently exciting and create clothes and jewellery that are so dramatic they're guaranteed to put a spring in your step. This label first caught everyone's attention with their corset and fringed skirts and bondage-esque harnesses loved by bloggers and fashionistas everywhere including trend mistresses Susie Bubble from Style Bubble and Queen Michelle from Kingdom of Style.

This February, Montreal based designer Abbie Johnson is set to bring us a unique collection that includes a stunning mix up of textures, from mesh to leather, an infusion of pattern and delicious colour. Inventive and oh so hip  it hurts these pieces will transform you from wallflower to exotic bloom this coming Spring.  

Norwegian Wood's marvellous creations are available on etsy and in flagship Topshops.

Equally exciting and similarly edgy is Me&Yu. This one's for guys and gals alike as their fun t-shirts are eye catching, a little tongue in cheek and unisex.  Check out their amazing new look book for evidence. These pieces will make great presents to steal back from the other half.  Perfect for making people smile as we wait for those sunny evenings and great to layer under one of their equally fun handmade sweaters. Their Spring '12 collection totally indulges the current micro-trend obsession with tie dye too. Just yes!

There you have it folks! It's time to grab a piece of brave fashion and saunter into Spring with a fashion savvy swagger. See you there!

Jack's Back

Who doesn't love Jack White! Minus the lovely Meg and fellow Mancunian red head, Karen Elson, Jack is striking out on his own and it's probably going to be pretty special. Debut album, Blunderbuss, out April 23/24 

Hop Hip

Cause they just don't make 'em like this anymore...





















Memories of long car journeys (cruisin) with my Pa listening to 'The Adventures of Grandmaster Flash on the Wheels of Steel'...good times



Happy Friday everybody!

Diary Excerpt: For Keith's Pa

I had a dream that I was Keith Richards...well not actually Keith Richards, but I did snort my dead cat’s ashes - in the dream - and then I went to Dixie Chicken and the guy behind the counter turned into yoda but his name badge said Keith and he said he wasn't yoda, but I knew it was yoda, and I asked for some chips but he wasn't listening - too busy being Yoda - so I left Dixie Chicken and got on a bus and sat next to a Ninja who was doing subuko and everyone kept staring at me because I only had one shoe on (on my hand) and I was wearing a binbag, so I got off the bus...I blame the antibiotics.

Relax - it's Sunday...

Behind the photographs

We have a few fashion shoots coming up and will be shooting on poloraid, film and digital. I particularly love shooting on film as the process is so rewarding and the results are often beautiful and surprising. Was gutted to hear about Kodak filing for bankruptcy this week as I love Tri-Ex and Extrachrome for cine-film projects.


Also remain excited by the possibilities that digital offer and combining multiple processes. Why stick to one medium when you can experiment! Will share some of the results soon...


In the meantime here are a couple of photographs I found recently.  I took these  in Paris when I was 18.

Fashion: Carnet de Mode

Carnet de Mode describe themselves as a 'Parisian temple of fashion on Internet which offers an international showcase of tomorrow’s most talented designers'. There are some really amazing collections on this super French (read: super chic) site and some great styling. Here are some highlights...

The A/W collection from Black Chapel was particularly stunning. Dark romantic gothic touches that reference the pre-raphaelites and Bram Stoker.


Their new collection is equally as edgy and covetable!

Check out these gorgeous vintage nautical style swimsuits from Maillot de Bain. Hello sailor!

This dress from French-Lebanese designer,Urban Tambourines (available via Carnet de Mode)is super wearable and on trend to boot.The A/W 11-12 collection's got a gorgeous folky vibe but this piece (the Meredith dress) definitely nods towards the 20's Great Gatsby style that's going to be inspiring us all to use Fitzgerald as style inspiration this season.

Look at how wintry this photograph by Evan Baker feels. Great styling: definite lipstick and fringe inspiration.

Carnet de Mode also have a Vimeo channel. Here's an interesting film backstage at the Dentelle photoshoot.

Making of Dentelle from Carnet de Mode on Vimeo.
We have some exciting fashion shoots coming up. Will keep you posted!

Books Reviewed

Hands up who likes books? The smell of the paper, all those lovely covers, that type, the flicker of the pages and the context to explore by starting with the publishing details...books are pretty good. 

In the age of the kindle and the availability of so much information on the web (I am not anti either of these and part of the latter) it's great to see that independent publishing is still very much alive. London is full of bookshops and markets where you can find books to suit any taste from secondhand treats on the Southbank to rare and first editions in Charing Cross, academic titles at Skoob and all kinds of art books and publications at Artwords on Broadway market. 

One of my personal favourites is the selection on offer at lc-nn in Dalston. Amongst an exciting array of cutting edge design lie a consistently inspiring selection of books on a range of topics - art, counterculture, photography, music, fashion... There's just so much here to get your teeth into, it's a veritable treasure trove of inspirational images and information for those who like to read and research. Geek it up!

Inspiration: TSO Photography

These films from TSO photography are beyond beautiful. 


This was filmed between 4th and 11th April 2011 on El Teide,Spain´s highest mountain.



The Mountain from TSO Photography on Vimeo.

This was filmed between 29th April and 10th May 2011 in the Arctic, on the archipelago Lofoten in Norway. It shows a natural phenonemom that occurs 2-4 weeks before you can see the midnight sun.

This is one of the biggest aurora borealis shows in recent years.



The Aurora from TSO Photography on Vimeo.
Stunning reminders of how inspiring nature can be. 

Fashion Wonderland

This visual feast in Wonderland Magazine's December 2011 issue was our favourite editorial of 2011 and our current inspiration for 2012. Starring the stunning model of the moment Charlotte Free (that hair!)styled by Grace Cobb and photographed by Elena Redina it's just so refreshing!

The delicious vivid colours, fun prints and brave styling are guaranteed to cheer up the most non plus cloudy January days. 

Those socks from Tabio are particularly immense and on sale at the moment. Hurry! 

Also rather tempted by pigtails (and pink hair) to embrace that inner grunge teen. These looks are just so damn youthful!

As we approach Spring 2012 what better time to embrace colour, be brave and have fun mixing up prints. Embrace the spring summer trends by mixing up those pastels with some bright colour blocking and tie dye. It's time to have fun dressing in a world of ditsy and animal print whilst adding some vintage twists ala psychedelic 70's. Adopt an anything goes attitude and see those wardrobe staples come back to life as we enter a new year and season. Let's jazz up our style and make people smile!

Diary Excerpt: Snoop

As I left the house this morning a car with tinted windows pulled up and I asked myself the question, ‘Who would I most like to get outa that car?’, and immediately thought Jimmy Saville! But then I remembered he’s dead and felt sad so I bought myself a kinder egg on the way to work but the toy was another boring little racing car with a dodgie wheel so I decided to listen to George Harrison but my ipod wasn’t charged then a weird guy on the tube asked me if I like music - a sore subject at this time - but I couldn’t put headphones on in order not to speak to him because I had no music and just wearing them would be a whole new world of weird, my ears weren't cold, so instead I pretended I was deaf and luckily mine was the next stop so I jumped off the tube then out on the street met a dog in a neck chief called Snoop and this succeeded in cheering me up for the rest of the day….

Lots of new sections coming to the blog this week so keep checking back!

The Starman!

Born in 1947 as David Jones in Brixton, London, David Bowie is a musical icon and a fashion legend, as lifelong fans we wanted to pay a little homage to the ultimate style and music chameleon on his 65th Birthday. 

 It's tempting to go on and on about David's influence on music, fashion, pop culture...but there's plenty of bio's, articles and opinions out there to sink your teeth into.


Just listen to this collaboration with Brian Eno!



The amazing editorial in the French Vogue, January 2011, music issue (a repeat of British Vogue 2003) in which Kate Moss models David Bowie's most iconic stage outfits demonstrates his status as one of the cult fashion icons...

(Let's end on a little bit of Bowie trivia) David's most consistent trademark look...

As a teenager attending Bromley Technical High School  he got into a fight over a girl with his friend, George Underwood.  Underwood was wearing a ring and caused permanent damage to Bowie’s eye. David had multiple surgeries to prevent blindness and his left eye is permantly damaged. His pupil dilated giving the appearance of being a different colour than his right giving David Bowie his trademark look of his right eye appearing blue and the left brown.


K: I grew up listening to David Bowie. My dad used to sing 'Life on Mars' to help me sleep as a child and he constantly lead a family singalong in the car. Growing up and now as a (cough) adult, I am very much aware of his influence on my love of dressing up and if I need cheering up the first record I will reach for is a David Bowie record. Thanks David! 

He wasn't too serious!

I am saving talking about Bowie's films for another time because there's too much epicness to squeeze onto the end of this post.

GUILTY PLEASURES | BRADLEY SOILEAU

                 Height 6'1 Suit 38L Shirt 15 Waist 31" Inseam 33" Shoes 11 Hair Blond Eyes Green

A very girly and lazy post sorry; but how could I not share some pictures of the stunning Bradley Soileau. 

Currently on top of his game, Solieau first came to my attention modelling Jil Sanders latest men's collection in Wonderland magazine (great mag), and having just stolen the show in Lana Del Ray's new video(meh)he's definitely the new model du jour. 

Not your average Ghandi style smooth commercial model hunk; Soileau may be a little niche, with his slightly slimmer build and all those tattoos, but he's still pretty mesmerising and surprisingly versatile having appeared in a range of amazing editorials starting with Japan Vogue. 

Admittedly this post is totally biased as slim tattooed floppy haired, slim featured men have always been my weakness - who can blame me really? Yes, I am of that 90's generation who spent their teens listening to Less than Jake and Blink 182; cooing over pictures of Travis Barker. Soileau has that can party all night, skate all day and romance a hangover into submission charm.

Whether tattoos and skateboards float(ed)your boat or not, you have to admit he's pretty damn special or at the very least a little interesting. Enjoy the pics, I know I will!