After starting this blog with the best of intentions, by the end of September I realised that having a full time job, doing my MA Final Project and running a shiny new blog was a bit much.I studied Fashion Curation pathway so my project took the form of a exhibition proposal and accompanying academic essay. Below is an introduction to my project: "Homemade Couture: 111 Years of Vogue Patterns will be one of the very few exhibitions to privilege the paper dress making pattern as an object worthy of study and display. In order to do this I have chosen to use one of the most recognizable names in fashion, Vogue. The exhibition will take the form of a company history in order to explore the changing nature and relevance of the Vogue Pattern Company. Vogue Patterns was established in 1899 and this exhibition will be held in 2010, making Vogue Patterns 111, it doesn’t have to be a landmark birthday to celebrate a companies achievements. I chose to focus on paper patterns because of the creativity they allowed the women who use them with regard to fabric choice, skirt length etc, the fact that paper patterns, especially Vogue Patterns, show how designer styles and trends were presented to the mass population and because patterns have their own particular style of illustration which can provide a record of how women are illustrated and presented throughout the 20th Century." The MA is not quite over yet, there is still the London College of Fashion MA exhibition which will be held at the Mall Galleries, London from 2nd-5th of Feb. So please come down to see the work.
With the launch of The Beatles Rockband game, the release of Dorian Gray, the long awaited opening of the expanded Topman Oxford Circus and the beefed up menswear schedule at LFW the boys are having a mainstream fashion moment.And, after years of suffering distinctly dressed down blokes it seems that slimline, smart and sharp boys will rule once again. This shape has been threatening for a few seasons now, the male silouette has got slimmer and slimmer, yet remained the preserve of scruffy music scenesters.Now, with any luck, we could see a return to the sharp mod suits of The Beatles, form flattering double breasted trenches a la Dorian Gray and clean faces thanks to the the Sharps Barber Shop concession at Topman (not to mention the suits, shown above www.topman.com). The suit, in all of its guises, has been a menswear staple throughout the 20th Century and its only since the casual wear explosion in the 1980s that it has been marginalised into workwear. We are set to see the suit become a regular fixture in pubs, clubs and high streets across the land because, lets face it, all men look better in a suit.
I saw this on www.my-wardrobe.com and need to start saving my pennies or applying for credit cards... Classy and Punky? Viv's nailed it.
I saw a girl in Kentish town with last season's small, black patent, boxy orb bag and nearly grabbed it and ran.
Fashion's Night Out, organised by Vogue was touted as "A global celebration of fashion" with similar events happening in 12 other cities across the world.Curious about this, and unsure of what would actually be happening I got off the tube at Oxford Circus after work to investigate. Topshop was the first stop, and apart from a board saying it was Fashion's Night Out and a small section of 'Vogue Edits' there was not much else to suggest the glamour and celebration promised. In fact, the highlight was spotting Noel Fielding browsing the leather trench coats.Disappointed, I made my way to New Bond St, which at first sight looked sad and deserted and going into an abandoned Fenwicks did nothing for my mood.Then, with a champagne reception at Bally and one of the Vogue staffers milling about and yet more champers and Vogue cupcakes at Follie Follie things were looking up. Anya Hindmarsh had cocktails and the opportunity to be photographed your favorite bag and the chance of winning it. Unfortunately, my photo was terrible so I stand no chance of a free bag.Once I got down into Bond Street it was a whirlwind of fabulous drinks receptions and a real party atmosphere. Mulberry had amazing berry cocktails and prize draw (which I did not win), Jimmy Choo had Kanye West blaring out the speakers and scrummy Margaritas, Longchamp had a singer in the window, good old Vivienne Westwood served delicious canapes and gin and the Burberry party was the busiest, filled with the most stylish people and celebs with a queue for the early parts of the evening.I had a truly fabulous time and thought that all the designer stores really made the effort to make it a great night. Bond Street retained its air of exclusivity, even though the event was open to all. It was a rare opportunity for fashion wannabes to glimpse the glitz close up, I truly hope there will be one next year as it is the perfect way to ring in the new fashion season in style.
I popped along to the Central Saint Martins degree show a few days ago with a friend. A regular at the pub she works in had just completed an MA in Fine Art, she mentioned to me he used to do something in fashion. It was only Robert Cary-Williams for goodness sake! After negotiating the maze that is CSM we finally found his work, and the man himself hovering close by. He greeted us, and, after a quick chat invited us to go in and have a look before saying "it looks like a bloody pop video" and disappearing.
The press release says "viewers enter an echo chamber, a darkened space interrupted by dysfunctional florescent tubes" The image above was the shadow cast on the wall by the scaffold like structure. This and the flickering old TV set were the only lights in the room and I found both eerily mesmerizing. Another viewer said she found it calming, as if you could watch it for hours and not realise where the time had gone.
It is, perhaps characteristically of Cary-Williams, very industrial and quite sharp. There was only a small space to stand and view the piece even though it filled the room. It is not interactive, you cannot walk around it or touch it, a physical barrier is created between the instillation and the viewer. As for it being like 'a pop video', I did think it could be used to beautiful effect for a fashion shoot... but then it would be a mere fashion prop rather than a piece of fine art. And I don't think Cary-Williams would want his art to play second fiddle to his fashion.
Picture: 'Wall of Sound 223.5 x 254 x 215.9. Within a room 6m x 4m (darkness)
