150615 - Simon Costin – At The V&A London > words
As part of the talks associated with the Alexander McQueen Savage Beauty show at the V&A Museum Simon Costin presented various projects and collaborations as a jewellery designer and creative set designer and more recently his role in setting up The Museum of British Folklore. For me Simon’s work for brands such as Hermes and his collaboration with the photographer Tim Walker were most inspirational in regards to my work at Vivienne Westwood in creating specific theme based ideas.
120615 – Pleasure And Pain – V&A London > words
Today we are at the V&A for extremes in footwear featuring Westwood, McQueen, Hadid and many historical equivalents.
060615 – Alexander McQueen v2 – V&A London > words
We are back at the V&A for a second visit to the Alexander McQueen exhibition. It is a member only early viewing. We arrive at 8.00am and unbelievably the exhibition is empty. We head straight for the Cabinet of Curiosities. We have the room to our selves for an hour, luxury. Breathless.
010615 - Katy England – At The V&A London > words
Working with McQueen on his third catwalk show, Katy England quickly moved into the role of Creative Director. Previously working as a stylist for various magazines, she and McQueen in her words instantly hit it off. Her Q&A conversation with Jefferson Hack gave an insight around how she and McQueen worked together to create specific outfit looks from catwalk shows to magazine covers with initially no funds and just a group of friends to help out. In one image she is famously sellotaping shoes onto models. Katy’s husband Bobby Gillespie, Primal Scream’s front man and her full family are sitting directly behind me.
310515 - Central St Martins Summer Show - Kings Cross, London > words
Fabric draped and then set in resin offer a surreal illusion, the folds and drapes suspended seemingly without support. This is a medium that could be pushed further and that has much potential. We were lucky to meet Christine Hawley at the show. It was good to see her as it has been a long time since we last taught at The Bartlett UCL, fond memories indeed.
260515 – Leigh Bowery – A curious invitation, Café Royal, London. > words
Tonight we are at a rather informal expose, given by Sue Tilley about her relationship with the Australian performer Leigh Bowery. Bowery is considered one of the more influential figures in the 1980s and 1990s London and New York City art and fashion circles. His influence reached through the fashion, club and art worlds to impact a generation and influenced amongst others, Alexander McQueen, Lucien Freud and Vivienne Westwood. Tilley, who later became known as ‘big Sue’ by artist Lucien Freud, is probably best known as the subject of his painting Benefits Supervisor Sleeping (1995). Tilley is the author of a biography of Leigh Bowery titled “Leigh Bowery, The Life and Times of an Icon”.
110515 - Apple Store window - London > words
Butterflies with mood lighting. Very Alexander McQueen. Very Gainsbury and Whiting. Beautiful.
090515 – Museum of Childhood - Bethnal Green, London > words
I am at the Museum Of Childhood today and found this Alice In Wonderland dress. I’m sure this will have a use one day.
250415 – Luxury – V&A, London > words
The V&A What is Luxury exhibition. This was a difficult exhibition as much of it seemed subjective but there were some gems such as this 3D printed coat by Iris Van Herpen and hair combs made from real hair set in resins. There was is certain richness where seventeenth century objects sit alongside contemporary on equal footing. Each a labour of love and passion created with incredible skill and dexterity, with hours, months, years put into each piece. Perhaps the ultimate luxury is the luxury of time.
230415 – VM Display – BDC, London > words
At the VM Display Show, Business Design Centre for research and meetings with old and new suppliers. Textures and tapestries in a compressed layered space.
160415 – Party – Milan, Italy > words
I’m in Milan for a few days 15-170415 for the Furniture Fair. It’s always good to re-visit Milan a city where design and craft come together in every object. Everything is displayed to perfection, stacked Louis Vuitton stools, a Neo-Rococo rocking horse, chandelier leather samples or swinging rope chairs hanging below an ornate ceiling. There was even a little time to view the architecture of Sante Maria Della Grazie and have brunch at Pasticceria Marchesi. We have an in store party tonight and it will be packed. The event management side of my work has continued to increase.
110415 – Wanderland – Saatchi Gallery, London > words
Today we are at Wanderland, the Hermes exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery. A strange fantasy themed world of flaneurs, choreographed sets, that provides some unusual surprises along with exquisite Hermes craftsmanship. En route to the show we pass a piece of chrome sheeting covered in rain turning its reflection into an Impressionist painting. Useful but when?
140315 – McGenius v1 – V&A, London > words
Even as a member of the V&A I had to book this visit months ago and I have been looking forward to it ever since. That day has arrived and I am at the Alexander McQueen exhibition. Where do I start and how do I quantify what I have just seen without gushing lyrical about one of the most intensely emotional experiences of my life. To describe this work as fantastic, incredible, perfection, sublime does it no justice. I walk from room to room with tears streaming down my face, so much talent and such a waste. 110210 will forever be remembered as one of the saddest days of my life. Every room is without fault and the sequence and collation of each room perfect. My husband burst into tears three time just watching the Kate Moss ‘peppers ghost’ appear from a cloud, float and fade into fire flies. Claire Wilcox, Sam Gainsbury, Anna Whiting, Daniel Landin have done an amazing job for this show. Recommended as a ‘must not be missed’. I will be going again.
180215 - Characters - Tokyo, Japan > words
Research project 2. From Graphics - Enclosure is defined by graphics and each graphic is a symbol of something else or somewhere else. Nowhere is this more so than in the street fashions of Tokyo. Manga and Harajuku characters live animated lives in real time Tokyo. The difference between virtual and real is impacted as film space and the animated cartoon occupies the streets. They become their own augmentation superimposed onto the texture of the ultimate collage City. See Tokyo Textures.
070215 – CSM Summer Show - Kings Cross London. > words
Mannequins in a fashion studio window at Central St Martins.
310115 – Fashion Through Paintings – National Portrait Gallery, London > words
This morning I am at the National Portrait Gallery looking at fashion through paintings and collecting details for my scrapbook.
290115 – Wigs And Powder – Maston’s, London > words
Theatre wigs from the Ray Maston Wig Studio, Charlotte St London. Research for a future window inspired by French 18th Century styles, VWSS15.
121214 – Bricolage - Holloway, London > words
Roaming the Antique shops in Holloway looking for props.
111014 – Vintage – Museum Of London > words
Vintage fashion at the Museum Of London researching among other things the Edwardian clothes of Janet Arnold’s Patterns Of Fashion: dresses and their construction 1860-1940 structure, fabric and lace. Clothes pictured were made by Madame Laferriere. Also included is an image of sixteenth century medieval shoes.
060914 – Grey Tone- Horst, V&A, London > words
Classic Couture from the 1930s photographed by Horst in delicate grey tone.