James Barnett

Katty Janneh Millinery Look Book

2012-02-10T02:22:00.000-08:00

Photography: Poppy French

Millinery: Katty Janneh

Art Direction: James Barnett

Model: Chanie

Back in December, Poppy and I shot Chanie in Katty's cosy studio down in Greenwich. It was a relatively quick shoot, and a lovely way to spend a Sunday afternoon. I think the boater is probably my favourite. For some reason, it's taken me an age to blog them. Keep your eyes peeled, Faithful Reader, for this week Poppy and I are on a look book rampage - two shoots, two collections, one exhibition and one very cold Brighton Beach to look forward too....

FEBRUARY IS NOW.

Fish February

2012-02-06T13:21:00.000-08:00

The Hannah Jerrom came to work with me this week. On Monday, we cooked a mackrel together. I was experiencing some sort of weird high/come down from the weekend so the whole experience felt hallucinatory rather than cullinary. I howled like a mad old bat sat on a stool rocking backwards and forwards. This was delicious by the way.

February is Now - A NEW SPACE AROUND THE BODY

2012-02-02T06:04:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, the team and I went along to a private view of some emerging Korean Fashion Designers at the Korean Cultural Centre, an exhibition appropriately called 'A New Space Around The Body'.

The exhibition was meticulously curated with plain timber, frosted light boxes and array of suspended and seemingly floating mannequins, all of which lent the show a typically cool edge for work of this style and provenance.

Much of the work centred on reshaping the body, transforming it and almost engulfing it - be that in a padded all in one enveloping the body from head to toe, or, quite literally, squirming through the grip of a massive clenched fist.

Check it out!

January - An Update with Love

2012-01-31T02:12:00.000-08:00

Model: Chanie Munn

Photography: Poppy French

Styling: James Barnett

Faithful Reader! I've decided that I'm going to sign off each month with a post like this to add a bit of structure to this now weary blog. Can you imagine that I started this page in 2009? Rather excitingly, I've more original content to come in the next month or so than ever before, and now I've got a swish new lense, hopefully this blog will seem a little more grown up. Keep checking out the Flickr for photo updates (screw Facebook with its totally illegible Timeline nonsense) and stay tuned for more Chanie, Katty Janneh millinery, London Fashion Week and the major windows scheme I'm currently working on.

Brick Lane Saturday

Abode

Matt Pyke at St Martins Lane Hotel curated by Crane TV

Olek at Tony's Gallery on Brick Lane

And just about my favourite sight in the world right now - this unintentional light installation at the building site that will eventually become Whitechapel's new Premier Inn for the Olympics.

Nice.

NEW YORK - January 2012 (7)

2012-01-30T05:52:00.000-08:00

SIGHTS AND SOUNDS

Empire State Building View - actually like being in a film.

The 9/11 Memorial - simple and stunning.

The wind blowing the water straight out of the fountains.

Lights and trees.

New York Times.

Steaming pipes.

Whilst I was in NYC I thought it best to do a bit of research into how they do window displays. I liked the simple and stylish approach adopted by Barney's; a gauze covering back lit studio scenario.

I also checked out Bergdorf Goodman, a smaller high end department store who are also renowned for their intricate windows. I actually captured them mid install - which was quite a strange feeling as their windows production team seemed to mirror ours!

NEW YORK - January 2012 (6)

2012-01-30T05:31:00.000-08:00

Maurizio Cattelan at the Guggenheim

It was something of a lifelong ambition to go to the Guggenheim, and I was just in time to see the epic Maurizio Cattelan retrospective which was taking centre stage, quite literally, suspended in the giant central atrium of the extraordinary gallery space. With each floor, spectators were able to get a different perspective of this epic collection. Of all the things we saw in New York, this was pretty much the stand out.

NEW YORK - January 2012 (5)

2012-01-26T11:08:00.000-08:00

JFK

Favourites.

NEW YORK - January 2012 (4)

2012-01-26T11:01:00.000-08:00

The Metropolitan Museum - literally full of everything.

Ceiling:

Tappestry:

Perseus, Medusa and me:

Warrior Miriam:

Go See!

NEW YORK - January 2012 (3)

2012-01-26T10:46:00.000-08:00

On the Sunday of our trip, the fam and I visited the American Natural History Museum next to Central Park in New York.

The evolution of man? My family become the exhibition at The Natural History Museum.

The best taxidermy and displays ever?!

Amazing African tribal outfit made from snail shells:

Michael and Mastadon:

Reindeer Dinosaur:

Nice.

NEW YORK - January 2012 (2)

2012-01-20T06:45:00.000-08:00

Where to begin, eh? This time last week I was scouring the floors of MOMA - so thats where I'll start. What a fantastic space - the diversity of the art on display was incredible, and the gallery itself was excellently curated.

Big love for the Fluxus exhibit.

Daniel Spoerri 'Kichka's Breakfast' (1960)

Natsuyuki Nakanishi 'Compact Object' (1962)

The New Photography exhibition was pretty inspirational too.

Sanja Ivekovik's 'Sweet Violence' takeover dominated the gallery's central atrium, whilst her screwed up paper scuptures littered the floors and corridors of her exhibition rooms.

I needed longer here to really appreciate it all, but thats for another trip with more time to consider things.

NEW YORK - January 2012

2012-01-18T09:56:00.000-08:00

www.flickr.com/makemeaoffer

We came. We saw. We froze.

January is Now - FUCK THE JETLAG

2012-01-10T02:31:00.000-08:00

Faithful Reader, I'm about to take MAKEMEAOFFER TRANSATLANTIC. Watch this space.

In the meantime, you can enjoy these shots taken with the new Cannon and Poppy French's SAFARI LENSE - There are no rhinos or giraffes in Surrey, so you'll have to make do with these cows and a pheasant instead.

I am so jetlagged at the moment - 3:00am starts are beginning to take their toll. I've got no idea why I've not gone back to normal following last weeks night shifts - perhaps my body is trying to prepare itself for the LONG HAUL.

Also, in the process of clearing out my video camera in preparation for the TRAVEL, I came across this fairly lovely short video I'd recorded whilst Poppy and I shot the beautiful Ayla at Dizzy Finch Studios last May. Read about that shoot here.

Poppy French Photography from James Barnett on Vimeo.

Selfridges Bright Young Things 2012 - Oxford Street Windows

2012-01-07T03:01:00.000-08:00

#SelfridgesBYT

Nuha Razik -

Photographer and Set Design.

Shaun Samson -

Menswear designer.

Becky Sloan -

Prop maker.

Maarten Van Der Horst -

Womenswear designer.

Archie McLeish -

Illustrator.

William Richard Green -

Menswear designer.

Sorcha O'Raghallaigh -

Womenswear designer.

Oliver Ruuger -

Accessories designer.

Adam Andraiscik -

Womenswear designer.

Adam Towner and Katy Gray aka Tinker and Tailor -

Events curators and product designers.

Selfridges Bright Young Things 2012 - Duke Street Windows

2012-01-07T02:33:00.000-08:00

Future Map -

This window celebrates the winners of the Future Map University of the Arts scheme.

Alice Lee -

Design knitwear duo.

Jack Coleman -

Full time coffee roaster.

Tom Lipop -

Menswear and Accessories designer.

Alex Mattson -

Menswear designer.

Astrid Anderson -

Menswear designer.

Masc -

Womenswear design duo.

Selfridges Bright Young Things 2012 - It's Nice That

2012-01-07T00:18:00.000-08:00

It's Nice That, the online creative hot house, blog and magazine, have taken residence in the Selfridges Concept Store and Wonder Room windows.

Working from the store's New Years theme of 'Words Words Words', the team have designed one of the barmiest installations ever to grace the Selfridges windows. Customers can crank a handle to deposit in their hands a ball which can then be cracked open revealing a word and its meaning, which they can then take away with them. Amazeballs!

The blog have also curated these specal sculptures which line the Orchard Street windows:

Go check them out!

Selfridges Bright Young Things 2012 MAKING OF

2012-01-06T14:59:00.000-08:00

Photographer Poppy French was in residence at Selfridges over the three nights the Bright Young Things windows were installed. She captured the blood, sweat and tears that went into putting these special windows together. Check out her website here. And a Selfridges first - is this the future of windows? Follow the hashtag on twitter - as promoted on the glass itself! Join the conversation: Words, words, words!

Alex Mattson's window takes shape, designed and made under the watchful eye of set designer Samara Tompsett.

The Triumph Motorcycle which forms the centre piece of Alex Mattson's window, arrives in store!

Nuha Razik hard at work getting her installation finished in time.

Finishing touches to Tom Lipops fantastic paper suit.

Katy Gray getting to grips with a seriously large amount of collaging for the Tinker & Tailor installation.

Shaun Samson and his pinaatas.

And Becky Sloan plus the two Tom's all smiles during the first night of the install.

Selfridges Bright Young Things 2012 TAKEOVER NIGHT 2

2012-01-05T10:20:00.000-08:00

Faithful Reader! This morning, the second night of the Bright Young Things 2012 TAKEOVER came to an end, and things are looking good. We're about three windows away from finishing the install, and after a little bit of fine tuning, we'll be ready to unveil them to the public on Friday morning. The official BYT 2012 list has been unveiled here on the Selfridges website, and already the scheme is garnering some great press interest in GRAZIA and at Marie Claire online as well as Fred Butlers blog. Remember to follow the #selfridgesbyt hashtag on twitter to see the launch tomorrow, and stay tuned for more pics as the windows are unveiled.

Mannequins:

Frills:

Colourama!

Selfridges Bright Young Things 2012 TAKEOVER NIGHT 1

2012-01-04T10:00:00.000-08:00

This morning we completed the first night shift of the Selfridges Bright Young Things 2012 TAKEOVER. With almost 100 people joining the regular Selfridges Window's crew for this special install, things were a little chaotic to begin with, but by about 11:00pm (after the motorbikes had arrived...) everyone had found their groove and a steady pace of making took place right through to 7:00am this morning. At the time of writing, we have about three complete windows (looking fantastic) with the aim to get the rest of them all done by the end of tonights shift (somewhere around 8:00am tomorrow!) Remember to follow the twitter hashtag #selfridgesbyt to see the production of these special windows installed, and check back tomorrow for more behind the scenes pictures.

The top image comes straight out of William Richard Green's window...

Helping out Sorcha O'Raghallaigh with some sight lines...

The BYT cutouts arrive - hello T. Lipop:

Poppy French between shooting lots of amazing behind the scenes pics.

Becky Sloan props...

Alex Mattson's light show:

And the walk home through Shadwell this morning once we were finished for the night.

Friday is launch morning - stay tuned.

2012 NOW

2012-01-03T10:06:00.000-08:00

WELCOME TO THE FUTURE

Faithful Reader - 2012 is here. Lets start as mean to go on.

There is so much happening over the next month or so, its a bit unreal.

Over the next three nights, Selfridges hands over its windows for another Bright Young Things takeover. Stick around for updates and profiles of the designers involved and some lovely behind the scenes snaps. Friday we launch - GET READY!

Next week sees this years first EXCURSION to a foreign land. Much excitement will ensue (and pictures - don't forget the pictures!)

AND stay tuned for a fantastic set of images constructed by Poppy French and I in collaboration with the stunning Chanie Munn, London's freshest model talent, and milliner Katty Janneh. http://www.poppyfrench.com/

The future lay in this direction!

FLASHBACK - DECEMBER 2011

2011-12-29T07:58:00.000-08:00

2012 is coming. Lets have a gander back over the year that was.

DECEMBER

BACK TO BROWN

*Pics courtesy of one Miss Hannah Jerrom and her disposable goodness.

FLASHBACK - NOVEMBER 2011

2011-12-21T12:07:00.000-08:00

2012 is coming. Lets have a gander back over the year that was.

NOVEMBER

MOVE - 4th flat of the year is moved into.
Hello East London. New flatmates result in dubious cooking choices - hello Iceland Frozen Fish based commodities.

Versace for H and M goodness. The twin is preparing to bling up Christmas Day with THE studded pleated skirt.

Watch this space.

CARDIFF ROADTRIP

Party party?

And play time...

FLASHBACK - OCTOBER 2011

2011-12-21T11:51:00.000-08:00

2012 is coming. Lets have a gander back over the year that was.

OCTOBER

This was the month that disappeared. Christmas came and went for me over three months ago. Having been working on the White Christmas scheme for what seems like 6 months, it all came down to a 7 night install at the end of the month.

The Christmas windows are definitely the best ones I've worked on and my favourite as a whole. I'm big excited for whats to come at Selfridges next year, with some seriously beautiful installations coming in the windows over the next few months (more of this come January - it will be BRIGHT - it will be YOUNG - it will have THINGS in them [that last one doesn't work. Shame.] Anyway, on top of that, there is the scheme that I've helped design which is well wicked cool.

Anyway, what else? Oh yeah - SHE RETURNS. Hannah Jerrom and I start from where we left off one year previously for the SEQUEL. More in the new year.

George and I win big at the Visual Merchandising Awards ceremony and I get a pat on the bum from Biggins. Good Times. Stair Lifts were ridden.

Finally, Poppy and I unite once again for a collision with online jewellery store STUDDED AND STONED to shoot their lookbook. We were happy.

FLASHBACK - SEPTEMBER 2011

2011-12-21T11:37:00.000-08:00

2012 is coming. Lets have a gander back over the year that was.

SEPTEMBER

This month seems to have been consumed by Fashion Week, which I hit hard this season (never again). I narrated Craig Lawrence's SS12 show, once again in the Portico Rooms at Somerset House.

The difference in feeling from 9 months previously was insane - the sense of anticipation and tension in the room before the show started was insane and I've not felt as nervous as that since I was about 8.

The parents come to London. We go to an art show together. They enjoy it. We have what ends up being one of the best days out together since I've lived in London. The die is cast. We are going. 2012. The year of travel. Watch. This. Space. They are returning. We are returning. A SEQUEL is being made.

FLASHBACK - AUGUST 2011

2011-12-21T11:13:00.001-08:00

2012 is coming. Lets have a gander back over the year that was.

AUGUST

The London Riots. This was all so strange. How readily we all accepted it. They shut TESCOs early.

The Museum of Everything launches at Selfridges, showcasing the work of artists with mental health problems and physical disabilities.

FLASHBACK - JULY 2011

2011-12-21T11:12:00.000-08:00

2012 is coming. Lets have a gander back over the year that was.

JULY

LOVEBOX amazingness. Beth Ditto passing out. The Circus dance stage. Acapella. Soft Cell. INVISIBLE LIGHT. And much rain. So good.

Technicolourology launches at Selfridges.

I get Poppy French in for a bit of Visual Communication and Pompoms.

One of my faves of the year.

FLASHBACK - JUNE 2011

2011-12-21T11:05:00.000-08:00

2012 is coming. Lets have a gander back over the year that was.

JUNE

3rd Time Lucky? We move to South London. Another flat. The third in less than six months. A South London Adventure. What is there to take from this time? Perhaps that south of the river is not the end of the world and that the RVT is a better night out than any gay night in East London. Ever.

AQUA Menswear launch party:

Holiday [Celebrate] to Marbs [No Carbs]

The Marbella Belles?

Perhaps not.

FLASHBACK - MAY 2011

2011-12-21T10:55:00.000-08:00

2012 is coming. Lets have a gander back over the year that was.

MAY

Poppy French and I collaborate on the first of a load of bits and pieces we would end up doing over the year (more to come - possibly before this year is out - theres space in the December Flashback post that needs filling!) Anyway, this one was for a competition. I think we came second in the end (we probably came last) but I was pleased with these. We ate MacDonalds. It was nice.

Project: Ocean launches at Selfridges - the most intense install I've done so far. So much press interest, and Prince Charles came too. Nice work.

Seeing Isberg and The Woods at Back Hill designed by my chum Stephanie Johns:

Good times!

FLASHBACK - APRIL 2011

2011-12-21T10:45:00.000-08:00

2012 is coming. Lets have a gander back over the year that was.

APRIL

Living in Leicester Square meant that I couldn't escape one of the biggest events this country has witnessed in recent years. The Royal Wedding was well exciting.

Soho street parties, drunkeness in Hyde Park and Royal Wedding souvenirs all round. It was one of the happiest days ever. We had a flag, I almost died putting it up but that didn't matter. We also saw one of the best shows ever:

Kylie Minogues Aphrodite tour at the O2. St-u-ning, sweaty, wet and full of lush nakedness. Amazing.

Still standing:

And having another work outing with Selfridges to Print Club London which was fun times:

FLASHBACK - MARCH 2011

2011-12-21T10:35:00.000-08:00

2012 is coming. Lets have a gander back over the year that was.

MARCH

Wild Wood scheme at Selfridges launches:

Saturday Twin Love In:

A Design Museum installation for Fashion Fringe winner Corrie Nielsen was completed:

FLASHBACK - FEBRUARY 2011

2011-12-21T10:27:00.000-08:00

2012 is coming. Lets have a gander back over the year that was.

FEBRUARY

Another month, another flat. Moving one block down the road, our new abode is above HONG NING in China Town, right next to Leicester Square Tube Station.

OMG. How we would survive there till June is anyones guess. But we did. BLONDE AMBITION:

I was asked if I wanted to narrate Craig Lawrence's salon presentation in the Portico Rooms for his AW11 show, which I whole heartedly agreed to do.

FLASHBACK - JANUARY 2011

2011-12-21T10:16:00.000-08:00

2012 is coming. Lets have a gander back over the year that was.

JANUARY

In January, I moved back to London following my 6 month stint working at the school. Hello Flat Number 1: Shaftsbury Avenue.

I also completed a window for Craig Lawrence for the Selfridges 'Bright Young Things' scheme - which would of course, lead to wonderful things.

I started full time at Selfridges towards the end of Jan - exciting.

There was still time for a Wetherspoons dance in Guildford it would seem; DANCING ON VICE:

DECEMBER - An Update With Love

2011-12-12T06:34:00.000-08:00

Faithful Reader! It's been an age since I last updated - this month has been busybusy, though January is going to be even more full on (more of that later....) Firstly, here's another interview I gave to 'Round and About' magazine about the Selfridges Christmas windows. This free magazine is posted through every letterbox in Surrey and Hampshire, so I like to think I'm being read about on every toilet across the South East. Good times. The twin and I hit Cardiff a few weeks back, which was both exciting for wind related scary times on the Severn Bridge and for seeing THE VENUE for next years THE WEDDING. Yes, its coming. 2012. And I'm decorating it. More of that soon. Anyway, what else? Carmen and I went on this contraption in the adult park at Brick Lane on Sunday: It was very fun. She wore her green coat, I wore my new blue coat: This has been bought for January's excursion. Oh yes. 2012 begins with TRAVEL. Anyway, at work last Thursday, we spent the day comp shopping, taking in the window displays of every other department store in London and howling, gasping and gushing in equal measure. We loved the Fortnum windows. We took a bit of time out to eat every sweet on offer in the Dover Street Market cafe (all delicious - the crumble was the best though) Then we took in the 'IN YOUR FACE' exhibition at SHOWstudio, where I got to see this Gareth Pugh creation up close for the first time (its amazing etc.) Then, another brief visit to the Pipilotti Rist exhibition was in order: See post below. Then, to Vyner Street for a private view hosted by The John Hour - Raven Smith, Emma Gibson and Emily Pugh's arts collective. You can catch Emily's beautiful swarm of Cranes floating around the Selfridges Wonder Room at the moment, but have a monkey she'd made for the exhibition here: Tuesday was spent getting very excited about the Christmas party, where there was a very flattering photobooth: Wednesday, was hangover day, and a chance for us to put up and decorate some Christmas Trees for Aston Martin at various showrooms over London: Then this weekend ended with another photoshoot collaboration with MISS POPPY FRENCH. This time a milliner let us loose with their collection. Boobs and jellies were involved. Should be good: On the way back home through Deptford, I saw this painting on the wall of a newsagents: I was astounded at the similarities between this and the Menswear scheme I've co designed for next March's Selfridges windows (more on this soon - EXCITING!) Good lord - what a load of whitter. Where was I? So January, its going to be exciting. I'm going somewhere on a plane. And its going to be cold. And its going to be amazing. OMG. Watch this space.

A STAFF CHRISTMAS PARTY

2011-12-12T06:16:00.000-08:00

We partied hard and in style. This was no party in the office - this was full on rave in a disused hotel - JOB LOVE. I touched Kitty from X Factor, and Ollie and Amber from The Only Way is Chelseas Geordie Scouswives were there, pretending to DJ - lush!

GIRLS GIRLS GIRLS

2011-12-12T06:05:00.001-08:00

Just some Babes I've been hanging out with lately.

Pipilotti Rist at The Hayward Gallery

2011-12-05T11:16:00.000-08:00

So good I saw it twice. Get down to this exhibition before it goes. LOVE - EYEBALL MASSAGE - UNTIL JANUARY 8TH 2012

Sequel - Hannah Jerrom and James Barnett Return

2011-11-30T09:38:00.000-08:00

London is massive and insurmountable and you need to be brave and ballsy to live here which I am not - I'm parochial and cowardly and scared of lots of things. At last. Time to share. To coincide with a lovely feature by online arts blog NOMIO, I thought this would be an appropriate time to share with you some of the new material Hannah and I have been working on. Since graduating last July, Hannah and I have worked on only a handfull of projects together - performing for the Barbican, working on a fashion feature for Sorcha O'Raghallaigh, Lovebox and Club Wish, and the Secret Cinema. In October we donned the leotards and started afresh. This collaboration has now become an ongoing project between our other lives. We are back for more, and hope you, Faithful Reader, don't mind joining us. Taking full advantage of the incredible washing room space at my last residence, Hannah and I danced with machines and continued the exploration of our bodies through integration with the found objects we uncovered.

The full video work we produced will be online at some point, but we're not rushing this Sequel - oh Faithful Reader - the things we will be showing you come late January. We've got parties to go to, people to interview, bands to perform with and long distance travels to far away lands. We are returning. This is only the beginning. We hope you enjoy.

Things I Have Seen Recently

2011-11-21T05:45:00.000-08:00

Lynne Ramsay's 'We Need To Talk About Kevin'. An incredibly powerful film which left me slightly overwhelmed. It builds to an almost unbearable intensity. Meticulously shot. Tilda Swinton is brilliant. 'A Long Night In London' at The Network Theatre. The intimate Network Theatre space under Waterloo station was an appropriate backdrop to this small scale yet affecting dramatisation of the Bethnal Green Tube disaster of 1943 - the worst civillian disaster of World War 2. Postmodernism 'Style and Subversion' at the V&A. Bits and pieces of this collection were quite good, but I felt strangely disconnected to the exhibition as a whole, and the overal curation was spectacularly misjudged. It felt a bit 'try hard'. In complete contrast, the Pipilotti Rist: 'Eyeball Massage' exhibition at the Hayward Gallery has ended up being one of my favourite exhibitions in a long, long time. The future lay in this direction - a properly immersive experience. Spectators are invited to lay on the floor on body shaped mattresses and watch the projections unfold around them. This felt a little bit like the future of cinema. I was in there for a good hour. Go check this one out, and don't be afraid to lie down in the dark. Tacita Dean at the Tate Modern. A really beautiful lament for the medium of film. Worth seeing. The Linbury Prize contenders at the National - a great little exhibition of scenic design. Check this out before the winner is announced. The Soulwax Machine - best promotional film ever. EVER! Versace for H&M - it came, I bought, everyone else did too, I cried a little. The end.

Ex Stasis Matthew Stone feature - Dazed and Confused

2011-11-21T01:54:00.000-08:00

I rarely post full editorials from other magazines and blogs, but I'm making an exception for this stunning feature by Matthew Stone, Katy England and Ricardo Tisci for the 2011 October issue of Dazed and Confused. I want to make images like this. Simply - The - Best.

November - An Update With Love

2011-11-07T10:12:00.000-08:00

Hi Faithful Reader. It's November. My favourite time of year, I think. I like the autumn, all the colours and the misty cold and the strange light. I don't like the darkness though. It makes me feel a bit claustrophobic. Anyway, today I've met Russians, cleaned my boots and sorted through much stuff - namely a lot of GCSE art pieces which have lain dormant in a spare bedroom for years. So whilst my mother peeled Kitkat wrappers from one time favourite boots (ex GCSE Broadwater School art students will know what I'm talking about) I sorted through lots of old embroidery pieces: yes - once, long ago, Faithful Reader, I used to be an obsessive embroiderer. I got a bit textiley during my A-Levels and even contemplated doing this full time. Materials of choice: wall paper, gold leaf, baking paper and calico. I embroidered all sorts, from giant self portraits to Debbie Harry motifs, to the alphabet. I'm not sure what to do with all of it, but its still nice to look at.

Creating A White Christmas at Selfridges

2011-11-03T04:14:00.000-07:00

Watch a fantastic Making Of stop motion video of the windows being installed here!

Oxford Street last night - OMG!

Selfridges White Christmas (4) Orchard and Duke Street Windows

2011-11-01T06:59:00.000-07:00

As promised, here are the Selfridges White Christmas windows along Duke Street and Orchard Street. The Orchard Street windows are occupied by the fantastic work of Marc Quinn, whose stunning giant orchid sculpture stands mighty through a blizzard as the whole window is transformed into a raging snow globe: The hypnotic Troika Thixotrope light installation in the Selfridges atrium: Don't forget you can click on the Selfridges White Christmas label to read the full making of!

Selfridges White Christmas (3) Installation and ATOM site visit

2011-11-01T05:49:00.000-07:00

Here are some shots I managed to take mid installation of the windows. They give some idea of the size and scale of the props and spaces we were working with. The Moon takes it position: Paper decorations: Paper explosion! Manequin hanging - lots of hanging (achey arms, sleepy beaver etc.) The Bell Dress fits into position - just! Our first night was soley taken up laying the floors and draping the windows: Emily Pugh's fantastic Wonder Room installation of a thousand cranes: Mattress disaster! The seriously impressive Troika Thixotropes atrium installation before it was suspended. And in motion: Also, here are some really exciting shots from the prop company ATOM who made all of the fantastic props for our Christmas scheme. Based in Sunningdale, the Windows Production Team took an afternoon out just before install to take a look at the props being made and have a snoop around ATOM HQ. The Moon globe in production: The full scale mock up of the Marc Quinn sculpture and snow test area: Music Box: The Bell Dress: Reindeer (minus antlers!) Cracker Dress: Colourama: The beautiful music box prop: Exciting!

Selfridges White Christmas (2) Oxford Street Windows The Launch

2011-10-28T08:15:00.000-07:00

Faithful Reader! This feels as though its been a year in the making, and finally we can now share with you the fruits of our labour! After 7 gruelling (though very well planned!) night shifts, the Selfridges White Christmas windows launched this morning. I'm going to take you through a very comprehensive 'Making Of', which you can follow by clicking the tab labelled Selfridges White Christmas at the bottom of this post. Have a gander, enjoy, and most important of all - Merry Christmas!

Oxford Street:

Selfridges White Christmas (1) In Production

2011-10-28T00:30:00.000-07:00

Sourcing, buying, sampling, prepping, testing - thats what the first few weeks of production entails. There is more pressure than ever to get things right for the Christmas Windows, so work started early. Once again, our production team insisted on making a lot of the props themselves, and with a lot of extra help, we were able to crack on and take on more than we had ever done before.

Extreme mattress buying for the mountain: Recycling some Royal Wedding Chairs which were then sprayed up and gave extended legs: A giant paper hat test: Mountain or Tree? Mountain mock up: The wigwam in production: Styling in motion! Single Ladies (Put Your Hands Up) Paper Testing! White Wash For Your Life! And the tent, hanging out to dry back at my flat after it needed a bit of a wash!

A Post Of Things Part 8

2011-10-19T12:03:00.000-07:00

More, More, More! Great images which I've come across over the last couple of weeks. Faithful Readers will have to be patient over the next few days - it's that time again when I become an owl and turn nocturnal....Christmas is coming. If you close your eyes now and then open them in the morning, it will be Christmas day...or something. Goodbye daytime, I'll see you next Thursday.

Museum Of Everything Party Frieze 2011 Selfridges Hotel

2011-10-14T01:31:00.000-07:00

Frieze 2011 has almost finished - but at the start of the week, the current residents of Selfridges, The Museum of Everything, hosted another of their notoriously good Frieze parties in the fantastic warehousesque setting of the disused Selfridges Hotel. Projections and 3D pieces made by the artists showing in exhibition #4 were displayed throughout the space, whilst the crowd sampled cocktails and took to the dance floor between the brass band and orchestra performing at random intervals. Good times had by all.

A Post Of Things Part 7

2011-10-14T01:26:00.000-07:00

Well, its been a fairly horrendous last couple of weeks, but I've managed to keep snapping things I've come across during my days - all these snaps were taken on my blackberry so excuse the fuzzy quality!

Laura dons some rather questionable styling samples at work...Visiting the Spinnaker Tower with the twin a couple of weeks back. A good opportunity for a GIRTH shot. Hannah, attacked by my pet sea gull: Oxford Street Christmas lights arrive: Some lovely instore VM at Selfridges: The Hindhead Tunnel - experienced for the first time last week: Googly Eyes: Flower Power back in Surrey - lovely! Lost Dog - DIVA! Dead Cool icon indeed....VETOED: Nice.

VM Display Awards 2011

2011-10-14T01:23:00.000-07:00

So last Friday, George and I were invited guests to the RVM Display Awards ceremony 2011, held in the Connaught Rooms in Covent Garden, and hosted by none other than Christopher Biggins. It was a big, overblown affair, full to the brim with people working in the industry I've recently fallen into. Completely unexpectedly, we won an award for best window graphics which meant we had to go on stage, pick it up and pose for seriously cheesey pictures with Biggins. Good times. A nice meal and messy DISCO ensued. I think I've only just recovered. Suited and booted: As an aside, I happened to come across this GIANT MANEQUIN in the windows of an estate agents on Kennington. These people will definitely not be winning any awards for VM:

October - An Update With Love

2011-10-03T09:49:00.000-07:00

Faithful Reader! I've returned at last - my post London Fashion Week blogging fatigue has subsided and its time to move onto pastures new. Exciting and scary things are happening at the moment but it feels good to be actively producing some new Creative Stuff. Poppy French and I recently collaborated with an online jewellery store to produce some new splash pages for their website, the fruits of which can be seen in the post below: A last burst of colour, shape, and bling to dazzle us into the next season. It seems fitting that these pictures should surface against the glorious sunshine we're all experiencing at the moment. Poppy French has given me free reign to blog these whilst she galavants around AFREEKA! snapping all things tusks and hoofs. That should be the name of a shop: TUSK AND HOOF. Nice. Anyway, enjoy this update - and between you and me, more is coming. Oh yes. Things are stiring. I've been naked (shut it you!), I've been dancing, hell, I've even been in a leotard.

She Returns. It's coming. The Sequel.

WATCH THIS SPACE

Poppy French and James Barnett: Studded and Stoned

2011-10-03T09:38:00.001-07:00

Studded and Stoned is an online jewellery store who contacted Miss Poppy French: Visual Communicator (Yes!) about shooting some of the brands they stock in order to update their website. I was called upon to assist in the Set Design/Art Direction (Yes!), and we worked with a crack team [full credit list to follow] in a tiny but fantastically equiped studio space in Fullham to produce some of these lovely shots. We hope you like: Nice.

City and Guilds of London MA Fine Art Show 2011

2011-10-03T09:26:00.000-07:00

Just before London Fashion Week took over my life, I took my parents along to the City and Guilds of London MA Fine Art Show 2011 which just happened to be exhibiting on my doorstep. Faithful Readers may remember in June that I visited the BA degree show, which was fantastic, so I had high hopes for this and it didn't disappoint. My favourite work on show was by Adeline De Monseignat - 'Furry Eyeballs' - acyrllic baubles stuffed witkh fur and planted amongst a deposit of sand: Simple, beautiful and strangely satisfying. Mother and Father enjoying some of the more interactive displays: Some other stand out pieces: I love the workspace of the college and it just made me yearn for a studio like this again to work in and spend all day just making things. Love this picture of Michael and The Head In The Living Room. Nice.

London Fashion Week SS12 Day 6: Topman Design Catwalk Show

2011-09-21T10:34:00.000-07:00

Wow - so this is it Faithful Reader, the final show of the day and my last Fashion Week blog post. It's been intense, and I've seen a serious amount of fashion. The Topman Design show at the Royal Opera House this lunch time was very exciting - expensive looking silk prints with a Morocan influence, tailored into pyjama bottoms, shirts, trench coats (amazing) and a bomber jacket (also amazing). An army of skinny models roamed down the catwalk holding patent clutches and satchels watched over by a celebrity audience including Nick Grimshaw and Rick Edwards. This collection is called 'Rebellious Decadence' and was styled by Bryan McMahon. Excited for when this hits the stores.

Celeb Watch!

London Fashion Week SS12 Day 6: MAN Show Fashion East Martine Rose

2011-09-21T10:26:00.000-07:00

The Fashion East MAN show took place against the beautiful setting of the Royal Opera House this morning. Up first was the first of two Selfridges Bright Young Things: Martine Rose. Thoughts: Unusual model choices, wearable, chunky boots, loose fitting tailored shirts, stripes and more print. Flashes of red styling, underskirts and shorts. Strong show.

London Fashion Week SS12 Day 6: MAN Show Fashion East Shaun Samson

2011-09-21T10:17:00.000-07:00

Finally, Shaun Samson - serious rainbow colour, blocky pattern cutting, buff models.

Nice.

London Fashion Week SS12 Day 6: MAN Show Fashion East Matthew Miller

2011-09-21T10:03:00.000-07:00

Next up, Bright Young Thing Matthew Miller. Thoughts: almost began as sports wear turning into formal. Lots of white and beige to begin with then bursts of prints, neons, pinks and distorted silhouettes with white materials.

London Fashion Week SS12 Day 6: Catwalk Show James Long

2011-09-21T09:55:00.001-07:00

James Long's SS12 catwalk show - some thoughts: Swept back hair, sunglasses, snakeskin shirts and shorts, grey shorts, chunky beige knits. The collection transformed during the catwalk from muted beiges to metalics and gun metal oily synthetics; the gold trench coat was amazing. Printed leather - topnotch.

London Fashion Week SS12 Day 6: Menswear Exhibition Agi and Sam

2011-09-21T09:44:00.000-07:00

Prints, texture, and lurid colours at the Agi and Sam exhibition today.

London Fashion Week SS12 Day 6: Exhibition Astrid Andersen

2011-09-21T09:33:00.000-07:00

Astrid Andersen's second collection is an impressive amalgamation of streetwear and delicate lace work - only she could get away with this. Impressively made.

London Fashion Week SS12 Day 6: Menswear Exhibition

2011-09-21T09:29:00.000-07:00

William Richard Green's impressive stand:

I love this vest!

Dr Noki's NHS:

Sister by Sibling headpiece:

London Fashion Week SS12 Day 6: Catwalk Christopher Shannon

2011-09-21T09:24:00.000-07:00

LFW Menswear - final day. Christopher Shannon at the BFC tent in Somerset House. Patchwork elements, hybridised sports and formal wear, light fabrics rigourously tailored. Tasseled shirts, reminded me of flags - these models were waving the flags of Shannon! Wearable boulevard chic - with a catwalk entrance of palm leaves. Nice prints too.

London Fashion Week SS12 Day 6: Exhibition Kyle Hopkins

2011-09-21T09:20:00.000-07:00

Kyle Hopkins has only completed his first year at CSM, but has amassed an enviable client list, including Beth Ditto. His skills as a designer and maker are startling; he told me he had been making jewellery since the age of six. This guy is going to go very far.

London Fashion Week SS12 Day 6: NEWGEN Exhibition

2011-09-21T09:17:00.000-07:00

Some up close details of some of the collections on display in the NEWGEN sheds:

Michael Van Der Ham (you get a much clearer sense of his layering approach).

James Long's sequined collars from his womenswear SS12 collection.

Holly Fulton accessories (like the owl inspired clutch)

London Fashion Week SS12 Day 6: Menswear Presentation Aquascutum

2011-09-21T09:15:00.001-07:00

This morning, the Menswear day began with an Aquascutum presentation held in the Navy board rooms at Somerset House. This was an old school brand presenting in a fairly edgy, forward thinking style. Six models festooned in the brand stood in a specially constructed series of mirrored booths in front of a champagne sipping crowd. Sharp and sophisticated.

London Fashion Week SS12 Day 5: Presentation Oliver Ruuger

2011-09-21T09:03:00.000-07:00

Oliver Ruuger appeared on my radar about two months back. Ruuger studied at the Royal College of Art. He told me he likes to create collages of images to aide in his ideas process. From these, he draws from the strange, hybridised shapes he creates and turns them into the real thing. Material of choice: Horse hair, leather and studs. Seriously talented - he put on a bloody good presentation cum installation in the Freemasons Hall, Covent Garden, pitching it somewhere between Dali, Harry Potter, S&M and Mary Poppins. One to watch.

London Fashion Week SS12 Day 5: Exhibition Somerset House

2011-09-21T08:55:00.001-07:00

Exhibition bits which caught my eye.

Claudia Catzeflis - craftsmanship:

Collar details - beautiful:

NEWGEN:

Dr Noki Estethica:

Jordan Askill - moulded resin jewellery:

London Fashion Week SS12 Day 5: Exhibition Nazir Mazhar

2011-09-21T08:48:00.000-07:00

Love checking out Nazir Mazhar's latest collections - he was showing once again in the NEWGEN sheds, and had a ghetto presentation at the Old Eurostar Tunnel, which I never saw but could definitely hear!

London Fashion Week SS12 Day 5: NEWGEN Exhibition Jackie. JS Lee

2011-09-21T08:46:00.000-07:00

I didn't make it to Jackie. JS Lee's presentation so headed down to the NEWGEN sheds to check out the collection - severe tailoring with embossed collars and lapels. Minimalism, stark, power dressing.

London Fashion Week SS12 Day 5: NEWGEN Exhibition Craig Lawrence

2011-09-21T08:42:00.001-07:00

Here are some close up snaps of Craig Lawrence's Martin Parr inspired collection - all rose gold yarn and swarovski embellishments. This is how the collection is best sampled - in the flesh. The detailing on each of the pieces is unbelievable. The illustrations are by Stephen Doherty.

My absolute Fashion Week highlight of the season.

London Fashion Week SS12 Day 5: Presentation Alex Noble

2011-09-20T15:03:00.000-07:00

Wow. Alex Noble's SS12 presentation was simple, but breathtakingly beautiful - the corseting, the illustration, the scarfs, the prints, the blouses, the kimono! Everything. The Future Gallery at Leicester Square proved a slick backdrop which Noble's exhibition could be suitably well set against. Anna Trevelyan styled. Each model entered the space, circled the floor a couple of times, and took their position, until 'The House of Women' were all accounted for, and posed for photographs at the centre of the room.

My absolute favourite presentation this season.

London Fashion Week SS12 Day 4: Presentation Piers Atkinson

2011-09-20T14:55:00.000-07:00

Piers Atkinson, milliner to the stars, hosted an exclusive and intimate presentation surrounded by his friends, colleagues and supporters on Monday evening with a special guest appearance by Piers super fan Paloma Faith, who walked the final look for Piers in the small catwalk moment at the heart of this special presentation, hosted against the sauve surroundings of the Sanderson hotel. This was a fantastic opportunity to get up close to Piers's SS12 collection 'Hot Voodoo.' As bongo drums were tapped, models wearing swimwear festooned in prints by Zandra Rhodes walked down the impressive stairway cum catwalk to pose for the audience of photographers in what was once again another immersive catwalk experience this LFW season.

This one's called the 'Ashlie', a macaw blue printed silk chiffon snood with ostrich 'overdose'!

Fabulous!

London Fashion Week SS12 Day 4: Exhibition Mari Sarai Naked

2011-09-20T14:47:00.000-07:00

Amidst all the Fashion Week shows, fashion photographer - Mari Sarai - hosted an exhibition at the Blackall Studios in Shoreditch, showcasing pieces from her new book NAKED, a celebration of the female nude in its natural state featuring pictures of Janice Dickinson, Alice Dellal and Daisy Lowe all in the nude. Intimate, revealing and nicely styled. VICE shall have the last word, describing the private view as,

"A Fashion event not featuring streetwear, and straight guys severely outnumbering gay guys.

Summary: Ass and tits is in."

London Fashion Week SS12 Day 4: Catwalk Show Michael Van Der Ham

2011-09-20T12:53:00.000-07:00

Michael Van Der Ham's show was exciting - Anna Dello Russo was in attendance and the whole space had a sense of energy during this Monday lunch time. Set against the Eurostar setting, the show got under way, and many have commented on how much more wearable and grown up this season is compared to last. Like Louise Gray, this collection features layering of contrasting materials in a patchwork way. Outfits were seemingly divided into quarters, with each section made or covered in a different material. Turquoise was a big colour. Big emphasis on print too.

London Fashion Week SS12 Day 4: Catwalk Show Louise Gray

2011-09-20T12:47:00.000-07:00

First on my list of people to see at the Topshop show space in the Old Eurostar tunnel was Louise Gray. Her SS12 collection presented us with a mishmash of textures, a sort of make do and mend aesthetic with more collaging of materials, prints and colours and some incredibly delicate headpieces made from the same printed money as the tickets she had sent out to everyone. She had the best models I've seen all Fashion Week too. Overall: Bright and breezey. She made crimped hair cool again.

London Fashion Week SS12 Day 4: Moments

2011-09-20T12:06:00.000-07:00

Day 4 started with the first of two shows in the Topshop venue at the Old Eurostar platform at Waterloo. This is where Fashion Week should relocate to in the future: bright, easy to get to, spacious with a startling backdrop of glass and steel. Nice. Here are some moments I caught during the day. The Topshop paper plates - and quiche (I love quiche - a lot):

Laura loves here quiche with champagne - yum face:

Louise Gray fabric bags:

Syle.com blogger wearing YSL heels:

And Piers Atkinson Cherries:

Get up:

Poodles and gelees:

Ash, Ella, Craig and Stevie in the NEWGEN exhibition space - on a plate in Brazil.

Nice.

London Fashion Week SS12 Day 3: Presentation Fred Butler

2011-09-20T03:02:00.000-07:00

Fred Butler's SS12 presentation in the Portico Rooms at Somerset House this Sunday was a moment of synthesised beauty: musically, technologically, and fashionably. Talk about zeitgeist - this show walked the fine line between fashion and fine art - the models entered the space, struck poses for minutes on end in their designated spaces and then merged as one in the centre of the room - a gestalt creature. One again, we had a collection from this season inspired by creatures from the deep. Susie Bubble hosted, this was a blogger meets blogger moment. Patrick Woolf composed the beautiful soundscape and Kim Howells and Alun Davies styled and set designed. Along came MP for Hackney, Diane Abbot, who I described this event to her as 'an immersive catwalk-the future for fashion' and that just about sums it up - hashtags at the ready - this event should have been called House of Bloggers.

London Fashion Week SS12 Day 3: Exhibition Somerset House

2011-09-20T02:50:00.000-07:00

So I'm not going to waffle too much about these, but here is my first batch of exhibition posts from Somerset House on Sunday. These are the pieces from designers SS12 collections which caught my eye: Yang Du - fun and textured.

Stephen Jones - consumate professional and beautiful.

Mark Fast - getting away with it.

Maria Francesca Pepe - great for editorial.

Linda Farrow's designer collaborations - serious fun.

Totally didn't catch whose these pieces were by but they were exquisitely made.

Fyodar Golan - literally had just won the fashion fringe award the night before and spoke to me - he was totally lovely. Fantastic pieces with intricate detailing - my pics do no justice.

Fannie Schiavonni - incorporating clear PVC in her work this season.

Erickson Beamon - ornate jewellery, serious detailing. Editorial, not wearable.

Bora Aksu - fancy ruffles

London Fashion Week SS12 Day 3: Fashion East Marques' Almeida

2011-09-18T13:29:00.000-07:00

Faithful Reader! This evening I am mostly knackered after a bizarre day of fashioning. On my way into Somerset House this morning, I got packed off into a car with stylist Anna Trevelyan - she of Gaga and Jessie J styling fame. I worked with Anna a while back on a fashion film for Sorcha O'Raghallaigh, so it was nice to have a catchup at last! Our first port of call was the Fashion East womenswear show. We arrived at the Haunch of Venison gallery space [the amazing venue for the show] with two minutes to spare - full to the brim with editors, BFC, Fashion Easters and stylists. This felt like a very special show to be at. Kick starting proceedings was design duo Marques' Almeida with a denim based collection reinterpreting the way the material is worn. Confidently zeitgeisty. I didn't get the styling choices with the sunglasses though.

London Fashion Week SS12 Day 3: Fashion East Maarten Van Der Horst

2011-09-18T13:26:00.000-07:00

Maarten Van Der Horst has been on my radar for a while now, so I was very excited to see his Fashion East show today. This was my favourite collection [and show] of the day - beautiful printed playsuits, billowing blouses, tailored trousers and ready to wear cocktail dresses. I loved the continuation of the patterning onto the high heeled shoes, and the unexpected pink ruffled trim on the busts of some of the blouses. Great cuts, light fabric choices, first class show.

London Fashion Week SS12 Day 3: Fashion East James Long

2011-09-18T13:22:00.000-07:00

James Long's collection was classy, sophisticated and again, very wearable.

London Fashion Week SS12 Day 3: Blow Presents Fanny and Jessy

2011-09-18T13:05:00.000-07:00

Perhaps the most well known and established of all those showing at the Blow Presents event today, Fanny and Jessy's Spring/Summer 12 collection was a fun mix of loose knits, printed playsuits and quirky styling choices. The collection was fun and playful, and worked particularly well on the catwalk - the models were clearly briefed to 'move with' their outfits. I was fortunate enough to get another front row at this show, so Anna T. and I were escorted to our seats together! Nice! A suitably fresh feeling Spring/Summer collection.

London Fashion Week SS12 Day 3: Blow Presents Shinsuke Mitsouka

2011-09-18T13:03:00.000-07:00

Now this was more like it - Shinsuke Mitsouka's SS12 collection was exciting and confident with structured tailoring and forthright material choices. Zip lined trims and black laddered cottons - soft fabrics made harsh. Like a couple of the designers showing today, the final look was superb. Assured.

London Fashion Week SS12 Day 3: Blow Presents Jane Bowler

2011-09-18T12:53:00.000-07:00

Jane Bowler kick started the show at the LSO St Lukes on Old Street today with an injection of colour in a youthful collection which once again demonstrated this seasons preoccupation with marine creatures and seaside holidays. This collection was a bit of a mixed bag, though the final look was pretty sensational. Fun, though not refined.

London Fashion Week SS12 Day 3: Blow Presents Eleanor Amoroso

2011-09-18T12:48:00.000-07:00

The final designer to show at the Blow Presents show was Eleanor Amoroso. I liked this collection a lot. One problem though - the models shoes had such high heels that I feared for most of their lives on more than one [wobbling] occasion. It wasn't helped by the threads catching under the feet as well. Simple, but good.

London Fashion Week SS12 Day 2: Presentation Craig Lawrence

2011-09-17T10:58:00.000-07:00

Faithful Reader! I'm just back from a rainy afternoon at Somerset House where I've finished narrating [for the second season in a row] Craig Lawrence's SS12 presentation in the Portico Rooms, styled by Katie Shillingford. After the immense success of last seasons collection, the weight of expectation was almost unbearably intense before the first of two salon presentations began this afternoon.

To say that it felt like a reading test in front of 100 judging eyes would have been an understatement. The space was full, hot and seriously intense - and then it started, and with each of the 18 looks making their way down the catwalk, the crowd collectively relaxed in contemplation of this seriously fine collection. Lots of important people were present, and both presentations went without a hitch. I'll post better photos of Craig's beautiful collection later, but for now here's a couple I've nabbed off Fred Butler's blog which clearly shows me in full narration mode [in the bottom left of the image!]

I've said it before after the last seasons presentation, but when will Radio 4 come knocking!? iD described the presentation on Twitter as storytelling with Craig Lawrence, whilst Melanie Rickey of Grazia said that I had a 'camp and descriptive voice'!

Gay Jackanory anyone?

London Fashion Week SS12 Day 2: Headonism Noel Stewart Millinery

2011-09-17T10:51:00.000-07:00

Noel Stewart was once again showcasing some of his new collection in the Headonism exhibition space. His creations always seem to involve a quirky and unusual colour palette, and this new collection mixes graphic lines, constructed shapes and organic forms as head pieces.

Nice.