8th June: OFF-SET

On Wednesday we tottered into CAMP for OFF-SIGHT - the exhibition made up of posters fighting for wall space, fancy printed words (some witty, some shocking), and charming illustrated books - all created by the BA(Hons) Graphic Design students at Central Saint Martins.  More specifically and technically speaking, the tables and walls were occupied by screen prints, mono-prints, woodcuts, etching, bookbinding and documents, all rather unique and precious, and the room was bustling with enthused, creative minds.

Our penniless existence ment beelining to the bar would be a pointless mission, so instead I turned my attention to the work on display. After 15 minutes I became impartial to almost all other creative displays of craftmanship in the room when I discovered “The Fake Tan Colouring Book”, which personally was one of the most innovative colouring books ever created. Here's an excerpt:

Credit goes to Agostino Carrea, whose comical references to Big Fat Gypsy Wedding, Donatella Versace and Snooki from Jersey Shore are available to purchase with complimentary orange crayons for your colouring enjoyment.

You could have bought his colouring book at the pop-up shop:.... but thats over now, perhaps just pop onto his blog, give him an email, who knows perhaps you'll become mates and joke about humans of the tango ethnicity.

Commuting in suitable disguise.

He walks briskly, swiping his oyster, as he passes with practiced ease through the gates. Dancing on his toes down the stairs, metro in hand and coins jangling in his pocket, he glides onto the platform and steps on the train, minding the gap between the train and the platform edge.  You glance at his shoes, polished, like the others surrounding you. He straightens his tie surveying the train with a look of disdain, and then buries his face in his Metro, becoming indistinguishable from rest of them.

A businessman. His suit, black with a subtle grey sheen fits neatly, with a crisp, white shirt visible underneath. The sleeves are fastened with glistening silver cufflinks.  Smart and presentable. Businesslike. 

But who is the man behind the suit? You assume intelligence and importance, and success in his chosen area of work. Corporate responsibility. This is what the suit tells you.

He digs his hand in his pocket, you presume he will reveal an iPhone or Blackberry. But, what is this? A lollipop. He tears off the wrapper to reveal the fluorescent pink sugar treat as you eye him with suspicion and confusion.  This is not the reserved behaviour you expected from a professional business mind!  He sucks on it with the manners and enjoyment of a five-year-old child.

Hand in his pocket again, he pulls out his pristine iPhone. Ah, you think, satisfied with the familiarity and correctness of the current scenario, despite the offending lolly.  He is probably checking his emails, or dialing the number for an important business call. You get up as the train pulls into your stop and peer out of pure intrigue at the iPhone screen. Mario bounces across it picking up a mushroom as he goes, controlled by the man in disguise. A kid at heart.

Oh Charlie, did you forget something?

When London Fashion Week comes along, the expectation and the anticipation is for the new collections of clothes the designers create for the new season, agreed? Models are sent down the runway showcasing garments with desirable shapes and details that we lust after.  With this thought in mind, surely the last thing you’d expect is a model strutting down the runway stark naked?

Not from Charlie Le Mindu.  His DETOX-RETOX-BOTOX collection for S/S 2011 showed that the enfant terrible of haute coiffure knew no limits when it came to showcasing his unashamedly extravagant wigs.  The models look was reminiscent of Lichtenstein’s pop-art blonde bombshells, but instead of blonde Le Mindu’s bombshell’s were pink and fluorescent yellow, portraying trashy pin-ups; LA style!  They minced down the catwalk in enormous pink PVC platforms, and several donned headpieces such as a poodle wig, a flamingo head, a pink bottle, and pink hollywood sign.  Most were blessed with corseted leotards with pink leopard print detail, and dresses covered in wig hair, but two were left completely exposed. This according to reporters created OUTRAGE!!...

....this was not the case.  Admittedly, people on the front row made a conscious effort to advert their eyes, but leaving these models bare drew immediate attention to the beautifully crafted wigs and headpieces. Le Mindu is eccentric but smart, and his fourth collection showcases his talent and challenges fashion, leaving his audience to interpret his creations in anyway they choose.  No girls, Charlie isn’t suggesting you bounce out the house with nothing but a pink wig and a precariously balanced hat on your head. Or maybe he is, regardless, the trashy look has never been so desirable. 

The whole collection can be marvelled over on http://blowpresents.wordpress.com/2010/09/19/charlie-le-mindu-ss11-collection-2/  . Oh and blame charlie if your boyfriend asks you to die your hair pink...., not me!

x

This was no summer of love....

.. this was a summer of insanity! Thats the only word that seems fitting to summarise the past 4 months.  I have occupied grand total of four different houses/ flat and have been living out of a suitcase for most of it. The limited wardrobe situation combined with a greater amount of disposable income due to full-time work has resulted in profuse shopping binges, and my wardrobe tripling in size. Never a bad thing!

Full time work in retail (ick) ment time for play was restricted, but this was no hindrance to fun and games! However, this did mean any form of writing was severely rejected, and so at this moment in time I could be deemed a failing journalist.  This is a sad thought, and must be resolved!

So I will tell the story of my mission to find one of key pieces of this season: the aviator jacket.  Firstly, thank you Christopher Bailey, for bringing such a covetable classic to our attention this winter. Secondly, I can’t help but curse you Mr Bailey, for designing a Burberry piece so gorgeous that other versions are disappointing in comparison. 

Despite this difficulty in the search for perfect shearling outerwear, this short story ends happily ever after, as a trip to Mint Vintage in Covent Garden led to the discovery of a beautiful military green piece found in Paris. Lined with shearling, with a large foldover collar, and leather buckle details, it was my ultimate indulgence that has practically left me penniless, but thrilled and content to have such a special jacket for this season.  Summer ended in love after all!

x

KRINK

What picture immediately pops into your head when you consider graffiti? Usually, the majority of spray scrawls an almost illegible word that gets scrubs off by the authorities when they get the chance.  Craig Costello, or KR is a graffiti artist with a unique tag that has led to the development of a product line, which has become so successful it is sold worldwide.  KRINK products were developed from his trademark “paint drip aesthetic” and made for the creative minds of graffiti artists.

I find the KRINK drip style particularly inspiring, and the thought of applying this style to something natural, rather than typical industrial surfaces, such as concrete or metal, that graffiti usually marks would create something visually new and interesting.

This involved a rather messy photo shoot, but was a successful creative project for a Thursday afternoon.

KRINK art, work, and products can be experienced at http://krink.com.

Photography and Models: Alexandra MacLeod & Chloe Miles

Myrto Stamou

Her Gold Award winning “Phantasmagoria” collection has been transforming her dreams into reality.

“I always loved drawing from a very young age,” says Greek-born graduate Myrto Stamou, recalling memories of her early childhood, which she spent innocently developing a love for art in the secluded village of Arta in Greece. She muses, “It is amazing when something you dream of becomes true!”

Stemming from this passion for painters and photographers, her intent from when she first started studying fashion in Greece, and then through her studies at UCA Rochester in England, has always been the same. She expresses her desire for her own label wistfully, as if for a moment it drifts from her mind that she is actually mere months away from designing her first collection under her own name. There is a charm, not only in her modesty of her success, but also in the relaxed silhouettes of her clothes, that is unsettlingly capturing. She has an eye for sultry draping and sinuous flowing lines that saw her graduate collection winning her the prestigious Gold Award at Graduate Fashion Week last year.

The femininity and elegance of the garments are particularly reminiscent of the designer Sophia Kokosalaki’s work, who Stamou reveals as her most admired and inspirational designer. It was the surrealist painter Hans Bellmer’s work, “The Spinning Top”, however, that sparked the idea that blossomed into Stamou’s winning collection. It incorporated phantasmagoric imagery in subtle fabric manipulation, using jersey and leather in soft nude, cream and beige colours. “I want to make woman feel charming and ethereal when they wear my clothes,” she explains, “not suppressed as they would be under a heavily constructed garments.

Half a year later and the young designer is fresh from completing a six-month internship with Hannah Marshall, who’s predominantly black, body conscious collections incorporate surreal, unnatural silhouettes. “She is so inspiring,” Stamou says, “working that closely with someone gives you such an insight into their vision.” Marshall is currently in her 7th season of production, and Stamou, despite her insistence that studying at university has utmost importance, is full of praise for the confidence and experience she gained as an intern.

So what does Stamou see for herself next? She is collaborating with the sponsors of Graduate Fashion Week, high street giant River Island, to produce two interpretations of garments from her graduate collection that will be available to purchase in May. However, she admits “I’m moving back to Greece next month” to which she adds enthusiastically her plans to base her own label in Athens. “I am hoping I can be successful”, she hesitates “and “I hope I can start showing in London.” Wishful thinking? Not at all. Reality may still be surreal for Myrto Stamou, but so far dreams come true, so good.

Epic Fail

So far, lets face it, I am terrible at blogging! Not only do I fail to be consistent, I havn't managed to squeeze one tiny post about the collections at Fashion Week!  Epic failure. It doesn't help that I am continuously stressing about my unfortunate no money/ pointless job situation, but don't get too worried, this is hopefully on the way to being resolved!

This is the plan. Tomorrow morning, I am heading to the library to give my little blog a fabulous make over, by use of some terrible non-existent photoshop skills. Then perhaps, just maybe, it will be all the more inspiring for you and me! x