Showing posts with label Fashion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fashion. Show all posts

> THE GLAMOUR OF ITALIAN FASHION

The V&A, London
9 April 2014



The Glamour of Italian Fashion 1945 - 2014 - This major exhibition is a glamorous, comprehensive look at Italian Fashion from the end of the Second World War to the present day. The story is explored through the key individuals and organisations that have contributed to its reputation for quality and style. It includes both womens and menswear to highlight the exceptional quality of techniques, materials and expertise for which Italy has become renowned.

The team at the V&A continue their run of amazing shows with yet another blockbuster... This beautifully presented show has a new luxurious surprise around every corner. Wood, stone, leather and metal are used to dramatic effect as they support and provide minimalist back drops to the displays. Over 100 ensembles and accessories by leading Italian fashion houses are included. The big names include - Simonetta, Pucci, Sorelle Fontana, Valentino, Gucci, Missoni, Giorgio Armani, Dolce & Gabbana, Marni, Fendi, Prada and Versace, through to the next generation of fashion talent.


Luxurious set design

Pucci prints go mad in Florence 


Lesley Barnes - great illustration for the V&A


A breathtaking show... well worth a visit!



10 out of 10!


>YOHJI YAMAMOTO

Enigmatic fashion at the V&A
9 July 2011





Yohji Yamamoto - at the V&A.

One of the most influential and enigmatic fashion designers of the last forty years, Yohji Yamamoto creates magical clothes! Each one of the fabrics used in his collections are made to his specifications by different craftspeople in and around Kyoto. Strong silhouettes and simple forms create bold, beautiful outfits that are fluid, lightly structured and artistic in execution. Beautifully simple staging really helped to bring the clothes to life... Great work form the V&A team as always.


Installation view



8 out of 10



>FUTURE BEAUTY - 30 YEARS OF JAPANESE FASHION

Barbican Artgallery - london
30 October 2010



Future Beauty XX

XX


10 out of 10



>A DAY AT THE V&A

The Victoria and Albert Museum - London
27 June 2010


www.vam.ac.uk

Quilts, Grace Kelly and the collection of Horace Walpole - Three brilliant shows from one of our favorite museums.

During this hot and sticky summer, the galleries of the Victoria and Albert are perfect for a cooling culture blast! We decide to become museum members and make the most of the instant saving - a great way to enjoy the many varied shows and save £'s!


Grace Kelly - Style Icon


We start our day with the iconic fashions of Grace Kelly - beautiful pieces by Balenciaga, Chanel and Yves saint Laurent are present and correct.

Next up - Quilts - 1700 to 2010. A very interesting and diverse collection of 65 fabric fantasies! Grayson Perry, tracey Emin and the inmates of Wandsworth Prison get to show off!


Quilts - 1700 to 2010
Right to life - Grayson Perry 1998

After a quick sarnie break in the John Madejski Garden we step back in time and explore the collection of Horace Walpole. This 10 room exhibition recreates Walpole's pioneering collection in the context of the rooms at Strawberry Hill, where visitors experienced a journey through ancient and modern British history and European art.

Strawberry Hill was Walpole's 'little Gothic Castle' - it will soon be open to the public once again after a huge makeover. Can't wait to explore!



Between 8 and 10 out of 10



>FASHION V SPORT

V&A, London
19 October


www.vam.ac.uk/microsites/fashion-v-sport
Fashion V Sport examines the way that sports styles are adapted to make fashion statements, both on the street and through high fashion, and how sports and fashion products are consumed, customised and worn. ...function, form AND fashion!

Recent developments have seen an increasing number of collaborations and hybrids, from fashion designers producing collections with sportswear brands to sports personalities heading fashion campaigns or even designing their own collections.

This show has been broken down into four sections:
DARE - Technical innovation. Function and high performance are of primary concern in the design of sportswear. Considerable amounts of time and money are pumped into researching performance-enhancing garments and footwear. For years fashion designers have been integrating these technologies into their designs, often in direct collaboration with sports brands.

DISPLAY - Individuality and Uniformity. You've got ya trainers, a hooded jersey top and a pair of tracksuit bottoms... But how do you make it your look? Individuality can be expressed through subtle differences and modifications... This section explores how homemade street adaptations and the practice of customisation has motivated the production of industrially customised goods sold by the major sports brands.

PLAY - Exaggeration and vibrancy. Sportswear first crossed over into casual wear because it was comfortable and affordable. So today we see new-takes on the classics and remixed-retro ...absolutely anything goes! Designers have pushed the boundaries of what trainers and sports clothes can look like. Witty, ironic, sophisticated and inventive... the choice is ours! (see my favourite examples below)

DESIRE - Obsessive behaviour. Trainer envy, one-offs, limited editions and cult design pieces... This section pinpoints the place in which sportswear's function has become almost redundant and instead its fashionability has become the key feature.

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"My work is primarily based on exploring new structural solutions to clothe the human body" Aitor Throup

Aitor Throup was born to Argentinian parents in 1980. He lived in Spain before moving to Britain, where he grew up in Burnley. Graduating from the Royal College of Art in 2006, he received awards from Umbro, Evisu and Levi's before leaving college. His '06 graduate collection, a culture clash of street sportswear and religious symbolism, entitled, "When Football Hooligans Become Hindu Gods", won him much praise and recognition from the fashion high and mighty! Recent collabborations with Umbro, Stone Island and Topman are sure to keep this young talent in the spotlight.

"I want eventually to create toys, books, animations, sculptures and drawings. I want to show everything." Aitor Throup

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"The force of the Belgians and why a lot of them have survived is because they understand the balance between creativity and making a good quality product." Walter van Beirendonck

Walter van Beirendonck was born in the Netherlands in 1957. His career in fashion started during 1980, after graduating from Antwerps Royal Arts Academy. His early creative output was prolific and helped earn him a place in the now legendary 'Antwerp six' - the highly influential group of avantgarde fashion designers who graduated from the R.A.R. between 1980-81. Since 1983 he has un-leashed many collections and gained superstar status in his own right. He has designed stage outfits for U2, created a kids character and is currently the director of the Fashion Department at his old Academy. In 1995 his futuristic label - 'W&LT' (wild and lethal trash) brought us neon 'T's, freaky trousers and over-the-top knitwear. The Cartoon colours and rude characters took the public by storm...(me included). Spectacularly original catwalk presentations and a knowledge of new and exciting fabrics has kept Walters output at the forefront of contemporary fashion. He follows no one and must have the most fabulous name in the industry... BEIRENDONCK - you rock!

...Kiss the Future! W&LT Slogan

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Link


"I don't think that blokes in bright colours and cartoon shapes look like big girl's blouses. In fact, it forces them to be bigger men. 'You have to be hard to carry it off.'" Carrie Mundane

The multi-talented Carrie Mundane is flying hi! Topman's design director, Gordon Richardson said 'She's a very distinctive fashion voice - a real tonic'. in 2007 she was nominated for 'best menswear designer' at the British fashion awards. In 2008 'Rolling Stone magazine' named her 'best fashion designer. Can she do no wrong? She has sprinkled her stylist glitter on the likes of the Klaxons, MIA and Late of the Pier. Nike and Nintendo, Topman, S***r and Uniqlo have all fallen for her Midas touch - eager to capitalise on her distinctive 'look' and target that all important youth/fashion market.

The CassettePlaya brand was born during 2006. Carrie and Nu Rave partner in grime, DJ Silverlink sent an amazing collection down the runway which gained instant acclaim and miles of press coverage. Huge dayglo-pixel characters, Sonic the hedgehog and neon bleeding eyes were just some the hi-lites! So-far - Fisher Price, original rave, graphical prints, computer games and Wotsits have influenced their collections... stay tuned to find out what happens next!

'A future street gang of pixel warriors battling real and virtual worlds. Sci-Fi grime boys, all wearing a toxicolour uniform of patterns, graphic shapes, luxury street and sportswear. Your megadrive just discovered narcotics!'

They all get a huge 10 out of 10

>COLD WAR MODERN - Design 1945-1970

V&A, London
19 October 08


www.vam.ac.uk/microsites/cold-war-modern
A fascinating exhibition that examines contemporary design, architecture, film and popular culture on both sides of the Iron Curtain during the cold war era.

The exhibition examines the way that the memorable forms of the '50s, '60s and '70s were shaped by the Cold War, as well as by other influences, such as the rise of consumerism, the postwar reconstruction of Europe and the rapid advances in technology that, as well as putting a man on the moon, reshaped the home, both inside and out!

Over 300 exhibits have been brought together to help illustrate these ground-breaking times. The USA, the Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Italy, France, East & West Germany, Cuba and the UK are all represented with iconic examples of communication graphics, fashion, product and furniture design. The curators trawled all over Eastern Europe looking for objects to display and some have never been seen outside the artist’s studio!

Highly influential Artists and Designers of the time added their weight to the campaigns for peace, harmony and modern design for all. They played a central role in the 'Cold War battle of images'. Their work was used for propaganda, and their actions and opinions highly prized. Left, Picasso's Scarf to commemorate the 'World Festival of Students for Peace', Berlin, 1951.

The Cold War was more than just an arms race, it was a cultural battle between superpowers determined to prove their superiority.


...It was also a joy to find samples of work by Charles-Édouard Jeanneret-Gris, commonly known as Le Corbusier - (1887-1965). His career spanned eight decades and his creative out-put was admired and collected the world over. Formally an Architect, Le Corbusier was also a prolific furniture designer, urban planner, illustrator and writer. Images above show: 'La Femme et le Moineau', a wonderful tapestry from 1957. Also the classic 'LC3 Grand Lounge chair' produced for the 1929 Lifestyle show in Paris. And finally, the Chapel of Notre Dame du Haut at Ronchamp, France. Completed in 1954, this building is considered by many to one of the most important Architectural wonders of the 20th century.

Another brilliant show from The V&A, beautifully staged and really informative... do allow a good 1.5 hours+ to enjoy all 8 sections.

9 out of 10

>THE HOUSE OF VIKTOR & ROLF

The Barbican Art Gallery
14 September 08



'The House of Victor & Rolf ' is the first show in the UK to honour this highly influential dutch duo... Is it fashion or is it art?

Viktor Horsting & Rolf Snoeren have been working together since they graduated from the Academy of Arts, Arnhem in 1992 and they have been making dramatic fashion statements ever since! This exhibition charts their careers on two floors, featuring all their signature pieces and key moments. Each 'look' brought to life with footage from the catwalk and 3-4 outfits worn by amazing life size dolls. The whole effect is spectacular, quite surreal and very memorable!

The centrepiece of the show is a doll’s house designed by Siebo Tettero, who also designed V&R's offices in Amsterdam and their stores in Milan, Dubai and Moscow. It is six metres high and populated by 54 specially designed porcelain dolls, each wearing perfect miniature versions of all the dresses in the exhibition.

...This was our first visit to The Barbican's Gallery space - and what a visit it has been! Very well layed out, and like the rest of the Barbican, beautiful in its utilitarian simplicity. The shop was very good too!

A Breathtaking show that will take some beating.

9 out of 10

>SKIN + BONES

Parallel practices in Fashion and Architecture.
Embankment Galleries, Somerset House, London
20 July 08


www.somersethouse.org.uk
Fabulous new exhibition area at Somerset House scrubs up very nicely!

Skin + Bones allows us to examine the visual and conceptual ideas that unite fashion and architecture, focusing on the period from the 1980s to the present day. The show features more than 200 works by over 40 internationally renowned architects and fashion designers including Boudicca, Hussein Chalayan, Vivienne Westwood, Thomas Heatherwick, Herzog & de Meuron, Viktor and Rolf and Zaha Hadid. The show is being held in the wonderful new Embankment Galleries at Somerset House, in an installation designed by architect Eva Jiricna.

Very interesting show and beautifully presented!


8 out of 10

>CHINA DESIGN NOW

V&A, London
1 June 08

www.vam.ac.uk
China Design now at the V&A takes us on a journey through China’s top three mega coastal cities to experience the country’s creative landscape. Each stop has a room dedicated to key designers, influences and examples, all beautifully staged as only the V&A know how! This event and many others are all part of the "CHINA NOW" series. See below for more details!

Starting at Shenzhen, in the far south, we see how graphic designers began to explore new directions in the early 1990s - look out for the tasty collaborations with Nike! Next up to Shanghai, urban culture and consumerism combine to produce amazing fashion and lifestyle trends - fantastic fashions on show here! last Beijing, where stunning architecture for the Olympic Games is transforming the skyline of this ancient capital - The Central Chinese Television (CCTV) building will blow you away!

This show left us wanting more... much more. The only criticism being that more examples could have been shown in each area... apart from that - Brilliant!

> CHINA NOW is the largest festival of Chinese culture ever to take place in the UK.

"It is a UK-wide celebration of a vibrant, dynamic and fast-evolving nation – a captivating showcase of the very best of modern China"

Launched February 2008, with a series of high-profile events to mark the beginning of the Chinese New Year. This celebration will run through the first half of 2008, until the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics. CHINA NOW will coordinate some 800 events, performances and activities, shining a spotlight on the very best of modern China. CHINA NOW is a showcase of art, design, cuisine and culture, science, business and technology, education and sport - an inspirational celebration of vibrant, dynamic 21st-century China.

7 out of 10

>PATRICIA FIELD AND MATTHEW WILLIAMSON RE-STYLE COCA-COLA FOR SELFRIDGES

Food Halls, Selfridges
04 > 08



www.selfridges.com
Pop goes POP!!

Patricia Field - New York stylist and fashion genius behind 'Sex and the City'
has designed the latest ltd edition Coke sleeves for Selfridges. Each design oozes Patricia's renowned urban and edgy style, and brings to life ‘diet Coke’s’ aspirational brand heritage. "Pink is for Love, Gold for Career, turquoise for Fashion and red is for Passion!" (Shame I dropped this bottle whilst taking pics... good excuse to go back to Selfridges though!)

Other designers who have re-dressed the iconic bottle for Selfridges include: Julian MacDonald, Matthew Williamson (see below), Jonathan Saunders and Manolo Blahnik.

Matthew Williamson - Mathew first designed a ‘Palm’ bottle sleeve (second from right) for Coke followed by a capsule collection of bottles for Spring 2004. The bottles were based on the prints that were an integral part of his collection that season. I was lucky to get my hands on these four samples on release back in 04.

All get a very tasty 8 out of 10

>ROBERT MILLER-ALTERNATIVE FASHION WEEK 08

Spitalfields Market, London
21 - 25 April 08


www.alternativearts.co.uk

Pretty Pervy in Spitalfields!
Basically we love drama, humour, extreme contrasts, and often a complete lack of subtlety.

PrettyP Productions Ltd, based in London, was founded by Robert Miller in 2001. Since then they have been creating costumes props and accessories for commercial promotions, theatre, films, and many clubs.

The Pretty Pervy label first appeared as a natural progression of Robert's interest in the area of theatrical design and the performing arts. Since then things have grown to include regular shows at various fetish clubs and fashion extravaganzas across Europe and the World.

..."Leaving sanity and taste at home with a cup of tea and a nice digestive biscuit, the Pretty Pervy collection of random inspiration tap dances into reality wearing hobnail boots"


8 out of 10

>VAGABOND SHOES

Stores Worldwide
>>Spring - Summer 08


Multi-orange Crow foot

www.vagabond.com
Cool shoes, hot colours!

Hey!, It's Spring (6/4/08) and time for new shoes. Wanted to show you these great boots just purchased from Vagabond. As you can see... the snow hit big time in Greenwich... Made for a nice pic though! Go Check out the website for more styles and outlets...

...Grey, orange, yellow and just the right amount of 'pointy'!

7 out of 10

>UNIQLO T SHIRT COLLECTION

Uniqlo Stores Worldwide
08 >>

www.uniqlo.co.uk

...THE T's HAVE LANDED!

Those lovely people at UNIQLO are going to produce over 1000 unique Limited Edition T's for us to collect. They will be delivered over the next few years as part of the UT Project. The T's will be designed by renowned artists, designers, photographers and musicians. Recent commissions include: Terry Richardson, Nobuyoshi Araki, Cassette Playa, Bjorn Copeland of Black Dice, Peter Saville, and Solve Sundsbo.

All styles will be available from UNIQLO’s 11 UK stores...

Markus Kiersztan, owner of MP Creative and consulting creative director for UNIQLO said...

“The UT Project has one goal in mind - to let you wear what you love.”

...Go get 'em while you can, they are sure to fly out of the stores!

7 out of 10

>CASSETTE PLAYA

East London
06 >>

www.cassetteplaya.com
Pixel flavoured rags for the nu rave crew!

Cassette playa is coming to a Hi-street near you! Collaborations with Swear shoes, Uniqlo and Topman are just three of the juicy projects ensuring maximum coverage for the mighty CP!

...ACID Rock!

8 out of 10
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