GUY BOURDIN: IMAGE MAKER

Had a perfect London afternoon yesterday and was treated by the beautiful Rachel to spend a couple of hours at the Guy Bourdin exhibition at Somerset House.

Guy Bourdin: Image Maker is a collection of over 100 photographs spanning a photography career of over 40 years. Included was the "Walking Legs" series which is a campaign commissioned by Charles Jourdan that has never been shown in it's entirety. Accompanying the series was an unseen fashion film of his road-trip around the UK in 1979.

The exhibition was amazing and I'm always drawn to people's work that is the total opposite of what I do. All photography work I have ever done is black and white and usually quite natural shots. I loved the use of colour throughout Bourdin's work and the whole staged and theatrical feel of it all. It's the same reason I love the work of David LaChapelle and Tim Walker.

Throughout the exhibition, there were a few films being shown including a room with 4 screens set up to make you feel truly immersed in the footage. Paintings and rough sketches were also included throughout and anyone who knows me will appreciate how excited I got at the polaroid series (I did a project of my own in uni called "The Polaroid Project").

We also popped in to "Chris Stein/Negative: Me, Blondie, and The Advent of Punk" which was incredible. There were some amazing photographs with some excellent stories and explanations attached but going on a Saturday lunchtime probably wasn't the best time for this one. I wanted to read everything but being so busy, I felt like I was constantly in the way. I will definitely be heading back for this one but may think a bit more carefully about what time I head down.

As always, a outfit snap was a must. Especially when you have THE BEST BACKGROUND EVER!

(Leather Jacket - Schott, Duster Coat - Urban Outfitters, T-Shirt - an old The Cure one I bought when I saw them in 2004, Jeans - Topshop, Boots - Office, Bag - Topshop)

Guy Bourdin: Image Maker is on until 15th March 2015 - entrance fee £9.00

Chris Stein/Negative: Me, Blondie, and The Advent of Punk is on until 25th January 2015 - free

New Year.

So 2015 is upon us, something which makes me incredibly happy. 2014 wasn't the best for a number of reasons and come December, I was counting down the days for the year to be over. I really don't like wishing time away.

Like most people, I have been thinking about resolutions and what I want to achieve/experience this year. While this is nothing new, I feel like I've literally hit the ground running.

G E T  F I T - when I lived in Leeds, I was at the gym around 4 times a week. I loved it. Since moving to London, I've indulged too much in my other love. Pizza. It doesn't help that to move gyms, my membership would increase to £125 per month! So I thought, I can sit around eating pizza or I can get moving. I've since signed up to do a 10K in a couple of weeks and the Hackney Half in May. Fingers crossed I'll complete it this time in under 2 hours!

T R A V E L - To be fair, I don't do too badly for travelling but I feel there is always room for improvement. I have flights booked for the Easter weekend to visit friends in Copenhagen and then possible trips to Vienna and Berlin and that's before a summer holiday and anything work throws my way!

E X P E R I E N C E - Again, not doing too badly with this one. I have tickets for 4 pretty big gigs coming up, an evening at the theatre booked and plans in motion for a festival in the summer. I feel like this is the easiest one as I do a lot in my spare time but sometimes, it feels a bit same old same old. I'm going to make a point of looking for events that are happening in places I wouldn't usually venture too and make sure I take full advantage of everything London has to offer, especially in the summer.

B E  H A P P Y - I feel like this one is massively generic but a lot of last year I was doing things that I felt I should be doing rather than doing things because I wanted to. This will not be happening anymore. If I don't like something or it doesn't do it for me, it can do one.

B L O G - This is the only one I feel I have been slacking on so far. Seeing as it's already the 14th and I'm writing a new year blog post. Ooops. I WILL BE MORE 'ON IT' THIS YEAR. I promise.

What are your new year resolutions and aims?

URBAN OUTFITTERS S/S15 PRESS DAY

One of the best things about being involved in the fashion industry are press days. Getting to see the things for the new season before anyone else. Seeing what the trends are going be and knowing how to wear the new styles. The only thing better than being the first ones to see it is being the person who creates it. And that's exactly what I did with a team of other VM's and display boys last week.

We took over the wonderful space that is The Vinyl Factory in Soho and it was actually really insightful to see how a press day gets put together. There was nothing, and I mean nothing, in the space when we entered and after a very long day of hard work it was pretty amazing to see what we had created.

(Superb mannequins by our styling team. Sports lux isn't going anywhere!)

Even though I love the layering of winter style, I was mega excited to see everything stripped right back for S/S15. Think super clean lines in monochrome or neutral tones with the odd bit of sparkle thrown in for good measure.

(I have a feeling these white, wide leg, cropped trousers by Solace will be finding a new home in my wardrobe.)

(This dress by Vinti Andrews was one of my favourite pieces. It would look brilliant over skinnies or for the very brave, a big pair knickers.)

Menswear was super strong with new brands like Calvin Klein and Champion sitting alongside favourites such as Libertine Libertine, Wood Wood, Blood Brother and Farah. Like womenswear, a few of the brands had a really chilled out muted vibe which was strongly juxtaposed against the sportier brands that screamed 90's.

Housewares still had a strong Native American vibe running through it with amazing printed textiles, skulls and dream catchers galore. And something that pleased me greatly was the inclusion of well being tea. I'm literally anyone's for a good brew.

Like I said earlier, I love winter fashion. Layering up and good knitwear pleases me greatly. However, after setting everything up for S/S15, I'm really looking forward to the new season. I have a feeling my bank balance won't agree with me so much though.

Tattoos and Rude Boys

Awful weather meant a Sunday of  indoor based activities. First on the list, brunch at Jackson and Rye. Very nearly didn't make it thanks to the bus making me get off in Lambeth North with the bus driver telling me 'London is closed.' Ah right, thanks for that.

Amazing food (scrambled eggs, smoked salmon, toast and southern fried potatoes) and great coffee with a cheeky peach bellini thrown in for good measure. It's not often I eat before lunchtime so when I do I like to make sure I'm doing it right. Great service and reasonable prices means I'll definitely be back to work my way through the menu. A gentleman at the next table had pancakes which looked delicious.

Luckily, the rain had stopped so a wonder to Somerset House ensued. One of my favourite things about walking around London is when you find a place you've never been to before. Walking along the river, we found this little park full of amazing flowers and very friendly drunk men. Took a quick opportunity to get an outfit snap which was a little harder than I thought it would be due to the strong winds and nearly loosing my hat on more than one occasion!

(Hat - Urban Outfitters, Jumper - Cos, Skirt - American Apparel, Boots - Topshop, Bag - Mulberry)

 I'd been wanting to go to Somerset House for a while as I've yet to see a bad exhibition there but was highly recommended Time: Tattoo Art Today. While there, we heard a few grumbles as I think some people were slightly disappointed there wasn't more flash. I think the moment people hear of something by tattooists, flash is the automatic thing that comes to mind. I really loved the diversity in the work that was on display and it's always nice to see tattooists I love (Hooper, Koeplinger, Binnie, Garver etc) doing something a little different and to see them for the artists they are.

Another exhibition that was also on was Return of The Rudeboy. The exhibition took up a few rooms with a slightly different theme in each one. The photography was great but I was really impressed with the way the work was displayed and other elements of Rudeboy culture, such as music and fashion, that were featured in each room. It wasn't the biggest exhibition but I felt everything was incredibly relevant and as someone who didn't really know anything about the history of Rudeboys, I felt that I learnt quite a lot about a really interesting subculture. All in all, a wonderful day.

Time: Tattoo Art Today is on until 5th October 2014

Return of The Rudeboy is on until 25th August 2014

Both exhibitions at Somerset House are free of charge.

  

Wasting time.

Spent an absolutely perfect Saturday with the gorgeous Rachel doing pretty much nothing. During the epic summer of 2010, Rachel and I would spend days on end having the best time but, in essence, doing sweet FA. Just wasting away days filling them with chit-chat, drinks and food and walking to nowhere in particular. This Saturday was one of those days.

(Salted caramel cake and Oreo cupcakes - Street art in East London - Hand painted bottles - Lobster Mac'n'Cheese and Tequila Colada frozen cocktails - Street Feast Hackney)

A day spent walking, eating and drinking. A lot of drinking. We ended at Street Feast where Rach confided that she'd been 3 weeks in a row. I thought it couldn't possibly be that good. Could it? It could. I'm sure I'll be back a few more times before it disappears as the weather starts to turn.

And us being us, outfit photographs were a must.

(Kimono - Native Rose, Cross back top - Urban Outfitters, Jeans - Topshop, Shoes - Urban Outfitters, Bag - Vintage)

I've been obsessing over this kimono for a while now. I think it's the traditional sleeves which a lot of kimonos don't seem to have these days. We didn't get Native Rose into my store for Spring/Summer so it was a bit out of sight, out of mind. This one got appeared and I couldn't resist. We have the whole Autumn/Winter range in store now. Featuring a floor length black kimono with traditional sleeves. I have a feeling it will be mine very soon.

Secret Cinema presents....Back To The Future

Sometimes, living in London can get slightly overwhelming. I mean, there's so much to do. All the time. So many options, every day of the week. But every now and then, something happens that everyone wants to get in on. My first experience of this was Secret Cinema presents Back To The Future.

After trying to get tickets for a couple of days, I succeeded and waited with baited breath as the emails came through to advise me on what to wear, who my character was, where I needed to get to and so on. I knew someone going to the opening night and couldn't wait to hear all about it, debating on how much I wanted to know. I saw her and she told me......it was cancelled. Along with the next night, and the next, and the next and the next. This meant the unofficial opening night was the night I had tickets for. I was just hoping it wasn't going to go down the same route as it's predecessors.

I wasn't disappointed. I got dolled up in the requested 50's attire with my cousin and we made our way to Hackney Wick where we were told the site was a short walk away near the Olympic Village.

(Hair scarf - Tie Rack, Glasses - Gok Wan, Polo Shirt - Fred Perry, Skirt - Vintage find in Oslo, Bag - Vivienne Westwood, Shoes - Vivienne Westwood)

I knew we were on to something special the moment we entered the barn and could pet the farm animals. A short walk led us to Hill Valley, complete with houses, cars, barbershops, diners, a fairground, the school, the clock-tower, dive bars, vintage shops and more. We were given around 3 hours to explore which is the perfect amount of time to really get involved with everything. In fact, the set was so good, we almost forgot we were there to watch a film. Although, that might have been helped by the bourbon cocktails, gin sweets and 3 bottles of wine consumed.

The stand out part for me though, hands down, was the Enchantment Under the Sea dance. To walk in to a 50's American prom was just fantastically surreal.

So, after a few teething problems, and the worry it might not happen at all, I can safely say that Secret Cinema presents Back To The Future was one of the best things I've ever been to. If there's any way you can get your hands on a ticket, do it. You won't be disappointed. Secret Cinema, well done, you surpassed yourselves. Bring on the next one!

(Due to there being a ban on phones and cameras, which was excellent, the above images are taken from The Guardian)

London, I love you...

...and you ain't never bringing me down.

Back living in my favourite city in the world. I'm guessing it's time to up the ante on this little blog of mine.