March 6, 2014

They Came Out to Play…

Sarah Burton. Her time is now. Producing the eye-searing clothes that would’ve had Isabella Blow dragging on her ash-dripping ciggie with uncontained pleasure..

A femininity of drama without being frilly with the power to take us on flights of fancy away from grey pavements and cramped tube carriages.

Blurring the lines between couture and ready to wear, the workmanship is sensational – like elves and fairies have been at work.

Pushing the boundaries, McQueen’s never been ordinary or suburban. In a unique niche, it always has to be more. More than the High Street with the power to defy industry molds.

A bird of paradise brought to life in the urban jungle. You just want to stroke it’s gentle plumes and calm it’s beating heart.

The perfect Oscar dress?

Cate Blanchett?

And all this from the woman with one year old twins?…I doff my vermillion ostrich feathered Tracey to her..but I also want to give her a cuddle…and a nice cup of tea with a biccie on the side..

Laters, Kate x

March 5, 2014

Still Time!

Which should be the title of these beauties – the classically posed family portraits of old. And they’re providing further inspiration for my Seven Every Day Sins project (see previous post)..thinking aloud…the temptation is with the potential resources at hand to plan fantasy, surreal, out of this world..but I think maybe that’s too easy/obvious?..I’m thinking that at initial glance things should appear relatively normal. It’s then the clues that give the meaning…

Take portrait no.2 – a dreamy pose. But have 2 women instead, the one standing up is wearing green with a spider clip nestled in her hair. The lady sitting down is wearing designer black, dripping in jewels…and the symbols of mourning..black ribbon, Victorian jet jewellery. There could be a handbag open with more clues..Behind them on the wall is a portrait – maybe of a child – or maybe a still life of flowers? roses, carnations, chrysanthemums all have different meanings depending on their colour.. to the side an old fashioned clock with a moth clinging to the side. The wallpaper is made up of pasted fifty pound notes. (verging on the too surreal?) The lady in green has her eye closed…but the lids are painted to look like they’re open. Neither are smiling.

(photo from optic optic.com)

They do say the eye are the windows to the soul…

If you haven’t done so already there’s still time to vote (it goes without saying – a huge thank you if you have!).. the link to the competition site works straight through if you are signed into Facebook, if you’re not it takes you to ‘sign in’ and then the general website. If you end up at the general website, go to photography – trending – and look for the only orange picture(!) called ‘Seven photos of Every Day Sin in Modern Times’ and click on that…. you’ll see the full application/film and the ‘support’ button on the right hand side….

All you’ve done – all you’ve tried to do is really appreciated xxx

Laters, Kate x

March 4, 2014

Help!

Arrggghhhh – Computers, links..don’t you just love ’em? I know from my stats just how many of you have tried to help – a huge thank you to you all! – it really is appreciated…But I think I’ve worked out the problem..

For those that haven’t seen this post – I’ve mind blowingly entered myself for a competition to win 2-3 weeks working with the photographer Rankin..but I need support! All the info is down below..but there’s been an issue with the link – I think part of the problem is that the competition is set up on Facebook – the link works straight through if you are signed into Facebook, if you’re not it takes you to ‘sign in’ and then the general website. If you end up at the general website, go to photography – trending – and look for the only orange picture(!) called ‘Seven photos of Every Day Sin in Modern Times’ and click on that and you’ll see the full application/film and the ‘support’ button on the right hand side…. I’m going off now to see if I can find another way, by-passing Facebook..wish me luck.. xxxxxx

Little update – tried to get in via Samsung site, but then takes you again to the Facebook App site..oh joy!

I responded to a tweet..it said, if your passion lies in food, music or photography; if you want to take your talent to the next level; if you have a big idea, project, an ambition…Samsungs Launching People is for you..apply now..

So I did..

And what a prize is at stake…working for 2-3 weeks with the world renown portrait and fashion photographer Rankin..using all the technology Samsung has to offer….

Can you imagine? It’s the creative equivalent of a golden ticket to Willie Wonka’s Chocolate Factory…and all you had to do was come up with an idea and make a 2 minute film..

The downside? I saw the tweet late so I’ve only 24 hours to gain support – the deadline is the 6 March…but I’m OK..despite never using iMovie before I’ve made the film!

The upside? I LOVE my project idea…I want to create 7 pictures based on the modern day equivalent of the seven deadly sins using symbolism and imagery to create a multilayered story. I’ve always been fascinated by paintings such as Arnolfini portrait by Jan Van Eyck with it’s picture within a picture:

The more you look, the more you see..outside the window there’s a tree with cherry blossom so we know it’s summer, but the main charters are wearing furs – not because it’s cold, but as a symbol of wealth. The bed is red for passion. Her dress is green for hope..but there’s more…many scholars believe this is in fact a memorial picture and the wife is in fact dead. On the mirror are painted scenes from the Passion of Christ..on his side they’re all to do with life..on her side, death. Above them is a candelabra..on his side the candle is lit..on her side, the candle is out…

Using the seven deadly sins as a vehicle for developing this concept would be a fascinating brain-fry of creative juices…for example instead of Envy..think the exploration of the accumulation of material things and the pitfalls of debt..think green, think fur coat no knickers, think style over substance and then the emotional architecture starts building…the characters can have meaning – narcissists, prima donnas, queen bees…the clothes they wear..the colours..the way they interact..the situation they’re in..the tattoos..the meaning behind the tattoo..it can all flow into a deeper sense of understanding and recognition but all drawn seamlessly together.

Where I need your help is to support my project – press the ‘support’ button on the main website at the top right hand corner (NB – NEW LINK!) – Please, please give it a ‘support’ – pass it on to others…tweet, shout, mail..round up the postman and his three-legged dog..whatever it takes…this really would be like winning the lottery…

It’s always scary putting yourself up for something, but as I said to a friend the other day, if you believe you can or can’t, it’ll be true..and if you never try, you never, ever know….

Thank you!!

Laters, Kate x

March 3, 2014

Bring Back Bjork!

(All photos Huffington Post)

Who could forget? Taken in 2001…when stars were prepared to be human and dress for themselves…and give us something to truly talk about..

1969 – Barbara Streisland

1999 – The wackiness that is Celine Dion

1996 – Our own Kate Winslet, still rough around the edges…

1990 – Kim Basinger..never really got the hang of Oscar night…

1989 – Demi Moore – striking out..sort of..

2003 – Hilary Swank..less swank..more net..

1986 – The indomitable Cher

We bow down to you – come back! All is forgiven!

Laters, Kate

March 2, 2014

Friday Night is Quiz Night..

It all started out quite civilised..it was the school quiz after all. Our theme was the Godfather complete with horses head, grave candles, tommy guns and a priest to keep us on the straight and narrow.

It’s a quiz night like no other..the effort put in is extraordinary and as a result, so is the atmosphere…this year there was even the Jamaican bobsleigh team..with full sized bobsleigh…

Male member of the Geek team

I blame the Breaking Bad crew (who came with an entire smoking chemistry kit)..for trying to infiltrate our territory with their glowing vodka crystal meth jellies…

And our priest? Who we were relying on for our moral compass? She was on another planet..(icing sugar obviously has powerful qualities)..and things rapidly went down into debauchery from there…

One of the maddest, funniest (my throat is still sore!) – let’s face it – drunken nights I’ve had in a very, very long time..one that will live long in what memories there are!! It begs the question..

Can parents get expelled????

Laters, still recovering, Kate x

February 28, 2014

Dying for Dries..

Dries Van Noten AW14. The Clothes you know Blondie would wear. No more to be said…

Laters, Kate x

February 27, 2014

Ironic Iconic..

(Photo from Marie Claire)

The Moschino AW14 show was rather over-shadowed by the tardy arrival of one of it’s models, the pop singer Katy Perry. Some say her showing up late was the behaviour of a spoilt brat. Other’s argue she was set up or let down by others and it wasn’t her fault. The audience certainly weren’t happy and made the fact known. I say, if you are late, take it on the chin and have the grace to apologies. Swearing shows a distinct lack of humanity.….although Jeremy Scott, the King of Junk Culture was probably more than happy, sitting in a dark corner chuckling to himself, lapping all the media exploitation straight up like a rich tabloid milkshake..

Once started, he proudly paraded the Macdonald’s golden arches down the runway ‘homaged’ as potent tongue-in-cheek representation of Chanel’s iconic logo.

More caricatures of Chanel statement pieces were served up in quick succession.

This was ‘fast fashion’ in a satirical multi-layered pret-a-manger sandwich with extra relish. A brilliant parody of high street and designer, bright, stand-out and ‘of the moment’ this Collection needed to hit the shop floor running – and that’s exactly what Jeremy Scott did. A soon as the first model stepped onto the runway select pieces of the Collection became available online. No six month wait. No time for copies or ubiquitous ‘interpretations’, Jeremy Scott had done all the handwork, taken all the risk..after all the mocking and the finger waving, buried underneath the crowd pleasing a slick machine was at work..with style and showmanship he triumphantly demonstrated that fast fashion can be designer fashion…and be quick as well.

There’s one thing no-one can deny – Jeremy Scott is a man who understands the fashion world through and through…and is prepared to run wild with the times…

Laters, Kate x

February 26, 2014

La Dolce Vita..

(Lara Stone, Vogue France Mar 14)

When I looked at Dolce &Gabbana SS14 for the first time I could feel the bright sun of Sicily and the shadows of a lemon tree flickering above. There was cherry blossom. luscious gold jewellery, lazy lunches, fresh homemade pasta and carafes of wine.

(D&G SS14 Garage UK)

So it’s always fascinating to see the magazines then take the clothes and present them to us within the spirit of their publication.

( Fioia Italy Feb 14)

They have the resources to create another glossy world…to give us the chance to hold a physical dream in our hands.

(Glamour Italy Mar 14)

(Hunger UK)

(Vanity Fair, Italy, Feb)

(L’Officiel France Mar 14)

(Marie Claire, Italy Mar 14)

(Numero France Mar 14)

(Harper’s Bazaar, UK mar 14)

(All photos from Dolce &Gabbana)

Like the Sirens on the cliffs they call us saying, just by re-mortgaging your house you too can be like me…Or…are they works of Art in their own right? Adding subtle layers of message and mystery..

It’s your call.

Laters, Kate x

February 25, 2014

The Star Stella Jean.. x

Here we go! The vibrant, eclectic, charismatic Collection from Stella Jean AW14..

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Full of bohemian chic, Stella Jean draws her inspiration from her two diametrically opposite cultures.

The Wax material represents her maternal roots – her Creole heritage from Haiti, the first independent black republic in the world.

The stripes stand for her father, Italy, Turin and convention.

More than a simple apology on behalf of competing factions, she sucks the marrow from both to create a diversity that is utterly thrilling as it weaves and wefts together.

She dances away from the Dinner party generality that has rather bled our souls of colour.

Till the cold tug of winter has been burnt away.

So elegantly put together..it’s about embracing what you love and living life to the full.

Laters, Kate x

February 24, 2014

Fascinating Faustine x

Tucked away in the wilds of East London is a Studio with a difference. It’s where Faustine Steinmetz works her magic spinning, dying and weaving her own fabrics, up-cycling old textiles and turning the ordinary into the curiously exotic.

Her work isn’t about re-defining the silhouette into dramatic statements, instead she wants her clothes to have a grounded reference point. Each piece is chosen from the iconic element of our wardrobes – the pieces you reach for without thinking. It’s then the re-construction that gets taken to a whole new level.

Choices are made – like the denim will be made from mohair – and from that point, everything is handmade and hand dyed, right down to familiar red tabs and labels which are hand woven on looms in the studio.

These jeans were tapestried by hand to create the illusion of aged denim using hundreds and thousands of tiny stitches. The process took ten people 3 months to complete.

The idea behind this jacket was to create something that looked as if it had spent years floating in the sea.

(All pictures by Sanna Helena Berger)

Her concept is as far away from fast fashion as you can get, but it also challenges the thought processes of luxury brands. Many of the pieces she chooses as her inspiration, like the 501 levi jeans, were originally designed for labourers – made out of necessity rather than for beauty for the ordinary person on the street. But for Faustine luxury is not a glittering ball gown made from rare pleated silks and worn once, ‘luxury’ means somebody spending the time and talent to create something unique using pride and passion to create with integrity and heart.

Laters, Kate x