Want to work for Vogue?

New blog

2010-12-17T20:10:00.000+01:00

I have now moved blog - http://katierose.co.uk/blog

Please add the new blog to your bookmarks!

Re-design

2010-10-18T23:32:00.002+02:00

Again, things are taking a little longer than I anticipated.

But I'm also putting off getting stuck in with blogging again as I'm actually having a re-design...

so bear with me...

Architecture and Design Film festival, NYC

2010-10-18T23:17:00.000+02:00

http://www.twinfactory.co.uk/blog/culture/image-is-everything

Nicholas Pol, Mother of Pouacrus, presented by Vladimir Restoin Roitfeld

2010-10-18T23:14:00.000+02:00

http://www.twinfactory.co.uk/blog/culture/transglobal-art

Maripol Rocks on Twin

2010-10-18T23:11:00.002+02:00

http://www.twinfactory.co.uk/blog/fashion/maripol-rocks

Whoops...

2010-10-07T10:22:00.000+02:00

Apologies for the absence...

things have been a little hectic over and since LFW.

Normal service will resume asap. Promise.

In the meantime, check out my blogs on Twin...

a cracking interview with streetstyle photographer Ted Polhemus

http://www.twinfactory.co.uk/blog/culture/the-word-on-the-street

and a piece about the current Tate Britain exhibition on Eadweard Muybridge

http://www.twinfactory.co.uk/blog/culture/its-a-kind-of-magic

Perking me up

2010-09-28T19:33:00.002+02:00

so I'm stuck in bed surrounded by tissues looking like something that lives under a bridge.

There are a couple of things that are cheering me up though.

One is browsing through the sale on farfetch.com, another Gossip Girl, but the third is really special.

I know everyone's been ranting about it - I was so jealous and curious about the fanatical tweets - but today is the first day I've managed to actually check it out.

Jil Sander's SS2011 collection.

Feast your eyes on this...

All pictures from style.com

Absolutely stunning. A painter's palette of primary colours. 80's undertones. A lesson in colour-blocking.

Easy peasy lemon squeezy.

Eudon Choi

2010-09-26T23:45:00.001+02:00

Looking back to London Fashion Week, on Saturday 18th I was particularly fond of the Eudon Choi show.

Winner of the Vauxhall Fashion Scout Merit Award, as well as receiving backing from the new British Fashion Council x Elle Launch Pad, Choi is obviously hot stuff right now.

Having worked for Twenty8Twelve, Choi is well-versed in the art of understated cool..

This season sees Choi re-working classic workwear - aprons and overalls are inherent in every piece. Extremely wear-able, the collection also includes such showpieces as the LBD above with a rather revealing cut and multiple straps.

Skirts layered with belts/bumbags, trenches, duffle coats and all adorned with leather patches and superfluous straps - there's almost something futuristic and yet wholly vintage (thirties..?) about this collection. It is beautiful in its simplistic practicality and yet the seemingly practical elements actually serve no purpose in many of the designs.

In the designer's own words, this season he is inspired by “the industrial revolution; vintage warehouse overalls; the universal and democratic appeal of cotton.”

Playing on the idea of practical features and making them decorative, Choi has created a collection which is an absolute joy and totally 'lust-have'.

This jacket (below) with its neutral tones and multiple deep pockets would look so fresh with floaty maxis or silk shorts come summer (think safari or military) but could easily make the cut for Autumn 2011 too (perhaps with velvet leggings and boots..).

I'm afraid the picture I took doesn't really do it justice, but the pink shirt (below) has extra sleeves on the breast and torso. Silky and feminine yet with this military detail this shirt could easily be worn by women with a penchant for male tailoring or equally by those who favour the pretty.

To conclude this collection Choi sent out some beautiful asymmetrically draped and bound dresses in both dusty pink and olive green marble effect.

Stunning.

I am totally in love with this entire collection. Someone please point me in the direction of a point of sale...

Welcome to Happy

2010-09-26T15:01:00.000+02:00

New post on Twin about the artists Sarah and Briony, aka Welcome to Happy.

http://www.twinfactory.co.uk/blog/culture/happy-days

They are currently showing their work at TOANDFOR in Archway/Holloway. There until 10th October.

http://www.toandfor.co.uk

Portman Village 'Summer Lounge' Street Party

2010-09-21T16:17:00.000+02:00

I'm sure many of you agree, any excuse to party is a good one.

And if you've not had your fill of LFW parties or if you want your first taster of VIP Fashion Week treatment, this will be right up your street.

The Portman Village 'Summer Lounge' street party is tomorrow, Wednesday 22nd September, from 12 noon until 8pm.

In the heart of London but with a village-feel, the street party is supposed to unite a local vibe with global flavours and international talent. Guests are invited to indulge, eat, drink and relax in what promises to be a rather eclectic event.

There will be wine tasting, live music, poetry readings, comedy performances and DJ's throughout the day, as well as special events in stores. I'm going to be heading down to Greenhouse Hair salon for tips on how to put your hair up and blow-drying (much-needed tutorials in my case).

At the event you will be able to pick up a Portman Village Club loyalty card entitling you to discounts of 10-25% on products and services from the shops and restaurants in the area.

Most hotly anticipated, however, is bound to be Osman Yousefzada's sample sale at his studio. I'll be elbowing everyone else out of the way for a chance to get my mitts on an Osman original at 75% off.

Lastly, to conclude the day there will be a Designer Jumble Sale in association with ON/OFF. The sale starts at 12 at the Church of Anunciation, off Old Quebec Street, and ends with a charity auction at 8pm. All money raised will be going to the Pakistan Flood Relief.

Seymour Place & New Quebec Street, London W1

Check out http://www.portmanvillage.com/news-and-events for more info

Anti-Design Festival

2010-09-20T20:23:00.000+02:00

The Anti-Design festival is on at the moment in the heart of Shoreditch, based on one of my favourite roads, Redchurch Street.

Check out more info:

http://www.twinfactory.co.uk/blog/art/new-era

http://antidesignfestival.com

Ones to Watch

2010-09-19T15:20:00.000+02:00

Apologies for not staying on top of my blogging... LFW is too hectic to keep up.

So, yesterday was Vauxhall Fashion Scout's One to Watch show.

First up, Lilee.

Using only white, brown and blue (although brown and blue were in moderation!) Lilee's collection was fresh and structural. Ruffles were romantic yet architectural. Subtle prints adorned floaty skirts and capes and a stunning white blazer, silkily hanging over the bare bones of the model showed its gold popper buttons.

Each piece was stunningly tailored: crisp yet soft, strong yet delicate.

Next to the runway was Charlotte Taylor.

I'm super excited about this collection. Crayon-colours and a relaxed silhouette make for an easy summer uniform. Green velvet, yellow robot print, culottes and playsuits equalled an aesthetic that was fun without being too pushy about it. The subtle reference to a kind of 1970's childrenswear evokes hassle-free dressing with a twist: the grey/beige hues underlining the collection were highlighted with stripes, layers and other small details that ensured wearing one of these designs is not only extremely possible for us mere mortals, but also a treat.

A.Hallucination, a menswear brand with a super-tight aesthetic came next.

Here there was also a modern 70's feel but in whole different way. The palette of browns and blues made for a understated cool (way better than black, obviously). Conventional shapes were mixed: duffle coats and macs formed a hybrid, toggles found their way onto a blazer and these new jacket styles were then layered: duffle jackets over blazers.

If my boyf will let me, I'm definitely dressing him in a few pieces from this collection. Pure yum.

Lastly, Georgia Hardinge.

Ruffle heaven! Silky layers, extreme ruffles, sheer floaty fabrics and fab trompe l'oil dresses made a rather romantic statement at Georgia Hardinge. However, seemingly in two parts, the collection became stronger and more structured with boxy skirts exaggerating womanly hips into something more dangerous.

The juxtaposition between the white and yellow sheer soft designs and the harsh black really worked though. Don't be afraid to work black during the summer. And look forward to channelling easter chic(k)!

Prophetik...Pathetic?

2010-09-17T15:08:00.001+02:00

The first Vauxhall Fashion Scout show on my schedule today was Prophetik.

Vauxhall Fashion Scout is normally one of the highlights of my schedule - they showcase up-and-coming designers, the crowd are always friendly and there's usually some goodies to boot.

Today I turned up to sample the free wine and see what this brand had to offer...

A cloaked damsel began the show by walking onto a pedestal near the orchestra, the London Talalium Orchestra to be precise. So far so kooky.

And then the show began..

White gowns with medieval sleeves and Maid Marion hair was the order of the day. The gents appeared in waistcoats and had scarves round their necks. A banjo-playing band accompanied the orchestra. It all seemed a bit House on the Prarie gone awry.

I couldn't work out whether there was a sense of irony to be felt in the collection. The catwalk had a grass carpet, the models had asymmetrical plaits..

No, definitley no irony. And sadly irony was probably the only thing that could have saved this show from the realm of fancy dress.

Unfortunately Prophetik served up what can only be described as the kind of look that is stereotypically associated with eco-fashion: if you wear these clothes, your friends will think you've joined a hippie cult.

The only redeeming features were the fishtail plaits (the more successful among the plaits), the music and the fact that everyone enjoyed the designer's jig at the end with the hillbilly band. I'm sure, however, he'd much rather we enjoyed his collection.

P.S. Sorry no pictures on this one, the internet connection in the press lounge is rather hit and miss....

Maria Grachvogel, LFW

2010-09-17T12:17:00.000+02:00

So I'm at London Fashion Week and my busy schedule has kicked off this morning with Maria Grachvogel.

Utilising a palette of pared-down nudes - greige, grey, grey-blue - and with accents of yellow the collection started off on a sombre note. However those mocca notes intensified with the beat of the jungle-inspired birdsong music into something stronger.

Remember playing marbles? A sense of geology in action was translated onto the graphic tie-dye effect dresses. Fiery notes merged with oceanic blues and whites reminiscent of the waves crashing.

The tailoring was simple and elegant in that simplicity. Highlights included a nude silk blazer (the entire collection seemed to be almost exclusively silk) with a exaggeratedly draped back - giving it a wing-like look.

Yellow shorts had oversized draped pockets and a white maxi skirt floated down the runway. Maria included her signature seam-free trousers in wool challis and crepe and the fishtail gowns seemed wholly appropriate for the red carpet as for a summer's day - just throw on a crepe blazer and you're good to go.

So, with white, yellow and maxi skirts still on the agenda for Maria Grachvogel for SS2010/11 I wonder what other trends are going to make the leap from our Autumn Winter wardrobes...

Olivier Zahm, b. 1964, France

2010-09-14T17:07:00.002+02:00

www.fashionableearth.org

with Lara Stone

ritasaardismood.blogspot.com

In the space of twenty-odd years, the Frenchman has mutated his magazine from Purple Prose to Purple Sex, to its current incarnation, and Purple Fashion—which includes some prose and sex in spades. For the last year, Purple's blossomed as an online form, blending friends and beautiful women and a passion for debauchery into a glamorous and messy lifestyle guide to the worldof the man and his magazines.

http://www.interviewmagazine.com/blogs/culture/2010-03-10/olivier-zahm-purple-diary/

with Terence Koh, photographed by Magnus Unnar

purple.fr

elle.de

"People recognise him by his signature tousled hair and stubble, a pair of tear-drop sunglasses, a tight-fitting leather jacket, pointy boots, a gold wristwatch… an intriguing mix of sexiness and discretion."
"This is a disguise," explains Zahm. "Five or six years ago, I decided to wear this kind of outfit and behave as if I were a celebrity. It's not out of narcissism. It's for the magazine. For an independent magazine to exist, I had to incarnate it personally."
http://gawker.com/5397631/meet-olivier-zahm-either-the-best-or-worst-human-being-in-new-york

style.com

with Catherine Deneuve

Olivier Zahm’s love of women is well documented, not least by Zahm himself on his Web site, www.purple-diary.com. But the French editor and founder of the twice-yearly independent publication Purple Fashion has many other passions: art, fashion, his daily uniform of white or gray jeans and black Yves Saint Laurent leather jacket, parties, freedom. There may be an element of self-promotion behind some of this, but in an increasingly conformist world, Zahm offers an original, entertaining, and astute voice.
style.com

with Terry Richardson

papermag.com

nymag.com

Zahm is currently working on a biography of Carine Roitfeld, set to be published Autumn 2011 by Rizzoli.

modeoperatoire.over-blog.com

i-D

See this interview with nymag.com also: http://nymag.com/daily/fashion/2010/03/olivier_zahm.html

Twin

2010-09-14T01:05:00.002+02:00

I totally forgot to mention...

I've been blogging for Twin

www.twinfactory.co.uk

My first two posts can be seen:

http://www.twinfactory.co.uk/blog/culture/corinne-day-1965-2010-2

http://www.twinfactory.co.uk/blog/culture/gang-star

And I'm currently working on a third...funnily enough also about a photographer, though a somewhat different era.

I don't know how I've forayed into such a photography-based blogging career....

The next post will definitely be about fashion, don't fret.

(LFW is looming after all)

Issue 3 of the (Twin) book will be out soon.

Dress Up

2010-09-12T19:43:00.001+02:00

For the first few days after watching a movie - mainly in the cases of films that carry some kind of teenage pull or memory having watched many of them in the late 90's, early 00's - I find myself subconsciously taking on the fashion.

I suppose those movies that I feel an affinity to include either an era that I feel particularly drawn to or a storyline that is reminiscent of my teenage longings and experiences.

Yesterday, in a hungover state I might add, I watched A Lot Like Love (2005) starring Ashton Kutcher and Amanda Peet. Disregarding Peet's first style (teenage rebel in classic grunge get-up, which I have to say, does nothing for Peet's strong, perhaps even masculine jaw-line), the styling for her character is perfect weekend fodder.

Jersey dresses, a-line skirts, a well-fitted classic trench in navy and a beautiful linen blazer (reminded me of the Jil Sander and Uniqlo collaboration) - Peet's character Emily's wardrobe is made up of well-fitted, thrown-on classics. Essentially a capsule wardrobe with a twist - the colour palette transcends boring neutrals, punctuating the browns and greys with warm autumnal hues such as berry and, er... orange.

In fact, her whole philosophy on dressing approaches a kind of bohemian understated cool that I can only dream of aspiring to. She drives a beat-up old estate car (surely a prerequisite for the all-Americana mini road-trip on which she and Kutchon's character, Oliver, embark on half-way through the movie). In the boot she keeps various garments, including a man's shirt, scarves, heels and a stunningly, oh-so-2005 (or 2002 even) silver halter-neck dress, perfect for those spontaneous New Year's Eve parties. (How I love movie-land, where you can turn up to a swish New Year's Eve party bra-less and without so much as a slick of lipstick - again, the stuff my dreams are made of.)

I adore this outfit. I practically grew up on a diet of brown, blazers and flares (it sounds cooler than I executed it unfortunately). It appeals to my love of all things 70's.

So today I tried channelling Miss Emily. I decided to keep things neutral and went with a basic block of grey - my crepe Ghost wrap-around skirt and a H&M grey tee, then I added my vintage Jaeger blazer and a black Jaeger bag (perfectly minimal, v. in-keeping with AW2010). Although this film may prove to be a bit of an embarrassing source, I absolutely love taking inspiration from movies and finding new combinations in my own wardrobe.

Giovanna Battaglia, b. Italy

2010-08-28T14:02:00.000+02:00

Italian-born former Dolce and Gabanna model Giovanna Battaglia is the fashion editor at L’Uomo Vogue and also works as a freelance stylist.

One of the most stylish women sitting front row and the girlfriend of French Vogue editor Carine Roitfeld’s art dealer son Vladmir Restoin-Roitfeld, Giovanna’s looks are always elegant with some flair.

http://rdujour.com/2010/02/03/style-file-giovanna-battaglia/

I love how she wears fabulous coats (very autumn/winter 2010) and lots of great flares or cropped trousers. There's a great sense of quirkyness about her style as well - but it's subtle, just in the details, whether that's a necklace or a colour.

Watch and learn.

Rodarte

2010-08-27T18:02:00.004+02:00

http://www.rodarte.net/

Founded by Kate and Laura Mulleavy.

The Mulleavy sisters are U.C. Berkeley graduates from Pasadena, California.

After their initial collection of just 10 pieces, the Mulleavys appeared on the cover of Women's Wear Daily and had a meeting with Anna Wintour.

Autumn/Winter 2008/09

Spring/Summer 2009 RTW

On November 13 2008, The Mulleavy sisters won one of fashion's biggest monetary awards, The Swiss Textiles Award in Zurich Switzerland, worth 100,000 euros. Rodarte beat other fashion designers like Jean-Pierre Braganza, Richard Nicoll and Louise Goldin to the prize. They were the first women to win the award and the first winners from outside Europe. The jury for the prize included New York fashion designer Patricia Field. In a radio interview just after they received their accolade Kate and Laura Mulleavy said their sibling relationship is critical to their work and their success.

Autumn/Winter 2009/10

Celebrity fans include Tilda Swinton, Emma Watson, Chloë Sevigny, Cate Blanchett, Keira Knightley, and Dita von Teese.

At the 81st Academy Awards both Reese Witherspoon and Natalie Portman were dressed in Rodarte.

Actress and friend Kirsten Dunst accompanied them to the CFDA Awards in 2009.

Another friend, fan, and model is Joanna Newsom, who is often seen wearing their designs. She has previously modeled for them, and been an interviewer of the two young women.

Autumn/Winter 2008, Topshop Spring/Summer 2009

On April 23, 2009, Michelle Obama wore Rodarte while hosting Queen Rania of Jordan in the Oval Office.

The sisters have also collaborated with Gap, and most recently Target, on limited edition pieces.

Spring/Summer 2008

Winter's coming

2010-08-13T16:12:00.058+02:00

What with it being such a miserable blustery day - one of many so far this month - I'm now getting excited for winter.

It's not that I dislike the summer months, I love seeing the sun and feeling it on my face, like any living creature does, but I love the change, I love it when the seasons switch.

It all started in the fashion cupboard at Fabulous. Getting in the AW collections for the big AW shoot (in Fabulous either this Sunday or next....!) was so exciting and a lot of high street retailers have done a great job this season.

Warehouse has a beautiful leopard print coat, and a romantic white blouse that I've got my eye on.

Oasis has gone for gothic glamour with long-sleeved maxi dresses, velvet and black lace.

River Island has got a great selection of cosy knits and party pieces, while Next has got some fabulous ribbed leggings and tunics.

I've already bought some aviator-style leggings and a brown ruched skirt (above) from River Island and a cosy collared and pocketed cardie from Gap.

****

Here's the run-down of my high street Autumn/Winter faves:

Boho glam at Miss Selfridge

leopard print eat your heart out - Warehouse

mixing elements of Max Mara, Chloe and Stella McCartney - M&S

say hello to the statement jumper - Oasis...

...and the statement cardie - River Island

check out that scarf. I have one that's just as long and wide. It took me two years to knit. - Topshop

tis the season of camel - M&S

Warehouse does a 70s tartan skirt

Thumbs up for the dress and bag - Miss Selfridge

fab lace skirt at Dorothy Perkins

just stunning - Oasis

high street hero Marks and Sparks gets big brownie points for this take on the ubiquitous shearling jacket

looking toasty at Topshop

Warehouse does a camel maxi jumper dress. I never thought I'd see the day...

somewhat reminiscent of Meadham Kirchhoff and Hocus Pocus simultaneously - Topshop

various shades of taupe and camel -- 1970's at M&S

Miss Selfridge does grown-up, gothic AND 70s all in one outfit

statement maxis by Oasis

gorgeous. Why? It's all in the details - River Island

fur over a jacket, now that's warm AND fit - Warehouse

shearling in cape form. two birds, one stone - Topshop

chic minimalism - M&S

What a coat - Miss Selfridge

and another great coat by Warehouse

these chunky socks are courtesy of Topshop, via Prada and the school gates

The girls at Tank will be lapping this up - Oasis

channeling Winter Kate at M&S

set hearts racing with this party frock - Topshop

immaculately styled - M&S

THIS is grown up dressing for your twenties - Warehouse (see my post 'Lamb dressed as Mutton')

Golly, I better get saving....

New obsession

2010-08-11T20:28:00.001+02:00

The boyf and I are seriously obsessed with this girl, her music and her fashion at the mo. Championing outlandish fashion, hearty pop music with a message and a looker to boot, she's definitely hot property right now (but hopefully she will be around for a while!)

definitely too cool for school

loving the 70s vibe

Hollywood glamour with a grunge twist

others would look like Big Bird, but not Marina

GREEN

what a kook

foxy lady

If Chilly G gives her his seal of approval, she's definitely something special

Life on the Inside

2010-08-11T19:20:00.001+02:00

I had my first official shift at Selfridges today after one and a half days of riveting training sessions.

I am based in home accessories. There are some gorgeous pieces like vintage apothecary shelves for tiny bottles of potions, magnifying glasses with handles made of horn, hand-stitched cushions and beautiful glass jars and vases from the 1950's. Though some of it is really not my taste (i.e. very commercialised) such as oversized letters in wood and metal. Ugh, yuck. But generally it's a department full of beautiful things. Of course everything is alarmingly overpriced.
Paperweight for £30.00?

Oh, but there are old school desks with the lids that lift up and gymnasium equipment (approx £1,000 a piece). They bring a smile to everyones' faces.

So generally not bad, though I'd forgotten how bad retail can be.
Back. Ache.

And day one of this experience has made me realise that I really need to pull my finger out. I am the first person to admit that I can be a bit of a snob: talking to my colleagues I have this tiny voice in the back of my head telling me that I'm meant for better things than them who are quite happy in retail. But that doesn't mean anything if I don't make it happen for myself. I've decided I'm going to get in touch with the team in head office who sort out the magazine and the layout//styling of the website/newsletter to see if they need any assistance/interns - I would be thrilled to help them out and I could quite easily pop upstairs after my short five hour shifts - we'll see if anyone else thinks this is a good idea tomorrow I suppose.

Lamb dressed as Mutton

2010-08-06T17:19:00.000+02:00

How to work autumn’s grown up silhouette in your twenties

With the autumn/winter trends now settling into focus in the latest fashion pages, it’s becoming clear that one look will be reigning supreme for the next few months. In its various guises, Vogue has tipped it the ‘new restraint’, others are celebrating a new cool minimalism or a Mad Men-inspired lady-like elegance, but one thing’s certain: whether channelling the 50s or the 90s, this new look is a very adult strain of dressing.

Prada AW 2010 campaign

Louis Vuitton AW 2010

So what’s a girl to do should she be a few years off having a profession, never mind a professional wardrobe? They do say to dress for the job you want, not the job you’ve got, but this leads one to consider how to work this look without appearing prudish. After all, you don’t want to end up looking like you’ve just raided mummy’s wardrobe. Following these guidelines will ensure you get a head start on the new season, not ahead of your time.

Marc Jacobs AW 2010

Daytime glamour should come in the form of casual, good quality separates and pretty dresses. Take inspiration from Prada and Louis Vuitton and invest in quality accessories: long leather gloves, knitted knee-high socks and pointed courts. As far as tailoring goes, watch the hemlines: work a full a-line skirt with a shorter hem than the original 50s look to showcase legs; after all, if you can’t do it in your twenties, when can you? That said, midi lengths are big news for autumn. Should you desire to lower your hem, try pairing your sensible skirt with a casual t-shirt to restore the balance or clash fabrics: a heavy leather skirt with a cotton or silk top. The juxtaposition of laid-back grunge and lady-like sophistication will make sure the effect is more Audrey Hepburn than Miss Marple.

Audrey Hepburn: the master of effortless chic

Miss Marple

For evening, try adding flashes of colour to a 50’s-style cocktail dress. Whether in the form of a patent pop-art inspired Lulu Guinness box bag or the entire dress, such brightness will keep your look playful and youthful. Favouring a boyish silhouette? Look to Gucci and Chloe’s version of the new trouser or channel the chic urban cool seen at Dries Van Noten: tweed skirts with boyfriend jumpers and orange leather gloves, military cigarette trousers and flashes of leopard print. The lesson learnt here is to don your grown-up grey suit with an aloof insouciance (sunglasses optional) and rolled up sleeves to make sure you’re not taken too seriously.

Dries Van Noten, AW 2010

Ultimately the key to demure grown-up dressing is to mix and match your pieces so that you don’t end up looking too stiff. After all, such juxtaposition is where fashion leaves the realm of costume and becomes more interesting. And if all else fails, apply lashings of black eye liner to ensure your reticent exterior doesn’t betray wallflower tendencies.

The Trouble with Blogging

2010-08-06T17:14:00.002+02:00

As published on the channel 4 talent blog

Check it out

Tomorrow

2010-07-12T22:16:00.002+02:00

I have a very exciting interview and am horrified at the prospect of not being offered the job on the spot.

Dear God.

Turnaround

2010-07-08T20:13:00.003+02:00

IT's so mental how things can change all of a sudden.

Now I'm looking at Kenneth Jay Lane earrings on sale..... and why is this?, I hear you cry.

I am starting temping at a newspaper tomorrow

AND

I have an interview for my 1st choice, do-anything-to-get-it, what-am-I-going-to-wear job on Tuesday

AND

feeling positive about my Christmas temp interview that I had today

W H A T A D I F F E R E N C E A D A Y M A K E S

Anita Pallenberg, b. 1944, Italy

2010-07-07T20:49:00.001+02:00

Actress, model and fashion designer.

Pallenberg is known for her romantic involvement with Rolling Stones band members Brian Jones, whom she met in 1965 in Munich, where she was working on a modelling assignment, and Keith Richards, for whom she left Jones in 1967 while on holiday in Morocco. She remained in a relationship with Richards until 1980 although they never married. There were rumours that she also had a brief affair with Mick Jagger during the filming of Performance, although Pallenberg denied the affair in March 2007 when Performance was released on DVD.

Pallenberg and Richards were together from 1967 - 1979. They had three children: son Marlon (born 10 August 1969), Angela (née Dandelion; born 17 April 1972) and a second son, Tara (26 March 1976- 6 June 1976), who died in his cot 10 weeks after his birth.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anita_Pallenberg

The Blues

2010-07-07T20:11:00.000+02:00

I'm feeling more than a little down today.

It seems that trying to break into the fashion industry is really only for the wealthy, who can afford to live in London/commute whilst earning nothing for, perhaps, a year before finding paid employment.

Otherwise people have somehow managed on waitressing by night.

This does not fill me with confidence.

I just don't seem to have the energy to hold down two jobs simultaneously.

So I've been applying to whatever permanent positions I can find that are at least half-relevant to my chosen career path. I thought maybe I could find a way in sideways rather than head on.

But I had an interview today for a job so dire, so boring and business-like that I think I won't even manage that.

Maybe I sound spoilt. But I think I'm a good candidate. And there's certainly some jobs out there that I've applied to that I feel I deserve a response from.

I'm feeling quite desperate and am worried there's only one antidote for that.

Off to dinner at a friend's tonight and we are having spicy sausage pasta with pancetta. I'm sure that might do the trick.

A change....

2010-06-15T23:37:00.001+02:00

So I've decided that it's time for this blog to transform a bit..

It's going to get a bit of a spruce up and will become more about me and my struggle in the fashion world. But at it's heart this blog has always been and will always be about study.

I've now finished my degree and feel that I need to continue to grow and stimulate myself on some intellectual level. The study of fashion will more than keep me busy and it's certainly something that is ever growing and never finished.

I have some exciting plans for the blog.

W A T C H T H I S S P A C E

Tati Cotliar, b.1990, Argentinia

2010-06-15T23:25:00.000+02:00

Jenny Sinkaberg, b.1992, Norway

2010-06-15T23:20:00.000+02:00

Bara Holotova, b.1991, the Czech Republic

2010-06-15T23:14:00.002+02:00

This year is Bara Holotova’s break-out year. After signing with IMG in 2007, the Czech model spent the next few seasons struggling to catch on with casting directors. Though she booked the December 2007 cover of French Jalouse alongside jewelry designer Waris Ahluwalia and modeled for Roberto Cavalli'sClass fall ad campaign in 2008, her résumé remained spotty. That was until the 18-year-old received Miuccia Prada's blessing. The designer placed the pouty brunette on exclusive for the fall 2009 Prada and Miu Miu shows. As a result, she popped up in the pages of Dazed & Confused's April issue, and worked with Claudia Knoepfel and Stefan Indlekofer and Craig McDean for W magazine's June issue. Whatever's up next for her, you can bet it will be major.

http://nymag.com/daily/fashion/2009/07/meet_the_new_girl_bara_holotov.html

Tanya Dziahileva, b.1991, Belarus

2010-06-15T23:08:00.000+02:00

Addison Gill, b.1992, Canada

2010-06-15T23:02:00.000+02:00

Auguste Abeliunaite, b.1995, Lithuania

2010-06-15T22:56:00.000+02:00

Angelika Kocheva, b.1987, Ukraine

2010-06-15T22:48:00.000+02:00

Valerija Kaleva, b.1990 , Slovenia

2010-06-15T22:39:00.000+02:00

Alla Kostromicheva, b.1986, Ukraine

2010-06-15T22:32:00.000+02:00

Alla Kostromicheva came bolting out of the gate this past fashion week. By the end of the fall 2009 season, the 22-year-old Ukrainian had walked 22 shows in New York, Milan, and Paris, from Calvin Klein to Jil Sander to Balenciaga, making her one of the most sought-after girls of the season. Kostromicheva got her start just a year ago when she signed with Ford Models in New York, but has since left the agency to sign with Women Direct this year. She made her runway debut on the Collette Dinnigancatwalk in March 2008, and slowly started to build up her show list, walking for Christian Dior,Emanuel Ungaro, Maison Martin Margiela, and Yves Saint Laurent during the spring shows last October. But the five-foot-eleven beauty didn't show her star potential until this last season when both Alexander McQueen and Stefano Pilati of Yves Saint Laurent selected her to open their shows. And since then she has landed the cover of Tokion in March, in editorials in Plastique and 10 Magazine, and it’s rumored that she was in fittings for a shoot with Steven Meisel for Italian Vogue. With that kind of casting, we're sure to be seeing a lot more of Alla to come.

http://nymag.com/daily/fashion/2009/05/meet_the_new_girl_alla_kostrom.html

Iris Strubegger, b. 1984, Austria

2010-06-15T22:26:00.000+02:00

Candice Swanepoel, b. 1988, South Africa

2010-04-11T00:03:00.000+02:00

Heidi Verster, b. 1987, South Africa

2010-04-10T23:55:00.000+02:00

Hamish Bowles, b. 1963, England

2010-03-21T11:59:00.000+01:00

Carmen Dell'Orefice, b. 1931, America

2010-03-21T11:50:00.000+01:00

Katie Shillingford, Stylist, Dazed and Confused

2010-01-26T23:58:00.005+01:00

Katie Shillingford is Fashion Editor at Dazed. She works with photographers including, Matt Irwin, Rankin, Daniel Sanwald, William Selden and Mariano Vivanco. In addition to shooting main fashion stories and covers for Dazed, Katie works closely with fashion designer Gareth Pugh, styling both his womenswear and menswear shows and film projects.

http://www.dazeddigital.com/userprofile/Default.aspx?username=katieS

see: http://forums.thefashionspot.com/f71/katie-shillingford-fashion-editor-dazed-confused-66778-2.html

Sarah Rutson, Fashion Director of Lane Crawford, Hong Kong

2010-01-26T23:47:00.006+01:00

Rutson (who prefers not to reveal her age) is a Brit who's lived in Hong Kong for the past 15 years, and has been a noticeable figure on the fashion circuit - in her uniform of Lanvin and Azzedine Alaïa dresses and sky-high Louboutin heels - buying for Lane Crawford's four Hong Kong stores. But she says that the purchasing power of mainland China's new elite (according to a survey by the management consultants Bain & Company, China already buys 12 per cent of the world's luxury goods, and that figure is set to grow) has opened her eyes to the more voracious consumer. 'For our customers in Hong Kong the process of shopping is a slow one, it's an emotional thing. But in mainland China a customer will go straight in and pay in cash for a £3,000 dress in under eight minutes.'

http://forums.thefashionspot.com/f71/sarah-rutson-fashion-director-lane-crawford-72353.html

Caroline Sieber, Stylist

2010-01-26T23:21:00.003+01:00

Caroline was raised between Vienna and Tyrol and came to London to be an accountant. She decieded to become a stylist instead and currently dates banker Fritz von Westenholz. Anna Wintour apparently spotted her at the wedding of Arthur Mornington and Jemma Kidd and put her on the committee for the Costume Institute Gala in 2005. She and Selma Blair were the only two people who Karl Lagerfeld allowed to wear Chanel to the event. The magazines say that she never wears the same thing twice and likes Krispy Kreme Doughnuts from the counter at Harrods.

http://rdujour.com/2008/06/20/caroline-sieber/

see: http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2009/07/10/fashion/20090712-pulse-slideshow_index.html?ref=fashion

Among others, she dresses Emma Watson.

Ginta Lapina, b 1989, Latvia

2009-12-20T00:10:00.012+01:00

Twin Peaks: Style Icons

2009-10-23T00:22:00.005+02:00

Trish Goff, b 1976, America

2009-09-02T20:54:00.006+02:00

Poppy Delevingne, b England

2009-08-29T21:56:00.004+02:00

Model Poppy Delevingne: An English rose in New York
By JUDITH WOODS
Last updated at 17:30 05 April 2008

She's pretty, she's posh and a close friend of the royals.
She has been hailed in the modelling world as Britain's Claudia Schiffer, and is in demand from couture houses and high-street labels alike.
Fresher than Kate Moss, she has "star in the making" written through her like a stick of rock.
No wonder the fashion industry has been so dismayed by news that Poppy Delevingne has left these shores and headed Stateside to take up residence in Fergie's New York pad.
Shouldn't the government really be slapping an export ban on her and saving the 21-year-old for the nation?
Poppy, looking every inch the tousled Sunday-morning beauty, all bee-stung lips, slouchy boots, jeans and layers of vest tops that slip off her gangly shoulders, laughs at the notion that she might be so sorely missed.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/you/article-556928/Model-Poppy-Delevingne-An-English-rose-New-York.html#ixzz0PbYlgtBv

The Tallest Poppy
10 April 2008
POPPY DELEVINGNE --> is certainly not a new name in the fashion lexicon but spring/summer 2008 is proving to be the British model's best season yet, as the US falls hard for her English rose charm.
The daughter of society model Pandora Delevingne, Poppy been modelling full time for two years and, thanks to a recent shoot for US Vogue, agents Stateside - as well as those in the UK - are clamouring to book yet another star girl from Storm Models. At the recent international collections she walked the catwalk for the likes of Chloe, Balenciaga, Louis Vuitton and Biba and is currently the face of Anya Hindmarch, Laura Ashley and Bamford & Sons.
"She is the most coolly elegant and beautiful blonde Brit in NY at the moment," Storm Models' Paula Karaiskos says, simply.
As if that weren't enviable enough, Poppy's society connections have earned her a place as one Tatler's most eligible girls in the world. Watch her star rise and rise. (April 10 2008, AM)
Leisa Barnett
http://www.vogue.co.uk/news/daily/2008-04/080410-the-tallest-poppy.aspx

see: http://www.style.com/vogue/bestdressed/072709/

She is the daughter Pandora Stevens, the head of personal shopping at Selfridge’s department store. Poppy attended Francis Holland School in Belgravia and then the Hampshire boarding school Beadles, where she was a classmate of Alice Dellal. As a model Poppy starred in ad campaigns for Bamford, Anya Hindmarch, and Laura Ashley, and is frequently featured in Tatler magazine. In 2008 she moved to New York, where she resides in the Duchess of York’s Upper East Side apartment, and has begun pursuing an acting career, aparently by the suggestion of fellow Brit-It girl Plum Sykes Rowland.
http://rdujour.com/2007/07/26/poppy-delevigne/

Rebecca Fleetwood, b 1988, Ireland

2009-08-10T18:40:00.005+02:00

Jessica Miller, b 1984, America

2009-08-08T13:32:00.008+02:00

Alice Dellal, b 1987, Brazil

2009-07-12T18:16:00.008+02:00

Dominic Jones Jewellery

2009-07-12T17:39:00.002+02:00

Emma Watson, b 1990, France

2009-06-30T22:40:00.006+02:00

Zooey Deschanel, b 1980, America

2009-06-29T21:22:00.006+02:00

Maggie Gyllenhaal, b 1977, America

2009-06-29T20:32:00.005+02:00

Jean-Charles de Castelbajac, b 1949, Morocco

2009-06-27T12:45:00.004+02:00

with his finance, Mareva Galanter

Jean-Charles de Castelbajac, also known as JC/DC, born 28 November 1949 in Casablanca, Morocco, is a fashion designer. As the Marquis de Castelbajac, he is a French nobleman. He has enjoyed international success with some of his creations, including a coat of teddy bears worn by pop star Madonnaand by supermodel Helena Christensen in the film Prêt-à-Porter. As well as his imaginative clothing collections the designer creates home furnishings.
In 1979 de Castelbajac married fashion journalist and model Katherine Lee Chambers. They had two sons but the marriage ended in divorce.
The designer is currently engaged to actress Mareva Galanter.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Charles_de_Castelbajac

"A Campbell's soup can dress, a 'fur coat' made of teddy bears, giant Snoopy t-shirts and inflatable ponchos - these are the witty and flamboyant designs of French fashion maverick Jean Charles de Castelbajac.

An inspired collaborator, his design work includes ready-to-wear as well as cars, sportswear and interiors. A fashion star of the '70s and '80s, his idiosyncratic designs mix bright colours, pop culture and humour. The mid-70s saw him dress Farah Fawcett for the hit TV series Charlie's Angels and collaborating with Mick Jagger and Elton John. His rainbow flag vestments for the Pope earned him further fame.

Castelbajac's childhood was spent surrounded by the bleak colours of a military boarding school. He 'highjacked' materials in his first show, refashioning materials such as oilcloth sponges and floor cloths into an award-winning collection. The star of the show was the coat cut from his boarding school blanket.

In 1972, Jean Charles joined the Créateurs et Industriels run by the architect Andree Putman. Later that year, on a visit to London, he met Vivienne Westwood, Malcolm McLaren and the New York Dolls, who were all to become lifelong friends. After this trip, Jean Charles ditched his muted palette for richer and more vibrant colours. In 1976, years ahead of the ubiquitous puffa jacket, he created his famous duvet ski jacket with transparent plastic pockets filled with brightly coloured feathers.
In the '80s, a lifelong fascination with graffiti inspired his work with Jean-Michel Basquiat, leading to the creation of their show stealing gown in 1984. He also worked with artists such as Loulou Picasso, Robert Combas and Jean-Charles Blais to create a line of pop art dresses featuring their works of art."

http://www.vam.ac.uk/collections/fashion/exhibs_displays/castelbajac/index.html

"Jean Charles’s use of materials is truly unique and…well lets say odd. From a plastic “fish fin” inspired dress to a dress consistent of Michael Jackson’s face and real hair (a key element this fall – also seen as “hairy shoe boots” at Balenciaga), there is also a Andy Warhol dress of the same type and a sequined leopard print dress.We love the muppet theme and stuffed animal coat which is a “remix” of the teddy bear coat JC/DC once made for Madonna."

http://brainsbeauty.wordpress.com/

"The designer also makes home furnishings, reviving traditional furnishings (such as the Chesterfield sofa and the Medaillon style chair) with the colors. A line of carpets, light fittings, porcelain and household linen also reflect the Castelbajac style."

http://www.infomat.com/whoswho/jeancharlesdecastelbajac.html

"No one doubted the success of Jean-Charles de Castelbajac's art exhibition Triumph of the Sign when the fashion legend went all arty on us with his first solo show. No, we knew Bethnal Green’s Paradise Row gallery was in safe hands because art, as his clothes proves, is the natural progression for Jean-Charles’ 40-year obsession with pop art. Jean-Charles de Castelbajac or JCDC as we like to call him, has “culturally hijacked” our society since 1969, and whether it has been with Barack Obama dresses, Lego leggings or Kermit the Frog coats, he has used iconic images and legendary personalities to make his point. Now, the time has come to take it off the catwalk and put it in an art gallery. Triumph of the Sign is where opposites meet; classical masterpieces pitted against brand logos, consumer culture versus highbrow art. You get the point. Castelbajac was friends with both Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat and this is him continuing their work."

http://dazeddigital.com/Fashion/article/2896/1/Jean-Charles_de_Castelbajac_Takes_on_Art

"THE IMMINENT arrival of French designer Jean Charles de Castelbajac in London, via the opening of his UK flagship store on Conduit Street, has the fashion pack abuzz - and VOGUE.COM has had an exclusive preview of the store's centerpiece: a Rubik's Cube till.
Designed by Castelbajac and architect Christian Ghion, the installation is the only one of its kind in the world. Its retro cool will doubtlessly prove the perfect backdrop for the designer's signature witty-yet-wearable creations - the store will house his fashion collections, luggage, sunglasses, shoes, headwear and stationary when it opens (with a glittering launch party to toast the man himself, naturally), on June 5. (May 1 2008, AM)
Leisa Barnett"

http://www.vogue.co.uk/news/daily/2008-05/080501-castelbajac-cubed.aspx

Frauke Luca Gadjus, b 1983, Germany

2009-06-23T21:38:00.008+02:00

Gail Elliott, b England

2009-06-23T18:19:00.005+02:00

Janice Dickinson, b 1955, America

2009-06-20T19:46:00.006+02:00

Patti Hansen, b 1956, America

2009-06-20T19:06:00.004+02:00

Luella Bartley

2009-06-14T12:24:00.004+02:00

Luella Bartley inspires envy for having the perfect life. With three children, an idyllic home in Cornwall and surfer photographer partner David Sims, she also runs an uber-successful fashion label.
Her life seems laced with serendipity - the invaluable induction into fashion journalism on the Evening Standard, Vogue, The Face and Dazed & Confused that led her back to her first love of design, then a catwalk debut in 2000 supported financially by the backing of a close friend. Sounds perfect.

http://www.vogue.co.uk/biographies/080420-luella-bartley-biography.aspx

Think of a nice, polite, knee-length dress you might find a rather mature royal wearing to a garden party, add an ample amount of sickly sweet confectionary colour, then look at it through psychedelic tinted glasses, give it a matching handbag, shoe and hat and this season's character is born.
Pink, purple, lilac, orange all done to punk proportion. This is cute and proper to the point of subversion; from the pink velvet tatler bow right at the top of the rock Sloane quiff down to the paneled tweed and lace skirt suit, and to the multi-coloured heart fronted heel at the bottom.
On first glance everything is rather proper, with bow fronted blouses, pleated skirts and mini, structured queen mum bags but there's a strange, wonky undertone. Things aren't quite present and correct.

http://www.luella.com/store/

After several years pursuing her options at St Martins, Luella Bartley finally settled on the path of journalism. Leaving college for a job in the fashion dept at the Evening Standard, until a job at British Vogue called. There she happily stayed for two years before her true calling took hold and she left to set up her own label.
Her launch season SS'00 was a very British inspired collection entitled 'Daddy I Want a Pony', shown at her friend's flat [Steve Mackay - bassist from Pulp]; it was hard to tell who were the guests and who were the models. Although small and low key, a spark had been ignited with the press, buyers and London's in crowd who were all keen for more. The following season Luella came back with 'Daddy Who Are The Clash'. A chat with Paul Simonon post-show provided Luella with a quote which would go on be a huge inspiration "Pink is the only true rock and roll colour".
The SS01 collection entitled 'Dial F for Fluro' catapulted brand awareness to an international level. Supers, such as Kate and Kirsten Owen, modelled graffiti dresses that were still being sprayed with cans as the girls lined up backstage. Now being hailed as London’s hot young designer Luella took a risk and started what she now refers to as The Luella Roadshow, taking her team and shows first to Milan for AW01 and then to New York for SS02. It was a risk that paid off and Luella proved herself to be a Young British Designer who could take on the big boys at their own game, on their home turf. Global distribution soon followed for both ready-to-wear and accessories - it was not long before Luella made a triumphant return to London in September 2007, coinciding with the launch of her first flagship store on Brook Street, Mayfair.
2008-2009 have also been an incredible couple years for Luella, seeing the brand win four 'Designer of the Year' awards, including the British Fashion Council’s prestigious "Designer of the Year" in November 2008, having been nominated previously for two consecutive years. With a book and exciting new launches planned for the end of the year, roll on the rest of 2009…

http://www.luella.com/about/

Loved for a fun but distinctly wearable aesthetic, recent inspirations include Wicker Man and Ghostworld.

Now dividing her time between London (where she has a store on Brook Street) and Cornwall, Bartley collaborated with surf brand O’Neill for spring/summer. After showing in New York for six and half years, Luella returned to London September 2007 and stays put for spring/summer 2009.

http://www.londonfashionweek.co.uk/designers_details.asp?DesignerID=314

Giles Deacon

2009-06-13T20:57:00.002+02:00

His career was launched when Bottega Veneta employed him, based on a drawing of a budgerigar driving a Rolls-Royce.

My design inspirations? Elsa Schiaparelli, Miuccia Prada, Coco Chanel and Mr Millets. He does a great tent, out of which you can make a really good cagoule, in army green. He’s an undiscovered couture master of the cagoule.
Super, smashing, great. Those are the three words I would choose to describe my style. Like Jim Bowen from Bullseye. No, he’s not my idol.

http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/fashion/article3369780.ece

Deacon studied at Central St Martins College of Art and Design, alongside his former girlfriend and influential stylist Katie Grand and designers Alexander McQueen and Luella Bartley.

After leaving university, Deacon designed for high fashion houses as diverse as Jean-Charles de Castelbajac, Bottega Veneta, Gucci and Louis Vuitton before starting his own label, Giles, in 2003, and being named British Fashion Designer of the Year 2006 at the prestigious British Fashion Awards, an award previously won by the likes of John Galliano and Vivienne Westwood.

Deacon also designed a range for the British high street store New Look called 'Gold'. Model Agyness Deyn and Drew Barrymore both starred in advertising campaigns for the rang. A menswear range for New Look followed in 2008.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giles_Deacon

Ever since his groundbreaking debut in 2004, British designer Giles Deacon has fine-tuned his vision of high craft mixed with a steady stream of wit. He spent time at the Louis Vuitton, Bottega Veneta, and Gucci studios, among others, and he’s honed his knack for mixing superior craftsmanship with whimsical irreverence. One of the hottest tickets on London runways, Giles dabbles with unlikely proportion and padding, wild prints, and pop-culture references that range from Poe to Peter Saville. As his style matures, he’s transitioning from editorial to wearable, and retailers are watching.

http://nymag.com/fashion/fashionshows/designers/bios/gilesdeacon/

Name three things that are inspiring you for autumn/winter 2009: “Drawing, auction houses and the British Museum.”

What are your design signatures? “Statement, playful, confidence-giving clothes.”

Who is your ideal client? “Elizabeth Saltzman.”

Over the last 25 years, London has built a reputation for outstandingly original fashion. What is it about the capital that makes London fashion so unique? “London is one of the most culturally alcoholic cities in the world. My favourite tipple is a museum and tonic.”
http://www.londonfashionweek.co.uk/designers_details.asp?DesignerID=129

Extract from an article in The Independent (Feb 2007)

"Giles Deacon seems a million miles away from the ferociously ambitious, straight-out-of-college, up-and-coming designer that this country in particular is known for. Of course, he is, in his own way, at the heart of fashionable London and has been ever since he graduated from Central Saint Martins in 1992, collaborating with his friend Fi Doran on the label Doran Deacon during the 1990s, contributing illustrations to Dazed and Confused and art-directing album covers for the folk singer (and former girlfriend) Beth Orton. But Deacon, 37, is also determinedly eccentric and there is something strangely satisfying about the fact that this tall, bespectacled character, with his dulcet Cumbrian tones, is today the toast of the British fashion capital. Deacon, for all his idiosyncratic ways, has delivered the show of the London season, every season, for the past three years. What's more, it was announced at the end of last year that the designer had been appointed to breathe new life into the classic British tailoring label, Daks. He will show his first womenswear collection for that brand in Milan later this month. Then there's the launch of a clothing and accessories collection for the high-street retailer New Look to consider, and the range of bags produced in collaboration with Mulberry and embellished with oversized studs in silver and gold."

"When asked to describe Deacon's signature, Grand says: "I don't think his woman is much of a wallflower. We always knew it would be something quite flamboyant.""

""It's not a difficult aesthetic," Deacon, for his part explains. "My designs are slightly subversive in their way; it can be in the cut, or the colour, but they're always obtainable, they're not so difficult that a 40-year-old woman wanting to go to a cocktail party looking foxy and a little bit different in something well-made would be alienated by them. It's all a learning process for us and we try to make it better, to make things look more beautiful, every season. Hopefully, if you saw someone wearing one of our frocks you'd think she looks quite interesting to have a chat with and say hello to. They're a bit 'We're on, we're out, we mean business'.""

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/giles-deacon-king-of-london-435540.html

http://www.vogue.co.uk/biographies/080422-giles-deacon-biography.aspx

PPQ

2009-06-13T20:21:00.003+02:00

PPQ, founded in 1992 by Amy Molyneaux and Percy Parker.

"In September 2006 PPQ opened their debut flagship store in a Grade II listed four-storey Georgian town house in Mayfair, retaining PPQ's luxe but irreverent design aesthetic the floor throughout is an oyster and grey chequered homage to Alice's Wonderland."

"Originally celebrated for singlehandedly spearheading the drainpipe revolution,

PPQ have become synonymous for their signature and desperately desired looks such as jewel coloured cocktail dresses, both luxe pop-chic and covetable they have attracted a chorus of style savvy ambassadors from epitomes of celluloid cool Kirsten Dunst, Sienna Miller, Keira Knightley, Jade Jagger, Peaches Geldof, Sadie Frost, Kelly Osbourne and Agyness Deyn."

"PPQ also run a record label 1234 Records. The result of collaboration between PPQ and Sean McLusky (Sonic Mook Experience), 1234 is responsible for such acts as Whitey, The Bishops, The White Sport, Trafalgar, Objects and Cosmetique."

http://www.ppqclothing.com/

Interview in The Independent (Feb 2008)

Percy Parker graduated from Royal Holloway in 1993.

"In 2000 [PPQ] held its first catwalk show and is now one of London's most respected fashion brands with a fanbase that includes Madonna, Agyness Deyn and Sophie Ellis-Bextor."

"At the end of the 1990s I was running a nightclub in London called Happiness Stan's. I was DJing there one night when Amy turned up with a mutual friend...I invited Amy along to the after-party in our art gallery. I don't remember much else, aside from me pointing out that she had a massive hole in her fishnets. She was still at college in Preston while the PPQ fashion line was in its infancy. At first she came down at weekends to help out, but when she graduated, she moved down to London and it was then that we started work on our first proper collection."

"We share a 1950s/1960s aesthetic but if we have one recurring sticking point, it is whether something is too 1980s. Amy can't help herself. She's a child of that decade and can't get her love of a good batwing sleeve out of her system.

We're a bit unusual for a fashion brand – I have a degree in history and politics and no formal training. I'm rubbish at drawing, but Amy is brilliant at interpreting ideas and turning them into patterns."

Amy Molyneaux studied fashion at Central Lancashire University. She graduated in 1999 and joined PPQ a year later. She lives in London.

"The opening party for the shop was hilarious. We managed to bring our two customer types together – the music crowd and the wealthier fashion lot. The after-party at London Fashion Week was good as well. Kelly Osborne, Jamie Hince from The Kills and Alexa Chung were all there. Percy got pissed. When he's drunk he becomes just slightly more talkative than when he's sober. I remember seeing him at the Isle of Wight Festival once. Madness were playing and he started crying. Maybe he'd had one too many wines, but for me, that says it all.
There have been times when we despise each other – such as on the day we were moving premises and had to move four floors of business entirely on our own. Or the time we bought a factory in Nottingham and suddenly found ourselves in charge of the livelihood of 30 people. Sometimes we look back and think, how did we survive that? How did we not go mad?"
http://www.independent.co.uk/extras/sunday-review/regulars/how-we-met-amy-molyneaux--percy-parker-779378.html

Name three things that are inspiring you for autumn/winter 2009: “Make do and mend. PPQ has always incorporated arts and crafts aspects into each collection; from hand-knitting techniques and Macrame to hand beading and skills for life. This season, it’s all about high glamour, homemade chic.”

What are your design signatures? “The PPQ Gabriel bag, original print designs and PPQ skinny jeans.”

How would you describe your ideal client? “Sophia Lauren in a rush with Peter Sellers in tow.”

http://www.londonfashionweek.co.uk/designers_details.asp?DesignerID=252

PPQ is at 47 Conduit Street, London W1 (020 7494 9789).

Oli Fusion by PPQ is available from http://www.oli.co.uk/

Laetitia Casta, b 1978, France

2009-06-09T22:50:00.003+02:00

Josie Maran, b 1978, America

2009-06-09T22:37:00.003+02:00

Lonnecke Engel, b 1981, The Netherlands

2009-06-09T22:17:00.004+02:00

Shana Zadrick, b 1969, America

2009-06-09T22:06:00.003+02:00