Forget the LBD — as Chanel proves with its exhibition opening in New York today, it’s all about the LBJ. The show is the latest endeavour in the brand’s The Little Black Jacket: CHANEL’s classic revisited by Karl Lagerfeld and Carine Roitfeld series, which debuted in Tokyo earlier this year with the release of a 113 image strong hardcover book.
Accompanying the photography exhibit including portraits of Elle Fanning, Linda Evangelista, Tilda Swinton and Freja Beha Erichsen, all captured through Lagerfeld’s lens, is an online incarnation of the project.
The digital platform allows not only a chance to go behind the scenes of the extensive photo shoot, but also to see how the piece in question is handcrafted in Chanel’s ateliers. Just like the fashion house’s trademark piece, it’s the perfect fusion of an iconic classic with striking modernity. The Little Black Jacket: CHANEL’s classic revisited by Karl Lagerfeld and Carine Roitfeld is on display at 18 Wooster Street, New York, until June 15.
Claire Boucher aka Grimes is undoubtably the girl of the moment. Not only are her tunes ludicrously catchy without the cliche, but her personal style is such that girls want to be her and guys want to be near her.
For Twin’s Issue VI we tasked photographer Tara Darby, stylist Michele Rafferty and hairstylist Selena Middleton with shooting Grimes.
Twin spoke to Michele Rafferty and Selena Middleton about collaborating on the shoot…
Hi Michele, you styled Grimes for Twin’s Issue VI. What are the differences between styling people and fashion models?
It requires a different sort of approach than with models not harder just different. Respecting her integrity whilst still creating something that works, feels relevant and reflects your own style, your obsessions…
How did you envision the shoot?
The team was key, it always is, but my thoughts about Grimes’ look was that I wanted to get away from the ethereal thing she often seems to have going on. I wanted something tougher and cleaner, also a sense of fun. I wanted her to be the coolest, hardest girl at school. So she’s a kind of grebo skinhead mix! She’s the girl I would have been bunking off a maths lesson with.
I chatted with Claire about what she was comfortable with. She was really open, very aware of the importance of creating interesting images. She also knew her own mind. Her only request was that she be allowed to keep her tights on. She doesn’t shave her legs, which is very unusual and very impressive. She’s a very cool young lady.
How did you work as a team?
Obviously when everyone arrives at the studio the ideas are all discussed and brought together. Selena and I are very much on the same wavelength as far as references go and she brought it all together with the coloured hairpieces, different colours for each outfit change.
It’s fun to work with people that have the same kind of visual reference library and their own brilliant obsessions. I think Tara’s images are lovely and unique, they show another side of Claire/Grimes.
Stripe dress Open Back, Miharayasuhiro
Cherry red boots, Dr. Martens
Where did you take your cues from for the look of the shoot?
As above, but more solid refs; Shane Meadows’ This Is England, youth cult mixes, luxury labels brought down to earth with DM boots.
What’s your personal attitude to fashion and styling?
I love clothes, it’s a language. People say so much about themselves in the way they dress. I find that fascinating and fun and funny.
What are your earliest outfit memories?
My mum made all our clothes. We were always the freaks! I just wanted white nylon tights like the other girls. Obviously now I know my sister and I looked adorable.
What item would make it into to your personal capsule wardrobe?
White men’s 100 per cent cotton T-shirt.
Whose style do you admire now and forever?
A sweeping statement, but, Jamaican men, disaffected youth, old English men. I also love a uniform.
What’s coming up next for you?
Shooting a short film with Clare Shilland for Marni Menswear S/S 13.
White school uniform shirt, John Lewis Navy crombie, Celine Cherry red boots, Dr. Martens
Hi Selena, where did you start with the hair for the Grimes shoot?
Well it was a collaboration between Michele Rafferty, Tara Darby and myself. Claire Grimes is the future of music, and like all young cool kids she likes to experiment, so we all decided it would be a good idea to change her hair colour in every shot to work with the outfits. For me this is the best form of artistic expression, no boundaries just believing what your doing is right. I think Michelle and I are very much on the same page, and as a team we worked to get the best possible image.
What are your must have products?
Dry shampoo and Bumble and Bumble Brilliantine.
What look do you love at the moment?
Anything modern with a twist. I love a grunge bun with colour!
Do you have a style secret you can share with us?
After washing and conditioning your hair, tie your hair at the nape of your neck with some hairgrips. Apply Shu Uemura deep-sea repair foundation and leave to dry. Voila! Beautiful, natural beach hair.
What has been your best hairstyling moment?
Back in the day when I was assisting, I met Martin Margiela and also Martine Sitbon my two favourite designers, while working on the Hermes show. That was a pretty exciting day!
What’s next for you?
I have been art directing on a lot of projects which is allowing me to have more control over the work I produce. You can be even more creative and it is great working with a strong team, I still love to share ideas with other people!
The fanlist of Jules Kim’s jewellery reads like a who’s who of pop. Rihanna, Beyonce and Karen O have all worn Kim’s innovative pieces that are at the sharp edge of fine jewellery.
Her brand Bijules is known for its sexy metal curved bar rings and fierce nail adornments. So much so that Bijules was the natural choice or hardware for Rooney Mara’s Lisbeth Salander in the US adaptation of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo.
And getting your fingers in her work has just become that little bit more easier with the opening of her first Manhattan based store, the blinging named Bijulesterie.
Jules Kim spoke to Twin about her work…
Why did you start making jewellery?
Because I wanted to. Almost nine years ago there was shit out there in terms of jewellery for strong stylish women. I created Bijules to fill an obvious void at the time and forever!
What can people expect to find in your store?
The Bijulesterie houses all of my seasons’ past and the collections of the future. I believe very strongly in building community amongst my art minded contemporaries so I am featuring other artists like my girl, Sylvia Hommert. The flower design is thanks to 11×11. I am creating other collaborations with fellow creatives which will be showcased soon…Bijules will launch it’s own live streaming radio station highlighting interviews and daily playlists as well, stay tuned!!!!!
Do you have a muse?
My muse is not necessarily a particular look, but more a particularity. The Bijules customer is someone who searches and discovers what is most important for them from politics to fashion. Inspiration for the jewellery comes from an innate tendency to bend rules and defy standards. The Bijules muse wears her empowerment on her sleeve, or un this case, on her hand!
What’s the purpose of jewellery for you?
The purpose of jewellery for me is to redefine its standard and accepted form. As an artist I intend to push boundaries and create a fashion standard. I’m confident Bijules has asserted itself as a leader in trend making and a substantial brand, which can last forever.
What’s your most prized possession?
I don’t consider my dog a possession but I consider him one of the truly kind and loving things in my life. He inspires me to smile and be tender even when curve balls are being tossed!
What’s the first thing you do when you get up in the morning?
Stretch and kiss above love on his forehead.
When are you happiest?
Happiness is potentially everywhere and anytime. I push to embrace these happy possibilities as frequently as I can!
What’s up next?
The Bijulesterie is open for business by appointment only. Email sales@bijulesnyc.com to make a rendezvous! Projects and travel are on the horizon and I wish for readers to stay in touch for thoughtful jewels (metal and beyond) dropping all the time!
Bijules’ Summer sales event, Select Summer Fridays will run throughout the Summer 3-8pm Le Bain Rooftop, The Standard, New York. bijulesnyc.com
At Twin we believe our olders and betters have a lot to teach us, so we love Ari Seth Coen’s blog Advanced Style, a trove of inspiration brought to us by ladies of a certain age who don’t just colour-block, they colour-pop. And for the past three years Ari has been working alongside filmmaker Lina Plioplyte on a film of his sartorial muses, women of New York, who despite being over 65 dress with the sort of flair and finesse that shames the young.
While the film is in the can, Ari and Lina have launched a Kickstarter in order to raise funding for the post production and distribution costs. For the moment all we have to content ourselves with is their fabulous trailer, which hints at the gold mine of eccentricity that they have discovered, women who know themselves and dress with a fun abandonment that we can all aspire to. With our help, these ladies can bring it to a whole new audience.
Harry and Polly met on the first day of their lives in a West London Hospital in 1985. The start of a friendship that’s spanned their lives so far and has forged a remarkable creative bond.
Together from their East London studio they are the thinkers and makers behind Draw In Light, a fashion label that takes inspiration from nature to create free-spirited, understated and highly covetable garments.
Twin spoke to the duo about their S/S 13 collection…
What are the inspirations behind the new collection?
P > The inspiration for the new collection may sound cliché but it was all taken from the V&A along with your very own Celestine Cooney. We photographed the marble walls of the museum and spent a long time looking at the wrought iron work.
H > The inspiration behind Draw In Light collections normally comes from a combination of natural elements, scientific concepts, spiritual philosophies and the process of free-hand silk-screen printing to blend everything together.
Why the name Draw In Light?
P&H > Draw In Light – We work with light as an element to expose our drawings onto screen. The word Draw is meant in both senses. We believe in the divine and we channel it through our work.
How do you work together? What’s the process?
P > The process is quite natural; time is spent together doing some research. We collect a mixture of photographs and drawings of things we’ve seen – Harry makes our artworks from the imagery. I tend to source the fabrics we use for each collection. The prints are then experimented with, colour and technique. The phrase “there are many ways to skin a cat” comes to mind. There are so many ways of putting things together, design is about refining ideas. We slim things down at the end and add a few last minute whims. This is again where Celestine’s magic comes in.
What do you listen to while you work?
P&H> Our taste in music is very eclectic. All time favorites – David Bowie, Kate Bush, The Smiths, and Radiohead. New kids we love – Houses, Grimes, Beach House, Le Loop podcasts and Nicholas Jarr.
Each of your pieces is unique – how important is that to Draw In Light’s DNA?
P&H > It’s as important as your DNA differing to anyone else’s. You’re not the same as anybody else and neither should you want to be.
What’s the most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen?
P > My little sister singing at my family home – Landslide by Stevie Nicks for my cousins wedding.
H > Temples in Guatamala, at the top of the tallest Mayan temple the jungle stretched out beneath me with smoke rising up from the trees and turrets stone temples.
What’s been the most exciting moment for Draw In Light so far?
P > The most exciting moments have been working with people you respect. Our Life Drawing presentation with Relative|Mo was brilliant.
H > The first order from Liberty, turning our idea of Draw In Light into realistic business. Also moving into our studio and creating a place to work from where we can design, print and produce our collections.
If you weren’t fashion designers, what would you be?
P&H > We would run a bar. It would be called “Pam’Orama Bar” It would have a raised Perspex tank in the center with topless mermaids dancing. Harry and myself would be on the door and it would have a very strict policy. All of our musician friends would play at the bar and it would become quite cult.
What are you both wearing right now?
P > I’m wearing a pair of high wasted Capri pants, a little cropped white t, tough sandals and a little red lippy.
H > A white Draw In Light Logo T with denim dungaree shorts, white socks and pale pink DM’s
What’s next for the label?
P > Building on our foundation. The good thing about this business is the path ahead being clear. You naturally want to use your own aesthetic to design other things… I think eventually we would like to be a concept brand. We would love to do some collaboration’s in the future. Little Duffy is going to be making some Draw In Light pendants that will be beautiful, tiny molecular stars – like our logo!
Curbs, rails, whatever, skateboarding turns waste into space. For generations of small town youth, skating is a refuge that transforms the concrete and disused spaces of their homes into gleaming highways. But in a city bombed into submission, can skateboarding help? The answer seems to be yes if Skateistan is anything to go by.
Five years ago Oliver Percovich founded NGO Skatistan in Kabul. With 68 per cent of Afghanistan’s population now younger than 25 and 50 per cent younger than 16, skateboarding is repairing the fractures in a youth cut adrift by endless war. Set to release a book featuring 320 pages of photographs, interviews and essays Skateistan: The Tale of Skateboarding in Afghanistan shows how girls and boys of a country blown apart, can reclaim their streets.
The Skateistan: The Tale of Skateboarding in Afghanistan book release party and exhibition is on Saturday 9 June 6pm til late at DAZ (Deutsches Architektur Zentrum), Berlin skateistan.org
For Twin VI we spoke to vanguard artist Io Tillet Wright about her project Self Evident Truths. Her black and white portraits of other-than-straight America are quickly becoming a rich online resource of strength for people who are anything less than 100 per cent heterosexual and living within communities which are less than accepting.
Having started in New York and taken her campaign to LA, Io has recently completed portraits taken in 11 cities in the Deep South.
For one night this week, all 1675 Self Evident Truths portraits from 17 cities will be on view. With strength in numbers, each portrait is an extra beat added to the pulse of Io’s campaign to see equality for all people regardless of sexuality.
With performances from MEN, Lauren Flax and Eve Ensler, this is a big moment in Io’s journey. Be sure you get down there to check out what it’s all about.
Self Evident Truths, The Hole Gallery, 312 Bowery, NYC, May 29th, 7-10pm RSVP at selfevidentrsvp@gmail.com selfevidentproject.com
Kenzo have put a cap on it. True to their promise, creative directors Humberto Leon and Carol Lim have dropped the Opening Ceremony magic touch on the Parisian label, making it a lust-have for a new era of fashion lovers.
Their latest venture with New Era caps features the kind of bold colour that Kenzo made its name with, but with a heavy dose of hip hop styling. And with a collaboration with Vans also under their belt, it’s clear their plan to bring “youthful spirit” to the label is on the march. We can’t wait to see what else they’ve got up their sleeves…
On Tuesday Twin popped into meet the lovely Phillip Lim at the launch of his new Selfridges pop-up boutique. Designed by Studio Toogood, it’s the perfect showcase for Lim’s discreet brand of luxe. Housed in the Women’s Designer Galleries on Selfridges’ second floor, alongside beautiful silk separates and fine knits in popping orange and breezy blue were sneak peaks at his accessories collection of subtle chic handbags, which will launch in the store in July.
It was Lim’s first trip over the Atlantic to London for over six years and we found the talented designer in a self deprecating mood. “Front of house have a much harder job than I do, bringing all this together takes a lot of time. I just do my thing,” he said. We say, it’s a good thing too. We wanted pretty much everything on display, and I’m sure you will as well.
3.1 Phillip Lim pop-up boutique will be at Selfridges until August 2012. 31philliplim.com
New York of the late Seventies to the early Eighties has taken on a mythic quality. The parties were wild and the people wore their individuality with a bohemian innocence, before the fat cats took over Downtown and cool became a commodity.
For his new book Night & Day, photographer David Armstrong revisits the scenes of his youth, bringing together a selection of iconic Kodachrome pictures from his archive featuring characters of the scene such as Rene Ricard, Philip-Lorca diCorcia, Jean-Michel Basquait, John Waters and on.
An alumnus of the Boston School, Armstrong grew up artistically alongside Nan Goldin with whom he shared a love of intimate snapshots in saturated colour. While decades on his work now graces publications such as L’Uomo Vogue, Arena Homme+, GQ and Self Service, Night and Day holds the passed youth of a cultural generation.
“This is what normal women look like close up… and I think it’s rather beautiful,” states Brighton based artist Jamie McCartney referring to his latest project, The Great Wall of Vagina; an integral feature of his current exhibition Skin Deep.
As the name may suggest, the artwork in question is a nine metre-long panelled display consisting of 400 plaster casts of female genitalia; each of them unique. After taking moulds from a variety of different women aged between 18 and 79 years old, McCartney’s primary aim was to highlight the diversity of the intimate female form, inviting the viewer to embrace and celebrate its beauty whilst abolishing any previous insular and unrealistic views on ‘normal’.
Skin Deep also presents the world premier of Jamie’s physical photography series; a collection of full body portraits that depicts his female subjects in their natural state through high definition scanning of the flesh. Similar to the wall, the photographs continue to challenge society’s limited and impossible ideals on beauty through the artist’s decision to reject the image-manipulation and retouching process.
The work featured here is not seen as erotic art nor is it in anyway pornographic; it’s a visual education that just so happens to be titillating and intriguing.
Skin Deep is on now until 2nd June 2012 at the Hay Hill Gallery, Cork Street, London.
Sharmadean Reid is a one woman wonder. The Wolverhampton-native is the owner of Wah Nails, London’s quintessential heaven of nail art which launched in 2009, as well as editor of Wah Zine, sportswear editor of Arena Homme Plus and consultant to brands like Nike.
Wah have taken their magic as far as New York and Tokyo and most recently, Sharmadean authored The WAH Nails Book of Nail Art, a guide on how to recreate the salon’s 25 most popular designs at home. Whatever the endeavour, Reid’s story has been one of continuous success.
Twin sat down with the multi-talent to discuss what defines a Wah Girl, accessorising with nail art and past beauty faux pas…
What was the idea behind setting up Wah Nails? The idea came from just wanting a place to hang out with my mates where I could have anything I wanted on my nails. Nothing would be a fuss and nothing an issue. I wanted uptown meets downtown. There is still no salon I’d want to hang out in except for Wah.
Where do you rank the importance of nail art in accessorising a look? The first accessory in any look should be an attitude. Nail art is dope and there’s something for everyone. It should be the cherry on the cake for the outfit.
What was your intention with The Wah Nails Book of Nail Art? My intention for the book was to allow girls all over the world the chance to dive into a little bit of London. I remember being a teenager in Wolverhampton and devouring anything that was cool and London. I wanted to give that experience to other young girls. I also wanted a smash hits annual vibe. Like a snapshot of a time and a place. This is 2012, these are the girls, here’s the nails, this is what’s up.
How would you describe the typical Wah Nails girl? The typical Wah Girl mixes fashion and street, loves gold and doesn’t give a shit what other people think. She is the last girl on the dancefloor, doing it – doing something, is chill, yet trill and in control.
You have done collaborations with the likes of Minx and Models Own. What projects are planned for the future and how would you like to expand the Wah Nails brand? I really want to do a product range. Keep the brand on bathroom shelves.
Last but not least, what are your own past favourite beauty looks and faux pas? My favourite beauty look growing up was gelled kiss curls, they’re coming back now. My faux pas was shaving my eyebrows!
The WAH Nails Book of Nail Art is out now and available here.
Beatrice Eli is our newest scandinavian pop crush. Hailing from the cool of Stockholm, kitted out in her cute as tough baseball jackets and hi-tops, the 24-year-old has found her home amongst the shop fronts and basement bars of Dalston.
Her synth-ballad track The Conqueror is out now and you can watch her snow-set estate video here. With an EP due to follow soon, we asked Eli what tunes she”s currently listening too besides her own music…
1/ The Recipe – Kendrick Lamar ft Dr Dre
Me and my roomy have been obsessed with this for weeks. Everything is just perfect with this song, the “Twin Sister” sample, Kendrick Lamar”s flow, lyrics, voice and the quite obvious Kendrick Lamar ghostwritten Dr Dre verse.
2/ Bandit – Neil Young
I”m a bandit so this is my #1 comfort song.
3/ Anyone Who Knows What Love Is (Will Understand) – Irma Thomas
Discovered this thanks to Charlie Brooker”s Black Mirror. Can”t get enough of straight forward “you hurt me but I still love you” soul ballads.
4/ Thunder Bay – Hudson Mohawk
When it comes to beats Hudson Mohawk is the truth.
5/ Liberation Frequency – Refused
I was too young when this came out and never really got in to them until I saw them play in NYC a couple weeks ago, now I wish I was making hardcore/punk music.
6/ Forget – Lianne La Havas
Something hypnotizing about this song, makes me forget to breath.
7/ Rudimental – Feel The Love
First time I heard this I danced around by myself in the studio. I love big emotional beats, this is everything. AND, the video, HOW amazing is it?
8/ Nikki and the Dove – Last Night
This romantic Prince-ish song makes me wanna get married.
9/ The Bravest Man In The Universe – Bobby Womack Futuristic soul with someone that”s been in the game for decades. I just think that whole concept is great but I also really love the production and the song.
Kicking off this week, the New York Photo Festival 2012 is set to display an international variety of creative talent. Now in its fourth consecutive year, the event intermixes submissions from fine art, documentary, advertising, photo books and multimedia – in other words, expect an interesting representation of the photography genre.
At the forefront of this year’s festival is an exploration of the convergence between fine art and documentary photography. Accompanying this theme will be exclusive curations by SocialDocumentary.net founder Glenn Ruga, former P.S. 1 Contemporary Art Center/The Museum of Modern Art curator Amy-Smith Stewart, TRACE Magazine founder Claude Grunitzky, and multimedia artist/musician DJ Spooky. Entitled On the Razor’s Edge: Between Documentary and Fine Art Photography (a focus on art documentary), What Do You Believe In (the interplay between photography and personal ideas), the Curse and the Gift (how digital photography and smartphones has changed the shape of the photography medium) and Sinfonia Antarctica (a review of the effect of archiving Antarctic history on digital media art), the shows will include work from the likes of Rina Castelnuovo, Jen DeNike, Yamini Nayar, and Evangelia Kranioti.
Encompassing sculpture, architecture, digital media and live performance, the NYPH ’12 proves that photography is more than just the simple click of a button – just like its creators, the art form is both of a complex and captivating nature.
The New York Photo Festival 2012 runs from May 16-20 and is headquartered at POWERHOUSE Arena, 37 Main Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201 nyph.at
Kate Tempest stomps all over words. When the rapper, poet and playwright spits, people listen, her words cut like a knife and hang over you like a thunder storm. A Shakespeare from the South London streets who takes what she sees and tells it as it is.
We think you ought to know that her debut play, Wasted, is currently at the Roundhouse this week, and the restless Tempest has published a dvd/cd/book of her poetry called Everything Speaks in its Own Way. If you haven’t already witnessed Kate Tempest, then it’s time for your initiation.
Everything Speaks in its Own Way is available from Shakespeare and Co in Paris and at gigs and online from katetempest.co.uk Wasted is at the Roundhouse until 19 May roundhouse.org.uk
For the Saatchi Gallery’s first photography exhibition since 2001, Out of Focus features 38 artists, each demonstrating the different ways the medium can be stretched and explored.
There’s fashion’s favourite, Ryan McGinley, collage supremo John Stezaker, and everything else inbetween. In a world mediated through images, the photographs in Out of Focus, show how photographers have encouraged photography to relinquish its grip on reality in order to push artistic boundaries. With an overwhelming abundance of different techiniques on show, the viewer is left to ponder, what is photography anyway.
Out of Focus is at the Saatchi Gallery London until July 22. saatchigallery.co.uk
Buhuu Suite (Calais 2), Nicole Wermers, 2011
Marriage I, John Stezaker, 2006, Collage
Femme à sa toilette, Elina Brotherus, 2001, Chromogenic colour print mounted on aluminium Top Image: Untitled (Morrissey 7), Ryan McGinley, 2005
The summer edition of Twin smoulders. It’s an exploration of sex and self-love starring IMOGEN POOTS, the English rose taking over Tinseltown, Montreal beauty GRIMES and steely starlet VICKY MCCLURE who meets her match in writer STEPHANIE THEOBALD.
Delight in the ways of the tomboy with AGYNESS, FREJA and ALICE. Explore the nature of desire with writers JACKIE KAY and HELEN SCHULMAN, and read SLUTEVER’s findings on female masturbation.
With visual contributions from RYAN MCGINLEY, TARA DARBY, QUENTIN JONES and JASON PIETRA. Plus twin covers by BEN WELLER, who shoots sublime Lithuanian supermodel EDITA in purest white, and JASON KIBBLER who captures fashion’s floral frenzy on Slovenia’s rising star VALERIJA.
Irish lovely Angela Scanlon is a name to watch. The fashion stylist and writer has already worked for mags such as Tatler and Grazia and has her TV patter perfected.
With a new fashion book, The Secret Stylist, set to come out early next year, Twin caught up with her to find out what makes her tick…
How did you get started in fashion?
I went backwards by studying business for four years. At the time I was feeling very entrepreneurial and I wanted to open a boutique and design my own range. Then I got a taste of life on the shop floor, I worked in a supposedly busy Dublin store and thought I would die of boredom so the boutique dream sort of evaporated.
I needed to change tack so volunteered to assist a stylist who’s still to this day a great mate of mine. She taught me a million things and somehow doors just started to open for me and that’s continued! I did my fair share of cleaning muck off shoes…and quickly realised that fashion is not as glamourous as it sounds, but I think that made me love it even more.
Writing seemed like a natural extension of styling-just a different way to communicate. I’ve kept a blog for years and had the first ever fashion blog to be taken on by a national newspaper in Ireland, The Independent. It gave me lots of opportunities and, I guess, made me look like I knew what I was doing! Sometimes, someone just has to take a chance on you and you have to step up…
Did you study fashion?
Not in the traditional sense, no. But I was always aware of fashion and into it, buying magazines, ‘styling’ friends, keeping a fashion blog-I’ve been in training forever! I always feel that with styling in particular, you learn on the job. You can’t get a proper understanding from reading a book or taking notes. Even the actual process needs to be learned. Where to start, where to finish. When to yield and when you should stick to your guns.
Without getting all ‘Oprah’ on it, it’s about finding people who share your vision and then communicating that. It’s much more organic and opportunistic, you can’t do it with your head stuck in a book. You have to be ‘in’ it and ready to take the opportunities that are presented.
From the Independent, I went on to do TV which led to a column in Tatler and more styling work, then Grazia Daily came along and I’ve been writing for them, I now have a page in U Magazine and most recently I’ve joined a list of my fashion heros to write for the Huffington Post, Joanna Lumley’s in there so that in itself is deadly! It doesn’t just happen but in a way each job leads to another.
What have you been working on most recently?
I’ve just finished the first draft of my book which has been gruelling but brilliant. It’ll be out next year and I think it’s something fresh and bold, it’s a new take on a fashion book. I wanted to do something that myself and my mates would actually want, none of this ‘pear shaped’ stuff, it’s a celebration of fashion and aims to encourage and empower chicks to wear what the want. While I adore fashion, I think personal style needs to be approached with a sense of humour… nurtured but never restricted. It’s self expression at it’s purest and the rules need to be trashed.
And…just a few quick-fire qus, so we can get to know you better…
Doc Martens or Converse?
Cons although I have ponyskin Dalmation print Doc’s that I’m pretty fond of.
Make-up free or slap?
Clean face, fluffy brows.
Pastel or Neon?
Neon.
Ryan McGinley or Tim Walker?
McGinley every time although Tim Walker is a fantasy God, just a little clean for me.
Cocktail dress or le smoking?
Le Smoking.
Courtney Love or PJ Harvey?
PJ Harvey for her smile.
Guitars or beats?
Guitars. I love nothing more than a sing song in an old pub after hours.
Leather or denim?
Both.
Ponies or bikes?
Ponies. I had a pony called The Steel Duke who I adored. I haven’t ridden in years but the feeling of freedom when you’re let loose in a field is the best!
Whiskey or Champagne?
Whiskey.. and ginger.
FROW or pub?
One before the other.
Country ramble or city walk?
Country ramble in the rain.
Jane Birkin or Charlotte Gainsbourg?
Charlotte Gainsbourg. Slightly less perfect and even more attractive for it.
The Metropolitan Museum of Arts Costume Institute’s new exhibition focuses on two icons of classic design separated by disparate eras: The late Elsa Schiaparelli, creator of the ‘Tear’ dress and associate of the Surrealist movement, and Muiccia Prada, a politics graduate whose coveted Postmodernist creations are made for women’s brains – not their bodies.
Their collaborative exhibition: Schiaparelli and Prada – Impossible Conversations, comprises of signature pieceswhich are divided into seven themed galleries, including Hard Chic and The Surreal Body. The designers’ ensembles are collated and video installations are included which depict simulated conversations between the women with a view to highlight similitudes and contradictions in their work.
Accompanying the exhibition is a photographic book of the same name, which enriches the narrative of the show by including a miniature booklet connecting the designers generational disparity. Photographs, articles and quotes intimate additional ‘impossible conversations’ between them.
The exhibit and book not only illustrate an interdependence between the historic and the contemporary, but they also provide a delightful glimpse into the agency of two dissenters who have consistently undermined conventional edicts of elegance and sophistication in all of their staid, and unimaginative manifestations by creating an alternate, yet beautiful array of fresh palettes and concepts.
Schiaparelli and Prada – Impossible Conversations is showing at the Metropolitan Museum of Arts Costume Institute in New York until 19 August 2012.
Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations is published by The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
In the world of fashion, Louise Roe is the UK”s answer to Olivia Palermo. The fashion journalist has taken TV by storm, from her early days at Vogue TV to reality show The City.
Now presenting her own show, Plain Jane, when she”s not on the FROW, Louise lives in Los Angeles. With her glossy mane and perrenial pulled together style, she”s a little bit of London glamour in LA .
Twin caught up with Louise and asked her for her top ten fashion tracks…
What”s your earliest fashion memory?
Wearing a pink tutu, pink fishnet tights and flat grey pixie boots to my sister”s 10th birthday disco. I would have been five, but i can remember picking my outfit out and taking it very seriously!
What”s your most “fashion” moment in your career so far?
Probably the first time i went to couture fashion week in Paris. It”s another level of fashion show: it”s theatre, drama, hundred-thousand pound dresses one after the other, all shown in elegant ballrooms or equally elaborate settings. It”s jaw-dropping and reminded me why i love the industry so much.
What represents eternal style for you?
Coco Chanel, Lauren Hutton, a high-waisted pencil skirt, red lips and a pair of sky-high Christian
Louboutins. Not all at once!
If you hadn”t had a career in fashion what would you have been?
I love interior design, and travel. Probably travel-writing, like my dad.
Which women do you look up to for their achievements/success?
Carine Roitfeld, Michelle Obama, Queen Rania of Jordan, Tasmina Perry (an author who took me under her wing at my first ever job, at In Style magazine), and my Mum.
What”s up next for you?
I”m hosting MTV”s coverage of the MTV Movie Awards on June 5th, and midway filming the new season of Plain Jane
right now. It airs end of September!
Louise”s Top Ten Tracks
1/ Fashion – Lady Gaga
You can”t have a list of fashion songs without Gaga.
2/ Freedom – George Michael
Mainly for the video full of Nineties supermods, this song is retro and makes me dance.
3/ Don”t Let Me Get in my Zone- Kanye West and Jay-Z Keeps playing on the radio while I”m driving around LA, reminds me of sunshine and fab dresses!
4/ Vogue – Madonna
5/ Fade Into You – Mazzy Star So chill and mellow, I think Rodarte even played this at their runway show.
6/ Big Jet Plane – Angus and Julia Stone An Aussie duo who have the most amazing tunes. This reminds me of Malibu beach in summer.
7/ American Woman – Lenny Kravitz| I remember going to a lavish Tommy Hilfiger store opening in Paris. At the afterparty Lenny came out as a surprise and sang this.
8/ My Door Bell – White Stripes
Love Jack White! Somehow this makes me want to be in New York partying.
9/ Somebody That I Used To know- Gotye feat Kimbra Got it on replay at the moment, I found it on pandora ages ago and liked it so much, then it became this massive hit!
10/ We Are Young – Fun feat. Janelle Monae Dancing anthem for 2012 for sure…
Listen to Louise Roe”s playlist
Louise Roe for Stylistpick will launch on 28th May and she will will be fronting Plain Jane on MTV in the Autumn.
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