Fashion Films In the Spotlight at London’s City Arts & Music Project

LONDON–A recent flood of fashion films is promising to bridge the velvet-roped gap between front-row editors and the glossy-buying populace while giving designers yet another medium through which to express and control their brands. At London’s City Arts & Music Project the public was invited to a S/S 11 Video Re-See of films by handful of London Fashion Week’s most promising young talents including knitwear designer Craig Lawrence, art deco printmaster Holly Fulton and Alice Dellal collaborator and jewelry designer Dominic Jones. Here are the highlights, as well a word with Craig Lawrence on being a fish out of water:

1. Holly Fulton’s architecturally-inspired maxis of sorbet-colored skyscrapers become a stop-motion Dada playground at the hands of director Quentin Jones:

2. Dominic Jones casts reptile skulls, crocodile jaws and scarab beetles into in dangerously sexy jewelry. He’s already got the nod from Anna Wintour and though we’d love to show you the film here, co-partner and model in the film, Alice Dellal’s French-and-unabashed bosom prevents us from doing so.

3. Menswear designer James Small teamed up with Jamie Hince to send us off into a soft-focused summertime reverie with topless boys in floral washed denim playing tag, petting horses and driving a Rolls through the British countryside.

4. Now in his fourth season of fashion film making is NewGen recipient and knitwear designer Craig Lawrence. Directed by Ben Toms and styled by Katie Shillingford, the black and white seaside shoot overlayed with eerie audio brings his delicate column dresses to another world. We asked the designer what it was like to take his sirens out for a day at the beach:

Fashionista: Where was this shot?
Craig Lawrence: We went to Eastbourne to shoot the film, with white chalk cliffs. I hadn’t had three nights sleep and we were jumping from rock to rock. My interns (none of which were harmed in the making of this film) were all hoppin’ along and I was half an hour behind because every single rock I tried to step on I had to get my balance. So I was just like the old granny at the back.

Your inspiration for this season?
Siren mermaids, just like me…. I like to sing my song, entice boys….and then break their hearts (smash them on the rocks) therefor metaphorically killin’ ‘em.

So your knit dresses are actually like nets with which to catch them?
Yeah totally.

Sailors in particular?
Yeah, sailors are quite hot. Firemen, police sometimes, when they’re not me telling me off.

Craig Lawrence Goes Capsule

LONDON–Last night in London’s Soho district, avant-garde concept store Machine-A hosted the launch of an exclusive knitwear collection from NewGen designer Craig Lawrence. Using black for the first time, he created metallic laddered biker shorts, crop-tops and fingerless gloves with the aim to design something quintessentially London.

Located in an old tailor’s shop in what remains of London’s minuscule fabric/garment district, Machine-A has raised more than a few eyebrows with its stable of edgy designers and their shop window exhibitions, the first of which involved a “life-size knitted masturbating man spurting over a pile of knitting magazines.”

Founder and creative director Stavros Karelis has gone beyond simply creating a platform for emerging designers by purchasing outright the majority of his stock and even funding the production of a handful of cash-strapped talents. Future plans include a 10 person workstation providing designers the tools and expertise required to produce their collections.

The party, spilling out onto Berwick St. included towering trannies in Craig Lawrence dresses dancing in the balloon-filled vitrines and was attended by The Guardian‘s Sarah Mower, wigged-and-bearded expat Andre J (fresh off a shoot with uber stylist Nicola Formichetti for Arena Homme for which he wore a gold Balmain gown) along with bloggers Susie Bubble and Yu Masui.

The shop receives over 50 requests a week from stylists and editors near and far for designs by raw London talent like Gemma Slack, Erman, Thomas Love, Charlie LeMindu, Piers Atkinson and recent hot ticket menswear label Voidofcourse. On next month’s bill is new recruit Vava Dudu, a Parisian artist-designer who has worked with SHOWstudio and whose will be performing live in the vitrines.

Machine-A
 60 Berwick Street
London W1F 8SU
020-7998-3385


**Event photos by Sabrina Morrison.

Fashion News Roundup: Bob Guccione Passes Away, Alexander Wang Pre-Sale, and ADR’s Headpiece Blocks the Sartoralist’s View

The Racked 38: Racked has updated their “Racked 38″–a definitive list of New York City’s shopping experiences. Some stores that made the list: Housing Works, Trash & Vaudeville, Patricia Field, and Opening Ceremony. {Racked}

Bob Guccione Passes Away: Bob Guccione, the man best known for establishing the men’s magazine Penthouse (but for our purposes, he’s the man who launched Anna Wintour’s career), has passed away of throat cancer. Guccione gave Wintour her first job in the magazine industry in the late 1970′s when he hired her as the fashion editor of his adult magazine, Viva. {People}

Alexander Wang Pre-sale: Opening Ceremony has announced their pre-sale of Alexander Wang’s Spring 2011 collection. The pre-sale will begin on October 25 on Opening Ceremony’s website, and will offer select looks from the designers collection. So, if you’re into white and have some spare change to drop on a white paint-splatter dress, then start counting down the days. {Opening Ceremony}

The Sartorialist Can’t Get His Shot: Remember when Tavi’s huge bow blocked the view at the Dior Couture show earlier this year? This time it’s Anna Dello Russo whose massive headpiece has blocked someone’s view. That someone happens to be the Sartorialist. The Vogue Nippon fashion director didn’t leave much of a view for Schuman while he watched the Paris premiere of Kanye West’s Runaway video. And while we don’t think Schuman really minded, it’s kind of a bummer because we bet the video was really good. {The Sartorialist}

Kooba Design Contest: Kooba wants you to unleash your inner creative self and design a handbag for the line. If interested, the Bloomingdale’s on 59th and Lexington will be hosting an event where you can submit your design and have the chance to get expert design advice from Abbe Held, the creative director of Kooba. {Kooba}

New Lanvin for H&M Images: Floral Print Dresses

Another image from Lanvin for H&M is out, and the line continues to look promising. Yesterday we saw a range of black satiny numbers–dresses and tuxedo jackets–and today’s image shows bright floral print numbers.

Whomever is behind this marketing campaign has been pretty genius about slowly building hype. First there was a campaign video teasing who the designer might be. Then there was the blogger contest to feature the adorable preview video in which a young Alber Elbaz ages while producing the collection. Then the first campaign image leaked yesterday. Today, Vogue UK releases a second campaign image, along with news from WWD that a Lanvin for H&M runway show will proceed the launch of the collection in stores on November 23. And on November 2nd, H&M will post a short film featuring the collection by Leaving Las Vegas director Mike Figgis. By November 23, excitement for the collection will have reached fever pitch.

Street Style: Anne In Vintage and Christian Louboutins

Name: Anne Koch

Age: 29

Occupation: Artist

What do you do? I’m an artist. I’m on a break from a performance that I’m doing today called Energy Exchange at the House of Waris Tea Room.

How would you you describe your style? Monochromatic. My closet is organized by color, so it’s either all silver or all camouflage.

What was the last good exhibition you saw? Yoko Ono’s exhibition at the MoMa!

Do you like Yoko’s music? I do! It like it a lot. She tells it like it is.

What are you listening to? The Zola Jesus band. I’m going through a super Goth phase now.

What are you wearing? Everything is vintage apart from the shoes which, are Christian Louboutin’s, and the teddy bear key chains on my bag, which are by Gucci and Prada.

**All Photos by Ashley Jahncke

Party Animals Crap All Over Ksubi’s New Store in Australia

Animal party at the ghost shoppe from ksubi on Vimeo.

To celebrate the opening of their new “Ghost Shoppe” in Paddington, Australia, Aussie label Ksubi unleashed some seriously party animals. As in, real, live, squawking, shitting, nibbling animals. There were llamas and goats and rabbits and ducks and they all looked like they really enjoyed themselves. Also seems like despite filing for the Australian equivalent Chapter 11, Ksubi is still going strong.

Would You Rather?…The Bad Ass Stripper Edition

Taylor Momsen gracefully covered Revolver magazine’s October issue sporting a garter belt, stripper-esque platforms, and knee-high stockings. When we saw Anna Chapman, the Russian spy who was caught and deported from the US, on the cover of Russian Maxim, we couldn’t resist the comparison. Which of these two classy ladies would you like protecting you from the bad guys?

Awesome Accessories at Ann Taylor for Spring

We stopped by the Ann Taylor spring preview at the top of the Gramercy Hotel last night and while the collection didn’t knock our socks off (despite their J.Crew-ification), the accessories did. There were shots of lime green throughout the collection, basics that will be good staples for the office, and a few pieces–silk blouses (since we’re on a silk blouse kick lately), a tiered lace skirt, and some good J Brand Houlihan cargo knock-offs–stood out. But it was the accessories that shone. Particularly the burlap and leather strappy sandals with a thick stacked heel and the estate-style jewelry.

Elizabeth Banks, Katrina Bowden, Olivia Palermo stopped by to preview the collection as well, and Au Revoir Simone provided the live soundtrack.

Take a look at the accessories, and some standout pieces for spring.

Last Night’s Parties: John Hamm’s Hat, Matthew Williamson’s Book, Dries Van Noten’s New Digs

Thursday’s party circuit was dedicated to the men of fashion. Oh, and John Hamm.

First up was legend Dries Van Noten, who opened his new boutique on Bergdorf Goodman’s third floor. The space, which currently houses his masterful, ’50s-inspired Fall 2010 collection, is decorated much like an apartment, with a definite oriental flair. “It’s inspired by what we have in Paris,” he told me. “It’s very personal–I wanted to make it look more like an apartment. Like you’re visiting someone’s private world.” There’s a mix of contemporary, mid-century, and Chinoise pieces.

Draping the furniture, of course, are clothes. It felt like everyone was dressed in Dries, including Bergdorf’s gorgeous fashion director, Linda Fargo. While the circle skirts and strong shoulders are important, Van Noten’s pièce de résistance for fall–and spring, for that matter–is certainly the shoe. The distinctive square heel makes them irreplaceable. The designer said that they were created to balance the silhouette of the clothes. “When you see it from the back it looks like a normal heel. I didn’t want to do a wedge because we’ve already had that. I always try to play with what we’re wanting and what we already have.”

Soon enough, it was time to head downtown to the Meatpacking District, where Matthew Williamson was celebrating the launch of his new book, Matthew Williamson, written and edited by legendary fashion writer Colin McDowell. Fans and friends were gathered in his expansive 14th Street store, where Williamson was kind of enough to sign copies. “They flew out the door,” said his rep regarding the evening’s complimentary copies. (Good news, we’ll be giving one away to a lucky Fashionista reader sometime soon.)

Unfortunately, while focusing on fashion gods Van Noten and Williamson, I missed out on a screen god. Mr. John Hamm attended the cocktail party to celebrate J.Crew‘s new Upper East Side Men’s Shop. (Probably more importantly to the fashion crowd, GQ‘s own god, creative director Jim Moore, and J.Crew’s head menswear designer Frank Muytjens were also on hand.) Apparently, Hamm’s appearance was unexpected and he stayed the whole night.

The night was pretty epic. I met Dries Van Noten. Hung out with Matthew Williamson. But to even spy John Hamm would have made it legendary.

PPLB Needs An Intern!

PPLB, who manufactures and markets William Rast and J.lindeberg, is looking for a public relations intern that can commit to 2-3 days a week. Interested candidates should be reliable, hard working, able to multi-task and very detail oriented and must be able to receive school credit. Must be PC and Mac savvy plus a knowledge of Adobe design programs is preferred. The intern will be assisting the Marketing/PR director and coordinator, as well as VP of Licensing and Branding.

Duties include but are not limited to:
+ Assembling and keeping press kits updated
+ Keeping sample room organized
+ Tracking samples and credits
+ Updating social networking sites
+ Managing press clips
+ General administrative tasks

About PPLB:
Los Angeles-based PPLB (Portfolio of Progressive Luxury Brands,) manufactures, markets, and sells high-end casual apparel under the brand name “William Rast” and in the United States, markets and sells “J.lindeberg.”

About William Rast:
William Rast, the new america denim culture brand, was conceptualized and founded by business partners Justin Timberlake and Trace Ayala in 2005. Originally comprised of only denim, the brand has expanded into a complete lifestyle collection. Grounded in the iconography of American denim heritage and biker culture, yet re-packaged and presented in a contemporary context, William Rast has found its place on the floors of top-tier department stores and boutiques across the globe, and has become a staple for denim fans worldwide.

About J.lindeberg:
Since it’s first collection in 1997, J.lindeberg has successfully combined fashion and sportswear. The Company’s male collection and its progressive golf and ski collections are sold worldwide in more thank 25 countries including USA, UK, Scandinavia and Japan.

If interested, please send all resumes and cover letters to Sara Nunez at snunez@pplbusa.com