Happy Dazed

I have done it again and let myself go on the ol' blogger front. I have been very busy recently working on my own projects, which I will leak very soon, and also spending most of my time at the Dazed & Confused offices. First of all doing a 2 month internship, then I left to have more time on my own work and other jobs.

But now I am assisting the wonderful Karen Langley as and when I am available. It has been a great few months and it is great to be involved in the only magazine I have constantly bought since I was 15. These are a couple of the issues I have worked on and I look forward to seeing the next few month's issues..

.. It reminds me why I moved to London and makes me very happy.

Spine Chillin'

I was recently lucky enough to touch these shoes and cried a little bit, I also had a strong stomach pain that I always get when I want something so bad, which normally takes a couple of days to go when I realise I can't have them... but this feeling is just not going away!

I was very disappointed in the article on bones being used in fashion in the London Evening Standard newspaper a couple of weeks ago. Referencing this "trend" to Twilight which made me feel more sick than the actual shoes.

Good work DSquared, Boner jokes anyone??

Off With Their Heads...

.. So I posted a sneak peak a while ago about an exhibition I was working on with some other people.. I have posted the press release here which tells every tiny little detail of what will be happening on the night. I hope to see many happy faces there with heads intact..

_{A SERIES OF COLLABORATIVELY PRODUCED IMAGES}

_{STYLED BY HELEN McGUCKIN,}

_{PHOTOGRAPHED BY PATRICK SCHUTTLER,}

_{& ILLUSTRATED BY TOM J. NEWELL}

FEATURING TEXTUAL COMPOSITIONS BY SIMON MOWFORTH,

& A BESPOKE SOUNDTRACK BY BARCELONA

_{WAYWARD GALLERY}

_{47 MOWLEM STREET (OFF VYNER STREET),}

LONDON,

E2 9HE

16th JULY - 20th JULY 2010

(PRIVATE VIEW - THURSDAY 15th JULY, 6pm)

A unique exhibition combining different disciplines and areas of expertise in East London’s newest independent gallery. The Wayward Gallery is the latest offshoot of London-based skateboard crew, the Palace Wayward Boys Choir, whose recent profile in i-D Magazine outlined the increasing popularity of their skateboard and clothing line. The exhibition space furthers the brand’s elevation into high art and fashion, locating itself in the heart of the East end’s independent gallery scene in the vibrant Vyner Street area.

The series of images that form the foundation of this, one of the first shows at the newly opened gallery, began as a visual collaboration between a fashion stylist, a photographer, and an illustrator. The three individuals worked closely together throughout the process, embellishing the project with their contrasting creative skills.

Helen McGuckin is a freelance fashion stylist who has spent the last few years assisting on editorials, catwalk shows and designer look-books. She has worked with respected publications such as Tank, Wallpaper*, and Dazed & Confused, and has assisted a host of high-profile stylists, including Francesca Burns, Victoria Young, and Katie Shillingford. Utilising specific pieces from emerging designers such as Rachel Freire and Obey My Demand, and more established brands including Beatrix Ong and Lascivious, Helen has infused the LEVIATHAN shoot with an equestrian elegance which combines elements of bondage wear with chic lingerie.

Photographer Patrick Schuttler is developing an ever-expanding career, which ranges from fashion and reportage to travel and advertising. His unique approach to this particular shoot has seen him adhering to the intentions of his collaborators, and allowing space within the images for the proposed illustrative elements.

Tom J. Newell is a comic-book artist and illustrator who has produced intricately hand-drawn artworks for John Richmond, Dazed & Confused, and Moshi Moshi Records. For this particular project he has created an array of two-dimensional, armour-clad foes, chrome accessories and imaginary weapons, which adorn and interact with models in the photographs.

The resulting images are a visual clash between photography and illustration, fashion and art, and imagination and reality. This collision of artistic processes will be further explored in the exhibition space by the inclusion of a series of textual compositions written by Simon Mowforth, and a pre-recorded piece of experimental music performed by the band Barcelona.

Simon Mowforth is a recent graduate of English Literature who is currently working on his first book and taking an M.A in Chinese Studies. His contribution to this show is a series of textual responses to the images, inspired by Niccolò Machiavelli’s book on the strategies and philosophies of conflict and power,The Prince.

Barcelona are a group of experimental musicians who have recorded a bespoke soundtrack in response to the themes raised by the images of the LEVITHAN show. Amongst the newly formed group are Thom Barnett and Charles Watson who are better known for their roles as drummer for The Heebie Jeebies, and singer/guitarist for Slow Club respectively. The Heebie Jeebies have recently completed an extensive European tour and are due to release their debut single later this year. Slow Club released their critically acclaimed debut album Yeah So last year, and their latest video stars a forlornMackenzie Crook mouthing the lyrics to the band’s Giving Up On Love single. Barcelona's soundtrack to the LEVIATHAN show will be played on a continuous loop into the exhibition space, and a limited number of CDs, produced exclusively by Everything On Toast Records, will be made available at the Private View.

This infusion of music and literature into the existing visual collaboration of fashion, photography and art will highlight the intertwining relationships between the various creative disciplines involved, developing a sizeable guest-list from the contributors alone, and ultimately creating a significant and exciting event in what is set to be one of the best alternative exhibition spaces in the busy Vyner Street artistic community.

‘When the smoke clear, you can see the sky again. There will be the chopped-off heads of Leviathan.’

– MF DOOM in Madvillain's ‘Strange Ways’. Madvillainy. Stones Throw Records, 2004.

HELENMcGUCKIN.COM

PATRICKSCHUTTLER.COM

TOMJNEWELL.COM

WAYWARDGALLERY.COM

Notorious B.I.Z.B.Y

Here is the new designer Alec Bizby who has graduated from London College of Fashion very recently. We worked together for a good whole year while he was studying and have carried on being good friends because he has a funny accent, is extremely talented, loves what I love and hates what I hate and is just a very charming young lad!

I helped style, drink and eat loads for his look book and collection photo shoot which was lots of fun. Here are some of those images and a brand new video he has created to just keep on keeping busy and generally showing off at what he's good at!

Photographs: Patrick Schuttler

Lame.

Sorry about the lack of postage on here recently. I have been been extremely busy with things that will be popping up on here soon enough.

For now though here's just something to watch.

The Live Issue

I was kindly invited to an evening at The Future Gallery in Leicester Square last night to the launch of The Live Issue. This was a chance for the reader to become the spectator in a live magazine, walking through the rooms as you would browse through the pages. First page, rude bouncer at the door who was strict with a one in one out policy, as I got there fashionably late of course, then into great photographs of Rachel Freire's new collection across the walls. Rachel Freire is a new designer that I've been watching and also loaning from for my own photo shoots. Her pieces are so intricate with detail like reflective strips, leather tassles, and embellished accessories, but also have the great look of simple, classic pieces too. As well as her images on the wall in the main room, there were a few of her outfits on mannequins entwined in VHS tape woven through her garments and spat up all over the walls behind. It was dark, messy and exactly what I would've imagined from her.

My Sony Ericsson camera phone really caught this reflective stripe body suit! I love this..I also really need to invest in a camera.

The main room also showed a film by Gabriell Gettmans of the label Two Weeks, live blogging by Sketchbook Magazine and live art from Illustrator Nikki Farquharson.

There was also a main feature room and intimate interview with Pam Hogg, my ultimate favourite lady and excellent host of this room. Her editorial shoots framed around the room, TV screens with her latest catwalk show and some vintage footage of her catwalk shows from the 80's. There were mannequins around the room dressed in her latest collection too. I was quite giddy in there.

She even had her own "Mini Hogg" babes walking around, speaking to everyone in the room and talking about the work and the evening in general. It was all very nice. The wall in the background was covered in photocopies of people's faces, asses, hands, glasses and eyeballs that you were free to have a go on and everyone was getting much more adventurous after a few free drinks.

But this is the money shot, after a few glasses of free rum and coke I plucked up the courage to speak to one of my life-long icons, and got very giddy when she said she liked my shoes and agreed to a photograph. I have never met such a down to earth, sweet, talented and gorgeous lady. Happy much? Yes.

Today Mostly These..

PLEASE...

London Is Nice..

..Pleasantries from the side of a canal on a sunny day.

Swans.

Toms.

The Big Breakfast House.

Funny Boats.

Graffiti Up Walls.

Good Furniture Outside.

Riding Scarily Close to The Canal.

The Olympic Stadium on The Left.

Colourful Furniture Outside Again and Step by Step Recycling and Tiered Plant Pots.

Lilly Pads and Good Reflections.

Good Buildings Getting Radged.

No Fishing.

Greenery.

Oh and a huge floating dead rat in the canal that I WISH I had stopped to photograph. Might go back later in the week to see if it's swollen any bigger.

So Extreme..

Just seen the Uncut video of M.I.A's new single Born Free, it is very controversial. Guns, Violence, Sex and Gingers.
Gingers have got to hit back at this.. I wonder if M.I.A hates gingers or maybe at one time of her life was a ginger (highly unlikely) and is sharing the trauma that they have to deal with or I just don't get it. Either way this 9 minute explicit video is quite the conversation starter. Just make sure you don't watch it before 9pm.

I'm sure I saw the Boy from Gummo sat on the bus too, I'm not sure if it was him, but I'd like to think he's gone on to do better things than this as he was amazing in that film. I haven't seen it in a long time. Thanks M.I.A for reminding me.

Collabo'

So as I'm always going on about that Tom Newell who is making waves in the illustration world and I myself have also taken to student living to concentrate solely on "making it" as a stylist, well we only thought..'why don't we do something together?' So we are..

This is a sneak preview of the shoot I have done to give an interesting canvas for Tom to Pen Up, I was working on this while he was coming to his final stages of the Hollow Legs exhibition he has up in Sheffield. I won't give to much away but if the final images look as good as we both expect them to, we will be submitting it to be published.

I will probably put a couple of images on here when they are final and try and avoid any gay, couple collaboration self praise.

But would be good to know what you think.

Summer Attire

It's that time of year again, were it is getting much warmer and boots, leather trousers and big jumpers will no longer suffice. I love the summer, with free entertainment like sitting in parks with your friends and bright mornings which make it so easy to get up and long nights that make it so hard to go home but I officially have nothing to wear. I do the same thing every year and end up taking twice as long to get ready and start pulling out summer outfits I've had since I was about 18.

I don't want to get a new look for the summer, just feel comfortable in loose clothes that I can layer while trying not to look 2 dress sizes bigger but also hide my winter white body and not have to buy a pair of friggin' gladiator sandals or a floral dress.

I don't know what age I will be when this is no longer a problem.

Even though some people can pull it off so well...

Hollow Legs

I went to this exhibition last week, Tom J Newell's Hollow Legs.

It was a scary but delightful experience at The Forum Cafe Bar in Sheffield. I enjoyed the disgustingness of skulls and zombies appearing from delicious starters, mains and desserts, all very tastefully done. With pen on plates, paint on wood and sticky paper on mirrors with a couple of huge screen prints thrown in between, there was a lot to keep your eyes busy and made me a little bit hungry too...

I very much enjoy this huge print of the Astronaut man with, well what d'ya know, Hollow Legs! Well Done Tom. The night was a great success, everyone loved it and I'm very proud of him.

PS. If you don't know by now, as I have mentioned this guy a few times, he is my 'boyf' and he's pretty good at that too. For more info click on his name at the top of this post.

Tut Tut Terry

I read this article in The Gaurdian on Saturday about Terry Richardson being accused of sexually exploiting girls in his work. Please read..!

I am a massive fan of Terry Richardson as he has produced some of the finest images I have ever seen, may that be Fashion, Art, Musicians, his Mum... it all works for me, but I do not doubt for a second it would be awkward being shot by him as he himself has admitted " he has issues".

I know that there must be a great deal of exploitation in the fashion business, I have seen it and it is awful to think of young girls being used as they might be naive or intimidated by photographers, stylists and even agents but Terry Richardson has produced the same quality of images since the beginning of the 90's and has been snapped up and used by all of the biggest names and campaigns.

So I know that this incident will make people more aware of the exploitation of girls in the industry and people should definitely look after models in the business and give them choice to say no, but when you hear the name Terry Richardson, you can probably guess what you might be getting into.

Here are some of his sexiest shots that may have got people thinking..

I chose these particular images to show how he has always been risky and these are images that have been seen in his books, on his website and in fashion campaigns. He is extreme and quite controversial and that is what got everyone's attention. Sex sells.

Oh and here's his proud mom.. photo's taken by Terry Richardson.. see more of this here.

And like he said, he never makes anyone do anything that he wouldn't do himself, going by this image I can't imagine he asks for much.