Be Kind Rewind..

.. Here is one of a few shoots I assisted on whilst at Dazed and Confused. This is definitely my favourite because I love Ben Toms.

Photographer: Ben Toms

Stylist: Katie Shillingford

Stylist Assistant: Helen McGuckin and Nelma Kalonji

More Cobs Than You've Had Hot Dinners...

... On a very uneventful evening I was wondering whether to make a chicken sandwich or not whilst watching something uneventful on television.

This got me to thinking about how many sandwiches I have eaten in my whole life. I couldn't even imagine trying to figure out an actual amount as one of my first child hood memories was at my Christening (when I was 7) and being in my kitchen with my sister. We were wearing matching checked, frilly dresses but mine was green and hers was pink, my Uncle Nigel had Tweety-Pie socks on and there was an extreme spread on the table consisting mostly of bread based snacks and sausage rolls. A tuna and cucumber quarter was the one I went for.

I appreciate all things healthy, fresh and tasty foods, but I have never been one for ordering a salad, sushi or fruit and vegetables for lunch. I'm much more at home and satisfied with something like a Greggs meal deal.

Anyway, this blog is not really going anywhere at the moment, and I was just thinking that I am very lucky that I am not a size 24, as I probably should be due to all the massive cobs I have consumed through the years. I must admit though that I did enjoy the doughy cloud I floated away into for a while thinking about the best Cob Shops I always re-visit, and unfortunately out of all of the cafes I have been in to in London (which is a lot), I have never found a cob (or bap/savory-cake/shandy-bun or whatever they call them down here).. that matches any of these!!

CAFE/ SHOP: Cheese Factor

WHERE: Chesterfield (end of the indoor market)

BREAD: Large white Cob

FLAVOUR: Ham/ Cheese/ Salad Cream

REASONS TO GO BACK: Pound a bag man/ lady with the moustache/ huge cobs with next to nothing price!!

CAFE/ SHOP: Pete's Cafe

WHERE: Nottingham Victoria Market (upstairs)

BREAD: Large torpedo Cob

FLAVOUR: Bacon/ ketchup/ butter

REASONS TO GO BACK: Seating area good for people watching/ granny vibes/ softest cobs in the world.

CAFE/ SHOP: The Lunch Box

WHERE: Sheffield

BREAD: Large white cob or Large brown

FLAVOUR: Chicken mayo & sweetcorn/ salt/ black pepper

REASONS TO GO BACK: End of your road if you live in Netheredge/ Beautiful, witty babes behind the counter/ Tasty!

CAFE/ SHOP: The Picnic Basket

WHERE: Alfreton

BREAD: Crispy Baguette

FLAVOUR: Egg Mayo/ black pepper

REASONS TO GO BACK: They let you off if you don't have enough/ other than that, unless you live in Alfreton there is no reason to ever go back there.

CAFE/ SHOP: Swimming Pool Cafe

WHERE: Mansouri Mansions Hotel, Bahrain

BREAD: Toasted brown bread

FLAVOUR: Bacon/ Lettuce/ Tomato

REASONS TO GO BACK: You get to eat at the side of a swimming pool in 40 degrees weather/It's almost a bit naughty as you shouldn't eat pork in Bahrain/ Happy memories.

CAFE/ SHOP: The Cob Shop

WHERE: Derby

BREAD: Largest White cob ever

FLAVOUR: Either Chicken Mayo or Bacon/ Sausage/ Egg (Hangover cob)

REASONS TO GO BACK: No Reason, they deliver straight to your door!

I genuinely could go on and do a few more and definitely go into further details on each place, but I think I have put way more time than was necessary into this post. It has also made me a little bit hungry.

You'll Do..

..For my next seasons wardrobe please!

Here are my actual favourites from NYFW Spring/ Summer 11

(Please excuse the bad screen grabs, but enjoy the beautiful looks)

3.1 Phillip Lim

Diane Von Furstenburg

Organic by John Patrick

Rodarte

Jenny Packman

Karen Walker

NYFW= New York Funny Winners

I am enjoying this lazy afternoon catching up on NY Fashion Week shows after reading brief reviews on Twitter and Facebook. It is lovely to think of next Summer already (even though I am still excitedly awaiting this Autumn/ Winter) and all of those hot sweaty days squeezed between someone's armpit and suitcase on a bus, or searching high and low for a shop that has air conditioning that works.

Maybe I am just cynical and once I get to the stage when I am excited to wear Diane Von Furstenburg colours whilst shopping in Paris or Phillip Lim on a yacht having an evening supper on the coast of Monico, I will appreciate it more.

I do however like the classic summer mistakes that no matter how much money you have or how much you try to pull of this glamour, this will most likely happen...

Wild Faces, as seen at Elise Overland

The Creepy Toe Hang Out, as seen at Betsey Johnson

The Bum/ Testicle Swimsuit Challenge, 'ass' seen at Jeremy Scott

The Classic End of Summer Old Tan, as seen at Carolina Herrera

I know I shouldn't mock as it is a very hard job being a model and fighting against nature to wear these super outfits and promote the summer perfection that we all crave for but I just couldn't resist these ones.

I actually enjoyed all the shows and have a more sensible post to come.

Next Please..

Here is a quick collection of images I have put together which I will be taking inspiration from for the next project I am working on. I am very excited about this and it has been on my mind for a long time now and becoming quite precious to me.. I won't give too much away too soon, but there are loads of talented people involved to make it as good as it should be but I'll keep you posted!

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.