_RBPM, Nylon Guys SS09

_Why the HELL Russell Brand is on the cover I do NOT know?! - supposedly the is the 'Best of London Cool' but whatever, Maybe the Americans are a bit behind?

Non the less 14 pages of RBPM London Street Style is quite nice.

Thanks to all the boys who I shot for these.

_Boxing Day at home

_Cold air, warm sunlight, extreme shadows (see above), gentle breeze, hot tea, and the thoughts of yesterdays glorious family and friends based day - Ace. I am so, so happy right now.

_Christmas Gifts II

_Im currently basking in the glorious smells of Diptyque candles, and couldn't be happier.

'Originally a Paris based interior design store, Diptyque made the scented candle into a modern day cult classic. Founded by three friends, it was there collective love of travel, especially to the Far East and Africa that first inspired the exotic range of scents. Initially created as a finishing touch to their interior designs. Today their diptyque scented candles have gone to be famous around the world.'

_Christmas Gifts I

Left: Dior Haute Couture jacket (2000), Yves Saint Laurent Trousers (1989), Qing Dynasty chest ornament. Right: Lanvin Haute Couture cocoon wrap (1983), Navajo necklaces (1930s), Romeo Gigli Shoes (1980s).


Left: 19th Century Indan necklace. Right: 1970s Nepalese cape, Gianfranco Ferre skirt.



_'Rare Bird of Fashion: The Irreverent Iris Apfel'

Is the most indredible book of Apfel’s clothing, displaying the way she combines color, texture and pattern in pieces purchased at flea markets and from haute couture collections transcending the boundries of fashion. There’s truely inspiring art to her style.

_Christmas Wrapping

_So if there's one thing I prefer more than recieving presents, its giving them, well, actually, its wrapping them - Since I was 15 I've done, just like all big department stores, Christmas and wrapping 'themes' - And this year, in sync with this seasons look - 'Nue Goth' (tacky right), actually I recokon it looks more S/S09 Gareth Pugh - inspired by the wrapping feature Pugh did for 'Fantastic man' magazine a few seasons back - Ace, well pleased, and a damn sight better than shiny gold with santa's and sleighs all over it.

_Kiosk

An incredible little changing art store based 95 Spring St. in NYC, stocking all sorts of beautiful bits and pieces. based around the 'theme' of that exhibtion, the 'themes' are differing countries, and this season is, suprisingly enough, for the first time ever - America.

And this lovely book is from this current 'space' - Poem by Wendell Berry. Illustrated by Ben Shahn. Printed and bound in Scranton, PA.

Ace.

_I'm Currently Watching . . .

_'Memoirs of a Geisha' - on channel5, and absolutely loving it, I completely forgot how AMAZING this film is. The story of Nitta Sayuri and how she transcended her fishing-village roots and became one of Japan's most celebrated geisha. Directed by Rob Marshall and of Winner of three Academy Awards, It is both visually stunning and has a storyline to shame any other.

This incredible film reminded me of these amazing shots sent to me by a dear friend from Japanese Vogue's Decemeber 2008
issue, photographed by yelena yemchuck and styled by anastasia barbieri its such a beautiful shoot, with an incredible use of depth of field and the combinations of contemporary couture and classic Geisha dress.

_Merry Christmas

_The LCM Chritstmas Card, Designed by Bob Wirth in 1948 - Just a lovely little festive treat.

_Last night I found this postcard . . .

_In a box, covered in all sorts of shite stickers, among a load a load of other teenage crap.

But, despite that, I remember buying this postcard - I was 13, and on a family trip to Scarborough, and the only place I could find that satisfied a boys 'visual needs' was the classic 90's poster store 'Athena' and I bought this. It was then this image, along with an image by Alair Gomez that inspired me to loose 7stone as a teenager.

And its only upon re-finding this image, I discover it is a Bruce Weber photograph, of the Stolzfus Twins, taken in Santa Barbara in 1982. Brilliant - one of my favourite photographers ever, and I discover an image bought over 10 years ago, and constantly influencing me, is actaully by one of my greatest living creative inspirations.

_Christmas Wish List Part V

_So this is just due to the fact that its SO cold up north - I want one of these crimped hair sheep skin 'fur vests' - AMAZING. There's also a pink fur Westwood biker jacket in the same fur, ACE, and only £1600 - Bargain.

Oh, I'd also quite like an Olsen for Christmas, But with the big day being tomorrow, I wouldn't expect an Olsen so quickly, a New Years gift/Party girl sidekick is totally fine.

_Home for the holidays, and VERY happy to be here

_Firslty I get to see all my family and friends up north, secondly enjoy the country air, dogs walks etc and finally I get to do work at my lovely new desk in my ACE 'Dior Grey' bedroom - Check it ;)

Happy Boy!
Merry Christmas!

_The exotic, hyper-realistic paintings of Vladimir Tretchikoff

_Vladimir Tretchikoff was born in Russia in 1913. In 1946 he moved to South Africa. Tretchikoff made a mark on the art world with his works in oil, watercolour, ink, charcoal and pencil. But what really characterised his works were the reproductions of his work which sold worldwide- enjoying enormous popularity and also earning him the title of being the wealthiest living artist after Picasso. His most famous painting Chinese Girl, which he started in Java in 1946 and finished in 1952, sold millions around the world. It is rumoured that more prints were made of it than of Leonardo’s Mona Lisa or van Gogh’s Sunflowers.

Tretchikoff exhibited extensively in South Africa, Russia, UK, USA, China and Canada. However, he never enjoyed recognition as a serious artist in this country; his work was considered to be too commercial by the art critics and art museums or galleries alike. This despite the fact that in 1961 a record 205000 people queued around the block to view an exhibition of his work at Harrods in London. In Cape Town he drew a crowd of more than 6100 people visiting an exhibition.

Sadly Tretchikoff died in Cape Town on the 26th of August 2006. He had enjoyed a rich a and very productive life and was a prolific artist.

Ps. the image above is of my new print 'The Balinese Girl' that I bought in a charity store back home, for £10.00 - ACE

_'The Darjeeling Limited': Luggage by Louis Vuitton

_I must admit to an obsession with the design of the Whitmans' monogrammed luggage set, which was created for the film 'The Darjeeling Limited' by Marc Jacobs for Louis Vuitton and covered with jungle illustrations by Eric Anderson (the filmmaker's brother). Each bag was numbered—I believe there were ten bags—and apparently the design was strictly dictated by Wes Anderson. The luggage fascinated me. What was the significance of the #7 bag being the only piece with a red monogram? Why were the numbers on #9 and #10 given a different treatment and put within shapes?

To travel in classical style across India requires an elegant vehicle and suitable luggage. That thought was clear to the celebrated film director Wes Anderson, when planning the props for his new film ‘The Darjeeling Limited’. Together with Marc Jacobs, the Artistic Director of Louis Vuitton, he studied firm archives and historical luggage to come up with the design for an authentic calf-leather suitcase which plays a role in the action.

The individual items of luggage became uniquely valuable collectibles after the conclusion of the film, and were indeed auctioned – with the proceeds going to the Rawal Mallinathji Foundation (RMF). As well as the luggage set, Marc Jacobs of Louis Vuitton was also responsible for the suits of the three brothers and the memorable blue leather shoes.

_I'm Currently Watching . . .

_The 1996 cult classic 'Empire Records'

'A day in the life of the employees of Empire Records. Except this is a day where everything comes to a head for a number of them facing personal crises - can they pull through together? And more importantly, can they keep their record store independent and not swallowed up by corporate greed?'

Its AMazing - style, look, interiors, cast and the music is SO SO good - in the last 4 days I must have have watched this movie 10 times - ACE.

_Best Advert Ever . . .

_These 1990's banned CK Adverts are AMAZING - Shot on 35mm, and taken off TV within 5 days, they look like creepy screen test from old Harmony Korine or Larry Clark movies - Genius. They also fit really well to my current 1990s styled obcession, this, and 'Empire Records' - see above.

Oh, and the bottom James Dean looking boy
is,
to,
die,
for.

_YSL Genius

_So Check out this Awsome shot taken by one of the photographers who's currently working on a Shoot for 'Johnson' - It's so good. I love how right, yet wrong, the type is.

Brilliant.

_I'm Currently Watching . . .

_'Buffalo 66' - the 1998 gritty and creativly original Vincent Gallo movie, starring Gallo himself, and Christina Ricci, as his sinister 'kidnapped', innocent, yet brilliantly adhering 'girlfriend'.

So dark, and Somber, and calming.
Love it.

_Another thing I forgot . . .

_How nice this sound sensitive light installation by the 'Chemical Brothers' at the V&A was. ACE.

"As part of onedotzero's transvision event at the Victoria and Albert museum, we created this monolithic, responsive LED sculpture for the John Madejski garden. Our thanks to XL video for supplying the LED screen, and LightEngine for the support structure." - Quite numb, but informative non the less.

_Lovely

_Punk as fuck, slightly creepy graphics, they remind me of the work of the guy who sent me these - Josh Gurrie - a little strange, but works SO well.

_I forgot . . .

_How ace the POP magazine 15th Birthday party was at Spring Studios in north London: A guestlist of hell, the most awsome swarofski dipped mini moet bottles, mini boxes of chinese for dinner, black glass VIP rooms, and those 15' high POP covers were amazing, I wonder what happened to them? oh, and the 'coat frenzy' at the end of the evening just added to the classic 'fashion drama' at the end of the eve,

R.I.P.P.O.P
R.O.L.L.O.N.L.O.V.E

_Neck Face Heads

_Anyone who knows me will know I have a mild addiction to my Neck Face for Vans T-shirts, and living an an area of East London that is littered with his certain type of scrawls makes for a lovely and inspiring walk home. So finding this image has made me well happy. Maybe I'll add this headpiece to my list of Christmas wants.

_Luella SS09

_"I wanted it to be a proper, ladylike character—but a bit
psychedelic," Bartley said. "And I wanted color, but in a sort of sick
way. When I saw it all lined up, I thought, Ew! Can we do this?" Good
job she did, because her Spring collection was simply the most worked
and accomplished she's ever done. True, Comme des Garçons, Marc
Jacobs, and Vivienne Westwood may have passed by way of Chanel-ish
tweeds, hyper-color, tacky-but-cool frilly trimmings, and mini-crinis,
but Luella's unique angle on haberdashery is that it must end up
flattering the girl. The little suiting pieces patchworked together
from lavender tweeds and overlays of lace with their upstanding frills
encircling the shoulder somehow made tweed look nonfrumpy—and possible
to wear without the slightest air of irony. And when she does a dress,
she knows what girls love: a bit of a prom number, but in this case
with a nipped waist, a swathed top, a yoke to flatten the hips, and
all kinds of bouncy tiers and rear peplum action switching along as
she walks.

_A Review of the SS09 collection by Sarah Mower of Style.com : I
CANNOT WAIT to get my hands on this collection, stay tuned to see some
of the amazing collaborators we've got involved with this seasons
project.