Lazarides' Bedlam at the Old Vic Tunnels

Last week I attended the opening of the Lazarides Gallery’s third and final collaboration with the Old Vic Tunnels, ‘Bedlam.’   For this exhibition, Steve Lazarides commissioned artists to encapsulate the brutality and horror historically associated with London’s infamous Victorian mental asylum, Bethlam (commonly known as ‘Bedlam.’)  Lazarides explained, “everyone in the art world is crazy anyway, but different artists took different things from the idea. For some it became about chaos, for others it was more medical.”

Just as the Victorians would walk around Bedlam staring at the patients, completely fascinated and intrigued by their erratic behaviour, I too walked around the Old Vic Tunnels (the most perfect venue for this exhibition’s creepy theme!) both fascinated and intrigued by the plethora of dramatic art, sculptures and installations on display.

Below Centre:  Hamish Jenkinson, the Director of the Old Vic Tunnels, amongst the art.

Some stand out pieces for me were Tobias Klein’s ammonium sulphate crystal angel (patients at Bedlam would have these crystals placed beneath their skin as part of their treatment), the giant spinning swing (another treatment was to shake the mentally ill ‘back to their senses’) and Tessa Fraiser’s hanging mobile made up of rats, animal skeletons and insect wings… Quite the most disturbing thing I’ve seen in a long time.

The thin line between genius and madness was made very clear to me at this show leaving me feeling confused and ultimately disturbed – the artist’s intention I'm sure!  This show will certainly leave you with an impression… and perhaps some nightmares...

Below Centre:  Hamish Jenkinson interviewing gorgeous DJ/Presenter Izzy Lawrence.

'Bedlam,' presented by the Lazarides Gallery is on until October 21st. Entrance is free.

Musical Moment: Karen Elson and Ren Harvieu ('The Train Song')

Karen Elson, the flame haired supermodel, originally from Manchester, teamed up with the Salford-born singer Ren Harvieu to sing this captivating song.  Karen contacted 21 year old Ren through mutual friends as "I thought it'd be right up her street. Within a day or so she sent it back with harmonies on it – and some creepy organ as well. It was brill.” 

The song is taken from Ren's intensely emotional debut album, 'Through the Night.'  Super beautiful ladies, super beautiful song. I loooove.
"It’s so many miles and so long since I’ve met you, don’t even know what I’ll find when I get to you. But suddenly now, I know where I belong
... it’s many hundred miles, but it won’t be long."

James Mylne: Vintage Vogue

Last week I attended the opening night of artist James Mylne’s ‘Vintage Vogue’ exhibition at the Rook & Raven Gallery.  I was really intrigued and excited about this exhibition as James Mylne, 31, creates all his art using BIC Biros..!!  Each piece of James’ work takes huge levels of concentration (mistakes cannot be rectified) and can take hundreds of hours to complete.  I had to see it to believe it and the results blew me away; a room filled with beautiful and photo-realistic portraits from the Golden Age of Hollywood.  Heaven. Stylish icons have been brought to life with BIC Biro on backgrounds of bright spray paint.  The Audrey Hepburn images were naturally my favourites but I loved the elegance of the Coco Chanel (right) and the Steve McQueen drawing is just undeniably cool (below.)  I can just imagine stationary cupboard bills soaring in offices all over London after this exhibition... 

Above (L-R): Recreating 'The Audrey' pose with Vika Skyte, Celina Teague and Gayle Wyn Pugh, Izzy Lawrence with Ed Glover, Hugo Speer and Vivienne Harvey.

James Mylne: ‘Vintage Vogue’ is on at Rook & Raven until October 31st. Entrance is free.

HAWT - Poppy Delevigne in Louis Vuitton

Hawt = A late 1940's and early 1950's acronym for "Having A Wonderful Time."
Now the word is used on the internet as slang for something reeeeally hot.

Poppy Delevigne arrived to take her seat on the Louis Vuitton  SS’13 FROW on the final day of Paris Fashion Week looking très chic.  The model wore a beautiful midnight blue pleated chiffon dress from the Louis Vuitton Cruise 2013 collection accessorised with the label’s navy blue perspex heels.  Some red lipstick and a poppy red Louis Vuitton  Speedy Bandoulière Monogram Empreinte bag added some colour to her look, and the shape of the bag made this outfit far more appropriate for the daytime than if she had chosen a clutch. Ooh la la. Très bien Poppy!

Debit Buy: H&M Floral Trousers

The first day you are forced to wear you A/W coat is always a sorry one.  I was so glad that on this particular dreaded day I had my new pair of H&M floral trousers to help with this seasonal transition (my glittery shoes may also have helped too!)  I adore this print - the same one that Lana Del Rey models in the latest H&M campaign (below).  The high street is still currently blooming with many fabulous floral pieces after having a summer inspired by designers such as Erdem and Celine. So hurry and pick your favourite bunch...

H&M Floral Trousers  RRP. £24.99

PFW - Alexander McQueen

'Bees' was the buzz word at the Alexander McQueen SS’13 show in Paris.  Luckily without a stripe in sight (could there have been a more prevalling trend for next Spring?!) this collection honed in on the female form, going 'back to womanhood' and merely using bees, which designer Sarah Burton explained are “a matriarchal society where the females rule,” as inspiration to portray this.  

There were clinched waists, caged peplums and figure-hugging cigarette pants in honeycomb prints, jacquard fabric and golden hues.  Flowers and bees were seen decorating dresses, and models even wore bee-keeper style hats and glittering, golden platforms as they strutted to the tune of ‘Sugar Sugar.’  The McQueen Bee. 

PFW - Chanel SS'13

‘Fashion Month’ always ends on a high in Paris with the iconic French fashion houses in competition to put on the most memorable of shows.  Chanel was never going to disappoint. Karl Lagerfeld had models parade his SS’13 Chanel collection along a wind turbine and solar panel lined runway in the cavernous hall of the Grand Palais.  Playing with this concept of wind and energy, the collection was, as Lagerfeld explained, “all about volume and lightness, because usually volume and lightness don’t go together.” 

Left:  Karl Lagerfeld in THAT shirt and THAT tie. A huge difference to usual monochromatic style.

Below:  The towering wind turbines. “Energy is the most important thing in life,”  Karl Lagerfeld told reporters backstage after the show.

The collection reflected the traditional heritage of the label and the elegance of Coco Chanel, particularly reflected in the tweed and pearl embellishment but with a distinctly modern aesthetic.  I really enjoyed seeing the cocoon cuts and bell sleeves which provided a relaxed feel amongst the summery, neutral colour palate that was chosen. 
 
Below and Left:  Before this model had even left the catwalk this hoola-hoop style handbag had caused a veritable storm on the Twittersphere.  I can't imagine this being the easiest of bags to manipulate whilst shopping, dancing or on the tube?!  I cannot wait to see who is seen out and about next summer with this particular piece of arm/shoulder candy! 

Above and Below:  Oversized pearls embellished a huge proportion of the Chanel SS'13 collection, with many of the models also wearing pearl chokers around their necks and pearl clusters around their wrists, and they all wore a single pearl in their ponytails. 

Below:  My favourite piece from the collection - the movement in this dress was gorgeous.

Below:  The beautiful Chanel-clad FROW (L-R)  Stylist (and fashion favourite of mine) Caroline Sieber, model Laura Bailey, DJ Leigh Lezark and model Poppy Delevigne.

Cara Delevigne - Model Du Jour

Phew!! Was there a single catwalk in the past fashion month that Cara Delevigne did not walk?!  The British model du jour, Cara appeared in 28 shows over the course of New York, London, Milan and Paris Fashion Weeks, making her the most booked model of the season. Cara walked for Burberry, Matthew Williamson, Marchesa, Jason Wu, Rag & Bone, Fendi, D-Squared, Sass & Bide, Mary Katrantzou, Ermanno Scervino, Acne, Marc Jacobs... And the prestigious list goes ON! This girl deserves a BIG holiday (and a foot rub...)

And behind the scenes... Some of Cara's Tweets. What's NOT to love about this girl?!!

Martha Freud's Exhibition

As part of the London Design Festival I recently went to Covent Garden’s Hospital Club, for a private viewing of Martha Freud’s latest exquisite design exhibition, ‘Light Impressions’.  The stunning imprinted porcelain work results from Martha’s continued fascination with nature and the beauty of short-lived organisms.  In particular I loved the contrast between the illuminated sprat fish staged amongst the more romantic and ethereal ceramic flowered light fixtures which I have long adored.  The beautiful and talented Martha, the Great-Granddaughter to Sigmund and Granddaughter of Clement, who is expecting a baby with partner Adam Smith (below right, and below left with brother Jack) said, “it will be interesting to see how the little one influences my work… I feel I still have a lot to explore in my quest to harness an element of nature’s beauty.” 

MFW - Prada SS'13

I think when I look back on this year’s Milan Fashion Week the images that will first spring/summer to mind will be THOSE PRADA SHOES.  With obvious Harajuku and Geisha Girl references throughout the whole of Miuccia Prada’s latest collection (floral appliqué and stenciled white flowers adorned kimono style dresses overcoats) it was the shoes that will have left the most lasting impression amongst the fash pack.

The controversial sock/clog combo boots, decorated with satin bows and flowers, left the show’s audience divided but ultimately fascinated.   Love them or hate them, I cannot wait to see how Topshop and H&M reinterpret and filter down this seemingly unuuusual style of shoe onto our high street next year, and who will be brave enough to wear them...