The Red Shoes

A quick one...

Just been to BAC (Battersea Arts Centre for those not down wit da lingo - not to be confused with RAC, an extremely valuable car break-down service) to watch Kneehigh Theatre's "The Red Shoes".

 

They've done it again. It's very physical & superbly visual. It's Brother's Grimm meets Cabaret. For very brave children. Including me. 

Dutch-ness is all over the costumes & choreography. Not sure how the very Danish main man, Hans Christian Andersen, would feel about that. He wrote it, innit. I guess if you squint hard enough whilst looking at a map, Denmark blurs into Holland. 

Anyhoo, Dutch-ish it is. Dutch clog dancing mixes with contemporary, free-spirited sequences & I even spotted some Lindyhop. Oh yes, I've a keen eye for it. 

 

All accompanied by live, folky music from the players & two observant, patient musicians - one rather handsome musical chap if I may be so bold. 

 

Every detail is mapped out &, well, detailed. 

As ever, Kneehigh play all their cards. Shaved-heads, physical theatre, dance, music... a tranny with a mic. If in doubt, go all out. Et pourquoi non?

It's clearly a hit with the A-Levelers. If only I could read the detailed accounts they hand in tomorrow morning. Perhaps then I'd arrive at a deeper understanding of the sub-text...? They clearly had a lot to say about it. 

Bullet points & Bic Biros. 

However, I think back to the days when I could have written an essay about a fart. Oh, the bullshit I dredged up from the deepest pit of my pretension. And? I got an A.

Quite frankly, I enjoyed it just as it was. A jolly good story, jolly well told. Sub-text: negatory.

 

http://www.bac.org.uk/whats-on/red-shoes/

LONDON FASHION WEEK 2011 Day 6

OOOOOH last day! It's piping hot. And full of men ('s fashion). Excellent.

 

J.W.Anderson tapped in to my current fashion hummunahs - tweed, paisley & pastels. 

Hum-mun-mun-mun-aaah.
 



J.W.Anderson A/W '11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And...skirts? For men. 

Yes, skirts for men. 

Not quite sure how I feel about this look. 

Can't help but think Da Vinci code priest.
 

 



J.W.Anderson A/W '11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Doing it for the Dudes:

Cassette Playa had the London 80s graffiti scene all over it. 

Literally, probably. 

That is URBAN. 

If I could beat-box, I'd definitely wear this stuff.

 



Cassette Playa A/W '11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Cassette Playa A/W '11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

James Long, the huggable, knitted man's friend. 

With a dash of PVC junkie thrown in.
 



James Long A/W '11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



James Long A/W '11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



James Long A/W '11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Katie Eary tumbled awkward models on to the catwalk wearing Harajuku/Decora styles that hark me back to Cosplay & the bizarre street fashions in Japan. 

That, or Cyberdog on herbal tea.
 



Katie Eary A/W '11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Katie Eary A/W '11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Katie Eary A/W '11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christopher Shannon with his part-mountaineer-part-chimneysweep-part-Eastenders look.
 



Christopher Shannon A/W '11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Christopher Shannon A/W '11



Christopher Shannon A/W '11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

KTZ brought out all the tricks of a bag of Bassett's Liquorice Allsorts for the guys & the dolls. 'Twas a veritable CIRCUS! 

A Miro for sweetie lovers.
 

 



KTZ A/W '11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



KTZ A/W '11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



KTZ A/W '11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



KTZ A/W '11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



KTZ A/W '11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then there was tailoring...

 

Tween walked casual types. 

With a passion for literature & chopping wood. 

I suspect.
 

 



Tween A/W '11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Tween A/W '11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oliver Spencer, at the other end of the tailored spectrum, chose a 'Down and Out in Paris and London' angle. 

Beards, Barnets & Bespoke.

 



Oliver Spencer A/W '11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Oliver Spencer A/W '11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hardy Aimes channelled James Bond & 1950s Harvard. 

How dapper. Mmm. 

I appear to be dribbling.

 



Hardy Aimes A/W '11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Hardy Aimes A/W '11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On that note, I'm going to slip in to something less comfortable... 

LONDON FASHION WEEK 2011 Day 5

I have been courting my Mary Katrantzou fabric bag around with me like it's my new born child - must show it off but DON'T TOUCH. 

 

Up there with Erdem in my pattern Heaven, Katrantzou's collection is an explosion of heady folklore trips on heavily structured dresses. Some would not be out of place in the showroom of Versace Interiors. Or draped lithely across a Ming vase. Her background is heaving with interior textile design, and it seeps through her work like cognac through cream. 

Check out these mincing matryoshkas -

 

Mary Katrantzou A/W '11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mary Katrantzou A/W '11

Then along came the Schwab. Schwab-ster. Marios Schwab. Not to be confused with Schwepps. But Schwepps could do well from taking some bubble out of their drinks & follow the smooth Schwab road.

Not to say Schwab bubbles not. He is a subtle-bubbler. He is less flashy that most, his colours in this collection are more muted than most, his designs are less whimsical & fancy-pants. But he sticks to what he is good at - cut, fabric, wearable colour. His designs LAST. He trends not. He is just very good. Well done you, Schwabby. Schwab-dawg. Diggity.

 

Love the autumn colours
Marios Schwab A/W '11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leather me up
Marios Schwab A/W/'11

More highlights... Roksanda Ilincic (who once took Mary Katrantzou under her wise wing) was giving a metallic rainbow show down a la a huge, gorgeous tin of Quality Streets. Yum yum. 

 

Orange Cream
Roksanda Ilincic A/W '11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hazlenut Whirl
Roksanda Ilincic A/W '11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dark Chocolate
Roksanda Ilincic A/W '11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Caramel Barrel
Roksanda Ilincic A/W '11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Praline Whip
Roksanda Ilincic A/W '11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Coconut Delight
Roksanda Ilincic A/W '11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm pretty hungry now. Perhaps Quality Street might consider me for Marketing? 

Onwards.

 

Clements Ribeiro gave us palatial paisley, tie-dye & animal print, not to mention gothic crotchet, beading and lace. He went for the 'all-in' approach, and the results? Lovely. Often teetering on the brink of middle-class, middle-aged mum, but pulling it way back east with military jackets & Victoriana collaring.


 

Clements Ribeiro A/W '11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clements Ribeiro A/W '11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clements Ribeiro A/W '11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clements Ribeiro A/W '11

Amanda Wakely was all OVER fur, power shoulders, cuffs & work-no-play attitude. Hard nut. Je sais, je sais... if I dressed thus, perhaps I'd be a force to be reckoned with. OR, even better, I might just get cast in the remake of Working Girl. "Hello, my lovely agent...?"

 

Amanda Wakely A/W '11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amanda Wakely A/W '11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amanda Wakely A/W '11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And finally, Mr. Now, Ashish...

 

Ashish A/W '11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ashish A/W '11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ashish A/W '11

Ashish had 'I'm the next Viv' stamped all over his punky models. Tres Anglomania. With sequins. Moth-eaten knits. Spider webs. What a punky hunk. That's my Halloween outfit sorted...double-yes if I end up in the Scottish Highlands for some tartan trick-or-treating. Or would that be trick-och-treating? To bed, to bed...

...Hoots Mon.

A most pleasant day all round. Bravo!