Idris Khan

images from Victoria Miro Gallery

Theses photographs by Idris Khan are made up of multiple layers.
I am a little late coming to this photographers work, so you can find many imitators having fun with the same process over on Flickr.

It is better to give than recieve?

New York fashion week got Jennifer Lopez, Posh, Natalie Portman, Claire Danes, and Mary-Kate and Ashley. So far, London’s got Peaches Geldof and Pixie Geldof. Not quite the same league, are they? Madonna, Gwyneth, Uma, Elle, a bunch of European royals, and countless other A-listers live in London either full or part time—so where are they? Not watching shows at the Natural History Museum, that’s for sure. And, arguably worse for the show and partygoers—where’s the swag? Back before the credit crunch, the front rows were dotted with charming little bags full of stuff to take home and enjoy (or give to the hard-working nanny). But no more. At the Graeme Black show, attendees such as Amy Sacco and Michael Roberts were given a dried flower. And a sad-looking one at that. And at the Stephen Jones party at Dover Street Market, the goody bag was empty.
This sorry piece of vitriolic bile is from here
It raises two issues for me
1) Why is the success of a fashion show based on it's celebrity quota? Surely the most important people viewing any show are the store buyers and the magazine and newspaper editors. Celebrities rarely dress themselves so I would imagine the stylists are pretty important guests too. I can see that a celebrity can generate a little free press, but it seems fleeting to me compared to the coverage generated by the clothes themselves.
2) What IS this obsession with goodie bags? At a time when half the world is on it's knee with starvation and poor living conditions, I find the whole goodie bag thing obscene.
Why should those people with money get freebies? (half of which end up on EBay) when they clearly do not need it. Is it not enough that the food, drink and entertainment are free? The best thing to put inside a goodie bag is surely a donation to those that do need it. If as it looks some designers are paring down this offering, surly they should be applauded rather than derided by commentators such as Afsun Qureshi.

Vera Wang

I am loving the whole tunic with straight leg trousers look.
I would not necessarily embrace the shear fabrics, but the blocks of colours with the layers are wonderful.


As for the jewellery, I am in love, it is stunning.
I have struggled to look at many of the shows this week, having been snowed under with work. However I am nearly up to date, and so my bag of gems that arrived from China last week beckons...
This was the first show I checked last week, and It gave me pages of inspiration. I tend to stick to designers I know and love then do a few random searches later.
How anyone keeps up with the huge range on offer I do not know. As it was London Fashion Week this week the colour supplements were rife with fashion specials, some better than others. The ES magazine last Friday was particularly brilliant, and what is quite sweet is Kitty has taken one a day to school to read. I spy an Fashionista in the making there.
I have particularly enjoyed the photos taken by The Sartorialist as featured on Style.com which is where these photos are from

Ellisborough

ellisborough has a website and a blog

Using a simple, soft colour palette, high quality 100% brushed cotton and inspired one-off accessories, Mark customises each garment by hand, using an archive of vintage and rare buttons sourced from defunct button factories, European flea markets, secret charity stores and a vast network of aunties and grandmothers.

(I found this on the brilliant Kingdom Of Style blog)

Ellisborough is a wonderful talent not least because it embraces the whole recycle philosophy that is so prevalent at the moment. It also resonates with me because I love buttons and have quite a large stash of my own, which I occasionally use to re button cardies whose buttons I dislike. This alone can save the life of a tired garment. Ellisborough takes this a stage further to create something more individual.
These garments also reminds me of the story of one of the kings of Denmark. He would keep a velvet bag filled with buttons in his pocket, whenever he became stressed he would plunge his hand into the bag and run the buttons through his fingers. Try it, it is really calming.

Dutch Master

This photograph is in all the papers today. It has been shortlisted for the Taylor Wessing photo prize (on show at the NPG from November 6) deservedly so, it is beautiful, as is the rest of his work.


You can see the rest of this series at the Witzenhausen Gallery web site

The savages

I watched this at the weekend. the first 5 minutes are just a series of the most beautiful viewpoints of Sun City Arizona.

The film is fantastic and brilliantly acted. I am a huge fan of Seymour Hoffman. I like his ability to humanise his characters rather than be the 'star'

Lost property

A few months back, you may remember I lost my purse. I reported it to the train company and unbelievable a week later I had a phone call to say that it had been handed in with all the money still in there. My sister could not believe how lucky I was. I have a theory that items found have a better chance of survival than we think because most people are, despite what we read in the news inherently honest and will do unto others etc..
This weekend my sister phones to say she thought that somehow she had left her brand new Orla Kiely shopper on the train, It was a gift from a friend. Inside was all her Spanish work, plus a handful of credit card statements unopened. Although she was heartbroken to loose the bag she was far more afraid of losing her identity via all the info on her credit card statements.
She mentally retraced her steps, went to both Victoria and Canon St stations no luck. Then today remembered that she had a headache and had gone to Boots to buy some tablets. Unbelievably someone hand handed it in. She is to say the least a very happy bunny! oh and a lucky one too.
To all those who hand in what they find, we love you and thank you.