Sunday 10 May 2015

EXPLORE: Alice's Adventures Underground



2015 is the 150th anniversary of Alice in Wonderland being published and, as my favourite ever book, i'm beyond excited at the weird and wonderful events which are rolling out across the country.

Spotted in a magazine, it was the interactive performance Alice's Adventures Underground by Les Enfants Terribles which grabbed my attention firmly with both hands. 


Located in The Vaults beneath Waterloo station, this was a tour set post-looking glass era where guests venture upon a extraordinary journey into Wonderland on the hunt for Alice, bumping into a few familiar faces along the way. Even my overactive imagination wasn't prepared for the sensational adventure found down this particular rabbit hole. 



To reveal the secrets of this spectacle seems like an injustice to the carefully curated magic conjured by performance masterminds Les Enfants Terribles - it truly has to be seen to be believed. Make the all-important choice between 'eat me' and 'drink me'; venture into the smoke-filled den of the Caterpillar; talk riddles with the Cheshire Cat and take tea with the maddest of hatters (a true highlight for any Alice!). Oh, and whatever you do, commit no nonsense!  

After escaping the Queen of Heart's courtroom, we spent the evening in a bar decked with cards sipping on Gin cocktails (from jam jars of course) and listening to one of the Wonderland Lates bands - Tankus the Henge. Having splurged on a premium ticket (Birthday treat!) we meandered through a maze to the exclusive King's Bar to rub shoulders with Alice herself. An evening that was curioser and curioser at every turn.



It's funny, real life all of a sudden feels a little dull...




Alice's Adventures Underground are on until August. Find out more information and book tickets here.

Sunday 15 March 2015

EXPLORE | Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty @ V&A


Having booked the tickets near on a year ago, it's safe to say the anticipation for this exhibition had brewed to bursting. It was expected that the display would be a spectacle, what with it being my favourite designer and having received incredible reviews when at the MET in New York, but I didn't expect it to take my breath away in such a fashion.
Walking in you're greeted by a projection of the iconic designer before meandering through the rooms exploring the various influences on his dark and maverick creations...

A ROMANTIC MIND

1-RomanticMind2
photo credit: Dazed Digital
Renowned for boundless creativity and originality, McQueen is described as 'an exemplar of the Romantic individual' with reference to the translation of his vivid imagination into his designs. This stripped back setting featured mannequins of McQueen's exquisite tailoring and his very first collections, a nod to his time on Saville Row, East End upbringing and time at London's legendary Central Saint Martins where he mastered his talent. It was clear to see how these were the roots of his legacy.

‘You’ve got to know the rules to break them. That’s what I’m here for, to demolish the rules but to keep the tradition.’ - Alexander McQueen

A GOTHIC MIND

photo credit: fashiontimes
photo credit: BBC
This room was displayed in cases finished with ornate golden frames containing mannequins with feathered mohicans or leather face masks. Gothic slants, historical influence and a fetish slant were always a dark vein running through McQueen's creative flow and this vampy collection is true testimony to this. Leather, bygone shapes and exquisite details were all core to this theme.

‘People find my things sometimes aggressive. But I don’t see it as aggressive. I see it as romantic, dealing with a dark side of personality.’ - Alexander McQueen 


ROMANTIC PRIMITIVISM

photo credit: Dezeen
I loved the defined contrast of each room as our next stop on our journey through the world of McQueen was a skull covered chamber which coveted the idea of a tribal theme channelled through his collections. As the drumbeat thumped, an illuminated orb in the ceiling shed light across primitive, savage creations crafted from hair, leathers and even taxidermy.

photo credit: Dezeen

ROMANTIC NATIONALISM

photo credit: Telegraph 
The next room had a regal atmosphere and paid ode to McQueen's Scottish heritage and repeated use of the MacQueen tartan. On the right were ornate red and white gowns, fit for any princess, whilst standing opposite were a tartan clad line up. Clearly a nod to Scotland vs. England, it was a fascination with both nation's history that was a fuel for design.

photo credit: IBtimes

CABINET OF CURIOSITIES

photo credit: BT
By far the highlight of my visit, the cabinet of curiosities made my eyes wide and my mind explode. A treasure chest of fetishistic apparel, accessories and shoes, from the iconic Armaillo heels to bejewelled bodices and silver thorn headpieces. Amongst the display cases were video screens which played McQueen's experimental runway shows and a centrepiece of his famous spray dress concept from his SS99 show. It was this room that it really hit what this exhibition was celebrating.

‘I find beauty in the grotesque, like most artists. I have to force people to look at things’ - Alexander McQueen 

KATE MOSS HOLOGRAM

photo credit: Creative Review

Plucked from the AW06/07 runway finale, the famous 'hologram' spectre of Kate Moss appearing in a glass pyramid was a breathtaking sight. His shows were more than a runway and to be treated to this enchanting visual was mesmerising.

ROMANTIC EXOTICISM 

4-Romantic-Exoticism
photo credit: Dazed Digital
Breaking the boundaries between East and West and exotic influence was the motive which formed this mirrored collection. As the mannequins rotated, the Japanese shapes and structures were evident, in particular McQueen's favourited kimono.

VOSS

photo credit: Mirror
With a focus on the SS01 show, VOSS (also known as the Asylum show) recreated the finale where a plus size exotic writer, covered in moths, was revealed in a two-way mirror cube posing the thought-provoking question of what beauty really is.

'It was about trying to trap something that wasn’t conventionally beautiful to show that beauty comes from within.' - Alexander McQueen

ROMANTIC NATURALISM

photo credit: museumsandheritage
Whether inspiring his designs or literally forming them, the magic of nature was an underlying thread running through a multitude of McQueen collections. Frocks adorned with fresh flowers and gowns solely created from shells and feathers, this was raw and romantic. The full floral gown was a strong contender for my favourite piece of the whole exhibition.

‘I have always loved the mechanics of nature and to a greater or lesser extent my work is always informed by that.’ - Alexander McQueen

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If I could wear one item of clothing for the rest of my life, it may very well be this...

PLATO'S ATLANTIS

photo credit: high50
The finale of Savage Beauty was futuristic Plato's Atlantis (SS10) where the star of the show was THAT Armadillo shoe. Music pumped, the show's backing video writhed in the background giving you a second to allow the entirety of exhibition to sink in.

‘Plato’s Atlantis predicted a future in which the ice cap would melt, the waters would rise and life on earth would have to evolve in order to live beneath the sea once more or perish. Humanity would go back to the place from whence it came.’ - Alexander McQueen 

Savage Beauty - part tribute, part retrospective, all incredible.

NB: These images have been sourced from other sites/publications as photos were not permitted by V&A to general admissions to the exhibit. All original links are provided.  

Saturday 21 February 2015

WORK | LFW AW15/16 [Street Style]


Who's wearing what is just as important off the catwalk as on it so here's a selection of my #relaxedglamour street style snaps for Mint Velvet when attending #LFW AW15/16.




























Saturday 3 January 2015

EXPLORE | Love is Enough - Andy Warhol x William Morris

Sly photo of the Andy Warhol tapestry of Marilyn Monroe.

Andy Warhol and William Morris are both iconic names in the art world yet for very different reasons. Warhol was a sixties icon creating a legacy that defined the time whilst Morris' name is equally as renowned worldwide. Despite their different styles, the parallels between the two artists, as highlighted by this exhibition, were enchanting to an art illiterate like myself. 

Love is Enough contrasts the two artists' trademark pieces side by side in an informative visual feast comparing themes of printing, mass production, society and collaboration.

Walk into the room at Modern Art Oxford and you see a striking tapestry of Marilyn Monroe created by Warhol mounted on a backdrop of classic Morris print. Delve a little deeper as you scan the photographs, books and printing materials and the connection between the two figures becomes clear.

It was a treat to see Warhol's iconic pop art, which was the initial draw to my visit, but also a delight to broaden my perspective of both artists and their techniques through this wonderfully curated display.