I'm pretty into the J.W Anderson A/W 12 campaign with its mop topped, zombie-eyed dandy-boy....

J.W.Anderson Autumn Winter 2011-12 preview, photographed by Alex Sainsbury, styled by Benjamin Bruno.

Dire Straights: Soooo Smooooth....

Emmett and I have been embracing the smooth tunes of Dire Straights of late. Apparently Mark Knopfler found inspiration for the lyrics of 'Money for Nothing' in the outraged rantings of a hard-ware store clerk.... 

"See the little faggot with the earring and the make-up

Yeah buddy that's his own hair

That little faggot got his own jet airplane

That little faggot he's millionaire"

 

Josephine Baker- totally banannas...

Josephine Baker  was a Parisian dancer and singer, the most famous American expatriate in France.

Throughout her life, Baker drew on her personal experiences to shape her performances. In turn, she transformed her everyday environments into stage sets where exciting dramas unfurled.

Overcoming the limitations imposed by her gender and the color of her skin, she became one of the world's most versatile entertainers, performing on stage, screen and recordings.

Josephine lived her life passionately, having four husbands and driving men to such passion that one killed himself at her feet. 

Josephine was unable to conceive but adopted orphans from every country she toured - she hoped to create a 'rainbow tribe' of all cultures, races and religions. When she died in 1975 twenty thousand people attended her funeral in Paris. 

check out her dancin'...

MOSCHINO- Cheap and Chick AW12

 Photos from backstage at the Moschino Cheap and Chick AW12 show....

Lydia and Moon photo booth times...

Images of collection from Fashion 156

Send in the Clowns: The Grimaldi Service at Dalston's Holy Trinity Church

On Sunday I attended the Grimaldi Service at The Holy Trinity Church- t'was quite a sight on a snowy afternoon in Dalston.

 Its an annual occurrence in which around 60 clowns, dressed in full costume, gather to honour the king of the clowns, Joseph Grimaldi (1778-1837). 


Grimaldi reinvented the clown, he was the first to use white-face make up and wear outrageous over sized and colourful clothes. He was also the first 'sad clown'- the tales of misfortune in his personal life (the death of his wife and son, forced retirement due to the strain his clowning activities had placed on his body and the resulting poverty etc) began the cliche of the lively stage larikiken who is doomed to battle his demons when he doesn't have an audience to delight. A famous anecdote to this effect was first told of Grimaldi: 
A young man goes to see his doctor. He is overcome by a terrible sadness and doesn’t think anything will make him feel better. The doctor says, “Why not do something happy, like going to see Grimaldi the clown?”. The young man answers, with a knowing look, “Ah, but Doctor”, he says, “I am Grimaldi.”

The Grimaldi service has been running since 1946- it was initially a dour affair, attended in plain dress by Christian clowns who cared to pay homage to Grimaldi and other jesters who had recently passed away. Today it is a full blown, colourful, circus affair- holy bread, sermons and juggling balls-- one doesn't know quite what to make of it! 

Here is the procession as filmed by Moon:

mono-brow clown...

ceremonial cutting of the cake...

photos of past services...

Illustrated Grimaldi....

Grimaldi's final resting place in Islington...

Grimaldi's memoirs-- edited by none other than Dickens...

p.s. coulrophobia= fear of clowns..The prefix "coulro-" may be derived from the Ancient Greek word κωλοϐαθριστής meaning "stilt-walker"

Ellen Rogers

Ellen Rogers photographs using analogue techniques-- she owns over 30 analog cameras and all effects are created in her darkroom.  
Ellen creates her own chemicals and says sometimes they give her 'funny headaches'… perhaps her concoctions get to her brain and lend to the hazy, trippy vibe of the images…  Her photos are timeless and dramatic and mostly feature ethereal temptresses in a state of trance,... Ellen takes inspiration from fantasy, religious stories, black magick n psychological horror . 

 

Moon Trips... Prangsta Costumiers

A  treasure cave/ giant dress up box founded by Central Saint Martin's grad Melanie Wilson and run by a team of young, talented and eccentric Londoners. On entering one is overwhelmed by an array of decadent period frocks, embellished hats, lovingly customised vintage pieces n blingin' jewels. According to manager, Holly Jade, the Prangsta team 'try to purchase as little material as possible so we go to a lot of vintage markets and also get a lot of materials donated to us. We take apart old costumes and old fabrics and then restore them and make them into our own Prangsta designs'.

Mel, Prangsta's brainchild, began by squatting in what is now the shop premises. 12 years in the running and the business has expanded well beyond your standard 'stume house with a 1500 square foot studio in Deptford, dress making classes and a regular string of events for local artists and bohemians such as such as  'Prangsta Presents...Freaky Fancy Finery at The Prangsta Dinery' incorporating entertainment, performance, live music & catering. 

 The Prangsta team also do the festival circuit in the summer, creating one mobile boudoir/ fantastical oasis after the other  at the likes of Bestival and Glastonbury. 

I wants it....

the following photos curtesy of the metro online

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