Catwalk to Club Exhibition - Victoria and Albert Museum, London

Explores creative explosion of London fashion in the 1980s.

Decade launched careers of new designers and the emergence of a vibrant club & music scene

Newly established London fashion week offered designers opportunity to show together for the first time.

Catwalk collections covered by international press and eagerly sought after by oversea buyers.

British government actively promoted industry

Margaret Thatcher declared,
'Fashion is important because it raises the quality of life when people take the trouble to dress well, and it also provides employment for many, many people'.

London's unique fashion identity in the 80s result of fusion between club and catwalk - risk taking young makers behind that new style remain some of the most influential figures in fashion today.

Designer Georgia Godley,
'Young London was all about taking risks and creating something out of nothing through passion and ambition'.

- Michiko Koshino
- Chrissie Walsh
- Willy Brown
- John Galliano
- Wendy Dagworth

Katherine Hamnett
Used t-shirts as platform for anti-war and green politics

BLITZ denim
1986, BLITZ magazine, 22 designers - customise Levis denim jackets: intended to inspire readers to experiment rather than go shopping e.g. cutting jacket in half and putting a long tube of jersey into the middle.

Fashion Aid (inspired by live aid)
Royal Albert Hall, 1985

---> Subverting classics e.g. white shirt and tailored jacket brought a new femininity to Saville Row      styling

Style Conversation with Christopher Kane

I went to a style conversation with Christopher Kane held at the Rosewood hotel in london over christmas.

He was interviewed by Colin McDowell with a chance for questions to be asked at the end. 

He spoke eloquently about his collections, future plans and inspirations. It made me appreciate him even more as a designer as I had become more informed of the reasons behind his decision making and design choices.

Full review and write up soon.

My Name Is Paul Smith Exhibition

I went to the My Name Is Paul Smith Exhibition on the 16th December at the design museum one of my favourite museums in London due to its size and location

'Ideas can come from anywhere. You can take inspiration from anything'

Paul Smith collaboration with Evian to create limited edition bottles in 2009. The bottles were designed in vibrant colours with multi stripe referencing Paul Smith.

Collaboration with Mini in 1998. Started as a pun as Paul Smith created a mini skirt with a black and white print of a mini car on it. The car featured interior of glove compartment, bonnet and boot in lime green - this is like the lining of his suits.