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Wellies On, Rocking Out
by McQ Studio on 2010-06-23 11:08:54
So it’s that time again – a killer to fork out for the ticket but then all you have to do after that is show up to the festival and have a bloody brilliant time for four or so days. And then come out looking and smelling like you’re from the mountains and it was all worth it. The less said about the rain the better. We’ve done Glastonbury for the past couple of years but this year we’re off to the Secret Garden Party for a psychedelic experience or so we’re told. Here are some others to watch out for…
Offest (September 4-5th)
Playing: Mystery Jets, Telepathe, Lovvers
FYI: A proper David in a sea of Goliaths, Offset takes on the massive sleazy commercial festivals and offers the best experimental and alternative line-ups choosing newer, underpromoted bands bringing the festival experience back to its grassroots: the music. All in a field just outside London – and you can actually get the tube to it. Yes please.Underage (August 1st)
Playing: Crystal Castles, New Young Pony Club,
FYI: No oldies allowed in here (and here is Victoria Park), and it’s the only festival where M.I.A is playing this summer. The Underage bandwagon is a true phenomenon and is hell of a lot better than hanging around outside off licenses looking shady that’s for sure.Mosley Folk Festival (3-5th September)
Playing: Donovan, Fyfe Dangerfield… and the Ukele Orchestra of Great Britain
FYI: A proper British do and a bit different, this one’s up in Birmingham – folk music, food sourcing local produce, bunting, maypoles, basically cosy as hell with dappled sunlight through leafy green trees. If you want a bit of break from thrashing about like a sweaty mess anyway.1-2-3-4 (July 24th)
We only wish we’d gone to Glastonbudget (featuring the finest tribute bands in all the land) last weekend but we only found out about it afterwards.
Playing: Dum Dum Girls, Vivian Girls, Screaming Tea Party
FYI: A day-long-one-night-stand of festival – and for only 15 quid – in Shoreditch, drawing on underground talent heaving in the London area and beyond. A proper bargain for the sheer levels of uncompromised creativity. -
POINTS FOR EFFORT
by Victoria Hesketh on 2010-04-16 16:42:54
This guy could usually be found playing bells and selling ‘Invisible Pizzas’ for 1 dollar on most street corners throughout the week, and managed to put a smile on the face of even the most hardened industry schmug who walked past. They should stop making all those ‘Keep Austin Weird’ t shirts and just give this guy a full time wage. Bless.
- Surprise at the foot of the rainbow
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FASHION FAUX PAS
by Victoria Hesketh on 2010-04-16 16:39:33
WTF?! Sock shoes?? Shoe socks?? Shocks?! I have no idea what these are but the owner was walking around watching bands in them all day.
- FASHION FAUX PAS
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SXSW FASHION & MUSIC
by Victoria Hesketh on 2010-04-16 16:16:54
So I’ve been out in Austin, Texas at the music industry’s disneyland, otherwise knows as South by South West. The festival is sprawled across hundreds of venues across the city and attracts thousands of bands looking for their chance to make it, and even more record labels, managers, agents etc. all looking for the next big thing. Last year I played so many shows I couldn’t remember my name never mind what day it was, this year I luckily had little to do but enjoy the music and eat my own weight in barbeque food. Rather than setting out on the holy grail to find The Hot New Band, I decided to hunt out the most fashionable instead… luckily for us the music turned out to be pretty damn good too. So here you have it, my top 5 most fashionable bands from SXSW.
1. DIAMOND RINGS
At number one a most lovely guy I’d never heard of before called Diamond Rings. From Canada, he sounds like Brian Ferry backed by a laptop and a casio, and had a lot of balls doing a one man show outdoors at 11am to about 5 people (which after a few songs quickly multiplied to about 50). He’s also a visual artist, and designs and creates all his own merchandise he is wearing… I have no idea how he got that jacket to look about 30 years old but I would pay good money for him to do mine! His sound is still pretty raw and its early days but everything about him just felt like a star.
Check out www.myspace.com/diamondringsmusic2. THE DRUMS and SMITH WESTERNS
At joint second battling for the prize of cutest indie band puppies are The Drums and Smith Westerns. I didn’t get a decent pic of The Drums boys so had to pinch this one from their myspace, but they are basically all so unbelievably good looking its hard not to think they were put together by replying to an ad in the back of boyband weekly, however once you hear the music this all quickly fades away to insignificance, as the melodic waves of ‘Lets Go Surfing’ wash over you and all is good in the world once again. Already pretty established, with an NME cover under their skinny belts before their debut album is even released, their SXSW gigs saw them really coming into their own and you could see the bigger band they are destined to become start to take shape. www.myspace.com/thedrumsforever
At the other end of the spectrum are Smith Westerns, who with an average age of about 17 years old who were out running around Austin playing show after show with no manager, record label, crew, or place to stay, which you have to give them props for. They kind of don’t really sound like anything around, just go have a listen… www.myspace.com/smithwesterns. Lets face it, anyone who can make hiking boots look effortlessly cool gets points in my book.3. MARINA & THE DIAMONDS
Next up is my homie Miss Marina Diamandis. Always looking larger than life wearing some vintage find that will make you sick with envy, her packed gig at the Levi’s Fader Fort was no exception, where she rocked some rather incredible Mickey Mouse American flag dungarees with killer heels. Her album The Family Jewels just came out in the UK last month entering the chart at no.5, and is one of my favourite albums of the year so far. Look her up at www.myspace.com/marinaandthediamonds and watch out for her new single ‘Robot’, which is accompanied by a beautiful video shot by Rankin.4. SLEIGH BELLS
Alexis Krauss from Sleigh Bells is at some points kind of scary but always undeniably cool. Sleigh Bells was definitely always the hippest gig of the day, with a queue of scenesters round the block at each venue they played. At times it sounds like the coolest thing you’ve ever heard, at other points it sounds like a girl screaming her head off over a distorted guitar aka a right racket, but Alexis definitely does an excellent Karen O impersonation and I loved the blue Madonnaesque lace gloves and neon orange nail varnish that was picked up by the UV lights!
Listen at www.myspace.com/sleighbellsmusic5. WE ARE THE WORLD
Another band with a lot of hype, We Are The World have an amazing video that looks like something the Knife might have done when they were starting out. For such a tiny gig at the crammed IAMSOUND showcase they had an incredible light show and amazing dancers all in the same spooky get up. Personally I found I could only take their heavy dose of electronica for so long, but anyone who can rock the gothic beekeeper look on stage has obviously got some good ideas.
You can watch the video for ‘Clay Stones’ at www.myspace.com/watwla- DIAMOND RINGS
- The Drums
- SMITH WESTERNS
- MARINA & THE DIAMONDS
- SLEIGH BELLS
- WE ARE THE WORLD
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McQ: Banged Up
by McQ Studio on 2010-04-16 15:38:29
McQ: Banged Up
There’s certainly something melancholy about the thought that while externally, London ticks at a hyperactive rate, many interiors sit unknowably abandoned with peeling, cracking walls and gutted fireplaces. To normal intents and purposes, useless. The photos below document when McQ hotfooted about a derelict police station in East London.
It’s definitely strange to be within walls where order was once king, now devolved into a condition that looks in all senses post-apocalyptic, a memory left to crumble. The quietness was jarring, like London as we knew it had been swallowed up.
Abandoned buildings in cities are like the playgrounds for wandering feet, with their past function having a strange relationship with its present state. In this particular case there’s the slightly anarchic feeling that the lawful becomes lawless. Cells with no prisoners, a courtroom with no judge – a whole system now meaningless. With parts of London being massively regenerated for the Olympics in 2012 while other bits silently rot, you’ve got to wonder what it means for these spaces, left forgotten like an ugly child. What do you do something that nobody wants to claim? Every city has its orphans it seems.
By the way, somebody has reclaimed this one. We did. It’s where we’ve shot our new campaign. And it’s pretty hot.
- The police station (from Old Street)
- The police station
- An unexpected stained glass domed roof
- Venturing inside
- Cracking Up
- Prison break
- McQ reaches it's verdict
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I Blame Coco
by McQ Studio on 2010-04-16 15:24:31
So she’s been shimmering at the edges of our consciousness for a while now but we’ve finally sat up and started paying attention to Coco Sumner and her band I Blame Coco, also featuring Daisy, Luca C, Craig and Warren. British Summer has officially started kids and it’s this sort of reggae-inflected pop that’s best heard floating in the air on those hazy days wandering down Brick Lane or around Exmouth Market. While Coco cites Kraftwerk, Depeche Mode and The Cure as influences there’s definitely the spirit of Lily Allen (well, before she went all demure on us) in there somewhere, with a husky forty-a-day sort of voice and electronic bleeps and squelches that make it all her own. Looks good, sounds good. Yep, we dig.
- Blame Her !
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Holger Hiller
by Victoria Hesketh on 2010-03-20 09:02:45
In a recording session recently I came across a video that left me pretty speechless so I thought I’d share. It was made in 1988 by a german artist called Holger Hiller, and is a track made entirely from the sounds sampled from video recordings. As someone who is always fascinated with the link between sound and vision I was particularly intrigued by this, which must have been revolutionary for its time.
Holger Hiller was associated with the New German Wave or NDW movement of experimental movement in the 80s, along with some of my other favourite artists such as Klaus Nomi. Nomi was a fascinating character, an operatic singer who moved from Berlin to New York in the 70s where his admirers included David Bowie, with whom he performed as a backing singer on Saturday Night Live. Enjoy!
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City Skin
by McQ Studio on 2010-03-15 11:52:32
We got back from New York City yesterday where despite everyone’s advice that it was fr-fr-fr-freezing cold it was actually more summery than a wasp on a sunbed. So we walked everywhere and saw the city at its best, as a living, breathing beast, with messages left everywhere from people with pens and paintbrushes and spraycans like ever-swelling tattoos on an immense body. We even scratched our initials onto Coney Island pier so now we’re part of the city’s skin forever…or at least until somebody sands it down.
- Gimme a job
- Images of the concrete jungle, underneath Williamsburg bridge
- Joker in the East Village
- Madonna and child, Siren with a saxophone
- Tarmac as art, Army of one (soho)
- Someone summing it up, seen from Wiliamsburg Bridge
- Roots
- McQ goes to Coney Island
- People with different ideas in Brooklyn
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Rihanna
by McQ Studio on 2010-02-24 16:27:08
Rihanna thinks pink in our Pre-SS shift. We love.
- Pink Rihanna
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Official Statement
by McQ Studio on 2010-02-12 11:58:50
On behalf of Lee McQueen’s family, Alexander McQueen today announces the tragic news that Lee McQueen, the founder and designer of the Alexander McQueen brand has been found dead at his home. At this stage it is inappropriate to comment on this tragic news beyond saying that we are devastated and are sharing a sense of shock and grief with Lee’s family.
Lee’s family has asked for privacy in order to come to terms with this terrible news and we hope the media will respect this.
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Vivian Girls
by McQ Studio on 2010-02-10 11:37:52
With bags of attitude and talent Vivian Girls are an all female band that began three years ago in Brooklyn.
Their angry noise and strong indie style saw them explode onto the local punk scene and has quickly gained them a cult following, critical acclaim and a shared stage with Sonic Youth. The trio released their second album, Everything Goes Wrong in September 2009 after a tumultuous start and a slight change in line-up.Super Vixen band member Cassie Ramone is an illustrator, her pop and folk art influenced illustrations are used as album artwork. Check out her flickr page here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cassieramone
Look out for them playing in a US city near you over the next few months…
- Sebastian Kim for New York Times
- Vivian Girls
- Video for When I'm Gone
- Cassie Ramone
- Picture taken on the highway in Texas
- Cassie's tour posters
- Winter 2008
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Dog Pound
by Simon Cahn on 2010-02-08 14:19:19
The New movie of young french director Kim Chapiron. Founder of Kourtrajme (short and music video collectif) with Romain Gavras, Kim Chapiron is part of french new blood wave of director. After his first movie Sheitan, Chapiron puts us in the violent world of teen prisons in Canada. I heard it’s really good and very violent.
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Brooklyn Gang
by Simon Cahn on 2010-02-04 11:47:58
Look at that incredible photo book by American photographer Bruce Davidson. He captured everything in 1959 in Brooklyn.
- Brooklyn 1959
- Brooklyn 1959
- Brooklyn 1959
- Brooklyn 1959
- Brooklyn 1959
- Brooklyn 1959
- Brooklyn 1959
- Brooklyn 1959
- Brooklyn 1959
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Milan Shoot
by McQ Studio on 2010-02-04 10:57:53
Behind the scenes at our recent shoot in Milan.
- The clothes
- Inspiration
- Preparation
- Looks
- Work
- Rest
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Pagan pleasures
by Victoria Hesketh on 2010-02-03 12:47:07
Have you ever had your fortune read? I did once, whilst severely under the influence of alcohol on the streets of New York. If I was sober I don’t think I would have ever dared, it would scare me too much. After all, if you had the choice would you even want to know what happens to you in the future? Within 5 minutes the psychic had told me my boyfriend’s initials, the number of children we were going to have and some scarily accurate things about my attitude to love. She then offered me $40 to hear more and receive a magic crystal. Make of that what you will.
I don’t know if its because I never really got over watching the film ‘The Craft’ in the 90s (come on, who didn’t go through a wiccan stage in their teens?) or if its just another manifestation of my obsession with all things magical and other worldly but lately I’ve been getting really inspired by occultism and everything that goes with it. From reading up on Victorian seances to trawling the web for images of pagan rituals, i’ve become kind of possessed. After a year of space age futurism and shoulder pad overload I’m finding it a really interesting place to draw ideas from. Here some pictures I thought I’d share.
Thanks to www.chrissieabbott.co.uk for some of the pics
- Pagan
- Hand circle
- The moon
- Hands ward off evil eye
- Black cat
- Magic circle
- Pagan pleasures
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Bad Boys
by Simon Cahn on 2010-02-02 11:07:41
Tonight, i discovered a new good teen movie, BAD BOYS, not the one with Will Smith. A 1983 movie with a very young Sean Penn. It’s a pretty good one.
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Over The Edge
by Simon Cahn on 2010-01-26 17:19:53
Another rare movie to look for…. for those cold February days.
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Joseph Szabo
by Simon Cahn on 2010-01-25 13:49:51
Joseph Szabo is an American photographer, he was a photography teacher in a High School from 1972 to 1999, a perfect place to capture the real essence of youth in the 70’s and 80’s.
Take a look at his pictures:
http://www.photosofteenagers.com/One of his pictures, became really famous, as the illustration of Dinosaur Jr’s Green Mind album Cover.
- Joseph Szabo
- Joseph Szabo
- Joseph Szabo
- Joseph Szabo
- Joseph Szabo
- Joseph Szabo
- Dinosaur Jr's Green Mind album cover
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Street Art
by McQ Studio on 2010-01-25 13:23:11
We took this photo the other day on Redchurch Street… good to see a bit of lyricism on a grey day even if it is just a bit of chalk. Street art and poetry reinvent the city, turns it from concrete square and corporate spaces into a land of giant rabbits, parrots, octopus, leopards, aliens, political slurs and dark secrets– it feels like an organic form of rebellion which is why we love it so much, and it’s a rebellion that’s got guts and actually means something . It’s one person making their mark on a public space and being seen by an audience that includes EVERYONE.
By skipping the galleries and having a wander round London you get to see what real people have got to say – in fact you can even pay to do a tour, although by institutionalizing it seems to miss the point slightly as well as the element of surprise. But we like this blog (http://blog.artofthestate.co.uk/) and reckon it’s a good way of keeping an eye on it.
The city is like a canvas ready to be claimed, a site for people to leave their mark on, and in times like these it’s never felt more important. And it’s not just London either – the streets of Colombia are filling up with individuals looking for new ways to be creative (http://www.china.org.cn/video/2009-09/22/content_18577625.htm)
Here are some of our favourites bits:
- Lyricism on Redchurch Street
- Mike Marcus
- Paul Le Chien
- Icon Propaganda
- Roa Lenticular
- There is no God (South London)
- Xylo Voyeur
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Rihanna
by McQ Studio on 2010-01-15 13:03:41
Rockin’ pearls and curls like only Rhianna knows how, check her out in LA busting our pre-collection denim and leather mix jacket. Frrrrresh.
- Rihanna McQ jacket
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2010
by McQ Studio on 2010-01-13 11:07:23
Does it feel any different? We still can’t get the hang of writing it down that’s for sure, it looks too weird. And where are the flying cars? What a let down.
It was a bonkers decade where the Terminator got elected, fashion said hi hello to the 80s again, technology pretty much went boom and we all seemed to grow younger. Time might be striding forward but the McQ spirit stays the same with different faces for inspiration. Punk is still alive, it’s just got a wicked synth now.
Here’s some pictures of some stuff that happened in the last ten years.
New Labour gives us the Millenium Dome (2001)
The Libertines release ‘Up the Bracket’ (2002)
Banksy glues one of his paintings to a wall in the Tate Britain (2003)
The last issue of The Face (2004)
McQ has arrived ! (2005)
Winehouse sings about not going into rehab; goes to rehab (2006)
Control, the film biopic of Ian Curtis, is released (2007)
Bye bye Polaroid L (2008)
La Roux pops up with her big quiff (2009)
So far, a LOT of snow (2010)- Millenium Dome - 2001
- The Libertines - 2002
- Banksy - 2003
- The Face ends - 2004
- McQ arrives - 2005
- Amy Winehouse - 2006
- Control - 2007
- Polaroid ends - 2008
- La Roux - 2009
- Snow - 2010
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Masahiro Nakajima
by Emi Kameoka on 2010-01-07 20:26:01
If you hear the terms of ‘Tokyo boys’, many people will imagine young skinny layered-fashion boys. As they are too fashionable to be straight, you would think they are gay but there are totally straight. It is mysterious. If you look up ‘Tokyo Boys’ in the dictionary, Masahiro Nakajima will be written as the exact example next to the words.
EMI KAMEOKA: Please tell me your short profile.
MASAHIRO NAKAJIMA: Was a stylist assistant for 2 years and then I moved to London to study English. After I came back to Tokyo, have been working as freelance stylist.EK: Where is your favorite store in Tokyo?
MN: CANDYEK: Please explain ‘Tokyo Boys’ in one word.
MN: CHAOSEK: What is your IT fashion item at the moment?
MN: My nostalgic Ann Demeulemeester silver accessories!EK: You can marry a fashion brand. Who do you want to get married with?
MN: PRADA- Miuccia PradaEK: What are your tricks to keep your hair so long?
MN:I don’t know. But my long black hair suits my fashion style.EK: When is your first love?
MN: It was when I was a kid… so I don’t remember the details….EK: Have you ever fell in love at the first sight?
MN: Nope.EK: If you can get on the time machine, where do you want to go either the past or the future?
MN: I would love to go the past but never to the future. It will ruin all the excitement if you can see what’s like in the futre.EK: What is your favorite treasure?
MN: My cat.EK: When do you feel happy?
MN: I am so happy when I’m talking shits with my girlfriend and friends.EK: Who are your favorite photographer, movie director and musician?
MN: Photographer: Steven Klein, Richard Avedon and David LaChapelle
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Artists: Michael Clark and FornasettiEK: If you have to take around some international guests in Tokyo, where will you take them?
MN: CANDY http://candynippon.blogspot.com/EK: What is your favorite song you sing in karaoke box?
MN: DAY DREAM BELIEVER by Kioshirou ImawanoEK: What is your next project?
MN: I am styling for the coming Rich Magazine and CANDY home page really soon.EK: Finally could you describe the next interviewee who you introduce us?
MN: Junya Suzuki. He is one of the most talented designer I know. He studied at Esmod Japon and he won a prize at Japan Fashion Show concour. Returning to Japan, he keeps on extending his fashion creativity at the moment.- Masahiro Nakajima
- Ann Demeulemeester accessories
- Steven Klein
- Richard Avedon
- David Lachapelle
- Alfred Hitchcock
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Fashematics
by McQ Studio on 2009-12-18 13:05:57
Number cruncher & fashion lover Fashematics.com sum up our AW 09/10 campaign…
Keith Flint of Prodigy + CC10’s Bloody Tourist = McQ- Keith Flint of Prodigy + CC10's Bloody Tourist
- = McQ AW 09/10
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You Better Work
by McQ Studio on 2009-12-10 19:05:42
We’re up to our funky little ears in work over here, you’ve got to go through a giant corridor of mood boards if you want to get inside this office. Listening to the Stranglers to get us through.
- Laura's desk
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Two Lane
by Simon Cahn on 2009-12-10 19:03:46
Tuesday, I left Paris for a week of work in NYC. I was looking forward to see some new movies in the plane… but thanks to Continental Airlines, the selection was dreadful. So I watched Two Lane Blacktop on my computer, this is a beautiful movie directed by Monte Hellman in 1971. The style and aesthetic of this road movie is a real inspiration. Live fast die young !
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Cut the Crap
by McQ Studio on 2009-12-06 21:23:49
We put on all our Clash LPs this week – hard to believe in the heady days of the x factor they were once ‘the only band that matters’.
- The Clash
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Jan Svankmajer - Dimensions of Dialogue, Part 2
by Anna Trevelyan on 2009-12-02 18:54:49
The first half of this film has realy made an impact on me. I remember being shown this years ago by my old tutor Daniela Hatfield. I’m not sure why but for some reason I always think about it and come back to watch it. Quite inspirational I think…
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Eriko Nakao
by Emi Kameoka on 2009-11-23 23:34:45
Something mysterious about her, but the combination of her dolly face, unbelievable slender body and cigarettes-on-hand just proves that she is cool. Eriko Nakao appears to parties half naked with her trade-mark nipples on and her existence just can’t help from people asking “Who is that girl?” Her blog is full about love, sex and life. Her inner talk attracts Tokyo girls and never can get away of it.
EMI KAMEOKA: Please tell me your short profile.
ERIKO NAKAO: I am an office lady. What I do here is fall in love and break my heart.EK: When is your first love?
EN: Always. That’s why I am virgin again now.EK: What was the taste of your first kiss.
EN: I don’t remember but I think it is cigarette, alcohol or tears. Well I say it was a ‘rock’ taste.EK: Have you ever fell in love at first sight?
EN: Myself? Never ever. But I understand and like the feeling of getting corrupted by love. I guess it is close to thrill and fainting feeling.EK: Where is your favorite part of your body?
EN: My new ‘TOKYO’ tattoo on my back.EK: What is your favorite lipstick and nail polish color?
EN: I don’t really wear lipstick but if I have to say red or black. I don’t do nail polishing because I play guitar.EK: What was your dream last night?
EN: I was scratched my eyes out at Shima Harajuku (Hair salon).EK: Who are your favorite photographer, movie director and musician?
EN: Photographer: Joseph Szabo
Director: Larry Clark
Musician: Neil Young (his music calms me down)EK: What movie character you sympathize with?
EN: Ray (Christina Ricchi) in Black Snake Moan. Am not like sex addicted, but I was saved and emotionally recovered by Bruce music so it feels like a lap over.EK: When do you feel happy?
EN: I feel so happy when I realize that I am surrounded by people who I can be a selfish girl where I can forget all the patience you have to go through working, being a grown up and human being.EK: What is your tobacco brand?
EN: A girly pink cigarette.EK: How do you keep your slender body?
EN:Mmmm. I’m not doing anything special. Just being healthy… Oh but it is important to be with a guy who will motivate you to be beautiful. My mom taught me this. She told me “You should break up with a guy who makes you feel ugly.” LolEK: Whose naked body appeals to you?
EN: I feel more ‘fresh’ than ‘sex’ when I see naked pictures. Despite of the size, I think women chests are ‘alive’ As your face expresses your life, breasts are living. I love vigorous nude pictures like Courtney Love.EK: What is the most unforgettable performance you have ever seen?
EN:Mmmm Rage Against the Machine concert in 2000. My mom loves them and went with her.EK: What is your next project?
EN: It is not a project but I can’t wait to see Gallermic who just came back to Tokyo.EK: Finally could you describe the next interviewee who you introduce us?
EN:My stylist friend Masa. I haven’t seen him for 2, 3 years but heard that he is coming up with interesting stuffs so want to know what is up with him!- Eriko Nakao
- Tokyo Tattoo
- Image Joseph Szabo
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Look Book Looks Good
by McQ Studio on 2009-11-23 23:10:34
A trip to Dalston for the AW10 pre-collection lookbook shoot – the weather was apocalyptic, we smoked too many cigarettes and drank too much coffee. Our model was Shay (Select model) she rocked it NICE.
Photography: Scott Trindle / Stylist: Sherry Lamden / Grooming: Adam Burrell
Set Design: Matt Duddleston / Studio: Pro Lighting- Set
- Beauty - skin deep after all
- Good hair day
- Getting started
- Woof the studio's dog
- Pins and needles
- Test shots
- Yes? No?
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Suited and little booted
by McQ Studio on 2009-11-19 23:24:26
Best of British: Little boots wearing our acid wash denim jacket at Westwood’s Anglomania show.
- Little Boots at Anglomania Show at Selfridges
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Wildwood NJ
by Simon Cahn on 2009-11-18 17:20:16
I’ve been looking for this Documentary everywhere but no way to find it. It looks Crazy.
Wildwood NJ is a documentary filmed in 1992 in the city of Wildwood New Jersey.
The Directors Ruth Leitman and Carol Weaks filmed and interviewed teenagers on the boardwalk of the city.
Mainly centered on girls, this movie looks like a perfect tool to observe the youth/teen culture of that time.
And please let me know if you manage to find it somewhere ! -
Antlers
by McQ Studio on 2009-11-18 12:58:39
From the streets of Clerkenwell to the hot pink bookshelves of the McQ studio.
- The Horn of Plenty
- Mulling things over
- Organisation skills
- Bodies
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Cakes !
by McQ Studio on 2009-11-13 11:31:31
So on Wednesday for our London press day we combined the two powerhouses of fashion and tea. There were lots of sweets and cakes and pastries, our teeth are ruined. Our nails, however, look HOT.
- Maison Bertaux
- Sugar fix
- Cashew nuts and lookbooks
- Nails and gossip
- Yep, all very professional
- The collection
- Inside the lookbook
- Wordshaker
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Models
by McQ Studio on 2009-11-09 15:22:30
Today we had some models come in for a fitting, here they are with a polar bear.
- Can't bear the wait...
- Fittings
- Ellie from Select
- pre-FW10 Collection
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Out Of The Blue
by Simon Cahn on 2009-11-06 09:02:16
Last night I watched one of my favorite movies, Out Of The Bluedirected by Dennis Hopper in 1980.
The film tells the story of a young girl struggling between her teenage life, her convict father (Dennis Hopper) and a love of punk rock. The movie title comes from Neil Young’s song My My, Hey Hey (Out Of the Blue)
Out Of The Blue features a crazy soundtrack and style that fits perfectly with the spirit and attitude of McQ. Because of its punky, rebellious nature, the movie was forbidden in UK for 7 years. Most of the time, it’s a proof of quality…
This film is hard to find, so start looking for it. It’s really good !
You can also take a look at Dennis Hopper’s new book “Dennis Hopper: Photographs 1961-1967”, which just came out from Taschen. It looks amazing. It features more tham 500 pages of Hopper’s photos, including sets, art and party pictures. The book is limited to 1500 copies and signed by Hopper.
www.taschen.com/pages/en/catalogue/photography/all/01070/facts.dennis_hopper_photographs_1961_1967.htm- Dennis Hopper Photographs 1961-1967, Taschen, 2009
- Dennis Hopper Photographs 1961-1967, Taschen, 2009
- Dennis Hopper Photographs 1961-1967, Taschen, 2009
- Dennis Hopper Photographs 1961-1967, Taschen, 2009
- Dennis Hopper Photographs 1961-1967, Taschen, 2009
- Dennis Hopper Photographs 1961-1967, Taschen, 2009
- Dennis Hopper Photographs 1961-1967, Taschen, 2009
- Dennis Hopper Photographs 1961-1967, Taschen, 2009
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Little Boots
by McQ Studio on 2009-11-04 13:35:53
Check out Little Boots wearing our Pre-SS10 silk cog dress at the Christmas Carol premier in London last night. Cute!
- Little Boots wearing Dress by McQ
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Q&A with Sakiko Fukuhara
by Emi Kameoka on 2009-11-04 09:57:28
My blog will be based on interviews with my-your interesting favorite people. The interviewee will introduce me another interviewee and goes on and on…. Like Never Ending Story! My first interviewee will be Sakiko Fukuhara, who is my dearest best friend, worked for DAZED & CONFUSED JAPAN from the start, and currently the editor of NYLON JAPAN magazine. Sometimes she is a muse, whom you will fall in love at first sight. Sometimes she is a karaoke queen, who sings like crazy. Sometimes she is a jill of all-trades, who knows to do everything.
EMI KAMEOKA: Please tell me your short profile.
SAKIKO FUKUHARA: I was an editor of DAZED & CONFUSED JAPAN for 5 years and now I’m working for NYLON JAPAN.EK: When was your first love?
SF: It was when I was 5 years old. My first love and I promised to hold a wedding together. I remember borrowing my mom’s wedding dress for it.EK: What was the taste of you first kiss?
SF: I can’t explain!! Kiss tastes just like the “taste of kiss”EK: Have you ever fell in love at first sight?
SF: Yep, when I saw him playing at the stage.EK: Where is your favorite part of your body?
SF: My lip, wide shoulder and chest.EK: What is your favorite lipstick and nail polish color?
SF: Lip-orange, nail-purple.EK: What was your precious fairy story when you were a kid?
SF: The Very Hungry CaterpillarEK: Who are your favorite photographer, movie director, and artist?
SF: Photographer: Nan Goldin
Movie Director: Leos Carax
Artist: Pipilotti RistEK: What movie character do you sympathize with?
SF: It will be Morvern Callar from a film by Lynne Ramsay. Morvern Callar, who wakes up near Christmas to find her boyfriend dead under the tree. Even she had her worst day ever, she will follow her desire just in front of her. Believing her true love, she lets her feelings take control. This is not a simple example of being “optimistic”, but I think her character describes “girl’s mind” in real sense.EK: When do you feel happy?
SF: When I sympathize with my respectful lovely friends.EK: If there are some guests outside from Tokyo, where will you take them?
SF: Costume KARAOKE lol It is the best way to know each other!!EK: You can spend the last supper with somebody you admire. Who do you choose?
SF: I don’t want to spend my last supper with somebody I “admire”.... You can’t have fun from the heart if you idolize somebody. I want to have a great dinner with all of my beloved friends and spend it as it is not like the last last supper.EK: What was the most unforgettable job you have done?
SF: It is hard to decide only one. But it is always great when all the crew on set or magazine completes each job with smiles. Also, it is satisfying when I can see I could credit something impressive in the magazine.EK: If you can marry with a designer, who would you want to marry with?
SF: Olivier Theyskens, Alexander Mcqueen and Christpher Bailey. Would be my dream if they can design a dress for me.EK: Finally could you describe the next interviewee who you introduce us?
SF: Nakao chan. She is always as she is and never tells a lie. Even she is about the same age, I respect her. She is beyond my icon and something more. Her blog is interesting. Mmm wanna get marry too! Sex is important haha!- Photo Motohiko Hasui www.motohikohasui.com
- Sakiko's Orange lips
- Book: The very Hungry Caterpillar
- Photographer: Nan Goldin
- Movie Director: Leos Carax
- Artist: Pipilotti Rist www.pipilottirist.net
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Q&A with Alex Noble
by Anna Trevelyan on 2009-11-03 16:21:42
So for my first blog for this exciting new site I wanted to show you something London based, something contemporary and relevant, something exciting that would be interesting to many different types of people, this is why I decided to interview Alex Noble. He is very much involved in the London creative industry in so many ways, he is constantly making new pieces for multiple editorials, pop stars and shows but he is also talented in so many other areas. Please do look him up! Hope you enjoy, love Anna xx
www.allisalexnoble.blogspot.com
www.gallerysuperstore.blogspot.comANNA TREVELYAN: So currently you’re working as fashion designer, painter, curator, artist and general creative being, how do you find the time and space to do all these things?
ALEX NOBLE : Phew! Well it can get pretty crazy at times and try to be very organized, I have to evoke the spirit of an octopus and imagine I have eight limbs that work independently of each other!
But seriously it’s a lot of fun, I get bored easily so the mayhem of the different projects keeps me inspired and while I work on one thing I’m planning the next.AT: What is your studio space like? How have you created it to inspire you?
AN: I’m very lucky in the fact that I have a really good sized space to work in, with different areas set up for different practices, although these often overlap into one big ‘creation’. It’s a real curiosity cabinet as I like to have all my work, objects, props and fabrics out all the time as constant inspiration. I like to create off the cuff installations in the studio, simply for visual stimulation and I suppose a constant realization of a thought process.
AT: Tell me about the curation projects your doing at Dalston superstore, what has really excited you about it? What has been a highlight?
AN: Curating the Gallery Superstore is a great partnership with the rest of my work and I really see curating as an art form, it’s all about personal taste and putting that on the line through other artists for a wider audience. Facilitating other peoples work is also a refreshing change rather than pushing your self constantly and an amazing way to further contacts, ideas and bounce off other people. ‘Beautiful Freaks’ by Ralf Obergfell was definitely a high light, the show encompassed a photography exhibition and a huge installation that completely changed the whole atmosphere and environment of the bar. It was like walking into another world of seedy and theatrical transgendered mayhem! Inbetween the artist’s solo shows I curate group exhibitions, the next one focusing on the subject of the male nude and it’s place in contemporary society, advertising, art and fashion, it’s a very exciting and controversial show – NOUVEAU NUDE, opening on the 12th of November
AT: You have a lot of access to artists internationally and locally, is there anyone out there that is exciting you that we should know about?
AN: For the Nouveau Nude show I have some really exciting artists showing, like photographer Mikel Marton who’s been making waves in the states with his male nude and self portraits. Also a collection of home grown talents including Emma Gibson and Elizabeth Eamer, it will be Gibson’s second time exhibiting at the Superstore and her incredibly detailed and deeply concept driven installations are ones to watch (soon to be seen at the White Chapel Art Gallery). Another name from the show who is one to watch next year is installation artist and photographer Moses Powers who’s theatrical set ups tell eerie stories of disturbed yet romantic characters.
www.egibson.co.uk
www.mosespowers.carbonmade.com
www.toxicboy.net envoy-mikelmarton.blogspot.com
www.elizabetheamer.comAT: Although you are clearly talented in so many areas, i first knew you and always think of you predominantly as a painter/artist… do you feel that this is your true passion? And how do you continue to challenge and express yourself within your art?
AN: My art work is always on the forefront of my thoughts, my first memories are of scribbling with felt tips at nursery school and my whole family are creatives so I really think it is an innate part of me. Although it wasn’t long before I started to scribble dresses, not so much designs but my early drawings were always of amazonian warrior women in harnesses or angels in floating in an abundance of drapery. More recently I’ve pushed my work from moving from the female to male form, this has opened up my thought and practical process in a huge way as it leads to a lot of challenging questions about my own relationship with masculinity and homosexuality. I’m always experimenting with materials and what i use as my canvas which often helps direct the journey a piece of work will take.
AT: You work alot with us in collaborative projects for LAdy Gaga, what is it you like about designing for her, what do you think she represents in pop culture?
AN: Lady Ga Ga is simply the perfect muse, there is nothing you ‘can’t’ do which is the perfect client and the briefs I receive from you guys are always totally inspirirational. It’s the dream job really!
I think she is really refreshing in pop, she is definitely an Icon in a way that we haven’t seen for a while. She’s like the Prince or Madonna of this decade, stylish, controversial, sexual and intelligent. The music industry has been so saturised with ‘poppet’s’ in recent years that it’s great to see so many individual female artists pushing through and making waves in the business. It’s so funny because some of my friends think she puts some kind of subliminal hypnotic messages in her music and videos because they can’t stop thinking about her, and I just say….....’that’s why she’s got it!’ Love her or hate her, every one is talking about her.AT: You yourself have a really unique style, notably your amazing tattoo’s could you explain some of them, where you got the idea, what they represent to you?
AN: I suppose my tattoo’s mainly represent me, none of them have a deep rooted concept connected to them they are just images of things I’ve thought about for a long time, some times been obsessed with and inspired by. They are mainly all of female body parts and animals. I have two from favourite artists, one from H.R Geiger and one from Egon Schiele, both of whom I find truly inspirational and adore their work and have a personal connection with it. I have a few I designed my self but I prefer to have other’s work who i admire on my skin and that’s why they have all been done by different people. I’ve always had to save up and wait a long time between my tattoo’s and I think that makes the process more sacred too.
I think it’s hard to ‘explain’ my tattoos but I will say that being heavily into tattoo’s is an innate thing, it’s definitely an undeniable part of ones being and I think that’s backed up by the fact that it’s such a tribal practice and forms a huge part of a lot of ancient culture.AT: Lastly, but probably most importantly, I am coming round for dinner tonight, what are you going to cook for me?
AN: hahaha I’m not cooking!
- Alex Noble's Studio
- Alex Noble's Studio
- Wound Magazine Cover
- Alex Noble Image 4
- Alex Noble Image 5
- Alex Noble Image 6
- alex Noble Image 7
- Alex Noble Image 8
- Alex Noble Image 9
- Alex Noble Image 10
- Alex Noble Image 11
- Alex Noble Image 12
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Now
by McQ Studio on 2009-10-30 13:26:49
In this digital hole of tweets, blogs and www’s, the McQ studio in Clerkenwell Road has decided to clear its throat, make a sound. The streets and gutters out there in the Real World are filled with curious people, and we’ve got the eyes and ears to notice it all…and we’re going to talk about it, too.
The world around us will always leave footprints in what we wear. Style can be shoved down your throat by the pages of fashion magazines, but in the end the best style is always going to be about an attitude. Who we are and the way we think, that can be what we dress ourselves in. An attitude belonging to real people that’s continually being shaped by EVERYTHING.
Here is a door into our collective brain. We got some cells knockin’ about in here somewhere.
