Swap-A-Rama Razzmatazz Fashion Frenzy! This offbeat event, where clubbers swap clothes, has migrated across the Channel from Europe’s fashion capital (Paris, duh!) to London’s leftfield-loving East End. For the friendly fee of 99p you are free to grab whatever items off another person and everyone ends up with a new mix-and-match outfit by the end of the evening!

I love that you never know what inspires someone else or where our influences always come from. But sometimes you see an image and it reminds you of another image. A few years ago there was a man on Queen Street West in Toronto who had quite a few rats that sat on his shoulders, it freaked me out a bit, I’m ok with hamsters but rats, not so good. Wish I had a photo of him…

Gareth Pugh SS 08 collection with shawls that are made of dozens of woollen 3D mice. Actually when I was little my mum made me some felt mice! The London stockist for Gareth Pugh is Browns.

One of the fashion shows I styled at London Fashion Week for Spring/Summer 2008 was for Daydream Nation, and it was a wonderfully quirky show, a combination of catwalk show and theatre piece! Here’s a review from Fashion Capital:

The much raved about Giles show closed the day on the official schedule but the Fashion Capital crew were up for something new and decided to go ‘off’ and check out the Daydream Nation show at the ICA. Instead of the usual array of expressionless models marching up and down the catwalk Daydream Nation put on a live performance that was a combination of mime, dance, clever choreography and live music. While you may think that such an ambitious show could well take away from the clothes the performance was creatively arranged so that the models interacted with the garments. Most of the pieces, after-all, were multi-functional and could be worn in a number of ways. Wearable and yet quirky designs shown in a charming and amusing presentation – it was a great way to end the day.

Click here to read the full story.

Daydream Nation London Fashion Week SS 2008.
As we walked through to the theatre a lady attached to a pillow who was
eager to sleep on our shoulder greeted us. She was one of many
wondering figures wearing pyjamas and serving coffee to the sounds of
another whistling sweet dream lullabies; these actors gave a fun
introduction to Daydream Nation, whose SS08 collection was titled;
‘Good Morning I’m Sleeping’.

This was certainly no ordinary catwalk show, the models/actors were
constantly in character, sleepy and dreamy, their motions down the
catwalk or stage were slow and evolving as they yawned their way
towards the audience. With a focus on neutral shades, executed in
calico and jersey fabrics, Daydream Nation’s SS08 collection included
beautifully slouchy cotton dresses, with heavy frill bottoms, tiered
and layered.

A focus on necklines ran through the collection, with pleating and
folding of the fabric creating exaggerated necklines and collars to
simply shaped garments. There were injections of black amongst the
neutral colour palette in print on jersey, and layers of frills to
skirts. The pillowcase style tops were signature to this dreamy
collection, creating a funnel neck and hood-like effect when worn in
varying ways. The collection was made up of versatile designs, often
garments that can be transformed, like trousers, which become shorts
once they are hoisted, and tied. This performance was an interesting
way to view a collection, and never a dull moment was to be had with
Daydream Nation.

Laura Ellis.

Chanel has released a short film starring the actress Keira Knightley

…but my favourite Chanel ad is:

Vanessa Paradis for Coco Chanel [1992]

We shot Hannah Marshall’s next lookbook the other day. Of course you already know that I adore Hannah Marshall, not only as a friend but really I think she’s a fabulous designer, and you should really keep your eye on her! One of her stockists is www.ninaandlola.com.

I love Julia Clancey. She makes sexy delicious dresses! One of her UK stockists is www.brittique.com

Here’s a press release regarding one of the London Fashion Week shows I’m styling.

Quirky ready-to-wear label, Daydream Nation is showing their Spring/Summer 2008 collection off schedule on the 19th of September at London’s Institute of Contemporary Arts.

The sister and brother design duo behind Daydream Nation, Kay & Jing Wong, wowed London in February by uniting fashion with theatre at a performative catwalk show and are setting out to do the same again.

“The ICA  is home to the best new art and culture from Britain and around the world, and will be a perfect backdrop to the duo’s sartorial storytelling. Fashion Stylist, Rebekah Roy is styling the show and will no doubt add the flair that has made her a favourite amongst top magazines, television programmes and celebrities.

Daydream Nation collections are inspired and adapted from the stories and memories found in vintage clothing. They play with and manipulate pieces from the past, creating new tales to tell each season with live catwalk spectacles. Their Spring/Summer 2008 collection is sure to delight the crowds as it did in February and should definitely not be missed.

Visit:  http://www.ica.org.uk or http://www.daydream-nation.co.uk

For more details please contact:
Courtney or Jacqueline
Forward PR
info@forwardpr.com
+44 20 74 95 33 90

I went to Isle Of Wight for a press trip with Merrell who are a key sponsor of the White Air Extreme Sports festival. Ok, so I was at an extreme sporting event. For those that don’t know me you’re thinking what the f—? But those that do know me well, would just say cool! I’ve gotten away from sports since I moved to London. I still really miss dragon boating and my great team The Killer Bees!! I did get to go kayaking and it was so cool to be on the ocean, it feels so different then being on Lake Ontario. There was no wind so we were limited in our events but maybe that was a good thing? Anyway I got to go Mountain
boarding, which was great fun and sounds super cool!!! Of course I’m not sure about my look but somehow you don’t really care when you’re rolling/tumbling down a hill…I do have some very cool trainers that are made from Gore Tex (And yes Gore Tex is/was a really person Robert & William Gore) and they can get wet! I used to have these other little slip on shoes for water sports, they were good for not slipping but were very tight on the feet. Anyways these are much more comfortable - they look & feel just like a running shoe!

An interview with Julie Bérubé

R: What is the name of your collection or last collection?
Bérubé: I don’t normally give names to my collections… I don’t know why! Maybe I will give the next one a name.

R: When did you graduate?
Bérubé: In 2000.

R: Are you working on a new collection?
Bérubé: Yes, S/S 08. I find it harder to work on a summer collection, I’m from Canada so winter stuff comes a lot easier to me! But I believe that working in season is less and less relevant somehow…

R: Where are you from?
Bérubé: From Montreal, Canada.

R: Are there any family members that inspired your work? An Aunty that sews etc?
Bérubé: I was born in the 70’s and my mom was into the back to earth movement. She did everything from scratch including sewing our clothes. So I’ve learned to sew when I was even too young to remember. One of my aunty’s did study fashion before me, she even completed fashion studies in Paris but never worked in the industry. And my dad’s mother was always dressed to the nines. I remember she had a black monkey fur hat which is the chicest thing I’ve ever seen. (it’s so un-PC!!) she was always wearing brooches on perfectly pressed silk blouses. She was far from being rich but she took really good care of her clothes.

R: Have you always wanted to have a fashion label?
Bérubé: Yes, I knew when I was studying that I wouldn’t be able to work for anyone else. I have problems with authority!

R: Has being a mother influenced or changes your work?
Bérubé: Not my creativity but the way I approach the business side of it. I’m much more focused because this business needs to work for my family. It’s not just about me having fun designing anymore.

R: What is your signature? Is there a specific fabric or print that you are known to use? Or a detail?
Bérubé: I’ve been addicted to pleats for a while! I love to work with big wooly felts for winter coats. I also love to play with leather.

R: What are some of your favourite colours, patterns, weights of material to work with?
Bérubé: I’m really into black and grey and the moment. Boring as it may sounds, I don’t fancy colours anymore. I love fabrics who move and drapes or are quite heavy. I love working with volume.

R: Who are your favorite designers that you look to for inspiration?
Bérubé: I’m quite inspired by Claire McCardell at the moment, there is a very modern feel to her designs. Balenciaga (Cristobal) is someone whose work I always go back to and Coco Chanel for her attitude and use of menswear fabrics into womenswear.

R: What outside aspects inspire your designs?
Bérubé: Everything, clouds, houses, holes in the pavement, food I cook.

R: What were some of the struggles you had to overcome when beginning the label?
Bérubé: Beginning is quite easy! It’s basically just a bit of madness and naivety. Now it is getting tougher… juggling cashflow, deliveries on time, pressure to produce good collections every season, getting the press interested…

R: Have you been featured in any publications, TV shows, etc…? If so, when/where?
Bérubé: I have some press coverage all through the year. We are in Vogue this September issue, hurray!

R: Do you wear your own clothing?
Bérubé: Absolutely!

R: What is the name of your current collection and why?
Bérubé: It hasn’t got a name! But the main inspiration is the female character in the film La Strada from Fellini.

R: Where is the collection currently sold and who are your dream stockists?
Bérubé: We are stocked in Rough Sleepers in London, Mix in Italy and Tanglewool in the US. My dream stockist would be to have my own boutique, but I’ve got my online boutique now so I’m happy. It’s working really well!

R: Which celebrities would you most like to see wearing your collection?
Bérubé: I don’t like this celebrity culture, I find the whole thing bland and empty and insignificant. There are so many amazing real women out there.

R: Do you remember your dreams?
Bérubé: Sometimes. I dream a lot about houses!

R: Do you eat breakfast?
Bérubé: Yes.

R: Do you have a pet?
Bérubé: No, I’ve been broken hearted by the lost of pets in the past and I don’t think I can deal with the sadness of losing one again.

R: When are you showing next?
Bérubé: I’m not showing on the catwalk this September but I will be exhibiting at On|Off. I want to take a season away from the catwalk to concentrate on making a small but perfectly cut collection. I also felt that the exhibition in the tents is very poor and I feel On|Off offers an environment that suits my collections better.

R: Favourite food, restaurant?
Bérubé: I love good hearty food like Turkish and Greek cuisine.