Pug Love

Pugs are definitely having an extended moment...

Bauhaus at the Barbican.

Con or Clever?

Damian Hirst's first retrospective has opened, and I was keen to see it, and form an opinion on whether he is a genius or a complete con artist. Wealth may surround the collection with the £50 million diamond encrusted skull, and the extremely high priced prints in the gift shop. However, if we are to give Hirst the label of a con man, surely we must apply this to numerous other artists? I think Hirst has become a scapegoat, and a name people grasp at when talking about the art world.

Exhibition is a must see, I thoroughly enjoyed it...a fusion of paintings, instillations and the famous pickling animals.

Aloha!

Maarten van der Horst for Topshop.

Meadham Kirchhoff Nail Wraps

I absolutely love these cute and kitsch nail wraps from Meadham Kirchhoff! Adoring the little bears, cats and girls!

A/W 12/13 Catwalks

Fashion season descends on us again, with the usual whirl of fabulous chaos....here are my faves...

Beautiful metallic jacquard jacket with cute velvet trousers at Paul and Joe...

Holy Fulton's blue hue's...love!

Matthew Williamson's gorgeous ethnic embellishments...

Mary Katranzou, beautiful and digitial....

Absolute favourite, Dolce and Gabbana, those florals, the cherubs and the golden brocade!

Love the conversational Cat Print at 10 Crosby Derel Lam!

Also loving the cute eyelash conversational at Moschino Cheap and Chic....

Marni Madness : supply and demand.

So the latest H&M designer collection hit the high-street last week, and I could smell the chaos as soon as I approached Central London.

H&M have been collaborating with high-end designers for eight years now, and they now run the short lived shopping process mechanically. Security, roped off areas and time slots. H&M may have managed to operate these designer shopping frenzies with expertise and create high profile fashion events. Yet, has it all become too regimented and where has the fun gone? Half the products end up on e bay hours afterwards for double the price, suggesting that they people who get their hands on the designer good first are profit makers and not fashionistas, and why do you have to queue at 2am on Regent Street just because you love fashion? I work behind a H&M, and hoped to get my hands on one of the sequined collars...no chance. As much as I love a designer collaboration, and genuinely loved the style of the pretty little embellished collars, I was not prepared to give up my lunch hour to queue amoungst nervous and edgy shoppers. Exciting, yes, pleasurable experience, no.

So although this designer collaboration is a great concept on paper, the fun may be off limits to people that just like fashion...

TOPSHOP New Gen

TOPSHOP mark 10 years of supporting new designers through NEW GEN, by releasing t shirts designed by the up and coming designers that they help. All t shirts are priced at £30 and all proceeds got to Centrepoint which helps the young homeless. Two great reasons to go and shop...

Bella Howard.

I've previously posted about Bella Howard, but she's one of my favourites...and has just been exhibiting at St Martins Lane Hotel, London. Silly me for missing that!

Martin Parr: Richard and Famous

Martin Parr is one of Britain's most liked, famous and significant photographers of modern day. He exploded onto the photography scene in the 80's with 'The Last Resort' a realistic but affectionate look at UK holidaymakers. Now he curates an exhibition centred around fame and celebrity, a further look into his favoured theme of consumption. Featuring works from Richard Simpkin, an Australian fame hunter and Simone Luek, who invited older women to pose in the style of their favourite film star. As per, Parr has created a fresh look at a rather tired industry.

This exhibition is showing at the Open Eye Gallery in Liverpool till March 18th 2012.

2012 Optimism

Happy Christmas!