A nubbly yarn

Last Few Street Photography Shots

anubblyyarn — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 17:29:03 +0000

I fancied a change, so here they are in black and white.

Street Photography #4

anubblyyarn — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 18:08:50 +0000

No one on Tuesday, no one yesterday, and almost no one today until, just as the light was fading, I found these two on Charing Cross Road. They were well dressed, charming and patient while I fumbled with camera and waited for the 95896 people on the street to go past so I could take the pictures. Lovely.

Her face is blurred, which is a pity, but her expression is lovely and I do still like this photograph - particularly for the bicycle shadow on the wall behind her.

The light was fading so fast that by the time I took this (only about a minute later) it was already quite dark. A lot of the detail on his coat is lost, but if anything it emphasises his silhouette. He looked like he could be in the book/film Absolute Beginners.

Lynchianisms

anubblyyarn — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 17:14:27 +0000

I don’t often read other blogs. There are about four that I check regularly, apart from that, my involvement in the ‘blogosphere’ is pretty much limited to writing my blog. Occasionally, however, I have a peep at someone else’s efforts and am rewarded by a snippet of information that I cannot believe has previously eluded me. Suddenly everything falls into place.

The piece of information giving me a minor epiphany at the moment is the fact that the Gucci perfume advert (below) was made by David Lynch. This might not seem that revelatory, but I bloody love that advert, and now it makes sense in my head why.

At the moment, Audrey Horne from David Lynch’s Twin Peaks is my number one style inspiration, and the reason I’ve been spending a lot of time looking for a nice kilt.

Street Photography #3

anubblyyarn — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 14:51:41 +0000

My afternoon in Brick Lane yesterday was a success, without exception everyone was v. obliging when asked for a photo, though a few people got a sort of world-weary expression on their face as if they are asked for the privelige rather a lot. I don’t know what the fuss is about, I’m always really flattered on the occasions I’m stopped for a picture, but then maybe I’m a bit of an exhibitionist.

This couple make me sad that the photos have to be printed in black and white as their red hair looks incredible with the blue denim they are wearing. They prove that you don’t need to be typical fashion people to pursue an disinctive, personal look.

This girl was great infront of the camera.

Below is one of my favourite looks so far. The photo doesn’t do her justice – you can’t see her turban properly or the cape coat. She was only about 5′ 3″ and her outfit was perfect.

Street Photography #2

anubblyyarn — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 14:14:41 +0000

Maybe I’m not dedicated enough, but on the cold London streets, I still haven’t found many immaculate head-to-toe vintage looks. Come on people!

This is Flora on NYE wearing a 1940s millitary overcoat. The photo is very dark, but I really like it anyway. When I make them black and white to hand in it will sort out the yellowish tone too – after I took it I worked out that there is a setting on my camera for street lights which I will put to good use soon.

Yesterday I went to the sale at This Shop Rocks on Brick Lane, possibly my favourite vintage shop ever and bought a black mohair coat with a brown fur colla. The coat was reduced to £30 from £100 and has taken pride of place in my growing coat collection. Surely coats and jackets are so practical that having nine of them can’t be considered frivolous? I don’t know, maybe nine isn’t such a lot anyway…

I digress - back to the photos. At This Shop Rocks I took the opportunity to photograph one of the shop’s owners, who was wearing a lovely grey suit and a cravat. I love a man in a cravat.

I was glad to get a photo of a man, and would definitely like my work to represent both genders, though at the moment, men of the type I want to photograph seem harder to find.

Street Photography

anubblyyarn — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 19:16:35 +0000

My Christmas project from college is to take 20 ‘street photography’ images documenting a style tribe. In typical CSM style, successful results will take not only the use of a razor sharp fashion eye but also a willingness to subject myself to mild torture, as it is freezing outside and street photography does tend to involve rather a lot of standing around in the street.

Whining aside, hanging around for a bit down Brick Lane wasn’t too bad, as any mild frost bite was eclipsed by finding people sporting the exact sort of styles I was looking for.

These are the two best from today, they were friends but I wanted to photograph them separately.

I have to submit them in black and white, but I thought they’d look nice up here in colour. Two down, 18 more to go…

The Kooples

anubblyyarn — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 18:26:29 +0000

When I was in Paris over Christmas I stumbled across a shop named The Kooples (it took me a while to work out the name but I realised it’s ‘couples’ pronounced phonetically in a French accent). The shop immediately interested me, partly because of it’s adoption of a fashionable ‘club photography’ style for it’s advertising and partly because I thought it odd that a whole shop should be themed round the idea that it sold both menswear and womenswear and therefore can be worn by couples.

I would have dismissed the whole thing as an odd gimmick if the clothes hadn’t turned out to be really nice and wearable. The wares are mainly androgynous basics, like a cross between APC and a desaturated American Apparel. There are lots of t-shirts, fine knits and jackets for both boys and girls (layering is most definitely encouraged) to be teamed with narrow jeans and trousers or little shorts. Colours are predominantly neutral and sludgy.

The Kooples look strikes me as an interpretation of English indie kid style cleaned-up and given a french twist. It’s all very sophisticated – and so it should be with t-shirts starting at €40 and coats and dresses around the €250 mark. Below are two of my favourite pieces.

The Kooples distinct anglomaniehas let to a rather successful tailoring collaboriation with Patrick Grant of Savile Row’s Norton & Sons and a surprisingly subtle range of jewellry designed in partnership with rocker’s favourite The Great Frog. It is these features that give the brand an edge, rather than the skull logos and slightly laboured connections with clubbing and music.

Cheers/Jeers

anubblyyarn — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 15:08:27 +0000

Now let me guess, you’d like a lighthearted seasonal round-up of a couple of my highlights and lowlights of the year? Well, okay, if you insist.

The Whistles Rejuvenation

Former purveyor of £79 pastel cardigans with novelty buttons, Jane Shepherdson has transformed Whistles into a sartorial haven for the discerning girl, gladdening my heart and enhancing my wardrobe. Only on the sale, mind – and they deserve even more commendations for their half-price discounts, mid-season.

Sensible Shoes

Loafers, moccasins, brogues, jazz shoes and evening flats have been wide spread. Only the supremely glamorous (and drag queens) can be bothered with heels anymore, they are too much effort, and you can’t climb trees in them.

Pino Grigio Blush Rosé

I happened upon this particular wine during this summer and have not been able to stop drinking it. All the good pubs seem to have it, and it’s dry, refreshing and a rather fetching colour. Highly recommended.

‘Dive’ Bars

Super clubs they ain’t. Go somewhere dark for a drink, preferably stand at the bar looking like you have a story to tell. Try Slim Jim’s Liquor Store for their Jukebox or The Black Gardenia for the live music.

CHEERS!

JEERS!

Price Extremes

At the moment I can’t be doing with the very expensive or the very cheap. Primark et al make me feel a bit sick, and every time I’ve been this close to buying something fairly luxurious I’ve stopped myself, feeling just a bit too indulgent. Buy what you can afford, people!

Comme Des Garcons for H&M

I’m still feeling the disappointment. All that scrabbling and throwing stuff on the floor just wasn’t for me, and none of it would have made sense in my wardrobe. I have, however, seen a few people looking amazing in some of the pieces, not to mention some extreme cases who have gone for it head to toe.

Cold Weather Style Concessions

Do. Not. Give. In. To. The. Ugg. Boots. Really, one can look nice and stay warm, just wear 5 jumpers. Or two pairs of socks. And pile on the blusher.

Magazines at this time of Year

There’s never anything good in them until January. I don’t want to read about watches or Christmas party dresses, I want high-quality fashion journalism. Boo!

Style Against All Odds.

anubblyyarn — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 16:18:16 +0000

Gerda Taro is often better known as the other half of photo-journalist Robert Capa than for her own work. This is a pity as though much of her work was published under Capa’s name, she was possibly the first female war reporter. After hearing about her on Weekend Women’s Hour last week I was inspired by stories of her bravery and glamour. This woman had serious style. She changed her name to Taro from Pohorylle to sound more “Hollywood” and help her get ahead in her career. She wore heels in war zones. She was awesome.

As a woman who defied definition and subverted traditional gender roles by working in an arena so often defined as masculine without surrendering her femininity, I find Taro very inspiring.

Her work can currently be seen on display at the Barbican in Central London.

A Few Fashion Truths

anubblyyarn — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 15:26:46 +0000

Oh, how scared I was on my first day at college, entering that doorway on Charing Cross Road. I’m still scared now, but I’ve learnt a few things. Yes, Central Saint Martins is a terrifying place, and everyone is well dressed and thin, but it isn’t all bad. Here are some pearls of wisdom to expel some myths for the benefit of potential students or other interested parties.

Phrases and Sayings.

#1. NO ONE uses the word fashionista. EVER. This needs no explanation.

#2. Designers (particularly allumni) will be refered to on first-name terms. e.g. “Christopher” or “Hussein”. It feels nice, sort of inclusive, like we’re a big family of cousins.

#3. The use of the Fashion Singular still flourishes. eg. “Team the shirt with a narrow black trouser“, or “A red lip would look great with this”.

#4. ‘Last Night’ stories are a perfect ice-breaker with students and staff alike, but be prepared to be ruthlessly story-topped, particularly by the latter party.

Clothes and Appearance.

#5. The staff will out-dress us all.

#6. Consistency is everything, either dress up or don’t. One off-day after a term of perfect outfits ruins the illusion. Also you could run into Peter Jensen, coming in to adjudicate the BA awards while looking horrible and ruin the chance of an internship.

#7. Trend spotting is a fun and easy way to pass 10 minutes before a tutorial. Lace-up ankle boots, back-packs and fur coats are all bubbling under the CSM surface. Now that’s a tip for you.

Student Interaction

#8. Mixing with the fine artists is “frowned upon”. Kind of as a joke, kind of not.

#9. There really aren’t many straight men.

#10. Almost everyone is quite lovely. Promise.

Last but not least, Louise Wilson is revered, the college library is the best place in the world and unless at least two students are standing smoking outside the whole college will implode.