Fashion Rambler

SPOTTED: Karl Morrall on Oxford Street

2011-07-29T15:10:00.000-07:00

WHERE: Oxford Street, London
WHO: 21 year old, Liverpuddlian model, Karl Morrall.
WHAT: I was pleasantly surprised to walk into the demure Karl Morall on Oxford Street last evening. He was taken by surprise as he has only just started modelling, his first show being the Prada spring summer 2012 collection, which he could only describe as being 'really out there.' I did suggest camp. So being recognised came as a shock to him. He is in London shooting for Burberry e-commerce projects (no, not the campaign sadly) and is currently studying Economics at University of Edinburgh. He was very mild-mannered and sweet and I hope he goes far.

A Couple Of Questions for...Jono Namara

2011-02-26T04:46:00.000-08:00

LSDs or LCDs?

So, it's either Lysergic acid diethylamide or liquid crystal display eh? Well, I've never tried to lick a tab of LSD but then again neither have I tried to lick an LCD screen.

Somehow, the thought of spending countless hours addressing my toenails believing that they are actually magical imps from the impoverished land of Tobonga5, doesn't really float my boat.

I did once try Salvia Divinorum, which sounds like a spell name made up by J.K Rowling (who I might add is looking pretty MILF-esque these days) until the Daily Mail get on to it's case with another one of their bloody campaigns, it's still classified by U.K law as a legal hallucinogen.

I had a throughly enjoyable five minute experience, where I believed the room I was standing in had turned into a painting, where I could smudge the paint with my hands.

However, my friend had a few smokes of it and immediately believed the bin was talking to him and the avocado in the kitchen bowel was a marine commander- so it's clearly not for everyone!

Timothy Leary the infamous 60's spokesperson for LSD famously coined the phrase "turn on, tune in and drop out"

I feel had Leary been around today he would have said the same if he had been watching Episode 8 Series 3 of Californication.

Monarchy or Presidency?
When I was 16, I was a punk. Well, at least I tried to be a punk. I wasn't the loudest of most confident of my school year and was desperate to get with one of the hottest girls in my school year.

Various adults at the time had told me I looked abit like Sid Vicious. I looked at a few pictures of him and thought he looked like he got the girls, so before you could snarl "pretty vacant" I had turned myself in to a poor man's version of Sid.

To be honest, I wasn't a very good punk- I smiled far too much, every time I would kick over a bin in the street I would feel guilty and go and pick it back up again and my mum would never let me get my ear pierced.

As a punk, I brought into the whole "Anarchy" malarky. I used to draw it's logo on my homework diaries looking back now it all seems abit pointless- I had brought into a trend that had died nearly 30 years before my time, the only reason for hating the monarchy is that my precious tax payers money (a whole 69p a year) goes towards funding there lavish lifestyles.

So presidency it is.

Anorexia or Obesity?
Kushintha, That's a ridiculous question and you know it.

Caught naked in someone else's house or Catch someone naked in your house?
This really depends on the context of the situation. First off, I don't have a problem with being naked around people, I did when i was younger but you've got to lose that issue when you start modeling because the job requires at least half of the time standing around being cold in your pants in front of 40 random people.

Depends who is also naked in my house- I'll tell you what Kushie if you can drum up some names. I'll get back to you with the answer.

Cremated or buried?
Death scares me. It's not something I've really come to terms with yet, maybe I never will. Yet It's something that will happen to us all eventually. I know i'm not saying anything new to anyone here.

The thought of being buried under so many feet of ground in a box decomposing or being burned in a furnace and having whatever is left of you ground into dust still as yet dosn't sound very appealing. what does that leave.... cryonics??

Fatboy slim or Eminem?
Tough one. I was into them both in the late 90's early noughties.
I'm going to go with Fatboy Slim here, Norman Cook has stood the test of time. whereas Eminem however a vitorolic rapper he was or is, well, it just all seem abit naff.

McDonalds or KFC?
It's got to be Maccy D's.

New Testament or Old Testament?
Well, I'm Jewish so this is an easy one for me. Not that I've read much of the old testament or read any of the new one, but they always say you can't beat the original.

Peter or Jordan?
Jordan- shes at least had two big "hits" :)

Sasha Pivovarova or Gemma Ward?
Neither. I like girls with curves, something to grab. It's a common myth perpetuated by the media that men like really thin girls. I'm thin myself, if I was too hug one of them the friction of our thigh bones rubbing against each other would probably create a small fire, brings a new meaning to when people say models are hot.

Babies or Dogs?
Right now, I'll go with dogs. I've always wanted a small to medium sized dog- like a pug. In Japan, it's very common to dress your dog up in clothes, So I would quite like the idea of dressing my pug up in a pair of black drainpipes and a leather jacket- maybe even (as long as the RSPCA don't mind) gluing a tuft of wig hair on its head so I could style his hair into a quiff. He'll look like the dogs bollocks!

Bros or hoes?
Million Quid Question, Can I say Brhoes?

Lara Stone gets her Gap Tooth fixed at Harley Street

2011-02-25T15:23:00.000-08:00

I ran into Lara Stone, Friday evening on Harley Street. She has flourished my bedroom wall with her gap-toothed snarl for advertising campaigns Givenchy, Belstaff and Jil Sander and she's the one who walks with the infamous wobbly gait at Prada and Calvin Klein shows, and has stolen my heart for four years. Furiously smoking on a cigarette Lara was standing outside the Harley Street Surgical Clinic engrossed in her phone conversation; gap-tooth baring and all. Harley Street is renowned for it's surgeries, dentistry and doctors, so no doubt it came across our minds she was either having her teeth whitenened or getting liposuction done.

I called 'Lara! Lara!' she turned around and smiled sweetly and pointed to her phone and mouthed 'I'm so sorry!,' and rushed into the building. My friend was not at all convinced it was Lara Stone, for she was dressed casually and candid in a Fur jacket and skinny jeans fresh-faced and hair pulled back tighly, but i could recognise the deep dutch drawl arguing on the phone and i forced Tushy to wait outside the clinic in the freezing cold; we joked about the many surgical prospects to pass the time.

Lara came out after an hour and a half. I rushed to her and she exclaimed: 'Oh im so sorry! Were you waiting for me? You are so sweet!' I told her I was a big fan of her work and I was surprised to be welcomed with a warm hug (her waist is incredibly tiny) and a multitude of thanks. She was very open and sweet to talk to with no pretences at all. Our conversation ranged from Miuccia Prada, High School, Adolescence and Runway Mishaps. One would be surprised that she claims to be very rarely recognised and approached in her everyday life and that she was unpopular in school and hated every minute of it. And no, Lara doesn't miss doing the shows, though she does miss walking for Prada.

Much to our shock of John Galliano's suspension at Dior, Lara was talking in a lisp and it appeared the gap tooth was gone. I guess we were the first people to see Lara Stone's fixed gap-tooth.

Backstage at John Rocha SS11

2011-02-11T11:23:00.000-08:00

My next stop is Somerset House, there is no point being here because it is nearly impossible to try and get into the show here. They are incredibly organised here at Somerset house. All the shows are set in the one tent at the centre, and there’s a queueing room where you wait to get your ticket checked, there isn’t even a queue for those without a ticket. Sometimes the queues are so massive even if you have a ticket you aren’t necessarily guaranteed entrance. That’s what happened last season at John Rocha. The show was crazily oversubscribed and the queue went from one end of the building to the other, only about roughly a half of the people fit into the tent.

Though, you can’t get into the shows, I’ve found its quite easy to get in backstage. Last season I spotted John Rocha having a fag with Jethro Cave outside the backstage area, I walked up the black stairs and opened the big black door and security looked at me like, ‘wtf’ but I just walked on and they said nothing. If you act like you have authority then no one will bother you, but if you waver or show signs of insecurity then they’ll notice.

This was where I met recent face of Burberry and lead singer of Avius Sebastian Brice, when he was new. I asked him If he would ever get the Burberry mainline campaign, and he looked a little embarrassed and laughed ‘I don’t think they’d ever choose me for something that big!’ A couple of months passed by and he appeared in the winter campaign alongside London babe Rosie Huntington-Whitely, Nina Porter and Thomas Penfound. Sadly I have no evidence of meeting Sebastian Brice, Jethro Cave and Douglas Nietzke that day as this was the very day I left my Nokia N97 in a bloody black cab.

James Hampson is standing outside smoking a cigarette, I remember him from the Prada SS09 menswear show and that FTV video where he tells us he loves Britney spears and is an i-Pod junkie. He doesn’t look nearly as fresh as he appears in the video. He looks a bit dreary and grey, puffing huge clouds of smoke. He asks me how I recognise him, and I’m not sure what to say. I’ve always found that whenever I recognise male models, they aren’t the least bit surprised, but how is that if the general public who aren’t interested in fashion don’t even know who they are?

Last season, when I met Jono Namara waiting in the queue for a show, he had no pretensions of being recognised even though he’s done countless campaigns for brands like Lanvin and Dior Homme. I asked him why male models don’t seem surprised and he told me later: ‘they only play it cool so it seems like they are recognised the whole time. I was really shocked you knew who I was.’ I ask James if he ever gets recognised and he flinches and says he’s rarely in london, so very rarely. Anyhow, look out for him in Russian GQ editorials.

I walk through the door and see swarms of make-up artists and hairdressers picking at every model, frizzing their hair into the characteristic SS11 afro and wiping off every remnant from other shows. A woman shouts, ‘Who is doing Linsdey Wixsons hair when she arrives?’ I see Ilvie Wittek again, she looks confused as she stares at me. It must be strange being whisked off to a million places in a short time and seeing familiar random people. I look around the clothing rails and spot John Rocha and a team of dressers tending to a model, I turn around and I see a rib cage and some breasts- a model is completely nude, which feels entirely awkward but she doesn’t seem too bothered by it. The clothes are mainly of corsetry, over-sized pieces, evening gowns in fleshy tones and frothy textured hats, nothing gimmicky just unfussy, elegant clothes with character.

With models waiting around, PRs bustling about and make-up artists growing increasingly suspicious of anyone, backstage gets boring after a while. After awkwardly taking snaps of anything and anyone, my flash decided to go off and amidst the crowd of make-up artist they all turn around and look at me. The head make-up artists asks me why I'm taking a pictures and who the hell I am, I don't know idea what to say so I try to sound as official as possible and I tell her I'm a backstage photographer for Fashion Rambler blog and that my name is Sonal Shah. . She isn't having any of it. She says 'I'm going to go and check your name on the list to see if you're supposed to be here.' She still stands there and she isn't getting a list at all, i don't think this list exists. I finally work out that she's basically kicking me out. How freaking awkward. I suddenly don't have this twatty air of self-importance around me anymore. And with my modest HP camera. I turn around and take a few more pictures and leave.

London Fashion Weeking: Day 3: Topshop Unique

2010-12-31T11:17:00.000-08:00

In a strange way, its way more fun having no ticket to a show than actually having one. You feel a bit like common trash standing outside awkwardly waiting for someone interesting to come out, but it's totally exhilarating because you don't know who exactly is in there and once you’re in, you sort of feel approved.

Two seasons ago, during the SS10 shows, my good friend Tushara and I blagged our way into the Julien Macdonald show here in London. In my post about the show I made it seem as though i was formally invited, but i totally wasn't.

We told the PR we were with a renowned English newspaper and gave each other fake tacky names, like 'Sonal Shah' and 'Janae Bakken' (cast and crew member's of Scrubs, of course, as Tushy’s obsessed) We thought we had no chance and did it for a laugh, but to our surprise she pointed to the entrance and said 'get in there!' and went on to reject every other person in the queue.

I’ve always hoped my first show to be Jil Sander or Prada, but I’ve grown quite fond of satin coats and snakeskin evening gowns since then. It felt exhilarating witnessing this excessively extravagant world in person; YouTube videos don't really do it any justice.

We spied over the tall glasses of champagne carried out by charming, young men amidst “Forbidden Colours” playing in the background, and pushed our way to the front of the standing pit, and lo and behold Constance Jablonski is walking out in a sheer bikini. We felt a bit cheap and twatty with our air of self-importance, but once you’re in, you totally feel a part of the whole fashion pack. Read about the show here.

This SS11 season I decided to go outside a few shows and try to get into a few others with Tushy. Topshop Unique always has a good newbie cast with a few Prada regulars. Surprisingly the show isn’t cast by Russell Marsh, but by Sarah Murray and Jess Hallet of Darling Productions, casting extraordinaire of Louis Vuitton, Sonia Rykiel, and Alexander McQueen among others. You always a spot a new girl at the Topshop show, and by the end of fashion week, she's appeared at Prada and Balenciaga and everyone knows her name.

Sadly, our last season efforts proved that it‘s really quite pointless trying to get into Topshop Unique. Though it's not one of the biggest names out there, if you don't have a ticket then the PR won't even look at you let alone bother to listen to a swarm of lies, the PRs are surprisingly very organised with their lists and ticket allocations unlike some of the bigger brands.

It was really frustrating because they changed the venue from Luxborough Street to Waterloo Station. I had to follow a bunch of Russian women who looked a part of fashion week throughout my entire journey. I noticed this season that there were so many Russians outside the shows. I always find that during fashion week, everywhere you go, there's fashion industry people wherever you go with the BBC accreditation card around their necks. You often find yourself just following someone who looks remotely fashion-y just to find a show.

There weren't that many people standing outside, except for a few photographers and a hoard of drivers standing around smoking and waiting. I decided to talk to some of the drivers and ask them who they were driving. I didn't really care for Amber Le Bon's driver, so i asked some of the other model drivers instead.

I came across one guy who seemed exhausted and totally out of it. He was a bit sceptical about me asking him who he was driving but eventually he gave in. I honestly could never understand what he ever said because he spoke so fast and had such a thick accent. So eventually he told me he was driving: 'Abblifghdj' There wasn’t really much point asking him to repeat what he said. I just assumed he meant 'Abbey Lee Kershaw,' so I told him that i was a big fan and that I’d love to have a picture with her. He told me that he'd been driving her for four hours and that she was the loveliest person he’d ever worked with. He also said that he'd be driving his car right out at the front to pick her up quicker so i should wait by there to get a good picture.

I waited around at the front, and by the end of the show I spotted Nicola Roberts, of UK hit band Girls Aloud. We usually spot her at every London Fashion Week show; no one really cares for her picture as much because she’s literally everywhere.

Also, Julia Roitfeld, of the Tom Ford advertising campaign fame and that hilariously awful Jil Sander perfume ad came out, you feel she’s the only person worth photographing, surprisingly no one cared about her, but I couldn’t stop staring at how beautiful she was: bright green eyes and all legs. Amber Rose comes out and everyone is flooding for her picture, I think they were all expecting Kanye to come out. But still no sign of Abbey Lee! I was surprised when Amber Rose looked towards me, spread her hips wide and put her hands on her hips for my camera, I then realised she was expecting me to take a picture. She then got into that man’s car, he waved bye to me and drove off. So it turned out he was driving Amber Rose and not Abbey Lee. How do you mix the two names up?

Still no sign of models, with all the new girls of the season, I didn’t think I’d be able to recognise many. I notice big fluffy hair a la Louis Vuitton ss10 and I spot Julia Nobis looking unhappy in an afro and garish red lips, she doesn’t look like she wants to be photographed but I thought I’d ask her anyway, I haven’t been waiting around for nothing. She is one of the girls of the season, from appearing at Marc Jacobs to opening Proenza Schouler. She has this awkward and mysterious beauty about her that I really like.

Then there’s a small crowd around Dree Hemmingway. In pictures she looks mean and unapproachable and in videos she talks about all the clothes she wears, but she seems really sweet. I approach her and ask for a picture, she looks down at my small stature and asks me my name and how she would be happy for me to take a picture of her. I haven’t said much and she grabs me and hugs me and tells me I’m the sweetest thing ever. I don’t know if its for the camera that’s watching over or the people surrounding, but I figure she’s quite lovely, though I feel a bit patronised.

I recognise Austrian Ilvie Wittek, who appeared in shows Prada and Louis Vuitton last season standing alone. She reminds me of Hannah Holman in every way, peaches and cream complexion and pale blonde hair. She has this quiet stature and shyness that’s really endearing.

Then Constance Jablonski comes rushing out eating a bar of chocolate walking along with Dorothea-Barth-Jorgensen. I never got Dorothea’s appeal until I saw her in person, she has this ethereal quality about her in person, she’s impossibly thin but there’s a gracefulness in her fragility and movement that really stands out. Constance on the other hand is strikingly beautiful in person, her eyes are a pale blue in contrast to her warm tan skin and she has this expensive bone structure. In her heavy French drawl she deals with everyone approaching her with unpretentiousness and modesty. You would have thought it would have all gone to her head by now.

A Couple of Questions for...Jacob Coupe

2010-08-29T14:22:00.000-07:00

Monarchy or Presidency?

Presidency/Priministary because they actually help or atleast try to solve problems and not just run around chasing foxes.

Babies or Dogs?

Dogs for when im young, Babies for when im ready.

Sisqo or Dizzee Rascal?

Dizze rascal, Sisqo was/is just fast food music, Dizze is abit more filling.

Jamie Oliver or Gordon Ramsay?

Jamie Oliver when he had his old tv show, The Naked Chef and was in his flat, these days Gordon Ramsey.

London or NY?

London....just England generally, because Englands such a small country anywhere you go you feel kind of at home, iv come to realise too, English people are actually amazingly nice compared.

Whats the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you?

Like totally get caught without my foundation and concealer on, i.just.dropped.dead.

Prada SS10 Soundtrack

2010-08-14T06:54:00.000-07:00

Classicism and modernity went hand in hand in Miuccia Prada's collection of a 'crystalised beach'. The collection had a very fantastical and artifical looking element to it all; the glossy red mouths, chandeliers swaying, plastic-like shoes and the projection of Italian interiors on the hi-tech fantasy set.

Jackets and shorts were robotic and futuristic in classic Balenciaga shapes of predominant silver tones , while the photographic prints of the tourist resort beach on the clothing represented the technological aspect to rhe collection.

Without a doubt, the Prada runway show soundracks are always one of the best of the season. I've had this one blaring on my iPod non stop for months. My sisters says it sounds like a train crash, but i think it sounds pretty damn fierce.It starts off brash and agressive with the occasional lulls of Brenda's harmonic melancholic voice whereas the instrumental piece gives a mood of serenity.

Runway soundtracks in general are another massive interest of mine aside from the clothing, there is such a massive level of thought that goes behind the musical aspect of a show. It's often unnoticed how relevant a single lyric or chord resonates with a collection. Imagine if Sanchez chose to play Metallica? We'd probably see the clothing in a completely different light. I think it's absolutely genius.

Lil Mama raps about making herself look attractive ,which contributes to the artifical element of the collection, while Brenda Lee pines about loneliness and insecurity. The 50's and 60's is an era that Miuccia commonly cites in her designs. Whilst, The powerfully cinematic piece by Mantovani of Inland Empire gave us the sense of past and classicism aspect to the collection.

It feels almost like a conversation or even a blaring argument between the two women Lil Mama and Brenda Lee. Rather a conversation between classicism and modernity, or perhaps even a powerplay between two women of optimism and uncertainty.

Tracklist

"Lip Gloss" by Lil Mama

"All Alone Am I" by Brenda Lee

"Colours Of My Life" by Mantovani

Download here

SPOTTED: Will Eustace at Trafalgar Square

2010-07-15T07:01:00.000-07:00

This picture was taken absolutely ages ago, during the FW10 mens shows in London, but I figured that if I was to make a new post after light years then it should be a good one. Who doesn't love Will Eustace? He's a breath of fresh air among the Scandinavians on the Prada and Jil Sander runways.

He was really lovely and very sweet, especially when I told him I loved his CK campaign.

RIP Lee McQueen

2010-02-13T12:27:00.000-08:00

I was absolutely devastated to hear about the sudden death of Lee Alexander McQueen. I found out as soon as I came from school that day, I switched on the television and I saw the news reporter talking about past McQueen shows and then I saw footage of a body being dragged out of a house and they said that it was him.

His shows have always had such an emotional impact on me. They always felt like a history lesson, in the best way. Who else could have expressed the Theory Of Evolution in a much more fascinating way? I remember when I was ten years old and I was becoming more and more interested in fashion, his shows were one of my first to discover. I loved how his shows were so dramatic and spectacular, each season so iconic. You could see the meticulous attention to detail in each of shows and collections: the choice of music, the movement of the clothing on the model, the setting, whether the fabric was interfacing or not. The passion for all of this was and still is so inspiring to me. I always thought that maybe one day I could attend one of his shows.

One of my favourite McQueen collection was the SS 2009 womens collection inspired by the Natural World. I would come home every day after school and watch that three minute clip of it on YouTube about 20 times again and again. 'A Guy Called Gerald' never got boring, and neither did his underlying message behind that show. I found his vision of this particular woman so beautiful and seemingly demure. As well as being a collection of incredible workmanship the whole collection represented a psychological and important message to us all today.

I watch one of his shows, and I feel that if such beauty can exist then maybe the world isn't such a bad place after all?

Interview with Jacob Coupe

2010-01-17T14:04:00.000-08:00

After much correspondence, the super sweet Jacob Coupe let me ask him about his experience walking for Prada, while on hectic castings for the shows in Paris.

"I loved doing the Prada show this year, i feel that so far it has been the highlight of my career in terms of the fun and enjoyment i got out of it, and the people i met.

I was with the Prada team for around 5 days straight doing the fittings and working with Miuccia was amazing, it was clear to see how she has lasted so long in the industry with the amount of detail and attention she gives to everything she does.

I was with 3 other models for the whole time - George Barnett, Adrien Sahores and Nicolas Ripoll.
We got looked after amazingly and stayed in a hotel right round the corner from the Prada, was such a fun week filled with laughs and pranks. I cant wait to do it all again."

Before the show, did you know of the impact it would have on your career?
I had no idea! It’s a funny story, at the start of the week Nicolas and George made a bet about who would open the show, me or Adrien, and when we found out it was me it was only when Nicolas told me how much of a big deal it is, that it sank in.

What did you think of the fashion industry before you became a model and how does it compare to how it really is?
Before i was a model i never really had an interest in the industry, i never knew anything about it apart from Zoolander haha, and Zoolander and the industry defiantly have their similarities!

Could you ever see yourself doing something like prada or becoming a model before?
10 months ago i would have ever have thought i would be doing this today, its insane what has happened, but no like i said before i have never really had an interest in fashion or modelling, it all happened by chance really! I remember going to see Russell Marsh for the first time and to say it progressed into me doing what i have, is crazy.

How did you feel about the clothes and the setting and music. did you see the preparation for the setting and music. what did you think of it?
I really liked the colours of the clothes, the greys and blacks. I always find my self wearing them on different shoots too! as for the set we never really saw it getting built but when we had our rehearsal we got a chance to stand around and have a good look at everything and it was so good, all the details that went into it, you could stand in the show room for an hour and still not have spotted everything that was there.

"A Couple Of Questions for..." Jacob Coupe soon!

Interview with Tyler Riggs

2010-01-09T18:41:00.000-08:00

I took this interview with Tyler ages ago, back when he was doing the SS09 shows and it's just amazing to see how much his career has progressed from there and how much control he has over his career now. This SS10, he skipped the entire show season yet he has still managed to be in demand with print work and he was even offered two exclusives by two major French brands last season, although he decided to turn them down because the acting school he's at is 'serious.' He shows great range and versatility as a model, enabling him to work for youthful and edgier brands like Diesel but also classic and quiet looks for Louis Vuitton and GQ magazine editorials. The skinny punk rocker look gets old after some time and his agents are trying to promote the latter look much more. The amount of options and rejection is immense, to name a few, Tyler is put on option for the highly anticipated Prada menswear show every season yet he's never once walked the show. The fact that he's even on option 'means absolutely nothing' to him. And he's been on option for some of the biggest campaigns, including last winter’s Gucci FW09 advertising campaign. He manages to stay down-to-earth and unaffected throughout his career and to put it quite simply; he's really not a twat.

What's the story behind your tattoo?
I am a big fan of Salvador Dali so I decided to tattoo my favorite painting of his smack dab on my left shoulder. The painting is called the Temptation of Saint Anthony. I fell in love with him at an early age since there is a rather large collection of his works in St. Petersburg, FL ( which is near my home town ) The real story behind the painting is St. Anthony is trying to resist sin. Each animal and object sort of represents the seven deadly sins. I guess it's a reminder to stay grounded. I love Dali. I grew up near St Pete Florida and they have a huge Dali museum there.

If you hadn't come into modelling, what would you have been doing?
I was touring around with bands in the states. I was also in a hardcore band called "Hot Gates". I have been writing a lot of music lately, however, I aspire to start some kind of acting career soon.

How does it feel to be on the runway? Do you get nervous?
I have played shows in a band and done a bunch of plays in highschool, so being in front of a crowd wasnt that bad. I was a bit nervous when i started the Neil Barret show, I was afraid to walk out first and mess the whole show up. ha

How does it feel seeing yourself on billboards, magazines and such?
It's kind of funny. I felt like it was going to be this big deal, but none of my friends seem to be too impressed so it's lost it's shiny newness.

Are you part of Vegas Porn Conventions or what?

Hahaha, I think you are referring to the well endowed Tyler Riggz ( gay porn star ) that is not me. haha, everyone always asks about that.

What's your favourite YouTube video?

Lightning bolt. it's a video of kids LARPING

What's the worst thing that has happened to you at a show?

I forgot to stop at a show one time and after I turned I walked back and posed. I kinda shrugged my shoulders and everyone laughed.

What's the most disgusting food you've ever eaten?

I hate spinach, I try to like it but I just hate it

Has acting always been an interest?

I actually wanted to be an actor since I was a little kid. I have done plays and stuff like that but nothing serious. I am starting acting classes next month. I have met a few people that are interested in doing short films so I guess thats where I am going to try and start.

What did you initially think of the fashion industry and how does that compare to how it really is?

Everyone made it seem like you are easily going to make tons and tons of cash, but you really don't, and if you do it usually doesn't come easy.

What was your experience working with Steven Meisel?

It was pretty cool. He didn't really talk to me much at all. I'm pretty sure that dude hates me because I didn't really give a shit about him being this big time photographer.

If someone told you 5 years ago that you would become a model and do all these shows and campaigns, what would you have said?
No way, I am going to be in the sickest, heaviest most freakin' brutal hardcore band ever and I am going to live in a van and eat Wendys everyday.

A Couple Of Questions for...Tyler Riggs

2010-01-01T12:08:00.000-08:00

Tap water or Bottled water?

Tap water. Bottled water is an economic conspiracy, it's the same thing that comes out of the sink and isn't any healthier.

Private Chaufeur or Public Transportation?

Public transportation

A: because you can people watch

B: because it's cheaper and who the heck do you think I am? Rachel Clark?

Mcdonalds or KFC?

It depends, all Mcdonalds have sweet tea and southern chicken. I love KFC, but I would only pick it if i was in the South,where I can get some sweet sweat with my chicken.

Babies or dogs?

Dogs, they are easier and they won't grow up to hate you.

Toilets or behind park bushes?

Bushes are fun as long as a cop doesnt catch you and try and arrest you.

Charlie France and Jacob Coupe

2009-12-29T14:22:00.000-08:00

Charlie France and Jacob Coupe were two ubiquitous English faces at London Fashion Week. Charlie France opened the Wintle show that I attended and Jacob Coupe closed the show. They were both held on exclusive in Milan: Jacob Coupe for Prada and Charlie France for Burberry, and were both exclusive for Hugo Boss in Paris.
They also appeared in almost every show on the menswear day and even in a a few womenswear shows such as House Of Holland, Pringle Of Scotland and Burberry.

After opening the Prada show in July, Jacob Coupe, a personal favourite of mine, walked in every notable show in London Fashion Week and has been clearing up in print with editorials for 10 Men magazine and Dazed and Confused. I think he is one of the most exciting new faces from Prada in a long while. His masculine and edgy looks stand out from some of the more classical and feminine looking models of today, particularly at the Prada SS10 show where every boy was transformed into a character out of a film noir. Charlie France is a good example of classical looks, which goes to show why Burberry chose him to represent the FW09 collection and Jil Sander to walk the show exclusively last season.

I can't imagine how successful they will become in the upcoming FW10 shows and the major campaigns they will appear in for the SS10 season.

Gucci SS10: Natasha Poly and Ryan Kennedy by Mert and Marcus

2009-12-23T08:45:00.000-08:00

Elongated and refined. I really loved the Gucci SS10 women’s wear collection shown in September. And I think this campaign presents the collection wonderfully well.

The tropical setting gives the effect of wealth and luxury, a dream world which is always perfectly encapsulated in a Gucci campaign; maybe not quite last season’s though.

This campaign feels very sensual and, in some ways, sexually suggestive, especially with the third shot of Natasha in the white dress with the male counterpart, where the sexual implication is much more overt. It feels as though Frida's vision for Gucci was much more submissive to a man's desires, whilst Tom Ford's vision was much more about the woman being in control.

The intense blue backdrop of the Palm Beach setting works as a gentle contrast with the white and grey tones of the collection. I particularly love the windswept shot of Natasha in the evening look worn by Anja Rubik in the show. I’m excited to see what perspective they’ve gone for with the long black bondage dress on Lily Donaldson. And who better than Natasha Poly, with a longer relationship with the Gucci brand than Sasha Pivovarova with Prada. She embodies wealth and luxury perfectly, all that Gucci stands for.

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Julien Macdonald SS10

2009-12-19T10:10:00.000-08:00

(I am very late with SS10 runway reviews given that in about two months, the FW10 menswear will be shown, here gives...)

Julien Macdonald is one of the most exciting shows at London Fashion week. So being able to attend the show was incredible, and it was my first eva show! My friend who was with me, asked me a couple seconds before the show if this was a dream come true..I said that would be the day I am front row at Prada. Well you never know?

The setting was absolutely beautiful. It was a little French garden in the Lawrence Hall. It didn't seem to relate to the clothes but it was still very impressive. The Lawrence hall is a massive, rustly old hall which is often used for examinations and car shows. The team at Julian Macdonald transformed a drab old hall into a french garden with pine trees, greek statues, fountains and even down to fake grass for a fashion show venue. Rightly so, the Evening Standard magazine named it as one of the best runway show venues in London.

In a soundtrack of La Roux and Donna Summer, which the audience absolutely loved, (as you may notice, the guy in the first video is clearly loving it) the collection played around with the idea of technical sportswear and glamour through tailoring in streamlined shapes and iridescence with the mixture of textures such as snakeskin, patent and silks. I found that there were many heavy references to Balmain through the collection , particularly in the jackets and Ranya Mordanova's first look which was reminiscent of the outfit on Eniko Mikhalik in the Balmain FW09 show.

I loved the last mermaid-like look on Alla Kostromicheva. I remember seeing the dress on Cheryl Cole on the X Factor and it looked out of place and reminded me how some runway pieces are hard to translate from a models height and frame to the average person's.

Julien Macdonald has always designed wearable yet innovative clothing, which is quite a contrast from some of the more experimental couterparts of London fashion week, who only until now have been forced to give in to the economic climate.

The press before the show, looking quite calm here then stressed the next.

Outside Burberry SS10

2009-12-06T07:29:00.000-08:00

Trying to get into the Burberry show proved to be pointless and impossible. The venue was absolutely packed and even if you looked as if you worked in the industry, wore a runway look directly from a show that was shown five daysago or was dripping in Cartier, not that I fitted into any of those categories, you weren't allowed in. Unless you had your invitation, silver card, your name on the list and ID....

Backstage at Tim Soar SS10

2009-12-06T06:09:00.000-08:00

At the other end of the room were other models arriving and getting their hair and make-up done for the Tim Soar show, which was to show at the following hour.

Cole Mohr

Josh Beech

Joseph Culp

Rob Moore walked for Roberto Cavalli in Milan and Dunhill in Paris among others.

Robbie Wadge

Jerome Wyviens

Eliza Cummings

Backstage at Wintle SS10

2009-12-05T07:03:00.000-08:00

On the Menswear Wednesday I attended the Wintle show. After the show I managed to get in backstage and photograph some of the models without getting noticed and chucked out.

Jacob Coupe. Prada opener and exclusive, Hugo Boss exclusive. He closed Wintle too.

Alex Dunstan

Robbie Wadge

Matthew Hitt. It's amazing how his career is still going strong since opening the Jil Sander SS08 show and appearing at Prada.

Everyone's favourite: George Barnett.

Lasse 'can you just take the picture?!' Pedersen. I would have really liked to know if he was in any relation to Louise Pedersen, but I figured not to ask..

Jil Sander SS10 exclusive: Jamie Conday.

Daniel Hicks and Jamie Conday

Jonas Kesseler. I was pretty nervous to take this picture. I think Jonas could tell because he patted me on the back and smiled at me just about when he was about to leave. A lot of other models did that. So sweet.

Ty Ogunkova

Newcomer, Thomas Penfound.

Josh Beech, Callum Turner and Bryton Munn outside LFW

2009-12-04T11:42:00.000-08:00

When I asked them for a picture, it had turned out I was taking a video the whole time they were posing. I thought I had taken a picture but I saw on my camera that I had taken a 10 second video. I went back and took a picture.

Callum Turner has a great blog and he raises very intelligent points and discusses controversial topics whether it's to do with London's soaring crime rate, societal ignorance or his interest in football. It's a shame he doesn't really blog anymore.

Karolin Wolter outside Paul Smith SS10

2009-11-29T04:57:00.000-08:00

All the Supreme girls including Karolin were rushing about like mad outside the Paul Smith show. Eniko in particular was running around like a headless chicken. I asked Karo for a picture and she said in her thick german accent that she was in a really big rush and that I need to take it real quick because she had to go. If you're wondering why she looks like a wax figure then that's because I copied this from a video still. It turned out I was taking a video the whole time she was posing. That happened a lot that week with all the people I had tried to photograph. Damn HP cameras.

Emma Maclaren outside Paul Smith SS10

2009-11-29T04:29:00.000-08:00

The heart-broken model of the Bottega Venneta SS09 campaign. Emma is so beautiful and lovely in person. She was so shocked that I recognised her and knew of her campaigns. So down-to-earth and sweet. Her look reminds me so much of Lily Donaldson- the wide set eyes and delicate features with the facial structure of Anna Jagodzinska. I really think that she should totally be the next Burberry girl and replace Emma Watson. I can't think of any other model who is more suitable to the brands quiet elegance.

Coco Rocha outside Paul Smith SS10

2009-11-29T04:11:00.000-08:00

I love Coco Rocha. It was a surprise seeing her outside a London show, I thought she wasn't going to do shows for some time. Everyone was bombarding her outside Paul Smith,so it was sort of impossible to get a good picture. I love how she just winks at you randomly if she can tell you're a fan.

Jeremy Young and Rob Moore outside House Of Holland SS10

2009-11-28T13:50:00.000-08:00

The best face.

Jeremy Young outside House Of Holland SS10

2009-11-28T07:02:00.000-08:00

Jules Mordovets outside House Of Holland SS10

2009-11-28T06:26:00.000-08:00

Liu Wen outside Richard Nicoll SS10

2009-11-27T10:52:00.001-08:00

Alana Zimmer outside Richard Nicoll SS10

2009-11-27T10:49:00.000-08:00

Sara Blomqvist outside Richard Nicoll SS10

2009-11-27T10:45:00.000-08:00

Frida Gustavsson and Katlin Aas outside Richard Nicoll SS10

2009-11-27T10:39:00.000-08:00

Hanne Gaby Odiele outside Richard Nicoll SS10

2009-11-22T07:13:00.000-08:00

Tao Okamoto outside Richard Nicoll SS10

2009-11-22T06:57:00.000-08:00

Sharon Kavjian outside Richard Nicoll SS10

2009-11-22T06:39:00.000-08:00

Ranya Mordanova and Anya Kazakova outside Richard Nicoll SS10

2009-11-21T06:58:00.000-08:00

Vanessa Hegelmaier outside Richard Nicoll SS10

2009-11-21T06:54:00.000-08:00

Outside Richard Nicoll SS10

2009-11-21T06:30:00.000-08:00

RIP Daul Kim (1989-2009)

2009-11-20T09:05:00.000-08:00

Such a tragic and great loss. I had always loved her blog and the eccentric, comical and witty personality that shone through it. Whether she was talking about the wrong ways to rave dance, guinea pigs or the bitches at Barneys, she was truly one of a kind. A lot of people are picking up on and interpreting her last post into many things. I don't see it as anything at all.

It's a great shock. Although Daul always seemed to be surrounded by people, she spoke of the feeling of loneliness in her life often in her blog and interviews.

Ranya Mordanova outside Julien Macdonald SS10

2009-11-20T07:41:00.000-08:00

Kim Noorda outside Julien Macdonald

2009-11-20T07:37:00.000-08:00

So radiant and beautiful.

Freja Beha Erichsen outside Julien Macdonald SS10

2009-11-20T07:21:00.000-08:00

Egle Tvirbutaite outside Julien Macdonald SS10

2009-11-16T11:49:00.000-08:00

How on earth do you pronounce her name?! Eglee/Egel/Egluh?

Anna De Rijk outside Julien Macdonald SS10

2009-11-12T08:39:00.000-08:00

It was the Brazillians, the Russians but now at the moment it's the Dutch. Dutch models are really making their wave in the fashion industry at the moment. Anna is one of these models. She worked in 42 shows, proving her versatility at shows like Calvin Klein, Prada and Lanvin.

Tao Okamoto outside Julien Macdonald SS10

2009-11-12T07:49:00.000-08:00

Charlotte Di Calypso outside Julien Macdonald SS10

2009-11-07T05:13:00.000-08:00

Constance Jablonski outside Julien Macdonald SS10

2009-11-07T04:59:00.001-08:00

Anabela Belikova at Julien Macdonald SS10

2009-11-07T04:56:00.000-08:00

Charlotte Di Calypso and Constance Jablonski outside Julien Macdonald

2009-10-31T14:51:00.000-07:00

Charlotte and Constance have been in almost every important show in New York, London, Milan and Paris.

Constance Jablonski outside Topshop Unique SS10

2009-10-24T08:18:00.000-07:00

Anya Kazakova outside Topshop Unique SS10

2009-10-23T05:40:00.001-07:00

Anabela Belikova outside Topshop Unique SS10

2009-10-23T05:18:00.000-07:00

Liu Wen outside Topshop Unique SS10

2009-10-22T11:15:00.000-07:00

Liu Wen getting all the big shows including the super prestigious Prada show. It's great to see another asian model on the Prada catwalks since Hye Park.

Sara Blomqvist outside Topshop Unique SS10

2009-10-22T11:09:00.000-07:00

Frida Gustavsson outside Topshop Unique SS10

2009-10-21T16:28:00.000-07:00

Frida's lovely. She always had the time to take a picture for me even though she was in a MAD RUSH.

Ranya Mordanova outside Topshop Unique SS10

2009-10-21T16:14:00.001-07:00

Julia Hafstrom after Topshop Unique SS10

2009-10-20T07:13:00.000-07:00

As we were walking outside the Topshop Unique venue, I spotted Julia Hafstrom sitting on a ledge beside a photographer searching through a gigantic map. I went up to her and asked her for a picture. She seemed somewhat surprised and happy that I could recognise her. She was very polite and sweet, especially when I told her that I liked her Prada FW09 campaign. There's something very natural and wholesome to her look that photographs beautifully.

There has been a great deal of buzz around her lately with a Vogue Italia editorial by Steven Meisel, a spot in the multi-girl FW09 Prada campaign and a Dazed & Confused cover, it's surprising that she didn't book a helluva lot of shows this season.

Marloes Horst outside Topshop Unique SS10

2009-10-16T12:31:00.000-07:00

Is it just me or does she look so much like Regina George/ Rachel Mcadams?! I'm surprised that her career hasn't taken off as much since her Prada SS09 exclusive in Milan. Though I suppose nearly every girl looked exactly the same at the show, with very few girls really standing out.

Sharon Kavjian outside Topshop Unique SS10

2009-10-15T14:43:00.000-07:00

American new girl Sharon Kavjian. This is her first season and she seems to be a Russell Marsh favourite appearing in Herve Leger, Prada, Richard Nicoll and being the second girl out at Miu Miu. She's by far the friendliest and sweetest model I had met that week, not surprised at all to see her doing so well.

Gracie Carvalho outside Topshop Unique SS10

2009-10-15T14:37:00.000-07:00

After 16 shows in New York, Gracie walked for other big shows such as Burberry in London and Karl Lagerfeld in Paris, though it appears that she skipped Milan.

Hanne Gaby Odiele and Vanessa Hegelmaier outside Topshop Unique SS10

2009-10-12T11:47:00.000-07:00

German Vanessa Hegelmaier and Belgian Prada runway regular and Missoni FW09 campaign model, Hanne Gaby Odiele.

I couldn't recognise Vanessa at all with those glasses. Both are strikingly beautiful in person.
Later on, outside the Richard Nicoll show, I saw Vanessa again and couldn't stop noticing how similiar she looks to Karmen Pedaru.

Alla Kostromicheva outside Topshop Unique SS10

2009-10-10T06:17:00.000-07:00

What I love about Alla K is how angry she can look as opposed to how polite she is and her soft voice. Her 10 magazine cover is by far one of my favourite covers recently. She's had an amazing season, paticularly in Europe, opening Jil Sander and doing shows like Dolce and Gabbana, Bottega Venetta and Missoni. Then killing it in Paris with important shows Alexander McQueen, Givenchy and Lanvin.

Jourdan Dunn outside Topshop Unique SS10

2009-10-10T05:18:00.000-07:00

Jourdan was just about to jump in her car before I asked her if I could take a picture and if she reads thefashionspot.com. She graciously said yes and that her mum checks it every so often. Other photographers immediately rushed for her picture. It seems like only yesterday she was the first black model to walk the Prada show since Naomi in 1997. Madness. She has been a key figure in re-opening the interest in black models, landing spots in the important, exclusive Prada shows. I can't believe that she's pregnant now!

Outside Topshop Unique SS10, Luxborough St

2009-10-10T05:15:00.001-07:00

Myf Shepherd outside Richard Nicoll AW09

2009-08-20T10:40:00.000-07:00

Kanye West outside Richard Nicoll AW09

2009-08-16T12:54:00.000-07:00

Alana Zimmer outside Richard Nicoll AW09

2009-08-13T13:28:00.001-07:00

Karolin Wolter outside Richard Nicoll AW09

2009-08-13T13:22:00.000-07:00

Imogen Morris-Clarke outside Richard Nicoll AW09

2009-08-13T13:13:00.000-07:00

Hanna Rundlöf outside Richard Nicoll AW09

2009-08-13T13:00:00.000-07:00

Yulia Kharlapanova and Anya Kazakova outside Richard Nicoll AW09

2009-08-13T08:10:00.000-07:00

Liu Wen outside Richard Nicoll AW09

2009-08-13T07:51:00.000-07:00

Karlie Kloss outside Richard Nicoll AW09

2009-08-12T16:21:00.000-07:00

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