Monday 30 November 2009

Selfridges: Displaying The Curiosites Of The FHT Collective.

I always look forward to seeing the window displays from Selfridges, especially during Christmas. This year, the combination of electic styling and method of display from Selfridges seem to be taking inspiration from Edward Linely Sambourne's Illustrations, from PunchTake a look for youself:


Elements from childern's stories, such as Puss in Boots are one of the main themes...





with references to Little Red Riding Hood.

F.B

Once Upon A Time...

In honour of weird and wonderful re-worked fairy tales I'd like to make a quick mention to the two authors that I consider the Queen and King of the genre.




The fantastic feminist author Angela Carter's The Bloody Chamber is a wonderful collection of subversive versions of Folk and Fairy Tales including Beauty and The Beast, Snow White and Little Red Riding Hood; all with a slightly sinister twist.




And the King of the genre is by far Gregory Maguire; who has reworked various stories into comic tales for adults. His best known novel is Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, which has been developed into a musical by the same name showing in the in London's West End.
His other work include Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister, showing the sinister side of Cinderella, Lost which is written in 'the spirit of A. S. Byatt's Possession, with dark echoing overtones of A Christmas Carol', and Mirror Mirror giving the reader the true tale of Snow White.

V.

Friday 27 November 2009

Call To The Wild














All this talk of enchanted forests...
Images courtesy of Chadwick Taylor, Gaskell, Willamain Somma, Yelena Yemchuk
J.

Thursday 26 November 2009

Vogue...Again!

Vogue really do seem to love a good fairytale.  They're at it again, but this time its Vogue Korea's turn in their current December issue.

Mainly inspired by the more sinister side of classic tales and contemporary Hollywood hits, can you guess which ones?






(A tad Godfather, if you ask me...)



Fairytales + celebrities = winning Vogue formula.

Check out www.style.co.kr/vogue for more whimsical (or evil) delights.

M.

Inside-Out





If 18, Stafford Terrace wasn't so perfectly preserved then I imagine it would look a little like this now... a cracked chandelier, reams of bunting, a smattering of taxidermy (much to my dismay) and perhaps a real-life horse in the front room?




Images courtesy of KnightCat
J.

Beauty, Where's Your Beast?


J.

Mug shot

Speaking of red shoes, remember these?



A neon-pink cupcake with silver sprinkles to the lucky one who can tell me who these belong to?

Cx

Wednesday 25 November 2009

Early adopters

How could we ever forget Takashi Murakami for Louis Vuitton?





The Fall

The Fall is a film about a young girl in a hospital who meets a paralysed former Hollywood stuntman who is kind enough to entertain her with the most imaginative and exciting stories. The stories become darker and darker while we start question the stuntman's motifs, and we are kept fascinated by the out-of-this world visuals and settings. The film was filmed all over the world and took several years to finish because the director and producer Tarsem (who worked on Lord of the Rings) and Spike Jonze (who directed REM's Losing My Religion) refused to compromise anything, and stayed true to their vision although they ran out of funds on several occasions. I am very grateful for that as this is one of my favourite films.

















Cx

Moon Crazed



Isn't Sarah Moon the most magical name? If you believe in Kabbalah it is not hard to imagine how a woman with a name like that photographs girls like these. Don't they all look like an Alice?










Cx


Living the Life

Based on the Peter Pan far away island, Michael Jackson built a real life fantasy on his ranch Neverland. I read somewhere that he had audio speakers everywhere in the garden so that music would accompany you wherever you went. His favourites was his own music and Disney songs.

Long live the King of Pop!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUgLSx5F5eo&feature=related


Cx

Monday 23 November 2009

Red Shoes Dance Again

Thanks to the help of Martin Scorsese's Film Foundation, the 1948 masterpiece from Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger has been given a new life.  The original film footage was nearly destroyed from years of neglect and only a few reels remained.  A huge success for its time (except in Britain amazingly enough), it created legions of fans year after year, fifty year on, it still is one of the most influential films ever. Even Tim Walker praises the film with being one of the greatest influences in his life and work.



Luckily, it will be showing at  London BFI Southbank, digitally remastered for all to see! Highly recommended. It's extremely beautiful but the story is a little disturbing!



The Red Shoes
25 - 31 Dec 2009 Sun 3:10 PM; Sun - Wed 5:45 PM, 8:20 PM; Wed 2:20 PM

Review on The New York Times website:

Beauty and the Beast

As Miss J has already posted, American Vogue and fairytales go hand in hand.  In the great world of copyrights, I'm sure they would have been sued a thousand times over by now.  However, they make beautiful images so thank god fairytales are in the public domain. Just wish Disney would dress up the cartoons just as nice as Vogue's leading ladies!



A Thorny Problem. Vogue April 2005, shot by Anne Leibovitz.

R.

Wonderland


Once Upon a Tree by Maureen Valfort
If you're looking to while away an afternoon in a slightly more productive way than usual then the V&A's Museum of Childhood promises a 'dark and magical world' at its Wonderland exhibition. With more than 80 artworks including classics like The Ugly Duckling ( the story of my life, although I'm still waiting on that swan part) and Pinocchio, they have it all covered. Whether you prefer a cautionary tale of grisly morals or a little romance in your search for the perfect fairytale ending a touch of childhood reminiscing never did anyone any harm.


The Reflection by Katja Rosenberg
What's more, it's totally free, and seeing as it's right at the end of our road you can always pop round straight after...

Real Boy by Kim Jenkins
Wonderland
26th September - 10th January
J.

The Witching Hour


If you fancy recreating i-D's 'Witches, Wizards and Magic' editorial then gather your covern and head for the nearest overgrown wood. Preferably just as light is starting to break to achieve a similar hollow-eyed and haunted effect. The whole winter 'Flesh and Blood' issue is devoted to our favourite topic of fairytales but as always a little darker and slightly off kilter. I think the Olsen twins have been taking notes.
i-D Magazine Winter 2009
The Flesh and Blood Issue
J.

Wednesday 18 November 2009

MoMa ♥ Tim Burton

As if we don't hear enough about Tim Burton as it is, last night the MoMa previewed its retrospective on the director.  Inventively titled 'Tim Burton', the exhibition features Burton's work as 'a director, producer, writer and concept artist...fiction writer, photographer and illustrator...student...storyteller and graphic artist'.  Long.



I'm not a huge fan of Timmy B. but it looks like a fun experience nonetheless.

And yes, Johnny Depp was obviously there.  As were the Olsen twins...

22 November 2009 - 26 April 2010
http://www.moma.org/visit/calendar/exhibitions/313

M.

Tuesday 17 November 2009

Yang Du

Whilst leafing through some of my old mags for research ideas, I came across an article in Dazed & Confused (Vol. 2 Issue #67 November 2008 p34) about Yang Du, who graduated from the MA Fashion course from Central Saint Martin’s last year. Her surreal vision and animal costume-like dresses seem appropriate for our exhibition.


Maybe we should invite 'Agyness' to our mad hatter's tea party, she seems like good craic!


I'm thinking a post-modern version of Alice


This image just reminded me of the weird horse hoof that the sambourne's have on display in their house


F.B

Fairy Godmother's Dress

This is exactly what I imagine Cinderella's fairy godmother would have worn when playing dress up with her magic wand.





Cx

Monday 16 November 2009

Tim Burton Presents...

All this talk of Alice in Wonderland but alas, no trailer!  Released on 5 March 2010, here it is for those who are yet to see it...



Thoughts?

M.

Rapunzel, Rapunzel, Let Down Your Hair


Whilst waiting for S.B. outside the Topshop changing rooms (a regular occurence I'm sure she will agree!) I became a little transfixed with a long haired lovely getting a blow dry in the Hersheson mini-salon. Gazing across the 'menu' I spotted this NEW look, the 'Alice in Wonderland'. Maybe in a few years I'll be able to fix this myself...or perhaps a few hair pieces to cure my Rapunzel complex.
J.

Saturday 14 November 2009

Hansel & Gretel




You can always trust American Vogue to dress up a good fairytale.  First Natalia as Little Red Riding Hood, and now a flame haired Gretel in the form of our very own Lily Cole.  Any guesses as to who the Wicked Witch is?  I think the Marc Jacobs pants and flash of peroxide give old Lady G-G away.  Perhaps their set designer would like to give us a hand on Stafford Terrace?
'Little Girl & Boy Lost' US Vogue, December 2009
J.