Her name was Coco

A Saturday afternoon film is always a treat, and one involving fashion and my fave, Audrey Tautou was one not to be missed. The Times review treated Anne Fontaine’s Coco before Chanel with suspicion and accused it of scraping the surface, which I must admit it did. It did however, show the feisty Gabrielle Bonheur for Chanel SS09. nicknamed Coco, as a fierce feminist who wanted more than a shallow marriage and mundane life. A love story at best, Coco before Chanel documents the rags-to-riches story of a fashion legend, and if nothing else highlights how fashion forward her thinking really was. When women of the time were wearing uncomfortable skirts to ride their horses sideways, Coco borrowed men's pants and jumped on like a man. She swerved the fussy, hoar look of the era, opting to make her own elegant but plain designs. I came away a little disappointed with the film, but definitely not in the back-story to a designer that clearly deserves her place as a huge influence on 20th-century fashion.

Netflix.com DVD

Pictorial ShowBoat

At a recent Slow Club gig in central London, I stumbled across a small hand-made comic entitled Pictorial Showboat. Attracted by the striking cover, I handed over my 3 quid and was quickly approached by a mild-mannered guy who said, "Did you just buy my comic?" Always happy to support struggling creative types, I was obviously very excited to meet the creator of such a masterpiece. "You made this," I said, "Yeah I did.." he replied, and so, I was introduced to the talent that is Mr Tom J.Newell.

When did you create Pictorial ShowBoat?

I was drawing it all for about six months, and I got it printed up and released in a few shops about a month ago. I lived in Sheffield when I first started it, but when I looked up after finishing the last page I discovered that I'd moved down to London, which was nice.

You have a very distinct style of illustration, which illustrators have inspired you?

I've answered this question a few times recently, so I'm gonna take a different angle especially for your Blog and reveal my earliest artistic influences, who were probably everyone else's too but they never really get the props they deserve cos of their credibility and stuff... Anyway, this is a big shout out to Tony Hart, Rolf Harris and Neil Buchanan. If it wasn't for my mum and dad and these three guys (especially Rolf) I would've never got hooked on drawing as much as I did. I think a bit later on my passion was fuelled by stuff like Uncle Pigg's 'Oink!' comic and Simon Bisley's 'A.B.C Warriors' in 2000AD, and most recently I'm just in awe of the work of Charles Burns.

Tell me a bit about the work you have done for the band Slow Club and your involvement with Stool Pigeon magazine?

I've just done a gig poster for Slow Club which turned out really well, and I might be designing some kind of logo for them soon too. I think they're great so it's nice to have some stuff associated with them.

With the Stool Pigeon thing, I just sent the art director of the magazine bits of the comic as I was working on it and he was really into it, so now I get a little something featured every month.

I hear you have designed some pieces for the opening of the John Richmond store in Paris, how did you get the gig?

One of their design team got hold of Pictorial Showboat and it just went from there! I've decorated these replica skulls with old school tattoo designs based on some artwork from one of their collections, and they’re gonna be on permanent display in their new Paris store.. sweet!

What is the future for Tom Newell?

Tom 'J' Newell.. I'd never used my middle initial before, but I had to flip it out for my website name cos 'tomnewell.com' had already been taken by some guy who once caught a lobster and thought it'd be a good enough reason to create a website that pretty much only consisted of a photo of him and the lobster that he once caught!

Anyway, I'm just gonna keep on drawing things I think. I've got a lot of the second issue of the comic planned out in my head, but I'm gonna start transferring it to paper soon in case anything happens to my head. The immediate future for me is that I'm gonna make a sandwich when I've finished typing this, which I'm really looking forward to, so a short answer to this last question would've been.. 'Drawing and Sandwiches' (but not in that order)
..Which would actually be an awesome name for my autobiography.

For more of Tom J. Newell's creations go to http://www.tomjnewell.com/show.html
Also, you're life will not be complete until you have heard Slow Club's new album, Yeah So. http://www.myspace.com/slowclub

A print-perfect summer

We’re set for a hot hot summer which makes shopping for the holiday season even more fun. Designers of the moment have treated us to a feast of vibrant geometric prints and bead-embellished treasures for SS09. For beachwear inspiration cast an eye over David Saunders’s show-stopping collection of paintbox bright bikinis and kaleidoscopic-print dresses. www.daviddavid.co.uk Vintage lovers can pick up an original Pucci print at www.Yoox.com where a select collection dating back to the sixties can be bought online over the next two months. For a modern Pucci twist slip into their fun statement swimsuit for a look that will create maximum impact by the beach. It’s probably better suited to Barbados than Skeggy, so choose your audience wisely.
The mere mortals among us can make like Gok and pick up a designer inspired wardrobe at a fraction of the price. Try Miss Selfridge for floral mini dresses, H & M and Zara for beautiful printed maxi dresses and good old Topshop for a cheeky designer rip-off. www.pretaportobello.com is also super for summer day dresses. So, don’t be a war flower this summer, be bold, be pretty in print.

Famous in the blogging sphere..

A little link to keep you going..

http://tinker-tailor-soldier-sailor.co.uk/2009/06/19/music-to-write-to-the-fashion-office-recommends/

Blogging is the new black

Susie Bubble


If you haven’t got a blog of some sort, you really need to sort it out and get with the times. At work today I exchanged blog addresses with three of the girls I work with, and not one of them disappointed me. Their blogs led me to find out that my desk companion is a secret DJ, one has a flare for making videos and the other has the eye of a magpie when it comes to finding the most random delights on the web.
A blog is a creative platform for all the things you’d like to write about, but editorial jobs generally don’t cater for. You can experiment, refine your personal writing style and learn from your fellow bloggers. If you’re really good you can make like Susie Bubble and form a pretty successful fashion journalism career from the luxury of your bedroom.
Never underestimate the power of the blog...The cyber world is your oyster!

Tokyo Street Style

The recent Street Fashion issue of Dazed Japan features a mixed bag of the city’s coolest fashionista’s. Tokyo is a city that lives and breathes fashion, and celebrates style in an eccentric, fun and lively way. The photos in this issue weren’t shot by photographers, but on mobile phones and sent in to the magazine. My favourite is the girl with the bob. I like to think I’d be that cool if I lived in Japan.

London loves Lycra

I don’t remember her the first time round but I hear Pam Hogg, designer and member of the Hoggdoll’s, is doing some pretty nifty 80s gear down at her newly opened store on Newburgh Street in Soho.
Known for her rebellious fashion sense in the 70s and 80s, Hogg returned to London fashion week last February with her first catwalk show in ten years. Combining rock ‘n’ roll with a twist of punk her collection didn’t disappoint with skintight bodysuits, backcombed hair, fluorescent Lycra and glitter platforms.
The new store sits just a few yards away from her original 80s location, promising printed I-con T-shirts, revival pieces and of course, the Hoggdoll’s latest CD. I was pretty gutted to have missed the opening. The London Paper printed the date wrong, so thank you TLP for ruining my chance of meeting a fashion legend!

Watch the LFW show here http://www.telegraph.co.uk/lifestyle/lifestylevideo/?bcpid=1911416382&bctid=13940536001

News Flash

I didn't want to believe the news but today I found out that the golden couple, yes, Katie and Peter Andre are no more. If you don't believe me the Times released this statement today; "Peter Andre and Katie Price are separating after 4½ years of marriage. They have both requested that the media respect their families’ privacy at this difficult time."

http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/celebrity/article6267370.ece

Blast from the past

I went to see La Clique in Leicester Square last week, and one of the acts involved a large black guy, opera singing in a ruffled dress that reminded me of a cupcake doll I had when I was little. They doubled up as a doll and a cake and they smelt like strawberries. Funny though...I don't remember it being so ugly!