matthew stone | cheriecity.co.uk

Designers, Fashion, London, London Fashion Week

LFW SS12: Michael Van der Ham

September 22, 2011 by cheriecity

Michael Van der Ham is one of London’s most promising new designers and the anticipation of each collection has brought an international crowd. The BFC are a constant presence at his shows (a good sign of support) and the front row was scattered with the likes of Sarah of Colette, Hamish Bowles, Anna Dello Russo and Lulu Kennedy.

A long way from the crushed velvet and jewel colours of Autumn/Winter 11-12, the new collection is a breezy mix of sheer silk-chiffon and heavier tweed and shimmering brocade in a fresh palette of azure, coral, turquoise, magenta, lavender, navy and lashings of white.

A key influence for Van der Ham was the photographer Joseph Szabo, not in relation to the style or fabric, but the kind of girl he was designing for. A teacher, photographer and author, Szabo is known for capturing the beauty and emerging sexuality of teenage girls (back in the 70s, of course).

Michael Van der Ham’s signature patchwork and collaging of vintage and luxurious fabrics with varying weights and textures is developed further. Many of the dresses feature layering and draping of contrasting fabric, like a sash, and silk skirts have the home-made look of a long silk scarf wrapped around the body and sewn up as a dress (a nod to grunge and Szabos young girls).

The A-line shift dresses and body-skimming draped skirts will be a godsend for Michael Van der Ham devotees who found Autumn/Winter’s crushed velvet pieces unforgiving.

The focus on separates continues with vibrant printed silk shirts in slim-cut trousers in cotton sateen and tailored tweed jackets. It’s a pristine, intelligent look with clean lines – feminine yet with a boyish cut.

The new prints including abstract brush strokes, confetti and feather prints are used lightly and seem to snake around the body in a very subtle way. The sheer t-shirts worn over long printed dresses

The dresses usually steal the show, but the shoes and accessories are so insanely gorgeous, they deserve a mention. I adored the two-tone felt and glittery tweed bags with a Chanel-esque woven fabric and metal chain strap.

I immediately zoomed in on the exquisite printed fabric t-bar heels and with good reason too – they were the work of Christian Louboutin! The shoes come in six variations of Michael’s collage prints and are sure to be major sellers.

Matthew Stone created a very cool 90s-inspired show soundtrack and Luke Hersheson gave the models girly grunge-luxe hair that was lightly tousled and centre-parted. The sparkling blue and lavender eye make-up and creamy, lucid skin by M.A.C gave the models a youthful radiance that was central to the look.

Michael Van der Ham’s SS12 collection could be his most commercially successful yet, as the collection is so diverse and democratic. Whether it’s fine tailoring, a multi-fabricated statement dress or a daytime print dress, Michael Van der Ham is the one to invest in for the next season.

For more info, visit: www.michaelvanderham.com

Accessories, Designers, Fashion, London, Shopping, Websites

New Dominic Jones Jewellery at Cocosa

November 21, 2010 by cheriecity

In two short years, Cocosa has become every fashion lover’s best friend, but one of its biggest coups this year has got to be the upcoming Dominic Jones sale.

Dominic Jones’s tough-luxe pieces take inspiration from the dark side of nature – thorns, claws, beetles and fangs. Creating each piece in luxurious 22-carat gold, Dominic Jones makes gothic, romantic accessories insanely covetable!

Fang necklace: Original price – £395, Cocosa’s price – £149, Discount – 62%

Dominic Jones studied Contemporary Jewellery Design at Sir John Cass School of Art and stood out as one of the most promising members of !WOWOW!, the South London art collective.

Dominic’s jewellery caught the attention of Alice Dellal, who became his financial backer, muse and now business partner.

Alice and her model/photographer pals appear in Dominic’s campaigns and have helped shape the hard-edged glam vision of the brand.

Single Claw Ring: Original price – £295, Cocosa’s price – £99, Discount – 66%

Thorn earrings: Original price – £225, Cocosa’s price – £79, Discount – 65%

Tooth ring: Original price – £225, Cocosa’s price – £79, Discount – 65%

Dominic Jones has been given the seal of approval from Anna Wintour and his adoring ambassadors include Beyonce, Vivienne Westwood, Lou Doillon and Sienna Miller.

His designs have even been championed by Sophia Neophitou, who commissioned him to accessorise the AW10 Thierry Mugler show.

Claw Knuckle Duster Ring: Original price – £455, Cocosa’s price – £149, Discount – 67%

Double Claw Ring: Original price – £405, Cocosa’s price – £139, Discount – 66%

Dominic Jones jewellery is available at Cocosa.com from 26th-29th November 2010.

Art, Events, London, News

Frieze Week: Free Art Fair

October 18, 2009 by cheriecity

This is the third and final Free Art Fair, so of course, everyone with a vague to impassioned interest in art flocked to The Barbican to try their luck at winning one of 52 pieces from a range of emerging and established artists.

Marlene Dumas was obviously the big draw, but also on the agenda were artworks by Cathy Lomax, Douglas White, Matthew Stone, Josef O’Connor and Free Art Fair founder Jasper Joffe.

Jasper Joffe

The artworks have been exhibited all week around The Barbican but the big show was the closing gala, with well over 1000 entrants.

Artist Jasper Joffe created the fair as a more democratic response to the extortionate cycle of demanding and paying ridiculous sums for art. Everything is free, everyone can enter and anyone can win, although there was so underlying corruption. Yes, one mean-spirited girl broke the rules and entered possibly a number of times and was rumbled when they drew her name twice in a row – what are the chances! Amazingly, she wasn’t disqualified and probably picked up the Matthew Stone or Josef O’Connor pieces I had my eye on…bitter, moi?

Matthew Stone

The fair’s volunteers drew names out of a barrel and the first 50 went downstairs to pick out their piece. The chosen few are asked to name their first and second choice, but here’s the rubbish part, if your choices have already been taken, they move on to the next person! It must have been crushing for the earlier ‘winners’ when after drawing 100 names, there were still 18 pieces up for grabs.

Free Art Fair

It seems to be pretty unfair, but at least it might keep the works from ending up on ebay, or someone living in a tiny studio being stuck with a giant concrete plinth.

So, the 150th person was called after a tedious wait and sadly neither Steven or I became new art owners, although his lucky art school tutor at Byam Shaw walked away with a piece.

Josef Valentino

Sadly, the Free Art Fair is now no more, but as Jasper said, there’s no reason why anyone can’t start their own free art fair. Lets hope that a well-connected and well-organised art student steps up to the gauntlet, so I might just have a chance to replace those beyond bland IKEA pear prints above my bed – they came with the flat, honest!