Alexandra Shulman - Editor of British Vogue @ London Fashion Week

Couldn't believe it when I spotted Alexandra Shulman at Hix during London Fashion Week. She has been reigning Editor at British Vogue for nearly two decades.

However, until Googling "Alexandra Shulman" today, I had absolutely no idea that her mother is 'modern manners' expert Drusilla Beyfus!  Drusilla's book "Lady Behave - A guide to modern manners for the 1970's" is a treasured favourite. I found my copy - fitfully branded "Glamorgan Education Committee County Libraries", in a Glasgow charity shop a few years ago. Lord only knows why I got into collecting vintage etiquette books, it's not like I was running with diplomats, (not even close) but I did throw the occasional cocktail party and after all, 'tis better to have known the rules and lost...or something like that.

One thing's for sure, Drusilla certainly wouldn't have approved of the lumpen way I approached her daughter for a picture. Therefore, despite Alexandra graciously consenting, I feel I ought to make amends...

Dear Alexandra,

I wish to convey my sincere gratitude for your taking the time, despite my blunderbuss manner, to grant me a picture.

(Please don't tell your mother)

Most gratefully yours,

Style Scanner.

Tasha @ London Fashion Week

Tasha, Assistant at Alexander McQueen.

She reminded me of Debbie Harry, below.

Later the same day I see Tasha in a tartan cape and ask if I can get another picture. When she obliges I walk her over to a dark background. Clearly seen to have 'softened up the subject' I'm suddenly flanked on either side by another two photographers. Now Tasha doesn't know who to look at. It's all turning into a bit of a circus so I momentarily retreat, taking the gamble that having photographed and spoken to her earlier, she'll give me the shot!

Sure enough...

The French House...

Was feeling off duty and enjoying a Kir in The French House when I spied James and Kristofj at the bar, how could I resist...

Interior designer James. D. Dwyer and fashion photographer Kristofj Von Strasss.

Most of their fabulous attire has been sourced from vintage emporium Beyond Retro.

The French House, Soho

Kristofj Von Strass Fashion Photography

"Smut and Moustaches" @ Che Camille...

A collector of vintage sunglasses who has a huge Gaga-esque pair currently winging their way over from Japan.

Totally loved this pair.

Her amazing jumpsuit came from eBay... Meet one half of the queens of vintage, 'Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea', a few of their treasures are currently floating about the rails at Che Camille.

Graeme Kennedy, Interior Design student at Glasgow School of Art, in a Che Camille Harris Tweed jacket designed by Kaye from Hibernate. Interior design fanatics should click here to see Graeme's blog.

A triumphant Jodi McCann moments after her first collection was unveiled, looking resplendent and showcasing one of her own pieces.

Film maker Oskar Jon.

Fashion Designer Lyndsay Pagan from Obscure Couture.

Sculptor and Curator Gary Bolam who's also the Art Director at Che Camille.

The Glasgow based photographer Tommy Ga-ken Wan. Although I was aware of his incredible photography I hadn't met him in person until last night, he was lovely, click here to see Tommy's beautiful images.

Think Christina may have been the only person in the room drinking tea!

Esca, straight off the catwalk, still sporting a Clara Bow pout.

Sean with Stevie who was racing off to catch a night bus to London, he planned to leave his blue facepaint on...Bravehearted indeed.

This is the lovely Jonathan from Les Garcons de Glasgow blog. Looking much more professional than me and now I have major camera envy. Darn it!

Here's designer Clare L Hamilton of Kureaa Besu, beside one of her own creations in grey tweed.

A design by Roz at Che Camille.

Some footage from the show.

Che Camille

"Smut and Moustaches" Fashion Show @ Che Camille

Jodi McCann, who features in my previous post, has kept everyone in suspense over her debut collection. However, all will be revealed this Thursday in the "Smut and Moustaches" fashion show at Glasgow's Che Camille. Above are some sketches of Jodi's designs.

And Jewellery designer Cara Fairbairn will be showcasing her Jazz Age inspired work, which she refers to as 'modern vintage'.

'Tie Chop', an illustration from Emily Chappell's "Star Shaped" collection, also previewing this Thursday.

Oh, and Haleluwah Hits will be caressing your ears with dirty sounds all night long...

So why the Smut and Moustaches title? No idea but I'm guessing it's a reference to the other two elements of the 7pm fashion show...For the boys there will be vintage menswear and for the boys girls, a new collection of lingerie will be unveiled!

11th Feb 7pm prompt.

Click here for tickets. Moustaches optional.

Yves Saint Laurent Fall 2010

I felt the styling at last weeks Yves Saint Laurent menswear show strongly referenced Joy Division's Ian Curtis...

WilliamVintage...

You lucky Londonistas...

The second ever WilliamVintage sale takes place next Tuesday and Wednesday at The Sloane Square Hotel. William Banks-Blaney has collated an astonishing collection of mint condition vintage dresses, coats and sparates, which I somehow feel compelled to coin 'mintage'.

I asked Will for a heads-up on what to expect...

"Everything from Wakely evening dresses to pieces by Dior, Givenchy, Lanvin, Ossie Clark, Pucci, Valentino, and many more designers. Oh, and about a hundred carefully selected 1960s coats, all in pristine condition!".

This is all starting to sound like a dream trolley dash around the V&A!...

£250 gets an original Studio 54 period Stephen Burrows a-line full length dress.

£300ish gets a cashmere and mink 60s Jackie O style swing coat.

£400-600 gets Ossie Clark beauties.

£1200 gets original 63 couture Marc Bohan for Christian Dior!

Damn I wish I could go. Can actually feel a little tantrum welling, I'm not very practiced at them but bet I could throw a spectacular one in a 'cashmere 60s Jackie O swing coat' with matching gloved fists pounding the table! Grrr...

Tuesday 2nd February 12 noon - 8.30pm

Wednesday 3rd February 10am - 8.30pm

The Private Room at The Sloane Square Hotel London, SW1

Cash & cheque only and skilled seamstresses will be on hand for tailoring requirements.

WilliamVintage sale on Facebook

WilliamVintage Online "...just a little something for the 'archive' daaahling...!"

Transient Twilight

I thought I'd perfectly timed this dog walk to enjoy the last of the daylight and had just snapped these pics, when Archie developed an interest in a passing dog. It belonged to a chatty young blind man. By the time we'd covered the gamut of amiable dog owner stuff and were on the subject of camping holidays, it dawned on me that I was still in the heart of the park and the light was fading fast.

Was about to say, "Lovely to meet you but I should be getting on because it's turning dark now" when this suddenly felt like a tactless thing to say to someone who's blind, so, instead I said,"Lovely to meet you but I should be getting on, or I'll be late".

And how did he reply? "Was nice to talk to you, I'll SEE you later"...

Must stop being so politically correct!

I know my pictures make it look like I've been 'night walking' but it honestly wasn't quite that dark.

Stumbled on this beautiful image yesterday and found it captivating twilight-ish, it's from the latest Filep Motwary and Maria Mastori collection. I do love twilight - even the word itself, such a shame those bloody vampires pinched it. Alexander McQueen, below, also appears to be channeling the gloaming.

The Common Guild

Have to admit, it's slightly intimidating ringing the doorbell of this place.

But hey, life's too short to be shy...

A friendly girl answers the door, "Hi, please come in - are you a neighbour?

"Well, just down the hill", I offer.

"Oh great, Kitty's in the library, just go straight through and have a glass of wine." (Result!).

Turns out the gallery have invited their neighbours in the street for drinks and a tour tonight.

Winning the Turner prize clearly has advantages, Douglas Gordon's Glasgow home is a generous Victorian town house on Park Circus. However all he keeps to himself is the top floor, the rest is turned over to The Common Guild, an exhibition space which hosts local and international artists.

'Chaplet' (2007).

Up to the first floor and what looks like barbed wire is revealed to be a sequence of fingerprints on the mirror. The literature suggests that it references the invisible barriers within contemporary society which risk destroying the possibility of individual freedom...

'Diamond Corn' (2005)

'Ciel Variable' (Changing Skies) is written on the ceiling with a burning candle.

Today and Tomorrow (Saturday 23rd) from 12-5pm are the last days of this current exhibition.

This room on the ground floor is primarily an art resource library, and weirdly, each book Douglas ever buys for himself also gets a place here. Way above all the weightier stuff I spied some Iain Rankin, Practical Homeopathy and a Rough Guide to Paris!

The contents might look nothing out of the ordinary but one private collector thinks enough of this library to maintain a continually updated replica of the entire collection.

What's incredible is that the library, like the gallery, is for the people and anyone can come and make use of it. There's also a fine collection of art periodicals which can be hard to track down and pricey when you do.

Fortune favours the bold...

The Common Guild