Excuse 1: Jonny Woo for Wound Magazine

Without sounding like “that” kid at school (you know the one at school who always made excuses for everything), I feel that I need to blog about some of the things I have been up to. Just to validate my month long sietsta from blogging. Its not on, but I have been tres busy. Working myself ragged. So I was approached by Wound magazine to make a costume for Jonny Woo, the performance artist and drag act, for a guerilla activity they were filming for an event. The event was the launch of Wound Digital, Wound media’s online digital output where readers can read a digital format of the magazine as well as download a Wound iPhone application. Anyway, my job was to design the costume for Jonny for a wild goose chase from the ICA to the Wound office where Jonny would be chase by fashionisto’s all through Trafalgar Square, Leicester Square, China Town, parts of Soho and ending in Covent Garden. The event was a success apart from a minor glitch with sound and lighting… Here are the pictures, I think you will find the goose costume is pretty fabulous!

WILD GOOSE CHASE - Jonny Woo from PRICKIMAGE on Vimeo.

Ill be A|wear-ing it!

A new brand and a new means of myself squandering my hard-earned cash on much needed frivolous fashion has recently come under my radar. By new I mean recently under my radar. Said brand that I have been shouting high and low to anyone that would listen, is Dublin based womenswear fashion brand a rival to Topshop as I have been told by those who know A|wear. The season of Christmas press day came and went almost as silently as that proverbial tree falling in an empty forest, if I wasn’t there it didn’t happen. I did manage to make time from shooting, writing and costume making… (blog post to come) to pop over to the Yellow-Door press day (Yellow door deal with my favourite of favourites Acne)- Would I have missed that for anything? The answer is no, not for a thing!

A|wear “a high street brand with a boutique heart” really did impress me with the directional and on trend pieces on show, items similar to that of fashion forward Topshop but at a fraction of the price. In the showroom my wide open eyes darted from a fitted blood red winter coat to a Chanel style cardigan and I am happy to say I am now also the owner of my very own piece of A|wear. This lovely studded clutch. I feel like I am part of something new and exciting. If anyone asks me where did you get that bag, I will say with pride A|wear!



Here is a top 5 of key items I will be after in the next coming weeks:







Tell your friends!

Inside the style of Robin Rigoulet from the RGBs

A few months ago, myself and along with Holly Falconer (photographer) and Bella Cruikshank (Make up artist), worked together to create some images for a newish and upcoming band called The RGBs. I worked with Holly and the band to build a set and also get the right clothes and props that suited and reflected their style as fashionable young, cool and hip (i hate that word...hip!) musicians. I think we did a good job! After meeting with the band i decided to set up an interview with Robin the only guy of the band with Buckstyle. He had a great style and really interesting clothes.

Article and interview written for Buckstyle

Styling and words by Celia-Jane Ukwenya. Photography by Holly Falconer.

The RGB’s are constantly described as a ‘fem-pop quartet’; Becky, Claire, Harriet and Robin. But, Robin is not a ‘fem’. A dapper dandy with an adventurous style, Buckstyle delves deep into the wardrobe of the only man of the band and talks cyber hippies, Zion and stealing his girlfriends clothes.

So tell us a bit about the way you dress…

At the moment I like to think that I follow what I call the ‘Zion’ style (ha-ha! totally made up). I watched The Matrix again about a year ago and loved what they wear in the original city. The Cyber hippies are ecological, economical, and technologically advanced. I am also into the back to basics sort of thing … nice materials, nice colors, weird shapes, very earthy, very green.

Do you have a favourite item of clothing at the moment?

My girlfriend’s hat! We just got back from France where it was really sunny. I just nicked it one day and haven’t taken it off since. It’s great to feel that the summer is finally here! It’s like the first day of the year wearing shorts at school.

What is your most experimental item of clothing you have ever bought?

I got this handmade pair of trousers from a local shop on brick lane the other day (and I never buy expensive stuff usually); they have the longest crotch on them and skinny legs. I’ve been watching them for quite some time and hesitated to get them. No regrets, they’re very comfortable.

As well as Brick Lane, where do you buy most of your clothes?

I usually buy what I like (or can afford) no matter what the shop is really. I went to American Apparel quite a bit when it first opened on Curtain Road. I used to work across the road and the people working there use to give us massive discounts. It was really nice of them, but that time has gone unfortunately! I haven’t bought any clothes for quite some time actually. A few brands have been really kind to let us take some of their stuff away recently, such as Lee Jeans.

Would you say you had a favorite shop or designer?

I still haven’t found anywhere that makes Zion cloths! (If anyone knows?) Charity shops are great! And it’s a great way to recycle too. It will always make me feel good when I buy something in one of them; very cheap, helps someone, and is good for the environment! The charity shops in posh cities are the best.

Do you find you are more adventurous in your dressing being in a predominantly female band?

Ha-ha! No, not really. But I’ve worn Claire’s skinny jeans a couple of times. I use to have fun with black face paint for a while as well; I got the bottom half of my face painted for our Everlaster video about a year ago.

Do you find your music influences your sense of style?

Hmm.. We play music that isn’t really surfing any fashion styles at the moment so it’s hard to say. Becky always wears crazy leotards and the rest of us just go with the flow I guess, nothing too serious.

Do you have a style icon, or someone or somewhere that influences the way you dress?

Everyone around me really, especially being in London. There’s a shop window on everyone’s shoulders.

Do you have any fashion tips?

Go with your instinct and don’t try too hard to look like someone else.

You can hear more of the RGBs at www.MySpace.com/thergbs. Over the summer the RGBs are concentrating on writing and recording new music, and playing festivals (they have already done the Great Escape and Glastonbury this year). They play Lovebox at 12.45 this Sunday afternoon – all details here www.lovebox.net

Robin is also drum technician and replacement drummer for Florence and the Machine. He also plays drums in Delooze.

My First: Video shoot- "Brave New World"

So i arrived back from Paris and Milan a week ago, tired and a bit dazed, but had no choice and was plunged straight back into the thick of it. While in Paris and Milan, as well as all the shows and reports and filming and editing, there was also the premiere of my first video shoot to organise. I began working with film maker James Yeoman over a month ago after i had seen his behind the scene video he had produced for the Dazed Digital website. After looking at his other videos, i tracked him down via the interweb, i was totally blown over by his work. We began working on an idea and theme for one of Buckstyle's AW09 major trend. I did the creative direction working on getting the right models, the perfect location, writing the script alongside Jim, and of course all the styling. The shoot had to reflect the AW09 trend that YSL, Prada, Hugo by Hugo Boss, Raf Simons showed on the catwalk, the mood of security and protection, a futuristic matrix style ambience. Alongside those brands, i also called in high street and vintage brands like Topman, H&M and The East End Thrift Store. Colours and shades are dark, footwear is high topped and hard wearing, details include straps, studs and exposed zips . A post apocalyptic feeling was portrayed with models Alex Jermy and Holly Dormon, seemingly trapped in a decaying deserted world exploring survival.

This video is going to be a first of many video shoots to come out of myself and also Buckstyle. As the title suggests, it is a new medium which is relatively new. But i am so excited to begin working on it.... Hope you like the film.

Styled and Creative Direction Ceila-Jane Ukwenya
Filmed and Edited by James Yeomans
Hair and Make up by Sarah Barrow
Stylist Assistant: Jack Cassidy
Many thanks to The Pidgeon Wing studio

Best dressed woman of 2 weekends ago (PFW)... Nell Trotter

My week in Paris left me constantly meeting stylish people. The men are so well dressed and look so on the money in terms of the right garbs and the right way of throwing them together and the girls all have that insouciant Parisian style. I have seen a lot of high waisted peg-leg trousers and vintage style shoes. It has left me slightly questioning my daily attire. After the Qasimi show, i started chatting to the lovely PR Nell. She is not from Paris but certainly hold her own in the style ranks over here, just check out all her amazing accessories...

Bag- Basso & Brooke.

Skull Cuff- Great Frog

Pink stoned ring- John Hardy

Leopard ring- Accessorize

Necklace- Tom Binns

I literally want all of those accessories... I am now going to find a way of tracking every last one down, starting with that Chanel/McDonald's number- (Super swoon!)

Hugo by Hugo Boss video

This was one of my fayourite shows, very nautical! Loved everything...

More videos to come...

Day 8 Outfit...

My typical Parisiene sailor look! Hahahaha! And the lovely Eiffell tower. Tres Bon!

Earings- Topshop
Jumpsuit- Absolutely Vintage
Necklace- Jean Charles de Castelbajac
Bangles- Various places
Watch- Casio
Sunglasses- Miu Miu
Bag- Gap

Video & Interview -Backstage at Burberry Prorsum

Video filmed and edited by me...




Congratulations on the show and congratulations on your MBE…
Oh, thank you very much
How are you feeling after the show?
I am feeling very good, I am literally running to London tonight because I am moving tomorrow morning, so there is a lot going on, but it’s a lot of fun.
What was the starting point for designing this collection, did you have a type of man in mind or a character or theme you were designing for?
Not really a character, I liked the idea of starting the show with rain and ending on sunshine, so I started with the waxed coats and quilted jackets, and ending all all the soft pastel colours, I wanted it to end in a really joyous way
The colours were a real strong point, as well as the pastels you showed primary colours in the sportswear pieces…
I wanted to intersect the whole show with Burberry Sport label which I launched about 9 months ago. I am just so excited about it, it just felt like the right moment to do something on the runway for it, with all the bright reds and cobalt blues.
So will you be pushing the sport element a bit more?
Yes, its something I love and I have got a big exciting project I am working on at the moment and launching next year.

Buckstyle First: Interview with Masataka Matsumara, Creative Director of Giuliano Fujiwara

Click here to go to the Buckstyle site.
Video filmed and edited by me...

Linda Farrow and a Large rabbit at Tranoi

Before the Tim Hamilton show i had the chance to pop into Tranoi, a trade show for designers to present their SS10 collections . I ended up at Linda Farrow with Melanie Crete trying on the most outrageous sunglasses and posing in front of the mirror and camera, trying to fake spontaneity... Hahaha! Could have had ours of fun...!

I had seen these earlier in the day at Gaspard YurkievichA Linda Farrow for Bernhard Wilhelm pair, looking rediculous on me

Melanie looking fabulous

Yes, and a large rabbit! Surreal!

Shoes at Louis Vuitton

Yesterday i popped into the Louis Vuitton building in central Paris for a press appointment to have a close inspection of the SS10 collection and i was not let down. The collection was so strong with fantastic pops of colour. The collection was based around couriers in the city and how they are very much like urban butterflies. There was a butterfly print running through the collection and a vein like pattern on jackets. Colours were bright and poppy- New York Taxi yellows and orange-y reds. The accesories were really something that stood out in the collection to me. Here is a selection of my favourites:A strappy gladiator style that i have been going on about, they are absolutely everywhere. These remind me of comfortable, tourist-y walking/hiking shoes. Pair these with white socks or a pair of Happy Socks for a new take on geek chic. There was also a similar pair in black...

These are incredible. They are sequined shoe, but the colour is interchangeable. Wipe your hand over the shoe to one side and its silver and the wipe it the other way and they are black. I have not seen this done on shoes before. Very clever. I hope these will become very popular. I certanly wil try and use them in an editorial. Myself and the PR did chuckle that they are very Michael Jackson, i hope that wasn't insensitive.

These are stunning. From the front they look like regular shoes from the front, but this magic pop of colour on the heel is fantastic.

Minimal strap sandals

I loves the choice of colour of these metallic/pearl finish lace up shoes. I particularly like the gold coloured ones...

A full show report of the show on Buckstyle coming soon.

Bears at the Walter Van Bierendonck show

The Walter Van Bierendonck show was a really fun production, with a great choice of models i am sure you will agree. The bears were all really nice as i caught up with a few of them after the show. They were cast from all over the world by Walter himself from a Facebook posting. Great colours from the collection, a typical Bierendonck show.

Paree Paree Jour 1

So Day one in Paris has been more action packed than a smack in the face from the Hulk. Yesterday began relatively early with the Issey Miyake show in the morning. This was their first catwalk show in a while and was presented in the Issey Miyake shop. This was very intimate with only 7 UK press attending. The show saw a turkish influence running throughout it, with brigh clashing colours and those backless pointy shoes you find in the east Mediterranean . I would really love to see a trend with those shoes really shine through, i think they are so perculiar. Next show was my favourite of the whole day, the Hugo Boss show. The collection was so perfect with white, navy and blue being the key colours. Hints and pops of red and gold appeared now and again, spelling the most prefect nautical inspired collection. Lines were so clean, and details were bang on the money, and the shoes were gladiator sandles. Bruno Pieters the designer for Hugo really did a fantastic job, living up to the high expectations he had left me with after last years show.Elliott and Steve looking dapper on the second row.Elauen and Chris from Atttitude magazine saying "hullo".

Shorts and cable knit look, look at the shoes!

One of my favourite looks, but there were so many and such little blog space.
(I did film a video for Buckstyle, so look out for it on the site, i'll let you know once i have edited it and its ready, the show is so impressive).

So we left the show all in high spirits and with a unison agreement that we all loved the show and are met with this fellow on the train. I always find the buskers in Paris on a different level to London. They normally get onto the actual train and typically play the accordion, violin or in this case, a saxophone. I felt like i was in Amelie or any other French film. Tres bon.

The next show was Juun J which showed a continued collaboration with bag makers Chris and Tibor. The collection showed lots of sheer garments: gauze organza layered over shorter length shorts was a typical look, as well as sheer fabric over or under shorts, trenchcoats and blazers. I am really loving the sheer trend emerging, i have almost exhausted it already in my American Apparel sheer black top i am pictured in below. This show also presented a more sporty gladiator style sandal, or a cut out high-top if you will. These are absolutely everywhere, one to watch.

Look at the shoes

Next stop was an appointment at Yves Saint Laurent to see the collection and a short film by Samuel Benchetrit. Stefano's starting point for the show was exploring shape and line. Jackets were cropped and in some places deconstructed, t-shirts and cardigans were long coming up to the mid-thigh to the knee. Show report to come up later today with images of the full collection and the short film on Buckstyle plus a video filmed and edited by yours truely. I found these marvellous pretties at YSL, they look like the menswear answer to 'those' cage shoes i love!

Amazing right?

Next stop was Gaspard Yurkevich and after been shown to our seat on the front row, i spotted this other front row beauty directly opposite me.

Amazing fashion accessory, i should have brought Bernie with me...

The show was really fresh, with crop cuts and fresh navy, and beige colours with the odd reflector fabric. Gaspard also showed a perculiar t-shirt with an American football style shoulders, really exagerrated and oversized. Elliott manages to get a backstage interview with Gaspard after the show, look out for it on Buckstyle...

The deep V trend and sleeveless jacket trend continues...

Next stop, Jean Paul Gaultier. The show is set in the JPG HQ in Paris. The huge venue was packed out with people but surprisingly the front and second row were not oversubscribed with bums on seats. Seated directly opposite me: Carine Roitfeld and Tim Blanks...! Joined later (half way throught the show) by newly brunnette Fergie and Apl.de.ap of Black Eye Pea fame... The show was what you would expect from JPG, as always with the sailor influences, male models walking down the runway in tube tops aka boob tubes, Skorts (a shorts and skirt hybrid) and full on skirts. Apart from some of the shocking show pieces, there were some good pieces; I loved the wide leg loose fitting trousers he showed and the full dipped in colour look with a model wearing head to toe bright orange-y red (that red glow below).

Video of Jean Paul Gaultier to come on Buckstyle

My Day 1 outfit in Paris...Photographed by Facehunter outside the Hugo Boss show

The day ended with a party at the Ritz in Paris celebrating the new menswear brands at Harrods, a lovely party and a nice opportunity to catch up with some of the other fashion journalists in Paris although the night was slightly tainted by the news of Michael Jacksons death. Upon leaving the Ritz and en-route to the Henrik Vibskov after party, it was hyper-real having Parisienes stopping you in the street and franticly asking: 'ave you "erd, Michael Jackson es ded...!" Surreal. Its Day 2 now, and will post on todays happenings later...

More trends to write home about:
Deep V
The loss of the shirt
Red
One colour form top to toe- 'dipped in colour'
Sporty gladiator sandals/Cut out hi-tops everywhere
More back packs
Pattern- especially Batik and Ikat patter
Sheer fabrics

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