So I booked a ticket for the SHOWStudio: Fashion Revolution exhibition at Somerset House a few weeks ago, expecting to be able to view the photoshoot that Nick Knight was going to do with supermodel/supermom/super-activist Natalia Vodianova (omgomg!) that day. But to my dismay, when I arrived that evening after class, I was told that the shoot had ended many hours earlier than scheduled, mainly because they found *the shot* ages ago before that. Oh well, I was offered a complimentary ticket for another day where they would be having a photoshoot, and I decided to go on the 20th.
Observing the shoot was a little underwhelming, mainly because there was a lot of waiting going on while the makeup artists worked on the lone model's face. And because it was a face shoot, there was nothing going on in terms of any cool garments either :( The rest of the exhibition made up for it though.
viewing the shoot from a one-sided mirrored window (but if you went quite close to the window pane they were able to see you, as J and I found out when one of the hairstylists waved at us haha)
Transformer: The Bridegroom Stripped Bare
Alexander McQueen, 2002
Nick Knight has realized many really creative projects with SHOWStudio and it's rather inspiring. I still remember stumbling upon the pattern for a kimono jacket designed by McQueen on there, with free download and instructions, and getting really excited about how that made higher fashion accessible to the masses who might not be able to afford typical designer clothes. The exhibition featured pieces submitted by people who gave the pattern (among others) a go with their own interpretation of fabrics. Awesome.
There was also a video on playback featuring the creative process that McQueen undertook to transform a model dressed as a bridegroom into a 'bride'. Even if they did dress it up a bit (I doubt he usually works with wind and sequins?) it was still nice seeing him in frenzied cutting and painting action.
Gareth Pugh made his face up several times before he was satisfied with his Halloween get-up...
There were also conversations with Vivienne Westwood and other fashion luminaries that were fun to watch, a dark room with dark but beautiful illustrations by Julie Verhoeven, and sections dedicated to Rei Kawakubo and John Galliano. I really liked it.
If you haven't already been to this one, do make a booking! Nick Knight's doing photoshoots with various creative celebrities from now til December 20th. See here: http://www.somersethouse.org.uk/fashion/showstudio/1067.asp
And while you're at it, you might as well book an evening at the ice rink too! With the Tiffany tree.
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