“Inc-RED-ible BAFTAs!”

 

Enjoy the view…

… This recent encouragement had stuck in my spirit…

… remained suspended, until the opportunity for the right view, came along…

… that being, a behind-the-scenes perspective of one of the most exciting nights of creative recognition, namely, the British Academy of Film & Television Arts Awards.

My view would begin at the Royal Festival Hall..

Sacred home to so many endeavours of artistry, from stage to screen… embracing space of the consummately classic and cutting-edge contemporary… sprawling venue for live, sonic experiences and intimate poetic expression. It is the epitome of an environment, which nurtures, both, the organic and site-specific nature of multidisciplinary invention…

… and, against the backdrop of a rich, aquamarine sky, backlit by piercing dawn sunrays, the milk-white hue of this hallowed building was, extraordinarily stunning.

Taking each step from Belvedere Road, a lively throng of fellow Arts-enthusiasts, was the chorus which greeted me… All in, animated, wait, anticipating a day which, as an observer, could not be planned for, simply, witnessed…

… and, as ever, my curiosity was piqued…

Who were they? Where had their respective journeys started? I had to dive in… and expeditiously learnt, that they hailed from Suffolk, on the 6.a.m. train… Essex, on the earliest train, possible… from all points, on the Central London compass, and beyond, by road and rail… and, like me, had a feeling that on this day, this place was the place to be.

Time seemed to decelerate…

… as if we were, now, suspended in our own BAFTA bubble… Hoardings had gone up, queues, were growing tails of eager-beaver, red-carpet connoisseurs and devotees of the stars, great and good, belonging to this wonder-world of the business called “show”..

… But who would, actually, show up, was still a mystery…

Revelations had been stoking the social-media engines and, on inquiring, as to whom the admirers would most love to see, it was a delight to hear that so many had come to support them all… although, after an eagle-eyed sweep of the clustering column, I did spot a number of tell-tale fan T-Shirts!

***

The sun had been steadily moving… as had the lines… The security, kindly, with the definitive air of authority, had kept us informed of entrance procedures and the Southbank, itself, had become a veritable hive of activity, with the Royal Festival Hall, the, unrivalled, Queen Bee…

Not only was the BAFTA buzz growing louder, by the second, not only were passing tourists approaching, to discover just, exactly, what the electric atmosphere was about, but whispers were becoming squeals of glee, when rumours became online confirmation, of attending A-Listers..

… For my part, the fashion was a distinct draw…

Gowns, from the extravagant to the excessive, were sure to make their appearances… Suits, from the understated, to the uber-o.t.t, would, most certainly, demand airtime… From up-do’s through tutu’s, slick-backs, to short-back and sides.. I was about the glamour, dahhhh-ling and I wasn’t going home, without it!

… And, before we knew it, the moment had come, to be the preliminary steppers upon the tapis rouge! Around the corner, ensconced by BAFTA-emblazoned hoardings, we made like legends-in-our-own-lunchtimes, into designated audience areas… and so began one of the most intense rollercoaster rides, in my living memory!

In a heartbeat, talk began, as to the best vantage point for selfies, the best arm position for selfies, how to lean and get your best side… for selfies… Followed by, from which direction the guests would come… then, how to get the full autograph-album completed, how to get an artist’s attention… There was serious strategy… and I was bowled-over… because, you couldn’t plan for this sort of day… or could you?!!

… From that point on, I observed..

I took it all in…

… and re-ran what had just transpired, to even arrive in the viewing gallery…

We had walked past the Press area, opposite, which was ready for representatives of allotted broadcasting outlets… Looking upwards, were 360-degree cameras, lids down, waiting to wake, and rapidly, blink-to-attention, at the celebrity procession, which would, first, be met by the beat of the step-and-repeat.. and, of course, the prestige courtesy-car, arrival area… which would be the last port-of-call, for last-minute wardrobe adjustments and last-minute calm, before the inevitable screaming-storm!

At the sun’s zenith, they streamed in, as it streamed down… and the V.I.P-count did not disappoint… U.K. to U.S., they hailed… From, soap, to stage, to big-screen… from daytime, to night-time, they adorned the red-carpet and, to be frank, were adored, by the most ear–splitting meet-and-greet welcomes, I have, ever, heard!

Presenters, were mic’d-up and ready to go..

… as homegrown casts appeared, in speedy succession… and the dawn chorus began to call a who’s-who of names… and the, now-perfected selfie poses, were editorials-in-action..

… and we waited.. and, mesmerised, I kept watching..

Who would be next?

Well, for future reference, to be acquainted with the language of “loud-screaming”, is advisable, as the higher-pitched, the more desired, the Artist… Until it all becomes one, continual, collective cry… because, everyone wants to see, be seen and be pictured with, well, everyone…

… and, who could argue with such passion, when, like a rushing river, global names approached, so graciously, to oblige, to the, mountingly, fevered requests (returning, in some cases, often, more than once, twice and, even, thrice)…  not because the sun was a-blaze, but because the red-carpet was a-flame, with fame!

Oh… and how the style-files were overflowing, in my phone and my mind!

… And how my wishes were, beyond, fulfilled…

From home-made, billowing, bin-liner couture, embellished with wrappers, to jewel-toned robes, luxurious layers of exquisitely embroidered and crystal-encrusted attire, to magnificently, cut-to-fit bespoke, black-tie brilliance, which was the most… it’s safe to say that the stars had fallen out of the sky, had, elegantly, landed in London and entirely outshone the sun!

… This undulation of emotional crescendo, only became diminuendo, when all of the glitterati had been whisked away, inside the Hall, for a night to remember…

… and, as dusk fell, outside, I absorbed my red-carpet moments and smiled..

… because they might not have been BAFTAs, but they were my prized souvenirs, of a day, about which, I shall not, soon, forget!

 

 

 

©A_F_R_O_W2019. All Rights Reserved.

“A Merry, Matt Goss Christmas, at The Mirage!!”

 

New York was so good, they named it twice…

Well, friends, Vegas was so GRRRREAT, I had to visit twice!

…That, and the very, self-evident fact, that my body-clock had never reset to U.K.-time, after my first trek… So, why waste good jet-lag, and why not go back…but, this time, to see what Matt Goss Christmas shows would be like?!

Yet, something about returning was, markedly, different.

From the approach into Nevada, to the neverending, tensile outlines, as far as the eye could see, through the plane’s porthole windows, the vista of stardust streets had become a city-wide Christmas tree, immersed in such dazzling luminescence, as if the nightsky, itself, had briefly fallen into the hands of a world, awaiting an, even more, imperceptible illumination.

Touchdown, was as whisper-soft, as a prima ballerina landing a graceful, grand jeté, then gliding through to arabèsque and attitude, as if in one, poised, puff-of-an orchestral phrase… Even the, usually crowded, customs hall held a beguiling hush, with lanes, akin to an emptier Strip, which would meet-and-greet visitors, en route to our respective holiday homes…

Yes, different…

Las Vegas looked and felt different… Offering all of the multi-coloured, candy-covered distractions… yet, sweetened, with an undercurrent of a mystical mood that, seemingly, pledged to effectuate an excursion of greater artistic excellence, than first encountered…

…Intrigued and ready, was I…

…for I’d heard tell of the “Matt Goss Christmas”, as being one to showcase his undeniably impressive and expressive musical and emotional aesthetics, in tune with his penchant for debonair visual styling… say, “midnight-hued, velvet, Tom Ford suiting”… and one need say no more!

Sure enough, it was a supremely-spirited, artist, scorching the stage with refreshed and renewed ferocity, mirrored by a vibrant, razor-sharp, cherry-red, suit, who sent the 1-OAK audience into stratospheric heights, garnering rapturous and, often raucous, applause… For, having been on a deserved break, they had sorely missed he who, night, upon night, upon night, inserted the “Yeah, man”, into each and every show!

Based around the slick and stylish format which I had experienced in November, these three final nights of his highly-favoured residency, further demonstrated exactly why “Matt Goss at The Mirage” could never be considered mere “perfomance and patter”. The regulars attend to joust with his jocularity, seek out the sabre-sharp sarcasm, almost expecting him to splice the air-borne atoms with his own, “M.G.” insignia… yet, all who make their evening his, are, simultaneously, stunned by his spiritual sagacity.

When such moments occur from the vertigo and sweat-inducing heights of a salsa-infused “Sway”, this ultimate frontman stills the room with consummate ease… starting from the most precious pin-drop silence, to reveal the map of his Soul, in stirring melodic stanzas, such as “In The Wee Small Hours”, which, leaves him, breathless, resultant of the passion poured into each note, the reverence for every pause… and clearly, emotional, owing to the dedication to his deeply loved and respected, late Grandfather, Harry.

… It would have many of us weeping, in empathy and recognition of such enduring influences in our own lives…

Yes, this was noticeably distinct…

The closer to Christmas, the more standards… except, to classify them as such, would be to bear injustice to the uncanny ability of Matt Goss and his unique band, to regenerate a childlike wonder into those songs to which we hold so dearly… “White Christmas” and “Jingle Bells” transformed the celebratory warmth into intimate memories, sung in unison, with the wishes seeming to fly upon wings of their own, to the hearts and minds of those, light years away from the venue. His version of “The Christmas Song” was, to me, a new soul classic… in absolute keeping with the proficiency which the new “King of Vegas” holds, for singing beyond musical lines and reinventing the wheels of well-established hits, with sweet, soulsonic, virtuosity…

… and it was this which put a finer tune upon the marked distinction…

Matt Goss is a contemporary Renaissance Man…

… a poised reflection of gentlemanly, sartorial grace, with a South-East London strut!

His story-telling is swathed in meandering, heartfelt revelation, cut through with the tangy brilliance of bold banter, awash with extraordinarily shrewd asides, to make you hold your sides, yet, in a heartbeart, his wit is balanced with a profoundly perceptive wealth of wisdom.. He has the propensity to transform, not only the dynamic of a room, but the entire atmosphere, into that of the metaphysical.

For this is his Matt Goss Music Ministry, which welcomes all-comers to seek and find new ways to engage with creativity, as only he and his impeccably-talented band, can deliver…

…and I truly believe that, should you attend (and I highly recomend that you do!), in one night, you will leave more elevated, empowered, inspired and blessed, for having immersed and lost yourself, in the, entirely beautiful, moment.

 

 

©A_F_R_O_W2018-2019. All Rights Reserved.

~

 

Click-through to:-

See Matt Goss at The Mirage in 2019

Hear Matt Goss on BBC i-Player (“Matt Goss At Midnight”)

Interact with Matt Goss on:-

Twitter: @mattgoss  ~ Instagram: @mattgoss  ~ Facebook: @iammattgoss 

 

Support, both, Matt and Luke Goss on their amazing Bros Tour, in 2019!

Twitter: @TeamMattGoss  ~ @LukeGoss ~ @Brosreunion

~

Most importantly, enjoy being part of the awesome experience!

 

 

“#SAVE The Last Dance…”

You will not leave.

You,

offspring of Dvorak.

You,

who distort fallen leaves,

underfoot,

in your vernal rendition,

your rich, Autumn rite.

You,

sprites,

who contort and convert the Now-century,

writhing

and crumpled in Krump,

gyroscopic and free…

… You, nymphs,

 who behold fawns of fashion,

whilst trashing the air of the après-midi,

causing blithe interference…

… Yes, you,

elvish synonyms,

interface rhythm,

Parisian protocols,

banking and flanking,

from left and from right,

as myriad moving material

slices through spotlight.

You,

who transform Nature’s atmosphere,

piercing the raven-haired habitat,

writing in space with your form,

split the atom,

the norm,

as an army of classics, abstracted,

defy and define,

with news-worthy chronicles,

re-setting garments, to zig-zag convention,

re-dressing the balance

of how to keep cool,

when the weathervane indicates, ‘warm’.

You will not leave me.

You will not leave my mind’s eye.

You,

living portals of dreams,

have affected my Soul,

with your

mischievous movement

and palette of

fanciful,

creative schemes.

 

 

 

©A_F_R_O_W2018-2019. All Rights Reserved.

 

 

 

 

 

“Kors And Effect…”

Welcome to a world,

where an arts and crafts backdrop

bursts into Bahia babes,

in blasts of flowers…

… and riotous hues

of pinks and blues,

mismatch stripes,

that clash,

with roaring animal prints.

Stroll along the painted pier,

where fluted flares and fringe,

drop voluminous hints and

flit about with flirty florals,

flipping between

blocks of black and bucket hats.

Listen up!

A musical mega-mix

mirrors the material mash-up,

inviting you to crash the

beach-club party…

Just turn up..

for this is a world,

where the hipster-hillbilly,

meets hip-hop sensibility,

and celebrates the young at heart,

ready to run free!

 

©A_F_R_O_W2018-2019. All Rights Reserved.

 

 

“TOMMY X LEWIS is a-GO, GO, GO!”

It’s the dawn of a brand new day.

Different type of race day.

Same type of build-up.

… As my computer monitor buffers, I’m already getting the idea that Lewis Hamilton has been, subliminally, winding his way around the circuit of his life, all of his life, to this major, visionary moment….

… the destination, of which, is already a prize, now becoming a victory lap, of vêtements, if you will…

… which is apt, since, it is beneath the banner of his exceptional, other-worldly willpower and drive, that the boy-turned-man racer, Hamilton, launches his first collection, in collaboration with zeitgeist style-powerhouse, Tommy Hilfiger.

Paying homage to their “Icons of Tomorrow”, the “Tommy x Lewis” fashion line comprises a co-ed capsule range, which is raising the chequered flag of sartorial success, in no uncertain terms!

Yes, we know him as the prodigious driving genius, who, from his karting days, was set apart by an uncommon work ethic, but today demonstrates a new discipline in Lewis’s creative kitbag, which complements his well-developed, but lesser-known gifts in music and his holistic appreciation of the artistic.

As I speed-type, with cartoon-smoke coming through my fingertips, “Everybody’s looking forward to what comes up next” is piping through my speakers.. and, if the superfast stream of reactions is an indication, millions are, like me, joining the throng, to preview exactly what “next” is going to “be“.

Who cares if the feed keeps dropping in and out, like a fan, fainting, from being overwhelmed at meeting their long-time idol?!!!

What does it matter if this begets the necessity to minimize the resolution?!!!

The track blaring out at me that “it’s time to start the show…” could not be more right…

LET’S. DO. THIS. LEWIS!!!!

A sliver of floating runway, is set in a Shanghai harbour, adjacent to a bright-lights-big-city backdrop and flanked by a deep river of stillness as guests, comparatively, on the edge of their seats, are being treated to fierce, high-octane sport-luxe, with codes of crisp, colour-blocking and crop-topping…  Non-stop Iconic, stomping, in block-heels and stepping, in worker-boots, khaki parkas, pewter puffas, go-faster, F1 stripes, chromatic geometrics are team-mates with over-grown plaids, on models with plaits… overlaid by a palette of clean-lined, lightning white through midnight black and texturised by sweatshirts and sweater-vests, drenched in shimmering sequins…

No time for pitstops though, as proportions collude, from full-length coats, that effortlessly cloak, to a cutting-edge tux that, seemingly, carves the silhouette out of living space. They scream and holler “New-York-minute” elegance, for the fashion-conscious connoisseur-cum-global traveller!!

It’s full-on, new-pep, Preppy-for-the-People… irresistibly-twisted, Ivy-League-on-overload and, branded with the insignia of “H”, brings to mind that, for such a time as this, were Hilfiger and Hamilton destined to be one.

The finale walk, was the perfect reminder that this was no empty, celebrity-endorsed exercise but a bonafide collaboration… the result, of which, delivered on desirability for the masses and then some. It is achievable, believable design, filled with on-trend enthusiasm, yet fuelled by an energy of endurance, and, in a sloganized, tie-dyed top of his own, the root-message from Hamilton’s heart is clear.. “UNITY” is the new dress-code of the day.

… A garment that I should be proud to sport, any and every day…

 

 

©A_F_R_O_W2018-2019. All Rights Reserved.

 

~

Click-through below, to peruse and purchase from the “Tommy X Lewis” capsule collection Now!

TOMMY X LEWIS (Tommy Hilfiger UK)

Social Media Links:-

@TommyHilfiger @LewisHamilton

#TommyxLewis #TommyNow #IconsOfTomorrow

 

 

 

“Jermyn Street, St James’s…”

It is in turning left,

that the cord is cut with the contemporary.

Graphite, cross-hatched with hard-black cement,

sketched by artisans,

touched by global hands,

indented with dust of the centuries.

Sunlight,

Nature’s photoshop, clings to each crevasse,

casting its warm solar wash,

round corners, akin to Rascasse…

Façades and facscias glint in the eyes

of faces,

reflecting on craft’s expertise,

free-floating and hanging on historic air,

as they breeze by.

Working through ‘hows’ and the ‘whys’…

Centred by scent,

sensibility governs respect of the labour required

to purpose bespoke personality.

Channelling rows of embroidery,

stitches so scantily set and refined,

leave a long tale of coloured mosaics behind…

Threads intertwined into conjured creations,

embellished, beyond the prosaic.

Jet joins patina of chestnut,

so lovingly burnished, the polish controlled,

whilst a peacock effect, is adorning footsteps on display,

with a brogue and a lilt

which demands that you move, with a gait that is bigger than bold.

Walk with intention, whilst other folk stroll.

Wind your way up to the stage…

You’re alone, but not on your own…

Got to step right on, with heart and with soul…

… slink with the cool cats and kittens,

who strut in a program of head-to-toe glamour and glitz,

spritzed in House check,

decked-out in exclusives…

A menu of tailoring,

linear, monochrome, neutrals and flashes of brights…

… finished in detail,

the process, of which, is a mastery of the tradition,

time-honoured technique,

that appears to be married to something elusive.

Front-row patent,

viewing heritage and legacy,

basking in the glare of shining novelty.

Perfected in ateliers’ secrecy.

Inventive collections of structure

and

sheer,

living poetry.

 

 

©A_F_R_O_W2018-2019. All Rights Reserved.

“M.G.A!”

Women of Grace,

dynamic elegance,

diverse style,

adopted me into their hearts,

like their unknown child…

…covered me in narratives

of life and love

of a man, of a star,

who has always been one with them,

whether near or far…

One glorious venue,

united in sound,

creatively dressed-to-the-nines,

all around,

pulsed with drumbeats and patterns,

soul-stories in song

and bound this community,

all night long…

Call and responsiveness,

laughter and tenderness,

Truth and Transparency,

pain-painted lyrics stressed

nothing was being held back…

No message was lost in one note of a track…

Metaphors, similes,

soared to the rafters,

pleased all who had, long, left their seats…

some dancing,

some pouring their tears into words,

which described life’s rich triumphs

and subtle defeats.

In one breath,

then, next,

inspiration and joy sent them soaring,

as memories rolled down their cheeks.

Peace, mixed with pace,

transfixed in this space…

… as the room smiled,

the precious group glowed…

… and an army of Family,

legion of Fans,

joined their South London Champion,

in toasting,

to all that was shared…

… making merry, as the saying goes…

They were beautiful,

powerful,

this M.G.A…

… his Most Glorious Aficionadoes.

 

©A_F_R_O_W2018-2019. All Rights Reserved.

 

~

This piece is written in thanks of and dedicated to the incomparable M.G.A, who have blessed me with their welcome, inspired me with their support of Matt Goss and overwhelmed me with their response to my memories! You have all contributed to making my maiden voyage into the Gossy experience, entirely unbeatable!

XXX

“VIP event at G.H. Bass & Co. hits high note!”

So, I’m struttin’!

Not quite, Danny Zucco, but I could give him a run for his money, in a Zoolander-style face-off!

….And I’m singin’!

…Not quite Bee Gees, but “me and my ‘Weejuns’, walking down the avenue”, consistently reverbs around my mental recording studio, waiting for release!

With nonpareil London as my runway, I am taking in some of the fashion and fayre of designers in our glorious city, en route to a very special event… and after patiently waiting, all lovingly pre-polished and wrapped in their ‘G.H. Bass & Co.’ box, the night hath arrived upon which my “Penny Stardoms” have their moment to shine!

“They see me strollin’ but they’re not hatin’!” now pops up, as the next remixed track in my ever-expanding mental E.P.!

As I engage upon my window-watching style-sweep, I have to say, I’m loving what I’m seeing! From South Molton, via Regent, through Carnaby and finally, to Beak Street, illustrious brands sit side-by-side, with crackling come-up talent and I am enamoured with it all! ‘Browns’, ‘Berenice’, ‘Hobbs’, ‘Hill and Friends’ effortlessly envelop, as heritage hits abound, with ‘Aquascutum’, attached to ‘Barbour’ and ‘Barker’, ‘French Connection’ connected to ‘COS’ and ‘Karl Lagerfeld’, only to turn-on-a-penny (loafer, if you will!), to find ‘Liberty’, presiding over the edgier end of the shopping district, with a select edit of artisanal offerings and collaborative graduate installations, from future trend-setters of the London College of Fashion!

Carnaby continues to cut a distinctive dash, with a multi-faceted lay-out of names, carving out back-catalogues of creative culture, whilst impressing the ever-changing moods of the current. Mod meccas, ‘Pretty Green’ and ‘Ben Sherman’ hang-out with skater-staples ‘Vans’ and ‘size?’…. whilst ‘We Built This City’ adds a cool artistic flair, no less in keeping with the understated chic of such a fashion-forward thoroughfare…

…the end, of which, is just the beginning of an evening, which encapsulates the perfect combination of venue, vibe and VIP!

Home of the loafer, ever my dream footwear destination, G.H. Bass & Co. and I are reunited…and it feels so good…. And why not?! If they were good enough for the genius of Michael Jackson to have thrilled us all with his trademark Moonwalk, then they’re great enough for my two-stepping!

“It’s been a long time (since fitting for my ‘Stardoms’)… I shouldn’t have left you…” cranks up to Eric .B. and Rakim… but the welcome is, as ever, super-warm, with hugs all-round! You see, for me, this is more than a shop. More than a generic footwear retail establishment, implanted on a trendy side of town. For me, it’s walk-in wardrobe goals! A penny-loafered-palace, a tasselled boot-ique, with variations on a theme, and then some! In its location for two years, the discerning and diverse amassed following is, not only, well-deserved, but well-won, due to the incredible hours, input by a truly dedicated Bass Europe Team.

Tonight, the set-up is an extension of its unique visual merchandising, comprised of wonderfully-worn wooden floors (suggesting the loafer’s Norwegian roots), juxtaposing metal corrugation, historical artefacts, (displaying its celebrity provenance), contrasting with contemporary periodicals and, bien sûr, an array of outstanding, hand-crafted icons…

As bespoke cocktails flow and script-flipping ambient house music fills the atmosphere, tonight is affording guests the opportunity to check out new additions to the collection and have their Bass ‘Weejuns’ personalised, by the immensely-talented illustrator, Anastasiya Levashova. From a subtle selection of custom options, including ornate monogramming and/ or delicate flora and fauna, her precision-painting ensures that each pair is transformed and set apart from any other marque, let alone, house style!

With no more need for internal audio accompaniment, I find myself, instead, using the brainpower to question “What would Pauline Black do?!” She, the dynamic lead singer of Ska supremos, ‘The Selecter’ and  maven of Mod…. which design would she… select?! I mean, in a world where shopping lanes seem laminated with labels, G.H. Bass & Co. is comfortably a cut-above…the beauty being that with every pair, whether customized or not, their idiosyncratic pedigree guarantees that you feel exceptional, too…

“So”, I continue to muse, ”how do you add to perfection?!”

Thrownback to the eclectic typography of the many a-maz-ing two-tone bands to which I was exposed as a growing fashionista (think, ‘The Beat’, ‘The Specials’…), I had to go for the monogram… and in less time than it takes to sing a verse of “Too Much To Young”, my top-notch two-steppers had become hype, hot-steppers… and as the party wound down, with more goodbye hugs shared, I made my way into the remainder of the awaiting night, with the hit Ini Kamoze track blaring, stereo, in my mind… and a bonafide, one-off experience indelibly-etched upon, both, my swaggerific shoes and my super-happy heart!

 

©A_F_R_O_W2018-2019. All Rights Reserved.

***

G.H.Bass & Co. UK & Europe

35 Beak Street, Soho, London, W1F 9DP

Twitter: @GHBass1876   Instagram: @ghbass1876   Facebook: GhBass1876

***

A_F_R_O_W-Applause and Appreciation to Team G.H. Bass & Co. UK & Europe, on hosting a night, as totally one-off, as your incredibly bespoke brand!

 

“Katharine Hamnett gives ‘Liberty’ to captivating SS18 collections!”

Nights like this should not be reserved for sleep…

… Not when you have had a meeting of minds, hearts and souls on monumental scales…

…and all in the premium package of the eagerly-awaited launch of Katharine Hamnett London’s SS18 women’s and menswear collections…

It takes someone truly revered to draw a crowd such as congregated in the hallowed halls of Liberty London’s lower ground floor. Place “Katharine Hamnett” into a sentence with a bona fide, high-end retail treasure of this great capital, and, together, you have the cadence of perfect creative alchemy, epitomising Balance…. Harmony…

….which neatly summarises the most captivating capsule collections of dreams… (that is, if I were to succumb to sleep!)… However, as stated, tonight is not one for repose, of any kind!

Having arrived early, it is still a veritable hive of organised activity… From re-merchandising to maximise optimal exposure of every piece, to hoovering the most out-of-the-way corners, nothing is left to chance, in achieving the flawless, final look. To say that the hard work paid dividends, would be a vast understatement, for the mission was more than accomplished!

 I am cordially-greeted by Janine Constantin-Russell, General Manager of Liberty, and immediately taken aback by her generosity of time taken out of overseeing the build-up, to talk all-things “Hamnett” with me! Even more delighted was I, to be conversing with this lit-from-within energy, herself as excited as I was about the need for such a grounded presence to be back, once again, so rightfully, front-and-centre. Sparkling with expressiveness, vis-à-vis collaborating with the prestige label on such an auspicious launch, Janine encourages my taking a tour, to see the gorgeous results for myself and so, I promptly set off on my voyage of discovery!

In an atmosphere replete with swirls of hiphop-jazz, my initial walk-through to get acquainted with the latest sartorial offerings from the living legend, synonymous with ubiquitous style, was like a fresh breeze through the beautifully-landscaped garden of menswear. From Lanvin to Loewe, Thom Browne to Burberry, Marni to Moncler, Hamnett’s re-entry into the design atmosphere is rife with delicate defiance, in the swish of one organic silk shirt.. or the sharp swoop of a billowing, full-length, draped dress.

Slogan Tees are refreshed, with hard-hitting, visual exclamations to address the “now”, such as “Protest And Survive” and “Women Against War”, bringing to an end the misconception that silence is easy… As Katharine so eruditely put it, “We have to up our game, as we aren’t achieving very much, considering the amount of man and woman-hours that have [already] gone into fighting.” In accordance, both collections are steeped in revolution and the messages carry as confronting a narrative, as the days in which 80’s pop phenomenon, “Wham” boldly proclaimed “Choose Life”, whilst gleefully waking up musical empires on both sides of the Atlantic!

That the collections should be so deeply-embedded in such a spirit of the indomitable, should come as no surprise. It is well-known that Katharine Hamnett has always been ahead-of-the very same game, socio-politically, economically and creatively. Her battle to imbue the fashion system with the plausibility of sustainability and fighting for the human rights of those within the supply chain of production… has been her clarion call… Her voice has continually chimed through the annals of design to a point, whereby, ethical practice is, now, beyond an intangible vision and is an actual, going concern.

Enthusiastically-steered through a fascinating life story, filled with industry anecdotes of both, the glamour and the grit, by British Vogue’s esteemed Chief Critic, Sarah Mower MBE, who was pristine in Celine, the fact that “it all came too easily” was a testament to the authenticity of truth which runs through Hamnett, like a rod of iron. So-much-so, that she could be the real ‘Woman of Steel’, what with her proverbial determination to change the world-at-large, by changing the world around her.

Recounting, at blistering pace, that her production process is “paraben-free, [with] no heavy metals”, is just the preface to an inventory which includes organic cotton, “certified by Diamond Processing” standards, silk, which is “about as clean a fibre as you can get”, “nickel-free zips, [because] nickel is poisonous” and an endless quest “to find more sustainable fabrics, as techniques develop”. Further insight into her supply chain being the “Made In Italy”, export route, affords her the opportunity to “stick [her] nose up to anyone who talks about trade”, in addition to promoting and benefitting from their artisanal passion, “know-how, legacy and technical expertise.”

The superior quality of craft on display in the exposition of her new season selection, is undeniable evidence of this specialist provenance. From the considered nature of precision-pleating, on the wide-legged khaki trouser, with double-buttoned front and notched-back waistband, with slim-leg, ankle-skimming lengths, the wondrous working of a tissue-fine silk shirt, with an, ever so gentle, high-low hemline, to the perfectly-tempered palette of lightning white, through super-jet black, energised by richest reds and texturised by stonewashed denim treatments, the Katharine Hamnett man is spoilt-for-sophisticated and understated choice!

This same exacting, yet, polished prowess is celebrated in a Katharine Hamnett woman, who is savvy, edgy and endlessly elegant. The slogan “Maggie” Tee, which was fabulously-styled and modelled as a T-shirt dress, will fast need replenishing upon the rails, as will the stunning gold jumpsuit and, my personal favourite, the floor-sweeping, fire-engine red, puff-of-a-gown, with deep, plunge-front and back neckline…as ready for the red-carpet, as for the beach-front after-party!

It is all as impressive as her unconditional covenant to create, in order to benefit the greater good and embolden others to, similarly, make their voices heard. In a time of “freefall manufacturing, cheap labour and bad labour”, the crusader for social justice entreats the amassed assemblage of admirers to put literal pen-to-paper and compose letters to those who are paid to represent us, as well as to those brands who could and should make vast improvements, with regard to recognising and lessening the negative effect of their ethical footprint upon, both, people and the environment. “They’re trying, but they should be trying harder and faster”, not only summons affirmatory nods, but also gives rise to further adoration.

Questions from the floor prompt reiteration of the Katharine Hamnett stance towards making sustainable fashion more affordable and accessible… that of “better prices, with bigger production… online [to avoid extra capital costs].” However, it is her vocal nod to the lengths to which award-winning proponents of the circular economy, “Rapanui Clothing”, will go, in order to manufacture and deliver her T-shirt lines, which seems to, most, touch those in the room. Describing the “adorable” enterprise as “a perfect prototype of a C21st company, based in the Isle of Wight” is high praise, heartfelt recognition and truly symbolic of someone who “collaborates with anything that’s exciting or touches [her] heart.”

It is also indicative of her humility.

She seems oblivious to the attention which revolves, tornado-like, around her.

Absorbing selfies with timely patience and grace, she is pure, radiant class, with the spirit of a lioness, within the physique of a prima ballerina. Effortlessly-chic in black-out shades, nothing looked cooler than sharing a camera-frame with her, nothing more inspiring than observing her, back in her artistic habitat…

…and whilst her name might end “CBE” (Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire), when asked the final question of how she would like to be remembered, she pauses and, with what must, surely, be accompanied by a twinkle in her concealed eyes, she cheekily replies “Watch. This. Space.” I, for one, cannot wait to see what this visionary next devises but, in my heart, I believe that the acronym will signify the success of her unrelenting message and stand for ‘Choose Buying Ethically’!

 

©A_F_R_O_W2018-2019. All Rights Reserved.

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Katharine Hamnett London ~ Katharine Hamnett (Facebook) ~ @katharinehamnett (Instagram) ~ @khamnettlondon (Twitter)

Liberty London ~ Liberty London (Facebook) ~ @libertylondon (Instagram) ~ @LibertyLondon (Twitter) ~ Liberty London (YouTube)

Rapanui ~ Rapanui (Facebook) ~ @Rapanuiclothing (Twitter) ~ Rapanui: Sustainable Fashion (Google+) ~ @rapanuiclothing (Instagram) ~ rapanuiclothing (Pinterest)

Sarah Mower MBE ~ @sarahmower_ (Instagram)

***

Wholehearted @A_F_R_O_W-Appreciation goes to Katharine Hamnett CBE, for her utterly impeccable collections, relentless inspiration and unswerving passion for contributing towards a better world…to her team at Katharine Hamnett London, who faithfully facilitate her creative and societal vision, to Janine Constantin-Russell and the absolutely fastidious Team Liberty, for extending such congenial hospitality and creating a truly unique and outstanding event, and to Sarah Mower MBE, whose lively repartee and unabated dedication to the quest for talent, catalyse that of my own, ongoing editorial development.

 

 

“Five Guys” party leaves you wanting “Moe”!

“I’ll never forget the excitement with which my musicals-mad Brother burst into the house, words spilling swiftly from him and filling the atmosphere with pure exuberance!

He had just returned from seeing the original presentation of a hit show, intriguingly entitled “5 Guys Named Moe”… and, for a moment, I truly believe that he, himself, had been dusted with dance-steps, as he couldn’t stop moving and enthusing about it…

The West End had been bowled over by an infectious party vibe, simply oozing the epitome of slick, combining hi-energy music, movement and accomplished acting!

I, meanwhile, was desperate to get a slice of the pie, which had my big Bro spinning like the proverbial top…. and, so began an affection for what the Arts could inspire, in just one evening!

Roll on a few decades and I find myself the one who has been swept up into the pre-show anticipation for, yours truly, would find herself in unique edifice of The Marble Arch Theatre, in-the-round… urging the artists to get the 2018 party started!

Yes, it was my turn to see the new 5 Guys!

Now, being so close to Mayfair, it was a thrill to take in a gentle sojourn within the eclectic environs of ‘Boisdale Restaurant’… How wonderful to be ensconced in this Scottish family-owned establishment, where the intimate atmosphere is one of front-room privacy, with an open-door policy to all-comers. How refreshing to be descending an LP-lined stairwell and shown the cavernous lower deck of “The Vinyl Bar and Groove Room”, where guests can while away the hours to shellac-soaked DJ sets, re-surface to live music and then, turn a corner, to encounter a splendid, split-level dining scenario. An amalgamation of secret worlds, hidden in plain sight, it is the perfect dessert island for a sweet-tooth, such as I! Were it not for the prospect of fulfilling a childhood dream, I would have reclined further into the arms of my comfy corner…yet, parting held less sorrow, due to the jazz, jazz, jazz that was jumping through the air… which would be quite the intro into my next musical milieu…

Matinée this may have been, but, as with the best of creative experiences, the time makes no difference, the audience number makes no difference (although, as far as the eye could see, it was a sell-out!)… when the lights go on, you’d better be ready to turn up for the business of show!

… And that, dear friends, is exactly what took place!

The one-and-only Clarke Peters, (he of the, seemingly, endless, stellar acting resume!) and former member of the original dazzling incarnation, which had so many in a spin, adds to his credits, by taking the directorial helm. The influence of his multi-disciplinary artistry is passport-stamped throughout the journey of the production. It is as if his soul were integrated with every fibre, of every number… his spirit inscribed in every dance routine!

The action was to take place in ‘The Marble Arch Theatre’, a location akin to a flat-pack, fold-out template, except of ‘Tardis’ proportions… But Ikea, this ain’t, honey! Oh no… this is the height of ‘purpose-built’, for a very definitive reason!

The deceptively-sparse, speakeasy set was amphitheatre perfection, in drawing the audience closer to the action. In order to accentuate the 360-degree effect, a great visual point-of-reference was a circular travellator-stage which rotated between inner and outer seating circles… meaning that, cleverly, the concept of ‘rows’ simply didn’t register. It was a superb mechanic with which to suspend reality, unite us all, and facilitate us swivelling in our seats, as if in trendy upmarket office chairs!

I relished the fact that, at no point, did I feel as though I were simply an observing part-of-the-furniture!

Quite the opposite, since, at this all-encompassing gem of a jamboree, we all felt part of the production, which upped-the-ante, where audience participation was concerned… From semi-skatting ”The Calypso BeBop”, to the collective conga, any nerves were assuaged by the excitement of lyrics literally falling, confetti-like, from the rafters accompanied by a rousing Caribbean rhythm, respectively.. and that was just Act One!

Notwithstanding the twenty-minute interval, this theatrical train rarely, if ever, decelerated.

As for the actors, they were swan-like… Hardly pausing for breath, they appeared to glide through proceedings, as smoothly as their dance sequences! Show-tunes were, at once, belted out with grit and gusto, whilst wistful with vocal reminiscence, so as to project pain and pathos, with tender poignancy. The clarity of narrative being served, par excellence by a company of players, both, front and back of house, at the apex of their collective game, optimising the entire arc of the engaging plot…

…which begins with our protagonist, “Nomax”, who is a washed-up, maxed-out drunk, becoming increasingly beholden to his vices. The worse for wear after yet another stint of night-life and libation, he is still intent upon continuing to party hard… Enter stage left, right and centre, five guys named ‘Moe’, with a short, sharp, shock of an introduction, determined to stop the downward spiral of women and wine, with song and dance… hopefully leading to redemption with Lorraine, the real love of Nomax’s life.

Edward Baruwa portrays the vexed, perplexed and dishevelled soak with distinct aplomb. The 5 Guys, “Little Moe”, “Know Moe”, “Big Moe”, “Four-Eyed Moe” and “Eat Moe” played by Idris Kargo, Dex Lee, Mykal Rand, Adrian Hansel and Emile Ruddock, sparkle like the best, vintage champagne, with soul-filled melodic recitations, as warming as a far-flung beach destination and as crystal-clear as the blue sea lapping upon the shores of their vocals.

Snazzily-dressed in the sharpest of threads, the Guys cut-a-cool-dash, in outfits, beautifully reflective and celebratory of the era, in a rainbow of coloured and textural references. For example, such bespoke stylistic touches as a punchy plaid for “Know Moe” and luminous lime-green circular spectacles on “Four-Eyed Moe” customized each quirky character trait with class and distinction. Synthesizing this attention-to-detail towards apparel with that of the choreography also made for impressive visual imagery. The finesse of Fosse under the spectrum spotlights gave way to full-on, Nicholas Brothers, at fever-pitch! The moves weren’t just slick, they were oil slick… and the more experimental they became, the better! Often weaving about the space with the ease of a shuttle through an antique loom, physical theatre was playfully explored, to powerful comedic effect. Yet, for all of the eye-catching clowning, moments of mimicry and mime, innovative transformation of props, the artistic intention was nailed, with every well-honed high-kick and picture-perfect pose, worthy of, undoubted, hours of relentless rehearsal!

Binding together this colossus of an ensemble endeavour, was the, simply stellar, jazz band… Silhouettes, but ever-present, behind intricate curtains in Act One, they dazzle during the overture in Act Two. No longer the exuberant, yet, enigmatic shadows, they become the main attraction, delighting us with samples of scintillating solo virtuosity, before receding, once more, into the ether of the energetic Louis Jordan-filled score… Out-of-sight, perhaps, but never out-of-earshot!

This put me in mind of another late, great Louis…namely, Armstrong, who once said “If you have to ask what jazz is, you’ll never know!”* Well, forget what you think you know, because, mark my words, you will get right-royally schooled by the majesty of this five-star musical… Compact, yet languid, fresh and free, this was total, high-impact theatre, awash with innovative twists and turns…

Yes, believe the hype, friends, and get down to The Marble Arch Theatre because I love, love, LOVED the rip-roaring rollercoaster ride through the age, with the 5 superfly Guys Named Moe and a standing ovation of satisfied, fellow theatre-goers emphatically agreed!

©A_F_R_O_W2018-2019. All Rights Reserved.

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Click through for booking information about the smash hit show “5 Guys Named Moe” !

Deepest A_F_R_O_W-thanks to:-

Boisdale Restaurants, Team @Bubblz_Gigglz, Chloe at G-Gee PR and The Marble Arch Theatre for organising this outstanding, interactive experience!

(*Quote taken from www.brainyquote.com).