Sweet and Rockin’ Birthday Girl… Lily Donaldson

What’s a sweet Brit bird to do on her 23rd birthday? Host a tea party? Hell no! Not if you’re British model Lily Donaldson (born January 27th), who crowded into a booth at East Village dive, Mama’s Bar, with a few dozen pals a few nights ago.  Let the other mannequins walk down Chanel’s runway. We can kick back in a good pair of jeans and down a few pints. Lily’s BFF, Erin Wasson– designer Alexander Wang’s muse– popped in. And, musician and Calvin Klein model, Jamie Burke took over the tunes as deejay with his newly shorn locks. That’s right lassies, he’s clean cut and trying to ignite a solo music career, singing and playing guitar all over NYC.

Despite it all, there’s still true grit to be found in the city that never sleeps and Mama’s is a secret hideaway where pretty people can forget they’re pretty for while. The fat booths are cozy. The lamps infuse the place with red and golden light. Stuffed ravens hang from the walls. Plus the happy hour from 4pm to 9 pm promises a $20 open bar. Yes, blokes, including tequila.

CUT THE CRAP, KICK BACK: Mama’s Bar, 34 Avenue B, at 3rd Street

A model and musician hang without the bull

Seeing double? No, it’s still Pete Doherty, dapper gent when coherent

Babyshambles front man and Kate Moss ex, Pete Doherty has been photographed in various states of sweat and mess, sometimes with black jeans hanging off his arse and nothing but a Burberry scarf strapping his glistening neck. But no matter what dark booze smack hole he falls into, the boy starts off clean and sharp suited, so much so that his cast-offs debuted on a Paris couture runway yesterday.

That’s right, Anne Valerie Hash utilized fellow designer Jean-Paul Gaultier’s sailor sweater, Alber Elbaz’s pajamas, and Pete’s military coat, fashioned into two other pieces, the lapels of a new jacket and the frogging incorporated into a tee that Hash created. Fourteen pieces in all went down Hash’s runway– not to be sold– but more as a statement (perhaps, partially economical art time pieces) to creative folks around her. Pete figured as the solo musician in the bunch. It appears to be his style month.

This week, GQ Magazine listed Doherty as one of the 25 most stylish men in the world.  To quote British (NYC based) designer Simon Spurr, who gave Pete the distinction of “The Musician Who Really Make A Suit Rock”:

“Pete Doherty’s got that lived-in rock ‘n’roll edge because, obviously, he’s a rock star and he’s living that life, more than anyone else out there. If you look at the Beatles, when they played internationally, they were in head-to-toe suits. Pete Doherty’s drawing on that and making it modern. It’s 60′s mod, edgy– and British. If you look at the shoulders of his jackets, for instance, they sit right on top of his shoulders. And the jacket’s shrunken, but not to a Thom Brown extent. There’s a vintageness to his pieces and proportion.”

Stephen Spurr’s show, September ’09, NYC; photo taken by Stephen Spurr

Is it a George Condo nightmare OR Adam Kimmel’s models in Paris?

Menswear. Because you don’t want your guy dressing like some lame ass, you pay attention to what comes down the Paris runways. Yes, he might balk at more avant garde offerings, but if you stick to classic style with a twist, you can’t go wrong. This season classic inspiration with a twist rested flatly in both risky literature and art, at least for Louis Vuitton and Adam Kimmel.

Case in point: Paul Helber’s designs for Louis Vuitton– wondrous jackets, just slim enough, trousers of velvety feel and coats that distinguish a gentleman. Although Helber’s inspiration was Franz Kafka, safe to say that no man will turn into a cockroach wearing any of this, as one did in Kafka’s most infamous tale. The lines reflected beauty that serves a guy from his early twenties to old age, who evolves with something to say (see shots below, courtesy of the New York Times).

Adam Kimmel, who has become an NYC fave with hipster dudes who shop at both Barneys and BBlessing, dismissed his last season’s Marlboro man cowboy to go back to his roots– modern artists. This time he utilized heads based on George Condo’s provocative cartoonish paintings. He told me he constructed each jacket (boxier than Vuitton) so that a guy can return home and “just throw it on a table.”  Then of course, the girlfriend or wife can then take it to the dry cleaner!

Still, Kimmel recognizes that every guy’s not rock star skinny but his lush clothes, well-tailored trousers and elegant piping prove he knows what he’s talking about. Plus, the Condo heads are pure genius. Every bloke has one living inside of him.

Everyone loves a bit of ‘second hand’ shopping. It’s the cheapest way of buying yourself a new top or widening your collection of animal photos. I bought most of my Christmas presents from this brick-a-brack shop just off Brick Lane, including a china duck (it held eggs!) and a David Bowie ‘Heroes’ vinyl for less than £5.  These shops are great for getting pretty much anything. The only bad thing is that you end up with so much crap displayed all over your house that you just get rid of it in the end anyway. It’s fun whilst it lasts!

This is my friend, Christina. I met her 2 years ago whilst working part time at American Apparel. I bumped into her at a bar during the week, and enjoyed a good catch-up over a drink. Whilst finishing her Fine Arts degree, she has started professional female wrestling, and goes by the name of ‘Roxanne’. She told me that she enjoys nothing better than performing a ‘run and jump’ which has recently resulted in cracking 2 of her clients’ rib cages. Ouch!

I saw this photo up in the window of a small gallery in East London. I’m not sure who it’s by as the exhibition inside seemed to be something completely different, and it appeared the gallery ran by itself. Anyway I liked the photo and the sweet writing underneath it:

The curtains were drawn but the rest of the room was real,

Don’t know if I mind the way I feel.

My mind is in a place that make my thoughts seem so surreal.

Last week was Tom’s birthday, and to celebrate the turning of his 24th, Tom picked a handful of his favourite people, and took us all for dinner at a restaurant over in Angel called ‘Gem’. It was a mix of Turkish and Kurdish, and was super super good! Here is Zoe (Yes, they are different people!) giving Tom some birthday love.

‘H8 RK’ is a 3 piece Melbourne raised band whose experimental electronics and deafening guitar rhythms preach everything they love of noise-rock. They play a great show and have amazing visuals to accompany their heart felt set. Their EP, ‘Nostalgia,’ was released in 2007. ’Love Triangle’ is my favourite song off the album which you can hear on the official website (www.myspace.com/ htrk)

Giles Deacon, the next GREAT ONE

This week in Florence, Italy, in a plate factory Brit boy Giles Deacon– a Central St. Martins alum– showed his pre-Fall 2010 show. What the hell is pre-Fall? Who the hell knows, but these threads are GORGEOUS.  They’ve been called subversive and avant-garde by mainstream fashion press, even Style.com, but I see nothing but pieces that glorify what’s natural and sexy in a woman. Nothing new here. All the architectural panache of original Helmut Lang; the sex angles of another Helmut, as in Newton; the drama of Thierry Mugler, topped off (and this is what makes Deacon an artist!), the intellectual questioning of Elsa Schiaparelli, one of his idols.

Remember also, that this is a man who a couple seasons ago, fashioned jewelry inspired by the Pacman video game of the Eighties. Brilliant or mad? Either way, he’ll be showing next round in Paris. HIS STAR HAS COME.

Chloe rocks feminine looks, like vintage YSL, like no other

I’d bet my bank account that this afternoon, Angelinos can find recent Golden Globe winner AND STYLE PRINCESS, Chloe Sevigny, rummaging through the racks at Wasteland on Melrose, searching for vintage YSL, Balenciaga, or even cool rocker tees. Uber-talented Sevigny, who won her first “GG” for “Best Supporting Actor” in the HBO series “Big Love” got stepped on, literally, when a presenter stomped on her pink ruffled Valentino dress as she walked to the stage. “I can’t believe you just stepped on my dress!” She shrieked before retaining composure and graciously accepted the award.

I’ve known Chloe for years in Manhattan. Her style ranges from Michael Kors, and pal Ben Cho, to Luella Bartley, often seen in mini dresses and classic sexy pumps, to jeans and preppy liberty prints and paisleys worn with white sneakers during the day.  We’ve sweated side by side, dancing on Sundays at Sway, where her pal, designer Ben Cho, still spins her fave singer, Morrissey, every week. She prefers private time with close friends, once even opting to watch television in hotels when on tour with ex-boyfriend A.R.E. Weapons singer, Matthew McAuley. Right now, she’s been clocking LA hours off set with old friend Tara Subkoff, the actress-turned-designer who is recovering from surgery in the City of Angels.

But Chloe and I share a secret. When the LA traffic jams and Hollywood image talk gets us down, we both head to Wasteland on Melrose to comb the racks for vintage designer garb, and sometimes just printed frocks. That’s her meditation on the West Coast when she’s missing the East Village and the cool, crowded anonymity of Gotham. After some bimbo stepped on her Valentino dress last night, I would not be surprised if she makes a Wasteland pilgrimage. “This is my favorite place in Los Angeles,” she told me last time I visited.

To note: nothing rocks a pair of Hudson jeans better than a rad Wasteland find. I’ve worn my skinny black Hudsons with original Dolce & Gabanna lace up shoe boots with an AC/DC logo printed on them. I bet Ms. Chloe would rock’em with a tee, shorts, and heels.

Chloe, winner of “Best Supporting Actress” in a series, smiles despite ripped dress train

Mireia

So, the weather is finally improving. I was able to leave the house without a jacket for the first time in 2 months…. How happy was I to feel that warm(ish) breeze and think that winter may finally be over! Still a long way until the summer, but near enough; it is on its way. College does not start for another couple of weeks so I’m working full time at The Breakfast Club, which is funding my life until I go back and receive my second student loan installment… This is my Spanish friend, Mireia…daring and dirty (not too dirty), she is a Barcelona babe!

Battersea Art Centre

Tuesday night Trilogy. I went to the brilliant art centre over in Battersea to watch a performance called ‘Trilogy’; a 3 part, 3 hour celebration of modern-day feminism. It examines the journey in feminism– where have we come from and where are we going. Throughout the performance the actors explore and debate the relationship with their bodies, and the women who have changed history by devoting themselves to female rights. I was unable to photograph the performance as the women were naked during most of it. As you enter the building, the grand staircase and foyer make room for new and heart-felt art work contributed by local art schools. Their latest installment displays thousands of mis-matching scrap tags with people’s personal confessions about their flaws and regrets. They have then been tied to string and hung in a pyramid shape to create a pinnacle point representing release and identity.

East London Thrift Store

Sunday is a great day to catch up with friends and get some good grub. I met some of my old pals for lunch (I was made to eat at my own restaurant!) before taking a walk down Brick Lane which is always great on the weekend for finding vintage jumpers and second hand handbags. Even more handy, having 2 of your friends working in one of London’s best thrift stores….Discount!

David Hoyle & Bourgeios et Maurice

David Hoyle’s new performance show is currently on a 5 week run at ‘The Royal Vauxhall Tavern’. Titled ‘Licking Wounds,’ Hoyle displays what performance art is capable of and where it is headed. I was unsure of its actual content as it appeared to mix stand-up comedy, live art, musical collaborations and political remarks. However, these are Hoyle’s intentions, and through mixing these ideas, he demonstrates what it is that makes his work so unique.

Please support relief efforts in Haiti. At Hudson Jeans we are friends of Wyclef Jean who devotes every day of his life to helping the people of Haiti. If you text 501501 now with the word Yele – his charitable arm – you can contribute your own donation of $5 that will go directly to these relief efforts.

Here is a brief article http://www.cnbc.com/id/34844495/ regarding this most recent support. You can see Wyclef’s website has been inundated with contributions and has crashed due to this traffic. Help him help his country and his people if you can. It takes only a few seconds to make a difference.