"Where Real Style Goes"

Paris, Moscow, New York, Tokyo and London - fashion capitals known for their pristine, prim and proper fashionistas and 'nistos. No doubt, if you decided to walk down London's Sloane Street, or Paris' Champs Elysees (not to mention anywhere in the other fashion capitals listed) you would be wowed by the beautiful understated luxury of rich fabrics, luscious furs and of course, drawn to the beautiful red soles of our high-power fashionistas.

That's all well and good but in all honesty, it does get rather boring. You find that more and more you can predict how people will be dressed because fashion is global and fashion capital have an image to uphold. Sadly, this image is slowly becoming the same image - no variation whatsoever. As a stylist, I seek the oddities in fashion and look to highlight their beauty and individual nature. Granted, beauty is subjective and so something I appreciate, you may think is garbage - I nevertheless aim to find the most fabulously outlandish styles and bring them to the fore!

For every prince, there is a pauper (or ten) and so for every Louboutin-donning fashionista, there is a Saucony-wearing, Skateboard-riding style icon! Want to know where to find them?

Unlike Tokyo, Paris, Moscow and New York, you needn't go to one specific area of London to find these people. All you need to do is walk. I found myself stopping constantly as I walked the streets of Ladbroke Grove because someone's sneakers caught my eye. In Brixton, I couldn't help but ask people where they got their studded jackets and their creepers because they were so cool! I can't say I've felt underdressed in my life but I most definitely felt un-stylish next to this lot! My eyes were opened to a new movement. They say the Devil makes work for idle hands but here the results were solely heavenly! Upon asking about the jackets, I was told "I was bored and decided to stud my jacket. Got the studs off e-bay..." Clearly, I'd interrupted the flow of this young man's day but I felt it was well worth it!

Too often we are obsessed with brands and how much something costs. I found, looking at the style around me, that a lot of it was homemade! That wasn't all, though. Looking at the way skaters, "indie" kids and "hipsters" dressed, I realised, though little effort may have gone into it, the results were similar to those of editorials for VIBE magazine featuring Run DMC and the styling of characters like the Fresh Prince of Bel Air and Jazzy Jeff! Surely they couldn't know about all this? The styling, the brands, the painstaking effort to create a look that would sit well on the cover of a magazine and yet remain accessible to the masses? I thought they didn't but they did!

The fact is, we don't need to be in the most expensive neighbourhoods or be in the most expensive clothes to be stylish. It's not what you wear but how you wear it. So if you're looking for real style - look to Brixton Market, Ladbroke Grove and its surrounding skateparks, Brick Lane and the night scene of Soho!

That's where real fashion goes!

Live Beautiful, Stay Vogue!
Ciao Bellissimi!
Mr. Darkwah
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"You needn't be unstylish when looking for comfort!" - Mr. Darkwah

If you remember, a while ago I wrote about taking a day off to see the sites and relax - break the monotony of a the London rat race. I've been having a lot of those days recently and with the Easter break and bank holiday, I may as well have been going backwards!

J. Shoes was one of the brands featured in the accompanying shoot for their unrivalled comfort and beauty. I've just received some information on their new A/W collection and feel I must share it! The shoes and the shoot are everything you want from your shoes. You needn't be unstylish when looking for comfort and you needn't be impractical or completely avant-garde when looking for style!

Here's a little behind the scenes footage from J. Shoes! Enjoy!

I hope you all had a great Easter!

Ciao Bellissimi!
Mr. Darkwah
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Like Candy!

There is always the worry that going to an established designer that your accessories will cost you an arm and a leg. It's said that beauty is pain but I like to think that's only the case in your first pair of Louboutins. You needn't break the bank to look good and besides, this Spring/Summer is all about bringing about that youthful London edge. Colours are in all areas of the spectrum - from understated pastels right the way through to neon brights!

Thomas Sabo has recently released Candy Collectables, a line built to keep you looking chic without the heart-stopping price tag! I can already hear people mumbling to themselves "There's got to be a catch" and "It's probably some mass-produced item that bears no sense of personality". Shame on you if you thought that! This range is tailored to YOU!

Step 1:

Choose Your Colour

With a range of colours that take you from flirtatious baby pink right the way through to bold and beautiful purple, you can be sure that your bracelet reflects you!

Step 2:

Choose Your Charm

You have the widest range to choose from when it comes to picking your charms as Thomas Sabo offers charms that reflect every mood, character and fashion preference! Don't go for one! Aim to have them all! Collect your charms and mix and match them as and when you please. There is nothing beter than being in control and having fun and Candy Collectables gives you both!

 

Get collecting! 

I know I've started!

Ciao Bellissimi!

Mr. Darkwah

TIL NEXT SEASON

There is only one place you need to be this Saturday! Mr. Darkwah is hosting the ultimate send-off party for London Fashion Week so don't miss it!

The night will feature giveaways from clothing lines yet to be revealed and so much more! 

Add yourself to the list here: Til Next Season

Dress Code: Smart and Sexy - we're going VOGUE!

See you there, beauties!

Live Beautiful, Stay Vogue!

La Clique

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Bring Back London!

Fashion houses like Burberry and Ted Baker make me proud to be a Londoner with their steadfast image and effortless chic. Their take on menswear gives a true sense of London's edge and eternal youth. I can't help but feel that the fashion industry has been dominated by too many cities around the world for too long. We've seen everything from New York Grunge to California Cool right the way to Harajuku trends from Tokyo and as fantastic and fabulous as these may have been, London's time on the map has not been significant enough.

"New York Grunge"

"California Cool"

"Harajuku"

There have been many beautiful decades in fashion in our city from the bourgeois chic of the 1920's to the Mods & Rockers scene of the 60's into the 70's, London has produced top trends, top designers and high-grade fashion! The beauty does not lie in the trends alone but in the execution of them - the immaculate tailoring and clean lines created by British fashion houses remain unrivalled and therefore should be showcased by all people - not just the six-figure-salary cats. Gentlemen (because that's what we are, not boys) it's time to throw out the polo shirts and oversized sweaters. New Balance sneakers belong in the gym or out on runs through Hyde Park, not everyday wear. Let's bring back that London look - the business look.

Clean lines, sleek tailoring and splashes of colour characterise Burberry's London look

There is nothing worse than feeling under-dressed, however it seems we men have lapsed into thinking that being grossly so for an event is better than turning up well-dressed. Note I wrote well-dressed and not over-dressed. There is no such thing as being over-dressed so long as you are confident enough to pull it off. This year, let's snap out of that bad habit and make more of an effort! There is an abundance of suits out there and more so, a million different sources of inspiration for mens outfits. Look to brands like Hackett, Paul Smith, Burberry and Ted Baker for the true gentleman's apparel and dont be afraid to be daring! The beauty of the look of the Londoner is the ease with which the look is pulled off but also the added edge in colour and accessories. Let's not follow any longer! After all, we do live in a fashion capital!

Live Beautiful, Stay Vogue

Ciao Belissimi!
Mr. Darkwah
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"THIS is wearable art! All others are secondary." - Mr. Darkwah

Colour explosion! I felt "Like a kid in a candy store" seeing his work!

I find it funny that recently people have moved away from wanting things to be completely unique to them. I recall a time in fashion when one would buy something, take it home and start stitching things onto the garment, painting onto it or simply cutting it to make sure no one had the exact same thing. What happened to that? It still goes on, yes but only in certain parts of London - namely, Brick Lane and Camden (the most obvious choices). 

Asian Persuasion - Asian Scroll-inspired sneakers with a matching box!

I remember my visit to Hong Kong and seeing all of the beautifully put together and yet beautifully unique outfits of girls, boys, men and women of the city - irrespective of the region they hailed from. I think about the city of Tokyo and the Harajuku and Ganguro trends and how despite them being a trend, all who go by it are completely unique. Why are we living in a city where uniforms range from Topman suits in the CITY (we'll get to that another day), Hollister on virtually every teenage boy and Uggs on girls everywhere?! Where is that sense of London's individuality?! 


I'll tell you where it is.


Theon Marcel is not just another guy who can customise sneakers or design and print t-shirts. He is an artist and his art is based completely on being unique. Looking at his work, I was like a kid in a candy store (not to mention that his work, with colours exploding everywhere quite resembled a candy store!) Influenced by comic art and, as I joked, "all things fun in life" Theon Marcel's work is truly exceptional! Working on materials from canvas right the way through to suede means that there is nothing that Mr. Marcel cannot work on! More so, being inspired by each person's individuality, Theon works to make sure that nothing is ever the same in his work - sometimes going so far as to paint a continuous comic strip over a few pairs of shoes! (Stand in a line and see what happens to your hero!) 


I recall meeting with Theon and commenting on the spectator shoes he was wearing as you see so few of them now. He smiled at me, shook his head and said "I painted them." I was astounded! The sheer attention to detail down to the point that he painted them to look as though they were old and weatherbeaten like true vintage shoes was amazing! I honestly thought they were leather! There began my love for his work and I must say that since that day, two years ago he has never failed to impress!

Reminded of Kanye, anyone?

If you would like to get your hands on Mr. Marcel's work, you can e-mail him on theonphokeerdoss@gmail.com and for my readers in the states, worry thee not because Theon does shipping at little extra cost. Let's bring back individuality and let's do it in style!


Ciao Belissimi!
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