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The Definition of Gender by Cicely Proctor
It is fair to say that the level of exposure relating to transgender issues within mainstream media is unprecedented, with a surge of inclusion across a number of media. Three films – Tangerine, The Danish Girl, and About Ray (the last of which is due for release later this year) – have been widely… →
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Masculinities by Ben Whyman
As the month of January is all about menswear, I decided to ask our Manager of the Centre for Fashion Curation, Ben Whyman about the concept of masculinities and the breadth of research taking place at LCF to do with masculine dress. Here Ben also explores ideas around masculine identifying dressers as an expression of how… →
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What is fashion right now? By Rob Phillips
What is fashion right now? What does it mean? How does it look? I see professionalism, planning, polishing, formatting and branding of ultimately a lot of clothing. There is a distinct difference between fashion and clothing. Look around you; in the streets, in the media and in advertising. There is plenty of clothing in fashion… →
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Fashion Inspiration and the Eighteenth Century by Dr Christoph Vogtherr
Looking for inspiration? Today’s concept of fashion is deeply rooted in the Eighteenth-century. Many Londoners are convinced that something truly exciting and creative cannot be older than a decade. I don’t know why. Ever since I came to the Wallace Collection as a curator in 2007, then as its Director in 2011, I have felt… →
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My Photographic Life by Richard Young
I started in the photographic world when I was around my mid-twenties, so I was quite a late starter. I was lucky enough to have been mentored by my boss, Jeff Kwintner, in the book shop where I was working in Regent Street. He needed someone to take some shots of Thomas Hardy country in… →
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Collaboration by Orsola De Castro
Sometimes I wonder how many brilliant people didn’t manage to achieve much, or leave a powerful legacy, simply because they did not, in their lifetime, encounter the support and friendship of like minded individuals ready to share a journey, or support an idea, however far fetched. And instead how many perfectly normal people outperformed themselves… →
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The Business of Fashion by Jane Shepherdson
I’m currently the CEO of Whistles, a brand that offers contemporary effortless fashion at affordable prices for both women and men. I haven’t always done this though, I started at the very bottom, in the late 1980’s at Topshop. At the time, I really didn’t care what the job was, nor the salary attached to… →
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Does Fashion Photography Matter? By Magda Keaney
I’ve spent a lot of the last decade thinking about fashion image making. It’s one aspect of the history of photography and contemporary photographic practice that has been a focus of my work as a photography curator and writer. I certainly agree with Susan Sontag who said the very nature of thinking is ‘but’, BUT… →
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Women, Fashion and Choice: Why Fashion Matters
Lou Stoppard is SHOWstudio’s Editor and a freelance writer and broadcaster. She completed her undergraduate degree at Oxford University, earning a first class BA in History, before moving to Central Saint Martins College to pursue a Master’s degree in Fashion Journalism. She has written for titles including ELLE, ELLE Collections, GQ Style, Stylist, The Times,… →
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Why Fashion Matters. One Londoner’s Perspective by Vanessa Kingori
Vanessa Kingori is Publisher of British GQ Style & Associate Publisher Fashion, British GQ Frances and I have often found ourselves in deep conversation about the many reasons why fashion is more than the sum of its parts, more than simply the clothes on our backs. Essentially, why does fashion matter? What better place to… →