The Look at London College of Fashion

Tonight Paul Gorman, author of the periodical The Look, with Max and Pippa talked about the history of their boutiques in Soho. LOADS of people turned up and so the few hours I spent up late last night cobbling together the slide show for the talk were worth it. If you want to see a pictorial history from Shop to Maison B click here until I find a more permanent site for it. When you view the pages, remember to set your browser view to "full screen".

After the talk, All About Eve Babitz gave a performance and then Max and Pippa signed their pictures in The Look


Pippa signing

Max

Daren packing up

On the way home, Paul and I stopped off to check the alley way nearby our house to see what the latest graffiti.

I swear this wasn't me that wrote that. But who did - this is THE TOTAL BOMB in so far as scribbling on the wall goes.

I'm off to Paris for the week to see my friend Bitch Ass Darius spin at Triptyque organised by Diamond Grilling - my friends DJ Koyote and DJ Goon. I'm also supposed to buy a Lanvin bow tie for Max. Let's hope I don't have to nurse a hangover so serious on Saturday I can't even get out of bread for some Brioche!!!

xx Emma

THE LOOK PRESENTS SHOP AT MAISON B

2 NOVEMBER 2006
6.30 for 7.00 start
Max and Pippa will be talking about their history from the days they met at Fred's - Max was a barman and Pippa was a singer, their first shop together, the start of Shop on Brewer Street, the things they are into, who they are and everything else that has led up to them being where they are today with Shop At Maison Bertaux. Author of The Look Paul Gorman will be presenting the evening at the London College of Fashion.

If you are interested in coming, email madame@shopatmaisonb.com to get your name on the list. It is free! There is booze! And best of all, there will be a performance by All About Eve Babitz at the end. [Except without James cause he is off schmoozing with Snoop Dogg and Justin Timberlake at the MTV Europe awards in Copenhagen. But I promise - All About Eve Babitz are gonna be better!!]

xx Emma

pics from paul

Paul Gorman just sent me these from the St Martin's do the other night, wanted to show you my top as it was such a great one....and paul looks rather pleased with his choice, i want to say it's the cambridge rapist t shirt but i'm probably wrong....i love how paul always has a copy of his book The Look in his hand....


The photographs are taken by Vic Singh who has a few stories to tell himself...friend of George Harrison from way back when who shot amongst other things the cover of Pink Floyd's PIper at the Gates of Dawn album sleeve.....

pistol at st martin's!

Pippa Brooks with Glen Matlock!

Max and i went to St Martin's college on Friday night where Paul Gorman was doing a presentation to students of Westwood/McLaren tshirts, muslins, bondage trousers etc. I was one of the "models"(wearing a muslin of mickey and minnie mouse having sex) who chronologically minced up on stage to be described and put into historical context - Paul constantly amazes me with his knowledge, it's all there on the tip of his tongue, no notes, i think it comes from being obsessed and a real enthusiast for what you do, which is the best way to be i reckon, no half measures.....Max played some appropriate music in the background and the best part was when he played the Ramones at the wrong speed!!! Glen Matlock (original Sex Pistol and finale model in one of the earliest tshirts) was laughing so hard!!! Really nice bloke actually, i was determined to get a picture of us together for this blog and he was very gracious...in fact here's another one!!!

Mark and Max - done it!!!

Here is Max in a Katharine E Hamnett t-shirt and Mark Powell the night we spoke at Borders for Paul Gorman's The Look: Adventures in Rock and Pop Fashion book.

The Look: Adventures in Rock and Pop Fashion

Paul Gorman is a London writer who has recently released his revised edition of The Look: Adventures in Rock and Pop Fashion. The first version had Pippa and James Dearlove from their old band Shopgirl on the front cover. As part of London Fashion Week, Paul Gorman held a talk, Q&A, book signing at Borders on Oxford Street talking specifically about the history of Soho in his book.

Pippa and Max talked about the new shop and the reason why they started in Soho 11 years ago. Max really defended his corner about the struggle of independent business at the moment with the globalistion of culture and the fact that any city you go to, on the main street now will be all the same shops - H&M, Starbucks, Zara and a gang of mobile phone shops. OR guerilla stores set up with the backing of large businesses as a way to tap into "urban culture." Later on I learnt Max had never been to Belgium - he was trying to pour himself a Duvel beer and ended up with just a glass of foam. I'm gonna take him to Brussels one day.

There was another guy there whose background is that trained on Saville Row but in his fathers tailoring business on the floor above the Spanish Tapas Bar on Old Compton Street as it is now, they made the first new suits for The Beatles, without the lapel and the round neck. As worn in this video for Love Me Do. Paul Gorman said that this record went to number 18 in the UK charts, but I have to say that I checked the Guinness World Records Hit Singles 14th Edition which says that Love Me Do actually reached position 17 and sat there for 18 weeks. I only had to check cause I really hate The Beatles and couldn't remember the name of the song to look for a film clip. This guy, who's name I can't remember busted out a GANG of mega celebrities names that he and his father made the suits for. But they were all celebs I don't really like so I can't remember. Sorry for being a loser. :(

What I did remember was Mark Powell, world famous tailor to the stars, dropped he had been working with Usher for his latest video with the 30's inspired suits. I always like Usher even though he is a bit smooth and he looks great in this video here which we now all know was down to Mark Powell.

Paul Gorman's book The Look: Aventures in Rock and Pop Fashion is a great read - it covers all kinds of weird and amazing stuff. Next time you are in your local book shop you should check it out. And even better - BUY IT!! [Or even order it straight from amazon.com]

xx Emma