The original hipsters - The Blitz Kids

"Would you let yourself in? Go home and make an effort.." - Steve Strange -

While doing research for an upcoming DIY video project, I came across an 80s night club in London called BLITZ. Another piece of underground fashion history to look up when discussing the backgrounds of major fashion influencers of today and the post-punk era. The Blitz Kids were a group of young people who frequented the Blitz nightclub in Covent Garden, London in 1979-80, and are credited with launching the New Romantic subcultural movement. Among their number were Steve Strange, Princess Julia and Boy George. Crucially, the club was located between two art colleges (St Martin's School and Central School) and became a testground for student fashion designers who set London ablaze during the 1980s. These included Stephen Jones (THE fashion milliner) and John Galliano just to name a few. Even Vogue chief in editor Anna Piaggi visited the club frequently. The Blitz began making headlines thanks to its outrageous styles of clothes and make-up for both sexes (make-up on men was not very common for men in the late 70´s, apart from David Bowie..) and was widely considered to be the birth of the early 80´s New Romantic fashion movement. Check out more from Tumblr and Google. Top photo via.

Oh, and this hair pinned denim jacket is amazing... It is called "Blitz" and it´s made by Levi Strauss & co customized by Leigh Bowery, 1986.

Pictures 79'-80's Blitz Kids:

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If you are in NYC, I´d recommend checking out the current exhibition at the MET called PUNK: Chaos to Couture.

Punk motivations

Did you read the article from Style.com on why Dame Vivienne Westwood originally turned punk?  She was one of the key figures in starting a revolution in fashion, in an era of conservativity and tea time. But she was not thinking of fashion back then, or becoming a high fashion designer and a celebrity. She did not like the society she lived in and went on a mission to change the world. This is the reason why I view her as such an inspirational figure. If alternative cultures in fashion interest you, I really recommend reading Vivienne´s autobiography.

Trashion is not fashion. It is my revolution. 

DIY usamimi bunny ears head scarf

Usamimi is Japanese and means bunny ears. It is also used to describe the wire head scarf that can be worn around your head in many ways. Very stylish, kinda the scrunchie of 2010s. It is also very easy to make. You´ll need a rectangle piece of fabric (old scarf or fabric scraps), a sewing machine or fabric glue, pliars and wire. Look up the word usamimi and you´ll find loads of stuff like styling tips, tutorials ect. Check out also these usamimis from Cult Gaia.

Louis Vuitton dresses the models in huge usamimis a couple of seasons back.

Photo & tutorial: Chic Steals.

Via Honestly WTF....

Trashion newspaper bride

Ding Dong! Today a local newspaper Aamulehti published a full page story on trashion. They asked me if I could create a look inspired by the Eurovision Song Contest. Finland´s contestant this year is Krista Siegfrids with her song Marry Me. This is what a news paper bride looks like done through my hands. A bit of trashion, second hand and a whole lot of spirit of vintage Dior. You´ll need just packing tape and newspapers for this project, plus a skirt and corset to use as base. This project is fun for bridal showers or weddings.

Photo: Mikko Rasila / Model: Heini

 

 

How I met Kanerva Mantila

Yesterday we had a photoshoot. A friend of mine, Amelie, just called and said "I´ll pick you up at 8am. Have some clothes prepared." That´s how to book a stylist. Reference images pointed me to modernized 50s looks so I got the stuff from Fida second hand shop and the rest from my own closet. Both my regular clothes and some things I made for my Trashion book. Basic stuff. The shoot was to take place in the surroundings of a Järvenpää shopping mall which did not sound so glamourous at first. Luckily a good photographer can do miracles. Kanerva Mantila seems to be on of these people. I´m fortune to know a lot of fashion pros and semi-pros. We do this type of thing every now and then just to play around. Somebody always needs new pictures for their portfolio or website... Most of us just do all the boring stuff for work so days like this lets us have some fun and do more artsy work with no commercial detachments. "Just make it look pretty." Jonas, or bartender slash male model, had been sleeping only 2 hours so he was being a real trooper all day looking like James Dean. It suited him to look like he had been drinking the entire week. Such a cute and lovely boy. Amelie looked like a temptress doll in her bee hive hair and make up that Riina came up with. They made up our teen rebel couple.

I shot 1100 making of photos that day, insane, I know. But I have to practise using on my new camera. I was pretty satisfied with the result as well until I had a look at Kanerva´s camera. IT looked amazing. I´ll never get it how some people can use light like that... It is a real talent to get the raw images to look fantastic, so very little photoshopping is needed. Here is a sneak peak of what we did. More pics coming soon when I get the real photos from Kanerva. 

Looking forward to working with this team again.

The bartender slash male model on his third cup of coffee at 10 am.