LOUISE WILSON’S FILM LIST

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Her feedback could be brutal,
and she was famous for it.
Louise Wilson was the course director for the Fashion Design MA at St Martins – tutoring the likes of McQueen and Saunders, Kane and Kokosalaki.

 

When I first met her, my interview was quick enough to give me whiplash.

The next time was nearly 20 years later, when her response to me was much friendlier.
She was a big fan of the all black, utterly plain versions of our sandals and would visit the office (FitFlop) to review the range.

We got on well and I’d go as far to say as the brutally honest feedback – negative and positive – was a welcome receipt.

 

It was her way of provoking a reaction.

For pursuing better.
A better reason for the product to exist.
To justify its place.

“No point in doing any old ****. “

 

In an interview a few years ago (for @Another magazine I think) Molly Goddard (a student of Wilson’s) shared this list of films that Wilson would give to her students – I assume to broaden perspective and inspire ideas.

Thought I’d share it here.

“It’s a secret language known to different people, in different ways, that enables them to read a subliminal message without realising they’re reading it.” : Louise Wilson.

 

COUTURE – SS24 VALENTINO – A SELECTION

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A selection from the recent SS24 Valentino Couture collection.
The shades of colour feel fresh, and mature.
Bold, and classic.
As much as I love zooming in to see the detail of the garment, or the heel of a shoe, it’s also interesting to pull back and see the collection at a distance.
To see how colours pop, or profiles flow.

Watch

INTERLUDES

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This is my kind of collaboration.
Eclectic and Soulful.
My friend William Watson, and his friend Ebi Kagbala, are Death To Tennis, and they’ve been cultivating a series of interludes with musicians from New York City and Seoul.

Styled in Death To Tennis.
Rhythm their own.
Unique.

I’ve been listening to them for the last few days,
and this one is one of my faves.

Watch / Listen

 

PANTONE COLOUR OF THE YEAR 2024.

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Only a few days after writing my other newsletter Mellowing Blend, inspired by a conversation about Pantone colours – albeit of a more Autumnal flavour – they release their Colour Of The Year 2024 – Peach Fuzz 13-1023.
Intuition, or coincidence?

 

ART BY ARNOLD.

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My friend Arnold just posted a series of three drawings.
Each of them a face.
All amazing.
This is one.

see the rest here.

 

TROPICAL CLOGS.

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Inspiration is everywhere, weaving its way around the world. Floating in the ether.
For anyone and everyone to reach out and catch.

And it’s interesting to see where similar sources of inspiration eventually re-appears, and on what.

How inspirations can begin in a similar place and go on such different journeys.

Through the minds of different people, and appear on different materials, on different products, with different brands and in different markets.

For a recent project, I designed a tropical inspired print to brighten up the days of those who work in healthcare, and their patients.

A print that would embellish the Toffeln clog’s that nurses love so much.

After all, images of nature’s beauty can inspire health benefits, no matter how slight.

My trip to Hawaii in 2001 came to mind.
Tropical flowers felt right.

The clogs launched a few weeks ago.

While Oscar de la Renta’s gorgeous new dresses (atop) might not be suitable for the ward,
Toffeln’s tropical clogs certainly are.

They’re Clogs with a cause – check out their charitable side. 

And on the weekend, you could wear both! 

Comfort, elegance, and charity.

 

LOEWE SS24.

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While watching the Loewe Women’s SS24,
this detail and craftsmanship,
the elegant choice of colour,
stunning.

The music was delicious too.
See the show

 

SUPERBLY REMARKABLE

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Love this innovative fresh take on a fashion show.
KidSuper – Breathing Life Into The Inanimate – SS23. Check out his store here.

 

WILLIAM KLEIN : STREET PHOTOGRAPHY

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Alex Kilbee, AKA The Photographic Eye, recently shared some fascinating insights in to the work of photographer William Klein.

In the last few days I listened to a wonderful conversation between Malcolm Gladwell and David Epstein at the 92Y – talking about his book RANGE – which is about how generalists succeed in a specialised world. And how, if we experiment in lots of things earlier in our lives, we have a greater breadth of experience to bring to our specialism later on.

So it was interesting to see the parallels across mediums of creativity – how Klein explored the breadth of his range – initially interested in abstract painting and sculpture, to a career behind the camera; from photojournalism to fashion photography, from documentary to feature film making.

PRACTICED UP IN BLUE

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If there’s one person’s blog I consistently recommend to people, it’s Seth’s blog. Ever since it started arriving into my inbox (with my permission!) over ten years ago – I must have read almost every one – and he writes one every single day! As I’ve opened the aSTOKA studio a little wider (ie. this website) I thought I’d start a fun project – designing shoes inspired by books. Not just any books, but books that I’ve either been recommended or have recommended myself. Two days ago I had a trial run with a sketch of Daniel Kahneman’s Thinking Fast and Slow. Today begins a daily Practice … which is what The Practice is about. Doing something daily, however sketchy or otherwise it might be, however imperfect it might be. The practice of shipping creative work. Thank you Seth, for everything you do!