Laura does catwalking

The 80’s are back with a vengeance this coming winter, as seen strutting down the catwalk shows of Marc Jacobs, Alexandra Wang, Brasso and Brooke and Georgio Armani. From big shoulders, clashing colours, crazy animal prints and power dressing. All the things we love and hate about fashion from 1980’s is preparing to explode all over the high street within the coming months…so be prepared. Marc Jacobs led the way with this trend sending out bright pink jackets with enormous shoulder pads, high waisted denim, metallic tones and party dresses that looked like cocktail dresses circa 1984. When thinking 80’s this winter, channel Blade Runner and Banarama hair.

The influence of the masculine was evidence in several AW09 collections, from suits with a twist, dinner jackets and masculine tailoring. Designers such as Yves Saint Laurent, Hussein Chalayan, Stella McCartney, Jil Sander, Burberry Prorsum all showcased influences from a more typical masculine wardrobe. This look was best seen in the collection of Jean Paul Gaultier, from his relaxed tailored suits to his office inspired skirts. His collection summed up the trend seen in so many AW09 designs.

Fashion reflects the times we live in, the changes that a society goes through and how those living in it are affected. Fashion in times of economic crisis can be said to take on a more sombre mood. This trend turns towards a more sophisticated way of dressing, pencil skirts with matching jackets, tailoring, tweed and hounds tooth print. Shown on a colour pallet of autumn tones such as burgundy, soft browns and dusky oranges. Designers such as Lanvin, Donna Karen, Michael Kors and Dries Van Noten all showed collections that consisted of obvious references to fashion of bygone eras such as the 1930’s, 40’s and 1950’s.

With D& G, Christian Lacroix, Richard Nicoll, Prada and Derek Lam paving the catwalks gold this autumn winter, it made for a bold contrast to the other more subdued trends that can be seen. Think gold lame, metallic fabrics, and leathers. From gold glam rock, futuristic metals and chunky gold jewellery. Flashes of gold could be seen in collections from Zac Posen’s gold embellished belts, D&G quilt inspired gold dresses to Richard Nicoll futuristic gold leather leggings.

By Laura Stonard

Seasick Steve

Our absolute favourite person in the world right now is Seasick Steve. After years spent drifting around America he has hit the big time with his blues. His voice is a beautiul amalgam of woody tones, just a hint of something charred and a rawness that never falters. No matter if he's performing live or heard through our cd player, we can't help but stop what we're doing and listen to him.

Giles

'GOLD BOOTS!' The cry went up from Spank HQ when we saw what the genius had sent down the runway. When, I ask, when are we ever going to get to wear gold, thigh-high boots again and be considered cool? The answer is never, so we're planning a winter of unabashedly glam dressing with transvestite overtones. Thank you Giles, we owe it all to you.

Damian Lazarus

He cut his teeth as Deputy Editor for Dazed and Confused in the early 90s, then went on to work at record labels, set up record labels and DJ, before starting to make his own music, which is mind-blowing in itself. You could say that he's a musical man (the music man?). His astounding mix of 'Twisted, raw, deep underground techno, house and electro' has got us all hot under the collar and we're keeping tabs on his every move. Not in a frightening way...

Oh 90s, we love you

Although nobody really wants to talk about it, the 90s have been sneaking back onto fashion radars for a while now, with a slick hair-do here and a grungy get-up there, here a check shirt, there a black dress, everywhere a belly top. Ah yes, the belly top. Prada did it, Maison Martin Margiela did it and here at Spank we are championing the midriff as the body part du jour. However you do it, get it out there. Go with Cushnie et Ochs for sleek 90s glamour - a high-waisted skirt and a boob-skimming fine jersey will do it. Or take note of Moschino Cheap & Chic with nothing but a waft of transparent gauze between you and the world. Mark Fast showcased cute little vests that looked ten years old and Preen went with cut-out panels, but whichever way you look at it, the belly's coming back this season. If you're feeling the trend but also feeling shy then try rocking Comme des Garcons layered look, which combined belly top with voluminous under-garment to make a look all their own.

High Torque

We got together with High Torque - master of electronic sounds - for a chat and to find out what he likes and what he doesn't. Turns out he likes quite a lot of things.

How's life treating you?
Not too bad! I’m working down at Cr2 Records, which is wicked and have some exciting DJ bookings coming up. I just need to find more time to write music.

What's the first thing you did this morning?
Had a cuppa.

What inspires you?
Music, life, anything really.

What scares you?
Being deaf. I’m not really sure what I would do.

What's on your iPod?
Lots of live mixes and podcasts. Fresh music is great for sparking ideas.

Do you have any pets?
Nope, I would like a dog but I live in London and work all day.

What's the hardest part of making music?
Getting into the studio.

What other artists do you admire?
Too many to name them all, but Steve Lawler is amazing.

What is your favourite place in the world?
The South Pacific is pretty amazing

Who's better, Superman or Spiderman?
Both are a bit geeky, mind you being able to fly would be pretty handy, so Superman.

Tell us a joke.
My uncle is an agnostic and also suffers from insomnia and dyslexia. He lies awake every night wondering if there really is a dog.

What was the last thing to make you laugh?
A lady working in the supermarket wondering what Sainsbury’s would do if all their staff came down with ‘Swan Flu’.

What’s your proudest moment to date?
Getting my swimming certificate for 5 metres with a float. I was so chuffed at that that I didn’t take it any further. I’m not a very good swimmer.

What's your best trait?
Being laid back. Though it can also be my worst.

What's your worst habit?
Procrastinating.

What's your favourite tipple?
A good old fashioned ale.

What can't you stand?
Warm-up DJs that don’t get the meaning of ‘warm up’.

Tell us something that nobody else knows.
A snail can sleep for 3 years, not a lot of people know that. (Spank is suitably amazed and sort of wants to sleep for three years too.)

When was the first time a song made you go "WOW!"?
The first album I bought was Michael Jackson ‘Off The Wall’ on cassette. I remember being pretty blown away.

Why did you start making music?
I loved music and was intrigued to know how it was made, so decided to give it a go.

Where are the next five years going to take you?
I’m working as an artist scout for Cr2 Records and will hopefully get to meet a lot of cool people and listen to fresh and exciting music.

What's more important nowadays – skills or hype?
Skills are essential to get noticed by the right people, but hype creates the superstars.

Do you have any regrets?
Nope, whatever it is, it’s in the past

Ever made a fashion faux pas?
Like most of us in the 80s I had a shell suit, but not everyone’s was purple. (Actually, mine was too)

Use the word Spank in a sentence.
It’s been a long time since I was last spanked, take that how you like.

Adam and Joe

From the moment I heard the Bobby de Niro Calypso I knew I was onto a winner. The Footie Song sealed the deal and Speeding on the Needlebliss was the funny icing on a massive comedy cake. Listen to the 6Music radio show, buy the Adam and Joe Show DVD box sets. You cannot go on without them. It isn't often that something provokes a full belly laugh when I'm on my own, but the Adam and Joe show gets me every time. If nothing else, they coined the term 'Idiothole'.
Check out the video above for the Joe Cornish alternative to the current Antiques Roadshow theme tune.

Thom Humphris

If you've grown to despair of menswear and feel mildly nauseous at the thought of another day in jeans and bloody t-shirts, then stop where you are and discover Tom Humphris. The elegant draping, the gothic structuring, the immaculate tailoring and the sheer sex of it all is enough to make us weak at the knees. Once he's finished his degree at UCA Rochester, we're predicting huge things for this walking ball of talent. Commit his name to memory or severely regret it later.

You and I, in a little toy shop, buy a bag of balloons, with the money we've got...

Because it makes us smile.

Secretive Guy

When he died in 1991, Guy Bourdin said that he wanted his life's work to be destroyed. Thank frickin' goodness for impropriety - it was never done. And as a result of that disrespect for a dying man's wish, we're to be treated to an exhibition of his hitherto unseen work. Installed at the Wapping Project from 9 May - 4 July, the pieces on show have come from Bourdin's Muse Nicolle Meyer and are set to get tongues wagging, re-confirming the man as one of last centuries greatest photographers.

Style Icons

It's that time of year again, when school girls take the day off and hope to be scouted by model agencies. When London is turned upside down by yet another fashion event. Yes boys and girls, it's the Clothes Show Live. They've polled our style icons of the 20th century and guess what? It's all boringly predictable. Bridget Bardot for the 70s, Madonna for the 80s, Kate Moss for now. We would like to have seen a little more imagination from the nation. A little less regular blonde sex symbol and a little more of women who embody unique beauty and power. What about Angelica Huston for the 70s, Grace Jones for the 80s and Tilda Swinton for now? Women who don't have to get their kit off, or reinvent themselves, or starve themselves to get attention. These are our nominations - what are yours?

I didn't get where I am today by being a remake

So they've remade The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin. Only now it's just called Reggie Perrin and it stars Martin Clunes. Now, I really like Martin Clunes, so I'm in a bit of a quandary. I want to be supportive, but I just can't. The original Reginald Perrin was incredibly dark. The character himself was a realistically unlikeable man trying hard to seem like he was a nice man and the running jokes (a farting chair, for example) were well-placed and timed. Reggie 2009 just doesn't work. The main problem with the new series is the women. The Rise and Fall of Reginald Perrin relied heavily on women's subordination and on his personal thoughts on them, be it wanton lust or sheer disgust. The women were flattened into small characters and stereotypes. In no way am I saying that this is right. Modern drama should change to reflect the power that women now have, but with so much of the story so reliant on outmoded gender relationships, the series itself flounders without them. I say out with the new and in with the old. If you want to see a genuine fore-runner of modern comedy then look up the original. Oh, and check out his natty suits.

Bangers and Mash

We love a mental night out and the more entertainment there is, the better. So an evening comprising jugglers, face-painting and lots of booze just tickled our fancy. Sarah White caught up with Emily, who runs possibly the most fun club night in the world.

Tell us about yourself and what you’ve been up to.
I run the Bangers & Mash nights at Proud Camden every Friday, the first Saturday of every month at 93 Feet East & bank holiday Sundays at The Hoxton Pony.

What’s it all about?
Bangers & Mash is a series of music-based events. We’ve been given credit for mixing new music with a perfect mash-up of everything from the 1950s to the present day, whilst bringing the key ‘fun’ element back to club nights and encouraging dress up. Prop ‘N’ Go is the motto, and if you come with your prop, you’re promised special treatment!

So far, you’ve had an impressive line up of DJs play for you; Jodie Harsh, Dirty Pretty Things, Babyshambles, what more can we expect?
We have sets from Soho Dolls, Infadels, Goldielocks Live, Mystery Jets, Trash Fashion, Robots in Disguise and much more coming up in April / May / June 2009!

You’re also a DJ, how do you fit it all in?
I haven’t managed to play for a while now – the events take up all of my time! I’ve just bought Serato, though, so get ready for some big sets from me in coming weeks!

Besides the wild dancing what else can party goers expect to find at Bangers & Mash?
Expect to see anything from live caricature and face art to kissing games & juggler dudes with fancy balls along with other free stuff!

So is it like one big kids party?
Yes!

You’ve hosted nights at two of London’s hottest joints - are you hoping for world domination?
I’d like to take it to festivals and we were supposed to do the Camden Crawl, but they couldn’t afford us!

What is it about Bangers & Mash that makes it different to any other night?
We mix cutting edge music with classics, which I think our generation of 20-somethings want to hear. We don’t just wanna hear a 6 Music play list all night! Bring on anything from The Cure to A Tribe Called Quest to Chuck Berry – diversity is key!

Sounds great!
You will smile and be entertained and will want to come back.

Sum up Bangers & Mash in a sentence.
A freestyle mash-up of disco and indie guitars, electro-sleaze to leftfield hiphop, funk and Motown with loads of surprises thrown in! Come with your props for special treats!

Interview by Sarah White

Sew What

On the 21-22 of May, if you happen to be in the Midlands, head on down to Sew What to see the final collections of some of the most promising fashion design students in the world. Nottingham Trent University has long been building up its reputation as a mecca for great talent and this show will allow you to see them all in one place before they make their first forays into the big wide world. Tickets are £7 for a day show and £14 for the evening. Put on some silly shoes, go and pretend you're famous and rub shoulders with what could very well be the Next Big Thing.

Lust On Film

This year we're really excited about films. Like, really excited. First off we're spending too much time watching the trailer (in French - we can't understand it, but it's so pretty!) for Coco Avant Chanel, the biopic on the label's designer. Starring Audrey Tautou, it was released in France late last month and should be around the world 'later in the year'. Do they have to be so vague?


We're trying to ignore the mono-type picture Valentino paints of women ('I know what women want - they want to be beautiful.') So that we can go and enjoy Matt Tyrnauer's incredible-looking documentary, Valentino: The Last Emperor. A portrayal of a highly-strung man still living in an era when he was king of the runway. Any glimpse into one of fashion's most gargantuan names has to be worth a look and as soon as it hits the UK we're going to be there, with knobs on.

We've come over all gleeful, like children with balloons, at the trailer for Where the Wilds Things Are. This return to our favourite ever childhood book would normally inspire trepidation - will they do it justice? - but with the unfathomably good Spike Jonze at the helm there's literally nothing that can go wrong. Love the guy, love the book, got to see the film.

Everybody should watch Anvil. This is the story of two guys in a rock band, who by all accounts should have made it BIG a long time ago, but for whatever reason just didn't. Their dedication to their cause and to each other is at once touching and amazing and the film manages to twang your heart strings as well as making you laugh. Definitely, definitely watch this film.