Mon, 11/02/2008 - 8:30pm
Vauxhall Fashion Scout, Baden Powell House, SW7
There is no denying that Super Super is a phenomenal fashion force propelling Nu Rave forward in the subculture stakes. Engineered and steered by pop culture protagonists, Namalee and Steve, it is essentially a fashion magazine, but the Super folk are ever-evolving and are now hosting events and offering consultation services, making publications like Dazed and Confused look about as with it as your grandad. This was an electrifying show oozing frolicksomeness with collections sandwiched between live performances. In total contrast to the standard 'send the models down the catwalk with a backing track' approach, the Super show mined a music hall vein and delivered an unforgettable entertaining experience.
The show's compare welcomed the ram-packed audience and we kicked off with a shrill thrilling performance by Basso and Brook's stylist Namlee, clad in a B&B power print suit booming "I knew I was right" at us and dancing with Native American-style feathers in her hair. Then out came a collection by Scott Ramsay Kyle - geometric shaped dresses adorned with Scott's signature demon embroidery. Scott's clothes look like he's been raiding people's sewing boxes whilst they sleep - his dresses are canvases for his fervent creations which seem to celebrate haberdashery. There's visible stitching and frayed edges, plaits, feathers and a medieval-style tunic with long glittery threads attached. This man has a fantastic rep and has created embroidered pieces for Emma Cook and Boudicca amongst others.
Emma Bell's work is an explosion of fruity fun, plastic pastiche and playfulness. A green glitter pinafore with oversized hips combines with a yellow and red sweet print shirt, plastic shoes and finished with Ziggy Stardust make up and a cocktail umbrella head-dress - this collection has nuclear impact. Out next was a menswear look, we use the term loosely of course - shiny blue trousers fitted very tightly, another version of the sweet print top worn and a zipped waistcoat with raised shoulders, topped off with a cheeky grin and a glitter moustache. There's vinyl touches throughout, in panels and a wide yellow belt, and a bejewelled pink mini dress finished with an oversized bow on the model's head. Emma Bell's people stand out from the crowd and really enjoy dressing up - bang on for this show.
After Traffic Light Man, an hilarious short film by Rui Leonardes, out came Dharma Taylor's streety menswear collection. Jersey and sweatshirt are the main fabrics in the series of outfits from this Rochester graduate who has probably been snapped up by Topman. She turns 'hoody' on its head by adding form and print to street fabrics. Tight fitted trousers are combined with a print coat, sweatshirts, reworked hoodys which could be termed '' as they drape over the head blanket style. The prints look almost Moroccan but the T-shirts and sweatpants with a green penis print scream London.
The Assured took to the stage and delivered a stonking performance of a song called Sex Offender. Singing "I want to sex up your agenda" and dancing around as much of the stage as they could, with the lead singer pushing the guitarist around in a battered push chair - it was rock and roll, punk and nu rave rolled into one fat three minute song and the audience loved it. The final collection shown was by Belgian designer Thomas Sels and it was so conceptual, I'm still confused. The show notes say it is "based on A-line suits and exploring the core concept of clothing (ie. protection) through fabric". I thought the first outfit which was a green column cocoon affair, was going to be removed to reveal something else, but no. An icy white fluffy belted coat, a rough cut vinyl black cape and an electric blue dress with raised detail on the shoulder all followed. I loved the table cloth skirt though. Rapper Niyi performed two songs, 'I Like Poached Eggs' (not sure if that was the proper title but good for singing along with) and his excellent forthcoming single 'I Bet You Didn't Think I'd Still Be Here' before the finale kicked off. Namalee and friends singing and dancing wildly in amongst the clothes. Truly a super super show.
Words: Marian Buckley
Photos:
Ian Gillett
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