The Twenty SS20 Issue
By Jo Phillips
Our Guest editors Tatty Devine, Rosy Wolfenson and Harriet Vine
There are some moments in life that just stay in your minds’ eye like a painting, forever as colourful and as vivid as the moment it happened.
One such moment was when I was a working stylist long before I ever started a magazine.
As a working stylist, I would traipse around London picking out items for photoshoots. This was before the days of the internet when actual appointments were made to visit specific press offices, where I would look at physical clothes, jewellery or shoes to use for an upcoming editorial shoot for a magazine I contributed to.
This particular day, I went into the press office at Whistles. In those days, whistles sold multiple brands in addition to their own label and it was in a tiny room below stairs that I came upon a box of baubles. To my delight, there were necklaces and rings, earrings and bracelets all made from uber-colourful pieces of Perspex. All luscious and jangly, attention-grabbing and delicious!
I remember the shoot I was preparing for well. It was a shoot inspired by Cubism from Brecht to Picasso, so more than anything that I needed was items with a surreal edge. My delight when I saw the items at Whistles was immense. I took every piece available for the shoot.
A few months later and another painting was held in my minds’ eye. This time, it’s London Fashion week – the manic time of year where us journalists literally run from show to show not stopping for the loo or lunch or anything civilised like that. However, should there be a lucky break, then it’s around the selling stands we go, looking at accessories or seeing designer outfits from the catwalk shows close up.
Whilst walking around I came across a stand full of what I can only describe as gaudy gorgeousness. All brightly coloured trinkets with so much humour I couldn’t stop looking. And then we meet. The brand in question was, in fact, Tatty Devine, the same Tatty Devine I’d come across at Whistles press office and taken literally a ton of pieces and shot them all for my Cubist shoot.
“Oh” I say to the two ladies running it
“I just shot a whole load of your stuff which I LOVED,” I explained which magazine and which story.
In return, I got from them
“Ahh, you are Jo Phillips. We loved that story!”
And so began my relationship and friendship with the totally Tatty Devine girls Rose Wolfenden and Harriet Vine.
Their wonderful company was born in 1999 in the heart of East London when both had just left art school. Not even knowing how to make jewellery, they started off with humour (in abundance), flair and a straight forward ‘get it done’ kind of an attitude. Within a few years, this had turned them into a cult brand.
Not only have they tackled just about every subject known to man for their own collections from literally the women’s right to vote to stop Brexit badges to death and science. They have also collaborated with many designers, charitable institutions and our favourite cultural intuitions over their 20-year reign as makers of jewellery and accessories.
This is their 20th year, and hence they chose the title “The Twenty at SS20 Issue.” All the items they make are hand made in a small workshop. At the very cornerstone of their art pieces (as they are more than mere jewellery) is the humour than runs deep in the brand’s DNA.
After all, how many companies would make a green bottle fly pair of earrings, a fruit cocktail necklace, a giant lobster necklace or even a giant banana? Or as above price stickers (as seen at anyones’ local store)
Ultimately, that is what I love most about these two. There is nothing out of bounds that can’t be used as inspiration for a collection. Nothing is sacred – not even the crown jewels, man’s landing on the moon or a bottle of gin.
For all the brand’s imagery they consistently work with friends, from the image-makers to the models they use. And there would be no sense in changing their aesthetic now that they are a truly established brand. They are not those kinds of people
In this issue, celebrate with them as they share images from their own history through the last 20 years (images from a book they created for their birthday).
See the mood board for things they love, read an interview with singer The Lone Swordsman, who they admire greatly, and read about new names in the growing sustainably green fashion movement, which they are keen to build into their own world
Most of all, smile and enjoy the colour that these two bring into a sometimes-dull world. We are brighter for sharing our journey with them.
Our Issue p1
Find out about our guest editor for our Spring Summer SS20 Fashion Special Issue guest-edited by Rosie Wolfenson and Harriet Vine of Tatty Devine
Influencer by By J A Hopper SS20 P2
A short story by J A Hopper written for our Fashion Special issue
The key shows from New York City Spring Summer Collections including Helmut Lang, Marc Jacobs, Pyer Moss Self Portrait nd more
An exploration of the most successful synthetic ever created in the world of perfume, Hedione; a true hero in the world of scent.
More from the big apple including Tomu Koizumi, Longchamp, Christopher John Rogers, Zimmerman and more
Rebecca McNelly Tilford gives us an overview of the key trends for spring-summer 2020 from sheer to suiting; be in the know.
Find out what was on show in our home city of London from the likes of Christoper Kane via Halpern to Jw Anderson all the way to Roksanda.
More from our home town including 16 Arlington, Ashley Williams Burberry to Erdem and lots in between
In case you haven’t seen enough of London town here are some more, including Emilia Wickstead, Fashion East, Matty Bovan, Preen and Richard Malone plus a few more…
Words directly from the most extravagant of singers and one who the tatty Divine girls love, and who we love too…
The last of the Londons women shows because we support our home town with Natasha Zinko, Phebe English, Olivia Ruben, Fydor Golan and more.
What the boys are wearing in London for this season including shows from Art School, Charles Jeffery LOVERBOY, Craig Green, E-Tautz and more.
The rest of those London boys including Chalayan, Kiko Kostinov, Lou dalton, Nicholas Daley and the rest.
The Tatty Devine ladies give us their favourite twenty designers of the season with a few words as to why they love them.
From the city of classic style comes Etro, fendi, Georgio Armani Gucci Iceberg and more
More from the city of style including Alberta Ferreti, Angle Chan, Bottega Veneta, No21, Marni and more
See what this city has to show for the season including D squared, Philip Plein, Prada, Versace and Missoni plus more…
The Tatty Team share some images from their 20 years of personal sketchbooks as well as a few friends personal pages
Who are the new kids on the block who are starting from the very beginning to run sustainable green fashion? Meet some of them here
What we love from the city of fashion from Balenciaga, Balmain, Celine Chloe, Dior and much much more…
More from the city of love including Dries Van Noten, Giambattista Valli, Isabel Marant, Issey Miyake, Nina Ricci and more…
Still in love with Paris fashion? Well here is more for you to enjoy including, Alexander McQueen to Chanel via Givenchy to Stella Mccartney plus more…
All about green the new breed leading the way with an interview with Paris based designers Mansour Martin
This one for the boys and presents Bode, Dries van Noten, Raf Simmons, Vetements and more…
The last of the french boys including showing Acne, Sacai, Junya Wanatnabee and more for the boys…
