Immense; Fashion Together

By Jo Phillips

You’ve no doubt heard the famous expression ‘It takes two to tango.’ Well, apparently, it also takes two to design, particularly when it comes to clothes. Partnerships have always been popular within the fashion industry. Often, more than one mind is needed to conjure a collection with the ability to captivate and enthral the masses. From September 8th until January 13th, Fashion Together will pay homage to some of the industry’s most successful pairings. The exhibition is to be held at Fashion Space Gallery, London College of Fashion’s hub of inspiration for budding designers and anyone with a passion for clothing and creativity.

The curator is London SHOWstudio’s Lou Stoppard, a renowned editor and freelancer whose articles frequently grace the pages of prestigious prints like Vogue and Elle. Her previous exhibit; Mad About The Boy, which explored fashion’s fixation with youth culture, went down like a storm, and Fashion Together promises to be just as diverse and eclectic.

For no admission charge, members of the public will shortly be able to walk amongst stunning garments and never-before-seen sketches, handwritten notes and editorials as well as listen to candid interviews, allowing them to gain insight into the minds of fashion’s favourite duos. World famous visionary photographer, Nick Knight, and controversial designer, filmmaker and model, Daphne Guinness, is just one example. If you’re all too familiar with these names, you will know that this unique retrospective is not to be missed. If not, just think bold lips, slick hairdos, stacked jewellery and gravity defying footwear.

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Nick Knight and Daphne Guinness, Visions Couture: Junya Watanabe, SHOWstudio 2011, digital film. Courtesy of SHOWstudio

Visitors will also be presented with collaborations by Rick Owens and Michèle Lamy, Shaun Leane and Alexander McQueen, Viktor Horsting and Rolf Snoeren, Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin, Gareth Pugh and Ruth Hogben, and Thom Browne and Stephen Jones.  In other words, be prepared to be struck by an array of fiercely glamorous and hauntingly beautiful ensembles.

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Backstage at the Alexander McQueen ‘Black’ show, June 2004. Aluminium Coiled Corset by Shaun Leane for Alexander McQueen, The Overlook, Autumn/Winter 1999. Courtesy of the Shaun Leane archive.
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Silver and Porcupine Quill Ear Cuffs, Shaun Leane for Alexander McQueen, Irere, Spring/Summer 2003. Courtesy of the Shaun Leane archive.

The exhibition is perfectly timed to coincide with the launch of Lou Stoppard’s book: ‘Fashion Together: Fashion’s Most Extraordinary Duos on the Art of Collaboration.’  A coffee-table must-have; the stylish hardback goes behind the scenes to uncover exactly what brought the extraordinary creative pairings to success.  It takes into account everything from early childhood memories to industry secrets, making it the perfect guide for anyone keen to break into the fashion world as well as a humorous, light-hearted read.  The book will be available from October 17th and can be pre-ordered here.

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