You're viewing the classic version of The Blackmail which was in use from July 2009 until August 2011. The latest version of The Blackmail is now here.
The Cheeky Freaks this week are those crazy kids down on the boardwalk in New Jersey… the above is a highlight reel from Ruthless Films 1994 documentary Wildwood, NJ. In their own words: “This film takes you down the shore with an all-women crew to Wildwood, NJ, the last great American blue-collar seaside carnival town. Wildwood, NJ moves beyond gum-cracking, big hair, and press-on nails to look into the souls of women raised on the boardwalkâs rides, lights and come-ons.” I first spotted this video late last year, noting it as an incredible time capsule of mid nineties fashion. I recently saw another video by New York fashion label Sophmore that pays a nice tribute to the style and tone of Wildwood, NJ.
Friday, Saturday and Sunday in Sydney frequent the massive Bassike sale. Head to 356 South Dowling St (near the corner of Flinders) for the hottest bargains under the sun. Friday night see Jonathan Boulet at the Oxford Art Factory from 8pm for $15!
Saturday and Sunday from 11am – 6pm visit China Heights (back at Lvl 3 16-28 Foster St, Surry Hills) for Where the Wild Things Are, an exhibition of photographer Mike O’Meally’s photos from the film. The show also includes a charity auction on Sunday from 6pm-9pm. Watch out for an interview between Mike and Joseph Allen in the March issue of The Blackmail. Saturday night get your spiritual pleasures at GoodGod Small Cave with High Spirits featuring spiritual humans Fred Cherry (Canyons, H.I.T.S), Steele (Tropical Social), Love’s Disciple and Valentine. 10pm to Late, $10.
Friday in Melbourne see Love of Diagrams at the Workers Club, 51 Brunswick St, Fitzroy. Doors open 8pm, $14. Afterwards, pop in to No Stopping, Bang Gang’s new monthly vibe downstairs at The Mercat. Sexy drinks and big vibes essential. 10pm to late, $20.
I have often thought of Korean model Daul Kim since her tragic death last November. Hers was a rising star in the fashion world, and her skill and beauty were treasured by high-end design houses (Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana). I am certain her absence is deeply noted by the many designers, photographers, stylists, fashion editors and bloggers whose lives she touched. In fact, she achieved a level of exposure that is rare for an Asian model in the Western world. She was the first Asian model to feature on the cover of RUSSH magazine (Nov/Dec 09), and one of only a handful of Asian models ever to be featured in any Australian fashion editorial. The same goes for the UK and USA, where it’s a rarity for an Asian model to be featured in fashion editorial or advertising. However, Kim’s fierce and playful spirit has left an imprint on the industry, spurring a bold trend towards higher exposure of Asian models in 2010. Following are the fresh faces of 2010 that perfectly encapsulate the freshness, elegance and intensity of oriental heritage.
SHU PEI QIN (Next) – Shu Pei appeared on the scene less than a year ago, and since then has clocked up some serious mileage on the fashion circuit. Walking for The Row, Vera Wang, Jill Stuart, Caroline Herrara, Herve Leger, Altazurra, Alexander Wang, Doo Ri and Acne in the first Fall/Winter shows (this week!).
LIU WEN (Marilyn) – Liu Wen also debuted in 2009, and by the end of the year she had made history as the first model of Asian descent selected to feature in the epic and exclusive Victoria’s Secret fashion show. She is now ranked in the Top 50 models in the world (#24) and is a favourite of Gaultier, Lagerfield and Alexander Wang (who booked her as the solo feature of his Pre Fall 2010 look-book).
MING XI (Elite) – This mysterious model is credited only as Ming, formerly known as ‘Barbie’ in fashion circles (her Western name adopted as entry into modeling competitions). In her first season she walked for Givenchy Couture Spring 2010, and word has it she is exclusively booked by Riccardo Tisci for the rest of the year. Consider yourself lucky if you catch a glimpse of her bold and enigmatic features in Givenchy’s Fall/Winter collection.
Check back each Thursday for more on the fashion world from Billy Bride
A regular all-night, downtown, downstairs, backroom party. Lit by candles and brought to you by all local selectors. We are dedicated to bringing the best in hi-fidelity sounds, a heartwarming vibe and as good a selection of left of field dance floor music you are likely to hear out in Sydney. This is about dancing and spiritual romancing.
Our favourite collaborators COLAB are back with a new range that includes some pretty fresh numbers from Jonathan Zawada in conjunction with The Presets. Check them out in stores from March.
The other day I opened my bare cupboards with a hankering for something sweet. I had an hour to kill. I thought I might bake. With a kitchen aid now in my grips I can basically make anything. Cakes sure, pizza dough of course, but basically anything where you need to beat things together in a way only something mechanic can do in under five minutes. And this is about all the time I could spare that day for mixing. So, taking note from fellow local food bloggers, Trotsky and Ash, I made some biscuits. I found their blog last week, and though I like it for it’s simple and clean design aesthetic, their blog is sweet and there are some really nice home cooking recipes on it, with short scene setting stories to boot.
So I adapted their brown sugar biscuits as I had no butter. Some of you may gasp here, for “how is one to cook a delicious biscuit without butter?”, olive oil I tell you dear reader. Now, I have never done this before, and it was certainly a bit of an experiment, and I was hoping that my hour spent baking was not going to go to waste in an oily mess down the sink. And it didn’t. You can taste the olive oil, and maybe they are a little more greasy, but it’s a nice change. I also added muesli and cranberries, but no pecans. So actually they look more like the above.
The Cheeky Freak this week is a tragic one, and comes too soon after other recent deaths within the fashion industry.
This week is a tribute the incredible talent of Lee Alexander McQueen. The hugely influencial designer was found in his London apartment this morning, at 40-years-old. Reports are indicating that he had been devastated by his mothers recent death on February 2, her funeral was due to be tomorrow. He was the youngest of six children, and our thoughts are with them all.
Alexander McQueen has always been a tremendous source of inspiration to many designers, and this particularly comes as a shock after his latest womenswear collection was so revolutionary. The ‘l’enfant terrible’ of the English fashion industry became famous for his lavish and controversial fashion shows, and he will be sorely missed.
R.I.P Lee Alexander McQueen
Saturday night visit GoodGod Small Cave for the extra special Valentines Day edition of Slow Blow. Disco/ Fin/ Romance! 10 – Late, $5 before midnight, $10 after.
Tonight in Melbourne go see the Bobby Digital/ RZA from Wu Tang at the Prince Bandroom, St. Kilda. $52.80 + bf doors open at 8.30pm. Sunday night tune in to Triple R from 10pm and take a journey to the outer limits with Noise In My Head, this week featuring Sal P from New York post-punk band Liquid Liquid.
Sydneysiders Parades are doing good things in the world of music, so much so that they’ve even been signed to a label. It probably helps that Jonathan Boulet is a member, and that they’re making some nice music.
Over the past few seasons we’ve seen a resurgence of medieval and gothic inspired design. Givenchy and Giles set the tone in 2008, spurring the Soft Goth and New Romantic movements that rippled through the fashion hemisphere. But if floor length frills and masquerade make-up aren’t for you, jewellery artisans Solange Azagary Partridge and William Llewellyn Griffith have created cult pieces that allow one to channel their inner deity, without looking like they’ve escaped the priesthood.
Griffith draws upon a mix of sci-fi futurism, bio-mechanics & pagan ritual to construct the awe inspiring works of fantasy under his design house ‘Metal Couture‘. Semi-precious stones such as Labrodorite and Smoky Quartz feature in his otherworldly creations, framed by sleek ambitious architecturally guided settings. Partridge’s works flow in this same vein, as her latest collection titled ‘Stoned‘ is derived from the religious rites of sacrifice in Roman mythology. Stand out pieces include her ‘Offering’ rings, and ‘Gorgon’ bracelet. Dark, ghostly and hypnotic, Partridge and Griffith’s works exemplify the mesmeric allure that feeds the Gothic movement and sees it continue to flourish.
Check back each Thursday for more on the fashion world from Billy Bride
Our good friends and Issue One cover stars Canyons are throwing down a mix on the always excellent Beats In Space today (tonight New York time). If you don’t already make sure you subscribe to the podcast, you won’t regret it.
On one of my recent ventures east, I was shown something rather ingenius by a local, in the region just down the road from where I got my scallop pie.
Like the golden arches shining in the distance along the freeway on a long drive, the Golden Salami shone out to me. And like it’s fast food counterpart, it is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. But this brilliant idea is not manned by some pimply 15-year-olds with braces, oh no, this is not manned at all, for this little gem is simply a roadside vending machine selling all sorts of different kinds of salami.
Now, those of you who are avid meat eaters will know that when you’re on the road, driving towards the horizon through the mountains on a beautiful clear day in the middle of December with a couple of friends across the front seat of a van, the only other thing that could make your day perfect at that moment is a little bit of delicious locally grown and cured meat. So with that, we put our coins in the slot and out came some thin cigars of salami, and off we went drove. And then came the thought, how great would this be at a service station when driving through? All I need is a bunch of refrigerated vending machines, put them in service stations across the country, and fill them with good quality meat and cheese, for picnics and the like. Golden business idea waiting to happen.
