ERROR:
subscribe to style file blog via RSSSHOW-ing Off In London
July 22, 2009 10:51 am
Tired of hearing the two words “concept store”? Well, you may just be re-energized by the latest installment of such from London. “Up until now, so many fantastic props from fashion shoots, shows, and ad campaigns wound up in storage, back to the taxidermist, or even chucked,” said photographer Nick Knight at today’s viewing of his new shop on Bruton Place—the retail expansion of his Web site SHOWstudio. “These are real pieces of art, so why not treat them as such?” There it is: the “concept” of the new shop, which happens to be strategically placed nearby the city’s Matthew Williamson, Stella McCartney, Marc Jacobs, and Rick Owens boutiques. Quite a departure for Knight. “It’s a career move I never counted on—it wasn’t in the plan,” he added. But then, who plans on selling seven-foot stuffed tigers (from an Alexander McQueen for Puma ad) or gigantic eyeballs (from a Karen Elson portfolio)? Among the other goodies are a skull-slashed Union Jack, whipped up by Galliano for a portrait of himself by Knight, and a lion’s head that was made for a Dior show in Versailles—an indication that this ain’t no flea market. The tiger goes for £50,000 (approximately $82,000) and the Galliano Union Jack is £25,000, while the eyeballs are a snip at around £3,000. “It’s not like buying an It bag, to be sure,” said Knight. “But then how often do you get the chance to buy not just art but real fashion history?”
tags: Alexander McQueen for Puma, Karen Elson, Marc Jacobs, Matthew Williamson, Nick Knight, Rick Owens, SHOWstudio, Stella McCartney
