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Classic Influence. Contemporary Style. RETRO classic influence. contemporary style. Issue Seven LOUIS VUITTON Presenting the gems of the future FRISKY & MANNISH Introducing the pop parody pair TOY CAMERAS Plastic fantastic photography FUNK Visionary designer in focus

Retro Magazine Issue Seven

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In this issue we feature Louis Vuitton's rising starlets who model the Spring/Summer Art Deco-inspired jewellery range; we chat to comedy duo Frisky & Mannish about all things cabaret; we nab a front row seat at LFW and showcase the designers setting trends for 2011; we click with photographer Kevin Meredith who talks about his love of Toy Cameras; and we get the vibe from visionary German eyewear designer Dieter Funk. In addition we've included some stunning hotels from around the world, plus our usual round up of gadgets and lifestyle products. Follow us on twitter: @RetroMagazine

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Page 1: Retro Magazine Issue Seven

Classic Inf luence. Contemporary Style.RETROclassic inf luence. contemporary style.

Issue Seven

LOUIS VUITTONPresenting the gems of the future

FRISKY & MANNISHIntroducing the pop parody pair

TOY CAMERASPlastic fantastic photography

FUNKVisionary designer in focus

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This issue, Retro’s been out schmoozing with the fashionistas at London Fashion Week. Despite wading through bubbly and nibbly-nobs we were at the front of the catwalk to catch the 20’s drop-waists; 70’s denim and the ‘urban cowboy’ look; and the heritage brands revisiting their cultural roots (page 42). We were also rather chuffed by the amount of industry bigwigs who said they were big fans of Retro. Thanks for the kind words. Other great features this month include an interview with Frisky and Mannish whose unique blend of cabaret comedy has been gathering followers at a rapid pace, Retro included (page 30). We clicked with photographer, Kevin Meredith, whose book Toy Cameras is a stunning collection of images taken from 40 simple cameras (page 50). We shine a light on the trendsetting girls, chosen for Louis Vuitton’s Ar t Deco–inspired jewellery shoot, who’ll be cutting a sar torial dash throughout the year (page 36). We also get down with Dieter Funk, whose eponymous range of eyewear has been a spectacle for nearly 20 years (page 60) and f illing Retro’s cup to brim this month, we f inish with a retrospective by Tjinder Singh from Cornershop (page 80).

Bruce [email protected]

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Foot down as the Ferrari AT goes under the hammer at RM Auctions

There’s gold in them thar vinyls as 991 rif les through our old records

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Jewel in the crown: A look at Louis Vuitton’s objects of desire

A bit of snap, crackle and pop from Toy Cameras’ author Kevin Meredith

42

30From Polka dots to tar tan, the latest trends from LFW’s front row

Getting playful with comedy burlesque duo Frisky and Mannish

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FUNK’s creator on why he’s made such a spectacle of himself

Nipping out for some milk and a chat with Cornershop’s Tjinder Singh

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In 1942, a young man at Warner Bros. ar t depar tment created a poster for the f ilm, Casablanca. Over the next 63 years, he would make posters for more than 2000 f ilms, and create some of the most iconic images in Hollywood. Bill Gold, now aged 89, is an avid curator and archivist of his own work and has just released a 450-page collection. Included in the book are sketches, designs, notes and photographs previously unseen to the public, along with a foreword by friend and long-term collaborator, Clint Eastwood.

1Bill Gold: Poster Workswww.reelartpress.com

Images courtesy of Bill G

old Archive/Reel A

rt Press

fiveTHE TOP

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Ray Caesar’s dramatic-yet-serene ar tworks reveal hidden depths the more you look into his pictures, but as Ray was actually born a dog (according to his website biography) that’s not really too surprising! Ar tist isn’t the obvious career choice for a canine, par ticularly with their dichromatic vision and lack of thumbs, but this hasn’t noticeably affected his work. His haunting creations are littered with a surreal, almost Narnia-esque quality. From the perilous free fall of Calamity to the suave and purposeful gaze of Day Trip, his works predominantly feature straight-faced, Elizabethan-styled children, whose indignant stares and innocent charm can’t help but make you think they’re up to mischief. All in all, not a bad effor t from a pooch.

2Ray Caesar - Day Trip(Ultrachrome ink on paper)www.raycaesar.com

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3 Bill Cunningham, now in his eighties, is a fashion photographer known for his candid street photography in the York Times style section. His images set the marker in the genre and his fantastic eye, which captured the essence of fashion trends before they hit the mainstream, cut across social boundaries from the famous – Tom Wolfe, Brooke Astor and David Rockefeller (who appear in the f ilm eulogising Cunningham’s inf luence) – to eccentric wannabes and everybody in between. “The problem is I’m not a good photographer,” Cunningham said in the New York Times. “To be perfectly honest, I’m too shy. Not aggressive enough. Well, I’m not aggressive at all. I just loved to see wonderfully dressed women, and I still do. That’s all there is to it.” This award-winning documentary captures the ar tist’s sense of self-effacing grace and powerful inf luence, as New York Vogue editor Anne Wintour famously summarised when she said: “We all get dressed for Bill.”

Bill Cunningham New York, a f ilm, by Richard Press

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Florida-based Parker Brothers Choppers have quite a habit of bringing the best in f ictional motoring to life. Over the years Marc and Shanon have created Eleanor from Gone in 60 Seconds, KITT of Knight Rider fame, and the Batpod from The Dark Knight. But once the world had been made aware of the pair’s talents they found themselves facing a new challenge – to top it.Comic-book fan Shanon came across the idea for the Tron Light Cycle after seeing a static model of the bike in a preview for the Disney remake at Comic-Con. Three and a half months later, the project was f inished. Road-legal, the bike is constructed from steel frames, with f ibreglass bodywork and a Suzuki TLR-1000 V-twin engine, with the option of an iPad dock to display essential info while you’re cruising around.

Light Cycle by Parker Brothers Chopperswww.parkerbrotherschoppers.com4

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5 To celebrate two special events, we’ve selected two very special drinks. Retro couldn’t choose between them so we’ve decided to make them equal f ifth. Chin chin!

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POP, the f irst mini Champagne bottle to launch in 1999, has established itself as a big hit on the international par ty scene and Champagne Pommery has produced this special Union Jack version for Will and Kate’s big day. With its extra dry, elegant taste, the range is made to the same high standard as their cuvées, and was specially created by the Chef de Cave to be consumed direct from the bottle or with a straw – making it the perfect accompaniment to the numerous street par ties being held in honour of the occasion. Hic, hic, hooray!

Special Union Jack ‘Royal Wedding’ POP Champagnewww.justerinis.com

Jensen Ginwww.bermondseygin.com

Retro has found the perfect companion for World Gin Day on June 12th (www.facebook.com/GinDay): Jensen’s Gin. After the initial success and critical acclaim of London-Distilled Dry Bermondsey Gin, Danish IT exper t Christian Jensen, has launched an Old Tom (the nickname for sweet gins of the 18th century) where sugar is added to the mix. The Jensen’s Old Tom recreates an original 1840’s recipe and delivers an intense f lavour so it can be quaffed neat, with mixers, or in cocktails like the Tom Collins or Martinez, which were traditionally made with Old Tom. A brilliant addition to the drinks cabinet.

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gets

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Sony MDR EX600$200www.sony.com

Available from April, the GPS receiver, combined with a shoe-based Nike+ sensor, delivers accurate pace and distance data after a run. The watch plugs in to a Mac or PC to display information from the run, including total miles, pace and elevation data. Runners can then access a catalogue of running routes along streets and trails around the world, logged by Nike and published by other runners. Each run is mapped via TomTom and includes route notes, elevation and length.

Nike+ SportWatch with GPS £TBAwww.nike.com

Sony, once again, shows off its ability to combine cutting-edge technology with urban street cool. These come with a multiple-layer diaphragm for the driver unit, which prevents resonance and delivers high-resolution sound. The headphones produce a smooth bass with clear and accurate sound reproduction.

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BeoCom 2 is crafted from a single piece of aluminium through a hydro-forming technique that presses the telephone into its distinct moon-like shape. The result is a durable one-piece telephone, without sharp edges or unattractive joints. The BeoCom 2 comes with up to eight handsets, all from one base, so you won’t miss a call wherever you are in the house.

Bang & Olufsen BeoCom 2£500www.bang-olufsen.com

B&W Zeppelin Air iPod Speaker with Apple AirPlay£499www.johnlewis.comBowers and Wilkins have taken the sleek and curvaceous award-winning Zeppelin iPod speaker system and added the latest cutting-edge audio technology to wirelessly stream music directly from your iPhone, iPad and iPod. If you have more than one Zeppelin Air, you can either choose an individual device to play your music on, or select every Zeppelin Air in your house for a synchronised house par ty.

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Polaroid Grey Label Range£TBAwww.polaroid.comPolaroid, in collaboration with its new Creative Director, Lady Gaga, have unveiled the Polaroid Grey Label – which includes the GL30 Instant Digital camera (pictured right). Polaroid has a long-standing tradition of innovation which Lady Gaga added her creative genius to: “I brought my vision and love of fashion, technology and obsession with the future in to all of my work with Polaroid.”

Jarre Aerosystem iPod Dock & Speakers€ 799www.jarre.comIf you want state-of-the-ar t recording studio sound for your lounge, then this totem poll of stainless steel and toughened glass is for you. Produced by 70’s ambient synth maestro Jean Michel Jarre and his team of sound engineers in France, the sound system can accept all digital formats and incorporates an electronic signal circuit, tailor-made to reproduce both the bass line and high notes with optimal precision. Envelop yourself in a wall of sound as you breathe in the Oxygene of musical delight in your front room.

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In the 80s, Onkyo were critically acclaimed for their cassette tape decks, M-series amplif ication, turntables and AM/FM tuners including the T-909 and T-9990. In a major return to form Onkyo has launched the M-5000R with meticulous signal quality preserved by new AWRAT technology and amplif iers, incorporating a totally symmetrical alignment of power devices for left and right channels.

Onkyo Stereo£2,500 www.eu.onkyo.com

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Normann Copenhagen Cognac Glasses£33www.normann-copenhagen.comRikke Hagen, the designer of these chic glasses, cut the “irritating stem” off to maximise the bouquet and temperature of the Cognac. He wanted them to “give the user the feeling of a gentleman’s study and at the same time, the sense of calmness you get from fondling a stone.” Just remember, when you’ve f inished drinking, not to throw them into the sea.

Gramophone Chair£999www.johnlewis.comUpholstered in semi-aniline Vintage Diego leather this sophisticated chair is decorated with stitch detailing and sits on a polished aluminium base. Perfect for the drawing room with your Cognac (see above) and a cigar.

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Retromodern restores and recycles mid-century furniture by breathing life into your designs. You can choose from one of their unrestored pieces or send them a photo of your own mid-century piece for a quote. Each is restored and altered to your taste to bring out the best possible appearance. A great idea delivered to perfection judging by the magazine table above.

Retromodern Furniture£POAwww.retromodern.com.au

Tidy up your bookshelf with these natty little 45s. As they’re all originals, the record you get sent might differ from the one on the Urban Outf itters site. What’s the betting we end up with Cliff Richard when it arrives at Retro HQ?

Vinyl Bookends£20www.urbanoutf itters.com

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LA design studio “Spirit of 427”£POA

www.la-ds.comThe Spirit of 427 collection, launched by Polish company LA design studio, is inspired by the legendary American spor ts car from the 60s. The collection uses the original collector car par ts such as bumpers, fuel inlets, and lights, as well as genuine leather from Bentley and Ferrari factory stencils. Each sofa requires 400 to 500 hours of manual work. The sofas have been critically acclaimed, with Paul Siodmok, a former designer of the DBS at Aston Martin, describing the range as “beautifully crafted and exquisitely executed – furniture that is truly unique, and a masterpiece of bespoke design and engineering”.All items from the collection are tailor-made with all (excluding the standing lamp) marked with a unique plate containing the serial number and name of the f irst owner.Delivery times range from eight to 24 weeks depending on the size of the commission.

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Photo: Josh Love Furniture from a range at Love Vintage Furniture

This stylish 1950’s Finn Juhl-style suite was recently featured in an Elle Decoration adver tisement. Fully reupholstered using Designers Guild Brera linen in contrasting grey expresso and acid green alchemilla this combines beauty with comfor t. What better place to put your feet up and relax?

1950’s Danish suite by Love Vintage Furniture£2850www.lovevintagefurniture.com

Whitby Wallpaper£45www.minimoderns.co.ukMini Moderns designers Keith Stephenson and Mark Hampshire both spent their childhood holidays on the rugged North Yorkshire coastline. This collaboration captures the pair’s memories of the vibrancy of Whitby’s working f ishing harbour. The designers agreed using a linocut style “offered the perfect way of expressing the movement of the waves and the ruggedness of the coastline we know so well.”The wallpaper comes in 10m x 52cm rolls printed with water-based inks on paper from sustained forests.

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Big Chill Stove$1395www.bigchillfridge.comDon’t you wish you could cook just like Mum used to? With one of these 50’s-style gas ovens, made by Colorado company Big Chill, there will no longer be any excuses. As the names suggests they star ted out designing fridges that “dared to come out of hiding and in to the limelight”– and the range now includes retro dishwashers and these ovens which are also available in Pink Lemonade and Buttercup Yellow. Now where’s me pinny, it’s time to make some cupcakes!

John Rocha Black Cut Champagne Flutes£90www.johnrocha.ie

John Rocha studied fashion in London in the 70s, moved to Dublin in the 80s, and was named Designer of the Year at the British Fashion Awards in 1993. His aff inity with Irish culture led to his par tnership with Waterford Crystal in 1997 and the critically acclaimed Signature, Geo and Imprint ranges, his f irst foray outside of design, followed. These Black Cut champagne f lutes dramatically expand the collection and are a real conversation piece.

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For racing and Ferrari enthusiasts the 0224 AT has all the desirable requirements for collectors – a successful racing history, eligibility for the world’s most desirable

events (Mille Miglia included), well-known provenance (only 10 owners from new), rarity, and a light, attractive body combined with Lampredi-designed V-12, capable of stunning performance.The most successful of the 1952 Panamericana Ferrari team cars, the AT f inished in third place at the La Carrera Panamericana Mexican road race, renowned as the most dangerous road race in the world. Twenty-seven competitors were killed on the newly completed Panamerican highway, and it’s doubtful anyone kept track of spectator fatalities. Despite this dark history, Mr Nicklin, who put the car up for auction, described the 0224 AT as being “as much fun as I’ve ever had in the car collecting world.”And he would have had a huge smile on his face when the AT 0224 exceeded its pre-sale estimate to sell for an extraordinary $4,290,000 at the Amelia Island auction on 12th March.

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Photo cour tesy of RM Auctions

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turn the page to find out

did the at make the top five world record sale price at auction?

Ferrari 0224 AT

$4,290,000Sold by RM Auctions for

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$10,894,4001961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Cal Spyder

RM Auctions May 08

2

1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa RM Auctions May-09 $12,402,500

1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Cal Spyder RM Auctions May-08 $10,894,400

1931 Bugatti Royale Type 41 Christie’s Nov-87 $9,800,000

1962 Ferrari 330 TRI/LM RM Auctions May-07 $9,281,250

1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Special Roadster RM Auctions Oct-07 $8,252,201

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top 5 Record Breaking Cars at Auction

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$12,402,5001957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa

RM Auctions May 09

1

$9,281,2501962 Ferrari 330 TRI/LM

RM Auctions May 07

4

Photos cour tesy of RM Auctions

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Stand & Deliver

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Stand & DeliverDespite their act consistently being dubbed ‘indescribable’, musical comedy duo Frisky and Mannish have been wowing critics the world over. Danielle Colyer discovers why this pair, known to their mate Kate Nash as Laura Corcoran and Matthew Jones, are sure to keep climbing the comedy tree.

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How would you describe your act in three words? Popmus icy- ser iocomic-mashparod ic -s t e r e o p h o n i c - LOUD - v a u d e v i l l i a n -sketchcabaret-throwbackcurrent-oldfangled-newfashioned-bapsbotty-infotainment, or thereabouts.

How did you meet?We were both studying literature degrees at Oxford University, but spending most of our time prancing about in musicals and sketch comedy shows.

Your name comes from a poem [Byron’s Don Juan] – what made you choose this?It was the f irst page that opened, in the f irst book we pulled off our shelves, when we were choosing a name!

Why and how did you get in to comedy?We were performing on the cabaret/burlesque circuit for a year or so, and though we aimed to be funny we didn’t consider ourselves comedy, strictly speaking. But when we decided to take a show to Edinburgh we had to choose a section to list the show in. Comedy seemed the nearest to what we do, and is really where all the fun things live. So then we were getting the attention of the comedy reviewers, promoters and agents, and suddenly we found ourselves on the terrifying stand-up circuit. We had to learn pretty fast, and our style quickly adapted to a comedy audience’s high expectations.

Who, or what, is your greatest inf luence?Our show is all about inf luences, and they range ridiculously widely. But in terms of comedy, we’ve been inf luenced, if just by deep love, by Eddie Izzard, South Park, The Simpsons, Tenacious D, Julia Davis and The League of Gentlemen.

As stylish fashionistas are we more likely to see you in Prada or Primark?Which ever one sends us free clothes. Given Primark is practically free, mainly Primark. But our stage wear is more bespoke. Those Primani things wouldn’t last a show.

You take a lot of inf luence from music, who are your top three bands/artists?Rihanna, the Queen of ‘Eh’; Gaga, the Queen of ‘WTF?’; and Kate Bush, the Queen of Everything.

What is on your rider?Our rider is far too restrained. Recently we performed in Per th and other performers had everything from fruit, savoury snacks and wine to Chihuahuas. That’s not even a joke.

Have you been stalked by a fan yet? Do you have groupies?We positively encourage stalking in all its forms – we have a whole song dedicated to it. Which is possibly why we haven’t been stalked yet, though, obviously, any stalking will be met with legal action.

Our sound guy has more groupies than us. The

ladies love Barry

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Going to the Sydney Opera House and calling

it ‘work’ was pretty unbelievable

Frisky & Mannish are currently on tour throughout the UK. Visit www.friskyandmannish.co.uk for details

We have some faithful fans who come to gigs all over the place, but our sound guy has more groupies than us. The ladies love Barry.

What has been your proudest moment to date?It would be a toss up between a couple of things – going to the Sydney Opera House and calling it ‘work’ was pretty unbelievable. It was our f irst ever Australian performance, and we ran the show there for two weeks. It’s def initely a time we’ll never forget. Similarly, performing our Christmas shows at the Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue are completely amazing. The last one included an Inbetweener, and we get the chance to book our favourite acts, which makes the whole night both fun and quite special.

What’s the worst job you’ve done before Frisky and Mannish?Matthew worked at Chessington World of Adventures and had to tell fat people to get off the rides. It’s actually called a Code LP – Code “Large Person”. Good code.

Who would you play if you made an Eastenders spin-off?Frisky would doubtless be Barbara Windsor, and Mannish probably Pam St Clement.

There is a lot of reference in your work to singer Kate Nash. How often does she pop round for tea?She doesn’t return our calls. But she’s not suing us, so we’re very grateful.

What has been the best gig you have played?Reviving our f irst breakthrough show, School of Pop, in Edinburgh, 2010. A lot of people had been there the previous year and were rooting for us. Never has an audience been so quick to their feet to dance, and we even had to ask them to reign in the singing along so we could do our jokes. The reaction at the end was simply overwhelming.

You recently appeared with Robin Ince as part of Nine Lessons and Carols for Godless People – do you ever worry the Gods might punish you for this? Depends entirely on the God(s) in question. Aphrodite loves our shit; Jupiter likes little boys, so Mannish has got us a free pass there; Ganesh has always been a fan of a good belter; Ra digs the red hair; and Yaweh, don’t you worry, we’ve been keeping him sweet.

Just to annoy you…tell us your favourite joke.Knock knock. Who’s there? Gina G. Gina G who? Well, that’s show business.

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Images cour tesy of Paul Schmitt & Ber trand Bozon/Louis Vuitton

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Louis Vuitton launched its Spring/Summer fashion

jewellery range for 2011, with 16 rising stars from around the globe meeting for a one-off photo shoot in Paris. The girls modelled four lines of costume jewellery inspired by Ar t Deco design and 60’s colours. The collection features acrylic set ornaments, paste-jewels and Damier Perle beading, and the results are stunning. Retro introduces eight of Louis Vuitton’s latest VIP friends.Our cover star is Mohini Geisweiller has a growing fan base in Europe since releasing her subtle blend of after-hours electronic

pop. Her debut single Milk Teeth, taken from an EP of the same name, acts as an introduction to her f irst solo album Event Horizon due out later this year. The single’s surreal video acts as a perfect backdrop for the gentle warmth of her voice – hinting she could well be France’s answer to Imogen Heap.Alka Balbir (left) starred in Le Bureau (the French version of The Off ice) alongside veteran actor François Berléand, has made a name for herself as a singer and model, and appeared in the lookbook for the collaboration between adidas and French ar tist Faf i.

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Billie Por ter is a jack of all trades, having dabbled in journalism, blogging, music promotion and modelling all by the tender age of 18. She’s nailed some big interviews (including Snoop Dogg and Justice) working for NME, Vice, and Dazed & Confused, and is a regular face in French style bible Jalouse. Most recently she has turned to documentary-making; presenting Channel 4’s The Joy of Teen Sex.

Parisian DJ Clara 3000 star ted out as an intern at Ed Banger Records, and has now evolved into an ar tist in her own right, performing all over the world. Her notorious DJ sets cross between house, disco and electro with an eye always on the dancef loor to ensure the beats keep the joint jumping.

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Alexandra Richards, daughter of Rolling Stone Keith, is a DJ, ar tist and model. She’s been featured in Vogue, Glamour, Harper’s Bazaar and Jalouse, and recently posed nude in a retro-inspired shoot for French Playboy. Despite her heritage, Alexandra and older sister Theodora have been described as the ‘anti-Hilton sisters’ because of their rejection of the par ty lifestyle.

Images cour tesy of Paul Schmitt & Ber trand Bozon/Louis Vuitton

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London aristocrat Mary Char teris f irst shot to fame at the age of 15 when Isabella Blow described her as the new face of fashion. Mary’s aunt, Daphne Guinness, took her to several fashion shows in Paris, and over the next eight years she made a name for herself as a model in Jalouse and Vogue. Mary has since moved on to study fashion at Parsons, New York, and has plans to become a designer.

Images cour tesy of Paul Schmitt & Ber trand Bozon/Louis Vuitton

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The more fashion-conscious among tennis fans were voicing their concerns about wardrobe faults at this year’s Australian Open, and it would seem that Louis Vuitton has also been keeping an eye out for the new Anna Kournikova. They’ve tipped bright, young, New York-based Daria Schieferstein as one to watch, both on and off the cour t. She may not be a household name yet, but it can’t be far off.

Born in New York City, Annabelle Dexter-Jones is the daughter of Foreigner guitarist Mick Jones and writer/socialite Ann Dexter-Jones. She’s modelled for Hogan and strutted her stuff on the catwalk for half-sister Charlotte Ronson’s eponymous clothing line. Currently carving out a niche in acting, French magazine Jalouse described her as being “far from just beautiful”.

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Studio 54’s ritzy, kitschy inf luence can still be seen on the catwalk but a softer, less edgy, 70’s autumnal breeze drifted through Somerset House as tan, burnt orange and mustard

yellow proliferated. With crushed velvet, tie-dye and lamé also making a comeback (actually when was lamé ever out of fashion?), Retro also glimpsed a widening of the trouser leg in a hint that f lares are back, combined with groovy denim shir ts. Look out, the urban cowboy’s back! Tweed, corduroy and tar tan are in vogue as the major heritage brands reinterpreted classic looks. Mulberry teamed up corduroy suits with long socks while more contemporary designers like Ashish went for edgier interpretations of plaid. But once again, Westwood was Queen V in Retro’s eyes with a wickedly cool depiction of Londoners using red, tar tan prints and woolen pieces cut in trademark jaunty angles. Expect to see the f lapper look back, par ticularly drop-waisted 1920’s dresses, which will also inf luence contemporary dress waistlines.

Retro nabbed a front row seat at London Fashion Week. Here’s our prediction of the hottest trends, most inf luential designers and best moments from the glam fest.

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komaVIDDAGeorgian-born David Koma’s heavily embellished statement dresses projected the designer on to the international stage at an early age, with his graduate collection of sculptural dresses earning him the Harrods Design Award in 2009. This year his spectacular show at London Fashion Week was inspired by sinister forests, Tim Bur ton and hallucinations. The collection was dark but punctuated with explosive splashes of red, gold and green, and the chameleon designer’s outf its, already worn by Lady Gaga, Beyonce and Alicia Keys, will continue to set the trends.

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BROWNCITYFELIOne of last season’s biggest hits, Felicity Brown, returned with a collection of high-voltage glamour inspired by Picasso’s ballet illustrations. The pieces felt sophisticated but with a contrasting tribal element, and included ruff les with up to sixty layers of silk. When asked to describe the Felicity Brown woman, the London-based designer replied: “A leading lady in an old black and white f ilm. My ideal customer shares this elegance; she’s natural and embraces fabric.”

2011/12 TRENDSETTERS

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GRAYISELOU

Winner of the New Talent Award at the Scottish Fashion Awards in 2007, this was Louise Gray’s f ifth consecutive season at London Fashion Week, during which time she has built up a label based on boldly textured, brightly coloured garments, where nothing is quite what it seems. Louise’s Autumn/Winter 2011 collection was inspired by “the young, the streets and the bold”. Her creative use of colour, texture, hand silk screening and embroidery has been used in collaborations with Cotton USA, Nicholas Kirkwood and the Smiley Company among others.

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MAZHARSIRNANasir Mazhar cer tainly likes to create something people will talk about, and this season’s offerings were no exception. His Autumn/Winter 2011 collection – inspired by London culture, the animal kingdom and S&M – opened with a model in an orange fur trapper hat, followed by a girl in a pink veil topped with a white tiger-print cap. This set the tone for the rest of the show, a cacophony of remarkable and inventive headwear, alongside varied use of materials and body paint.

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On the last day of the womenswear shows at London Fashion Week, as buyers and

press star ted to display signs of exhaustion, the sar torial ground cracked with a resounding thud in Meadham Kirchhoff’s runway show for Autumn/Winter 2011/12. After making hundreds of key buyers and editors (including Hamish Bowles from Vogue and Stefano Tonchi from W magazine) wait while sipping champagne and listening to soft music amidst the faded Victorian grandeur of the Old Billingsgate Market, the designing duo shocked them to the core. The soothing vocal jazz gave way to instrumental horror f ilm music in a show entitled ‘I Am a Lie that Tells the Truth’ that could not have lasted longer than two minutes and cleverly avoided being about fashion as we know it.

Traditionally, the runway shows at fashion weeks are usually about waiting: shows never star t on time, and most people wait in queues to get in, followed by more waiting while seated. Once they star t, shows tend to last between 10 and 15 minutes, with only one or two models taking to the runway at the same time. This timed choreography is designed to allow audiences to pay attention to the details in garments, footwear and accessories and give photographers ample oppor tunity to take shots from several angles. In their show, Meadham

PLANKKINGWAL

THE

London Fashion Week has always been surrounded by controversy, whether it be a stylist f louncing off in a huff because a designer is using normal-sized models (Mark Fast, 2010) or battles over encroaching schedules (New York Fashion Week & LFW, 2008). This year the outrage honours went to label Meadham Kirchhoff for their anarchic catwalk. Keeping the fashionista waiting, cluttering the stage and avoiding timed choreography may put editors and photographers’ noses out of joint, but according to João Paulo Nunes, it crowns the dynamic duo catwalk champions of the world.

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Kirchhoff subver ted these rules by making models parade with no interval and just two or three metres in between them. In addition, if designers and stylists spend a considerable amount of time and money booking popular models, the winning duo of the Emerging Talent (Ready-to-Wear) award at the British Fashion Awards 2010 chose to use unfamiliar faces to parade their garments.

In a fashion week where most designers relied on PR agencies to get celebrities on to front rows, and played safe by resor ting to very similar trends (such as leather, fur, feathers, asymmetric sleeves, diagonal draping over the body, orange, maroon, dark blue, and the eternal black), Meadham Kirchhoff reminded the audience that fashion is, f irst and foremost, about pushing the boundaries of creativity. This was a show where male and female models were clad with blankets, and thick knitted jumpers and leggings in black and white alternated with double-breasted dresses, ethnic gypsy blouses, white lace shir ts, and deconstructed bright red tweed jackets that evoked the irreverent spirit of Coco Chanel and how she saw fashion as impor tant social commentary.

Fur thermore, in a puzzling world where tickets for runway shows are as coveted as gold, and fashion editors are regarded as celebrities, organising a display that cannot be analysed or photographed in the slightest is an intelligent, albeit risky, move. Up to the advent of augmented vir tual communication via social networking websites and blogs, fashion shows used to be put together for buyers and press in a process that used to be everything but democratic. Nowadays, as images from the runways are streamed live on to screens all over the globe, being able to think about fashion and analyse its creativity tends to be reduced to the image, the celebrity and the vacuous comment. There is no doubt that Meadham Kirchhoff’s show must have per turbed many photographers and editors. However, once the initial anger has dissipated, this fashion show will go down in history not only as the day when sar torial displays changed but also as a reminder that Meadham Kirchhoff are a talented duo that are in the fashion business for the long run. As creative designers, on 22 February 2011, the duo cemented their position as inventors of ingenious garments for those who truly appreciate them.

KIRCHHOFFREMINDED TH

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For this and other ar ticles by João Paulo Nunes, visit www.worldmanabouttown.com

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From Russia with love

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Over the past decade, armed with a bag of compact cameras, Kevin Meredith has been shooting LOMO-inspired images all over the globe. He has worked with names as big as Dr Martens, Dell and Imogen Heap, yet remains committed to teaching others about the simple ar t of photography. His new book, Toy Cameras, presents a unique collection of images captured by “fantastic plastic” cameras. Bruce Hudson meets the man behind the camera.

All images cour tesy of Kevin Meredith, taken from Toy Cameras (RotoVision)

Pop-Tar ts Camera

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I’m brushing the raindrops from my trilby when Brighton-based photographer Kevin Meredith

sweeps into the city centre café we’ve arranged to meet in. I instantly recognise ‘lomokev’ from his Twitter page, where in his avatar, he’s kitted out in an army off icer’s overcoat and cap. For tunately, when he turns and we greet, he doesn’t clasp me in a bear hug or attempt to ply me with vodka, instead what f lows over the next hour is his love of photography and, in par ticular, cameras. Kevin has just published Toy Cameras and on seeing the name you could be mistaken that the book, like the 40 cameras Kevin uses in it, is a disposable bit of fun. But the images captured are simply stunning and the range of styles and depth deliver a visual smorgasbord that both seasoned professionals and click-and-hope photographers (like me) will marvel at. Kevin takes the ar t of snapping pictures seriously, one could almost say (harking back to his Twitter page), with military precision. He never leaves home without a camera, he teaches photography classes, and he lectures for industry bigwigs at companies like Google.

For Kevin, photography clicked into place at a young age. “I passed [my GCSEs] and decided to go to ar t college. You get a list of things you have to buy and one of those was a camera.” Having bought a very simple SLR he was able to learn the basics like aper ture and shutter speeds and he never looked back. Kevin star ted taking pictures at raves and his f irst break was working for Eternity (an underground hardcore drum‘n’bass magazine). “I was 18 years old, I had a pager and they’d contact me on a Friday, with a rave to go to. They were paying me 50 quid a night which back then was a lot of money. It was amazing. Happy days!” Blackbird, Fly

Coloursplash Camera

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Kevin went on to do a degree in graphic design and adver tising: “I went down the design route and strangely didn’t include photography in my work. It was more something I did for fun. In my second year I went on a trip to New York and took my SLR camera, but I didn’t want to take it out at night in case I lost it.”

After hearing about a new compact camera through his circle of friends and reading ar ticles in i-D magazine Kevin hotfooted it up to London, to the rather grand-sounding Lomographic Embassy to buy one: “It was a cross between a junk shop and a design studio, everybody in there was

chain-smoking and there was a guy called Fabian, who was a designer, but he was also the contact for selling LOMO in the UK.”

Kevin received a quick introduction to the camera from Fabian. “He took your address and then put you on their mailing list. And you’d get invites to all their par ties and that was the camera I took to on my second trip to New York the following year in 1999. It was so liberating to have this compact.”

When Kevin left university he had three job offers on the table which he astutely points out is “just nuts thinking about now”.

Holga CFN 120

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Spinner 360°

GoPro Wide HERO

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He accepted a job with animation company Studio AKA. But prior to taking the position Kevin had entered the London LOMO Olympics, a photography competition, in which Kevin f inished second out of around a hundred entries. “It was actually joint f irst,” he points out, “but they did a countback!” For tunately for Kevin they took the top two to Tokyo for the world f inals. It coincided with his second week at Studio AKA: “I had to say I’m sorry about this but I’ve been given this great oppor tunity to go to Tokyo. I’ve got to go. They were like okay, but we’re not going to pay it as holiday pay!”

Day One consisted of photographic hunting and gathering; Day Two the photographers were deposited in the Tokyo f ish market at 3am with the task of shooting just three rolls of f ilm, freestyle, in a set time period; which meant by Day Three the numbers were whittled down to twenty with the f inalist shooting specif ically orchestrated events.

Kevin made the cut and subsequently f inished second overall behind a Norwegian entry. A great achievement to have on your résumé. “Well a bit left-f ield,” he admits, “and in reality it’s all very low-key, they announced the winners in a bar. But it’s a great fun. It taught me photography doesn’t have to be all serious, you can have fun and games with it.”

After leaving Studio AKA Kevin went freelance, mostly designing websites, but always taking photos. He joined Flickr in 2004 and has built up a following of over 15,000 with 12m page views. “There’s a point where it snowballed and now I have people adding me as a contact every day. It’s bizarre. I get most work through Flickr; it’s never that they’ve found me through lomokev.com!”

Kevin has also branched out into teaching with refresher photography classes where he explains various photographic techniques, qualities and effects. He’s taken the lessons learnt from the LOMO Olympics into his career as a teacher: “I try to bring the fun element into the classes I teach.” He believes photography and in par ticular getting to grips with a digital SLR and understanding the technical aspects of the camera can be overwhelming. “The great thing about handing someone a LOMO LC-A is that the only thing you

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Diana F+, cross-processed

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Ultronic Panoramic

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For further information about Kevin’s books, classes and photography, visit www.lomokev.com

need to think about before you take a photo is how far your subject is away from you.” Kevin’s classes are extremely popular, with attendees often travelling hundreds of miles to attend. “I held one in San Francisco and somebody travelled from Hawaii.”

Kevin reaches below the table, pulls out a LOMO LC-A from a bag and goes in to teacher mode, enthusing over the simplicity of the settings and I realise even a novice, like me, could come to grips with this wonderfully simple camera. It’s this approach that makes Toy Cameras so accessible, knowing that you can achieve comparable images without any major training. However, although the LOMO LC-A can be shot in the dim light we get in the UK, the toy cameras used in the book are not so hardy. So to complete the book Kevin had the arduous task of shooting most of the images in Barcelona and Los Angeles. He then gives me a steer on his favourites from the book which include the Blackbird, Fly, Kalimar Action Shot 16 and the Spinner 360° “but you can also get the Pop Tar ts camera [which came free with Pop Tar ts in 2003] for as little as £2.50 on eBay!” That leads to us talking about the Lego camera, which you can add bricks to as you take photos. How cool is that! Not as cool, I realise as we depar t the cafe and head into the horizontal rain, as getting paid to shoot a book on disposable cameras in the beautiful sunshine of Barcelona and Los Angeles.

Lomo LC-A

Lomo LC-A

Diana F+

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OPTICAL ILLUSION

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OPTICAL ILLUSIONFUNK, the grooviest-named eyewear company on the planet was launched by the grooviest named guy, Dieter Funk. Retro spoke to the FUNKmeister about the brand’s impact since landing his specs-tacular Mothership in Germany almost twenty years ago.

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What inspired you to launch FUNK and why did you choose eyewear? During my apprenticeship as an optician, there was nothing in the eyewear market that I really liked, so I decided to design my own frames.

What are FUNK’s future plans, and what new ranges are in the pipeline? FUNK will always try to be ahead of the trends; right now we are developing big, fat metal frames in our own distinct style.

What eras do FUNK sunglasses take their inf luence from? FUNK is inf luenced by all eras of the last century and we transpor t the range in to the present time.

Are you a big fan of funk music? Yes, you could say so. A few years back, for f ive years, I ran a little funk club called Wax Hi-Fi, in Munich.

What track would you put on to chill out to and one to get the party started? At the moment, to chill to: Nina Simone, See-Line Woman (Masters at Work remix).

To par ty to: Digitalism, Pogo

Which designers/artists do you f ind inspiring? James Brown, Keith Haring and Andy Warhol.

Do you collect anything? Vinyl records.

Do you have a favourite market? And shop? Some smaller, individual shops in Berlin-Mitte and Berlin-Friedrichshain.

Is there anything you couldn’t live without? I couldn’t be without music, as it’s one of the most impor tant things in my life. That’s the reason I’m still DJing.

Is there anything you regret?There is nothing I regret – everything I’ve done, it doesn’t matter what, had sense…even if it didn’t make sense the moment after I did it!

If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be? Where my home is right now, in a small village in the south of Germany, surrounded by lots of nice, tolerant people. They accept my little follies and they are very honest. I travel a lot, so see many different cultures and philosophies, but I always come back to my base in our old farm house where I am able to live with my creativity.

Who or what has had the biggest inf luence on the way you live your life? Music and girls.

Who or what do you think FUNK has inf luenced? Again – music and girls!

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If you could have dinner anywhere in the world where would it be and what would you eat? When I was 14, I was on a trip with my parents in the Sahara Deser t and a man invited us to his home to have dinner together with his family. It was in a big hole in the ground, and that hole was surrounded by little rooms, like caves. The people were so nice and the food was so good that I wish I could be there again.

And f inally, if you could live in any decade/period, which one would you choose and why? From the 70s until today, like I do. The reason is that we live in a decade where we have everything – freedom, tolerance, a touch of future – but the most impor tant thing is we can do what we want and this is a privilege a lot of people still don’t have. I hope this changes and I am able to see it in my lifetime.

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1992 Launch of FUNK.

Development of the first collection including 17 styles which incorporate a new type of silicone rubber coating. The coating is applied by a technology unique to FUNK.

1994

Introduction of the first collection of FUNKsunglasses at special optical fairs such as Interjeans of Cologne, 40° of London and Optica of Cologne. Traditional visitors express incomprehension – even dismay – at styles such as Mask.

1995

The collection is exhibited at The International Sports Business Network Exhibition (ISPO) in Munich. This begins a successful marketing campaign in to the sport and fitness markets. Munich is witness to the birth of the now-legendary FUNK-ISPO parties.

1996

The third generation of the FUNKsunglasses collection is born. Aviator styles and graduated colours are the highlights of this collection.

1998

Retro checks out some of the more funkadelic dates in FUNK’s historical timeline.

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The house of FUNK, an in-house start-to-finish production line, opened in the cosy Bavarian village of Kinsau. Here you can rock up to the specialised optical store and buy the latest designs hot off the FUNK production line.

FUNK presents the first FUNKgoggles for skiing and snowboarding.

2000 FUNKsunglasses is established as a designer brand with two updated collections being released each year.

2001 Introduction of the first prescription eyewear collection called FUNKroyal optics. The exclusive eyewear is a handcrafted collection of styles cut from cotton acetate and includes an innovative feather-hinged lever action.

2002

1999

In February the infamous FUNK-party becomes the official ISPO-party with around 2500 people in attendance.

FUNK starts the year with the launch of some extreme styles: Horny, Scum and Pervert. At the ISPO fair in August, FUNKwear presents a first look at an extremely provocative shirt collection. FUNKwear exports are banned by some countries.

2003

The 80s are back with oversize and colourful aviator styles.

Mr. Funk, inspired by the 50s and Marilyn Monroe, conjures up styles named Tussi, Crumpet and Broad de Luxe. The new collection includes oversize and retro styles in metal and acetate combinations. The range is described as “a journey back in time, from the golden 20s into the 50s and the funky 70s with a twist of the weird 80s”.

FUNKsunglasses styles Beast, Grand Duke and Dynasty launch as an homage to 80’s soaps Dallas, Falcon Crest and Dynasty.

FUNK presents a variety of retro styles at the OPTI fair in Munich. Dieter Funk claims he has his “very own time-travel machine with buttons and dials that twist and turn the styles of the 50s and 60s screaming into the here and now”.

The FUNKroyal collection is greatly influenced by nerd or geek chic, with massive optical frames of the 80s twisted in to new designs. The range welcomes the addition of 10 new styles, inspired by health insurance frames.

2004

2005 2006

2007

2008

Sixty new styles are released with the FUNKroyal collection welcoming FUNKroyal-titan: massive frames in classic 70s/80s style cut from blocks of titanium.

2010

2009

For more info visit:www.funk-eyewear.com

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hunters & collectorsThe world’s largest collection of vinyl and memorabilia has been amassed by UK-based 991. Jay Williams talks to childhood friends, and founders of 991 Rob Croydon and Julian Thomas, and discovers rifling through your dusty old record collection may be worth more than just a trip down memory lane

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Welcome to the Deep South, where vinyl records are still

king. But surprisingly, we’re not talking Memphis in the US, but Meopham in Kent, near the south coast of England. Here you’ll f ind a warehouse crammed with ultra-rare albums by bands ranging from Abba to ZZ Top, MC5 to Blink 182. This is the HQ of 991, a company with the world’s largest turnover of collectible vinyl and memorabilia, which star ted as a pocket-money

playground project run by two childhood pals back in the 80s and now turns over £1.5 million a year. Rob Croydon and Julian Thomas have recently seen a boom in investment from collectors, some of whom have moved from the volatile stocks and shares market to the more reliable returns of early, mint recordings by the likes of Elvis and The Rolling Stones. Exper ts in jazz, rock’n’roll, heavy metal and classical f lock to wade

through packages sent by vendors wanting to cash in on their collections. Interest in the rock stalwar ts is unshakeable, but even in the world of second-hand vinyl, trends come and go (the company has experienced an inexplicable 40% rise in rare jazz sales over the last year, for instance). But before you rush to the attic to dig out your old Haircut 100 12” singles or prog rock triple albums, take some advice from the exper ts.

hunters & collectorsPhoto: John Shepherd-Jones

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What was your f irst sale?

Rob: “It was a 16-minute 12” remix of Relax by Frankie Goes to Hollywood, which I bought for a couple of quid and sold in the school playground for £20 in around 1985.”

Are rare records really a viable investment compared to stocks and shares?

“Unlike stocks and shares, which have had a pretty unsettled time over the last couple of years, the collectible vinyl market is stable. A mint copy of a scarce single by The Beatles from the early 60s, for instance, can be worth way more than its weight in gold.”

How did you go from the playground to the number one player in the market?

“We set up in business in 1986, from our respective bedrooms. We went without holidays for six years and ploughed all the money we made from our jobs – me from working in Stock Exchange settlements in the city and Julian as a commercial estate agent – in to the company.

“We spent years trudging around record fairs and second-hand shops building up our vinyl collection. We took on staff gradually. We now employ more than 40 people in Meopham and we have agents in the USA and Japan, hunting down rarities and selling to a growing clientele of private collectors.”

What have been your most memorable acquisitions?

Julian: “One of my biggest coups was when a punk fan rang up offering to sell a ‘holy grail’ item – The Sex Pistols’ God Save The Queen single, which was released on A&M Records in 1977 and then immediately withdrawn from sale.

“It’s wor th up to £10,000 with its original promotional material. I bought the single for an undisclosed amount. The seller then casually said: ‘Oh, if you’re interested, I’ve got six more copies.’ Needless to say, I snapped them up!”

The company has tens of thousands of records, CDs, tapes, autographed items and other memorabilia in its warehouse Headquar ters.

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Queen - Virgin Radio Queen Day Set (Very rare and complete set of all seven Virgin Radio Queen Day 12" singles) 1996. £5,995

Jimi Hendrix - The Cry of Love (Red vinyl test pressing) 1971. £3,950

Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon (Japanese release, ‘reversed sleeve’) 1973. £1,995

The Who - Who Did It! (Mail-order only, withdrawn shor tly after issue) 1970.£1,195

The Beatles - Yesterday And Today (Paste-over “Butchers” sleeve) 1966. £995

Current valuable vinyl in stock includes:

Hank Mobley - Poppin' LPThis one ticks all the right boxes for the Blue Note collector. A previously unreleased 1957 Hank session pressed on high quality vinyl exclusively for the Japanese market. £295

Wolfgang Dauner/ Hans Koller Octet - Jazz-Studio LPCult European jazz on the Saba label. German-only release.£195

Jazz Couriers - The Couriers Of Jazz LPFeatures the two frontline tenors of Ronnie Scott and Tubby Hayes locking horns in a top recording date for Carlton. £195

Dizzy Reece - Asia Minor LPOutside of his classic Blue Note work, This is considered one of Dizzy’s f inest.£95

Gigi Gryce & Donald Byrd - New Formulas From The Jazz Lab LPLovely Japanese-only sleeve design. £65

5 collectible jazz albums, as compiled by 991’s resident jazz expert Richard Wilson

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Go for stuff you like and take good care of it – both sleeves and vinyl.

Scratches are a def inite no-no.

If you're hoping to sell for a prof it, don't put your name on covers.

You can play the records but it's best to keep them in pristine condition.

You can't go wrong with the classics such as Elvis and the Stones.

Look for limited editions or extras such as artwork – not everything from collectible artists is collectible or worth money.

TIPS FOR COLLECTORS

Photo: John Shepherd-Jones

For more information visit www.991.com

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Goldman 25hours, as the name suggests, offers a unique, nightclub-inspired experience to guests. Before lending his name to this quirky boutique hotel, Ardi Goldman was known as a ‘visionary force’ on the Frankfur t nightlife scene, and this stunning conversion of the old Henninger Hof complex has cemented that reputation. The realising of Goldman’s vision for 25hours has combined a mix of pop culture and ar t references with classic vintage design.The hotel combines luxurious accommodation and leisure: its popular location and funky interior promise a good night out as well as a good night’s sleep. There are 49 guest rooms over seven colour-themed f loors, inviting guests to engage with “a spiritual-mental climate”. The f inishes throughout echo the hotel’s eccentric luxury, with an emphasis on local design. Frankfur t ar tists Delphine Buhro and Michael Dreher have used furnishings by Swedish design f irm Snowcrash and lamps from Flos to create the innovative style mix, which sees vintage tapestry alongside modern wall treatments.Goldman 25 Hours is a member of Design Hotels™ – for bookings go to www.designhotels.com

Goldman 25hours Hotel, Frankfurt

Images cour tesy of www.designhotels.com

DesignInspired

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Images cour tesy of www.designhotels.com

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Hotel Josef, PragueLocated near the old Jewish quar ter, the two houses (Orange and Pink) that form Hotel Josef in Prague, have been integrated perfectly into a peaceful, landscaped cour tyard. Not surprisingly Eva Jiricna’s breathtaking design has picked up awards and is a thoroughly contemporary statement, building on the 20th century tradition of modern Czech design. Stone-clad bathrooms with glass par tition walls add a sense of style to the comfor table bedrooms, which are fully equipped with the latest technology. A business centre and a gym complete the sophisticated environment, making the hotel an instant attraction in Prague’s growing business and tourist economy.

Hotel Josef is a member of Design Hotels™ – for bookings go to www.designhotels.com

DesignInspired

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Images cour tesy of www.designhotels.com

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Images cour tesy of www.designhotels.com

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RETROSPECTIVEcornershop

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why? Well I always liked Denmark for its way of living and its people, but Brittany in France also seems to have the most friendly and welcoming of denizens and it’s a bit warmer than London – but not too hot. I sometimes wonder if I’m an Indian at all.

What do you collect?Records, second-hand books, turntables and headphones.

Do you have a 20th century hero or idol?William Morris of the Ar ts and Craft Movement – a solid leftwinger, thinker and do-er.

What is your favourite f ilm of all time?The Par ty starring Peter Sellers and Claudine Longet.

Tjinder Singh is the lead singer, songwriter and producer of the band described by The Times as a ‘British institution’, Cornershop. Tjinder has been releasing music since 1993, and incorporates a wide range of genres in his songwriting including 60’s guitars, hip hop, Punjabi folk, and funk. The band have collaborated with a diverse range of ar tists including beat poet Allen Ginsberg, Noel Gallagher and Otis Clay and have been championed by the likes of John Peel, Jarvis Cocker and David Byrne. In the live arena they have toured extensively in mainland Europe and the US with the likes of Beck and Oasis. They are best known for their 1997 song Brimful of Asha, which was remixed by Fatboy Slim and subsequently re-released, reaching No 1 in the UK char ts in 1998.Cornershop’s new album Cornershop and the Double O Groove Of features Bubbley Kaur’s Punjabi vocals throughout and was released on 14th March.

Photo: Marie Remy

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What was your f irst job? How much did you earn?Working as a paper delivery boy. I can’t remember what I earned, but it was enjoyable.

What’s your favourite book of all time and why?Today the Struggle by Mervyn Jones. A lovely depiction of characters in London over a few generations and the roll-off consequences of those that have gone before.

Do you have a favourite song?Mighty Mighty (Spade and Whitey) because it’s Cur tis [Mayf ield] at his most austere and best.

Give us a record to get the place jumping: Mighty Mighty (Spade and Whitey).

And one record to chill to: Mighty Mighty (Spade and Whitey).

What’s your favourite street market?Golborne Road, London.

What’s your favourite vintage/retro shop? Ribbons & Taylor, in Stoke Newington.

What’s your all time favourite TV show? The Paper Chase or The Red Hand Gang.

What’s your favourite drink? Red wine and Panda cola.

Which career would you have most likely have followed if you weren’t doing what you are today? A job in IT. I had a graduate recruitment for ICL computers but deferred it a year, in which time Fujitsu took over the company and stopped graduate recruitment…before you know it I’m here.

What was your f irst love?Ahhh, cricket.

What is your proudest achievement?The f irst WOG [Western Oriental Gentleman] on the moon.

If you could live in any decade, which one, and why?In the 70s, because I already do.

Have you ever splashed the cash on something big? I rather stupidly bought a very nice vintage Peugeot bike, thinking I may travel around France in it, never did, and my father-in-law sold it before I had ever ridden it.

Is there one thing you want to do before you depart the stage?Have a word with the stage secretary.

For more information visit www.cornershop.com

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Photo: Roger Sargent, at Dishoom

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www.theretrocollective.com@RetroMagazine