Happy Thanksgiving 2: Pet a Porter at Harrods

All Pet, all Porter. What could be better? Dogs and models, dogs and catwalks, dogs in outfits...without the usual snickering from the straight male population whose masculinity is somehow inexplicably threatened by the mere presence of a precocious pup in stylish duds. I am literally in heaven: I am THANKFUL FOR THE PUPPIES.

Now in its 7th year, Pet a Porter is something of an animalistic tour de force. Top dog Al Fayed always attends with his flock of grandchildren grinning broadly beside him in the front row and Dame Westwood usually contributes an exclusive look or two. This year, in keeping with Harrod's Christmas Wizard of Oz theme, the first few doggies who trotted down the runway were clad like the original fab four of Technicolor: Dorothy, the lion, the tin man, and, most importantly, Toto! The Wizard of Oz then retreated back to the Emerald City giving way to scene 2: "Lunching." Here were black tutus and tees for pugs, Jasmine de Milo black jersey dresses for the models, feathers for the Chihuahua and Philosophy for her human chauffeur.

"Lunching" then evolved into "Bespoke" where dog-loving designers were really able to roll up their sleeves and dig into it, doggy style. Milliner Victoria Grant (who used to work with the House of Blueeyes) created a spectacular ornate crown which was strapped to the head of an unsuspecting bull dog. All it took was one good shake and that sucker began to slip from its lofty perch to a murmur of heartfelt laughter. Even Victoria herself (who was seated next to me) had a solid chuckle. Westwood also adorned several pups and the diamond colors and leads came out in full 50 karat force.

The show closed with a Christmas scene, where doggies became reindeers, Mrs. Claws (claws!) and gingerbread dogs.

All in all, this year's Pet a Porter made for a lovely stand-in for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade--a la canine. From Oz to high fashion, the costume and the cheeky, the doggies parading down the runway were like their own little celebration of all that is fun and festive, just like the thousands of boy scout feet that were pounding the pavement of Midtown Manhattan. And just like that famous final float to bustle its way down Broadway, bringing Santa Claus to town and a close to Turkey Day, Pet a Porter's Christmas finale had just the same effect.

You hear that, Butters? You better watch out, you better not bark, you better not fart, I'm telling you why: Santa Claws is coming to town.

Each year, Pet a Porter holds a raffle at the event with all proceeds going to the Retired Greyhound Trust, a charity which helps retired race dogs find loving homes. Click here to check out their website...tis the season!

Photos by Marina Scukina

Pre-Party: drinks and caninepes

Bert and Al Fayed

Mother, me and the Cesar westie

The Dogwalk

Muffin (Shih Tzu) JJ & Me-Dorothy; Dorothy Costume (only available in children's sizes)

Lily (Chihuahua) Pampets-Bad Witch; Paul Smith Black Label-green sequin dress (£399)

Lily (Flat Coat Receiver) Pampets-Tin Man; Vivienne Westwood Anglomania-silver dress (£399)

Coco (Chow Chow) JJ& Me-Lion; Richard James-brown sharkskin suit (£729), Richard James-triple band silk tie (£74.95), Harrods Own Label-classic white shirt (£59.95)

Quincy (Pug) Black Tutu and Peace Top (£32.95); Westwood platforms

(Right) Cookie (Bulldog) Victoria Grant Crown Hat

Lily (Chihuahua) Diamond Dog-Leopard Jacket, Canali-beige angora coat (£1100), Canali-grey trousers (£179); Coco (Shih Tzu) Roberto Cavalli-Leopard Print, Roberto Cavalli-brown mole skin dress (£3805), Cavali-leopard print blouse (£500), Cavalli-black trousers (£605)

Eddie (Pug) Pet London-Elf

Muffin (Shih Tzu) NYD-Mrs. Santa red dress

Cookie (British Bulldog) Pampets-Reindeer (£19.95), Paul Smith Black Label-red satin dress (£329)

Lily (Flat Coat Receiver) Pampets-Turkey, Notte by Marchesa-red gown (£1200)

(left) Lily (Chihuahua) Pampets-Gingerbread man (£19.95), Kenzo-beige beaded dress (£3650); (center) Chelsea (W.H. Terrier) Pampets-Penguin (£19.95), Jenny Packham-black eveing gown (£1700)

Happy Thanksgiving 1: A&G Knightsbridge Launch

Forget turkey and pumpkin pie, Thanksgiving just wouldn't be Thanksgiving without a bit of rock n' roll sparkle, shredded leather and rogue attitude. So in lieu of gathering round the table so as to give thanks for a year that has brought with it nothing less than the worst economic crisis the world has seen since the Great Depression effectively earning those of us unfortunate recent graduates hanging in an inexhaustible labor limbo the lovely title of the "Lost Generation," my friends, family and I gathered instead round the studded intricacies of Amal Guessous, the design force behind Los Angeles-born luxury fashion brand A&G Rock n' Roll Couture.

On our way to the evening's main event (Pet a Porter at Harrods, of course!) we stopped off for a little Thanksgiving appetizer, let's call it the stuffing or caramelized potatoes, of the night's agenda. The launch party saw the small space on Walton Street packed full of the gothic, lace-clad, booty wielding fabus sipping away happily on Kir Royals. Naomi was rumored to make an appearance, but never showed. She must have been busy thanking her assistant by repeatedly assaulting her with a mobile phone. Music came courtesy of The Orange Dot DJs Sam Kilcoyne (Underage festival founder/Steptoe and Son) and Jack Thomas.

Fleur de lis, crucifix and dagger motifs in crystallized Swarovski decadence punctured the backs of soft cashmere pullovers, hoodies, leather bikers and more. But the crux of the evening--the wishbone inside the shop launch of a turkey--was the customization angle with which A&G seeks to make its Knightsbridge mark. To be fair, the blinging aesthetic of the rocker rebel is not exactly up the Sloaney's avenue, but customization is a gimmick none too easy to resist. Converse--stud them up. This tee-scrawl all over it. They even had this amazing men's YSL shearling which had been gothed up (breath, Stefano) and punked out with studs and a massive crucifix. If there's one thing this recession has taught shoppers to be thankful for, it's the nuance of the personal, the preciousness of having something that's personalized, that's yours and yours only. Even if it is simply a black cashmere sweater with a rose peeking out the skull with your initials tattooed in glitter on its forehead. It's still just yours.

But it went too far when the PR girl showed my Birkin-bearing friend Jason a picture of one just like it completely bedazzled and decked out in rhinestones. Fear flashed in his eyes and he tightened his grip on that orange wonder, just like a parent would do a child's hand when the neighborhood weirdo creeps past. After all, whilst at the end of the day, we can be thankful for the fun and the glitzy, it is really the Birkin unto which the most heartfelt of thanks are due.

A&G, 178 Walton Street, Knightsbridge

Photos by Marina Scukina

Customized YSL

mmm, what have we here?

Designer Amal Guessous and myself

Jason and his Birkin

Mother, my Dolce jacket and Bert

Joy looking amazing

Schon Magazine: Get Hypnotized

Last month, I was approached by Raoul Keil, founder and Creative Director of Nineteen74.com and editor-in-chief of hot new ezine Schon! Magazine (needs be an umlaut over that o, but typographical philistine that I am, I can't find it) to write a column for the third installment of the latter. But before I could resort to my usual laundry list of reasons why I should not and, more practically, cannot take on yet another publication into which to dip my acerbic blogger's pen, which, if I were to assume just one more contributor's role would surely soon fall victim to eternal writer's block, Raoul hit me with a fast one: "I'd like you to write a regular column about New York." Hmm...

So here we are, one month later and I'm proud to say I'm quite pleased with the published result and the mag as a whole. The issue includes a diary style article by Alexis Knox and a feature by designer Ioannis Dimitrousis not to mention an awesome editorial shoot, 'Victoria' by Toronto-based Arkan Zakharov and a feast of gothic-edged grunge infused with solitary sophistication by stylist Shan Sarwar. But I have to say, in my professional opinion of course, that it is this little article on big time NYC photog Chadwick Tyler really takes the Schon cake.

So be sure to check it out and I'll be sure to learn where the umlaut is by Issue 4.

Click here to read Issue 3 of Schon!

Johnny Blueeyes and Russel Brand @ PORNDWARF

I had been frantically styling my first full blown editorial shoot for Connoisseur Magazine all day, then rushed off to a quasi-impromptu rescheduled tv interview with Johnny Blueeyes for Sketchbook and had a ticket to Rome for an early morning flight burning a hole in my very tired pocket. So after much debate, I gave in to the call of the couch and catch-up episodes of Gossip Girl and sent my cameraman and photographer into the depths of Shoreditch without me to cover Johnny at Porndwarf.

But when my photographer Nedim sent through the images the next morning, even though I was, by then, comfortably munching on delicious pizza and soaking up the Roman sunshine, the green monster flashed in my eyes and soul when I saw how much fun they had had and the haunting words of the legendary stand up comedian Dave Attell popped into my head: YOU SHOULDA HUNG OUT MAN.

Seriously.

"You ever hang out all night long and then you go home a little early? Then you get that call the next day? You know that call: “You shoulda hung out man!” “What happened?!” “Ohhh! 10 minutes after you left.” It’s always 10 minutes after you leave when the all fun shows up. Like the fun-mobile is a block behind ya at all times. Full of strippers, and midgets, and balloons. And every type of fun imaginable."

Judging from the pics, the fun-mobile basically drove straight from the Sketchbook interview to the venue. I should have guessed from the event's name that I was electing to opt out on all sorts of stripping and dwarf related fun, but what I should have realized was that I'd be missing out on the fun-mobile with a leather-clad and fabulous Johnny at the wheel. Held at Image, one of London's oldest strip joints, creative fashion brand Porndwarf (which describes itself as a "clothing line coming in 2010 of select line of statement pieces, with a costume or theatrical feel, to be worn at all times, even the launderette or kebab shop")featured Johnny customising leather on-site, scrawling in his seductive script across guests' converse, biker jackets and legging-taut bums their favorite song lyrics or lines from a poem, the Bang Bang Club, London's hot new electro-pop duo act and dance troupe Hells Cupids playing spin the bottle. You shoulda hung out man.

Oh, and did I mention Katy Perry's beau du jour, the hilarious Russell Brand turned up? The afternoon of the event, he twittered thus:

Russell Brand on November 21:

I am going to @PORNDWARF tonight at Images in 483 hackney rd,it commences at 10pm. If you go you will see me, gently weeping. From my willy.

YOU SHOULDA HUNG OUT MAN.

Click here to check out Porndwarf's website

Photos by Nedim Nazerali
click here to check out Nedim's website