pssst…heard of ln-cc yet? short for late night chameleon café, this new and continuously evolving retail formula that’s to open in east london next month is currently strictly under wraps but here’s a few pointers. set up by two veterans of london’s directional retail and clubbing scene, it aims to present a next-generation shopping experience by blending sharply-curated music, art and books, presented in separate areas, into the fashion formula.

okay, okay…the brands? well, these include some hot and rare labels: nonnative, christian peau, new power studio for men, and preen, tze goh and mawi for women. how about that? interestingly, ln-cc is also to feature a vintage high-fidelity sound system and its book section will provide specialized publications hardly found elsewhere. although the store hasn’t opened yet, you can already check it out online.




© ln-cc / photos: some sharp styles that will be available at the store

he’s been a star snapper ever since he arrived on the scene in the early 1960s, not only shooting high-fashion for british vogue but also capturing and help creating pretty much of the swinging london of those days. we’re talking the fab david bailey, who’s show david bailey sculpture+ opens at pangolin on wed - sep 8. interestingly, it’s not only a photo show but also the first ever showcase of his sculptures.

on display is a dark and rugged collection of cast silver and bronze sculptures alongside a range of new photographs, which underline the contrast between the two mediums, and emphasize bailey’s versatility as an artist. the show very much explores the idea that image-makers should not be confined to one discipline. location: 90 york way [king's cross].

serpentine gallery has pulled it off again, this year presenting a striking pavilion by french starchitect jean nouvel. interestingly, it’s his first completed building in britain. the structure consists of geometric forms made from both metal and light-weight materials and allows a highly versatile use of interior and exterior spaces. its most striking feature is a sloped freestanding wall that stands 12 meters above the lawn. the pavilion will be used a public space, a café and for the gallery’s park nights program, and will remain open until oct 17. location: kensington gardens, hyde park [kensington].





© serpentine gallery

launching today [6pm-9pm] at pure evil gallery is the very first u.k. solo show by new york-based urban artist extraordinaire specter. he has made a name for himself creating installations and street artwork in abandoned buildings and obscure urban spaces to draw attention to urban problems and issues. on display will be a series of new paintings and drawings. location: 108 leonard street [shoreditch].



© pure evil gallery

party: the playground vs. super super
date: sat - aug 14 [9pm-3am]
location: koko, 1a camden high street [camden]
dj lineup includes kavinsky, kap bambino, autokratz, teenagersintokyo, is tropical
click [here] for tickets

swedish denim supremo acne’s flagship london store is finally unzipped on mayfair’s hipster dover street. stretching over three floors with a gorgeous roof deck to boot, the store boasts art gallery proportions with chic industrial design and showcases exquisite furniture by luxury fashion house lanvin. gracing the walls are murals by legendary interiors illustrator jeremiah goodman, images by photographer katerina jebb, drawings by jean cocteau and a striking three part eagle sculpture by fashion designer-turned-sculptor helmut lang. the store reflects jonny johansson’s conceptual vision of blending art and fashion into a seamless, luxurious and inspiring environment. location: 13 dover street [mayfair].






© acne

celebrating the 50th anniversary of jean-luc godard’s iconic film à bout de souffle [1960], james hyman gallery stages la nouvelle vague, an exhibition that captures the essence of the french nouvelle vague movement through works by photographer raymond cauchetier. mind you, some photos are being displayed for the first time [on until aug 28]. location: 5 savile row [mayfair].



© raymond cauchetier - director jean-luc godard shoots a scene for breathless [1959]

they say all good things come to those who wait and oh boy, i’m the happiest person on this planet at the moment! vivienne westwood’s first ever man store is now open. focusing entirely on male shoppers, man showcases the ever-expanding world of vivienne westwood with a store which measures at a generous 1,300 sq.ft. inspiration for the space is taken from the original man floor located on the lower ground of the 44 conduit street flagship. the result is an amalgamation of industrialist and earthy elements seen in the nickel-plated rails and cabinets, ’shuttered’ concrete, textured stone, rusted steel and wide oak boards as flooring.

for the man logo, vivienne westwood found a muse in the iconic monument stonehenge, using welsh blue pennant stone for the fireplace surround which creates a monumental focal point within the space. of course, it can only be expected that the store has a twist; in man shoppers will find a glass covered ‘crypt’, previously an underground vault. this barrel-shaped chamber has been transformed into a unique display space within the floor. the man store stays true to the well-loved vivienne westwood aesthetic while integrating a sense of ease and luxury into the mix. location: 18 conduit street [mayfair].




© vivienne westwood

charismatic frontman and sex symbol jim morrisson contributed a great deal to the doors‘ popularity. opening at the idea generation gallery on mon - jul 5 is the doors - when you’re strange, an exhibition that elaborately documents the band’s rise to fame through photography. on display are photo works by henry diltz, joel brodsky, bobby klein and ken regan, who all documented the band’s time together. location: 11 chance street [shoreditch].



© joel brodsky - jim morrisson, the young lion [1967]

flying off to the sun next month from heathrow airport’s state-of-the-art terminal 5? if so, check in early to soak up some brit creativity…and perhaps some do brit shopping too? celebrating the upcoming 97th edition of the tour de france, a cycling-themed exhibition of paintings and collages by brit artist james straffon opens at the paul smith globe store on mon - jul 5. location: terminal 5, departure lounge, gate a19 [heathrow airport].



© james straffon

awesome! london’s kkoutlet teams up with colette, the mother of all concept stores, for a unique shop swap. on thu - jul 1 it takes control of colette’s premises in the french capital and installs a kooky showcase of products, books, and artwork which best reflects the multi-faceted nature of the company and its output.

on mon - jul 5 the paris-based store reciprocates, setting up shop at kkoutlet in london. it will not only bring a slew of hypercool products, books, music and art work, but will also stage two not-to-be-missed exhibitions by artists andré saraiva a.k.a. andré and darcel. paris location: 213 rue st.-honoré [st.-honoré]. london location: 42 hoxton square [shoreditch].

the london festival of architecture is back on jun 19 - jul 4 with a jam-packed program at different venues in central, east and south london. this fourth edition is quite logically themed the welcoming city as london is gearing up for the 2012 olympics. our preferred highlights are the lecture by starchitect rafael viñoly, the wonderful portavilion showcase by berlin-based practice raumlabor and the international architecture showcase that gives the audience an insight in exciting architecture projects across the planet at more than 30 embassies and cultural institutes across town. check out the event’s program online and pick yours!



note: click image to enlarge

party: heads high
date: thu - jun 17 [9pm-late]
lineup: nasah, kevla, white kids, oliver rant, nice ‘n sleazy
location: the silver bullet, 5 station place [finsbury park].

meet up with interesting creatives at protein’s forum #6 on thu - jun 17 [7pm-11pm] and talk science, technology and design. the following invitees will be present: ben kreukniet, pete hellicar + joel gethin lewis, evan grant and shane walter. rsvp [here] for access. location: the future gallery, 5 newport street [strand].

the solo exhibition of french urban artist remed just launched at pure evil gallery [on until jun 23]. he started out as a street artist but gradually produced work on canvas and also sculptures. his work is heavily influenced by art nouveau and 1970s pattern graphics. location: 108 leonard street [shoreditch].

opening today at somerset house is maison martin margiela ‘20′, an extensive showcase that celebrates 20 years of the brand’s conceptual approach to fashion. on display are installations, photography, video and film that elaborate on designer martin margiela’s philosophy, from its deconstructivist design aesthetics to avant-garde couture and understated branding to store interiors and love for trompe-l’œil. the show was previously staged at modemuseum in antwerp and munich’s haus der kunst. location: strand [strand].

the celeb-packed opening party may have taken place last week but louis vuitton’s new maison [indeed, this is not a regular lv-store] officially opens to avid shoppers today. its grandeur is as such that it rivals even that of the brand’s prestigious paris flagship. the superstore is a grand affair in more ways than one. it measures an impressive 15,000 sq.ft. spread over three floors and is rumoured to have cost well over gbp 30 million. it’s designed by house architect peter marino who ingeniously fused louis vuitton’s design heritage, hi-tech and cool contemporary art in the store’s interior design.

the ground floor features the many accessories collections juxtaposed with striking original artworks by the likes of takashi murakami, gilbert & george, damien hirst and other leading artists. a glass + led staircase leads to the first floor which is dedicated to womenswear and shoes, and on the second floor a private client suite is located. the huge two-storey luggage wall that highlights the brand’s expertise, is probably the store’s most spectacular feature. marking the opening, a small retrospective put together by überstylist katie grand features the first designs that designer marc jacobs created for the luxury brand. location: 17-20 new bond street [mayfair].







© louis vuitton / photography: stéphane muratet

opening on fri - jun 4 at kkoutlet is we want more, a photo exhibition of amsterdam-based photographer daniel cohen. on display is a selection of images taken between last song and encore at the city’s legendary concert venues, paradiso and melkweg. an eclectic string of artists have been shot on film, including erykah badu, the ting tings and blondie. location: 42 hoxton square [shoreditch].

note: click image for more info

are you ready for the sample sale of the month? we’re talking the one that eley kishimoto are staging at their pop-up store. what’s on sale? highly-coveted samples from the 2010 beyond the chintz collection. doors open on tue - jun 1 [11am]. be on time and bring a wad of cash! location: 8 kingly street [soho].

paul weller is one of our fav modern-day minstrels. a photographic retrospective, dubbed a box of prints, opens today at royal albert hall, featuring work by brit shnapper lawrence watson. the show is part of the venue’s reflect series and displays photos taken during the artist’s recording of the wild wood album plus many shots of live gigs and album covers.

paul weller will also perform right here on may 24-28. the photo show can be accessed when attending these gigs or during free open days on may 15 [10am-1pm], 23 [11am-3pm] and 25 [11am-3pm]. location: kensington gore [south kensington].



© lawrence watson

fred perry opens its very first concept store in the emerging style hub of spitalfields. the shop interior mirrors the area’s industrial and commercial heritage, and consists almost entirely of reclaimed materials, most notably reclaimed doors with coloured stained glass windows that clad the walls. these are brought back to life by backlighting.

the concrete floor features a collage of set-in victorian manhole covers and old wooden ladders lean against unfinished scaffolding. many interior elements are removable or changeable, enabling a versatile space configuration. the new store exclusively carries the brand’s laurel wreath collection and also collab items with stüssy and raf simons. location: 105a commercial street [spitalfields].




© fred perry

if it looks this sharp, products should be re-edited indefinitely. behold erik schedin’s pristine white sneakers, initially released in 2008 but in one size only. luckily, they now come in various sizes, priced at sek 1,500 [approx. usd 201 or eur 156]. simultaneously an updated version of the designer’s tote bag becomes available. it’s made from boat cover fabric and has hand-dyed cotton handles and an off-white drawstring rope at the top that runs through stitched button holes. inside there’s a zipped pocket and the seams are covered with an off-white tape. quanta costa? sek 2,700 [approx. usd 362 or eur 280].

erik schedin’s wannahave items are available at style emporium dover street market, and when you’re not in swinging london, you can also order online.



© erik schedin

london-based artist a.ce steps into the limelight at eastpak gallery as his solo exhibition a.ce beats king opens there on fri - may 7. on display is a brand new collection of canvases and work on wood and card. his current work is inspired by pop art and graphic design but despite moving away from graffiti, his aim of getting noticed is now accomplished by incorporating stickers and paste-ups. location: 1 carnaby street [soho].



© eastpak gallery

brit sculptor abigail fallis has an exhibition at pangolin london, opening there on wed - may 5. dubbed fallis in wonderland, the show is inspired by lewis carroll’s fantasy alice’s adventures in wonderland and features works that incorporate humour and absurd distortion to draw our attention to the issues that trouble the artist such as mass consumerism, scientific distortion and environmental destruction. location: 90 york way [king's cross].



© abigail fallis - urinal - stainless steel + ruby red neon / photography: steve russell

y’all set? dover street market’s not-to-be-missed shoparama is back on may 1-3 [10am-7pm] with loads of vintage clothing, items from all comme des garçons lines and other top designer brands with discounts of 70-80%. no, we cannot believe it either! it’s good to know that there’ll be regular new supplies to replenish stocks. location: the old depot, 1-3 wenlock road [shoreditch].

gucci’s icon-temporary store lands in london! as during previous stop-overs in new york and miami, a limited-edition range of sneakers designed by the brand’s creative director frida giannini are available. a total of 17 exclusive sneaker styles [15 men's and 2 women's styles] are on sale, including the gucci ronson, an exclusive collab design with it boy mark ronson.

the store features an interior coated in a slick white gloss and an oversized blue and red web band that wraps around its perimeter. an added feature will be a specially designed unit showcasing the recently launched collection of gucci eyeweb sunglasses. gucci’s icon-temporary store will be in town for three weeks only. next stop on the pop-up trail is tokyo in june. location: 37 earlham street [seven dials].




© gucci

kicking off fri - apr 30 at the vinyl factory is stillness at the speed of light, a collaborative exhibition of light artist chris levine and grace jones. on display to the public for the first time are a series of 3d holographic portraits of the singer. the show is also used to launch the singer’s new video of i love you to life which he directed. location: 51 poland street [soho].



© chris levine

he’s the power architect to the planet’s power brands. we’re talking peter marino, the leather-clad creative wizzard who designed a slew of immaculate and highly-publicized shop interiors for luxury empires such as chanel, dior and louis vuitton. opening at the wallace collection on thu - apr 29 is beauty and power, a show featuring his collection of renaissance and baroque bronzes, in addition to loans from british museums and private collections. location: hertford house, manchester square [marylebone].



photo: peter marino

artist roa’s first u.k. solo show opened last week at pure evil gallery [on until may 2]. the artist is best known for his large-scale black + white portrayals of wildlife in unusual urban places across the planet. on display is a series of new works, complete with outdoor street works in the immediate area. location: 108 leonard street [shoreditch].



© roa

party: totem presented by goodhood + gasius
date: fri – apr 16 [11pm-3am]
dj lineup: gassy gas, paddy, smc + live visuals by hans lo
location: jaguar shoes, 34-36 kingsland road [shoreditch]

party: easter love-in presented by horse meat disco + disco bloodbath
date: thu – apr 1 [9pm-6am]
location: secret warehouse [east end]
dj lineup includes: tim sweeney, azari & III, jim stanton, james hillard, severino

australian cosmetics brand aesop opened a third london store in the fast-emerging shoreditch area. the new outlet fits right in, boasting a spartan chic interior that’s not only matching with the unassuming building it’s housed in but also this artsy part of town. the brand’s entire product line will be available here. location: 5a redchurch street [shoreditch].




© aesop

david adjaye is an accomplished london-based architect. his keen interest in urban architecture has made him step out of his regular line of work to photograph a series of african cities as part of an ongoing project to study new patterns of urbanism. opening on wed - mar 31 at the design museum is his photo exhibition urban africa.

on display are adjaye’s images that capture the urban development of a series of african cities, from traces of a colonial past to informal settlements on the edge of town. the photo series give an interesting insight in life in urban africa. documented african cities include tripoli, abuja and pretoria. a book will follow in late 2010. location: shad thames [south bank].




© david adjaye - nouakchott, mauritania [top] and street scene [bottom]

note: click image for more info

dean chalkley’s exhibition the new faces just kicked off at the book club [on until apr 29]. next to having a knack for photography, he deejays at shake!, a monthly party he organises in london. showcased are a fab series of black + white photos of sharply dressed, dance-mad young mods that he encountered there and became totally fascinated with. location: 100 leonard street [shoreditch].




© dean chalkley

not to be missed! we’re talking the new fantastic 4 group show at pure evil gallery, opening thu - mar 18 [6pm-9pm / mind you, come in your superhero costume and get a free new fantastic 4 comic book!]. what’s cookin’? a display of work of four amazing urban artists from across europe: 3ttman [madrid], zbiok [wroclaw], remed [lille] and grems [london]. location: 108 leonard street [shoreditch].

wasted spaces, a creative collective that searches out empty shop fronts, neglected commercial sites and other unloved buildings, and injects them with art. its edgy outdoor video installation launched earlier this month in wembley and the next couple of weeks the smile project will target streets in the area.



© wasted spaces / photo: window on wembley high road

party: ed banger 7th anniversary party
date: fri – mar 5 [9pm-5am]
location: coronet theatre, 28 new kent road [newington]
dj lineup includes: busy p, fake blood, so me, riton, breakbot