Fashion + Perversity

Have just finished my first book of the Summer, Fashion + Perversity by Fred Vermorel, about the life and times of Miss Vivienne Westwood (1950s-1995) by one of her brothers oldest friends.

It is split into three different chapters the first is a collection of anecdotes and interviews that people around Westwood or Westwood herself has divulged about her upbringing, her relationship with Malcom Mcalaren, the infamous SEX boutique, the SEX PISTOLS and much more. Though you do come from it feeling slightly shortchanged as there are so many nuggets and stories told and not enough detail that most of it feels quite throwaway. Bit and pieces stuck together like a mood board vaguely flowing together but never giving much clarity to the bigger picture. This is also reflected in the structure of the chapter with timelines obscured by the juxtaposition of Viennes's childhood and the odd relationship between Malcom and Vivienne. (M+V)

The Second Chapter however is rather different the author this time speaks from his own experience giving us a good few stories about M+V, as well as going into the authors life and the circumstances which surrounded the art scene, punk movement and French Riots of the 1970s. Though it feels a bit like he got the advance from the publisher to talk about M+V and really wanted to write his own autobiography seeing as this takes up most of the pages. Don't get me wrong there is some interesting parts to this indulgence if only for his reference points, it just never gets exciting as you hope it would be, only wavering on the sidelines.

The Third Chapter is most disappointing it is a collection of random annecdotes through1960's-1995 when he interviewed various people from the Vivienne Westwood team as they were to bring their 'Les femmes ne connaissent pas toute leur coquetterie' (Women do not know all their coquettishness.) collection to Paris for their annual catwalk show. It offers the sort of anecdotes a person tells you when they have run out of anything to say, a nothingness which is neither insightful or particularly interesting, just a bit pointless.

Though for its flaws I would recommend this book for its humorous first two chapters, to flick through but never to read the entirety as it never gives anything but a fleeting glance of Westwood or her partner. This is not a definitive guide but a appetizer for its interesting subject matter.

x

P.s. The author is now apparently a University Lecturer and has produced videos that are owned by Saaitchi, written many different books mostly about media and fandom. Not sure i can believe it. There is hope for me afterall :)

Gym Day- Relaxation is the Enemy

Been to the Gym for the first time in years and it was actually quite fun.

So being my Dad's regular Gym he gave me a tour of all the equipment:

The Treadmills
The Bikes
The Cross-trainers
Rowing machines, Weights, Floor mats exercise balls BLAH BLAH BALAH BLAH GYM GYM GENERIC GYM STUFF BLAHBLAHBLAH
and then he showed me possibly the most bizarre piece of equipment:

The Vibration Plate exercise machine

somewhere between:

A Lazy man's exercise/masturbation device

AND

when you try to balance on something and then after a while of trying to keep yourself steady you fall off and possibly break a bone or two.

Firstly you pick a vibration intensity, then a time, half min - 2min and then do some sort of press-up position (below) trying to keep yourself on it without a. falling off b. vibrating yourself into a gas substance c. trying to keep face when the vibrations are causing you so much pain, and as the main reason to being in a gym is to look manly,and never ever to feel the burn when you have previously been told that it was easy by your 64 year old father (boy was he lying)


Besides that it was quite fun the sauna, shower room (or from now on The Room where you hardly breath) and the jacuzzi were a bit of a let down but they did their bit alright i suppose.

Besides the Gym i failed to do what i planned to do today i.e. get a job through plastering my CV other Nottingham shire, as my printer doesn't work and my Parents one had run out of ink so decided to print it in brilliant PINK just to make sure my employers had a forewarning of the Gay presenting his infectious CV. Though have printed 20 today after buying a 40ish pound ink cartridge and WILL be distributed to ALL GOOD RETAILERS by the end of the next day.

Another development today was my realization that I need to do things my brain cannot be idle it has too many things to say and do. This may seem slightly arrogant like I'm declaring I'm a complete boffin or that in the Gym my instructor drilled it into me like an army major that i must blunk up cus I'm not a man i'm a Pussy (My instructor was actually really nice). No I realize I often over think things and this can make me paranoid and useless, a theory before a practice - pointless. So i really need to keep myself busy that is why for the first time in ages i've actually updated this blog two days in a row. GO ME:)

x

Still reading:
Fashion + Perversity: A Life of Vivienne Westwood and the sixties laid bare by Fred Vermorel
It's quite fun so far but maybe too many incomplete stories due to it being based on anecdotes and scraps of information- Anyway i'll give a better review when i've finished.