House of Suga.

Photos Matt Ford, Makeup & Hair Hannah Ellen.
The House of Suga, Liverpools newest fashion designers are now nearly ready to go live with their website. After the massive launch and fashion Show back in May, they seem to be ready to take on the world. Watch this space! (Here are some highlights from their editorial shots and on-line look book)

Love it magazine. Celeb Fashion.

The 2 High Street fashion spreads I shot for Love it magazine have finally been published. As you can tell they're not my normal style, but still very enjoyable to shoot.

Brooke and Helen aka Rosie and Sophie Webster from Corrie.

Both shot in Manchester, luckily at the start of our hit and miss summer!

I've uploaded the pics in high res, so if you want to see where the clothes are from, just click the image.

Kiki by Kirsty Doyle.

Boutique Bridal Collection.

This blog entry contains highlights from the 3 shoots I've done so far for Kiki. To view the full collection go directly to the web site.

https://www.kikibykirstydoyle.com/

Hollywood Rose Collection.

(Quoted from website) Kiki by Kirsty Doyle fills a gap in the lingerie market by providing decadent nightwear reminiscent of the silk full length night gowns of the glamorous 70’s. Combining luscious silks and featherweight chiffons Kiki by Kirsty Doyle creates a powerful yet sumptuous silhouette for a modern woman who has her own personal style in the bedroom.

Acid Lights Collection.

Some of the shots from the Hollywood Rose collection has been featured in Harpers Bazaar and Canvas Magazine.

http://www.harpersbazaar.co.uk/Fashion/Kiki-by-Kirsty-Doyle-Kimono/v1

Industry Style: Fashion designer Kirsty Doyle.

click to enlarge...

Kirsty Doyle one of Liverpool's most accredited fashion designers. Kirsty began at a market stall in Liverpool's infamous Great Homer Street Market with fellow designer Hayley Robertson, selling clothes for her then Rapscallion Label.

After winning the first series of the massively successful reality t.v. show Project Catwalk, Kirsty's designs grew in popularity, and she has now become an ambassador for the Liverpool fashion industry.

Her clothes have been featured in Harper's Bazaar and will also soon be stocked as far away as L.A. (more news on Kirsty in the July fashion update.)

Kirsty describes her style as 'contemporary chic.'

Scarf and Leggings: H&M, Dress: Kirsty Doyle, Shoes: Zara.

Kirsty's latest collections will heavily be influenced by origami. As you can tell from the dress she is wearing.

Click the Industry Style Label below to see more articles like this.

Kirsty's clothes are available to buy from www.my-wardrobe.com and http://www.kirsty-doyle.com/

July 09. Liverpool fashion scene update.

Dear Readers,

Liverpool has been busy again this month with fashion shows at Calderstones, featuring Harvey Nichols and the Lola Loves Launch Party show at Cavern Walks. Plus forth coming shows, Jax model agency fashion weekend at St Georges hall and the Fredric and Madison show this Saturday (25th July) at a secret yet to be disclosed location.

(find out where by adding them on facebook. it will be reviled tonight http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=759845452&__a=1#/fredrick.maddison?ref=ts&__a=1)

Model Agencies seem to be popping up all over the place at the moment, Jax Models being just one of them. So if you want to get into modeling make sure you shop around before you sign your life away. As a rule of thumb if it smells fishy then chances are it is.

Unfortunately is been a quiet month for me on the fashion front as I've been away in Ibiza, living it large and all that jazz. However i did manage to keep myself busy shooting Sara Hans latest Trashed Couture collection for her new online look book. Going live soon.

(for a preview of the collection... http://firecrackerfashion.blogspot.com/2009/07/trashed-couture-by-sara-li-chou-han.html

Fortune favours the brave and that's what you will have to be to wear these creations.
Her concept is to take old denim pieces are recreate them into wonderful one off pieces that reinvent your idea of the deconstructionist.
But don't worry for the more average wall flower, Trashed Couture also creates more simple pieces including denim mini skirts and shorts as well as pencil skirts and funky denim bangles.
Sara's clothes are also available at Fredrick and Madison. 14 Colquitt St.

If you haven't already heard of Frederic and Maddison, they are 2 Fresh young Liverpool designers that have been established for barely a year. They inform me they are proud to have celebrity endorsements from Atomic Kittens, Natasha Hamilton and glamour model Amanda Harrington. All i can say is their designs are far from mundane so check out their facebook. (see link above)

Stylist and textiles designer Natalie Love Diggle, who I collaborated on for her disco-tec-trashed shoot back in March..
(see link..http://firecrackerfashion.blogspot.com/2009/06/disco-tec-trashed-couture-by-natalie.html
..have got together again for the next fashion shoot destined to grace the pages of F.A.B. mag issue 4, due out in Autumn.
The winner of the 'Rockin Miss Asia', Kayleigh Winters and up and coming male model, unassuming Thomas Williams, featured in the edgy fashion shoot (unfortunately the pics will have to wait until the magazine published)

However since the shoot Natalie Love Diggle has been accepted onto an internship working directly with Julian McDonald.

Finally the latest news on Kirsty Doyle, Liverpool's own fashion Ambassador. During shooting her for my Industry Style Portraits, she has informed me that she is on the way to the met quarter to finalise the details of her own forthcoming boutique shop due to open its doors on the 25th of August. Kirsty goes international! I also hear she is now stocked in L.A. Not bad for such a young designer.

Kirsty's clothes are available to buy from www.my-wardrobe.com and http://www.kirsty-doyle.com/

Matt x

Trashed Couture by Sara Li-Chou Han. (collection preview)

This is the first preview of the latest collection by Sara Han under the label Trashed Couture.

(the photo above is from a previous shoot featuring her clothes)

Sara's label is all about recycling old denim and creating entirely new pieces. Her collection consists of everything from capes to mini skirts and denim boas to bangles.

Trashed couture caters for the brave and not so brave.

Trashed couture has moved home from Resurrection Bold st to Fredrick and Maddison on Colquitt St.

Keep your eye out for her website going live soon.

For more info check out her facebook page. http://www.facebook.com/editphoto.php?aid=279994#/SLCHfashion

Fredrick and Maddison (http://www.facebook.com/editphoto.php?aid=279994#/fredrickandmaddison?ref=ts&__a=1)

Photo: Matt Ford.

Makeup: Hannah Ellen and Kelly Ervine. Hair on lower: Phil Gallagher.

Industry Style: Models Erica and Katie.

Zillion foot high fashion models Erica and Katie, let me photograph them off guard after the British Hairdresser Awards photo shoot. Like you could ever catch a model off guard when there is a camera nearby (On your marks, get set pose!) I asked them what inspires their own personal style.

Erica (looking fabulous in my comedy geek glasses) has been in the industry for over 10 years.

Discovered when she was 14 and leaving Liverpool at 16 to go full time. Modeling has taken her all over the world.

''The best shows I've worked on include Vivianne Westwood and Alexander McQueen, because of the theatrics in all his shows.''

After telling me even though she has returned to Liverpool to get away from the hectic lifestyle, she still is heavily influence by London style.

Even at a towering 6 foot, Erica insists that she can't resist wearing heels at every opportunity adding even more height. She avoids trends as much as possible, yet I think she remains one of the most stylish girls in Liverpool.

Erica(left): Jacket-Ghost Vintage, Skirt-Levis Couture, Vest-Topshop Boutique, Red Top-Gucci, Belt-Vintage.

Katie on the other hand is new to modeling, at only 16 she has already walked the runway on 2 London fashion weeks. Her best show so far is been Christian Dior. She informs me the couture collection was amazing!

She describes her personal style as quite grungy,

''I love old band t-shirts and mixing stuff with vintage pieces. I never go anywhere without my leather jacket!''

Katie proves that you can look super cool with out being overstyled.

Katie: Jacket-Topshop, Vest-Topshop, Belt-Vintage, Boots-All Saints, Leggings-Topshop.

This is the first of many new portraits of fashion industry people. They will all be under the ''Industry Style'' label.

Erica has also featured in several of my fashion shoots including the Bill board campaign for last years Liverpool Echo Arena Fashion weekend...

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=4988967&id=740985423

...a 7 page spread and the cover of YQ magazine...

http://www.new.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=2000479&id=59012242232

And A 5 page shoot and the cover of Fab Magazine...

http://www.new.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=2024994&id=59012242232

Voodou Liverpool interview.(Taken from Voodou's Face book page.)

As they are using my blog in their promotion, they have also decided to interview me.

How did you get started in photography?

I originally started as a hairdresser before studying T.V. and film make-up. Photography was required for the portfolio so I first realised I loved it then.

How did you get your first job?

It was purely by chance! I was asked to photograph a shoot I was working on..That was nearly 5 years ago and I've not looked back since.

what's been your biggest achievement?

Oh god you got me, I keep thinking of massively cheesy answers!

I've had loads of great achievements but one that springs to mind is being used for Harper's Bazaar, I love that magazine.

Go on...and your biggest cock up?

The biggest cock up I've ever had was letting an assistant be in charge of transferring the pictures from a memory card to my computer. Half the shoot was never seen again.

Fave clients?

Kirsty Doyle, We've worked together for years! The Echo- I'm about to shoot my 3rd bill board I've got through them and they still let me put a lot of input into the direction. In fact any client that listens to my creative opinion, luckily most do.

Fave shoot?

Definitely the burlesque one. (even though I'm sick of looking at it now), the caged shoot, which is all about alternatives to fur, even though when people first see it they think it's a sick excuse to show off loads of dead animals. (read between the lines)

And any other shoot that has a bit of drama in it, Delta fiasco band(see below), Anthony Hannah, Disco tek trashed couture...

Barbie. See Liverpool fashion scene update. June 09.

Photo: Matt Ford.

Make-up: Hannah Ellen.

Dress: Jenni Murphy.

June 09. Liverpool fashion scene update.

Hello Readers,

More news on this year’s fashion graduate Talent. Textiles designer Natalie Love Diggle captured her 'Disco-tech-trash couture' themed collection with a high energy shoot in Nation, the original home of Cream.

If you like clubbing you will love this shoot.

(Click here to see pics http://firecrackerfashion.blogspot.com/2009/06/disco-tec-trashed-couture-by-natalie.html)

For a student the ambition and scale of the shoot was amazing. The words 'can't do that' simply mean nothing to this girl. I hope to see a lot more and work with Natalie again in the future, so watch this space! We already have something in the pipe line.


If you’re into Scouse fashion then you should have heard of Lola Loves by now. Designer Debbie Bogg has been running her own boutique in Williamson Square for a few years now.
With an ever increasing number of seamstresses and a loyal client base that goes back nearly a decade she is now ready to open a flagship boutique in Liverpool’s luxury Cavern Walks shopping centre.

The shop opens on Tuesday the 15th June. Her official Launch party is the following Thursday. (see facebook for more details, http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=646740727&v=info&viewas=740985423#/event.php?eid=83964184627&ref=ts)

To celebrate the Launch of the new Boutique and to welcome in the new season Debbie has been hard at work designing a massive new collection. We shot the highlights of the collection for window displays and press coverage in a 'outdoor-indoor' themed studio fashion story.

Debbie’s collection consists of silks, satins and sheer with the occasional use of fabrics cut like petals, her colour scheme is pastels, peaches and the occasional acid bright. Cutting back on the massive bows and over the top frills of past collections, S/S 09 seems to bring in a more rounded and grown up feel, yet still ultimately remaining girly.(Click this link to see pics http://firecrackerfashion.blogspot.com/2009/06/lola-loves-launch-pics.html)
Lola loves runs a made to measure policy so book a visit to her consultation room as soon as she opens.

For those who like the darker side of fashion, I also have shot a surreal and fabulously disturbing cover of issue 3 of Fashion and Business magazine. Out later this week. The image is of a model with digitally enhanced arms that represent dolls limbs. I can't wait for this one.The Image is part of an on going collection called the Doll project. (click here to see the first image from the collection http://firecrackerfashion.blogspot.com/2009/06/barbie-see-liverpool-fashion-scene.html


Thanks for reading.

Matt x


P.S. Keep your eye out for my 2 Coronation Street cast, high street fashion stories in the next few Love It magazines. Available at all good newsagents. wink wink.