Who's on your list this year?

For LBF Alexander McQueen is a definite contender. Yes they may be electric purple, with a 4 inch platform, and visually look as though they've been constructed from the mouldings of a battered alien skeleton, but, desire is desire. McQueen's footwear was inspired by myths of Atlantis and in that sense, the heels live up to the mythology quite well.

Studio Visit- Alastair MacKinven

A graduate of Goldsmiths, with work now in the Saatchi gallery in London, artist Alastair MacKinven is on the rise. LBF travelled to his studio in Islington to see some of the pieces he's been working on, varying from the inspirational preliminary ideas he composes on his computer to the full-blown end result. MacKinven says his work is focused on 'Abstract Capitalist Realism,' one of the original terms used widely in Europe before 'Pop' was coined; the artist takes prints from his British Gas and water bills and uses them as a pattern source from which to enlarge and repeat prints, making intensely diverse surfaces to work on. In his words he says it's like 'paying for your life.'

One of my personal favourites, this piece is the artchild of an American Express bill. Despite today's stony financial climate MacKinven is able to satirize through his art.

Measuring, experimenting, the artist (above) plays with the composition of his pieces to suit what he believes is right to frame the piece.

A storyboard of ideas. One of MacKinven's postcard-sized templates will eventually be transformed into a metre-by-metre piece.

HELLS HALF ACRE

Paul Insect, 'Object Desire'

The natural light slowly gives way to a dim illumination within the tunnel, and the brick walls plastered with graffiti shine as I walk past them, colourful and fantastical in their construction. As I carry on deeper into the tunnel, people start to appear, and slowly, as in within the eye of a storm, the full force of the event emerges, with an amassed group waiting to enter the solitary black door that'll lead into the exhibition.

I'm in the dilapidated underpass near the London Eye, on my way to see 'Hells Half Acre,' an enigmatic exhibition of talented new British artists put on by the Lazarides gallery in the Old Vic tunnels in East London. The show is a word-of-mouth event, only available to those in-the-know, with Kevin Spacey as one of the co-ordinators, and the space is phenomenal, intensely urban down to the concrete floor and wet, damp walls.

The art mirrors the harsh setting well. In the first room I see a hanging orb, beautiful and serene it glows a hypnotic green and rotates slowly, but as I get closer I realise with a harking sensation that it is not an orb at all, but a circle made up entirely of slotted syringes. I am horrified, and yet grotesquely humoured. The collection of art displayed is a combination of sculpture, film, photography, painting and even, taxidermy, with each piece of work having its own unique twist.

Quite possibly my favourite piece in the show; layers of transparent acrylic panels placed one behind the other when stood directly in front of reveal that the collage of fragmented images make up the two forms of naked women in prayer. Jonathan Yeo is the artist to be congratulated, often constructing such technically fascinating images.

A smoke filled room boasted an incredibly serene atmosphere, the light glowing from another, yet crystallised, orb.

George Washington or Bernie Madoff? I believe the irony makes it both. At the end of the night someone noticed that a particularly engrossed viewer had tacked a ten dollar bill to the subject's mouth. Quite fitting I thought, and indeed, so amusing, that a member from the gallery team went up to congratulate the gentleman for his innovation.

Photographs by the quizzical 'Boogie'

Reflected onto a pool of water, and framed in an elegant arch, this video installation of bursting flames is the creation of artist Doug Foster.

Conor Harrington, a series of paintings entitled 'Holy Smoke Quintet'

Mark Jenkins, Chrysalis

The Aviator

One of the most popular looks for fall, and an essential wardrobe item for any Londoner on the go, is the aviator jacket. It's comfy, warm, and looks damn good on, the 'rocker' leather exterior opening up inside to reveal creamy shearling. What's not to like? Burberry prorsum and Acne are the go-to designers if you're looking for a cool aviator for winter. But that's not to say there aren't other ways to pick one up if the piggybank is looking a little slim. Below are some of LBF's best picks.

Burberry Prorsum
Cropped shearling aviator jacket

£1,895

available from net-a-porter

ACNE
Velocite oversized shearling aviator jacket

£1,420

available from net-a-porter

Topshop

Cropped aviator faux fur coat

£75,00

available from topshop.com

Rankin does Rosie

Rankin is all over the place these days. With recently having directed Kelis's 'Acapella' video as well as exercising his photographic talents shooting some of the most influential and beautiful women in the world it is no surprise that his latest collaboration with up-and-coming model-turned-actress Rosie Huntington-Whiteley was a huge success. Scores of people gathered to the innermost depths of Camden town last night to see the opening exhibit of the images. Rosie is dripped in black paint, studded with rhinestones, windswept on a desert plain and and in one image, standing atop a mass of animal skulls, like a modern queen Boudicca. Rankin's incredible talent in capturing the most beautifully stirring images is blatant. In one image, Rosie, (depicted as a coquettish pin-up) stands over a bed, and slyly entrances her viewer as she unzips her skin-tight leather skirt to reveal the cleft of an innocent butt-cheek, so subtle in detail, it makes you look twice to realise what exactly she's doing.
As revelers mingled amidst the hung photographs, bathed in a blue light that illuminated the main area, LBF happened to notice the likes of Erin O'Connor and Paula Wylde (of label Thomas Wylde) brush past. Paula was the one to suggest the project to Rankin, and Rosie is seen in some pictures wearing some of her label's trademark scorpion prints. At the moment Rosie is currently filming in America for her upcoming role in the next Transformers film, and I have no doubt we'll be seeing much more of her very soon...

Videos from the shoot were projected onto the walls, showing our model in various forms of transformation; as a ballerina and a matador.

Matthew Williamson Spring/Summer 2011

London Fashion week is in full swing, and LBF was at the ready to go and blog at the shows of some of her favourite designers. Matthew Williamson’s spring/summer 2011 collection debut was particularly fascinating, held in the urban setting of the Battersea power station (the single largest brick built construction in Europe, as told by my cabbie driver on the way there) the backdrop of twisted metal, broken glass and empty socket-window frames was an electric contrast to the beaming white runway, safely preserved in its own glass conservatory birdcage.

Amidst the plethora of fashion people LBF happened to notice Coco Sumners walk past, clad in corduroy red shorts, white knee length socks and black dinner shoes. Fashion ‘it-girl’ and star of the US reality TV show ‘The City’ Olivia Palermo sat next to long-time friend and muse of Matthew’s, Sienna Miller, who equally rubbed shoulders with Brit model Poppy Delevingne and presenter Cat Deely. It was particularly hard not to notice Alexandra Shulman, editor of British Vogue, as she sat for the majority of the show with her hand on her chin, looking down in a somewhat more melancholy fashion.

The show was a vibrant spectacle, as Williamson’s shows usually are, and he in no way spared us the diverse spectrum of colours, with shades of yellow and lime parading down the catwalk. Having spoken to the designer a few weeks before the show Williamson revealed his inspiration was that of the quintessential ‘Robinson Crusoe’ tale, where his model, shipwrecked on a desert island, is forced to use the natural inspiration around her to form her outfits, plucking peacock feathers to make a skirt, and ripping the sail (it was much more tame and tailored than it sounds) to make a beautiful billowing dress. LBF’s particular favourite pieces were the metallic long-sleeved mini-dresses, perfect with with the model’s ‘swept back after-sea’ hair.

Olivia Palermo being interviewed: note, Palermo's styling for the show. LBF absolutely loves her choice of foot ware, carrying off super-high 'Eve' stiletto peep-toe ankle heel from Charlotte Olympia (sister of Alice Dellal and member of the notorious 'Dellal' clan.) Available at net-a-porter.com retail price £860.

LBF's look for the show and the after-party, held at Sketch in Mayfair, where we danced to Lady Gaga's 'Bad Romance' and mingled with the likes of Faris Badwan from indie rock band 'The Horrors' as well as other members music/fashion world. Below, LBF's darling Alice Jacobs: loving her 'vamped' up look completed with fur mink and vintage costume pendant.