143 = I Love You

It's all about the popping-up action this week with Pam Hogg opening up tomorrow (will report of course!) and 143 which opened today, both in the Carnaby Street area, with shop fronts ripe for plenty of fluid movement meaning the pop-up thang will probably be happening quite a bit over the next year.  143 has an even shorter tenure than Pam Hogg as it's only here for two weeks so it really is a case of catch it whilst you can hence why I'm posting as ear-LY as possible to ensure people do 'pop' in.  The fact that the store is backed by Gio Goi, a Boxfresh-type street wear brand is almost absent in the store means it's the best kind of backing in the case of 143.  Instead, the look and feel of the store is directed by graphic artist/record label/DJ/all round coolness incarnated Kate Moross… cue colourful triangles, mirrors, fluro lights, playful props and a candystore look about…

Like a lot of pop-up experiences, the products being sold at 143 are
specifically curated, by Damian and Avigail of label Silver Spoon
Attire who I gushed about a while ago and also of course by Moross as
well.  The products are tagged with an acrylic number plate that
corresponds with a catelogue and a price list so you're browsing as
though you were at an exhibition/auction.  Normally things without tags
would annoy me but that's because I hate asking sales assistants for
prices lest they start doing the 'hard sell' on me.  However, with a
price list and a detailed explanation, I'm still left to my own devices
which suits me fine. 

A rail of Silver Spoon S/S 09 wares gives me the opportunity to see Damian and Avigail's designs up close which is just as well as it's all about perfect tactile materials in simple shapes… soft blue suede shirt dress with capped shoulders, loose sheer-ish pink silk trousers… (was that SHEER and TROUSERS I just said… pity there was no card machine there as I would have bought them straight away…).  They'll be offering made to measure services for their clothes in-store during this pop-up period. 

Yellow silk racerback, camel suede jacket…

The same goes for menswear too with the slightly worn chambray shirt and perforated grey leather trackies with blue suede knee patches… I actually want the trackies for myself. 

Their latest venture got me very excited as Avigail was sporting some customised Silver Spoon Attire frames, that are a collaboration with Arckiv.  There's a girls' Claire frame with cut-out eye lids and heart shaped arm ends and a boys' James frame with a brow bar and cut-out triangle shape.  The exciting thing about them is the array of crazy acrylics that you can customise the glasses with and gradiated acrylics at the side that can also be customised with images as well… this actually needs serious further investigation given that I need to start resting up the contacts more often…

143 is also selling some of Arckiv's vintage frames…

Damian and Avigail gathered up some unknown names to me which sent me on mad Google searches… Irwin and Jordan make perfectly balanced jersey and satin tees/dresses…

Paloy Horwang excited me with his HER fringed tartan shorts… (apologies for the gender mistake!)

…and oversized print blazer…

Menswear got some good pickings too with Alex Boudreau shirts and Electronic Poet hoodies…

Damian was super excited about getting in Gossip Girl-featured Pas Comme Les Moutons headgear as 143 is the only UK stockist…

I need shiner, wavier hair (and neat ensembles to go with them) to pull them off but the giant navy rosette and gem encrusted one was my fave…