When Camden wonder-emporium Guts For Garters opened its doors back in March we fell in love with the lovingly curated selection of madcap curios, art and fashion - not to mention the its inspired and oh-so-timely ‘The Royal We’ concept. Now curators Rachel Chudley and Cassie Beadle return with their second theme, ‘Surreal Women’, celebrating 75 years of the Surrealist movement and conversely exploring its resistance to the female form - citing marginalized female cross-dresser Claude Cahun as their muse.

Were Elsa Schiaparelli and Dali to open a store it’d be a little something like this; oddball items and obscure artifacts range from a micro-garden installed in a four-posted bed, cacti chairs, vaginal wallpaper, tailor dummies with eyeball nipples and mounted animal heads replete with cute mustachios. An imposing glass chandelier (each element individually handblown) makes a commanding centerpiece.

Featuring one off commissions from Grayson Perry and Grace Palthorpe, photos from Wendy Bevan plus handpicked vintage McQueen, Ossie Clark, and archive pieces from costume designer Petra Storrs, the store’s wares read like a loveletter to the subversive and sublime.

Guts For Garters, ‘Surreal Women’ runs until July 21^st. Guts For Garters, The Cob Gallery, 205 Royal College Street, NW1 0SG

www.gutsfgorgarters.com

Posted on June 20, 2011 at 3:54:18 by The Real Runway