Fuck Fashion

In his iconoclastic Fuck Fashion (we use the asterisk treatment for nervous media folk and bookshop managers), Ben Westwood lets rip. Frustrated by the censorship imposed by publishers on his previous books, he wanted his explicit images to be available to the public as well. Much to our delight he approached us with a portfolio of his, shall we say, less inhibited work, and a new book was born.

The results are fabulous. In this collection of over 200 provocative images, the work is split into roughly three groups: Pinup, Porno-chic and Bondage. The colours are bold, electric, saturated; the models are stunningly sexy and pretty (and occasionally rather forward with one another). The lingerie is carefully chosen and in some cases designed by Ben himself; the shoes are often by Vivienne Westwood, no mean fashion iconoclast herself.

Ben has a unique flair and style which is sassy and streetwise; in this instance the genre will appeal to girls as much as boys; as one-time production manager to his mother, Vivienne Westwood, he gained essential experience which he uses to great effect in the mise-en-scène of his photographs. Here is an extraordinary and sophisticated visual talent, which is only now beginning to be recognised.

Fuck Fashion comes with an introductory essay by author and journalist Stephen Bayley, one of Britain's best-known cultural commentators. When it comes out on general release in May 2005, we expect this to be one of the most controversial books of the year, so get your copy before it hits the bookshops ñ and the headlines!