Joe McKenna

Zara is a designer brand now



Zara SRPLS ss24

Everyone’s talking about Rachel Tashjian’s Washington Post deep dive into the cult-like allure of Zara.

From its 1975 Spanish origins to its current position as global gateway to high end aesthetics, it’s certainly the brand of the moment for those who aspire to The Row, Bottega, Loewe et al on a non-luxury budget.

Tashjian spoke to a number of A-list fashion creatives who have worked with or are working with Zara. Think Fabien Baron, Narciso Rodriguez, photographer Craig McDean, hairstylist Guido and even Linda Evangelista, who modelled for Zara’s collaboration with Steven Meisel last autumn. (more…)



Follow a stylist



Suzanne Koller T Magazine Keizo Kitajima

Influencers, schminfluencers! If you want styling ideas, better to follow the stylists.

Compared to photographers, the best in the biz are still fairly elusive on Instagram (where are you, Joe McKenna?!) but once you locate them, they’re worth checking in with. They tend to repeat their tricks across the brands and publications they work for, so it’s easy to see all their ideas and influences in one place. (more…)



Joe McKenna x Zara AW23



Joe McKenna Zara menswear aw23

LOL. Joe McKenna is so simultaneously legendary and low key that his Zara menswear limited edition collab went completely under my radar. I just discovered it by chance (it launched a month ago) and it seems there’s plenty left online. (OK looks like he styled it, rather than ‘designed’ it, but still.)

Joe McKenna is the super-stylist who has worked extensively with Bruce Weber and Steven Meisel (another publicity-shy-yet-AAA-list image-maker who Zara persuaded to create a collection) and in his dim, distant past, also acted in Corrie (as you do). (more…)



The Horse Hospital, a London style and culture landmark is under threat



Contemporary Wardrobe - fashion archive at The Horse Hospital

“It’s very sad news, I have always thought that The Horse Hospital is perfect for Roger and for The Contemporary Wardrobe Collection, it’s hard to imagine the clothes in any other setting. Contemporary Wardrobe is the real deal, it’s authentic… it has never let me down.” Stylist, fashion director and filmmaker, Joe McKenna

A London cultural landmark is under threat. The Horse Hospital, a historic old stable in a cobbled mews behind Russell Square station is a bit of a gem. It has been for 27 years. It’s a not-for-profit arts venue that holds exhibitions for London’s displaced artists and also houses an incredible costume archive. But maybe not for much longer. (more…)