17 March 2009 No Comment by sirdorian

Clubbing doesn’t really change, but fashion does

Christopher James is one of the best London club photographers. With his current lookbooks, he gives a greater overview about the club scene and the changing fashion trends. It´s a good source for fashionistas, hipsters and fashion labels as well to get inspired. He talked with me about the beginning of his website, London’s nightlife and what happened since the legendary Trash Club shut down. .
All photos by Christopher James

(The maestro himself)

You recently said you have 10 computers in your house?? What capacity do they have together?
Well quite a few don’t do anything at all – I just find it hard to throw them away! I did have a bit of a spring clean recently though

When did you start out with photography in London?

I started a few years ago taking snaps of live bands for sites like Gigwise.com and Artrocker magazine before starting WKWYDLN.

What kind of style do you prefer?

Although I photograph mostly in the snapshot style I have a huge interest and respect for photographers who create really elaborate images with complex ideas, sets, and lighting etc. Of course I also see elegance in simplicity.

We heard Alistair Allan is producing a movie about London’s nightlife… do you also have plans like this?

To be quite honest just keeping the website updated and progressing new ideas like the monthly lookbook is more than enough work for one person. I have however just taken on an intern so should have some exciting things coming along, and a party at some point soon!

Tell us about your shopping mindset and personal fashion staple:

When I go shopping it is for a specific set of items – I’m very focussed! I also get bored easily, so if I don’t find what I want quickly then I’ll just go home. For me a great shopping trip is going somewhere and finding the perfect item with the minimum fuss; I’d actually prefer this over a bargain.

What club nights in London do you love and what do you think makes them so special?

I love Trailer Trash because despite the fact that most of my regulars go there every week they always make an effort. It’s both my bread and butter and an important ingredient in my website’s success. I also like Dice Club and really appreciate the effort everyone makes to look slick, but it’s monthly rather than weekly affair, sadly!

Would you agree that London’s nightlife has changed massively over the last years?

On the face of it clubbing doesn’t really change, but the fashions do. If you look at the kind of nights where fashion doesn’t play a part in the equation the essence of clubbing over the years remains the same. When people associate fashions with club scenes they it’s bound to give the impression that clubbing is changing, because fashion is so fickle. I think the other problem is that the people making these comments are changing so quickly. I remember feeling that Trash (Erol Alkan’s legendary Monday night at The End nightclub in London) was over for me at one point but then went to its successor, Durrr, a year later and saw all these people who were continuing the spirit. We tend to get bored of things before they are over.

In which city would you wanna live beside London?I could live in Berlin for definite, and I’d like to think I would also enjoy New York, but I’ve not been out photographing the clubs there so I would have to try it before I could commit!

What things are inspiring you right now?

I’m starting a new project, called Tender is the Night, and for this my inspiration is all the people I have met whilst out taking club pictures. I’ll be announcing it on main site sometime this year.

And your future plans?

Look out for the Lookbook expanding a little. It will never be a magazine – there are already too many of them – but it will be an easy to digest 5 minute blast of eye candy and fashion inspiration (weknowwhatyoudidlastnight.com/style). In a world of dwindling attention spans this is the perfect answer, in my opinion!

Thanks:)

(Check out Weknowwhatyoudidlastnight.com for your latest London nightlife dose)