GUEST GALLERIES

When my 'Streetstyle' exhibition opened at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London in 1994 it was still - just - appropriate that the world's first major exhibition on this subject should be taking place in London. London which had spawned Mods, Rockers, Skinheads, Glam, Punk, New Romantics, Goths and Pervs. But which, even by the 90s, was becoming too moneyed and full of itself (cf 'Cool Britannia') to generate anything down and dirty and original. Next up was Tokyo with its hordes of extraterrestrial Mamba, Gonguro and Gothic Lolitas. But it wasn't long before (as had happened in London, down the King's Road) the number of photographers far exceeded the number of street stylists. Where would 'it' be 'happening' post-Tokyo? The answer is anywhere and everywhere it's least expected. One such place is Buenos Aires - a city which the world's tango fans (myself included) presumed to be caught in a century old time-warp of fedoras and long skirts with slits up the side. But, like many South American cities, Buenos Aires has leapt in one bound from the 19th to the 21st century. A musician, singer, graphic designer as well as a photographer, Belen Asad is recording her own, particular slice of 21st century Buenos Aires. It's well worth a visit. Her work is available throughhttp://www.cargocollective.com/catexia and you can see more of her work at belenasad.tumblr.com Ted Polhemus - October, 2015This photo > Backtage to a Merbellux runway show inspired in Jem and the Holograms, a model awaits for his turn. Merbellux is an under fashion brand from Buenos Aires, designed by extravagant trans designer and ex male model Cristal Fluo.