Not I'ts Unusual. Book by Gary Lindsay-Moore

It's not every day that you stumble upon an amazingly talented group, Khan & Bell an iconic brand in a world of 8 billion people. But that's exactly what happened to me when I met Gary Lindsay-Moore, a talented photographer from Birmingham, England. I met Gary through my friendship with model Orin Hussain. During a conversation about this website and our ongoing projects, I mentioned to Gary that I wanted to offer an editorial about his book “It's not Unusual” to SolsticeMag readers. Little did I know that this conversation would lead to one of those unusual but fascinating discoveries.

The other surprise and unusual ingredient of this unusual encounter of this exquisite and unusual visual dinner that Gary brings to Solsticemag.org, is a group of top models, who well recreated the scene in which this immortal cultural movement was born. Karen Jebb, Miz, Rhiebelle, Alison, Afjal Orin, Robb, Fiona, Sally, Damian, Jada and Twiggy the Drag Queen that used to work for Khan and Bell in the 80s

Fashion actually has its origins in the depths of the slums, the underground cultures and it is in these niches where creativity, new ideas of society, and aesthetics radiate their strength to constantly mutate the chameleon-like world of fashion.

The New Romanticism is a movement of the underground subculture of the late 70s that took over the club scene in London and Birmingham. This movement was characterized by an eccentric, extravagant, kitsch fashion that had as precursors two unforgettable women Khan & Bell, Jane Kahn and Patti Bell owners of the brand and store located on Hurst Street in Birmingham, England in 1976. They with their strength of design and styling, talent and sympathy fed the nascent movement also baptized as Romantic Rebels or New Dandies.

The New Romantics developed fashions inspired by the glam rock era along with the early romantic period of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century (from which the movement took its name). Many of the protagonists of this movement were involved in the early days of punk. By 1977-1978, many of those people had moved on because they discovered that the original punk ethos was being hijacked by hordes of short-haired masses who made up armies and all looked the same. It really was an orthodoxy. Perhaps one of the most interesting facets of the New Romantics - and the people who started going to nightclubs like Billy's and Blitz in London - is that they were fanatical about being individuals and didn't want to belong to an army. They didn't all want to look the same, they wanted to mark a personality, a DNA each.

The book: “It's not Unusual”

Gary handed me his book, “It's not Unusual” for the article. What caught my attention was that this book was a tribute to one of my favorite brands in the fashion world, Khan & Bell. From a very young age I had been a fan of this brand, which dressed one of my all-time favorite bands, Duran Duran band whose name originates from my favorite movie Barbarella. The coincidence seemed almost too good to be true. The book was not just a collection of beautiful photographs; it was a visual and olfactory journey through decades of fashion history, capturing the essence of a brand that had shaped the style and musical tastes.

Gary's unique perspective

The book “It's not Unusual” was not just a collection of photographs; it was a visual journey through decades of fashion history, capturing the essence of a brand that had put its DNA, style and charm on thousands of fans enamored by the wave of New Romanticism that took over the scene of a culture marked by the breaking of rules and stereotypes.

Gary Lindsay- Moore's photography is more than just images; it is a narrative, a story told through the lens. His work with Khan and Bell is a testament to his ability to capture the essence of fashion, music and culture in a way that resonates with fans and newcomers alike. His photographs of Khan & Bell garments, in particular, are iconic and encapsulate the vibrant energy and style of the 80's transporting us to the vibrant atmosphere of Birmingham. Gary's unique perspective and incredible talent has cemented his place in the world of fashion photography, marked by breaking rules and stereotypes and nudging society.

As a fan of both Kane Khan and Patti Bell and so many of the artists they classily styled, as well as Duran Duran, Shock, Simon Le Bon and others, collaborating with Gary on this editorial was a dream come true. It was an opportunity to delve into the world of fashion photography and explore the creative genius behind the lens. His book "It's Not Unusual" is a must read for anyone interested in fashion, music, photography and English culture that with its sounds and visuals captured the whole world. Kahn & Bell's elaborate and theatrical style brought together a wide range of influences, including Egyptian, African and Far Eastern art, and combined them with elements of futurism and fantasy.

My fortuitous and unusual encounter and the result of this strange coincidence with Gary Lindsay-Moore and his extraordinary book “It's not Unusual” not only resurrects an icon kept in the memory of many dinosaurs like Khan and Bell, but also introduces it among the upcoming fashion trends, and the inspiration for the new romanticism to embrace this decadent society in love with trashy music and tasteless sexual references. I thank Gary for the opportunity to share with me the helm of this editorial note for Solsticemag.org and I should rather call it a trip on the ship of the new romanticism. I dare to announce an exhibition of these images in Miami in December.

Thank you Gary for giving us again The New Romanticism.