words by GABRIELLA WILKINS

Charles Jeffrey’s renowned fashion brand LOVERBOY celebrates 10 years of creativity and collaborations with a landmark exhibition at London’s Somerset House. As an artist resident of Somerset House Studios, the designer’s creative studio is still situated within the house. So, where better to showcase the retrospective exhibition of Jeffrey’s fashion career? Divided into three spaces: Initiation, Ritual and Manifestation, each one displays the pivotal parts to play in the brand’s industry rise.

CLUBBER INITIATION

It’s 2014 and Charles Jeffrey starts his own queer night in Dalston, London. The club night creates a vibrant, anything-goes space for his Central Saint Martins friends whilst supporting his university costs. The designer’s fashion label LOVERBOY bubbles with creativity and Jeffrey’s career kick starts. Garments from these highly-influential, early years are presented within the first room, titled ‘Initiation’, in the ‘The Lore of LOVERBOY’ exhibition. Some from Jeffrey’s student collections, others from his first collaborative projects, all displayed alongside the cultural, nostalgic influences that inspired him.

The Lore of LOVERBOY

“Charles Jeffrey is one of the British fashion industry’s most vibrant ambassadors, living proof that you can still do it yourself and fly high in a class all your own.”

Bunny Kinney, co-curator of the exhibition and creative director of NOWNESS
Co-curator Bunny Kinney at the Lore of LOVERBOY at Somerset House
credit: David Parry
THE RITUAL OF DESIGN

Process, practice and experimentation encompass the second exhibition room named ‘Ritual’.

A large workshop table showcases the fundamental steps of creating a collection; from sketching and research, to pattern cutting and styling. It shares a real insight into the creative process and the Scottish designer’s collaborative design ethos. The brand’s house fabric of tartan features prominently alongside historical silhouettes and pagan symbology, highlighting Jeffrey’s continual exploration of his heritage and the past, with his statement DIY aesthetic bringing the designs firmly into the present.

The Lore of LOVERBOY
MANIFESTATION: MET

The LOVERBOY story comes to an end in the last ‘Manifestation’ room. Amongst the brand’s most extravagant pieces, custom designs and one-off runway styles stand alongside outfits worn by Harry Styles and Tilda Swinton. The dramatic looks and intricate detailing shed light on the team’s craftsmanship. Rounding off a playful journey throughout the exhibition, it’s clear that manifestation has been met, with a collection of out-of-this-world styles, made by the many hands of LOVERBOY.

“This exhibition marks a critical turning point for Jeffrey. The Lore of LOVERBOY allows us to consider what his brand has achieved since its inception as an independent fashion business built on the contributions of many different collaborators. Not only will it lift the veil on the fascinating research and design process as it has evolved across the last decade, but the exhibition will also crucially consider the cultural context in which Jeffrey founded the brand as a young queer Londoner in the naughties—one who sought commune in chaos and creativity,” Kinney continues.

The Lore of LOVERBOY Exhibition at Somerset House
credit: David Parry
ABOUT LOVERBOY

LOVERBOY is a creative force springing forth from the mind of Scottish Creative Director and Designer, Charles Jeffrey. Based in London – in the catacombs of historic Somerset House, to be exact – LOVERBOY continues to build on its stellar start in the fashion industry, taking on new challenges and reaching new customers year on year. From humble beginnings in Charles’s East London bedroom, LOVERBOY is now an international fashion powerhouse, carried in over 90 stores across the world, and employing a team of ten full-time staff. Drawn to the inherent magic in queerness, Charles and his collaborators create fashion dreamscapes, adding new layers to the brand’s story with each passing season. Together they weave the folkloric thread of Scottish history into the rich tapestry of London’s queer nightlife and music scenes. 


‘The Lore of LOVERBOY’ runs from 8th June until 1st September at Somerset House. Book your ‘pay-what-you-can’ tickets and find out more at the Somerset House website.

cover image: Charles Jeffrey LOVERBOY, Gender Fluid by Tim Walker