Matt Whistler takes on the mantle of becoming a catwalk model

Matt has long been noted as a fashion trendsetter and this week’s challenge gave him the chance to show off his best catwalk moves.

Custom clothing store Red Mutha challenged Matt to model for them as part of the Brighton Frocks show, at St Martin’s Church, during Brighton Fashion Week [June 2].
With the opportunity to become the UK’s answer to Zoolander on the line, Matt obviously made sure to prepare as thoroughly as possible.

“I pruned my nostril hair, buffed my nails and waxed my ear lobes before parading up and down the seafront bandstand to practise my walk.

“I was in the zone and rocked up at the show, prepared to don a funky fashion number,” he said.

However, Red Mutha had other ideas in mind and presented Matt with the dullest, dirtiest grey and black jumble-sale clothing he had even seen.“You could have put me next to a grey bollard on the bleakest industrial estate and played spot-the-difference,” Matt recalled. “About the only difference would have been that I was wearing specs!”

Matt discovered he had become part of a jovial attack on bland mass-consumerism and it was his role to create a greyscale look with as much appeal as a rusty spoon in an out-of-date yoghurt.

Set against a backdrop of colourful flamboyance in Red Mutha’s outfits, it perfectly illustrated the concept of individuality but did make Matt begin to question whether he belonged at the show.

“I’m surprised I wasn’t ejected from the building or confronted by the St Martin’s Vicar saying, ‘Ah you must be the painter decorator, good to see you’ve already got your rags on’,” Matt said.

Just before he hit the catwalk, Matt had a paper bag placed over his head and was shoved in front of the assembled audience of fashion lovers.

After he managed to make it to the end of stage without tumbling into any front-row VIPs, it came time for the big finale to Matt’s performance.

“On arrival at the end of the catwalk, Dan [from Red Mutha] ripped off the bag and sliced off my mannequin hands. Red ribbons splayed out of my jumper to represent blood and I fell to the floor in a heap.

“Legs akimbo I was dragged to the other end of the stage at a slow pace while looking up and admiring the architecture of the building,” he recalled.

Lights out, music ended and Matt returned to take his final bow in front of an adoring crowd – but he’s still waiting for the call from Dolce or Gabana.

To book Matt as a model for your show or suggest his next challenge go to www.facebook.com/latest7 or www.facebook.com/mattwhistlerbrighton

Words: Richard Hook
Image: Aris Vrakas