We dressed up to mess up: Virtual book launch of the Malcolm McLaren biography

We have to take our pleasures where we can during these grim times, and last night’s virtual book launch of my Malcolm McLaren biography provided a much-needed tonic.

The plan was to celebrate the publication with a party at the library bar of London’s hotel The Standard, with a relaxed congregation of friends and contributors and DJ sets by Pippa Brooks and Pam Hogg.

Of course I had to kybosh that in early March as the coronavirus threat became apparent, and so this week we invited people from all over the world to send us a McLaren-influenced look or the outfit they would have worn to the launch, using the hashtags #dressuptomessup and #malcolmmclaren.

We were knocked out at the response – contributions flew in, from Canberra, Lima, Paris, New York, Tokyo to Brixton, Birmingham, Glasgow and yes, even Hanwell (print legend Dan Mason recreated the African continent from the Nostalgia of Mud map with the slogan “Nostalgia of Gorman”).

We’re so glad to have provided some cheer, however fleeting. It was fun. Now wash your hands.