"The invariable mark of a dream is to see it come true" - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Monday 10 October 2011

Why can't money buy...

Unlike my usual blog posts, I am posting a column I wrote for uni project. Let me know what you think.


Why can’t money buy...
The perfect man?

The novelty of being single is most certainly wearing off. Three years of not-so-great dates (sometimes even soul shattering) and more notches on my bed post than I care to admit. I’m starting to think it’s me –kidding, it’s never us ladies.

 
    

The month of September, as the bitter air bites my cheeks, I decide a boyfriend would be nice this winter (if all fails maybe a new addition to my Christmas list). I’m not talking about any average guy, I’m talking about the perfect man.  And I blame Disney for this. From childhood, the fairytale romance was implanted in our minds. Where handsome Prince Charming kisses the princess breaking the terrible spell and carries her off into the sunset. Translation. A 6ft2 gorgeous man, wines and dines us out of our normal lives and drives off into the sunset in a white Ferrari with 750 horse power.


I AM asking for that earth moving romance what Adele warbles on about. I am also expecting to re-live the scenes of The Notebook. I want real romance. When did it become acceptable for a first date to entail “chilling at mine with a bottle of (value) vodka?” – yes this really happened. I’m not wasting my time shaving my legs for that.

In a world where designer vaginas can be purchased when yours is old and saggy, a hundred ton metal bird can soar our skies and the cloning of Dolly the sheep (and even extinct animals) is possible, then why can’t I buy my perfect man?

I’m waiting for the day when Selfridges clears out old stock for it’s latest fad, more popular than the shoe gallery. THE MAN LAB. Lines of men in every shape, size and colour you can imagine. Different styles for every occasion. And when this one no longer meets my needs, I’ll purchase another or return my man within 14 days for a full refund. Now wouldn’t that be perfect?

Monday 26 September 2011

I can see the rainbow

Splashes of orange, blue, yellow and pink were just some of the colours that spattered through-out Fred Butler's SS12 collection. Presented in the Portico room of Somerset house, four models strutted from backstage ten minutes apart to their spot -literally four considerably large coloured spots in each corner of the room, with an even larger one in the centre- for spectators to photograph. The music: A Patrick Wolfe sound installation. The drinks: A variety of Soda Stream mixed (Butler's sponsor) cocktails. Accessories had been assembled on the models which resembled magical sea creatures in magnificently bright colours. A magnificent collection perfect for SS12 was seen in Butler's first ever salon show and the compliments she received were truly deserved.




Myself and fashion journalist Isabella Eckett wearing Fred Butler's SS12 headbands





Saturday 24 September 2011

Crystals for Craig

Forget diamonds been a girls best friend, backstage at the Craig Lawrence SS12 show, the glittering of his crystal creations were enough to make any girl green with envy. I found myself  drooling over the handmade beauties like a hungry dog waiting for pedigree chum. The urge to try on these masterpieces was unbearable. 

Originally from Ipswich, the London-based designer was sponsored by Swarovski for his SS12 collection, therefore each garment had crystal flecks, grains and stones cleverly attached and entwined through the magical knitwear.

Lawrence's salon show held in the Portico rooms at Somerset house dazzled the audience including photographers from Vogue.co.uk, Suzie Menkes (editor of the international Herald Tribuneand Anna Trevelyan (stylist).





Naked at Blackall studios

Alice Dellal


Gathered in black in the downstairs of Shoreditch gallery, Blackall studios, waiting for the opening of Mari Sarai's NAKED exhibition. Ten interns, all assigned jobs, raring to go.


Covering the walls of the spacious white exhibition room was Sarai's intimate photography. A personal insight into moments of peoples lives you might otherwise never see. Confidence, arrogance and an expression of femininity come through in her work. Sarai's aim was to photograph nude women to capture their femininity and take away from the commercialism that's occured for models. Working with the likes of Janice Dickinson, Alice Dellal, Amy Winehouse, Daisy Lowe and Liam Gallagher, she's known in the industry for her unique and personal style of photography.

Guests included Calvin Klein model Aaron Frew, Annette Heart (who modelled in Mari Sarai's book NAKED) and close friends and followers of Sarai.


Annette Heart

One of my favourite pieces


Mari Sarai, me, fashion journalist Dean Montague

Wednesday 27 July 2011

Why Winehouse?


Finding out through text on my way back from present shopping; "As if Amy winhouse was just found dead. Gutting xx". Shocking for a moment, upsetting, but also something that was inevitable due to her uncontrollable drug addiction. Rehab, friends or family couldn't stop her but what a waste of a great talent, someone who would have continued to be successful for years to come. Now just a legend and memory joining the 27 club. Someone who had been immensly passionate about singing and 60s music from the tender age of twelve: "I want people to hear my music and forget their troubles for 5 minutes" ironically died herself a very troubled individual.

Amy sung from her heart, every song was relevant to her and meant something. True talent grown from real passion. Her voice brilliantly unique. Her appearance a dark, sinister yet glamourously 50s look.

Personally I believe her addiction was fuelled from her relationship with Blake. On meeting Blake once in a previous job I found him to be strangely unaware of his surroundings, his friends arrogant and he appeared vacant and quiet.

Despite the fact that drugs seem to have become increasingly acceptable within certain scenes and industries I fail to see the appeal of taking illegal drugs. The consequences of an addiction is what I focus on and unless your life is truly awful and it's as an escape from a vile reality then I really don't see the need. I understand that people dabble in university and when they're young but even then it's not something that I feel the need to do because addiction is always a possibility. Amy's addiction has lead to a tragedy for her family, friends and fans. I feel now, that Amy amongst an endless list of other legends is an example that will hopefully make some people see what a minor drug dabbling can turn into.

R.I.P Amy x

Monday 7 March 2011

King Galliano


After following the intense case of the John Galliano arrest and departure from Dior I have to admit I am completely devastated at the happenings. A man I have loved and adored for his talents for as long as I can remember, the genius and talent behind the vision of the late Christian Dior, a man who combines elegant romanticism with dark sexuality at a perfect balance. One of the world's most famous and best paid designers even linked to something of this nature seems ludicrous. So naturally, I took the news badly and thought, this cannot be true? To my disbelief it was, but why would a man of his status, with his intelligence and who has previously suffered from prejudice attacks himself say such a vile, awful thing? My only real answer to this; He was provoked to an extent where he said something awful he later deeply regrets but at the time his mind wasn't at its normal state. 


When the news broke, for me I took the stance which deemed as controversial and took a lot of stick for it. A lot of people agreed (sharing the same view that Franca Sozzani of Italian Vogue does) but also a lot did not, however to my surprise after a group discussion in a lecture last week the two tutors had the same opinion as myself. More specifically one tutor - ex fashion editor from ID magazine - was so very devastated by how the media have portrayed him. How she does not think he is in any way rascist or Anti-Semetic, and how she feels he was provoked at the time of high intoxication and was saying the worst possible things to get these people away from him. The discussion was an interesting insight into what the tutors thought about this terrible time for John Galliano. Despite nobody condoning his behaviour and of course how it is wrong on all levels, sympathy was felt for him all round and his talent was not overlooked. I do not for one minute agree with what he said and think what came out of his mouth was utterly awful but like my tutor, I also do not for one minute believe he is genuinely racist or Anti-Semitic and as a long time adorer of John Galliano my loyalty will not waive.


After his statement Wednesday 2nd March my belief that he was provoked stood. He voiced how in fact he was assaulted and harassed "when an individual tried to hit me with a chair having taken violent exception to my look and my clothing." (Link to full statement at end of post.)


Giorgio Armani told how he feels sorry for John Galliano. Following his autumn/winter 2011-12 show earlier today, the Italian designer told the Telegraph's Hilary Alexander, via an interpreter backstage, that he was sorry to hear what had happened to Galliano - acknowledging that it must be a difficult time for him - adding that he was sorry that Galliano had been videotaped without his knowledge - Vogue.co.uk. 


Franca Sozzani of Italian Vogue defended Galliano saying he "was clearly provoked, and filmed while obviously inebriated" she went on to suggest that the woman who taped his outburst may have done it for a financial gain.


Model, Jessica Stam even tweeted about her beloved friend - I believe every human being on this earth was created equal. I also don't turn my back on friends when they're in a dark place - Twitter.com.



Full statement online March 2nd 5.03pmhttp://www.vogue.co.uk/news/daily/110225-john-galliano-arrested-in-paris-for.aspx

Saturday 26 February 2011

Oh Josh Beech

DKNY A/W 11
Duckie Brown A/W 11

Josh Beech on doing runway: I get really fucking nervous. It’s weird because give me a mic or a guitar in a room of hundreds of people I am fine, but walking down a run way I shit myself lol. I think it’s because the designer has put their life into those clothes and if I fucked up I would be letting them down. It’s a lot of pressure lol!

Loving life?

Keno Weidner and Josh Beech

At the Burberry Prorsum A/W 11


Josh Beech on fashion week: I love the madness. I wish life was that crazy all the time. I love meeting new people and going to strange places you wouldn't normally go and in fashion week you get to do that.


Favourite Josh Beech Pic

Thursday 24 February 2011

False Eyelashes

As an assignment for university we had the task of researching and writing our own fashion moment resembling that of the brilliant Colin McDowell's many fashion moments. Realising that my fashion moment has only been viewed by the tutors I thought I'd post it on my blog for all to see and read.


The text reads:

When you think of luscious, thick false eyelashes, a wigmaker probably wouldn’t be the first person that springs to your mind. However that’s exactly who made the first pair for the film director D.W Griffith in the film “Intolerance” in 1916. Griffith wanted his leading lady Seena Owen to have “eyelashes that brush her cheeks”, he then hired a wigmaker who wove human hair through a gauze and gummed them to Owens eyelids.  

After false eyelashes  -and “Intolerance”- failed to make a huge impact in 1916 they were generally only worn by upper class society women for parties and events until they reappeared on the big screen a couple of decades later, although this time adorning the eyes of stars like Marlene Dietrich and Bette Davis. However models were responsible for igniting the popularity of false eyelashes: German-born model and actress Veruschka, made a statement with false eyelashes when she accessorised her eyes with a pair in the film “Blow Up” in 1966. Then there was Twiggy, who seemed to become a poster girl for synthetic lashes; In the 60’s her monochromatic makeup was embellished with an elaborate pair of lashes to give a doe-eyed look.  
If it’s true that the eyes really are the windows to the soul, then it’s the way that women chose to frame them that sets them apart from the rest. In 2008 Viktor and Rolf collaborated with the beauty innovators at Shu Uemura to create functional miniature works of art. These false eyelashes were distinctive; feathers, lace, even a pair from paperclips but with a certain delicacy. Traditional eyewear conventions were demolished and explored in ways that only fashion could. It was then that false eyelashes became more of a fashion statement and less of just a beauty accessory. 

On today’s catwalk dramatic makeup and exquisite designs are rarely without the company of false lashes. John Galliano for Christian Dior autumn/winter 2010 is an excellent example of this with his combination of 18th century equestrian inspired collection. The seductiveness of “French romanticism” is exaggerated with the usage of false lashes where the make up took inspiration from the film Libertine by make up artist Pat McGrath.

Now we see false lashes everywhere from the girl on the street to high-fashion catwalks. No longer just for an occasion but to some a complete necessity.


Saturday 8 January 2011

Back to Woodcote

So it's finally time to wave goodbye to the dependency of been back at my family house in Sheffield. But to be quite honest I can say I am truly looking forward to my independence and I feel Woodcote Side is now home. The three weeks been back home have been an abundance of fun and my last week made me realise why I do miss Sheffield... My friends and family. My girls are just too much fun, full of laughter and energy, I wish I could pack them up and bring them back with me. Also, in need of suitcase two to pack the family in as I know they would love it down here and I miss them dearly when I'm away. Can someone invent a human sized suitcase please?! My time back home wouldn't have been complete without my mom and I going to see JLS in concert, every year we like to see a few theatre shows, ballets or concerts together and JLS didn't fail to disappoint. I know some of you will be thinking 'JLS, so cheesey' but no, they were amazing and the atmosphere blew me away. My choice of outfit to the JLS concert included my real fox fur vintage scarf which has two heads -one on either end- well this scarf got a lot of attention, and at one point I heard an astonished Yorkshire voice say "that girl is wearing a live animal!", this amused me and was a true sign of been back home.

Upon packing to come back to Woodcote I decided to bring back even more clothing and possibly more "unnecessary items" that I feel I cannot live without. Christmas has been good to me... Books, Clothes, Shoes, DVDs and moneyyyy! Christmas dinner and Christmas food have stuffed me beyond belief so as of a week ago I started a great new year diet to which I have already lost 4lbs :) Talking of the new year, new years eve was an event all of it's own. The cocktails... oh so many cocktails... It was a perfect night, slightly blurred and ending in some sort of toilet nap and all followed by a full day of a hangover. All in all the perfect start to my new year. And finally a mandatory last meal at Napoleons casino and restaurant with my family and friends in tow. Just couldn't have asked for a better break. 2010 to me was: London birthday, cocktails, too much partying, JLS twice, fun at my casino job, family fun, minis and shoe-boots, photo shoots, far too much shopping, Wagamamas, bouncy castle, Woodcote side, fashion friends, meals in Soho, piercings, snow adventures, family Christmas, perfect new years eve!

So hello again Woodcote Side, I know you've missed me because I have missed you. And hello 2011 I'm excited at the thought of what the new year will bring :)