McQueen goes Gaga

I love Alexander McQueen's spring/summer 2010 collection...and WOW at the shoes! This collection truly shows that fashion really is art.





McQueen was "casting an apocalyptic forecast of the future of ecological meltdown of the world: Humankind is made up of creatures that evolved from the sea, and we may be heading back to an underwater future as the ice cap dissolves."
This is shown through his reptile-patterns and choice of colours. His computer-generated art combined with his signature couture-based cuts, made up McQueen's dresses.

Alexander McQueen is on the leading edge of change due to embracing new technology and the drama of moving images in his show.



I also love lady Gaga wearing his designs in her new video "Bad Romance" (such a great song too)

Bags of fun....

On a boring weekend, we once again found that Farnham brought us the joys of a wide variety of things to do. NOT.
After bumming around the flat for a while, watching films and a few episodes of friends, we decided that we were a little bit peckish. Then we discovered a cupboard full of bags. Wow. It was like we were kids again, having immense amount of fun with a cardboard box, only we decided to make clothes out of plastic shopping bags.











At first it started off with a top, which then developed into some fetching shorts, followed by a lovely orange Sainsburys waistcoat and shoes.

OK they look shit and I don't know why we did this as we were completely sober, but it triggered my thoughts, making me think that you can literally turn anything into something wearable. With more time etc you could recycle unwanted items and turn them into clothes. I know I may probably sound like a mad hippie (I assure you I'm not), but if more designers and brands did this then there wouldn't be so much waste in the world.
With imagination you can turn anything into something.

There have already been designers launching Eco-friendly clothes made from natural materials such as hemp, bamboo and organic cotton. Gary Harvey is a designer who has taken materials such as old jeans, newspapers and even drinks cans, and turned them into extravagant dresses. His Eco-designs were first showcased at London's fashion week for Estethica last February, which is the hot spot for ethical fashion.

Life in plastic, is it fantastic?

Society today has become extremely materialistic, and you could say shallow. The beauty industry has rocketed over the last few years, with more and more cosmetic procedures being carried out on a regular basis. Surgery used to be seen as something terrible, when people were on a hospital bed desperate to survive. Now however, it is a normal aspect of every day life. It's main purpose to keep women looking young and beautiful. Getting cut open with knives, having unnatural products stuffed inside them like soft toys, as well as getting things sucked out of them, putting their bodies through hell just to achieve what they perceive as "beauty". What happened to growing old gracefully?

I don't understand why people feel the need to have these procedures. Why would people want to become anything other then who they are? In a sense they lose part of themselves and part of their identity. Growing up for so long and looking at yourself every day in the mirror and seeing your reflection looking back at you, and one day for that to change. It would be like looking for yourself but instead seeing a stranger.

There is so much pressure for people to look beautiful these days, but what actually is beautiful? Different people have different ideas, and not one person is the same. People should embrace their uniqueness instead of trying to look like clones of each other, else there will be an army of walking, talking Barbie dolls.


I personally believe that plastic surgery should only be for medical purposes only. If someone is in a fire, or car accident, they would be scared for life, their confidence may be crushed, and every time they saw a reflection of themselves they would see the memories of what happened to them. In these cases, surgery should put back how they were, it shouldn't change who someone is.

However saying this it is difficult to draw a line on where changing who you are with the use of cosmetics starts. Hair dye, teeth whitening, make-up and self tan all change you slightly, if not only enhancing your original features. But when is OK, not OK? I would say when you become addicted, needing surgery after surgery to achieve "perfection" and not stopping until you eventually turn into plastic.

Furthermore, plastic surgery is not always a quick fix to all your problems. Many procedures go wrong, leaving people disfigured and more unhappy with themselves than before. They may have an idea in their head of what they are going to look like once it's all over, however when it actually is, they aren't. They simple aren't the person they want to be, they are themselves, they have their own bodies, and that's what surgeons have to work with. You may want to look like Jennifer Anniston, but you are not. So no matter how much surgery you may have, you will not look like her.

What you may hate about yourself, another person might love.

Always be yourself.

Radio Evaluation (VoxPop)

Recording our voxpop for radio was very exciting as it was the first time that we went out with recording equipment. At first we were slightly nervous of approaching strangers in the streets and asking them to answer our question on Remembrance day, however after doing this a couple of times we got stuck straight into it and thoroughly enjoyed it.

We each asked someone our question, which after much deliberation amongst the group we finally settled on. It was, “Do you think Remembrance Day is still relevant or do you think it would be more relevant to remember those who are fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan?” We felt that this question would make people think about their answer and would also perhaps cause debate instead of a yes-no answer, making it more interesting. We each also had a go at using the recording equipment.

The role I played in recording the vox was that I helped come up with the question, as well as finding people to interview. I asked our question to someone, helping to gain the amount of interviews we needed as well as using the recording equipment. When we got back I also helped edit the vox on the Macs, taking out all of our voices and empty spaces as well as any unnecessary speech to leave just those of the public. I also used soundcloud to help the other members of the group upload the vox to their blogs.

Even though we managed to successfully achieve what we wanted, I feel that there are a few things that we could have improved on. Firstly I think we could have improved by interviewing more people. This would mean that we would have more sound bites to work with and so would be able to choose the best ones in our finished vox. I also think it could have been improved if we had held the microphone closer to some of the interviewees, as when listening back, some of the people appeared very quiet compared to others and were slightly difficult to hear. We should have assessed the volume of the person speaking whilst we were recording and should have adjusted the microphone accordingly. However, in saying this, we didn’t want to intimidate or scare off the person with the equipment, as being recorded can be quite daunting.

Christmas Package Evaluation

I have learnt a lot about television whilst making our Christmas shopping package. Our first attempt was very rushed and as it was our first bit of filming, we didn’t really know what to say on camera or how to go about filming it. We therefore decided to film again, making sure we had enough time to achieve everything that we wanted to contain.

We included a lot more techniques in our package than we had previously done. We included a link, voiceovers, interviews and a piece to camera, which added to the sense of realism of the package. We also wrote a script before we went out filming, so we knew exactly what was to be filmed and said. This made things a lot easier and I felt that we were more prepared.

However, things weren’t that simple. It was difficult to find people to interview as many didn’t want to be on camera. Whilst we were filming we had to make sure it was quiet enough for the sound, as well as nothing going on in the background. We should have interviewed more people to give ourselves more choice on what to include when editing, and also made sure that whilst Holly was interviewing people, that they were both clear on camera, asking them to stand closer to each other. We should have also filmed better images for our voiceover, as I don’t think they truly represented what we wanted to show, however with a limited time scale and location, this was the best we were able to achieve.

I feel that I contributed a lot to the group whilst making our Christmas package. I gave ideas for the script as well as suggesting that we include different techniques in our package such as the voiceover and interviews. I also read out the link and helped with the filming, as well as trying to find people to interview.

I have learnt that filming and editing material for television isn’t as easy as it looks. You have to make sure that it appears “punchy” and interesting to grab the audience. You have to do this through your voice and body language as you are seen; the news isn’t written down on paper. I discovered that you have to learn the script, as when you are out and about filming you don’t have an autocue to help you. We were lucky in the fact that we were able to re-film if things went wrong, however we wouldn’t have been able to do so if it were live. You also have to be careful in who you approach to ask for interviews as many people run a mile as soon as they see a camera or simply don’t have the time.

Writing for TV is a lot different than writing for print. As it is read out you have to make sure that there is a lot of punctuation, to give the reader time to breathe and pause, which also makes it easier for the audience to listen too and take in. You also have to be careful about how you word things, as sometimes what you write might be quite difficult to say and so you would stumble over your words. You need to make sure that what you write is exciting and “punchy” to ensure that the viewers don’t get bored.

Life is too short...

Over the past couple of months there have been so many changes in all aspects of my life. Some have been good, some have been bad, but each will mould me into the person that I am as well as the person I am to become.

It has made me realise that life really is too short and although this may sound cliche, you should live each day as if it is your last.
Fun filled.
Always try something new, at least once. Have no regrets, and don't look back into the past, look towards the future, where many more changes and experiences are there to happen, to fill your brain with new memories and your heart with warmth.
Always achieve the best that you possibly can, and put 100% effort into everything you do.
Be the person you want to be and don't try to please anyone else. You live with yourself every minute of the day, you have a choice to be your own best friend or your own worst enemy.


"Dress cute every day. Life is too short to blend in." - Paris Hilton


This is a girl who lives life to the full, always has fun and doesn't really give a sh*t about what anyone else thinks about her. She knows what she wants out of life and will make sure that she achieves it. Life is too short to do anything apart from please yourself. This may sound selfish, but if your not happy then ultimately you can't make those happy around you. Although people automatically judge her on her looks, her wealth and her life-style, I personally think that there is more to this girl than originally meets the eye. We only know the girl that is in the papers and magazines, a portrayal, image and a brand. We don't actually know her.
And although she is seen as a "blonde bimbo" she actually has a lot to offer and I think that we could all even learn a thing or two.

Life is too short to be anything but happy. Surround yourself with people that make you laugh and smile and get rid of those that don't.

Christmas Package

News reading review

Yesterday, we had a go at reading some news bulletins in front of the camera in the TV studios. Each of us had a go at all the different roles which play an important part in news programmes, such as the anchors, the floor managers as well as the producers.
It all seemed very real, with the white lights, the cameras and the green screen and it was all extremely exciting. However, I can't say that we were any good at it. With this being our first go, we weren't sure what to do with ourselves and there were many factors, which we soon came to realise, that are just as important as reading the news.
Firstly, running the speed of the auto-cue with our feet was extremely difficult. As news reading has to be done slowly and clear, if we ran it too fast then we stumbled over our words trying to catch up with what was written on screen, but if it was too slow then we were stopping mid-sentence waiting for the rest of the script to appear. Another factor was the "triangle". When your co-presenter was reading, it was hard not to look gormless on screen, staring at the camera looked unnatural, and we had to be aware of what we were doing with our faces and hands. Looking back at what was filmed, we were doing all sorts of strange things that we didn't even realise we were doing. The triangle was important (looking at the script, the camera and your co-presenter) as it made everything seem a bit more natural, and would help to make us look for comfortable on screen. Smiling was also important and the way we spoke. We had to try and make ourselves seem more conversational as what we were saying would be easier to listen too, and we had to put some enthusiasm into the words to get away from monotone reading.
Although extremely fun, it was all quite difficult, but I think with some practise we will eventually get the hang of news reading on TV.

After this lecture, I decided to watch Tuesday's news at 10 on the BBC to analyse how professional presenters read the news. Their body language looked so much more comfortable and natural on screen, and they did indeed put the "triangle" into use. The way they spoke was also slow and clear, and the intonation kept the viewers from becoming bored of what was being said. There was no "faffing" around with their hands, and their shoulders were rolled back whilst they sat up, which again showed their professionalism, as slouching (like we had done) had given off a negative vibe.
I hadn't realised that there was so many other factors involved with reading the news and I realised that it isn't as easy as it looks.

New Cardiff...

This weekend was the first weekend home from uni, and I didn't think I would have missed it quite as much as I have.
However, I was also quite surprised at just how much Cardiff had changed in the few months that I have been living away. On a shopping trip into the city centre I was amazed at how a place which I had known like the back of my hand could have changed as much as it has done into something that I barely knew at all. However, I must make it clear that I am most definitely not complaining.
The new shopping centre, St David's 2 had opened and it was full of new and exciting shops which we had previously never had in Cardiff before, like Radley and Kurt Geiger. It was beautiful and spacious and I was extremely excited looking around. However many of the shops from the other end of Cardiff had decided to move into this centre as well which made me wonder what was going to happen to all the empty spaces. Were they going to be filled with cheap shops that try and sell knock-off versions of designer items? I hope not as we have enough of those already and in my opinion its these shops that ruin the town.
The new centre is definitely worth a visit and with a new John Lewis which also opened a few months ago, Cardiff is now one of the best developed cities in the whole of Europe.
Coincidentally this weekend was also the launch of the Jimmy Choo range for H&M, and to be honest I couldn't have picked a more exciting day to go shopping in the "new" Cardiff. Although the weather was havoc, with the wind blowing so strongly that you couldn't actually put up an umbrella to shield yourself from the rain, this all added to the sense of home which I had greatly missed. After all you don't expect great weather when you come to Wales.
As we reached H&M (which has also moved to the new centre) there were massive ques of people waiting to step into the sectioned off area especially for the Jimmy Choo collaboration. These people had been queuing outside for hours and managed to snag themselves wristbands to be the first to buy a pair of Jimmy Choos. However, this isn't as great as it seems. Looking on, I could see that the people let in through the barrier only had 15 minutes to find what they wanted and go before they were told to leave by the staff who were waiting to let the next number of people in. Everyone was grabbing whatever they could and taking it to the tills, where one of the staff mentioned to another colleague that they had already taken over £18,000 in an hour from Jimmy Choo alone. No doubt that these people are going to sell these things on e-bay as they probably don't even fit.
When coming back a few hours later to see for myself what the shoes were like, I was greeted with empty shelves. Just my luck.

Wintour..

Anna Wintour is the daughter of the editor of the Evening Standard and is an English American fashion editor and Editor in chief of American Vogue since 1988. She helped drive Vogue, modernising and recognised the importance of celebrity culture to the magazine as well as the fashion industry.
This woman dictates what goes on in the fashion world and the fashion industry, some people may see her as a joke, although in my opinion these are the people who think they know a lot about everything but are actually extremely narrow minded. Although i don't entirely agree with her promotion of fur, she is a personal idol of mine and is also a world wide fashion-icon, what she has achieved is truly amazing.
"Fashion is not about looking at the past but about looking forward." - Wintour

The September Issue

On my recent day off from lectures, I got together with some of the girls to watch the documentary film, "The September Issue".
I found it extremely interesting and exciting and it gave a great feel for the goings on behind the creation of Vogue. I also found it extremely inspiring as this is an aspect of journalism that I dream to go into in the future.
Even though so much hard work goes into the issue, you sense the dedication that each person gives to the magazine and at the same time it looks fun. Although you see the stress that everyone, especially Grace goes through, there is also something new and exciting to undertake and there is always a job that needs doing. Everyone is kept on their toes while Anna makes her decisions about the issue, however the overall outcome from fashion shoots as well as the finished issue itself must be a great sense of achievement.
The film concentrates on the people who run the magazine mainly Anna Wintour and Creative Director Grace, although the film "The Devil Wears Prada" was based on Wintour, Wintour isn't portrayed as cold as Meryl Streep, but is shown to be career driven thinking mainly about the magazine, although slightly disappointed that her daughter doesn't want to follow in her footsteps of becoming an editor. After watching the film we don't instantly like her, she is still seen as cold, however a new sense of respect is given to her and I admire her in everything she does and believes in.
This film challenges the stereotype that girls who like fashion must be stupid. In fact it portrays the complete opposite and shows that a lot of thinking and intelligence is involved, giving an insight to the industry that has never been shown before.
This is most definitely a film that I will watch again and I would advise anyone who is thinking about going into fashion publication to watch it.

twinkle twinkle...

As the weather begins to get colder, the days become darker and Christmas draws nearer the shops begin to sparkle.
With the Christmas party season soon starting, the shops come alive with sequins and sparkles, with black and metallic. Everything becomes glitzy and glam, and this is what I love. Lace is seen on almost everything, adding sophistication and glamour to make anyone feel special.

Winter Wardrobe Staples

As winter emerges it’s time to start layering up with cosy knits, scarves, gloves and hats, not to mention the important statement coat. In shops this season there is a coat to suit everyone, from blazers to trench coats, there is no excuse not to be stylish and warm at the same time. With this season’s biggest hitting trends being tweed, faux-fur, classic shapes and military, detail is key. However if you want to go for something that will see you from winter to winter go for a more classic look. Double-breasted tailored coats and belted trenches nip you in at the waist and do wonders for every figure. These coats always re-emerge in shops year after year and you will do well to invest in a good quality classic, this will leave you spare money to update with accessories such as the all important gloves and scarves. If you feel these coats are a bit too “tame” for your liking, you can always give them a modern twist by choosing one of these styles in a bright colour or even faux-fur, guaranteed to perk you up in the cold winter months.

Another winter essential is the boot. Whether they are thigh-high, ankle, flat or embellished, a good pair of boots is a necessity. The best colour to choose is black if you want something more practable, as they will look good with everything. However, if you’re feeling more adventurous animal print or studding is a must. If boots aren’t quite your thing, the shoe boot is a nice alternative. Is it a shoe? Is it a boot? Who really cares? These are a cute replacement to the classic ankle boot and go well with trousers and skirts.

Shapes and textures are also important. Suede and leather bags are perfect to carry all your essentials with you and in my opinion, the bigger the better. Tassels, chains and buckles, zips and pockets, add a stylish twist and in eye catching colours, stand out in the dreary winter cold. Leather gloves and a bright fluffy scarf finish the look, but if your feeling extra Christmassy, do not leave the house without a bobble hat- Christmas card perfection.

VoxPop

This is our first attempt of using radio equipment and creating a VoxPop. We went around the streets of Farnham and asked the local people about remembrance day; if they think that the focus should be moved more towards the present to remember all the soldiers who are losing their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan.

VoxPop by annaverdon

Vogue's more dash than cash Nov issue

Flicking through this months issue of vogue, I was inspired by its "make do and mend" article. I didn't think it was possible to create clothes out of domestic household objects that were so couture. With items used such as rubber gloves, cotton wool balls and mops, the designs were so inventive and had such creativity that I couldn't help but examine every last detail. I especially liked the use of toilet rolls to create wedge heels.


The customising tips in the issue were also very inspiring and has encouraged me to become more creative with my clothes. Simple things such as adding ribbon and bows, changing buttons, creating rips and bleaching denim can all help turn old unwanted pieces of clothing into something entirely new and wearable, whilst also being a one of a kind piece.

If there is one thing I'm going to buy this month.....

If there's one thing that I'm going to buy this month it has to be a lovely pair of shoe boots. They look good with everything whether it be a skirt, trousers, jeans or leggings. However I haven't been very successful on my hunt to find the perfect pair and am debating between black or tan...hmmm decisions decisions.

Updating...

There are many ways you are able to update your look to carry you through season to season simply by changing your accessories.
Whether it be adding new jewellery, changing your shoes or your bag; you don't need to spend a lot to get a completely new look from what you already have.
Hats and scarves are a great way to turn your look more wintry, and adding dark and sparkly jewellery and accessories can help update your evening look, especially with the sequin trend which is "in" at the moment.
Adding coloured tights and long socks adds practicability in the cold winter months and also allows you to wear skirts and short from the summer, whilst still being fashionable.

Fashion & Music entwined

The link between fashion and music is always a hot topic for discussion. I tried mentioning this to my boyfriend once, but he wasn't having any of it, (he studies music and sound recording and was adamant that these two art forms had no connections). However, I believe that there is much more to this than originally meets the eye.
"If you see the difference between music and fashion, you don't understand either, they just blend together."

Although they are both two completely different mediums, one being visual and one being sound, fashion and music both develop and change together, they go hand in hand and are simply creative people expressing themselves. It is hard to see where the music starts and the fashion stops.

Within every genre of music, the artists have a certain connotation about them, they look a certain way. By the way that the artist dresses they are immediately associated with a certain type of music and visa versa, when hearing a particular type of music you can constantly visualise the artist looking a certain way. Dressing in a certain style to fit in with the music helps to promote this sound and completes the overall package. In a way it makes what your hearing more legitimate and believable. This is also the same when designers use carefully selected music for their runway shows. The music helps to establish and give a certain portrayal of what their collections are about, it's the first way to give the message.

As music changes and develops so does fashion, as fashion changes so does music. With every generation there is always something different. Something new and exciting is brought with them.

Even when looking at the past, you identify each decade with the music and clothes that were around at the time. The clothes reflect the music and the music reflects the fashion at the time.


Many labels use singers to promote their brand, they want their clothes associated with this person to give them a certain look and portrayal. Even fashion magazines are using musicians on their covers and styling them up on photo shoots inside. Popular music is fashionable, and designers want their clothes seen on these people.

Alexandra Shulman, editor of British vogue said: "The link between music and fashion goes back in London to those swinging 1960's, when Mick Jagger, wearing a dress while playing in Hyde Park, shook up society". In 1992 she put Bono with model Christie Turlington on her first Christmas Vogue cover and devoted the May 2003 issue to these entwined mediums. "There has always been a synchronicity between fashion and music. The style has always been as much a part of it as the sound".

Jefferson Hack, publisher of the magazine Dazed and Confused and publisher and editor in chief of Another Magazine says: "Music is the lifeblood, the oil of fashion". He believes there is no question about the power of the rock/fashion combo for his generation.

Having the visual experience at a live performance is very important. The likes of Karen O from the yeah yeah yeah's as well as Beth Ditto and Florence from Florence and the machine have all recognized this and come out in amazing costumes when they perform. Not to mention Lady Gaga and Katy Perry who regularly appear in fashion magazines for their crazy and quirky outfits. There is no doubt about it that they are trying to reflect their music through what they wear.

The way that these people perform on stage shows that they are completely relaxed and comfortable, which can also be seen with people who are completely at ease with their choice of fashion. It is all about throwing together trends from different eras and influences in order to create something completely unique.


Tommy Hilfiger also recognises the link between fashion and music saying: “The best artists have changed their music and image to keep on top. It’s important to know how to constantly reinvent yourself.” The whole reason he started designing was because of musicians. He wanted to dress like Mick Jagger and Jimmy Page, however he couldn't get his hands on what he wanted, so decided to start creating clothes inspired by these people.

Even the artists are starting to create their own clothing range in order to further their promotion; for example P-Diddy's Sean John label, Jay-Z with Rocawear and Gwen Stefani with Lamb, which because of their celebrity status, everyone wants to get their hands on and are extremely popular amongst their fans.

Singers and bands are constantly interviewed about their "look", often more so than their actual music. Singers often inject the vibe from their music into their wardrobe, using their costumes to aid with their performances if they are dressed the part.

La Roux for instance says that her look is influenced by David Bowie and the 80's, is it any coincidence that whilst her music is popular in the charts at the moment, so is her look in the shops. The shelves are filled with shoulder pads, body con and brogues.

Fashion and music have become so tightly linked that it is difficult to think of a singer that doesn't have a certain amount of style to them - even if a stylist may help them along the way.

Why I Love Fashion....

Ever since I was a little girl I have always had a keen interest in clothes. Whether it was dressing up or flicking through the pages of magazines, clothes have always inspired me and I can't seem to stop feeding my addiction. I would much rather not eat for a month if it means I would be able to buy myself some new wardrobe contributors.

From a young age I have always tried to experiment with what I wear. My mum used to let me dress myself as soon as I learnt how to. She would tell me stories which I couldn't remember of how I used to come down the stairs wearing everything I owned, whether it be 10 coats in the middle of summer or putting every single hair clip and bobble that I could find into my hair, making me look like I was dressed and ready to go to a Halloween party. Although she didn't mind what I wore, as dressing for yourself is meant to be a fun experience, often if other mums came to pick me up for play dates with their children, I would have to change to spare them the embarrassment of what I had on.

My mum nicknamed me "magpie", I was drawn to anything glitzy, sparkly or full of sequins and to be honest I still am. I love anything that is embellished with jewels or catches the light as it made out of sequins. Every time I enter Topshop I feel like I have stumbled across a treasure chest, like when Aladdin enters the cave full of diamonds and gold in search of the magic lamp for Jafar. My heart beats faster and a radar switches on inside my head as I scan the shop for the treasures that await to be uncovered. This is just one of the many reasons why I love clothes so much, they excite me. Fashion is forever changing, just like the weather, there is always something new and unexpected to hit the runway that makes you sit up in your seat, sometimes you think it'll never work, but it is often these things that you eventually love the most.

The one item of clothing I vividly remember from my childhood was a rainbow, metallic, shiny and sparkly jacket that was handed down to me (for obvious reasons from its description). Although it sounds hideous, you could not make me part with it, I was in love with it and I always felt special when I wore it. I believe that this is the way clothes are supposed to make you feel. They are meant to be empowering and make you feel good about yourself and like you can achieve anything whilst wearing them.

Through what you wear you can create a certain persona about yourself which you want to portray to others. I love the fact that you can reflect your mood through your clothing and you can achieve so many different looks just by accessorising an outfit differently.

Fashion is meant to be fun and exciting, but the main thing you have to remember is that, whatever you decide to wear, you must be comfortable in it, otherwise it shows and you will look awkward. Fashion is about an expression of self, so you have to always make sure you aren't trying to be anything your not. As long as your happy who cares what anyone else thinks of your outfit, after all everyone's different. What might be one person's worst nightmare is another person's dream.

Annie Mac Presents...

This weekend, me and my flat mate decided to take a much needed trip to London for a good night out. After an epic journey across the whole of London we went to KOKO in which the much-loved DJ Annie Mac was hosting the night. Tickets were unfortunately sold out but we managed to blag away onto the guest list and viewed the night from the balcony glad that we weren't in the midst of all the other sweaty partygoers on the floor. I have never been anywhere quite like KOKO and I was in awe of the place. Originally being a theatre in Camden ((http://www.koko.uk.com/content.php?page=2)- more info on the venue), it felt so glamorous and luxurious in all its red and gold decor, and the DJs on the night were amazing.


This night was definitely one of the best I have had in a long time and I am sure to go back there again.

Bilson vs Barton

Rachel Bilson
Is she more successful than Mischa Barton after the American teen drama series the O.C.?

Since the O.C ended a couple of years ago we haven't seen much of either girls. Yes they both regularly appear on many fashion pages in magazines, (Bilson being more successful than Barton) but there is not much that can be said for their acting careers.
Where as Rachel Bilson has starred in the films "The Last Kiss" and "Unbroken", neither film has been that successful and has bought her as much fame as the O.C. The same can be said about Mischa Barton. She too has had roles in films such as "Homecoming" and "Assissination of a high school president", but it seems like these two films have gone straight to DVD and haven't had much success either. Barton had a minor role as ex-head girl in the film "St Trinians" which was a big hit, however much of her publicity comes from the media questioning her weight, and her cellulite has been a much loved topic in gossip magazines for years.
With a recent trip to rehab after an arrest for driving under the influence last year, it seems that Mischa is in the tabloids for all the wrong reasons and that this party girl is spinning out of control.
After much hype of her starring role in the "The Beautiful Life", the series was cancelled after two episodes, showing that this actress' career is on the downfall.
Bilson is set to appear on the US show "How i met your mother" which is celebrating its 100th episode, and is getting much hype in the American news, (hopefully this will be a bigger success than Barton's show "The Beautiful Life").
Although neither actresses have has much success in their acting careers, it is safe to say that Bilson has managed to preserve a clean and professional profile, mainly appearing in the best dressed pages of fashion mags, where as Barton has been in the tabloids for all the wrong reasons.



Mischa Barton

Infestation

Before coming to lectures today, we decided to have a flat meeting about the horrific state of our kitchen.
Looking around, there is mess everywhere; sticky floors, an over flowing bin, piles of dirty dishes, in the corner a mountain of cardboard ready to be taken out for recycling and our window sill is chock-a-block with empty bottles and cans which are also waiting to be recycled. The problem is we never seem to get round to doing this and the pile of rubbish grows and grows as the days go by.
My motto is, use it, wash it, put it away. That way you don't annoy anyone by having your dirty stuff lying around and the place generally doesn't become a health hazard.
On walking into the kitchen today, we were overcome by a rancid smell. Someone had changed the bin, but hadn't taken it out, they had just left it in the corner of the room. This was where the smell was coming from. Picking up the bag a load of brown juice spilt all over the floor, that actually smelt like poo. We were horrified and decided that a mass clean up had to be done. We wrote notes to our two house mates that don't like to do their washing up and shoved all their dirty dishes in a washing up bowl outside their rooms.
We then decided to move the cardboard that was waiting to be recycled. As my house mate picked up some empty bags to put in the bin she let out a scream. Looking at the floor there were maggots wiggling around. We had seen some flies in the kitchen but we didn't think that it would lead to a maggot infestation.
I have never been so repulsed. Fortunately I had to go to lectures but I dread to think whats going to happen later when I return home.

The wonders of wonderland

As a child I loved fantasy and in fact still do. I was drawn to anything that seemed mysterious, mystical and magical, and I loved the story of Alice in Wonderland. Her adventures seemed so amazing and I longed to join in with her.

However now that I am slightly older, I now realise that there is a lot more to the story of Alice than originally meets the eye. It can be read as a simple but odd tale of a girl talking to animals or it can be looked at to having much deeper and darker meanings. There is a story behind every character in the book, which I love. Nothing is what it seems and that's what makes the tale so intriguing. Its a story that you can never become tired of, as there are always new details you pick on each time it is read.

When I was little I loved the Cartoon Disney Film however I am now extremely excited for Tim Burton's take on the story. With his trademark weirdness he is sure to bring something special to the fairytale. There is also an impressive array of actors playing the roles, such as Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter and Anne Hathaway as the White Queen, which also adds to the excitement and anticipation. This film is sure to be a hit and give a new and exciting view of the traditional story.

http://http//www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjMkNrX60mA

(Trailer of the new film to be released on 5th march 2010)

Youtube clip for Jimmy Choo and H & M collaboration
http://http//www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1wIXIXlOiU

Designer meets High Street

Chosen world wide by the A-list for their red carpet events, Jimmy Choos are on every fashionistas wish list. Made with exquisite detail and quality, and with a range of quirky and individual styles, combined with more traditional styles with their own added twist, there is something special about these shoes that never fail to disappoint.
However although usually out of price range, there is great news! The luxurious accessory brand has now teamed up with the high street store H & M to bring us an exclusive line of shoes and bags, as well as a line of women's clothing to match (rather than the other way round).
With shoes usually priced at £400 and bags reaching up to over £1,000 we can rejoice as we can get our mitts on the much loved designer brand. Prices for the special collaboration with H & M start at £30 for a pair of ballet pumps with the most expensive item for £170 (that seems more like it).
In the past H & M has collaborated with many designers before such as Karl Lagerfeld, Roberto Cavalli and Stella McCartney, not forgetting their very successful label with Matthew Williamson. However this could be their most exciting collaboration yet.
Hitting 200 stores world wide on November 14, be prepared to fight your way through the crowd amongst the stampede of shoppers trying to get their hands on a piece of Jimmy Choo.
Make a note of that date, it is an opportunity that can't be missed.
You will know where to find me!

Farnham life

As much as I love living in Farnham, I can't help but be slightly disappointed with the nightlife that this place brings, (or doesn't bring).
It is all very well having the many different nights at the SU, but after a while, things begin to become monotonous, and although differently themed, you feel like each night is a repeat of the last.
House parties are a great shout, although disappointing when the porter comes to shut them down telling us that we have neighbours, (they should know what to expect when they decided to take up residence next to a student village).
The old folk at Farnham need to accept that they are sharing their town with a bunch of students, and need to accept change, (nothing stays the same forever, they of all people should know this). Their outrage was ridiculous when they tried to put up a fight about The Barn receiving an alcohol license. There are so many pubs around here that one more place selling alcohol is not going to make that much of a difference.
Don't get me wrong though, I love going to Uni here, the course is great and the people are even better and so far,my experience has been a pleasant one, I just think that the SU should organise some trips to Guildford or London to provide us with a much needed good night out.
Saturday nights have never been that great here, I'm just glad that there are so many funny and interesting people to provide the entertainment. As for tonight there is supposedly meant to be a house party, as much as I am looking forward to this, i wonder how long it will last before we are all told to call it a night.

Christopher Kane 4 Topshop

On a trip to London last weekend I couldn't help but have a sneaky peek into the wonderful world of Topshop. The new collaborative collection from Christopher Kane took center stage on the floor after being unveiled on the 18th of September to coincide with London fashion weeks 25th anniversary. After looking around for some time (near to two hours), I couldn't help but become drawn into the collection, unable to take my eyes away from the little details on the embellished dresses and bold crocodile prints. With his own edge Kane has managed to turn things that should be ugly and unwearable into pieces of beauty with the added practicability and wearabilty that every girl wants.
Topshop has supported Kane from the very beginning of his career, providing sponsorship for his catwalk shows, and in just 3 years, Christopher Kane has become one of the world's most talked-about young designers.
This isn't the first time the young designer has collaborated with Topshop before however. In AW07 he introduced the body-con dresses and in AW08 he introduced a small line consisting mostly of leather and denim. However this year sees the largest collaboration with near to 40 pieces including lots of neon, mirrors and crocodile print.
This collection is full of style and quality but at an affordable price (well as close I can come to affordable with a designer item anyway). However in buying one of these pieces you will also be buying into a piece of fashion history, making it a very wise investment (trying to make parting with my cash justifiable).
Kane manages to take things which seem very wrong, such as neon, nylon and bleached denim, and manages to turn them into clothes that seem so very right for the moment showing that he is one of London's strongest and talented designers.
Amongst my personal favourites in his newest collection is the eyelet knit cardi along with the crocodile print dress. Costing £150 and £60 respectively I had better get saving. Life is tough when you are a poor student.