For the first print semester of year two, we had a go at feature writing. Originally I was going to write about vintage fashion, however after researching, my idea changed to vintage wedding dresses. Here is the finished piece (hope you enjoy):
Once upon a time, in a land far away, prince charming came riding his horse as fast as the wind to rescue the beautiful princess from the wicked witch. To cut a long story short, they fell in love and were married in the biggest castle you had ever seen and lived happily ever after. The fairytale wedding is on the wish lists of many brides-to-be, many of them turning to vintage to re-create the dream of looking like a princess on their wedding day. Anna Verdon finds out why.
The wedding day is the most significant day of a woman’s life. Since they were little girls they have dreamed about their wedding whilst playing with their dolls. The fairytale, Cinderella story is on the wish lists of them all. Months and even years of planning go into the ceremonious event, thousands of pounds are spent and photographs are taken that will forever be hung on the mantle piece. The bride has to look and feel the best she has ever felt in her whole entire life.
Each individual has their own idea of their perfect day, however; classic and traditional weddings are overtaking the wacky and bizarre such as skydiving and under water weddings.
Having a fairytale wedding is the dream of every girl, no matter how old. From the grand, castle venue, to the huge tiered cake (towering several feet high) covered in pink roses and dusted with sparkly icing. Not forgetting the horse-drawn Cinderella carriage transporting you to your fairytale castle for you to be wed in true princess style.
However, the most important aspect of any wedding, to the bride, is her dress. This will be the talking point of all her guests. She wants gasps as she walks down the aisle as her friends and family stare at her in disbelief at how beautiful she looks, bringing tears to her mother’s eyes as her mile-long train is carried behind her by her pretty little bridesmaids and cute pageboys. This is her special day, it is only meant to happen once in a lifetime, so there is only one chance to look and feel like a princess. She will spend months trying to slim down, making sure she will look perfect. The dress is the make-or-break; everything else just seems like minor details in the planning of her big day as long as she has the perfect dress.
Vintage weddings are trying to breakaway from the trend of having a stranger wedding, and re-capture the more classic and traditional aspects of marriage. In a sense it is going back to the original roots and re-creating the little girl’s fairytale dream.
With the recent news of Prince Williams and Kate Middleton’s engagement, there is talk all over the country about what their wedding will entail. The date for the royal wedding is set for April 29th of next year at Westminster Abbey and the cost side of it will be well into it’s millions. The venue has close links with the British monarchy (Queen Elizabeth II was married there in 1947 as was princess Anne and Prince Andrew) and for William especially (being the site for Diana’s funeral in 1997) and is keen to keep this tradition running.
Royal weddings are often classed as the ultimate fairytale wedding and the dress that is worn is the talk of the whole country for days and even years after. Princess Diana’s dress was one of sheer luxury with its puffy sleeves, frills and lace, with the long train trailing behind her, and the huge veil. She was a vision of beauty and a mirage of little girls’ dreams from all around the world.
Zoe Mckeown, who runs Cherish Wedding Planning, agrees that there is a rise in the more classic styles of weddings. She has had to plan many “English tea party themes as clients want something simple yet still stylish.” However she has had her fair share in planning the more unusual, such as weddings for Television shows which have a budget of £3000, and not with the bride and groom, but with their friends.
Wearing vintage attire has shot up on the wish lists of the fashionable soon-to-be-married and these styles are catching on fast, with vintage wedding shops popping up all over Britain to accommodate for the demand. Zoe has also noticed the rise in people wanting vintage for their special day and has put it down to the fact that “people know its fashionable as it’s in all the magazines.” She has also observed more wedding dresses being worn which are “slimmer fitting and add splashes of colour”, which is a factor in a vast majority of these vintage garments.
Vintage fashion has been taking centre stage in women’s wardrobes for the last couple of years as people try to create their own individual looks, steering clear of cookie-cutter clones hanging on rails in every high-street store (however the rise has also gained momentum due to a number of red carpet appearances on the backs of celebrities). Uniqueness is often a rare quality found in today’s clothes and people don’t want to be a walking advertisement for a designer, they want to put their own stamp and personality on what they wear.
Almost every designer in the world looks at what has been made in the past for inspiration in designing new collections. For example, in her book "Fashion and Perversity", Vivienne Westwood says: “I came to realise early on that I would discover something new by exploring the stunning achievements of the people before me.”
However, it isn’t uncommon for a certain look to eventually filter off the catwalks and into the mass-market. High-street copies what is on the runway, so when a designer creates garments inspired by a particular era, this is seen in every shop window sooner or later.
But this is where the fun starts. When you shop for vintage it’s like being your own designer or stylist. You can pick and choose items from a whole range of different eras, mixing contemporary with old, giving yourself a whole new and individual look. There is no risk of bumping into someone wearing the same outfit as you, which can be said for budding brides to be. They want their day to be special and they want to look and feel it too.
Brides want to have a unique and classic look and so opt for a vintage dress. But you would think that everyone would usually want to wear something brand new, something that has never been worn on another person’s body and something that is custom to them. You would think that they wouldn’t want to wear somebody’s old cast off, similarly to not wanting to wear something that is “off-the-rack”.
Rachel Davies, an up and coming fashion designer, notices that celebrity is an important factor into the vintage trend’s increasing popularity. She says: “The culture of today looks to celebrities for influence in style and fashion (in particular Julia Roberts, Dita Von Teese, and Renee Zellwegger have turned to vintage gowns by designers such as Valentino and Vivienne Westwood.) To use vintage gowns for weddings could be seen as sophisticated, elegant and more in connection with designers and high-end fashion rather than a mass produced piece.”
Many wedding dress designers are drawing inspiration from past eras in order to create vintage-style wedding dresses, which are brand new. Although these dresses are indeed beautiful, this also defeats the purpose of wearing a dress that is vintage. Vintage is one-of-a-kind, no one else has it and that’s why it is individual. Dresses which are inspired by vintage are often made en mass and there are wide selections within the wedding shops, this means that someone else could easily have the same dress as you for their wedding, they aren’t unique and although beautiful, they are not as personal as having a one-of-a-kind dress.
Fashion expert Rachel went on to say: “In design we turn to history for inspiration; history and culture often repeats itself. Imitating past designs using new skills and development, along with modern technology, can be used to recreate something new, innovative and sellable to the market.”
A bride-to-be has to instantly fall in love with her dress and feel that it is a reflection of her and her personality. It has to be “the one”.
So why do so many brides turn to vintage these days?
In today’s economic climate, times are tough and so people often look at ways to reduce costs. As we all know, weddings can amount up to a small fortune, and so wearing a vintage dress can lower the costs slightly as they are not brand new, but only having been worn once are still very good quality not to mention that the detailing on them is exquisite.
History, sentimentality and tradition also play an important role in any wedding. There is an immense romanticism in wearing a dress that a woman two or three generations ago wore on a similar happy occasion.
People also choose vintage due to its environmental sustainability, it is nice to know that something that has been made so beautifully and of such good quality will be worn once again.
The craftsmanship that is seen on the dresses made a couple of decades ago is second to none. For the same quality today it would be extremely costly, however being second-hand, the price would be substantially less.
Delicate beadwork and high-quality fabrics such as satin, silk and organza combined with chantilly lace and silk ribbon embroidery are also important aspects of the vintage gowns, which are in a league of their own compared to a lot of the modern styles in wedding shops today. However sizes of these garments should never been taken into consideration. Due to diet, lifestyle and exercise current brides tend to be larger than their ancestors, especially in the ribs and shoulders. Therefore dresses will always have to be tailored to each woman’s shape (although this is a rule for wedding dresses as a whole to achieve the perfect fit).
These wedding boutiques that specialize in vintage frocks come with an array of hand-picked vintage jewellery to match. From veils to shoes, headbands to bags these stores know their stuff. (However, as a general rule you shouldn’t wear a vintage dress with a headpiece from the same era as this can look a bit “costume”, it is better to mix and match unless you have decided upon a themed wedding.)
The demand for vintage wedding attire is forever increasing, as brides want to have a unique and classic look, individual to them. Marriage has become fashionable again, however fashion is forever changing. The royal wedding next year is sure to be a great influence on people getting married especially going down the more classic route. And what Kate chooses to wear will surely influence women all over the country with ideas for their own dresses.
If you decide that vintage is for you, try and also stay away from ‘main stream’ shops. The best finds are often from the little boutiques, tucked away in side streets. Searching for accessories as well as dresses is very rewarding. When you find exactly what you’re looking for, it makes it all the more special as you know that you have spent time over your unique and individual find. It is not as easy as it sounds, but the treasure hunt pays off in the end, when you’re walking down the aisle in your dream dress on your fairytale wedding day.
Fur Coat No Knickers opened their doors on Carnaby Street in London in February 2008 by Laura Thomas and Emma Chase who worked together in the West End as costume supervisors. Together they have a combined 15 years experience on shows such as the Lion King, Bad Girls, Daddy Cool and Joseph and his Amazing Technicolor Dream coat. They have also worked with Kim Cattrall (who plays Samantha Jones in Sex and the City) when she came to them for help finding a fifties inspired outfit for the Cryptogram at the Donmar Warehouse.
Speaking to Laura Thomas, co-owner of the shop, she is very excited and chatty and you can tell that this industry really is a true passion of hers. Together they can customise and fit vintage wedding dresses to your size and shape with your choice of style and fabric. Their made-to-measure dresses take about six months to complete and start from £2000 with a number of fittings throughout so you are very involved in the process. “We offer a made to measure service where a bride can have her dream dress made for her with a vintage style that we advise would suit there size and shape, which we also help design for them. From our theatre days we have a team of makers that help us create this service.
“We help find accessories for our brides and we also make bespoke veils, so that they are one offs too. We also stock Rachel Simpson’s shoes which are vintage inspired, they are new and they go perfectly with our vintage dresses.”
The unusual and quirky name of the store doesn’t leave one’s mind easily and was decided upon after hearing it backstage at the theatre. The shop was created, as they wanted to try something new and saw that there was a gap in the market for them, Laura explains; “We fancied a change and we thought we could offer something different with our theatre costume skills looking after our brides from top to toe. We love vintage as the fabrics are beautiful and the style and shapes are stunning, we love the fact that they have a history and that we can fit, alter and customise them to the modern lady to make them wearable again.”
Looking for stock can be tricky business as being vintage, you can’t simply go to a warehouse and order what you want. “It’s a constant search for our dresses and accessories,” says Laura, “we hand pick everything ourselves from all around the world, vintage fairs and auctions, it’s hard to find especially when you’re as picky as we are.”
Of course, the dress is just a part of the big day and many couples choose to have a whole vintage theme for their wedding, and even a vintage style cake.
Eric Lanlard is a master pâtissier and since arriving in the UK 21 years ago he has had huge success. Lanlard thinks having a budget is one of the most important first steps in planning a wedding. “Couples should work out a budget right at the beginning and stick to it. We often see couples over stretching and trying too hard to have everything including the kitchen sink! As a result they end up with a mediocre wedding.” The 41-year-old Frenchman has made cakes for the weddings of celebrities such as Madonna and Guy Richie, Claudia Schiffer, Elizabeth Hurley and Amanda Holden. He has his own Channel 4 television series, Glamour Puds, and has also appeared on GMTV and Masterchef. In Lanlard’s long list of achievements he has also managed to publish two books and launched “Cake Boy” in 2007, a beautiful cake lounge and cookery school in South West London. “I think a wedding should reflect the personality of the couple - the venue, the food and especially the guests. Too many people try to please everybody and end up not having their dream day.”
I spoke to Eric to ask him what he thinks about weddings and his wedding cakes.
Anna: What are the most popular styles and types of wedding cakes you have had to make?
Eric: We run a bespoke wedding cake service at Cake Boy so we make cakes to order and to our clients requirements so there isn't really a popular style per se - although in the summer we have quite a lot of brides who opt for the fresh patisserie cake, which can double as a dessert. I think people aren’t choosing novelty cakes as much as they used to - they are fun at the time but do you really want to look book at your wedding photographs and see something that has no relevance ten years on?
A: What has been the wackiest style or most elaborate cake that has been asked for?
E: We once made a cake for a couple that had travelled all around the globe during their courtship. The cake was a globe adorned with suitcases and iconic landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower, Empire State Building etc...
A: Have you noticed any trends occuring in the styles of weddings people are planning?
E: I think people's weddings are getting much more grown-up and sophisticated - the planning is everything. The wedding industry is so large now and we have been greatly influenced by the States. People really want to make a statement with their wedding as well as put their own personal stamp on it. Vintage is one of the key trends that has come through over the last few years - it's everywhere right now, fashion, home and interiors even the cupcake revolution is a throwback from times gone by - a nostalgic trip.
A: Is there a rise in more traditional style cakes?
E: In terms of recession you will often find that people will go back to tradition - I'm sure the Royal Wedding next year will greatly influence people's tastes especially if Kate goes down a more classic route.
A: What is the average cost of a wedding cake?
E: A wedding cake is around £750 from Cake Boy.
A: What is the demand like for you to make people’s wedding cakes?
E: There is a high demand for us to make people's wedding cakes. Marriage has become fashionable again. There are a lot of wedding cake makers and suppliers out there and there seems to be enough business for everyone.
A: You have books, cookery schools and a television show, are you planning anything next?
E: I am making a new TV show for Channel 4. It will be a ten part weekly series, which will start in spring next year.
A: Is there anything else you want to say?
E: I think wedding cakes should taste as good as they look!
Monday, 13 December 2010
Saturday, 23 October 2010
Read my lips
You can love them for all the lovely things that come out, and when nothing can be said to describe ones feelings, then you are shown with kisses.
But with a click of a finger words can be changed into a form of evil, a spoken weapon with its sole purpose to hurt.
A Model Example
For my print work in May we had to write a feature. I've just rediscovered mine and thought I would share it on my blog for you to have a read and see what you think. X
Over the last couple of years there has been much debate in the fashion industry about the use of size 0 models. However now the scale has shifted, and the debate has changed to the other extreme with the use of plus sized models on the catwalks. Although many want to embrace this new idea as it sends out a message of positive body image, there are still concerns as to whether this is actually a good thing.
Designer Mark Fast’s catwalk show at London Fashion Week, which took place on the February 20, is a prime example. He challenged fashion’s size 0 obsession by sending out “real looking women” on the catwalk in his collection at London fashion week. Although these models were noticeably larger then the other “normal” models, they were by no means overweight and a healthy dress size for their height and weight being a size 14 to 16. This caused another size controversy in the papers not dissimilar to that of the size 0 models. But not everyone embraced this brave change to get away from the stereotype, as Mark’s stylist to his show allegedly walked out last year, only days before the show, in protest at having to work with plus sized models.
Mark isn’t the only one trying to target the average British woman. From February 18, Debenhams have started to use “plus sized” mannequins in their Oxford Street shop windows on a trial basis to see how it would be received and so that many women across the country would be able to relate to what they see advertised and realistically see how this may look on them. The mannequins are a size 16, which is the average size for a British woman today. Being the average size of this generation’s woman should it therefore be classed as plus sized? Surely the standard size 6/ 8 mannequins that are most commonly used in shops should be classed as “less size” as they are not representing the true woman. Debenhams’ Head of Creative, Mark Stevens said: “We are proud to offer a broad and varied choice for women of all ages, shapes and sizes in store. So we thought we should reflect this in our window displays.”
As the market is slowly shifting to cater for the every day woman (in the high street’s case anyway), more and more plus-sized models are making it big in the industry. Furthermore, the British Fashion Council (BFC) has also commissioned an inquiry to look into the health of the models on London’s catwalks. They have asked Beat (beating eating disorders) which has been around for the past 20 years, to get involved so people can get help if needed. This shows there is a positive step forward into making models on the catwalks healthier.
Getting a first hand opinion from people who work in the competitive and demanding fashion industry, here’s what some models from around Farnham’s University for the Creative Arts think about the rise of the plus sized models.
Lois Fisk is a part time model who studies journalism at the University for the Creative arts.
“I think it’s great that they’re using plus sized models, it makes “real” women feel they too can look good in clothes, although designers do use tall slim girls as it’s true, clothes do hang and look better on a slimmer body.”
She thinks that it’s a great idea that Debenhams are using “plus sized” mannequins in shop windows. However she knows about the pressures of the industry that many of the girls have to face.
“Every time fashion week comes around the media seem to target the models and use images of the tiniest girls they can find, labelling all models as anorexic and having eating disorders. This definitely isn’t true. Having worked in the industry, many of the models are naturally thin yet also have a balanced diet and exercise. Eating disorders etc, definitely do happen within the industry as there is a lot of competition and the girls want to look their best, but in some cases, they take it too far and become unhealthy.
“Model agencies are also blamed for telling their girls to watch what they eat, when all they want is for their models to be healthy and their clients to be happy. When people realise I have modelled, one of the first questions I get is do you eat? and it drives me crazy because I eat loads!”
Jo Rich agrees.
“I think using plus sized models is such a great thing for the industry, as so many girls who walk the catwalks look scarily malnourished, even though it was reported that models would now be weighed and could only walk if their BMI was over a certain number. I’ve seen some sickly thin people at catwalk shows so I highly doubt that actually happens.
“There’s so much pressure on girls and women in the UK to get the ‘perfect’ model body by hardly eating and working out 24/7, that to slowly bring in ‘normal’ sized people to the fashion industry will hopefully, over time, show the public that size 0 skinny is not sexy and plus sized models shouldn’t be shunned away from catwalk shows because they are a size 12 or 14. I think the industry classes a size 10 as the ‘biggest’ a model can be, so if you hit a 12, you’ve not got a chance.
“Although Mark Fast used 14/16 models at LFW, I sadly can’t see designers like Dior, Chanel and Versace using larger models any time soon. As bad as it sounds, the clothes they design sit much better on thinner models, so using a larger model isn’t going to do them any favours in the eyes of the rich and famous who buy their collections by the month.
“The models that currently walk for the top designers are very thin, and they’ve obviously had to work their bodies very hard to get to the size they are. So even though having larger models on a catwalk could be better for the public to see, it could completely mess over the current skinny models, as staying at such a tiny size is a mental state as well as a physical one.”
Kari Milborn, 37, manager of Coast in House of Fraser thinks that the use of plus size mannequins is a great idea as it means that the everyday woman can identify with how the clothes might look on them. However, from a sales point of view she doesn’t think it will be that successful. “The clothes don’t look as good on bigger models and therefore won’t be as attention grabbing and pleasing to the eye as typical size 8 mannequins and bigger models won’t help boost sales.”
However, what do the public think about this idea. A survey was carried out to gather their opinions and here are the results;
*100% of all people asked thought that plus sized models on the catwalk is a good idea.
“Yes definitely, they are a better role model for young people.”
* 40% of people thought that clothes look just as good on bigger models as skinnier models however 60% disagreed and thought the clothes look better on skinnier models.
“Some clothes look better on skinny models, but if the clothes fit properly they can look just as good on bigger women.”
* 30% of people said that plus sized mannequins would catch their attention in a shop whilst 70% said they wouldn’t notice any difference.
...What do you think? (please feel free to leave comments.)
Over the last couple of years there has been much debate in the fashion industry about the use of size 0 models. However now the scale has shifted, and the debate has changed to the other extreme with the use of plus sized models on the catwalks. Although many want to embrace this new idea as it sends out a message of positive body image, there are still concerns as to whether this is actually a good thing.
Designer Mark Fast’s catwalk show at London Fashion Week, which took place on the February 20, is a prime example. He challenged fashion’s size 0 obsession by sending out “real looking women” on the catwalk in his collection at London fashion week. Although these models were noticeably larger then the other “normal” models, they were by no means overweight and a healthy dress size for their height and weight being a size 14 to 16. This caused another size controversy in the papers not dissimilar to that of the size 0 models. But not everyone embraced this brave change to get away from the stereotype, as Mark’s stylist to his show allegedly walked out last year, only days before the show, in protest at having to work with plus sized models.
Mark isn’t the only one trying to target the average British woman. From February 18, Debenhams have started to use “plus sized” mannequins in their Oxford Street shop windows on a trial basis to see how it would be received and so that many women across the country would be able to relate to what they see advertised and realistically see how this may look on them. The mannequins are a size 16, which is the average size for a British woman today. Being the average size of this generation’s woman should it therefore be classed as plus sized? Surely the standard size 6/ 8 mannequins that are most commonly used in shops should be classed as “less size” as they are not representing the true woman. Debenhams’ Head of Creative, Mark Stevens said: “We are proud to offer a broad and varied choice for women of all ages, shapes and sizes in store. So we thought we should reflect this in our window displays.”
As the market is slowly shifting to cater for the every day woman (in the high street’s case anyway), more and more plus-sized models are making it big in the industry. Furthermore, the British Fashion Council (BFC) has also commissioned an inquiry to look into the health of the models on London’s catwalks. They have asked Beat (beating eating disorders) which has been around for the past 20 years, to get involved so people can get help if needed. This shows there is a positive step forward into making models on the catwalks healthier.
Getting a first hand opinion from people who work in the competitive and demanding fashion industry, here’s what some models from around Farnham’s University for the Creative Arts think about the rise of the plus sized models.
“I think it’s great that they’re using plus sized models, it makes “real” women feel they too can look good in clothes, although designers do use tall slim girls as it’s true, clothes do hang and look better on a slimmer body.”
She thinks that it’s a great idea that Debenhams are using “plus sized” mannequins in shop windows. However she knows about the pressures of the industry that many of the girls have to face.
“Every time fashion week comes around the media seem to target the models and use images of the tiniest girls they can find, labelling all models as anorexic and having eating disorders. This definitely isn’t true. Having worked in the industry, many of the models are naturally thin yet also have a balanced diet and exercise. Eating disorders etc, definitely do happen within the industry as there is a lot of competition and the girls want to look their best, but in some cases, they take it too far and become unhealthy.
“Model agencies are also blamed for telling their girls to watch what they eat, when all they want is for their models to be healthy and their clients to be happy. When people realise I have modelled, one of the first questions I get is do you eat? and it drives me crazy because I eat loads!”
“I think using plus sized models is such a great thing for the industry, as so many girls who walk the catwalks look scarily malnourished, even though it was reported that models would now be weighed and could only walk if their BMI was over a certain number. I’ve seen some sickly thin people at catwalk shows so I highly doubt that actually happens.
“There’s so much pressure on girls and women in the UK to get the ‘perfect’ model body by hardly eating and working out 24/7, that to slowly bring in ‘normal’ sized people to the fashion industry will hopefully, over time, show the public that size 0 skinny is not sexy and plus sized models shouldn’t be shunned away from catwalk shows because they are a size 12 or 14. I think the industry classes a size 10 as the ‘biggest’ a model can be, so if you hit a 12, you’ve not got a chance.
“Although Mark Fast used 14/16 models at LFW, I sadly can’t see designers like Dior, Chanel and Versace using larger models any time soon. As bad as it sounds, the clothes they design sit much better on thinner models, so using a larger model isn’t going to do them any favours in the eyes of the rich and famous who buy their collections by the month.
“The models that currently walk for the top designers are very thin, and they’ve obviously had to work their bodies very hard to get to the size they are. So even though having larger models on a catwalk could be better for the public to see, it could completely mess over the current skinny models, as staying at such a tiny size is a mental state as well as a physical one.”
Kari Milborn, 37, manager of Coast in House of Fraser thinks that the use of plus size mannequins is a great idea as it means that the everyday woman can identify with how the clothes might look on them. However, from a sales point of view she doesn’t think it will be that successful. “The clothes don’t look as good on bigger models and therefore won’t be as attention grabbing and pleasing to the eye as typical size 8 mannequins and bigger models won’t help boost sales.”
However, what do the public think about this idea. A survey was carried out to gather their opinions and here are the results;
*100% of all people asked thought that plus sized models on the catwalk is a good idea.
“Yes definitely, they are a better role model for young people.”
* 40% of people thought that clothes look just as good on bigger models as skinnier models however 60% disagreed and thought the clothes look better on skinnier models.
“Some clothes look better on skinny models, but if the clothes fit properly they can look just as good on bigger women.”
* 30% of people said that plus sized mannequins would catch their attention in a shop whilst 70% said they wouldn’t notice any difference.
...What do you think? (please feel free to leave comments.)
In all that is holy....
I'm not to sure what to thing of buying ready ripped tights. However, like its jeans counter-part i think they are going to be big.
It just seems a bit pointless to open up a new packet of tights, to put them on, to already have holes in. I guess this means that it doesn't matter quite so much if you fall over on a drunken night out because,
"They're meant to be like that jeeez!"
However, why spend money on ripped tights, when you can just as easily create this look yourself, with a bit of a DIY?
If you like the idea of a 90's grunge look, and don't fancy spending your time with a pair of tights and a shredder, you can get these Jonathan Aston ripped tights for £10 at asos.com.
It just seems a bit pointless to open up a new packet of tights, to put them on, to already have holes in. I guess this means that it doesn't matter quite so much if you fall over on a drunken night out because,
"They're meant to be like that jeeez!"
However, why spend money on ripped tights, when you can just as easily create this look yourself, with a bit of a DIY?
Thursday, 21 October 2010
What's on the box?
I can't say that I watch a lot of television in my spare time, but today a new show has been added to my list.
Pretty Little Liars.
After a suggestion from my mother to watch this as she thought it would be (in the words of Cheryl Cole to Cher) "just up my street", i decided to give it a cheeky watch. I was pleasantly surprised.
(However my opinion is subject to change as the series progresses.)
Admittedly it is not as good as Gossip Girl, and I don't think anything ever will be (The O.C comes close, but not close enough) it will definitely fill a hole in the second part of my week, whilst I eagerly anticipate the next episode of GG.
eaaaaaaap, WHAT HAPPENED TO ALISON? (Not quite as exciting as the Chuck and Blair war games, but it will do.)
wow, I need a life.
xoxo
Pretty Little Liars.
After a suggestion from my mother to watch this as she thought it would be (in the words of Cheryl Cole to Cher) "just up my street", i decided to give it a cheeky watch. I was pleasantly surprised.
(However my opinion is subject to change as the series progresses.)
Admittedly it is not as good as Gossip Girl, and I don't think anything ever will be (The O.C comes close, but not close enough) it will definitely fill a hole in the second part of my week, whilst I eagerly anticipate the next episode of GG.
eaaaaaaap, WHAT HAPPENED TO ALISON? (Not quite as exciting as the Chuck and Blair war games, but it will do.)
wow, I need a life.
xoxo
SET SALE....
YAY! It's that time of year again....MID-SEASON SALE!
Although I can't really justify a shopping trip, it's all slightly more guilt-free when things you love are at a bargain price. After all, if you don't buy things now you're only going to have to fork out more for a more expensive item.
Unfortunately my student budget doesn't stretch as far as having a serious shopping spree, but THANK GOD for interest free over-drafts.
These beauts are first on my "to-buy" list.
Although I can't really justify a shopping trip, it's all slightly more guilt-free when things you love are at a bargain price. After all, if you don't buy things now you're only going to have to fork out more for a more expensive item.
Unfortunately my student budget doesn't stretch as far as having a serious shopping spree, but THANK GOD for interest free over-drafts.
These beauts are first on my "to-buy" list.
KG Claranita in pink
Only £69 instead of £120 (what's not to love?)....YES PLEASE!
Fitting the mould
It really gets on my nerves when people think the only way they can look good is by following fashion's latest trends.
This is soooo wrong!
If you're not feeling comfortable in what you're wearing then you are guaranteed to stick out like a sore thumb.
It's all good and well taking inspiration from someones style that you adore, however you have to remember that everyone is different. Everyone has different body shapes, and what may look fabulous on one person can turn out to be a disaster on another.
You have to dress for your shape. No matter how much you may love something hanging on a mannequin in a shop window if it doesn't look right on you, don't wear it.
Fashion isn't about getting the latest catwalk looks, it's about having fun, feeling good about what you're wearing and experimenting to get a look that's right for you.
Who wants to look like everyone else anyway, being individual is the way forward.
This is soooo wrong!
If you're not feeling comfortable in what you're wearing then you are guaranteed to stick out like a sore thumb.
It's all good and well taking inspiration from someones style that you adore, however you have to remember that everyone is different. Everyone has different body shapes, and what may look fabulous on one person can turn out to be a disaster on another.
You have to dress for your shape. No matter how much you may love something hanging on a mannequin in a shop window if it doesn't look right on you, don't wear it.
Fashion isn't about getting the latest catwalk looks, it's about having fun, feeling good about what you're wearing and experimenting to get a look that's right for you.
Who wants to look like everyone else anyway, being individual is the way forward.
Monday, 4 October 2010
I Heart Ellie
These are pictures of Ellie Goulding when I saw her at Benicassim and Bestival. She is amazing and sounds even better live.
Defo have a bit of a girl crush on her!
I <3 the Jakwob remix of starry eyed.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZ3UJKxeFco&feature=related
SSSHHHHHHHH!
The Secret is the law of attraction.
After having a rather shitty couple of weeks, my housemate lent me his book; "The Secret".
If you believe in it, it can change your whole entire life and everything becomes possible,
I think I may give it a go....what do you have to lose?
After having a rather shitty couple of weeks, my housemate lent me his book; "The Secret".
If you believe in it, it can change your whole entire life and everything becomes possible,
Friday, 11 June 2010
Sunday, 6 June 2010
Rachel
I have a friend called Rachel and we have been good friends for about three years now.
When I came home from uni last week she rang me up saying she had a spare ticket to Graduate Fashion Week on Monday and asked me to go with her.
....Of course I jumped at the chance.....
I think it's all rather exciting to see fresh and new talent straight out of schools around the country. You never know, in a couple of years, it may be one of these graduates who are the hottest new designer that everyone wants on their backs.
It made me realise that this is what I would love to do. I would adore going to catwalk shows and writing about what was presented to us. Innovating and exciting, hopefully like nothing we've seen before.
Rachel also wants to go into fashion. Shes studying it next year at Uni and I have high hopes for her.
You never know...in a few years it may be her debut at GFW and gracing the pages of fashion magazines as "one to watch out for."
Friday, 16 April 2010
Monday, 1 March 2010
Wonderland
I can't wait to see Tim Burton's version of Alice in wonderland. I'm wondering what wonderland is like. Every time I dream I enter a whole new magical world filled with unexpected occurrences.
This little light of mine..I'm gonna let it shine...
Let what inspires you the most to light your way and guide you. ....Sometimes you have to do things for you and put yourself first...
Hurricane in the head
Sometimes you have so many thoughts and feelings whizzing through your mind that you don't even know where to begin to describe them. That's how I feel.
I feel like I have a huge knotted mass of threads and I cant find the end to start untangling.
It's like there is a hurricane in my mind, whirling and jumbling up each thought, making me double think situations and making me confussseeeddd.
BANG BANG
Can you ACTUALLY solve crime with crime?
Here in Britain, generally speaking, I think we have a good law and order system. However in other places throughout the world such as Philadelphia and Johannesburg this isn't the case.
There is a much larger crime rate, nearly everyone carries guns and drug culture is huge. Drive by shootings happen frequently and nobody really blinks an eye. They have become desensitised and it is a way of life.
But in towns such as these, who decides what is right? People have decided to take it upon themselves to establish a "system".
Who will be the first too shoot? If a crime is committed then another crime such as beating and assault is used to try and resolve the issue. But is this really going to work?
Nobody is going to learn anything if they think that violence is the key to the solutions. Many people get caught up in what happens around them. Many people try nothing more than to survive, stealing money and resorting to prostitution to pay for their drug addictions. But a lot of the victims are simply innocent people, getting on with their day to day lives who unfortunatly end up in the wrong place at the wrong time, thus losing everything.
Here in Britain, generally speaking, I think we have a good law and order system. However in other places throughout the world such as Philadelphia and Johannesburg this isn't the case.There is a much larger crime rate, nearly everyone carries guns and drug culture is huge. Drive by shootings happen frequently and nobody really blinks an eye. They have become desensitised and it is a way of life.
But in towns such as these, who decides what is right? People have decided to take it upon themselves to establish a "system".
Who will be the first too shoot? If a crime is committed then another crime such as beating and assault is used to try and resolve the issue. But is this really going to work?
Nobody is going to learn anything if they think that violence is the key to the solutions. Many people get caught up in what happens around them. Many people try nothing more than to survive, stealing money and resorting to prostitution to pay for their drug addictions. But a lot of the victims are simply innocent people, getting on with their day to day lives who unfortunatly end up in the wrong place at the wrong time, thus losing everything.
Sunday, 28 February 2010
Decisions Decisions
Recently I have been thinking a lot about what I would like to do in the future. Originally I wanted to go into the field of fashion journalism but now I am not so sure. Even though I truly love clothes and can think of nothing better than to write about them I also think there are so many other interesting things to report on. Our new module "Landmarks in Journalism" is one of the main reasons for this change of heart. Watergate and Thalidomide particularly interested me. The book "Tell me no lies" edited by John Pilger is also interesting in telling me a lot about "investigative journalism and its triumphs".
Watching the Louis Theroux documentaries has also made me think that I would love to do something along the same lines. I really admire him and think he is a great journalist.
Wednesday, 10 February 2010
Charming
I made a cute little bag charm the other day using old broken necklaces, beads and safety pins. I threaded each bead and chain onto the pins and then simply pinned it onto my bag.
It was really easy to do and instantly added individuality to my plain old topshop bag!
It was really easy to do and instantly added individuality to my plain old topshop bag!
I like this quote...
"if I wanted to influence the way people thought, I should become a politician; if I wanted to tell them what was going on, I should be a journalist" (simpson 1997)
Sunday, 10 January 2010
snow leopard
wow, it has been over a month since I have last updated the blog. Being off on Christmas holidays has made me get out of the swing of things...
As much as I have loved the snow, it seems like there is no hope of it ever going away, but I managed to do the seemingly impossible and wear my lovely heels in the ice and snow without breaking an ankle or slipping over. After all, just because it's snowing doesn't mean that you don't want to look good.
However I would not have been able to survive this weather without my furry leopard print hat my brother gave me for Christmas. It has been a life saver and has kept my brain from freezing.
leopard print fur coat (fake of course) is next on my wish list....
HELLO LEOPARD
As much as I have loved the snow, it seems like there is no hope of it ever going away, but I managed to do the seemingly impossible and wear my lovely heels in the ice and snow without breaking an ankle or slipping over. After all, just because it's snowing doesn't mean that you don't want to look good.
However I would not have been able to survive this weather without my furry leopard print hat my brother gave me for Christmas. It has been a life saver and has kept my brain from freezing.
leopard print fur coat (fake of course) is next on my wish list....
HELLO LEOPARD
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