Category Archives: Fashion

Lesson on Layering {Fashion}

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Ah, the Great British obsession with the weather. Sometimes it’s too hot. Sometimes it’s too cold. Most of the time it keeps us guessing. But when the weather can’t make its’ mind up, don’t let that stop you from being prepared for all climates.

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“What is the solution?”, I hear you ask. Layering. Let me show you how with these top 6 picks for this Autumn.

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All Saints have a cool range of tees and vests with chilling graphic prints. This Theron Tee is £40.

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This cardigan comes in a vast range of colours, from H&M. My favourite is ‘Light Camel Marl’, and at only £9.99 it’s a steal!

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No chance of getting cold in this shearling aviator jacket by Burberry Prorsum. Ok, so it is a fashion investment at £2,195 but you could always try your local leather shop for a more affordable option.

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These leather trim skinny jeans are in a flattering dark denim. Find them at Topshop, £45.

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Who thought comfort could be so stylish? Grab a bargain at Dorothy Perkins, these ankle boots are only £40.

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You can fit the kitchen sink in here…along with a brolly and any layers you need to strip off. Find this Longobardi Oversized Italian leather bag at hattyandmoo.com, £265.

by Tamar Kendall

In A Tight Spot {Style}

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Ladies, rejoice for tight season is upon us! No, I don’t mean we are all going Scrooge with the run up to Christmas – I am talking about glorious hosiery.  And let me tell you, there is nothing ‘Nora Batty’ about this seasons leg warming styles.

Love them or hate them, everyone was watching Cheryl Cole’s pins as she strutted about the X-Factor stage last night wearing Wolford Bondage Tights. Here are my top five picks for this Autumn, sending the chills on the run.

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The leopard print trend seems to be sticking around for the foreseeable, and these tights will certainly have the boys running wild at the sight of you. Buy the Jonathan Aston Animal Tights for a mere £8.

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Seriously up the sex appeal with these gorgeous tights from Pretty Polly. Henry Holland has teamed up with the hosiery giant to create some real stunners. Pick these suspender tights up for £12 at mytights.com.

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These clever tightsfrom Jonathan Aston will turn your legs from stumpy to supermodel in an instant! Find these Runway Silhouette Tights at Sock Shop for £12

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For those who were never quite brave enough to commit to a tattoo grab these fun tights from mytights.com. Tattoo Print Tulle Tights, £12 by Jonathan Aston.

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Beat the winter blues in these amazing harlequin style colour blocked tights. Miss Oroblu Movies Tights £15.95 from uktights.com.

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by Tamar Kendall

Britain's Next Top Model Live. {Fashion}

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If anything if going to bring out my girlie side it’s Britain’s Next Top Model. From the 22nd-24th of October. The hugely successful reality TV show comes to the ExCel centre in London’s Docklands.The Ultimate weekend shopping extravagance has everything a budding model or fashionista would ever need.

I start by walking around all of the stalls, and check out the fashion and beauty products on offer. I get a free Tia Maria cocktail, but, amusingly, only after being asked for ID. I pop by the powder room where they are giving free make overs, manicures and massages, but decide the queue is too long. So I head to the Kiss catwalk to catch Diana Vickers sing. Her voice is amazing and you can tell that the entire audience love her. Her clothes are rocking too. Despite the fact she can’t tell presenter Emma Willis where she got them because, endearingly, she can’t pronounce the designers name.

Later on Alesha Dixon comes on the stage to promote her jewellery line. Dressed in jeans and a top, she comes on stage with a cup of tea that has some chewing gum stuck to the bottom – she says she didn’t have anywhere else to put it, she confessed she is still feeling rough from the MOBO’s the night before and went to bed at 7am. Alesha comes across as incredibly down to earth and shakes a number of the audiences hand’s after they ask her.

There is no sign of Elle McPherson but Charley Speed is here and brilliant designer Melissa Odabash is on hand to give style advice.

Later on, Molly Smitten Downes and Joey Bevan do a fusion of music and fashion. Molly sings her heart out and Joey’s clothes are beautiful. Very enjoyable.

One of the most exciting things from Britain’s Next Top Model is Global Cool. ‘Turn up the style, turn down the heat.’ I interviewed Gemma Cairney about her involvement with the company that let’s you restyle jumpers they way you want and helps the environment.

Gemma says: “Global Cool have given me even more of an incentive to encourage, big, snuggly jumper wearing.. Perfect! I like my jumpers big, often primary coloured and with a motif that’ll make others smile, so I’m more than happy to put my gob behind a campaign that can eventually help this important thing called the Earth smile a bit too.”

Wannabe models could also attend casting couch sessions from Rebecca, Elle magazine, Becca Cosmetics, Tia Maria, Models 1 and Wonderbra. So if you want to be spotted, hurry down to Excel.

Also scheduled to sing is Eliza Doolittle, Eliza told Frost this: ‘I love Britain’s Next top model so I’m very excited to be involved in the live event – I’m looking forward to having a sneaky look at all of the cloths and products too.’

http://www.bntmlive.com/

Kobi Levi's Wearable Feet Sculptures {Design}

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Why wear ordinary shoes when you can wear hilarious pieces of art on your feet instead. Designer Kobi Levi specialises in creating unusual footwear that lie somewhere inbetween fashion and art.

Levi describes his personal shoe creations as “artistic footwear” making each pair in his studio by hand. “the shoe is my canvas. the trigger to create a new piece comes when an idea, a concept and/or an image comes to mind. the combination of the image and footwear creates a new hybrid and the design/concept comes to life. the piece is a wearable sculpture.”

His latest collection includes shoes by the name of “blow” “xxx pump” and “market trolley” proving that inspiration can literally come from anywhere.

Take a look at more of Kobi Levi’s collection on design boom [design boom]

ENGLAND RUGBY STARS CLOSE LONDON FASHION WEEK IN STYLE BY STRIPPING OFF FOR CHARITY

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It takes a lot to get Genevieve and I excited. Rugby stars Ugo Monye, Danny Care, Nils Mordt and Seb Stegmann stripping off to help Ghanaian children’s charity AfriKids, managed to do it though.

Perfectly toned Rugby stars Ugo Monye, Danny Care, Nils Mordt and Seb Stegmann got their kit off in support of Deutsche Bank’s charity of the year, AfriKids, bringing London Fashion Week to a close with The Alternative London Fashion Event. I have never heard grown women scream so much in my life.

Monye made his first public appearance for the Ghanaian children’s charity AfriKids, bringing along his England Rugby pals to bare all (well, almost!) for the evening and support the event, at the exclusive One Mayfair. The beautiful converted church setting showcased some of the world’s most recognised designer’s autumn and winter collection pieces, alongside some African designers connected to AfriKids. Not only did the England stars parade in the designer underwear, but guests also bid for the skimpy items protecting their modesty in an auction at the end of the night.

Thanks to the likes of Jaeger, Ted Baker, The Couture Gallery, Wolford, Frank Usher and many other designers who donated pieces from their latest collections, nearly £20,000 was generated on the night which will go directly to help improve life for Ghana’s most vulnerable and disadvantaged children, including the ‘spirit children’.

During the evening the audience were also given the chance to bid for a dinner date with Ugo and former England Captain Nick Easter

About AfriKids.

AfriKids is a Child Rights organisation set up nearly a decade ago to work on traditional children’s projects including foster homes, schools and street child centres and also more groundbreaking initiatives which tackle complex cultural issues, including child trafficking, child labour and the spirit child phenomenon. During her gap year in 1997, Georgie Fienberg, Founder of AfriKids, realised that there was a dire need to prevent the deaths of so-called ‘spirit children’. ‘Spirit Children’ are those whose mothers die during childbirth, which are then regarded by African society and culture as outcasts to live and survive on the fringes of society.

As well as financing and delivering sustainable child rights projects, AfriKids owns and runs businesses, including a medical centre, an eco-lodge and several ethical trade programmes. AfriKids aims for its Western office, based in London, to be redundant by 2018.

www.afrikids.org

Monsoon Lingerie – Winter Blossom AW10 {Style}

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Just because it’s winter, doesn’t mean that we should shroud ourselves in black or cover up. Monsoon agrees whole heartedly and has brought to the high street their Vintage Collection – a feminine winter blossom lingerie and sleepware range.

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With muted blue-grey tones and blush pink satins it’s the perfect antidote to winter blues.

Left: Blossom Satin Print Bra, £35

Lace, and printed satin with padded cups.

Below Left: Matching Briefs, £18

Full lace back and blossom print satin.

Right: Blossom Cami Set, £55

Cotton and Silk with a blush pink lace trim.

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Left: Blossom Robe, £75

100% Silk with Contrast printed sash belt.

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Right: Blossom Chemise, £55

Cotton silk mix with adjustable straps.

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For Stockists, ideas on what to get me for Christmas or more info [Monsoon.co.uk]

Catherine Balavage interviews Prince Cassius. { Style }

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How did you find out about the Best-Dressed List? Were you nominated? How many entrants were there?

To be honest, I wasn’t expecting it. It began by my sister, who had sent my photos that I took with Annette Schimek to both GQ and Esquire magazine. When I got a call from both publications that I was shortlisted from thousands of applicants, it was really overwhelming and very exciting. I felt utterly inspired and celebrated for conveying my distinctive look. Currently Esquire magazine is out nationwide and GQ comes out 9th September. I remember talking to someone from the publication and was told they had over 15,000 entries each.

-How do you choose what to wear in the morning? Do you plan in advance?

Hmm. I have several of favourite cloths, especially from Brooks Brothers, Hackett, and Gant, so most morning you’ll find me wearing it. I’ve never planned in advance to wear anything apart from special occasions when I know I need to dry clean some cloths.

– What did you dream of becoming when you were a child? What profession you wanted to do.

I always dreamt of being a firefighter or working in fashion. Having no fashion influences in my life that was slightly harder so I dreamt of saving people and being a firefighter.

– How would you define fashion?

My personal style is a combination from 70-80’s era and the quintessential preppy modern man. Preppy is synonymous with sharp in many ways, and as such it is important to keep it somewhat classic and tasteful .The biggest influences in the way I present myself & trends come from Michael Jackson (thriller years), Art, 80’s glam, big hair, Blazers and Elegance that is, the signature of my representation. I believe everyone should create their own visual style and uniqueness to be identifiable to others.

– Do you have a favorite designer?
I have several of favourite designers but my top designers are Gant, Hackett, Oliver Sweeney, Police, Paul Smith, and Brooks Brothers.

– What did modelling give you?
I began modeling as one of the hosts for a boutique store then it lead me working with one of fashion well known names such as face-hunter and vogue photographers. I was always intrigued by the industry but after a year I realized it wasn’t something I wanted. It definitely made me stronger and thicker skinned in this industry.

– How did modelling change you?
Modeling never really changed me but it gave me an insight of how the industry worked. You certainly had the glamorous side of fashion and then the other side. I was always focused and remembered what my mother always told me “never change, always remember your background”.

– What makes a designer?

I believe it’s someone with self-taught skills, in formal design or art, education with a strong background and passion. However, there are many aspects of the profession. Working as a fashion designer can just as well mean supervising a design team. To be a designer takes a lot of time, dedication and hard work. Not to mention living just above the poverty line for several years.

– What is your message in design/fashion?

My message for anyone who’s interested in the fashion world would be do your research, know what your getting yourself into, be passionate, always think outside the box, be creative, and read magazines, educate yourself in this industry.

– How would you define who you are?

I’M A
Bow Tie, 80’s Glam, Skinny Jeans, Afrocentric,
Oxford shoes, Preppy, Blackberry, Mix and Match,
macbook and something practical,
KIND OF A GUY

-What is your favourite outfit or items and why? Do you have any style icons that inspire you? Who are your favourite designers and why?

My personal style is a combination from 70-80’s era and the quintessential preppy modern man. Preppy is synonymous with sharp in many ways, and as such it is important to keep it somewhat classic and tasteful .The biggest influences in the way I present myself & trends come from Michael Jackson (thriller years), Art, 80’s glam, big hair, Blazers and Elegance that is, the signature of my representation. I believe everyone should create their own visual style and uniqueness to be identifiable to others.

My favorite outfits are my Gant and Dunhil Blazer, Hackett Bow tie and Oliver Sweeney & Hudon shoe. Those clothing to me are a sense of my true identify, the colours are rich, and materials are spectacular yet fabulous.

-Do you have any plans for if you win? How are you finding the media attention?

I would see myself as a spokesperson for an organization, charity or a designer, as well as being role model to the younger generation, as well for many people that have overcome many challenges throughout their life coming from a third world country.

The level of public interest it’s offered me has been overwhelming. Its still hasn’t sunk in, I guess. I definitely started noticing it within the short space, the glances on the street, people approaching me asking to take a picture with me, the members of the public recognizing me. It’s been really phenomenal and exciting at the same time.

Thank you. Best of luck.

Lindsay leaves rehab: get the Loh-down on what she is wearing

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Yet more controversy surrounded Lindsay Lohan as she left rehab last week and was photographed wearing designer gear, clutching an energy drink and sporting a pair of V-MODA Crossfade LPs. As the pictures emerged, speculation grew as to whether Lohan had been paid to wear some of the following items:

* V-MODA headphones: £220
* Ray-Ban sunglasses: £100
* Hermes mini-Birkin bag: price unavailable
* RockStar appetite drink: £1.70
* Hermès belt: price unavailable

Our sources at V-MODA have confirmed that Lindsay was not paid to wear the Crossfade LP headphones, but instead picked them up from the Kari Feinstein gifting suite at the MTV Movie Awards. Keep on rocking Lindsay!