John Rocha Retires From London Fashion Week

Posted on May 9, 2014 by Frostie

London Fashion Week will be very different this September, after John Rocha has announced he is retiring from it after 29 years.

Rocha told Vogue: “If I stay, I want to have something to say and I always want to keep the standard high. The last couple of collections I looked back on and I thought to myself, ‘that is really the best work I can do’, For the last few years I can see lots of talented people and designers coming up and with so much young talent you have to work so much harder, and I’m not going to do it until I drop!”

Rocha has been showing at London Fashion Week since 1985. Many have been taken by surprise at the news. He went on to tell Vogue why he was retiring: “People ask me why, and it’s because I want to do more with my time. I left Hong Kong in 1971 and I have never been back to spend Chinese New Year with my family because it always falls in February during the shows. In 40 years I have never taken more than ten days holiday at once. At this point in my life I want to live by my calendar and not the Fashion Week calendar. Stopping allows me to do that. It’s not an overnight decision, Odette and I have been talking about it for some time.”

The Rocha name will be carried on by his daughter Simone: “Simone can continue the family tradition in fashion, In the last couple of collections people finally understand what I’m about and I’ve achieved more than I ever thought. But for now I’m embracing the future. It’s time to move on.”

Spring is in the Air

Posted on May 9, 2014 by Sarah Bacchus

We love this time of year so much, its mighty beautiful and its perfect for lazy afternoons wandering about town, window shopping, nipping out for coffees and catching up with whats happening in town.

Spring time is here and all the pretty pink flowers are out in bloom. Sunny days are filled with little sun dresses and delicate tones. This dress was purchased from Primark on a budget shopping trip recently. Primark is the place to visit when you need a little treat without breaking the bank. This dress was just £10 and at that price you just have to pop it in the basket. It comes with an elasticated back so it fits like a glove. P1130844

Styled here with Ray Ban sunnies (available soon), Vintage Christian Dior perfume disc turned into a necklace (used to be my mothers and I had it restored to its former glory) , Zara Jacket (Here is one similar), Stuart Weitzman heels, Louis bag and an old western belt.

Visit www.slbstyle.com for more fashion and tweet me @sarahbacchus

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 {Film Review}

Posted on May 8, 2014 by Owun Birkett

* WARNING! Does contain spoilers *

It has been exactly ten years since Sam Raimi released the first sequel to his 2002 hit, Spider-Man 2. I remember the movie being incredibly fun but also can see and feel the passion behind it. Now it is Marc Webb’s turn with his The Amazing Spider-Man series that we got our first glimpse in 2012 (which resulted to mixed reactions).

Andrew Garfield returns as Peter Parker/Spider-Man, continuing his duty help New York City being crime free. While also struggling to keep a promise from Gwen Stacy’s (Emma Stone) father to stay from harm’s way. It’s nice to see him doing more than catching thieves, like stopping a bunch of bullies and walking bullied kid back home. The chemistry between Garfield and Stone are cute and affectionate but all feel contrived to have Peter have another conflict on his plate. The scenes between Peter and Aunt May (Sally Field) are humorous to some level but, again, all feel superfluous (I mean, she seriously can’t tell there isn’t anything going on with Peter from having a dirty face and having the excuse “I was cleaning the chimney”, she catches that by saying “we don’t have a chimney” and he acts flabbergasted?) Star Trek and Transformers writers Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci were brought in to redraft the script, thus does comes across the movie having way too many cooks. The movie is unfocused with what it really should be and that’s giving a different take of the story but it is more interested on what it is setting up (i.e. the Sinister Six for the most part). More evidence the movie was unfocused was when they shot scenes with Shailene Woodley as Mary Jane Watson but cut them out as they felt it was overstuffed (definitely can tell when watching the final cut).

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The villains in this movie is quite embarrassing, trying to give dramatic weight but it all comes flat. Max Dillon / Electro (Jamie Foxx) is basically another fan of the main protagonist but feels betrayed and becomes the villain (similar to Batman Forever and Iron Man 3). Paul Giamatti as Aleksei Sytsevich (though everyone will just remember him as The Rhino) is wasted as he just shouts his lines in a hammy Russian accent and only becomes his alter-ego in the last 5-10 minutes of the movies. Dane De Haan as Harry Osborn is a character that would’ve been beneficial if introduced in the previous movie but felt forced into the movie as if he was put in at the last second (like Venom in Spider-Man 3). Having both Peter and Harry talk about their backstory on their childhood memories all felt forced and empty. All these villains have one purpose; world building and setting up for Sony’s planned sequels and spin-offs. That may be all well and good but doesn’t give us time to care about the story and characters if they’re not fully developed enough. Also Martin Csokas as Dr. Ashley Kafka seemed he came out from auditioning as titular character in Dr. Strangelove but needed a moustache to twirl as he was comically villainous (both Giamatti and Csokas really do feel out of place from its grounded setting and tone).

The action sequences are well choreographed and probably the best Spider-Man swinging sequences since Spider-Man 2. The Green Goblin character in particular may have made Dane DeHaan look creepy but the design looked lazy and plain compared the look in the comic books. Electro was probably the most interesting looking villain in the series, which I give credit to the visual effects team at Sony Imageworks. Hans Zimmer scores another comic book blockbuster and it is relatively creative (the idea of using dubstep style music for Electro felt cringe-worthy but it fitted the character). Though one particular set-piece that had similar affect in Spider-Man 3 was Spider-Man and Green Goblin fight and felt it wasn’t given a lot of thought. The only reason this was included so we would have the famous Gwen Stacy death scene that Spider-Man/comic book fans are very familiar with. It comes off the filmmakers felt they were obligated to include this scene (same way audiences would expect Breaking the Bat scene in The Dark Knight Rises). It should’ve come across being shocking but it was predictable and makes this emotional scene fail on all aspects.

Overall; this movie is just a product so Sony can keep the rights to Spider-Man rather than revert it back to Marvel. The leads may be charismatic and production value is all there but the movie feels empty underneath its shiny surface (not since Iron Man 2).

2 out of 5

London Heathrow Terminal 2 (The Queen’s Terminal) focus on retail… The Plaza Premium Lounge

Posted on May 8, 2014 by Corinne Tuddenham-Finn

The world’s leading airport lounge provider, Plaza Premium Lounge, will be opening at London Heathrow T2 in June 2014. Priding themselves on a quality of service which is trusted and welcomed by travellers across the globe, Plaza Premium Lounge is the industry leader in Premium Airport Services. Business travel is constantly evolving and with the current economic climate the centre of attention when budgeting for expenses, today’s business traveller is faced with fewer environments to rest, refresh and re-charge not only one’s own batteries but the energy cells of technological gadgetry used in everyday communication. But this concept is innovative, the company is the world’s first commercial VIP lounge for all travellers, irrespective of their airline or class of travel.
With 16 years’ experience in caring for travellers, Plaza Premium Lounge sets the benchmark for a luxurious and accessible airport experience. The Plaza Premium Lounge at London Heathrow T2 will be the Hong Kong-based company’s first venture in Europe and the only independent lounge at Terminal 2. There will be three phases to the opening strategy. In summer 2014, Plaza Premium Lounge will open in Departures, Lounge A3 (next to the terminal transfer desks) on Level 4. In Autumn 2014, a Lounge will open in Terminal 2 Arrivals and offer day hotel facilities for travellers, completing the phases with another Lounge opening in Terminal 4 in winter 2014.
Mr Song Hoi-see, the company founder and CEO of Plaza Premium Lounge told me “I’ve been a business traveller for many years and it was becoming increasingly difficult to find an environment where I could take time to relax before my connecting flight, perhaps re-charge my cell, take a shower… I realised this was a problem for all travellers, business or pleasure, so I researched the requirements and came up with the concept of Plaza Premium Lounge.”
Open daily from 5am to 11pm, the £38 charge per person allows access for up to two hours which includes a complimentary selection of food and drink including tapas and freshly baked artisanal breads, showering facilities (five luxury shower rooms with full amenities), use of the lounge facilities and business facilities (computer workstations, high speed Wi-Fi, charging sockets and full flight information), and entertainment in the form of TV channels, international magazine and newspapers. Also available at extra cost is a selection of vintage and non-vintage Champagnes at the Champagne Bar, an exclusive treatment menu by British organic spa brand, ILA, in the Wellness Spa and five private en-suite relaxation rooms.
With 110 locations in 29 international airports throughout the world and a development pipeline of 50 more lounges by 2015, Plaza Premium Lounge will become synonymous with luxury service at an affordable price.
To book, email uk@plaza-network.com
Website: www.plaza-network.com

Angelina Jolie And Michelle Obama Add Voices To #bringbackourgirls Campaign For Kidnapped Nigerian Schoolgirls

Posted on May 8, 2014 by Catherine Balavage

Last month over 200 Nigerian schoolgirls were kidnapped and thanks to social media, the protest has been loud, with powerful names giving their support. Angelina Jolie and Michelle Obama have added their voices to the #bringbackourgirls campaign. The First Lady tweeted this photo and message of support.

Our prayers are with the missing Nigerian girls and their families. It’s time to #BringBackOurGirls. -mo pic.twitter.com/glDKDotJRt

— The First Lady (@FLOTUS) May 7, 2014

Angelina Jolie told the Agence France-Presse: “The kidnapping of these young Nigerian girls is an unthinkable cruelty, Sadly, of course, there is real evil in the world. You watch the news and you see all of the people suffering and so much cruelty.”

CNN screened a video released by Nigerian Islamic group Boko Haram which featured the group’s leader, Abubakar Shekau, who claimed responsibility for kidnapping the girls and vowed to sell them into slavery. Reportedly, 276 girls were kidnapped from a school in Nigeria’s north-eastern Borno state.

Visit Change.org to sign the petition and use the #bringbackourgirls hashtag.

Rihanna | Get the Look

Posted on May 8, 2014 by Frostie

Doesn’t Rihanna look amazing? Get her look with these great pieces.

Frank Usher 9 Strand Stretch Bracelet,

QVC, £24.00

Jacqueline Kennedy Collection Starry Night Bracelet

QVC Price: £67.00

Honora 10-11mm Button Pearl Stud Earrings Sterling Silver

QVC Price: £19.50

Veronese Satin Collar Necklace Sterling Silver

QVC Price: £101.25

Butler & Wilson Multi Skull Snap Bangle

QVC Price: £68.00

Will you be getting the Rihanna look?

Are Poker Players Cool Or Just Nerds? Here’s One That’s Both

Posted on May 8, 2014 by Frostie

Do you think poker players are cool or nerds? It’s not always easy to tell.

Back in the day they most definitely had a reputation for being cool, and this was also part of the essential bluff. Remember the scene in Cool Hand Luke, where the eponymous character keeps repeating “Kick a buck”? Paul Newman was undeniably cool as a cucumber because he simply didn’t care whether he won or lost. But he won anyway, this was after all an American movie where the cool, good-looking guy wins. He would undoubtedly have “got the gal” too, but it was a prison movie.

Since poker has become more popular over the last ten years or so, with the advent of major online tournaments, you can’t help but think that many players are trying a bit too hard to be cool, and failing very badly.

It seems essential to wear any combination of the following at a poker table: a hoodie, sunglasses, a Stetson hat, a baseball cap (preferably styled back to front), a beanie hat, and something a bit wacky to make you stand out from the rest. It’s also essential to try and look mean and cool, carefully weighing the possibilities of everything about the game.
Now some of these players are real, but others are most definitely nerds who are trying way too hard. Many also look distinctly unhealthy and, consequently, wear very baggy tops. It’s almost as if they’ve spent too long sitting in chairs in darkened smoke-filled rooms…

In the coolness stakes though you quickly get to sort the wheat from the chaff if you watch any of these poker tournaments online, but this isn’t always about who wins. You can be a genuine nerd and still be successful. In fact, it probably helps. In real life, the game of poker isn’t always won by the “Cool Hand Luke” character, but by the nerd who calls his bluff on a mathematical formulaic basis and who is blissfully unaware of whether he or she is cool or not.

Some of the best players today seem to combine these two types of personality, and refreshingly there are an increasing number of female players. UK player Sinem Melin (interestingly named ‘Sin’ for short) was recently featured in The Independent having been successful in getting Full Tilt Poker sponsorship.

Melin is certainly no nerd, but nor does she try too hard to be cool either. She reached the final tables of both the UKIPT Brighton Main Event in 2011 and the GUKPT London Main Event last year. She signed on with Full Tilt as an ambassador in the summer of 2013 along with Ben Jenkins, Martins Adeniya and Ireland’s Dermot Blain.

Melin has explained how her down-to-earth personality actually helps her game as it gains the opponents’ trust, which means she can get away with more bluffs. This in itself is sort of cool by not trying to be cool, which is doubly confusing!

Behind The Scenes for ‘Ashley Sofia Events’

Posted on May 7, 2014 by Sarah Bacchus

This was one of the best photo shoots I have done in ages, tons of fun and the location was just superb. Ashley is a self taught florist and has such amazing creative talent. Her floristry is magical, beautiful and original. We decided to get together a few months ago when Ashley contacted me through Twitter. Plans went into action for a very different shoot indeed.

The entire week before we had showers, shadows and no sun whatsoever. Mine and Ashley’s vision was looking like it was going to be doomed from the outset.

We woke up on the day of the shoot to see clear blues skies and not a drop of rain. Here is a look behind the scenes!

Ashley Sofia Events is based in Manchester and started with a passion for flowers 8 years ago and with a focus on uniquely beautiful designs. Today Ashely offers trend setting wedding, Party, Christmas and event design. You can drop her a line and she will be able to help you with anything your little heart desires. Even a dinner party at home would just wow your guests. Beautiful centre pieces for coffee tables and fine dining. Ashley is free for ideas with hotels to coffee shops. Make your business stand out with a weekly floral display from this magnificent little company.

Nice …our model Lottie being a goof!! Joking aside a shoot like this takes weeks if not months of preparation. The test shots need to be sorted at the location, clothing needs to be sourced, props hired and the setting up takes hours. Tons of hanging about for the model or models. Lottie was freezing between sets poor girl. Coffee runs and catering has to be thought of too.

Delicious cakes eaten and a little delirious from all the laughter on set we called it a day. Perfect shoot in the bag and and a perfect friendship formed.

This is what can happen in-between all the fun! Here are just a few pictures form the shoot. The rest…well you will have to wait till they are published.

Visit Ashley Sofia Events or Tweet @ashleyflorist1 for more information.

For more information regarding Fashion, Wedding and professional photography please contact me at sarah@sarahbacchus.com or tweet me @sarahbacchus.

The new SARAH BACCHUS.COM photographic website will be up and running in a few days. I will let you all know when it goes live.

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