Canterbury Shoes | Fashion

Posted on by

Here at Frost we love comfort. We think these shoes are cool and comfy.

Canterbury, are a traditionally a rugby brand but also offers a wide range of high performance men’s and women’s sports clothing alongside more recreational sportswear. Canterbury have just released a new Lifestyle collection- which include their new casual footwear range.

 

Staying true to Canterbury’s brand heritage, each style is named after towns in New Zealand and have touches of the unique ‘Uglies’ tradition with each shoe having different coloured heel, tongue or inside. Each style is designed for comfort, with the Canterbury logo clearly displayed on either the side panel or heel and are available in three different colours- ensuring Canterbury’s renowned quality and style continues off the field. 

Londoner’s Life 43 – Overheard by Phil Ryan

Posted on by

.Had a crazy week with lots of calls and arrangements for projects. Had around three chances to get an overheard as I bustled around London. But finally grabbed one in the back end of Holborn. Feeling faint after an incredibly early start I dived into a great café and had a very late breakfast. I sat on a long table and two builders with cropped hair and hi vis jackets sat around three seats away. I seem to be getting a sixth sense as to when I’m going to find a perfect conversation for this column. I wrote the following on my free Metro (on an advert for luxury flats which was conveniently white) But just before I start here’s my brief phone overheard – Outside Baker Street standing next to the Sherlock Holmes statue. Young Tourist taking picture “Hey Jorge move closer to the Bruce Wayne statue its cool eh?” Education is a wonderful thing.

However my breakfast café conversation – the two builders. After having some banter with the waitress the first guy turns back to his colleague – Builder 1: “Yeah the jobs going alright but Debs at the office thinks it’ll run into February at this rate and they’re screaming to get it finished so we can start the Cross rail stuff” (Suddenly his phone rang and he answers in a very friendly way ) “Hang on mate. Yeah. Oh yeah hi Stewart. No the gear under the black tarpaulin is the control switches. For the beam ends. Yeah mate. Put em back in our stores will you. Yeah our stores. Great mate. Really appreciate it. Nice one mate. Thanks a lot. Right bye”. Sharply turns phone off and turns to Builder 2: (His smile instantly vanished and his face was scowling) “I fucking hate him” Builder 2: “Who?” Builder 1: “That Stewart. I fucking hate him the c***. He’s not right I tell you. There’s something wrong about him. Weird. Creepy you know?” Builder 2: (sipping and blowing on his tea) ” Seems alright to me. Good worker” Builder 1: (vehemently) “No mate check him out he’s got a damp mouth and the way he stands sometimes gives me the willies” Builder 2: “Stewart? He’s got a damp mouth? What d’you mean wet? Builder 1: “No not wet worse, damp. Like he’s not alive or sommat. Alien. He could be a serial killer or a kiddy fiddler or something. Trust me” Builder 2: “Nah. He goes to church and that” Builder 1: “Exactly. See. Church. Exactly. Something satanic about him. Church my arse it’s a cover I tell you he is not normal take my word for it. Builder 2: (Laughing) ”He’s always been alright with me. He gave me a mars bar yesterday. Builder1: “Fuck me. You didn’t eat it did you?” Builder 2: (now laughing) “Course I did you silly c***I was fucking starving. Builder 1: “ Well you were lucky there. God knows what could have happened to you. You just be careful. And don’t hang around him on night jobs. I’m telling you. It wouldn’t surprise me if he bit you in the neck. He gets that funny look sometimes. Urgh gives me the fucking willies” Builder 2: “You need help you know that dontcha” Then the other builders phone rang again and then they started talking about Jimmy Saville.
I didn’t learn much but if I ever meet him I’m staying away from that Stewart.

The Economics of Happiness | Film Review

Posted on by

One of my favourite books is Ancient Futures: Learning From Ladakh, a riveting book by Helena Norberg-Hodge. The Economics of Happiness follows on from this book. It describes how consumerism and globalisation damages the lives of, not only villagers in Ladakh, but also the wider world in general. Making them less happy and affecting their livelihoods.

Helena Norberg-Hodge talks about the happiness index and gives a strong argument for localisation while exploding the myths that surround it. Did you know that most countries export as much food as they import? Critics say that it is not possible to feed the world without importing but this brilliant documentary sets the record straight on many environmental and economical issues. The Economics of Happiness lays waste with the idea that the relocalisation of food production in the West would cause starvation in the developing world.

People are sick of companies putting chemicals in our food. One of the problems of today is how far away we are from the reality of our food. Our food has become big business and it does harm to our health. It is depressing that we live in a world where a meal from McDonalds costs less than some vegetables. No wonder diabetes and other health problems are on the rise.

The Economics of Happiness has important people from six continents asking for economic change, including environmentalist and conservative MP Zac Goldsmith, Vandana Shiva, Bill McKibben, David Korten, Michael Shuman, Andrew Simms and Clive Hamilton amongst others. The documentary runs for 65 minutes. It is well paced with high production value.

The documentary goes on to make 8 arguments against globalisation. It makes its point well and makes no apology, Norberg-Hodge thinks globalisation makes us unhappy and less socially connected. The documentary is well researched and it rightly points out that globalisation exists thanks to huge subsidies from governments. This documentary argues it’s case well and gives a strong argument for localisation.

I saw this film shortly after seeing the brilliant, Oscar-nominated, Foods Inc. As customers we have the power to vote with our wallets, even if that vote means we spend nothing at all.

I saw this documentary after Zac Goldsmith MP brought it to Richmond and afterward I met Helena Norberg-Hodge who has graciously said she would give Frost an interview. Something I am very excited about. Watch this space!

To find out more or to contribute; http://www.theeconomicsofhappiness.org/

Taken 2 – Movie Review

Posted on by

“I don’t know who you are. I don’t know what you want. If you are looking for ransom, I can tell you I don’t have money. But what I do have are a very particular set of skills; skills I have acquired over a very long career. Skills that make me a nightmare for people like you. If you let my daughter go now, that’ll be the end of it. I will not look for you, I will not pursue you. But if you don’t, I will look for you, I will find you, and I will kill you….”

For anyone who doesn’t know, these now unforgettable words come from Taken; the surprise hit action movie of 2008, a film which saw Liam Neeson; an established actor in his own right become one of the most proficient killing machines and not to mention professional throat puncher since Bourne. What set this film apart from other action movies? Well a number of reasons, it was impeccably acted, superbly directed and (bar one or two questionable scenes) had an incredible screenplay. What’s more it had heart, it was hard not to feel for Liam Neeson’s character the humble, yet deadly Brian Mills in his struggle to rescue his daughter. If you haven’t seen Taken then I highly recommend you do so now.

Taken 2 sees Liam Neeson once again become Brian Mills, however this time the key motivation is simple revenge. Mills finds himself being hunted by Murad (played well by Rade Serbedzija) the father of one of the kidnappers he tortured and killed in the first film. He has sworn revenge on behalf of the families whom Mills destroyed in his attempt to get his daughter back and takes Bryan and his wife hostage during their vacation in Istanbul. Thus the scene is set for more fights against the clock as time for Mills and his estranged wife runs out.

Things start nicely enough, at the beginning we are introduced to teen issues and daughter Kim, we see Mills ‘subtle’ reactions to his daughter having a boyfriend which can only mean one thing. At the same time his ex-wife, Lenore (played by the lovely Famke Janssen who never seems to age at all) is recently separated from her husband and there are hints of a possible reconciliation between her and Brian. However it isn’t too long before there is trouble and Mills ends up using those ‘unique special skills’ he talked about and his daughter Kim (played well by Maggie Grace) has to learn new skills of her own to help her dad.

This all sounds very good and believe me it is. However there are a couple of shortcomings – new director Olivier Megaton just isn’t as snappy on the editing as his predecessor Pierre Morel was. It is nearly 30 minutes in before we see anything in the way of ‘real’ action. Then there is of the absurd choice to make this film a 12A certificate – a choice, that to be honest baffles me. Taken earned a 15 rating for its ‘strong violence and scenes of torture’ so why would you choose to limit yourself by a 12A? What this means is that bullets enter walls rather than flesh, blades are brandished instead of utilised, while a supposedly life-threatening slash to Janssen’s neck is left to the imagination. By and large fight sequences have ‘just’ lost their spark and the shaky cam used in fights was just a plain bad idea. All of these issues just detract from what the film should have been.

On the plus side there is some really good car chases especially a good one from Kim who is about to sit her driving test and ingenious set-piece, involving a map, a shoelace and grenades whose detonations allow our Mills to ascertain his location. Yes he still has the grey matter.

The Verdict

Taken 2 was always going to be a predictable film, firstly for the context and then secondly because purely and simply the first film was so damn good. A common question between myself and my friends was ‘how on earth are they going to improve upon the first film?’ it would simply be too hard to supersede the original in terms of memorable scenes. To a certain extent this film doesn’t even try; of course there’s hairy situations that the family barely get through, big explosions and great action sequences and like the first film this one tries to mix all out action against a backdrop of family relationship issues. But whilst it is good, it is not great, whilst it is still a must-see, it does not come across as legendary as its predecessor. What it does accomplish is being a satisfactory conclusion to a remarkable story.

8 out of 10

SUDA Thai Birthday Party

Posted on by

I love Asian food so I was very happy to receive an invite to SUDA Thai’s first Birthday Party. This brilliant Thai restaurant is in the heart of Convent Garden. The restaurant has two floors and the decor is no expense spared. The food is brilliant as are the cocktails and champagne.

We were even given recipes to take home and shown how to cook See Krong Gae Yang Takrai – lemongrass- marinated rack of lamb with papaya salad.

Happy birthday SUDA, and thanks for the invite.

SUDA, St Martin’s Courtyard, WC2E 9AB. 020 7240 8010.

Potter’s Herbal Elixir of Echinacea Plus & Kwai Heart + Immune Supplements | Health Review

Posted on by

miranda kerrAs winter comes in colds are inevitable. Echinacea is well known to ward of colds and boost the immune system, but does it really work?

The first thing I have to say about Potter’s Herbals Elixir of Echinacea is how nice it tastes, rare for something that is good for you. I am more used to taking pills but taking the elixir is no problem. I take it three times a day and I don’t get a cold, and feel that I have been given a health boost. In fact when I get more busy and forgot to take it for a while I ended up getting a cold. I start taking the Echinacea again and I immediately feel better. I think it works and I am impressed. It even makes my skin clearer.

I also start taking Kwai Heart+Immune with vitamins A, C and E; 30 tablets RRP £6.12; 100 tablets £16.33; Available from Boots. When I first take it I worry that I will smell of garlic but a friend says I don’t. After I start taking the supplement I feel much more energetic and healthier. The Pills are also easy to swallow.  My skin tone also improves when I am taking the pills. With the Kwai Heart+Immune and Potter’s Herbals Elixir of Echinacea I am all set for winter.

Commenting on Kwai Heart+Immune, independent dietitian Dr Carrie Ruxton says: “It is now well accepted that vitamins A and C and garlic have a vital role in supporting a normal immune function, while vitamin E is a potent antioxidant, helping to protect cells from oxidative stress which leads to cell damage. Human research on garlic shows that it is antimicrobial and can reduce levels of harmful bacteria and viruses which cause disease.”

The immune system as you know is crucial to help prevent colds/flu/virues and potentillay fatal illnesses. New research by the Henry Potter Advisory Committee also reveals that nearly half of 2,000 respondents in survey (46.4%) believe that they appear physically less attractive when their immune system is lower, with nearly one quarter (23.9%) stating that you could tell how good someone’s immune system is from their skin tone.

 

New stats also revealed that:

  • Worryingly almost three quarter’s (73.9%) of those researched (out of 2,000 respondents) did not know that our immune system is capable of distinguishing foreign bacteria, fungi or viruses, thereby preventing cellular damage.
  • Nearly one third (30.9%), incorrectly believe that vitamin C will ward off a cold, with more women believing this than men (35.3% vs 26%).
  • When it comes to symptoms of a poorly functioning immune system, the most commonly cited symptom was tiredness (61.2%). Over one third of people (38%) commented that they thought their immune system was lowered when they felt physically weak, or when they caught a cold (37.9%) or a virus (37.1%).

Potter’s Herbals Elixir of Echinacea Plus – contains a unique formula of the highest quality Echinacea angustifolia, wild indigo and fumitory. RRP £10.16, available in Boots nationwide. Potter’s Herbal remedies also include cold and flu relief products, as well as sleep aids, and stress releif aids. The whole range are licensed herbal medicines – celebrating 200 years this year.

World class immunologist and medical herbalist Dr Serene Foster says “It is encouraging to see effective herbals available over the counter. The cold and Flu season costs the nation a lot in terms of lost days at school, work, and while on holiday. Now we can all benefit from good mixtures which address all aspects of colds. When Potters Herbal Elixir of Echinacea Plus is taken at the first sign of a cold, it will support and balance your immune system to reduce the symptoms and shorten the time you suffer a cold and make you feel better faster.”

 

Looper {Film Review}

Posted on by

*WARNING! MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS!*

 

Every year, we are always gifted to a little sci-fi gem that knocks every other sci-fi flick that year. 2009 had two with Moon and District 9. Although 2010 had the fortune of Christopher Nolan’s sci-fi mind-bender, Inception and turned out to be 4th highest-grossing film of that year. Every science fiction film tackles on an idea or theme or concept (District 9 on xenophobia, Inception with dreams). This year, we have Rian Johnson’s Looper and it tackles on probably the most used concept; time travel.

The year is 2044; a huge economic collapse occurred and social decay and organised crime has grown since. Thirty years into the future, time travel is invented but it is also outlawed. Crime bosses find it difficult to dispose their targets, so they send them in time machines to the past. Our protagonist amongst this dystopian future is Joseph “Joe” Simmons (Gordon-Levitt), who works as a looper. A looper are basically hired guns that kill those targets that are sent from the future. Life seems fairly routine for Joe, he goes to nightclubs with his fellow loopers and spends time with showgirl, Suzie (Piper Perabo). Until one day, he gets sent a target and is revealed to be his future self (Bruce Willis). Older Joe manages to escape, younger Joe is then tasked to find his older self but keeping low from “Gat Men”, led by Kid Blue (Noah Segan).

Rian Johnson has really gone all out to make us invested in his vision of 2044, it is something we have seen before (dystopian setting and different social class similar to Children of Men) but Johnson has managed to make this all seem fresh. The use of time travel is very cleverly conveyed on-screen, such as the butterfly effect with a horrific scene where a future looper is escaping but is suddenly receiving scars and losing limbs due to his younger self being tortured and mutilated off-screen. Also scenes where Joe meets Sara (Emily Blunt) for the first time and older Joe suddenly sees visions of what his younger self is seeing. The fact Johnson was able to make us delve into his future setting without much exposition is quite a remarkable feat and making us just go along with the ride!

Joseph Gordon-Levitt makes a wonderful performance, he gets the essence and mannerisms of Bruce Willis rather than impersonates him (such as the smirk and raised eye-brow when he’s being complimented from someone). As the make-up does make him rather unrecognisable, there’s still a sense of uncanny valley with it all. Bruce Willis delivers a subtle and emotional performance, showing the amount of regret but also pain from the things he’s lost and trying to fix all that. The scene in the diner with both Gordon-Levitt and Willis is the highlight of the film, as the older Joe is telling young Joe that he’s a junkie and really needs to be fixed. Whilst the younger Joe is young and naive, pointing out that he can still make his own decisions no matter what has happened with older Joe. It is all very engaging and very amusing to watch as they’re basically trying to top each other. Emily Blunt makes a great performance as Sara, whose a farm girl living outside from the major cities and also tasked on looking after her son, Cid (Pierce Gagnon). She’s a tough character, but also carries emotional weight that makes her a strong character overall. It is also refreshing that Blunt actually delivers a convincing American accent, as most of her roles in her previous work just have her speak in her British accent. Jeff Daniels is one of the great supporting casts playing as Abe, who is from the future to manage the loopers but also run a nightclub Joe frequently goes to. The scenes where he tells young Joe to instead of copying something from the past and make something on your own. Even a funny line where he tells Joes to go to Shanghai, when Joe wants to go to France but Abe then says “I’m from the future, go to Shanghai!”

The pacing, editing, production design, visual effects are very well executed and very well done. The first act is slow, letting you delve into the future and the narration helps you get an idea the tone the film will go. Another scene I really admired was the montage of young Joe growing to the older Joe, it could’ve gone to the conventional route on having a voice-over explaining to us about his choices after his looper contract had ended but it doesn’t and it works beautifully. The technology within the world all felt very plausible, as it was only thirty years into the future that you can imagine cars having one or two additional features. The director wasn’t interested on focusing on the technology or using it as a spectacle, we are aware it is there and will only be used when it is required to (not having to rely on a chase sequence here and there to grab audience’s attention).

Overall; this is a great sci-fi film. The script is very smart and competently written. It is refreshing to watch after the blockbuster season has finished. Gordon-Levitt, Willis and Blunt all make great performances and is certainly one of my favourite films of this year. Highly Recommended!

5 out of 5

Vogue On Designers | Book Review

Posted on by

VOGUE ON

Elsa Schiaparelli, Coco Chanel, Christian Dior, and Alexander McQueen

Out Now, £15 each, hardback

 

 Sometimes I love my job, and the opportunity to review these books was one of those times. These books are as beautiful, elegant and enjoyable as the designers the books are about. I love the layout of the books and each one has great quotes from the designer.

Vogue on: Coco Chanel, by Bronwyn Cosgrave. Vogue on Chanel may be a short book but it is incredibly comprehensive. The book is full of pictures and quotes. It is hard to read the story of Coco Chanel’s life and not be inspired by what an amazing business women she was. To Vogue’s credit it does not brush over the rumours about Nazi collaboration (Chanel had an affair with a German officer during World War II) and the book is well-researched and beautifully written. The Vogue archive pictures are to-die-for and I learnt a lot from reading this book. Coco Chanel managed to leave her mark, not just fashion, but also the world. An excellent businesswomen she built an entire empire by creating a signature look.

Coco Chanel’s private life was as interesting as her business. She dated the Duke of Westminster and traveled in high society. She was backed by Kitty De Rothschild who stated, “I shan’t buy a thing without showing her. That child’s got more taste than the rest put together.” After this stamp of approval the elite of the day bought her clothes in droves, and still do.

I loved this book. It is a triumph for Bronwyn Cosgrave. A perfect gift for Christmas and beyond.

 

Vogue on: Alexander McQueen,  by Chloe Fox. This book is different from the others as I actually remember Alexander McQueen, and was very upset when he tragically took his own life. He is the most modern of the fashion designers and I remember some of the collections. For 15 years the mouthy, East-End, working-class boy-did-good, McQueen was deliberately controversial.

Talented beyond belief, McQueen was also arrogant, likable and visionary. He knew how to be quotable and work the press as much as he knew how to design beautiful, wearable clothes. This book has a ting of sadness as both McQueen and Isabella Blow committed suicide. Blow had ovarian cancer and McQueen killed himself not long after Blow, and then his mother died

McQueen’s label lasts and the mantle has been handed to Sarah Burton, who designed the wedding dress of Kate Middleton. Burton talks fondly of her former boss in this book.Burton says, “He was my inspiration everyday. Everything I know, I learnt from him.”  In fact, the book has access to all of the main players in McQueens life. A must have for fashion lovers and McQueen fans.

In this book Plum Sykes says, “The fact was, Alexander created a new silhouette for a generation. When you look back at the history of fashion, the only designers with any longevity – from Balenciaga to Dior to Yves Saint Laurent – are the ones who created their own iconic shape.” This quote is what you learn from Vogue’s series of books on designers: they all created their own shape.I really hope there will be more books in this series.

 

Vogue on: Christian Dior, by Charlotte Sinclair. Dior was such a visionary that he completely changed how women dressed. The ‘New Look’ he invented stunned the fashion world and had a cataclysmic effect. The truth is, Dior did more than create a look, he created a revolution. When Dior showcased his new range so many people would come that even the staircases would be filled. There is a wonderful picture of Marlene Dietrich in this book, clutching her ticket as a child would hang onto candy. This book, and indeed all of the others, is not just a book on fashion, but a book on history. Vogue on Christian Dior is a fascinating read, I could barely put it down. I could also stare at the pictures for hours.

All of Diors couture clients had their own mannequin that was made to their own measurements. Upon reading this I rather longed to be incredibly rich and that Christian Dior was still alive, as it sounded so romantic and wonderful. One of the reasons Dior was so successful was because he gave women what they wanted. “I brought back the neglected art of people pleasing.” He said.

Of course, all of the designers these books are about are dead now. An era ended. Even Alexander McQueen, sadly gone too soon. I hope Vogue do more books in this series. Yves Saint Laurent would be an obvious, and much deserved, subject.

Vogue on: Elsa Schiaparelli, by Judith Watt. Like the rest of the books in the series, Vogue on Elsa Schiaparelli is well illustrated, picture perfect and wonderfully written. Schiaparelli may not be as well known to the wider public as the other designers but she remains influential.

Schiaparelli was also a rare thing, even today: a female fashion designer. She had a lasting rivalry with Coco Chanel who was dismissive of her. Schiaparelli was born into high society but lost all of her money after her husband spent her dowry and then left her and her young daughter. She went to work and managed to open her own label. She said: ‘Poverty forced me to work, Paris gave me a liking for it.” Schiaparelli  not only managed to design her own “look”, she also made designs for different types of women, no matter what their body shape or personality. She was also an artist, collaborating with Salvador Dali and Man Ray,

This book is a brilliant story of flair, tenaciousness and perseverance. A wonderful book.

“Life on the dotted line was of no possible interest.” Elsa Schiaparelli

 

Vogue On is an influential and covetable series of short books from the fashion bible Vogue, celebrating the defining fashion designers of the last century.  The first four books in the series illuminate the significance of Elsa Schiaparelli, Coco Chanel, Christian Dior and Alexander McQueen, each pioneers of their time, and draw extensively on the Vogue archive, the definition of portraiture and fashion illustration. 

 

Alexandra Shulman, Editor of British Vogue, comments “Vogue On offers an authoritative overview of the work of the 20th century’s most influential designers. Unique access to the treasures of the Vogue library combined with concise, elegant and informed writing ensures that this series is an unmissable addition to any student or enthusiast of fashion’s library.”

 

Vogue, the international fashion bible, has charted the careers of designers through the decades. Its unique archive of photographs, taken by the leading photographers of the day from Cecil Beaton to Mario Testino, and original illustrations, together with its highly respected fashion writers, make Vogue the most authoritative and prestigious source of reference on fashion. No magazine is better positioned to present a library on the most influential fashion designers of the modern age.