Tag Archives: Catherine Balavage

Stylists Talk Bags As Converse Launch New Range

Posted on by

With Converse launching their first bag collection just in time for the new school year, a handful of the UK’s finest experts on style and self-expression representing fashion, music and culture reminisced about what defined their own unique style, getting nostalgic about what it means to be an individual once the new term begins. Provided simply with a canvas duffle bag from the Converse Bags & Accessories launch collection, a pencil case and notebook, they got creative to express their personal style in their very own special way…

Sam Voulters
About: Fashion Editor at Vice, Sam Voulters is 22, stylist, brand consultant and writer.
What was your favourite school bag? “I had a CAT backpack with tippex all over it.”

‘Synamatix’ – The Daily Street
About: ‘Synamatix’ is Editor in Chief & Mixtapes Director of the UK’s finest streetwear blog The Daily Street and specialises in sneakers and menswear as well as covering the UK underground dance music scene.
What was your favourite school bag or accessory? “I had a wicked rucksack in olive green, covered in band logos, skate logos etc. That was my greatest bag by a mile.”

Chantelle Fiddy
About: Chantelle Fiddy is a journalist and renowned commentator on London’s grime scene, whose music credentials include penning for Ctrl.Alt.Shift, RWD Magazine, Mixmag, Sunday Times Style and Dazed & Confused as well as presenting on Channel 4’s ‘Generation Next’ and making multiple appearance on BBC Radio 1’s Review Show. You’ll mostly find her online.
Describe your school style. “My school style flitted between record bags and (hideous) rave jackets (I hereby admit to rocking a Technics number) to holding my (entire mop of unbrushed) hair up with felt tip pens and wearing leg warmers alongside my yellow shirt and green blazer.”

Larry B – WORK IT
About: Ripe for reminiscing are some of the team behind London’s coolest 90s night, Work It. Work It have a reputation for drawing the biggest crowds with a cult following craving their unique blend of music, hosting nights and events for Selfridges, Lovebox 2010, Warner Music, London Fashion Week and Vogue Fashion Night Out.
Describe your style at school. “My style at school was your general London rudeboy schoolboy.”

About Converse Bags:
For AW ’11 Converse took the illustrious heritage and iconic style, that has seen their classic sneakers and Chuck Taylor All Star logo omnipresent since the 1900s, to create their first ever dedicated Bags & Accessories Collection. The debut collection reflects the simple and versatile styling synonymous with Converse complete with the iconic Chuck Taylor All Star logo, steel eyelet details and the ever versatile canvas.

The new line of Converse Bags & Accessories is available now at stockists including Schuh, JD Sports and www.blackleaf.com. Prices range from £19 – £54.95

BBC Children in Need Announce POP Goes The Musical

Posted on by

BBC Children in Need has announced the launch of ‘BBC Children in Need POP Goes the Musical 2011’.

Working with the best of West End Theatre and a star-studded line up, this unique charity project is giving renowned celebrities from the music sphere the chance to perform a hit song from a top show, to take place in September to help raise vital funds for children and young people here in the UK.

The show-stopping celebrities involved in a series of unique curtain calls are the gorgeous Peter Andre performing GHOST the Musical’s spectacular number ‘Unchained Melody’, the loveable Stacey Solomon for WICKED to sing ‘For Good’, chart-toppers Sugababes will take on ‘Dancing Queen’ in MAMMA MIA! And the legendary Melanie C will sing the highly charged ‘We Are The Champions’ and ‘We Will Rock You’ in the Queen musical WE WILL ROCK YOU.

Don’t miss out on what’s set to be a week of nights to remember and your chance to experience a series of pop-tastic performances.

Bookings can be made immediately for the following dates at:

10th September 2011 – WICKED – ‘popping up’ is Stacey Solomon (Matinee Performance)

13th September 2011 – WE WILL ROCK YOU – ‘popping up’ is Melanie C

14th September 2011 – GHOST the Musical – ‘popping up’ is Peter Andre

15th September 2011 – MAMMA MIA! – ‘popping up’ is Sugababes

Tickets for ‘BBC Children in Need POP Goes the Musical 2011’ are available at http://www.bbc.co.uk/pudsey/. Prices start from £25 with all proceeds going to BBC Children in Need.

“I’m so excited to be a part of the musical WICKED. I went to see the show and was completely blown away by the costumes and performances. It’s going to be scary to get up on a West End stage but I’m so happy to take on the challenge and get involved in BBC Children in Need POP Goes the Musical.” – Stacey Solomon

“I am so excited to be taking part in ‘Pop Goes The Musical’ for this year’s BBC Children In Need, especially as I will be performing with the cast of the incredible show, We Will Rock You. I have always been a huge Queen fan and standing on the stage of the Dominion Theatre to sing one of the band’s anthems is an absolute honour and a great way raise money for such a fantastic charity.” – Melanie C

“I was so impressed when I went to see GHOST the Musical. It was one of the best shows I’ve ever seen. So when I was approached by BBC Children In Need to get involved, I jumped at the chance and just hope that I can do it justice! The cast are great so it’ll be so much fun working with them and raising money for an amazing cause all at the same time.” – Peter Andre

“We’re so excited to be part of BBC Children In Need this year. It’s such a great cause and helps so many people and to be able to join the cast of MAMMA MIA!, one of the West End’s most famous musicals, is a real honour for us.” – Sugababes

BBC Children in Need changes the lives of some of the most disadvantaged children and young people right here in the UK. The charity supports children in the UK facing a range of disadvantages including poverty and deprivation, young people with disabilities and children who have been the victims of abuse or neglect.

Due to the incredible generosity of the public in 2010, BBC Children in Need has awarded £40 million to change young lives r and this year we need your help to beat this total!

For more information on the charity please visit www.bbc.co.uk/pudsey/

Beyonce Reveals Pregnancy At MTV Awards

Posted on by

She has been a workaholic superstar, entertaining the world since her teens, but now Beyonce has entered another phase in her life –  becoming a mother. Beyonce and her husband, rapper Jay-Z, are to become parents for the first time.

Beyonce revealed she was pregnant at the MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles where the former Destiny’s Child singer flaunted her growing baby bump. Beyonce performed her song “Love On Top” at the awards, telling the audience to stand up and said: “I want you to feel the love that’s growing inside of me.”

When the song finished, she took off her jacket, smiled broadly and rubbed her tummy.

Jay-Z was congratulated by Kanye West who were both in the audience and he gave Beyoncé a big wave.

Little Mistress: Beautiful Clothes – Reasonable Price

Posted on by

This month, I attended an event held by uber-cool clothing brand Little Mistress.

I looked at their clothes online beforehand and not only were they gorgeous, they don’t break the bank. So, I took myself off to 68 Great Portland Street, W1 and had some champagne while rummaging through the rails and checking out their jewellery. I walked away with a cool arm cuff and will be back to buy more.

Each season, Little Mistress adapts the latest catwalk trends and in-season colours to create covetable collections that are feminine, chic, pretty, affordable and wearable. With a rapidly growing reputation as a ‘must have’ label, it is difficult not to fall in love with the adorable, fun-loving Little Mistress brand. The styles have a strong, brand signature, with pieces for all social occasions and looks that can be worn day and night.

This season’s trends include bold colour and colour blocking, as well as romantic pieces with embroidery, lace, beadwork and a nod to vintage prints. The silhouettes feature structured shapes, body-con dresses as well as romantic feminine styles in a colour palette of neutral shades and jewel colours like jade, teal, red and purple.
The Little Mistress girl loves to dress up according to her mood and she likes to experiment with new styles – she will love the bold, printed maxi dresses, flattering playsuits and chiffon shirts for day and then chose a sexier, body-con dress for a night out partying.


All Little Mistress pieces are designed in-house, flatter the feminine figure and seduce the buyer with their exquisite embellished detailing, lush layered textures and unique prints.

Little Mistress has a growing customer fan base and is quickly becoming a favourite with celebrities, who are all eager to be seen in the latest Little Mistress looks.

Wholesale price range – £12.00 – £18.00

Frost Editor, Catherine Balavage, at the Little Mistress event. Far Right

A Lesson In Style With Alexis Knox

Posted on by

As Style Mentor on T4’s Style the Nation’ alongside Giles Deacon and Nick Grimshaw, Alexis Knox knows a thing or two about personal style. Not only is she the Fashion Director at Notion magazine and host of the surrealist club night ‘Circus’ with the infamous Jodie Harsh, but now the fashion fabulous Ms Knox has teamed up with Schuh for the launch of Converse’s first ever Bags & Accessories collection.

One fashion savvy girl or guy can win a day of one-on-one fashion tips and personal styling with Alexis at London’s Oxford Circus. Meeting at Schuh’s Oxford Street store, the trend-hungry winner will select the Converse accessories of their choice before going for lunch and an afternoon’s styling and fashion advice, where Alexis will pass on her finest trade secrets including how to wear your new accessories.

The prize includes a Converse bags & accessories shopping spree at Schuh’s flagship store on Oxford Street, lunch with Alexis and an afternoon of styling tips with the T4 ‘Style the Nation’ Fashion Mentor, with spending money.

Entry is free via Schuh’s Competitions page, here http://www.schuh.co.uk/competitions.aspx?CompID=127 and you can follow Alexis’s Styling adventures on Facebook http://www.Facebook.com/alexisknox/. Competition closes on 10th September.

Must Have / Can’t Stand: What Singletons Look For In A Partner

Posted on by

For those of us who watched Mel Gibson and Helen Hunt in ‘What Women Want’ and were left none the wiser by Hollywood’s take on understanding the sexes, a new survey released today should do the trick.

A study of 15,000 single British people (both men and women) by eHarmony.co.uk, the relationship site that introduced compatibility-based matching to the UK, has found that a sense of humour is the most important trait in a future partner.

The “Must Have” top four traits British singletons are seeking, according to eHarmony’s data, are:

1. Good sense of humour – 73%

2. Being affectionate – 60%

3. Loyalty – 52%

4. Good communication – 52%

But the study didn’t stop there. eHarmony.co.uk also asked the 15,000 singletons what traits they “Can’t Stand” in a potential partner. The top four were:

1. Lying – 71%

2. Cheating – 66%

3. Rudeness – 55%

4. Poor hygiene – 46%

So there we have it? What’s your must have/can’t stand?

Frost Loves…Electronic Cigarettes

Posted on by

I am incredibly anti-smoking, but I do understand what it is like to be addicted to something. Iin my case it is chocolate and Coca Cola. More healthy and less likely to kill me. With the current shaky economical situation, it is the perfect time to quit. You can save money and help your health with an electric cigarette.

Most of the smokers I know find that one of the hardest things about giving up is what to do with their hands. Cigarettes can almost be used as a pacifier. The act of smoking is missed as well. An electronic cigarette can fix this. You have something to fidget with, almost like a real cigarette, except –  it won’t kill you. If that is not an upside, then I do not know what is!

A e cigarette is an electronic device that mimics a real cigarette. A vapour gets released when you use the electronic cigarette, which tricks your body into thinking it is actually smoking. Frost tried it on a real smoker, and they liked it.

There are a number of different brands around and you may also like to tale a look at this earlier piece from our archives: http://frostmagazine.com/2011/06/smokers-smoking-the-next-generation/