23 March 2012

WHAT FASHION MEANS TO ME

I'd been saving this article for my university's magazine, but it's been in the pipeline for quite a while now... Here's a sneak preview at my article on what fashion means to a girl like me.


There are few things more important to me than fashion. It is my free time, it is how I plan to make my living and it is something I will always argue has great significance in all of our lives. But when I talk about fashion, I am not thinking of luxury, logos and labels. I am thinking of the street and the ways in which individuals put together pieces without the aid of a stylist. Fashion shouldn’t be about dictation, but creativity and communication; this is what fashion means to me.

We have come a long way from using clothes just to survive the elements. Now, we dress to express. What you choose to wear is a visual representation of your personality, your likes and dislikes, your taste and your background. They say you should never judge a book by its cover, but when that cover has been personally designed by you surely it would be a mistake not to. Recently, we have taken to wearing our lives on our wrists with friendship bracelets, festival wristbands and gap year trinkets. Moments in time become commemorated in fashion, and through them we send messages to the world without saying a word.  


Although fashion, for me, is most interesting on the street, it is impossible to ignore the influence and importance of designers. Fashion should be exciting, and it is the thrill of the new that keeps me engaged rather than classic styles. Creativity on the catwalk comes around once every six months, and with the new season comes suspense and surprise. Designers like Christopher Kane, Vivienne Westwood and the late, great Alexander McQueen consistently break boundaries with each and every show, keeping fashion ever-relevant.

In short, fashion means everything to me. It is who I am and it is what I do. Whether you know it or not, fashion says a lot about who you are. Your fashion tells a story, and I want to hear it.

13 March 2012

ECO FASHION SHOW


Here at Sussex University the colour of choice this season was most definitely green. While you may be thinking of moss-green parkas, I'm talking about true green style; ethical and environmentally friendly fashion that doesn’t have to do bad to look good. On Wednesday 7th March, as part of Green Week, the School of Global Studies showcased the best of Brighton’s eco-fashion through a catwalk show with a conscience. While the rest of the world was focused on international fashion weeks, Sussex students needed to look no further than their own campus for the new trends and styles made from sustainable and organic materials in ethical ways.

Co-ordinated by Sussex alumna and successful model Renske McFarlane, the show also featured break-dancers, DJs and a talk from Rob Drake-Knight who won the Sustainable Business Award in 2010 with the company Rapanui. The Fair Shop, Lovethatstuff and Rapanui provided the outfits for the night, proving to Sussex students that being sartorially satisfied can be sustainable. Hair and make-up, done by Aveda using their plant-based products, showed that botanical beauty is catwalk worthy. 

Renske McFarlane, Sussex alumna and show co-ordinator





Stylist Daisy Moon Ellis with her help

Rehearsals get underway...




Models get their hair and make-up done by Aveda



My favourite look of the night; festival inspired grunge




This show, held on campus, will be performed again in Brighton in April. For all those who couldn't make this date, make sure you get your tickets for April!

11 March 2012

AD FAB

Some of my favourite S/S '12 ad campaigns...




Mulberry on Brighton beach! As a Sussex student I can't resist these sweet shots.




From one sea to another, this Chanel campaign is breath taking. Shot by Mr Lagerfeld himself at the Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc, these images epitomise the vast and epic aspirations of Chanel as a design house. I love the attention to detail, like the pearls placed in the models' ears like piercings. See behind the scenes in this video



  
This Hermes advert is probably my favourite of the season. The rich reds and sunshine yellows in the scarf that billows in the breeze make me long for balmy twilights.



Both Prada and Dolce and Gabbana bring a fifties look to their campaigns this season. Words cannot describe how insanely hot the Prada heels are (on every editor's Lust List I'm sure), while the Italian sensuality of a chilli print crop-top and full skirt is unexpectedly sexy. The bright tones of the shots make you almost feel the blazing sunshine for yourself.


Cute and quirky, Diane Von Furstenberg's s/s '12 campaign is a refreshing and amusing take on focusing on the clothes.

9 March 2012

PRIESTLY SPEAKS

The Devil Wears Prada is one of my all-time favourite films. Meryl Streep makes an incredibly icy editor in chief, with her put downs and thinly veiled insults making it clear just how tough the industry can be. But my favourite scene? There is no question;


Hopefully one day I can be humiliated by my editor, a girl can dream...

1 March 2012

TIME FOR TIFFANY'S



There are some nights where all you want to do is watch films in bed in your pyjamas. Stressed and missing Birmingham, tonight is one of those nights. There's nothing like Breakfast at Tiffany's to make a girl feel better.