Cheryl Cole Gives Beyoncé A Run For Her Money, Brings Serious Attitude In L'Oréal Féria Advert (VIDEO)

April 15, 2014, 2:46 am

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Cheryl Cole is back with a bang in a brand new advert for L’Oréal, and it looks like she's giving Beyoncé some serious competition in terms of attitude.

The newly blonde Geordie star brings all kinds of fire to the ad campaign, showing off the feisty side that made the nation fall in love with her in the first place.

Cheryl is seen swishing her fabulous mane, doing some very impressive high-kicks and generally looking amazing in the video, which promotes L’Oréal’s Féria hair colour.

Those hoping to see more of Cheryl can rejoice in the fact that 2014 looks like it’s going to be a massive year for the Geordie singer.


Cheryl Cole dazzles in her new advert for L'Oréal

The former Girls Aloud star has a new solo album coming out later this year, which former band mate Nicola Roberts has been giving her a helping hand with.

Cheryl will also be making her long-awaited comeback to ‘The X Factor’ this summer, alongside Simon Cowell who is also returning to the TV talent show.

The pair have been away from the panel for the last three series. The last time they were judges together they managed to make stars out of One Direction and Cher Lloyd, so it looks like this could be a great year for the show.

It hasn’t yet been revealed who will be joining Simon and Cheryl on the panel, though stars such as Olly Murs, Mel B and Black Eyed Peas singer Fergie are rumoured to be joining the panel.

Simon has previously said that he wants Louis Walsh back on the show, though Cheryl is reportedly less keen on the idea.

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Kelly Brook Gives Major Cleavage In Boob-tastic Bikini Photos For New Look (PICS)

April 16, 2014, 6:29 am

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It might be a few months away yet, but Kelly Brook has got us right in the mood for summer with these brand new pictures debuting her new swimwear range.

The 1950s-inspired photo shoot, which shows off Kelly's latest line of swimsuits for high-street chain New Look, sees the star enjoying herself in the Miami sun.


Kelly Brook sizzles in new campaign for New Look

In one of the pool-side photos she is seen showing off her bikini body while wearing a blue two-piece, and flashing her trademark infectious smile.

Meanwhile, Kelly also delivers some serious cleavage in another of the photos, which shows her getting out of a pool in a red and white striped swimming costume.


Kelly modelling her new range of swimwear

This latest range is the fourth that Kelly has designed for New Look, and is available from £10.99 from their website. She also created a lingerie collection for the chain back in February.

And she isn’t the only celeb to cash in on her own range of swimwear, as earlier this month footballer David Beckham unveiled his first ever range of men’s swimming shorts and trunks for H&M.

Last month Kelly announced her engagement to David McIntosh after 11 weeks of dating, though it hasn’t been smooth sailing for the couple.

It was recently reported that they’d been overheard having a blazing row in Hollywood, with a neighbour claiming the two are constantly coming to blows.

David’s ex-girlfriend also branded him a “vain, manipulative, bullying cheat” in an interview she gave over the weekend, and warned Kelly that she didn’t know “the real David”.

Kelly had earlier defended her relationship on Twitter, after fans criticised her decision to get engaged to the former 'Gladiators' star.

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Easter Shopping: Bunnies and Chocolate and Chicks, Oh My!

April 16, 2014, 8:50 am

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For those of you who don't plan on stuffing your face with chocolate eggs this Easter Bank Holiday weekend (truly the worst time of year after Christmas to be on a diet), here's a bunch of non-fattening, fun suggestions for Easter gifts to indulge in - and a few sweet treats too.



If you're after more of a visual feast, check out the Fabergé Egg, Easter pop-up salon at Harrods in London's Knightsbridge, which runs until 21 April. The accompanying exhibition includes the aristocratic Parisian jewellery house's famous Imperial Easter Eggs, creations for the Russian Imperial Court and a dazzling Apple Blossom Fabergé Egg from 1901, crafted from gold, diamonds and nephrite, displayed in the Fine Jewellery area - the first time such treasures have been seen in the UK and outside a museum setting. You can also visit the Egg Bar where contemporary egg pendants, including an exclusive Fabergé Spiral Tassel Pendant, are on sale and can be engraved (ps. engraving is free on weekends...).

Happy Easter, everyone!





1 Hotel Chocolat, egg and chips, £14 from www.hotelchocolat.com; 2 Dotcomgiftshop, Easter Chick tealights, £6.95, from www.dotcomgiftshop.com; 3 Lindt chocolate bunny with rabbit ears headband, £4.99 from various supermarkets and www.lindt-shop.co.uk; 4 Scribbler, Egg-splode egg cup, £6.99, from Scribbler stores; 5 & 9 (oops) Alessi, Magic Bunny toothpick holder, £17.95 from Selfridges; 6 Hotel Chocolat, Egg on toast, £2.00, from www.hotelchocolat.com; 7 Jelly Belly, Carrot jelly beans, £6.99, and 8 The Organic Pharmacy, Carrot Butter Cleanser, £40 both from Selfridges; 10 Paperchase, Easter chick small bag, £3.00 from paperchase.co.uk; 11 Bobbi Brown, Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner in Chocolate Shimmer Ink, £17.50 from Harrods.com; 12 Marks & Spencer bunny, chick and lamb mugs, £6 each from M&S stores; 13 Hotel Chocolat, Choc Cross Buns chocolates, £7.50 from www.hotelchocolat.com; 14 Artisan du Chocolat, Creme de la Creme chocolate eggs, £19.99 from Selfridges.com; 15 Paperchase, petal 7.5 inch chick, £7.75, from www.paperchase.co.uk; 16 Marc by Marc Jacobs, woven metallic clutch, £130 from www.stylebop.com; 17 Elegant Touch x House of Holland, Kitty Kitsch press on nails, £7.99 from Boots and www.eleganttouch.com; 18 Bourjois, Delice de Poudre bronzing powder in medium/dark, £6.99 from Boots.com





1 Peggy Porschen, Easter Bunny cookie pop, £6.99 and 2 Marc by Marc Jacobs, Rabbit coin purse, £62, both from Selfridges; 3 Monsoon rosebud rabbit ears headband, £6.00 from Monsoon stores; 4 George at Asda, G21 Eyelash Pink Bunny jumper, £16, from Asda ; 5 Artisan du Chocolat, Fluffy Bunny chocolate egg assortment, £39.99 from Selfridges; 6 Marc by Marc Jacobs, velvet slippers, £175, from www.stylebop.com; 7 Suck UK, Bunny Light, £60, from www.suck.uk.com; 8 Paperchase, Easter petal 7.5 inch bunny decoration, £7.75 from Paperchase; 9Scribbler, Rabbit ear salad servers, £6.50 from Scribbler stores; 10 Model's Own, Speckled Eggs nail polish in Magpie, £5.00, and 11 Revlon Parfumerie, nail polish in Chocolate Truffle, £6.49, both from www.boots.com; 12 Christopher Kane, Petal cashmere and lace sweater, £650 from www.brownsfashion.com; 13 Marc by Marc Jacobs, Cameo bunny ring, £60, from Selfridges; 14 Model's Own, egg-shaped makeup applicator, £8.00 from Boots; 15 Minna Parikka, Limited Edition Bunny Sneaks, E.245 from www.minnaparikkashop.com; 16 Essie, nail polish in Chocolate Cakes, £7.99 from www.boots.com






1 Chef'n, g'rabbit grinder, £25.95, and 2 Maison Michel, Heidi rabbit ears headband with veil, £305, both from Selfridges; 3 Amanda Coleman, Mother Hen necklace, £40, from www.amandacoleman.co.uk; 4 Philosophy, Shortbread Cookie 3-in-1 shampoo, shower gel & bubble bath, £14 from www.philosophyskincare.co.uk; 5 Alex Monroe, Sitting Bunny studs, £108, from Harrods.com; 6 & 9 Minna Parikka, Bunny Sneaks in black or white nappa leather, E.245 from www.minnaparikkashop.com; 7 Amanda Coleman, Mother Hen handmade earrings, £44 from www.amandacoleman.co.uk; 8 MCM, Visetos rabbit charm keyring, £120, from www.harrods.com; 10 Diptyque, Jonquille scented candle (daffodil scent), £40, from Selfridges; 11 DoDo yellow gold charms (bunny and chick pictured), £130 each from DoDo; 12 Alex Monroe, Chase top and tail bunny studs, £105, from Harrods; 13 The Gift Oasis, Indoor Allotment, £24.99, from thegiftoasis.com

Thor Steinar: Outfitter To The Extreme Right Opens in London's Jewish Neighbourhood

April 17, 2014, 3:08 am

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London's Finchley neighbourhood, the heart of the city's Jewish community, now hosts a clothing store associated with Europe's Neo-Nazis.

Thor Steinar, the favoured brand of extreme right wingers in Germany, has opened a shop in north London called the Viking Thor Shop.

Jewish and Islamic groups in the multicultural suburb have expressed concerns that the shop will attract far-right supporters and inflame tensions, but there are additional fears shoppers may be oblivious of its right-wing roots.



The shop has been operating from Ballards Lane in North Finchley since late last month, bringing clothing heavily associated with European far-right street movements to the UK, Channel Four reported.

The arrival of the shop was welcomed by the white power website Stormfront, where users gleefully posted that "London gets its first white nationalist clothing shop". A number of users pledged to visit the store.

One poster responded: "I hate north London. It's full of Jews", while a number of users made comments about shooting Jewish people.

But the store’s manager has denied any neo-Nazi associations and claims he is simply selling leisurewear.

The Thor Steinar brand has faced bans in the German Bundestag and in several football stadiums.

Eight members of the far-right German National Democratic Party were expelled from Saxony’s state parliament in 2012 for wearing the brand’s T-shirts, which display themes popular with neo-Nazis.

Its clothes were banned outright in Germany in 2004 because of the logo's similarity to symbols worn by the Nazi SS – but the company has rebranded since then.

The company infamously opened a shop called Brevik in Saxony and was accused of naming the store after far-right mass murderer Anders Behring Breivik.

While the company claims it is not owned by the far right, reports in the German press have repeatedly indicated the clothing was created from the far-right scene in east Germany.

Kate Middleton's New Regal Style for the New Zealand/Australia Royal Tour

April 17, 2014, 5:52 am

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When the song 'Royals' was a big hit earlier this year, it was easy to imagine the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge singing the chorus with a large dose of irony. Following the grandiose pomp of their wedding in Westminster Abbey, it appeared that Prince William and Kate Middleton had decided they wanted their lives to be low key and ordinary. This begs the question: is it possible to be Royal and ordinary? Can these contradictory elements ever be reconciled or should the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge embrace their exceptional circumstances?

Days after walking down the aisle in the splendid surrounds of the Abbey, 'Kate' was seen in the aisles of a supermarket pushing a trolley. Kate has followed this course of trying to be ordinary, by sourcing her clothes from high street fashion brands, causing websites to crash with consumers clamouring for the same outfit or dress.

The Duchess's photogenic looks and beautiful long hair is a proven fashion hit and has certainly added some glamour to the Royal family. There have been some dissenting voices, with the author Hilary Mantel likening her to a 'shop-window mannequin' and academic Mary Beard suggesting she is a 'prisoner' of her public image. However, William and Kate's approachable style has so far seen their popularity soar and they are viewed as successfully modernizing the royals.

Still, some cracks in the public image are beginning to appear and the love affair between the British public and the Royal couple has suffered a few setbacks. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have come under a lot of criticism recently for the small amount of Royal engagements that they have undertaken and they certainly haven't done themselves any favours by jetting off on exotic holidays without George. In July last year, the Royal couple stated that they wanted a hands-on approach to bringing up George; less than a year later, it's 'look no hands' and they've appointed a top nanny.

Over the years, the Royals have struggled to find their position in the modern media obsessed world (anyone remember "It's a Royal Knockout"). The only Royals who seemed to be able to find the balance between being Royal and have the common touch, were the Queen Mother, and Diana, the Princess of Wales. Unfortunately, with the loss of significant power, the Royal family has had to continually justify their existence; so ensuring that they garner positive public relations has become the main focus. So what course of action should William and Kate take next? They need to accept the fact that they are extraordinary. Their tour of New Zealand and Australia is a huge media affair and it is time for them to embrace being Royal.

For Kate this means ditching the short skirts, which have an embarrassing tendency to catch the wind à la Marilyn Monroe, and adopting a more sober wardrobe befitting of a future Queen. Although one fashion blog has started a campaign to Free the Kate Middleton Knees in response to this more regal style; Diana, the Princess of Wales never wore high-street fashion, choosing to wear British couturiers like Belville Sassoon, the Emanuels and Catherine Walker. They made Diana into a Royal star, creating clothes for her that were 'dignified show-stoppers'.

Kate is no ordinary young woman, she is the Duchess of Cambridge, a future Queen; let's bring on the glamorous 'show-stoppers' and maybe an updo for a change, although full marks for the pony-tail by the way!

Ugly Flat Shoes Are the New Statement Handbag

April 17, 2014, 8:52 am

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The sheer beauty and practicality of Sophie Hulme's structured leather tote will forever play on my mind but there's no denying that ugly flats are the new statement handbag this season.

On my watch they're the kale of footwear, the trophy item, 2014's show piece. The paradoxical pairings that work with everything, especially sports socks of the ribbed sports variety. I know, but just roll with it.

The kookier the better too. Think OTT detailing, fringing and clashy colour ways. And then there's the German heritage brand which has been producing ugly two-strap shoes for a cool 230 years - Birkenstock. Those cork soles are back, baby. In a very big way.

Functionality is everything and if Phoebe Philo (along with Marni, Marc Jacobs and Lanvin) has gone all out on Birkenstock-inspired treads, they're a sure thing.



Where the Alexa Mulberry or the quilted cross body Chanel is classic and completely chic, ugly flats are garish and gasp-worthy. And with a far more doable price tag. Ok, so Marni's runway fussbett sling-backs are a hefty £550, but they're guaranteed to last a lifetime.

The Spring/Summer 2014 catwalks all embraced ugly, easy-on, androgynous flats and there was barely a sky-high stiletto to be seen. Yes, fashion kicks are the champion trend (flatforms too) but my eyes are on the regular flat revamped into quirky wonderfulness.

The logic behind the look? Good old fashioned comfort. Remember comfort, that thing before mind-numbing pain, blisters and actual foot indentation? Comfort is for keeps and fashion's finest have given into it.

There's no shame either. Who needs to add inches to their look when there's bells, beads, whistles, print, patent and feathers to style out?

Besides, after Emma Thompson kicked off her bloodthirsty Louboutins ONSTAGE at the 2014 Golden Globes (total heroine), there's even more reason to give up the heels game and just keep your look on the horizontal low.

This article was originally published on MyDaily.co.uk

Is Fashion Criticism Dying Out?

April 22, 2014, 5:27 am

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All publicity is good publicity, or so the old maxim goes. But in the fashion press, the idea of publishing a negative review of a fashion show isn't something that gets realised very often. It seems that designers' delicate egos - and more importantly their advertising budgets - are put first, ignorant of the fact that no one wants to read insincere drivel about how revolutionary Karl Lagerfeld was when he put Cara in holey pink leggings at Chanel this season. Okay I'm kidding; they've grown on me. But everyone loves reading a bad review, right? So it's a shame, because the most established, controversial fashion critics are either leaving their positions or are approaching retirement, leaving many of us asking what on earth we will read when they're all gone.

The controversial Cathy Horyn - the New York Times' most revered fashion writer - a couple of months ago left her post at the paper, prompting her readers to proclaim the departure "a tragedy for fashion journalism". Indeed, one of the only voices left in the fashion industry that dared to piss people off has disappeared. Her impressive list of show bans over the years has included Giorgio Armani, Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana, Helmut Lang and Oscar de la Renta. Scandalous. But far from construing her as a fashion outcast, the 57-year-old's significant catalogue of designer enemies has only served to create a badge of honour for her unflinchingly honest critique. In an industry overflowing with fluffy fashion writing, Horyn stuck two fingers up and spoke her mind, and we can only be grateful that she had the platform of the New York Times to do so, and lament the fact that she's no longer there. It was Horyn's write-up of Saint Laurent's SS13 collection that prompted Hedi Slimane to write her a barbed letter calling her a "schoolyard bully," and saying she would "never get a seat at Saint Laurent, but might get a 2 for 1 at Dior."

Acting out against criticism can backfire, however. The end of this fashion season saw the influential website Style.com dish out a punishment of its own after a similarly grievous letter was fired at Tim Blanks, the website's articulate Editor-at-Large. Displeased with Blanks' reviews of his shows of the past two seasons, designer Jean Paul Gaultier penned Blanks a furious and melodramatic open letter before posting it to twitter. Blanks has said that "fashion is full of people with very thin skins and fragile egos." His sentiment was proven by Gaultier's outburst, and the fashion industry waited with hot anticipation for Blanks' review this season.

Funnily enough, it never came. Style.com has dropped the paddy-throwing Parisian from its list of significant designers. And as a result - because the website is such a strong point of industry reference - the Paris Fashion Week coverage barely touched Gaultier's AW14 show. A designer as famous as JPG being discarded from the elite list on Style.com isn't as trivial as it sounds. In fact, it means being thrust dangerously close to the thing all designers fear most: irrelevance.

So in a world where honesty gets lost in the clash between the egos of the designers and writers, where can anyone publish anything honest - especially now that the old guard of fashion criticism seems to be leaving? In another power move, Suzy Menkes, often dubbed "fashion's authority", has just left a 25-year-stint at the International Herald Tribune and tottered her pompadour off to Vogue to become its International Editor. Which leaves us asking if the 70-year-old's writing will be diluted by the transition from newspaper to magazine. After all, newspapers don't have the pressure to kowtow to brands in the same way that fashion mags do, for the simple reason that they don't rely on advertising as much.

Something that lies safely outside the domain of magazines and newspapers is Nick Knight's SHOWstudio, which has carved an impressive solution for stimulating fashion debate: from the safety of their Knightsbridge studio, their wonderful Editor, Lou Stoppard, gathers a panel of fashion's best brains to view the live-stream of a fashion show, or to discuss a fashion topic. What follows is a diplomatic and thoughtful discourse free of censorship and full of vital first impressions. It's clever, and it's filled a gap in the industry that most people perhaps didn't realise was missing. Stoppard backs this up, saying that "People do feel like [SHOWstudio] is a free, open space. They leave their publications or their studio to come here and they can say something honest."

And sparking honest debate is so important in an industry that comes under fire as much as fashion does, because if we don't respect ourselves enough to speak openly about what we do, then what are we writing but sad regurgitations of press releases, reinforcing the belief that fashion is depthless? Treasured British fashion journalist Colin McDowell puts it best when he says that "a commentator must be allowed to make a commentary. That commentary must have substance. And writers of calibre must be nurtured, not neutered, by the fashion industry." We need to cultivate honest critique of fashion, not diminish it. Otherwise, what are we all here for but to watch some pretty clothes come down a runway? And believe me, frightening existential questions like that are the last thing that the frail egos of the fashion industry want to ask themselves.

Fitness Clothing: A Review Of Aussie Women's Sportswear Brand Lorna Jane

April 22, 2014, 8:43 am

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Lorna Jane is a very well known sports brand over in its native Australia, but after a cult following in the UK, fans will be pleased that after being available to buy online at Active Instyle since last summer, it has just announced its first London stockist.

The brand comes out with a whopping 70-100 new designs every month, so there's a lot to be said about choice - something you don't feel as a woman in the main UK high street sports shops. (As a test, compare the tiny section women have in JD Sports compared to the men).

There's a lot to love about a brand that offers such a vast range for women, and they have a product called 'flashdance pants' that sell one every 27 seconds.

Clearly then, things are going well.

Founded by British-born Lorna Jane Clarkson - who also doubles up as the chief creative officer - we wanted to know what was it about this 23-year-old brand that was still fresh and had such an underground following long before it was properly established in the UK?



What made you start your own brand?

While working full-time as a dental therapist and teaching fitness classes at night I started sewing leotards for myself and women in my classes that were looking for something different.

As I received more orders for leotards, I wanted to spend more time doing what I loved to do which is creating inspiring activewear. So I took a leap of faith, quit my day job and pursued my love affair with designing activewear and ultimately inspiring women towards active living and I’ve never looked back.

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How do you take into account how women work out and what makes them comfortable? 


When I’m planning a collection or working with a new fabric, I make sure to stash a sample in my gym bag to road test in my next workout. Whether I’m going for a run along the river or taking a yoga class with friends, I’m constantly thinking about design details such as hidden pockets, mesh panels or a double crossover strap for bust support.

Why is there such poor choice for women in mainstream sports clothing? 
 


I’ve always been a firm believer that we deserve better than the dull or ill-fitting sports clothing often found in the women’s section of your local sports store. Poor choices and quality occurs because many brands send ranges into production without actually testing their garments.

With activewear it’s so important to repeatedly test each piece in a workout. I wear, love and live in Lorna Jane clothing so I make sure I’m passionate about each outfit before sharing it with the rest of the world.

What are some of the cool innovations? 



Where do I start? Before I started designing activewear I struggled to find breathable, comfortable workout clothing. Now I’m fascinated by the latest in fabric technology. Our trademarked fabric LJ Excel is moisture wicking and quick drying, with a 4-way stretch for added support. It’s also ultra supportive and has a matte finish that gives our products the ultimate flattering fit.

Athletes love our Compression fabric, which takes our high level of support to another level by reducing the build-up of lactic acid and stimulating blood circulation after an intense workout.

We also have our world famous Core Stability range that has hidden power mesh panels in the thigh and stomach areas to support, smooth and streamline your silhouette. (We call it the ‘shape wear of activewear.’) I also love to enhance our garments with small details, from removable padding, to secret pockets and hair toggles concealed as zip pulls.



Most popular Lorna Jane item?

The Flashdance pant is one of our bestsellers. Last count is that we sell one pair every 27 seconds. They are the ultimate pant for Active Living and feature woven fabric with stretch and knee pleats so you can move freely whilst you workout. The elastic waistband makes it comfortable enough to wear as a travel pant or just as your favourite go-to pant every day.

Our sports bras are also a best-seller because of their design and support as well as our tights because of our trade-marked LJExcel fabric, the flattering fit and all of the details we offer to inspire your workout.

When designing a piece of clothing, what's the process? How do you know it will be successful?

Most of my design ideas come to me while I’m exercising. (Which is great motivation to workout every day.) After my workout I head to the office to select new fabrics, attend fittings and run through trends and inspiration for current styles we are working on.

You never really know for sure if a particular design is going to work, but my brand is designed by active women who love sport, and you can be pretty sure if we love something our customers are going to love it too.

REVIEW:

Tried: Harem pants, £57, and Sorority Sports bra, £41

Appearance: The first thing that I'm aware of when I handle the garments is how well they are made. The material is thick and durable, yet feels very light when actually worn. More importantly, they support in all the right places. The harem pants have a nice supportive waistband yet give me very tapered legs, while the sports bra manages to do the impossible task of tucking me in, yet manages to look very cool when seen peeping out from my vest.

In action: I tried these in hot yoga which wasn't advisable as the material is quite thick, but they work well in normal yoga. More importantly, I found that they were perfect for the gym - I liked the silhouette it gave me, and they didn't feel as uncomfortable or restrictive like other pants.

Verdict: Well worth the money (I can see these in my wardrobe for years) and clearly a lot of leg work (no pun intended) has gone into the design to create something that moves well and is comfortable to wear. Heck, I've even started wearing the pants out to meet friends.

Lorna Jane store details are listed here.

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Made-to-Measure Fashion

April 22, 2014, 8:56 am

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By Kate Matthams-Spencer and Charlotte Sutherland-Hawes

Bespoke fashion is having a moment, as brands cater to the demand for customisable pieces. Vogue.fr picks the best Paris houses for custom-made luxury pieces, created uniquely to your spec with an eye on craftsmanship, timeless elegance and modernity.

PXL Clothing: SS14 Collection

April 23, 2014, 1:42 am

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PXL Clothing, one of London's front runners for premium London street wear recently dropped their Spring/Summer 2014 collection to the masses just as the Sun reappears in the capital.
The very much practical everyday garments has gained notoriety on the saturated market and is now favoured by skaters, emcees, hipsters and fashionistas alike.

Launched by Dacre Bracey, a respected name in the UK music industry and founder of RWD Magazine Dacre's passion for street culture was ignited in the early 90s and judging by his venture into fashion with PXL, that flame is still burning strong.
His introduction to streetwear came when he worked on pioneering streetwear brand Artful Dodger (by Scott Langton and Jay Z) with PopUp Showroom - currently the European arm of Crooks & Castles and BlvckScvle, before moving on to launch PXL.

Check out the Spring/Summer 2014 collection below, perfect for festival season.

Get bare phone No's this summer in the Mobile t-shirt!

In-VEST in a sporty wardrobe this summer

Keep it shorts and sweet!

Get that thug-ness with Michael Douglas

Use my special code below for discount on PXL pieces at their online check out!

Order online from PXLClothing.com

Paula Raia Womenswear Spring/Summer 2014/15

April 23, 2014, 1:43 am

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On a sunny and warm morning in early April 2014 a van carrying me and about a dozen other international journalists arrives at a wide and leafy street in São Paulo's exclusive and affluent neighbourhood of Jardim Europa. As we park, I gather my thoughts and put away my briefing papers on Brazilian fashion designer Paula Raia, whose Spring/Summer 2014/15 womenswear collection we have been invited to see in the form of a runway show staged in her own home. Further down the street, a slowly moving line of black cars with tinted windows breaks its processional pace each time a driver stops outside a large house and doors are open to elegant and beautifully-dressed women who greet each other before being ushered in small groups past the gates and inside the house by a bevy of security guards. The minor commotion draws the attention of a few gardeners and maids who try to find out what all the fuss is about from the top of the walled electric fences that surround the neighbouring low-rise architect-designed villas where they work.


Models standing in line at the end of the runway show for Paula Raia Spring/Summer 2014/15 womenswear collection (photograph © João Paulo Nunes)

The decision to host a runway show in your own home is a brave and yet challenging one on more levels than one can fathom when first contemplating the idea. Technical imperatives aside (good examples including the light and acoustics of any domestic space, which are, ironically enough, not the most suitable to bring out the best in garments), combining personal and familial life with public and professional realms in the same space is not always a good idea. This is particularly true of events that present the finished work made by an artist or fashion designer that, in such contexts, are often accompanied by a build-up of preconceived considerations about the creative influence and process to an audience of friends, relatives, and complete strangers such as journalists and photographers. However, in the case of the event that unveiled Paula Raia's Spring/Summer 2014/15 creations, the challenge was accepted, resolved and accomplished with undisputable aplomb at all levels to the benefit of the display of one of the best collections presented during the latest edition of São Paulo Fashion Week.

Designed by celebrated Brazilian architect Isay Weinfeld, Raia's house is a rare peaceful and green oasis in the centre of a city of towering concrete blocks that house a metropolitan population exceeding 20 million people. After taking my seat to watch the show in a room with limestone floors and a wood-panelled central wall surrounded by wide glass sliding windows, I paused to observe the lush garden surrounding the house and the elements that, only after the show, I realised had undoubtedly influenced Paula Raia when developing her collection's identity: a carefully manicured grass lawn framed a discreet swimming pool designed to look like a natural lake, and a couple of majestic wide and tall trees stood on grounds adjusted across generations around their longstanding existence, in a reverence to nature adroitly illustrated by Raia in her latest fashion range.

Finding inspiration in the universal idea of woman as a resilient tree (and in the indigenous mythological traits that it acquired within Brazilian folklore), Paula Raia resorted to natural fabrics and handicraft techniques to create a collection that is also an empowering celebration of womanhood and motherhood. Hers is a woman stoically and pragmatically grounded to life who, like a tree firmly rooted to the earth, steadfastly battles forces of nature to stand tall and strong for her children (the branches that reach upwards and outwards as physical and metaphorical extended manifestations of body and soul). If the description of woman as a living plant deeply connected to the soil and nature could have resulted in a condescending and commonplace social construction of women, under Raia's command it managed to straddle the sensitive social line that divides Brazilian women with delicate consideration.







To a soundtrack of African tribal chants (some of which are at the root of Brazil's folklore music owing to the slave trade during the country's colonial foundation by the Portuguese in the 16th century), the models descended through a sculptural spiral staircase on the outside of the house and walked in and through two connected large rooms. The result was a parade of 22 looks presented in a gentle cadence through a gradient colour palette of earthy tones ranging from off-white and ecru to straw and ochre in textured natural fabrics such as raffia and straw, as well as in woven silk and cotton organza in some cases meticulously layered to create patterns such as fish scales.

Elongated silhouettes were prevalent throughout the collection in the form of floor-length column skirts and dresses with sharp angular designs crafted around the shoulder lines. In a number of dresses, stacked layers of contrasting fabrics conjured the geometric designs that were made popular in the fashion and architecture of the 1930s as well as in the bulbous volumetries of Christian Dior's garments of the late 1940s. Nevertheless, if Raia's conic structures and pleated details revealed influences of the New Look, they also benefitted from Raia's own reinterpretation by replacing Dior's heavy wools with the lightness of cotton lace and of woven or plaited straw. And as the last model exited the house wearing a fitted top made of geometrically layered blocks of ecru and ochre fabrics over a long flowing skirt, and stood in formation with the other models in the garden facing the audience through the glass walls, the sense of communion with nature as the anchoring concept for the collection could not have been reinforced any further.

After the show ended and I began to formulate questions about the collection in my head in case I was able to have a few minutes alone with Paula Raia, I realised how, in spite of all the commotion that always ensues a runway show, the designer remained serenely happy. As I waited my turn to speak to her, I noticed that Raia kept holding her two children's hands and paid attention to everything they said or did, even when her attention was requested by several people for the most diverse reasons. And when her mother congratulated her by giving her a long, silent embrace with tears running down her face, I quickly came to the conclusion that interviewing her would have been a redundant exercise. Against a hectic and noisy scene, that dignified and unstudied emotional portrait of generational ties and family love had provided all the answers to my questions about the origins of Paula Raia's confidence, professional reliance, and the foundations for the personal and social awareness of womanhood and motherhood that she so gently and consummately distilled into her sartorial creations.







[Unless otherwise specified, photographs are courtesy of www.ffw.com.br]

The Fashion Industry Is Gearing Up for a System-Wide Shift

April 23, 2014, 1:44 am

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Almost a year on from the tragic collapse of Rana Plaza, Heather Connon asks what's changed in the world of fashion - and what's to come.

Fashion is one of the world's most important industries. It is worth around $1.5 trillion a year, employs more than 25 million people, and fashion-conscious or not, we all wear its products. Yet most of us know very little about where our clothes come from or how they are put together. Even those who assiduously read the labels will glean only limited information: if a country of origin is shown, this could be where the garment was designed or assembled - but the source of the raw material and the conditions under which it was converted to fabric and then pieced together remains pretty much invisible.

This ignorance was brutally exposed by the disaster in Bangladesh last year, where more than 1,100 workers lost their lives when the Rana Plaza factory collapsed. Even the executives of the companies which sourced their materials from the site were not fully aware of the appalling working conditions and abysmal safety standards which operate across far too much of the industry. There are also significant environmental issues, from the pesticides and water used in cotton production to the chemicals used in the laundry of the products; and from the culture of consumerism, which is encouraging us all to buy far more than we actually need, to the problems of disposing of discarded garments.

Yet fashion company reports are full of commitments to sustainable sourcing policies and ethical production - claims which can sound hollow when Rana Plaza and other scandals expose the industry's failure to live up to these standards. Dilys Williams, Director of the Centre for Sustainable Fashion, points out that it is more than a quarter of a century since the media first exposed labour issues at Gap and Nike. Since then, some important policies and frameworks have come into place to support brands to take action, such as the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (2011), the California Transparency in Supply Chains Act (2010) and the Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety (2013).

Brands are also signing up to cross-industry collaborations; for instance, H&M, Adidas and Levi Strauss are all members of the Better Cotton Initiative, which aims to mainstream sustainable production of the fibre [see the Green Futures Special Edition 'Cotton Conundrum'], and Greenpeace's Detox Fashion campaign is working with Adidas, Nike and Puma to reduce the use of toxics in their supply chain.

Williams has been working with the Fashion Revolution, a cross-industry campaign established in the wake of Rana Plaza to act as a catalyst for change, prompting consumers across the world to tweet at the brand whose clothes they are wearing, and ask who made it. As Williams observes, just as the severe weather events make us look at the influence of the global climate on the weather, so issues like Rana Plaza should make us all look at the kinds of system in which we play a part.

"If you look at it on a systemic level, we have not stepped forward an inch", she asserts, calling for "a consensus that the system must be addressed". This, Williams explains, means looking beyond the mere choice and source of materials - whether it's organic cotton or conventional, recycled or recyclable - to the foundations of fast fashion, asking how over-consumption relates to the exploitative production of cheap goods, and seeking alternative ways to address our appetite for style. "Fashion is about creating an identity, something which you can be proud of", she says. "It is not simply a matter of having more legislation on labelling, or concerning the use of chemicals."

A key question is why there has not been more progress. Four years ago, Forum for the Future published a report outlining the issues facing the industry and four potential scenarios for development - some of which are starting to unfold. Couture to 'upcycle' used fabrics is gaining ground in hip cafes and on catwalks; Marks & Spencer's 'shwopping' campaign encourages donations to Oxfam; and the UK House of Lords recently held a 'swishing' event with the sustainable communications agency Futerra, encouraging consumers to swap clothes rather than bin them and buy more. Alternative materials are also nudging their way into the mainstream: last year, Levi's launched a pair of jeans made using plastic from recycled bottles [see A recycled bottle blend for jeans].

But reuse, recycling and upcycling only go so far, says Nick Ryan, Director of the closed-loop textiles organisation Worn Again. "If we want to eradicate waste, we need to work with major industry", he says, stressing the complexity of the supply chain. A typical pair of jeans, he points out, might say 'Made in Egypt' on the label, but also includes chemical dyes produced in Brazil, copper rivets sourced in China, and buttons made in India from zinc sourced in China, Peru or Australia.

Louise Armstrong, a Senior Advisor who works in the system innovation lab at Forum for the Future, says companies are realising that they cannot conduct best practice in a bubble. "They are experiencing pressure in their supply chains, and looking for ways to create resilience."

Some system-wide initiatives are beginning to emerge, bringing together both sustainable production and training to promote long-term thinking in managerial decisions. Impactt, an ethical trade consultancy, has just embarked on its second Benefits for Business and Workers (BBW) programme, which will scale up its initial work with 93 factories in India and Bangladesh to develop cost-effective and replicable systems for more sustainable production. Funded by the UK Department for International Development through its RAGS (Responsible and Accountable Garments Sector) Challenge Fund, the initial programme included the Arcadia Group, Marks & Spencer and Ralph Lauren, and it involved six months of training for managers - with impressive results. In those factories engaged, efficiency improved by an average of 18%, absenteeism by more than a third and worker turnover fell by more than 50% while take-home pay rose by an average of 7.6%. Now the programme is being extended to 100 factories with seven companies participating, including Tesco from the UK and the US giant Wal-Mart.

Tony Henshaw, Chief Sustainability Officer of Aditya Birla - an Indian conglomerate whose businesses range from plantations to production of pulps and fibres through to retail brands - believes that the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC), a trade organisation which represents more than a third of the market, has a viable blueprint to reduce the environmental and social impacts of apparel. In December 2013, it launched the Higgs Index 2.0, which poses a series of questions within a webbased wiki on areas like human rights, raw material sustainability, energy efficiency and corruption. This tool allows companies to evaluate the impact of their business and supply chain, and quickly assess how to make improvements.

Aditya Birla has made a public commitment to become the leader in India for sustainable business practices by 2017. When we spoke, Henshaw was engaged in a series of visits to group companies, helping them use a Higgs-based sustainability roadmap. He is convinced that this is essential business sense. He believes that large companies will increasingly move towards choosing suppliers with high Higgs scores. "If you are good enough to be in a global supply chain you will do well, but if you are not, you could find it difficult", he warns. "Over time, people will start to align around the index and its requirements."

This isn't just a trend, he says: it's a fundamental shift in the commodities market.

"In my opinion, commodities as we know them today will not exist in the future, because sustainability issues will translate into product attributes. We will move from commodities priced according to the cost of production to a valueadded system. There could be a shake-out period for companies that score poorly."

An enticing prospect for early adopters of best practice in the industry. The rest may find next season is their last.

Heather Connon is a freelance journalist specialising in finance and investment

Karl Lagerfeld - The Chanel Designer Is Purging My Last Supper

April 23, 2014, 2:45 am

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(Madame Allsorts Last Supper Design featuring Karl Lagerfeld, Justin Bieber, Miley Cyrus and other famous faces)

So, Easter is here again! Roll out the eggs, hop with the bunnies, and let's all dabble in a bit of religious-based over-indulgence! I have designed a Last Supper and I'm not invited, neither are you. But as with any fashion themed party, a heap of famous faces are, and naturally, Miley Cyrus is present - eager to twerk wonders on any fixtures and fittings. That's the beauty of design, it calms my rabid over-imagination!



(Madame Allsorts anti-fashion show in Paris)

In my Last Supper there's Jesus, or King Karl of Lagerfeld, self-professed hater of fatties, uglies, and seemingly anyone who doesn't neatly fit his ideal of beauty! Yeah, yeah, I know he designs pretty things, but does that automatically give him authority to publicly humiliate those he finds not so pretty? Seemingly it does, but does working in fashion have to mean you're shallower that a bidet of bath balls? I hope not, darling, because there's a world of people out there who love and need clothes to cover their modesty. I'm pretty sure a huge portion of them don't resemble models, and we have to make sure we are catering for them (haha, couldn't resist another food pun!). Don't get me wrong, my Last Supper doesn't revolve around looks, but it is certainly aimed at raising a question of image. Whether it's Robin Thicke's image as a playboy, or Kanye West's aspirations as a style god, everyone that I've depicted is associated with infamous imagery.



(Madame Allsorts wearing her Last Supper Dress in Paris Fashion Show)

I love clothing, but often the fashion industry makes my eyes roll; most people appear to have lost their minds! For a pack of supposed individuals, there doesn't seem to be much ability to resist calling Cara Delevingne's agent when a catwalk show is looming. There seems to be a huge cake of SAME going around, and everybody's anxious to grab a slice. I'm not saying that I'm particularly offended, or even opinionated about Cara Delevigne, but she feels so everyman's, and I'm wondering why arn't more designers showcasing clothing on different faces, or even in different ways? I'm trying to, but most people seem to feel that hiring one public-pleasing "plus size" model is doing their bit to promote female variety.



(Madame Allsorts and models wearing The Last Supper Collection)

The same models, the same celebrities, and now the same bloggers - the fashion industry's obsession with what, and who's hot, seems almost robotic, and way too easy to rebel against. So what is hot? What's on trend? and what's so appealing about wearing something because everyone else is? I don't know the answer to that, but I feel I should do, I feel I should want to be popular, after all everybody craves approval... Don't they?



(Madame Allsorts fashion show)

I'm not professing to be subversively original, because I don't believe that's truly possible, or even achievable, given our mind's ability to draw inspiration from it's surroundings. But I'm not buying into the "it" gang, or the "fash pack", because above all it just feels a bit silly. Another bonus of not being part of the pack is that you can put your tongue in your cheek and create things around them.



(Madame Allsorts Last Supper fashion show)

To find out more about performance artist Madame Allsorts visit www.madameallsorts.com



(Madame Allsorts and models in Place Vendome in Paris)

Red Lips Voted Most Iconic Beauty Trend Ever (Thanks, In Large Part, To Marilyn Monroe)

April 23, 2014, 4:16 am

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Red lipstick has been voted the most iconic beauty trend of all time.

Made famous by superstars such as Marilyn Monroe, Rita Hayworth and Elizabeth Taylor, the look is coveted by women looking to add a little old-school glamour or sex appeal to their make-up.

And other lipstick shades fail to measure up by comparison. Bless 'em.


Marilyn Monroe, 1952

The signature pout was followed in second place by the smoky eyed look (think Kate Moss, Kristin Stewart), with false eyelashes taking third place (think TOWIE).

The survey, which was commissioned by Superdrug, polled 2,000 women and ranked the top 20 most iconic beauty looks in order of popularity.

Fake tan, acrylic nails and Amy Winehouse-style winged eyeliner also featured highly.

Most iconic beauty trends of all time

1. Bright red lipstick


2. Smoky eyes


3. False eyelashes


4. Fake tan


5. Heavy eyeliner


6. Winged eyeliner


7. Beauty spot


8. Full eyebrows


9. Thin, pencilled-in eyebrows


10. Cat's eyes


11. Nude lips


12. Blue eye shadow


13. Lip piercing


14. Glitter eye shadow


15. Hot pink lips


16. Dark lip liner


17. Prominent contouring


18. Shimmer bronzer


19. Acrylic French manicured nails


20. Pink blusher

A spokesperson for Superdrug, who commissioned the survey, said: "In recent history there have been some really iconic beauty trends.

"The fact that some trends have come and gone, and then come back again shows that beauty trends are a cyclical as fashion, and they have all been sported by the famous faces of the day."

See Also: The Stars Who Taught Us How To Wear Red Lipstick

They added: "Many of the looks can take a certain amount of practising to perfect, getting liquid eyeliner in perfect wings or flicks can be tricky and applying false eyelashes does take a while to master, luckily today technology has helped create products that make it easier to create the looks.

"It's fascinating that we return time and time again to the classic beauty looks. This research shows us that the power of a fabulous red lip remains one of women's favourite and most dramatic beauty looks."

This Season's Swim Suitors

April 23, 2014, 9:19 am

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Despite the grey, miserable weather, the shops are currently filling up with holiday wear ahead of May's summer collection clothing releases. Bikinis, tankinis, one piece swimsuits (horrifically also now being referred to as 'monokini's - ugh), whatever your bathing preference, and whether you're looking for performance or just poolside posing, there's a style to suit. Here are my favourite swimwear picks...



Muther Of All Things

Byron Bay-based brand which fuses fashion and function to produce beach party-worthy wet fashion pieces for their muse, the 'modern day surf diva'. Muther of All Things' cool collections boast a fantastic use of print, sporty cuts and fabrics, plus some unique, wearable styles like the wetsuit jacket pictured above.

View the collection at mutherofallthings.com and they'll be available at Urban Outfitters in the UK from this Summer



Bordelle

Best known for their stunning, 'luxury S&M' lingerie, as worn by some of the sexiest women in the world, from Beyoncé to Madonna, British bodywear brand Bordelle has branched out into swimwear. By applying their iconic bondage detailing - which includes 18k gold rings - to a range of sleek, stretch jersey pool pieces, Bordelle have created a cinematic swim collection that's pure Bond Girl gritty glamour.

Shop online at www.bordelle.co.uk



Marks & Spencer

Yup, these fashion forward, Helmut Newton-esque designs really are from British High Street favourite, M&S. These striking monochrome onepieces are my personal favourites from their affordable new season swimwear collection but if you prefer more of a pin up style, be sure to check out their range of bikinis too - there's an adorable blue gingham number that's just so Marilyn.

Available from Marks & Spencer stores and online at www.marksandspencer.com



Rigby & Peller

Royal Warrant holders, Rigby & Peller - whose matriarch June Kenton, Corsetiere to H.M. Queen Elizabeth II, took over from the founders, Bertha Rigby and Gita Peller in 1982 - is currently celebrating its 75th anniversary. Understandably renown for its high-end off the peg and bespoke, made-to-measure lingerie, their swimwear is equally as attention-worthy, particularly from those who prefer a more structured, supportive swimming costume.

Available from Rigby & Peller stores and online at www.rigbyandpeller.com

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Flea Market Shopping: The Ultimate Guide

April 24, 2014, 2:09 am

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Spring is here, and it's the best time of the year to spend a Saturday looking for choice pieces for your home on a budget - time to hit the flea market and find the bargains that will transform your house (after a bit of spit and polish).

Flea market shopping is more popular than ever, with home and living budgets becoming smaller, and the eclectic style - explained here - growing into a hot trend. But hitting the markets can also a test. Wave goodbye to the comfort of IKEA and furniture showrooms and get ready to face the bargaining workout of your life. Here is a guide on how to prepare and face the crowds while hunting for your dream bargain.

Before You Go

Make a list, don't Stick to it
Scope your home and think about what you really need - a new bedside table? A vintage mirror for your living room? Make sure these are the items you are specifically looking for so you have a focus in the messy world of flea markets.



However, don't completely cut yourself off - the real excitement in flea market shopping is discovering the unexpected items you never even knew you needed, or unusual items you think you really finish off a room, but make sure you don't blow your entire budget on these treasures.

Secure a Car

Make sure you have transport sorted - a car with lots of room and a roof rack is ideal, or even a van (you never know what you're going to fall in love with at a flea market). If you don't own a car, bring a friend who can drive and offer to buy them lunch, or even hire one for the day. Make sure you park as close as possible to the market (this will involve rising early and getting there before the market opens).

Don't Make a Plan

The list is your plan and you are bound to veer wildly away from it - but make sure you give yourself a break to grab lunch and account of how much money you've spent. Most flea markets have food trucks where you can grab some delicious street food - remember to take a little extra cash for your shopping fuel!

It's a Flea Market, not a Catwalk

Don't dress up, dress sensibly - Comfortable shoes, light clothing, and a bag filled with a bottle of water, snacks, sunglasses and plenty of cash (make sure it's secure) is needed. Make sure you don't wear anything with a label on show - comfortable non-brand clothes will make it easier for you to bargain.
A perfect flea market accessory is a trolley with wheels - just like what grannies take to the supermarket!

Keep an Eye on Cash

Take a certain amount of cash with you - whatever you are willing to spend in one day. This keeps you at a budget, and the temptation to blow it all on a single vintage chandelier is gone. If you *really* do fall in love with a piece outside your budget, ask to reserve it and run to the nearest cash point!

Schedule a Day

Arrive early and leave late - it sounds exhausting, but this is the best way to spend your money. You can catch the best items in the first couple of hours, and grab some real bargains in the later hours when stand owners are looking to get rid of as much as they can.

When You Arrive

Don't visit every Single Booth

If you don't like what you see when you eyes fall on it, you're not likely to find anything perfect when you dig around. Visit the stands that instantly appeal to you. If you fall in love with an item - go for it. If you love the item, so will other people, and if you save to snap it up later, you may find someone else had the same idea as you - but ten minutes earlier. Flea market shopping is a little dog eat dog as there will only ever be one of each item - so don't browse and float - love something and buy it!

How to Haggle

Haggling is a fine art which is hard to get right first time around - don't nod and smile when you hear the price. Insist that you can only afford a certain amount, but don't insult the stall owner - make sure you offer a price that is 25% knocked down, not half the original price. Be friendly and don't whine about prices. It helps to choose multiple items before offering to make a purchase, it makes haggling for a deal much easier. If you're buying a big and a small item, the small one might end up being a freebie!

Do your Research

Keep your eyes peeled for designer pieces - You will not believe what some people will chuck away. If you have favourite designers and artists, read up on their style and check for anything that may be one of theirs - designer ceramics, furniture and accessories are often exchanged for mere pennies on the flea market scene. Earlier this year, a woman in Virginia found a priceless Renoir at a flea market. You won't find a magical discovery every time you hit the market, but the more knowledge you acquire, the more often you will find something very special.

Appearance Isn't Everything

Don't ignore the items that look a little unloved. If an item is very cheap and needs a little work, upcycling an old piece will give you a completely unique piece of furniture that doesn't cost too much. Take into account the extra cost of reupholstering, updating light fixtures and giving your items a polish and lacquer, but if an item is a little beat up - you can fix it up and make a huge saving.

The Fashion Revolution

April 24, 2014, 2:19 am

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Turning my clothes inside out and travelling from one side of London to the other, Fashion Revolution Day has arrived. Selfies on instagram and tweets of our clothing (#insideout) have taken over, taken over all across the world. Bangladesh, China, Swaziland and Brazil, just a few countries partaking in the day of activism tabbed under a day for Revolution, generations of consumers asking 'who made our clothes?' re-connecting the thread all of our clothes travel, by re-engaging us with are garments and the labels that sit on their backs.

I remember a year ago today when news emerged of the deadly collapse, a collapse which drew the world's attention reminding us that there are real people behind our clothing, real people with real families, who all felt their loss.

The grounds upon which the eight storey commercial building collapsed were swampy and the cracks on its walls were large. Garment workers were forced to go back to work knowing that this building was unsafe to work in. But this is the world of garment workers, the result of greed, corruption, injustice and rampant consumerism and to those working in the industry, the collapse wasn't a surprise.

The complex was built using fast tracked contracts by owners affiliated with local politicians, with economic targets far higher on the agenda than safety. From being locked into rooms with no fire exits, overheated from the machinery inside, to being paid peanuts and dismissed with no upholding of any rights. Garment workers are at the bottom of a chain on this thread where it's all too easy to take advantage of them. But of course the World Bank pushes Bangladesh to keep up with the demands of western consumers and ramp up investment in industry.

The garments industry in Bangladesh accounts for 80% of the countries annual GDP and had facilitated the 6% growth the country has seen annually over the last seventeen years. The garments sector has bought about many a story and with its success's have come fires, water poisoning and the collapse.

Over a thousand people lost their lives and more than two thousand were left injured as a result of the Rana Plaza factory collapse, the one built on swampy ground, without adequate paperwork and very close to having further stories built and a year later garment workers still suffer from the ills of our trillion dollar fashion industry.

Pressure has been placed on governments and buyers to act but consumers must realize the deathly squander of rampant consumerism and the ills that it can bring about - this is what we should take from Fashion Revolution Day, the day of activism held in its remembrance.

Away from the tweets and selfies, a very serious cause is being explored. Just because its fashion does not mean its fickle. There are some who negate the seriousness of this issue and my question to them is, is it because the industry is made up of mainly women?

Weeks after the collapse there were reports of water poisoning, six months on; a factory fire in which there were nine fatalities and at least a further fifty injured. We can see what's going on; we see it on our backs, in our stores, on the high street and on the TV do we enjoy the exploits of fast fashion too much or is it because we've become disengaged with our purchases or just simply enjoy the lifestyle rampant consumerism brings about?

Are we so taken aback by the slogans emblazoned on our t-shirts that we lose consciousness of our consumption. There are different players at all levels of the chain and we all need to play our part, governments, businesses, factory owners, buyers and consumers.

A £2 t-shirt may not have a great impact on you here but it does have an impact abroad. We may not feel the pinch of a pound but however much a garment or any purchase costs you it means something elsewhere too. As a part of a globalised world we impact each other in many ways and we are ever more connected.

As you scroll through your twitter feed and watch activism in the name of fashion taking place don't let this calling for change go in vain and those who lost their lives left forgotten, maybe with a reminder of that connection we'll value our purchases a little more. You may not care about your garments, but you should care about the workers behind them and care about your footprint.

Be it the plastic that will never disintegrate or the tons of clothing reaching landfills, this is not an issue for a select group of people but for those who wish to have a conscious mind. The Revolution is to open up your mind.

In Pictures: University Of West London Fashion Students' Incredible Fashion Revolution Day Creations

April 25, 2014, 1:31 am

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The University of West London (UWL) joined forces with TRAID, a fashion reuse charity, for a unique project to mark Fashion Revolution Day on 24 April.

The best designs by students Kalaina Hughes and Natsuko Tanaka were selected by TRAID and UWL and were displayed in TRAID’s shop window on Camden on 24 April.

The garments included a waistcoat made from woven rugs with hand knitted embroidery and a reversible dress comprised of men’s shirts. The overall winner Kalaina, will gain valuable fashion industry experience through a work placement at TRAID.

Story continues below pictures



Fashion Revolution Day is a global campaign which highlights the one year anniversary of the collapse of the Rana Plaza garment factory in Bangladesh. 1133 people were killed and over 2,500 injured. Their Inside Out theme asks the public to be curious about where clothes are from and their potential human cost.

This project is the second from the UWL and TRAID partnership building on the successful addition of last year’s sustainability module to the BA (Hons) Fashion and Textiles course. Additionally, last year’s winner went on to intern with TRAID with other participants interning at Christopher Raeburn, Izzy Lane, Roland Mouret and Proenza Schouler.

Rosemary Wallin, Senior Lecturer on the BA Fashion and Textiles course at University of West London, said: "The university has a responsibility to educate future industry professionals about sustainability. Employers are increasingly looking for knowledge and experience of these issues when selecting candidates. The skills gained from projects like this TRAID partnership arm students with the expertise to work ethically and to compete in the jobs market."

Claire Dawson, Retail Product Manager at TRAID added: "Students used unwanted second-hand clothes and textiles donated to TRAID and sourced at their warehouse. Their work to deconstruct and up-cycle garments has encouraged them to extend the life of clothes by using already existing resources, while considering who made their clothes and in what conditions. Showcasing their designs on Fashion Revolution Day marks their commitment to creating a fashion industry based on sustainable and ethical design and production."

Kate Upton Ditches Cleavage-Busting Style In Favour Of Demure Outfit At ‘The Other Woman' NYC Premiere

April 25, 2014, 4:12 am

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Kate Upton is no stranger to flashing her figure, however, she chose to keep things covered at ‘The Other Woman’ New York premiere.

Rather than showing off her cleavage, Kate decided to cover up in a leopard print pussy-bow blouse and slim fit trousers, leaving the job of showing some skin to her co-star Leslie Mann, who sported a strapless top.


Kate Upton

Fans hoping to catch a glimpse of Kate’s stunning figure won’t be left disappointed by the new movie, which features scenes where the ‘Sports Illustrated’ model dons nothing more than a teeny white bikini.

Her role in ‘The Other Woman’ is Kate’s first major acting role, and the model told Huff Post UK how she was glad to have the support of her co-stars, Leslie and Cameron Diaz, explaining that she loved being able to turn to them for reassurance.

“I always admire and appreciate other women so whenever they feel the same about me and they tell me I’m looking good that day or have an appreciation in that sense, it always feels so great,” she said.


Leslie Mann

Cameron also told us about how much she enjoyed her time on set, stating: “We were in it together, we have each other’s backs.

“You move through it and it’s almost like you have these extra parts of yourself.

“If one part of you isn’t functioning very well, you can always ask the part that is functioning to add a bit, so that’s good!”

Check out the gallery below for all the pics from the premiere...

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Chelsee Healey And Kym Marsh Both Suffer Fashion Fails In Jumpsuits At Miss Manchester Competition (PICS)

April 25, 2014, 4:56 am

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Here's a quick Friday riddle for you. What can be both too much and also not enough? Give up? That'll be Chelsee Healey's jumpsuit.

The 'Waterloo Road' actress was spotted in this *checks notes* ensemble on Thursday as she arrived at Manchester's Palace Hotel to judge the Miss Manchester competition.

The glamour!


Chelsee Healey

Two words Chelsee: cheap fabric. And here's another: bunching.

And the former 'Strictly' contestant wasn't the only schleb getting in on the (ill-advised) jumpsuit action - Kym Marsh was at it too, AT THE SAME EVENT!


Kym Marsh

The 'Corrie' star opted for an embellished, flared number and whilst she wasn't flashing as much flesh as Chelsee (save for a bit of back and tat), she definitely outdid her fellow actress in the big hair stakes.

Dolly Parton would be proud.

Bet she wouldn't be seen in either outfit, though.

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