Kendall Jenner Takes The Sheer Trend To A Whole New Level At Paris Fashion Week

October 1, 2015, 1:58 am

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Kendall Jenner has proven her devotion to the sheer trend knows no bounds.

The 19-year-old sported a jumpsuit with transparent trousers and a sheer paneled halter neck from the Balmain spring/summer 16 collection while attending a Paris Fashion Week dinner with bestie Gigi Hadid and Balmain designer creative director Olivier Rousteing on 30 September.


Kendall Jenner, Olivier Rousteing and Gigi Hadid

Hadid went for one of Balmain's most well-known looks - a fitted micro mini covered in intricate green beading and sheer cut-outs, which she teamed with a dramatic deep purple lip.

During the evening Kendall took to Twitter to share a "Belfie" with Hadid. She captioned the shot "BALMAIN BOOTY".

A photo posted by Kendall Jenner (@kendalljenner) on Sep 30, 2015 at 2:20pm PDT

Kendall isn't the only celeb who is pushing the sheer trend to the extreme - a former X Factor judges house regular was spotted in an equally daring outfit while at the National Reality TV Awards in London on 30 September.

SEE ALSO:

Can Kendall Jenner's New Foundation Really Cure Phone Addiction?

H&M Mercilessly Tease Us With First Peek Of Gigi And Kendall In Balmain X Collection

Meet The New Naked Dress

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It's Time to Listen

October 1, 2015, 2:05 am

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We live in a society that likes to put labels on people, based on little more than a lack of understanding, stereo types and generalization. Having been born with mild cerebral palsy and slight learning difficulties, I have experienced being pigeon holed from a young age. Since that time I have strongly believed in ripping off that label and defining what it means to have a disability. Anyway the only place that labels belong is on jars of jam and pickles - not on people.

Times are changing though. The highlight of this last week daily news was seeing the pictures of Madeline Stuart on the FDL Moda cat walk at New York fashion week and hearing that she was going to be the face of GossiGirl cosmetics, 'Beauty is...', campaign, filled me with great excitement . It's hard to believe that twenty or thirty years ago or...lets face it, even ten years ago, the thought that models with disabilities would be on the cat walk, at one of the world's biggest fashion shows is a far cry from the dark dinghy asylums that were. Fashion is constantly changing and people are constantly changing and this event is a major land mark in the disability movement. As world I do feel that we are slowly coming more tolerant and more accepting and this is important because diversity is the spice of life, and things would be pretty dull and flavourless without it. I still feel we have a long way to go, and we not there yet by any stretch of the imagination.

New York Fashion week however represented a deeper question ,which has been on my mind for quite a while. How much is the voice of people with disabilities listened to in society and how much are our talents and interests embraced?

There are many areas in our society where people with disabilities are not heard or seen from politics to science to media and the arts to business, and I feel this is a great shame and I would like to see this change. At its core I believe that attitude and education are two main keys to breaking down this door lock, that has been closed far too long. Having been on the receiving end of peoples` attitude towards my disability, throughout my life I know what it feels like to not be taken seriously, and to feel as if you are outsider looking in a key hole to a room, which seem impossible to get into.

So standing under ever prominent grey clouds, one feels that there are many reasons as to why public attitude is still so negative, even though there has been a leap in equality legislation and more places have improved accessibility, and this has opened much greater opportunities to us. Now making us more visible in society, and has allowed us to have aspirations like never before. As the rain pours upon my head, despite all this positivity there is an awkwardness about disability, and this makes it difficult for us getting our voices out there.

According to the charity, Scope, two thirds of people feel uncomfortable talking to people with disabilities. There are many reasons for this, from a lack of understanding the fear of saying something wrong, education, education, education I believe it is at the heart of this issue, I am not the only one feel this way. In order for this to change, there should be greater educational awareness and I believe this should begin from a young age. Having experienced this as a child, I know that positive attitudes can develop between children with disabilities, and those without an impediment. My teacher at that time was great, because we were always included in everything from sports days to having some lessons with others mainstream. We were truly embraced for who we were as individuals and for our talents and were not being defined by our disabilities.

Madeline Stuart is a great role model for a movement, which should be much more widely talked about. Even though this is a big stepping stone we still have a long way to go. I would like to see more people with disabilities in the public domain, and I will be writing further articles about this subject.

Being Boring's Best

October 1, 2015, 2:35 am

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New research has found that we are gullible types who will believe anything that comes after the phrase "new research has found". Well, I might have found the sticking point of disbelief - new research has found that men spend more on clothes than women.

I know, ridiculous. Men HATE buying clothes. The only thing that men hate more than buying clothes is helping women buy clothes.

This dread was often instilled at an early age when being dragged round Marks by our mothers. Up until that first visit to the shops, the previous template of boredom was: Sunday.

Sunday used to be boring on a level that young people today can not conceive. Imagine no internet, no satellite, nothing to do but watch Songs of Praise and wish the clock could go faster so that Monday would come and we could go back to school. That is how boring Sundays were, we yearned for the sweet relief of double geography.

But Sundays were as nothing compared to the brain boiling tedium of trailing round the woollens in M&S looking for the perfect beige cardy.

I would say something like: "Mum, can we go now?", or "PLEASE can we go now?!", or "aaarrrggghhhh". That sort of thing.

Shopping for clothes instils in most men the same sort of shuddering dislike that we also have for tapioca pudding, and if you do not know what that is, then you have never eaten school dinners in the 1970s. Lucky you.

Men hate shopping for clothes. Women, on the other hand, think that shopping for clothes is essential to their life force, even if they are not actually shopping and are just looking.

Just looking is part of the shopping ritual, apparently. It is the hunting part of the process, storing details and colours and prices and sizes so that they can return at some later date for the kill, wherein they will buy something, but only on the condition that they can return it later, when they decide that it is not for them and that what they really want is the pullover they saw at the beginning of the hunt before they scoured the racks for another 86 hours.

The notion that men spend more on clothes than women could only be true if men just bought the first thing their eyes alighted on and did not check the cost, and accidentally purchased something with an Italian's name on the label that was priced the same as the last car they bought but they didn't care because they absolutely, positively had to stop shopping immediately or their heads would explode. This usually takes about ten minutes.

If we are to believe the research, men spend about 10% more on their attire than do women but then they don't wear any of it.

Apparently, only 13% of the clothes men buy are ever worn outside the tight confines of the shop changing room. That men ever try anything on in a shop at all is surprising, what with the grunting coming from the next booth and that smell...what IS that smell?

At first glance that seems preposterous. Men buy clothes but then do not use them? Stupid men, you might think, and you would be wrong.

Most things men buy to wear are appalling. This is particularly true of teenagers and men in their twenties, thirties, forties and fifties. After that, no man ever buys clothes again, they just put on whatever needs cleaning the least, regardless of whether it still fits because we know that we are never going to have sex again, so what difference does it make what we look like?

Before that, however, there is a cornucopia of awfulness best kept locked in the wardrobe. All those red trousers and lime green shirts, the T-shirts with amusing pictures on them, or words, or anything that takes more than a glance to decipher, Christmas jumpers, shoes in any colour but black or brown, novelty socks, shirts with statement collars, hats, anything you wear round your neck that is not a tie or scarf, establishment specific ties and scarves, clothes with a message, scooped necks, anything orange and trousers that you can't sit down in because our bums are too big for them and we never tried sitting down when we tried them on in the shop. They felt a bit tight but we bought them anyway because we cling to the notion that we still have the same sized waist as we had when we didn't have hair growing out of our ears.

As long as men keep not wearing them, they can spend as much on their clothes as they like.

This is excellent advice: men - when it comes to dressing, be boring. Be boring like a Sunday morning.

London Fashion Week Frows, Freaks and Major F Ups

October 1, 2015, 2:38 am

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London Fashion Week. Those three little words that make people become walking advertisements for how apparently cool and wacky they are. And this year was no exception!

I realised I was already being tested by day one. I hadn't even made it to my first show when a guy walked past me with an empty, crushed, red-stripe beer can hanging from his neck on a chain. Now don't get me wrong, recycling is like super cool, but surely it makes waaay more sense to wear a full one. You know, to ease you into stresses of watching models endlessly walking in circles looking like they had forgotten what they entered the room to look for (we've all been there).

That wonderful image was quickly followed by a girl wearing a rubrics cube and shoe on her head (as a hat) no lie! Then, if that wasn't enough, I was almost clotheslined by a a girl with a jewelled selfie stick and glasses bigger than her face. So after that. I decided to stay in doors as much as humanly possible.

Luckily this season I had the luxury or working with Converse and Office. Which meant:
1. I could skip merrily between shows with not a blister in sight

2. I could run away from people I didn't want to talk to. Oh, and believe me, there were many of those!

So a large chunk of my first day one was spent in the Converse X Office HQ. This was a wonderfully fun and relaxing experience of taking street style pictures and also my slightly more odd insta ones too (@charlottedecarle). There was also the trying on of the new Converse Office Exclusives collection and then the hiding of those shoes I tried on, so I could take them home later. Ooops, sorry not sorry. So, yes, very zen. Although there was a brief bit of panic attack after getting stuck in a red pair of cons! Wriggling and sweating, trying every position to free myself from my converse entrapment, I realised those shoes just didn't want to leave me. Luckily my boss for the day had phenomenal surgical skills, grabbed some scissors and managed to cut the leather and free me back into the wild. Rest in Pieces red leather cons, it wasn't me, it was you! Fashion victim number one.

Next is was off to the shows of Fashion Week and first up was the king of Tailoring, JP Braganza. This year randomly it took place in a car park, Brewer Street car park to be exact. Although the joys of being in a car park meant that my fashion buddies and I got the most delightful drive up to our seats in a golf buggy. In such graceful style, smugly waving at MIC's Rosie Fortiscue and Oliver Proudlock, who were having to walk up the ramp. Oh and don't worry that's how I greet all my friends. With stunning prints and wonderful suits it was a wonderful start to my week of shows.

Next up was the PPQ show. After driving 20 mins the wrong way, due to Danielle Peazer lacking some direction, we were already 10 mins late. So running in we found that our front row spots have been filled by other fashion attendees. Danielle found a seat, then here was me. I was looking round, in a frenzy, still stood. Then the lights dimmed and show began to start. It was then that Gizzy Erskine pulled me back on to her and Millie Mackintosh's laps, so i had the best seat in the house. Strangely, It was in that spot, for the next 10 minutes I was repeatedly bounced up and down like a baby on a slightly tipsy Gizzy's lap. Much to the amusement of the opposite row. The show soon finished, Gizzy pushed me off and then was time to leave. PPQ never fail to amaze so I am glad I stayed. So brief but so wonderful.

One of my favourite events at LFW was the Aspinal of London SS16 presentation. Not only for the beautiful floral entrance and line up of fit men holding up umbrellas, as it was pissing it down, also because Ashley James and I got quite a bit drunk! Now the display consisted of grassy mounds with the new collection resting upon them. Very beautiful, etherial and quite original, that was until I came along. I took it upon myself to become part of the display. So, carefully I might add, I moved the bags, sat on the mound and greeted people on entry as if I was a part of the event. Maybe ill invoice for that one. Anyway after seeing many familiar faces who all seemed to be on the opposite side of the room what looked like by choice, I decided being avoided wasn't fun so got down and quietly slipped out, with my goody bag.

This led on to a bit of a faux par now. So, unlike the usual me, I decided to wear dress to fashion week and clearly, by what happened, you can tell I haven't worn one for a while! I was super excited about this stunning little number, a mustard embroidered maxi by For Love and Lemons. So I put it on, with some converse, obviously not wanting to commit too fully to looking like a girl. I looked in the mirror, thought oooft, well, that quite sheer. Thought, meh, put on the biggest black pants I could find so as to not look slutty, then put on my long coat and set off for the Christopher Raeburn show.

Now sadly, I was looking at my outfit in the early hours so it wasn't fully light outside, meaning I couldn't see the full scope of how sheer it really was. So as soon as my jacket came off, in the brightly lit car park, it seemed the streaker was out of the bag. So from that point I tried to keep seated as much as possible covering my delicate parts. It wasn't until I got home, to find the a mustard piece of material on the floor, that I realised, I had forgotten to put on the damn lining! At that point I took it upon myself to make and executive decision and make that my last SS16 fashion show of 2015. At least for the good of the people as where do you go from nudity apart from prison.

So all in all I'd say it was a fun filled Fashion week with interesting challenges along the way, but I do have to admit, i'm glad there is only two in a year. Ill definitely need some time to recover after this one!

On a serious note shout out to Asos, Aspinal Of London, Mint Velvet, Lavish Alice, Converse, Office, Levi's, Genevieve Sweeney, Motel Rocks, For Love And Lemons, Luxottica, Catherine Zoraida and Silver Service for covering my naked body this Fashion Week.

New Zealand Fashion Week 2015 - Edition One

October 1, 2015, 3:12 am

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It's been a while since I've blogged on the Huffington Post, no real reason - life just gets in the way. All this blogging, event attending, keeping up with instagram, twitter, now Alexa Chung's Villoid app. Recently I headed all the way to New Zealand for some much needed down time, but before that I attended one of my favourite fashion events; New Zealand Fashion Week.

So I thought a little round up was in order. Sadly I missed the All Blacks in their undies on the catwalk but I did catch up with the world's first incontinence lingerie show. A lot more sexy and interesting that you'd think!

ConfiTEX at New Zealand Fashion Week

The show debuted 30 looks ranging from day-time wear, to softer evening lingerie, to the first G-string designed for light incontinence. This is the first time, anywhere worldwide, that incontinence underwear has graced a catwalk as a designer range. ConfiTEX spent three years working on the design technology to allow sufferers of incontinence to still wear beautiful underwear.


Image Source: ConfiTEX

Incontinence is the silent epidemic. Incontinence affects one in three women and one in ten men. It can start early for women - in their 20s and 30s, usually after childbirth. For men, the problem is usually medical and related to prostrate health. Incontinence is largely a hidden problem that people are embarrassed to talk about. So how amazing is this that ConfiTEX, founded by Dr Mark Davey and fashion designer Frantisek Riha-Scott in 2012 have this great collection now available!

The brand's resounding message of 'don't hold back from living your life' and as incorporated such beautiful prints in the fabric that it made me want to snap up some of the gorgeous pieces. What I found just stunning were the simply exquisite lace and print crop tops and bra tops. New to the collection, they are just beautiful and add an appeal to the younger market, with one in three women under the age of 30 suffering with incontinence.

Hailwood at New Zealand Fashion Week

Adrian Hailwood is one of my favourite New Zealand fashion designers. I love his grasp of colour and his concept of taking one print through a collection. There was a fabulous mix of satins, silks and knits throughout the collection. Pale powder blue knitwear with the gorgeous dragon print, tucked into a long black satin skirt, teamed with sneakers. An edgy outfit from the legend of laid back glamour, Hailwood did good.


Image Source: LadyM Presents

Navy satin cinched waist, kimono sleeve style dresses suit day to night. Hailwood's graphic design background leads him to create themed fabrics and prints which often carry a strong graphic central symbol, such as this seasons Chinese dragon. It featured on soft textured knitwear and on the back of silk bomber jackets. A winner in my eyes is the pop of cobalt blue that heads down the catwalk in the winter coat. I love this tone and it is perfect for brightening up the Autumnal and Winter days. Seen worn over a black sequin dress. Glamour with a softened edge.


Image Source: LadyM Presents

Stay tuned for my New Zealand Fashion Week - second edition report and check out more at www.ladympresents.co.uk

Everyone Has Seen This Bride's 120-Year-Old Wedding Dress, Except One Person

October 1, 2015, 5:28 am

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Tradition has it that a groom is not supposed to see the bride in her dress before the wedding day.

But if the Internet is exploding with pictures of your fiancée's wedding dress, what do you do? Start using grandma's flip phone?

Abby Kingston's 120-year-old heirloom wedding dress became a sensation last week after she gave an interview with a local Pennsylvania newspaper.



Within days, international publications began contacting her for interview requests, and people as far as China and Taiwan reached out to her on social media.

But for all the attention, there's still one person who hasn't seen it - her fiancé.

"He hasn't looked at anything or read anything. He still wants to be surprised!" Kingston told The Huffington Post.

The groom, 32-year-old Jason Curtis, was returning from a business trip in South Africa last Thursday when the story was shared across the web.

"I called him and said, 'Delete your Facebook, don't answer any text messages, things are happening!'" she said.

This has not been easy for Curtis, who will be wearing social media blinders until 17 October. He had to leave the room when the story aired on the Today Show and quickly closed his browser whenever he noticed she was featured on a website.

"He called me and was like, 'Okay, you're literally on the front page of Yahoo News. How am I supposed to get work done when people keep texting me and calling me?" Kingston told HuffPost.

Kingston never thought that her story would become so popular, or that a simple local news interview would spark global interest.

"I think a lot of people are intrigued by the story because having a daughter wear a mothers wedding dress is something very special, but it's pretty unheard of to have a dress be worn by 10 other brides in the same family," she said.

The 30-year-old bride-to-be will be the 11th person in her family to wear the historic dress, which was handmade for her great-great-grandmother Mary Lowry in 1895.

When Kingston first received the dress after it had last been worn in 1991, it was torn and discolored from exposure during storage. Designer Deborah LoPresti spent more than 200 hours repairing the dress so Kingston could wear it on her wedding day.

"When I put it on after the restorations, that's when I could actually feel the sentiment," Kingston said. "That's what I value and hold dear to my heart, and that's what makes it so much more special to wear."

Check out photos of Kingston's family members wearing the dress through the years in the gallery below.

Naomi Campbell Poses Naked To Model This Autumn's Hottest Trend: Leather And... Little Else

October 1, 2015, 6:41 am

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According to Naomi Campbell's latest magazine shoots the best way to wear this autumn/winter's trend for leather is to make it compete with little else.

The 45-year-old supermodel stripped naked for two new fashion magazine shoots - one for Vogue and one for French Lui Magazine.

She has given us a sneak preview from the upcoming spreads on Instagram.

In a photo taken for Vogue Brazil, Campbell pouts at the camera with a statement necklace peeking out from under her long hair; wearing leather boots, a short black top and nothing else.

A photo posted by Naomi Campbell (@iamnaomicampbell) on Sep 30, 2015 at 5:30pm PDT

Campbell's Lui magazine shoot had a similar aesthetic, with the model posed in a leather waistcoat in the black-and-white still.

A photo posted by Naomi Campbell (@iamnaomicampbell) on Sep 30, 2015 at 3:33pm PDT

Large stars were strategically placed over the photo presumably to help this image avoid the fate of her #FreeTheNipple shot, which was removed from Instagram shortly after it was posted.

SEE ALSO:

Naomi Campbell's Topless #FreeTheNipple Photo Has Mysteriously Disappeared

Stunning Photos Of Kate Moss And Other Supers To Celebrate Vogue UK's 100th Year

The Reason Why Naomi Campbell Won't Be Quitting Modelling Anytime Soon

Stylist Luigi Murenu also shared some beautiful shots from the Lui magazine shoot:

A photo posted by @luigimurenu on Sep 29, 2015 at 1:55pm PDT

A photo posted by @luigimurenu on Oct 1, 2015 at 5:30am PDT

A photo posted by @luigimurenu on Sep 29, 2015 at 1:44pm PDT

A photo posted by @luigimurenu on Sep 29, 2015 at 8:24am PDT

A photo posted by @luigimurenu on Sep 29, 2015 at 3:13am PDT

David Beckham Reveals Which Of Victoria's Outfits Is His Favourite

October 1, 2015, 7:31 am

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Victoria Beckham's signature style may consist of little black dresses and towering stilettos but her husband David prefers her in a very different look.

"I actually like her wearing jeans and sneakers the best," Beckham told Yahoo!.

"She wears our son's pairs of Converse sometimes. But my favourite is when she wears jeans and a pair of Stan Smiths."



"I think she looks really cool," Beckham said before quickly adding that Victoria always looks good.

"I trust her more than I trust my judgment. I've never turned around to her and said, 'You don't look good in that. Change," he said.

"Frankly, it's hard, very, very hard, for Victoria to look bad in anything."

There are few photos of VB wearing her husband's favourite combo in public. But while she may keep the trainers for round-the-house, she has flirted with quite a few denim trends over the years.

1. High-waisted flairs with heels.



2. Bootleg with sandals.



3. Skinny jeans with ankle boots.



4. Bleach spotted with flats.



5. Belted and low waisted.

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Paris Fashion Week History: Gorgeous Vintage Photos Show The Catwalk Shows Throughout The Years

October 1, 2015, 8:22 am

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We have a lot to thank the people of France for. Namely croissants, Breton stripes and (yep you've guessed it) fashion week.

Highlights of Paris Fashion Week (PFW) Spring/Summer 16 so far include Chloe's feminine boho vibes, embellished "blob" coats and pink PVC macs at Rochas, and oriental embroidery at Dries Van Noten.

Oh yes, and the fact they dressed up the Eiffel Tower in snazzy colourful lights to mark the beginning of the womenswear shows. Extra brownie points for that one.



Before Paris Fashion Week became an official "thing", designers in France would showcase their wares (or should we say, wears) in fashion presentations which date back as far as 1858.

As the idea of the fashion presentation really took hold and more designers began to share their work, a trade association was created by Charles Fredrick Worth who was on a one-man mission to give the fashion industry in France a boost.

Sure enough, Paris became the fashion capital of the world.

Fast forward more than a century and Paris fashion is still booming. Here's a look at how PFW has evolved over the decades...

SEE ALSO:

London's Best Vintage Shops

Stunning Nostalgic Photographs Of New York Fashion

Vintage Photos Of London Fashion Show The 60s In All Its Glory

The Perfect Pair Of Tights: Mathematician Invents Formula To Find Ideal Denier Whatever The Weather

October 1, 2015, 9:21 am

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It's tights season once again.

But here's the question we have to ponder every autumn (not to mention spring) morning: Do we need thick woolly tights or just a 15 denier pair to keep off the chill?

Mathematician Dr James Hind has come up with a formula to find the perfect denier of tights for the weather, based on studying his wife's tights collection.



The formula takes into account the temperature and wind strength to find the perfect thickness of tights to keep you warm but not overheated.

"It started when BBC Radio Nottinghamshire asked me if I could come up with a tights forecasting equation to help listeners get dressed in the mornings," Dr Hind, a lecturer in statistics at Nottingham Trent University, told the Daily Mail.

Dr Hind asked his wife what denier tights she wore each day and kept a note of the temperature. He then plotted the points on a graph. (Dr Hind's wife clearly has a lot of tights - and a knack for always choosing the right thickness for the prevailing wind).

He created the formula below so the results would go from 0 to 110 denier.


D is the denier of tights required, W is the wind speed and T is the temperature.

But you don't have to worry too much about how to put the formula into practice as Dr Hind has used it to create an Excel spreadsheet, which is available on the Nottingham Trent website, on which you can input details of the day's weather and be given the result: i.e. what denier tights you should be wearing.



Dr Hind is convinced it's a winning formula.

"No matter how cold or how warm it gets, the equation will work," he insisted.

When it's only 10 degrees centigrade and the wind speed is 10 mph, his formula suggests 30 denier tights.

Seems about right.

SEE ALSO:

Cats Wearing Tights. That Is All. (PICTURES)

Freezing Your Tights Will Make Them Last Longer

Why I Took Up the 'No New Clothes for a Year' Challenge

October 2, 2015, 1:28 am

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In January 2015, after the usual excessiveness of Christmas, I made a bold decision to take a 'no new clothes for a year' challenge. Some years ago, when I first launched my blog, I committed to ending my constant cycle of buying trend led clothes from high street shops and instead to focus on buying high quality clothing that would last made by brands with a commitment to ethics and sustainability. Whilst this worked well for me and over the last few years, I have filled my wardrobe with beautifully crafted and unique and individual pieces, I still felt that I was struggling with the concept of only buying what I really need. My wardrobe was stuffed to bursting point with a colourful array of clothes both new and second hand, bought with the belief that my shopping was really making a difference in the world by supporting the ethical brands and charity shops that I shopped at.

The 'no new clothes for a year' challenge was a logical progression for me, giving me a chance to completely step off the fashion conveyor belt and take stock of what I have actually got in my wardrobe and what I actually really 'need' to buy.



Once my year is up, I will happily go back to buying from my favourite ethical and sustainable fashion brands as they not only create beautiful clothes, but are working for change in the fashion industry and a better standard of living for those working in it. I will also continue to support charities like Oxfam by buying second hand clothes from charity shops. But I hope to have created much more clarity on what I really need to buy. I have found in the past that even charity shopping can become quite addictive, it is easy to buy things because they seem like an amazing bargain or find, only to leave them sat in the wardrobe for years unworn.

So how has it been? I am quite surprised to say that it has been pretty easy although I still have three months to go. I had imagined that the year would be a flurry of sartorial activity with me upcycling and making do and mending every spare moment. It hasn't exactly turned out like that!

At the same time as starting the 'no new clothes for a year challenge', I also enrolled myself in a year long diploma course. By the time I finish working, spending time with family and completing the seemingly endless assignments for my course, I have had very little time to think about clothes at all. The pile of 'to mend clothes' has been slowly increasing, perhaps just another reminder of how excessive the number of clothes that I own is.

There have been a few moments of creativity though, the eighties fancy dress outfit that I put together for a recent party featuring a vintage tracksuit jacket, that has now become a permanent addition to my wardrobe and the dress that I hadn't worn for ages and I found suited me much better with the sleeves removed.

The real upside for me though, has been the freedom from the need to buy clothes. Instead of spending my valuable time and money buying clothes, I have used it to enjoy myself. Meals out with my family, walks in the countryside and camping trips near the sea are so much more fun than clothes shopping.

I hope to end my 'no new clothes' year with a big clear out of my wardrobe to move forward with a more realistic view of what I actually need, allowing me to focus even more on the important stuff in life.

Paris Fashion Week: Rick Owens Sends Models Down The Catwalk In 69 Position

October 2, 2015, 2:34 am

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The world let out a resounding cry of "what the f....." when they saw the latest Fashion Week shenanigan in Paris.

Designer Rick Owens found another way to make headlines (there's only so many ways he could top the full-frontal-fest he unleashed on us last season) by sending models down the runway in a 69 position.



Just. Why.



This makes no sense...



You can't even see the clothes...



We give up now.

SEE ALSO:

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London Fashion Week Was Basically Just The Plot Of Zoolander

Kevin Geddes Brings the Evel to London Fashion Week

October 2, 2015, 2:42 am

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I wanted to meet Kevin Geddes for personal reasons. Personal in the sense that Kevin, like me, is a pattern-cutter turned designer and owner of his namesake label. He is a rare, creative, frank person who took a long and at times painful journey from law, business studies and accounting at A levels, to a BTEC in fashion, before achieving his goal of entry to the BA Womenswear course at Central Saint Martins, followed by a swift exit, before returning to his native Birmingham when the BA course didn't quite live up to the hype. It's been a convoluted, interesting, inspiring and honest journey.

Kevin is bold. Immediately I get the sense he is telling me his story. The real one. Not the image-conscious one covered in a veneer of glossy hindsight bias. Kevin tells me straight - "I don't think the story behind the clothes has to be important". He doesn't feel the need to make anything up - verbally or sartorially. Kevin worked for over a decade in retail, pattern-cutting and as a machinist for a handful of labels, including in Birmingham where he worked for a bridal wear company and developed exceptional sewing and finishing skills, and London where he worked at Richard Nicoll, amongst other fashion labels. He currently works for six different designers as a freelance pattern-cutter whilst running his label. As an ex-pattern cutter and someone who owns a label I can appreciate how difficult this is. Kevin explains it is a blessing and a curse. Freelance pattern-cutting is helpful while his business grows and he appreciates the variety and opportunity to learn something new every day. He enthuses about still learning and always discovering new ways of doing things and new technology.







It's his inquisitive mind that led him to each decision he has made throughout his career. Kevin left his BA at CSM on day one of the second year. He explains he went to the first day of the second year of his BA, sat in a room with all these people from his first year and thought to himself, "do you know what, I think I'm going to quit today". It just felt wrong. Kevin says very simply "I've always had this thing in me, if I'm not enjoying it, if I don't like it then I don't need it in my life".

It immediately strikes me as a brave move. A CV containing CSM is an insurance policy above all others for graduating designers, as proven by the BOF 2015 University Rankings . Kevin's response to my comment is that at every point in his life he has done what wanted - what he enjoys. He is motivated by ideas and discovery. His return to education several years later was motivated by the vast opportunities to utilise new equipment for garment construction and textile developments at Coventry University, where he then completed his BA. He saw no point in completing the degree if there wasn't something exceptional being offered in terms of learning and skill development. He cites the laser cutters, heavy duty industrial equipment such as raincoat sealing and bra moulding machines as the driving force behind his decision to choose Coventry University. He was driven by what he could learn rather than the prestige of attending a particular institution.







After winning the MyWardrobe capsule collection award in his second year at Coventry, he resisted the impetus to launch a label and continued to build his skills and hone his craft. The benefit of his considerable industry experience meant he realised how much he still had to learn. He was no longer naive enough to just jump straight in.

Fast forward six years and Kevin is in his second season having created a collection inspired by Evel Knievel, his childhood hero, and the Battle of the Planets, his favourite childhood show.








Kevin's process is so quick and natural. He sketches, cuts the pattern, then makes the garment - first in toile form for fitting, then the sample. He is prolific and very much a maker.








It strikes me as an exciting time for a designer like Kevin, and for that matter, me. Being a technical and creative designer means realising ideas fast. It means creating collections with relative ease and it means other business models are possible.







We talk about the potential of selling online and being de-shackled from the seasonal model in the fashion industry, which Kevin admits is restrictive. Wouldn't it make more sense to produce smaller collections more often? I mention the upcoming ModeForMe platform which is in development, and where I am headed to speak to one of the founders after my meeting with Kevin. We both believe the industry is ripe for such disruption and such technology could empower designers.







All images Kevin Geddes SS16 at Lewis and Leigh PR

Kevin is off to see a client he is freelancing for and his entire collection, which I saw first at London Fashion Week before arranging this interview, is out being shot for various publications. Kevin's approach is at once inspiring and restrained. He's looking forward to the next phase of growing his business but is in no rush, which strikes me as probably the perfect balance. After all, every day's a school day.

Posted from Techstyler.Fashion

Jumpsuit Dresses Are A Thing And They're Bringing Back 90s Memories (In A Bad Way)

October 2, 2015, 3:27 am

≫ Next: Why I Am Putting My Name Out in the Jewellery World to Back Fairtrade Gold

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Remember the 90s? Remember when people thought it was a good idea to wear skirts over trousers and actually sell them together as some sort of monstrous clothing hybrid?

It's baaaaack.

But this time it's a jumpsuit, and a dress, and it's on Nicole Scherzinger.


Nicole Scherzinger seen leaving The Wendy Williams Show in New York on Wednesday 1 October

If you think this wildly confusing new trend is merely confined to the X-Factor judges and Tammy Girl-shoppers of the world, you're in for a shock.

This is an actual thing for sale right now in Zara.


Crossover Jumpsuit, £39.99 from Zara.com

Yes Zara, home of the perfect workwear blouse and all your summer dresses, have actually created this fashion monstrosity.

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Why I Am Putting My Name Out in the Jewellery World to Back Fairtrade Gold

October 2, 2015, 3:29 am

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When I started my eponymous beauty company twenty years ago with my good friend Kim Buckland, we had little idea we were starting a revolution in the world of naturally based skincare. Using botanicals sourced from organic, fair-wild harvested and small-scale sustainable farming was something almost unheard of within the beauty industry. Inspired by the late, great Body Shop founder Anita Roddick's "Trade not Aid" manifesto, and with a background of writing and reporting on sustainable food and farming issues, I was determined that the raw materials we chose for our beauty line were both ethically and fairly sourced. Back then, green was simply a colour on the shade card, not a political statement or lifestyle choice. No-one ever asked about our carbon footprint or where our botanicals came from. We could easily have bought untraceable ingredients from shadowy middle-men on the anonymous open market, but we instinctively knew that provenance is all. Ask any great chef how to create a great tasting dish, and the answer lies (largely) in great ingredients. The same is true of skincare. At Liz Earle Beauty Co. (acquired most recently by Walgreens Boots Alliance), we knew a beauty product's efficacy upon the skin (and therefore customer allegiance) depends upon the integrity of what's inside the jar.

Fast-forward twenty years and although no longer an owner, I still act as global ambassador to the brand that carries my name. I'm keenly aware of the sourcing and supply-chain issues that happen when working with natural raw materials. When domestic turmoil in Kenya resulted in a lack of yangu oil for the haircare range, products went out of stock for almost a year whilst another natural oil - not just as good, but even better - was sourced from the Kalahari. Others might have been tempted to slip in an inferior oil, or reduce the yangu quantity to a miniscule level just so it could legally be listed on the label. I'm proud to say that didn't happen - and the shelves were bare until the better alternative became available. Such dedication to the quality and provenance of ingredients is what creates customer trust and loyalty - the two most important brand-builders. Equally important was the communication of this message, serving to strengthen a customer's awareness that they are backing a brand that does the right thing.

Stepping into the world of jewellery design has been a revelation for me. I have had a long-standing love affair with precious jewels, both as a private collector and part-time professional. I dipped my toe into the fine jewellery world a few years ago with a pendant that could also be worn as a brooch, and sold in aid of my charity LiveTwice. Keen to explore ethical sourcing, it was my first foray into the world of Fairtrade and ethical mining. I followed this with a collaboration with leading British jeweller Boodles, creating a Rose Pelargonium necklace from ethically-sourced pink sapphires. With a heart of gold, Boodles generously gave 100% of all proceeds (not just their profits) from all sales of this piece, significantly benefitting an orphanage for destitute street children in a region of India not far from the gemstone mines.

I've now created my own small line, made exclusively from certified Fairtrade gold and silver and called Fair & Fine - meaning Fairtrade and fine jewellery. It's been no easy task, partly due to limited resources and also to the jewellery trade's reluctance to shine a spotlight on the provenance of one of their most important raw materials: gold. My pieces are made in Peru, from a Fairtrade gold mine that, until now, has been one of the world's largest provider of Fairtrade gold. Now, thanks in part to funding from the UK's Comic Relief charity, newly accredited mines are coming online throughout East Africa, notably Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania. The difference Fairtrade makes is immense. There are between 25 and 35 million small-scale family miners producing artisan gold. This gold usually goes into general global supply and is impossible to trace. This is the reason most often given by the jewellery industry as to why there is no country of origin labeling on jewellery. Think about it: Every piece of clothing, accessory, lipstick or other form of adornment will tell you where it comes from - not so with gold jewellery. A few notable jewellers buck the trend, such as Cred (who I work with), but whether by default or by design, jewellery remains, for the most part, a closed world of non-provenance and anonymity.

Yet consumers increasingly demand transparency and traceability. Scandals such as the Ranu Plaza disaster in Bangladesh in 2013, when over 1000 poorly protected garment workers were killed and thousands more seriously injured by a falling building, made many resolve to raise the ethical fashion bar. Let's hope it doesn't take a similar scale disaster to jolt the jewellery industry into action. How and where our luxury goods are made matters. More consumers than ever before are saying they don't want to wear the wages of disaster, either as fashion clothing or as an accessory. Provenance is increasingly highly prized and in the jewellery world, a number of well-intentioned initiatives have been put in place. In 2012, the World Gold Council launched its conflict-free gold standard and there is also the work of the Responsible Jewellery Council, although marred by reports of gold-mining mixed with money-laundering. Some of the more ethical-sounding initiatives are also blighted by opaque accountability. I chose Fairtrade as it is the only fully accredited, independently audited (by ISEAL Alliance) and totally transparent source of gold. Not only is their audit trail clean, so are their artisan mining practices, from fewer mining pollutants to greater welfare for the miners and their families. Not to mention the practical Fairtrade premium of $2000 paid for every kilo of gold produced - money that pays for community projects such as clean water, schooling and sanitation.

If we can achieve an ethical and fair provenance for goods as transient as a T-shirt, surely we can also work towards creating a fairer and more transparent journey for the gold that we wear as jewellery - something also worn next to our skin and so often given as a symbol of eternal love. Fairtrade gold gives us that opportunity.

www.lizearlewellbeing.com
www.credjewellery.com

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Breast Cancer Awareness Month: The Pink Beauty Products You Won't Want To Miss

October 2, 2015, 5:32 am

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This is the only time of the year we can justify spending £45 on a lip balm without feeling bad, as a percentage of the profits will go to the Breast Cancer Research Fund (and, well it is Crème de la Mer).

October marks the return of Breast Cancer Awareness Month - the annual event helping to raise funds for breast cancer charities, along with broadening public knowledge on the disease affecting every one in eight UK women.

One of the simplest ways to show your support is through the brilliant range of pink-themed products by some of your favourite beauty brands.

New collections are released every year, with various amounts of the profits donated to some amazing charities, and 2015's offerings are finally here (and looking better than ever).



There's the perfect blusher to give you a glowing pink flush, the best contour brush we've ever tried, and a myriad of products to keep your skin, hair and nails all looking their best.

Check out our pick of the best beauty buys below:

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Nick Grimshaw Topman Collection: What Does It Look Like On The Average British Man?

October 2, 2015, 8:44 am

≫ Next: #ThisIsPlus: Women And Men Call Out The Lack Of Diversity In Plus Size Fashion Advertising

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You're Nick Grimshaw. You're at the photoshoot for your line with Topman, you're in an East London warehouse. (Have you been here before?)

Now you're staring poignantly into a canal, the wind blows past you... "Grimshaw", it seems to whisper.

You're lost, but you know where you want to be. You wish the world knew the real you. If only they could see through this laddered sweater. That's why you designed it.



If there truly was a way to know what lies inside the mind of the radio presenter-turned-X-Factor judge, we'd all be taking notes. Who is Nick Grimshaw and how can we, too, captivate millions of people with our effortless British charm?

Aiming to help out is high street giant Topman, who've teamed up with Grimmy to launch his debut fashion collection, arriving in stores 14 October - so at least we can all dress like him.

According to the press release, the range "encapsulates his dream wardrobe", but on first look it's hard to picture who else could pull off the Nick Grimshaw look aside from Nick Grimshaw. And Harry Styles.

(Seriously though, they were actually pictured in it a few months ago.)


Nick Grimshaw and Harry Styles wearing the collection, with Topman owner Sir Phillip Green

"I've always loved clothes and I love these ones so much that I asked Topman to make them for me! They said yes - so here they are, hope you love them too!" Grimshaw said in the press release, using the word love so many times that you really do want to love the outfits too.

The collection comprises of flamboyant shirts, a lot of leopard print (Nick "loves" it), t-shirts dedicated to his dog Pig and 'puppy' tattoo, winter jackets, knits and neck ties.

Prices range from £15 for a neck scarf, £40 for a shirt and up to £200 for a fringed suede jacket.

But what would would the average British man really make of the clothes? HuffPost UK Style writer Rosy Cherrington and social media editor Chris York went to find out...






See the collection, as modelled by Nick, in full below:

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#ThisIsPlus: Women And Men Call Out The Lack Of Diversity In Plus Size Fashion Advertising

October 2, 2015, 9:26 am

≫ Next: Cara Delevingne And Kate Moss Reveal Their Weirdest Selfie Requests From Fans

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One woman's call for greater diversity in plus size fashion advertising is stirring up a storm online, with hundreds of women and men taking to Twitter to share the cry #ThisIsPlus.

Blogger Katt Cupcake created the hashtag in response to two recent plus size campaigns: Evans’ #StyleHasNoSize and Lane Bryant’s #PlusIsEqual.

A photo posted by Katherine (@acurvycupcake) on Sep 20, 2015 at 11:58pm PDT

"These campaigns have left a sour taste in the mouths (and fingers) of social media users the world over," writes Cupcake on her blog A Curvy Cupcake.

"People are quite rightly asking, if style has no size, why are all of the models on the lowest end of plus size? Where is the size 24 model? The size 32?"



"Where are the women of colour?" she continues.

"Who is representing the petite among us? Why can't we see a shorter model amongst the 5'8+ leggy ladies?

"It seems that unless you are tall, white and have and flat tummy to complement your size 16 hourglass figure, then plus is NOT equal.

"But it should be. It has to be.

"Who out there will represent my hanging belly? Who represents Sarahs 4ft 11 in frame?"



Cupcake's campaign has had an overwhelming response and has even gained the support of Lisa Riley.

A photo posted by Katherine (@acurvycupcake) on Sep 26, 2015 at 4:37pm PDT

HuffPost UK Style has contacted Evans for a comment.

A Lane Bryant spokesperson told BuzzFeed Life: "Lane Bryant cast six beautiful women of various sizes, body types, and backgrounds to star in this campaign. They are in every way real women, with real bodies and we think they are beautiful and couldn’t be happier with the image results.”

SEE ALSO:

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Tess Holliday Is Designing Her Own Plus Size Clothing Line

Alexa Chung Joins The Campaign For More Diversity In Fashion

Some of the people who have lent their voices and Instagram pictures to the campaign so far:

A photo posted by Marlena Matute (@bigcity_curvygirl_thinwallet) on Sep 30, 2015 at 3:12pm PDT

A photo posted by Anne Lise (@mookie7x7) on Sep 30, 2015 at 1:39pm PDT

A photo posted by Fat Male Fashion Blog (@welldressedandwellfed) on Sep 23, 2015 at 7:51am PDT

A photo posted by Kat Henry (@kat_v_henry) on Sep 22, 2015 at 1:02pm PDT

"#ThisIsPlus the unrepresented, the unsung... we represent the masses. We come in all shapes and sizes and we are all worthy of fair and equal representation in the media. Shout loud ladies we will be heard. #nogimmicks #unapologetic We are all beautiful! #everyBODYisbeautiful @acurvycupcake you rock for this babygirl" wrote @Kat_V_Henry.

A photo posted by Lucia (@ucantwearthat) on Sep 22, 2015 at 1:03pm PDT

A photo posted by Vicky Griffiths (@vickyjgriffiths) on Sep 27, 2015 at 3:54pm PDT

A photo posted by Daisy (@daisyhollands) on Sep 30, 2015 at 11:43am PDT

A photo posted by Pesky Chloe (@lifesbigcanvas) on Sep 23, 2015 at 8:31am PDT

A photo posted by Shayaunna (@shayracha) on Sep 23, 2015 at 7:01am PDT

A photo posted by Jessica (@thefatbottomgal) on Sep 22, 2015 at 8:32pm PDT

A photo posted by Courtney Taylor Smith (@courtneeeh) on Sep 22, 2015 at 5:18pm PDT

"I love that plus is being represented more in the media and I got mad love for the size 10-16 queens shutting it down on runways and print everywhere... As a designer I can understand why a standard size is necessary for runway presentations. But I think we can do more to represent all body shapes and sizes in print advertising and marketing to consumers. So I stand with @acurvycupcake and the #thisisplus movement!" writes @courtneeeh.

A photo posted by Jen Williams (@jenwenwoo) on Sep 22, 2015 at 4:38pm PDT

A photo posted by Katherine (@acurvycupcake) on Sep 22, 2015 at 3:29pm PDT

A photo posted by Meggan (@cardiganjezebel) on Sep 22, 2015 at 2:54pm PDT

A photo posted by Stephanie Yeboah (@nerdabouttown) on Sep 22, 2015 at 2:53pm PDT

A photo posted by Lolly (@lollylikesfatshion) on Sep 22, 2015 at 2:49pm PDT

Cara Delevingne And Kate Moss Reveal Their Weirdest Selfie Requests From Fans

October 12, 2015, 4:26 am

≫ Next: Non-Binary Fashion: Alok Vaid-Menon On Why You Don't Need To Be A Boy Or A Girl

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For some fans of supermodels Cara Delevingne and Kate Moss nowhere is out of bounds for a selfie request - including toilets.

But both women say they find it annoying when they are cornered in places where they should be able to expect privacy.

Delevingne, 23, and Moss, 41, both say they have been followed into restaurant toilets which is apparently not cool, guys.



In an interview with The Sunday Times' Style magazine, Delevingne said: "I've had it when I've been in a toilet cubicle and someone's gone, 'Can I get a picture?' I'm wiping my bum!"

Recalling similar experiences, Moss added: "Oh yes, me too. They follow you into the toilets, because then they know they've got you. Like I'm going to do a selfie in a toilet."

Saying that taking a photo next to a basin is not something that appeals to her, Delevingne added: "You need privacy when you're eating, and obviously when you're sleeping. And when you're going to the bathroom."

While Moss has famously shied away from social media, Delevingne is not opposed to selfies in general - regularly posting on her Instagram account which attracts 20.7 million followers.

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Kate Moss Will No Longer Pose Nude For This Reason...

Non-Binary Fashion: Alok Vaid-Menon On Why You Don't Need To Be A Boy Or A Girl

October 12, 2015, 5:19 am

≫ Next: Brides With Pink Hair: 10 Women Proving Candy Floss Dos Are Perfect For Weddings

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When you don't identify as exclusively masculine or feminine, what is it really like getting dressed in the morning?

That's what Alok Vaid-Menon, a non-binary transfemme performance artist, writer, and activist from New York, explores in a new video by Refinery29.

Vaid-Menon hopes to challenge the gender binary within fashion, stating: "I have to fight like hell to be feminine."



For many people in the trans community, a simple outfit choice could change whether they encounter violence and harassment that day.

"The minute I wear lipstick, or the minute I put on earrings, or the minute I’m wearing a skirt, my entire reality shifts," Vaid-Menon explains.

Watch the video in full above.

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