NAIL IT.

I just can't get ENOUGH of nail art right now. Perhaps (probably) its an underlying form of procrastination that I am yet to recognise as an issue.

Here are some particular favourites I have stumbled upon...

 

THE ROYAL WEDDING DRESS - PART 2

I came across some sketches drawn by leading designers who have envisioned a look for Kate Middleton's wedding day.....

JASON WU

"I love the idea of mixing traditional opulence with a very clean aesthetic for this modern-day princess." - Jason Wu.

VERA WANG

"...The tradition of intricate hand-pieced lacework in the high-necked bodice with elbow-length sleeves, together with the voluminous skirt of a mixture of stiff and soft silk tulle, feels regal, yet poetic." - Vera Wang.

VALENTINO

"We designed a 'blossoming' dress because we imagined her as a new Botticellian Venus." - Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli, Valentino.

TOMMY HILFIGER

"Kate has a sophisticated yet playful and modern look, so for her wedding she'd be a vision in a mix of traditional, whimsy and classically beautiful." - Tommy Hilfiger.

NINA RICCI

"Light as a feather, layers of lace and organza…a dress fit for a princess." - Peter Copping, Nina Ricci.

MONIQUE LHUILLIER

"The royal wedding will be magical. Kate's dress should be a modern mix of the traditional and contemporary." - Monique Lhuillier.

MISSONI

"This dress was designed to enhance Kate Middleton's beauty through precious fabrics. The clean and contemporary lines, never redundant and beyond all specific stylistic periods, give her an eternal image of grace and elegance." - Angela Missoni.

CHRISTIAN LACROIX

"Something old: Victorian skirt. Something new: patchwork gown. Something borrowed: Queen Elizabeth's veil. Something red: Elizabethan top, as red was the wedding color until 1900!" - Christian Lacroix.

GUCCI

"I admire the balance Kate Middleton strikes between elegant and contemporary with her unmistakable style. For her, I had in mind clean lines, soft shapes and classic touches such as the boat neckline and distinctive train." - Frida Giannini, Gucci.

ELIZABETH EMMANUEL

"It's entirely different from the Diana dress I designed, which was very much of the Eighties, but it's still fitting for a royal occasion. It's a much more modern dress, but romantic and out of the ordinary." - Elizabeth Emanuel.

CHANEL

Creative director Karl Lagerfeld imagined a Chanel take on "the Victorian wedding dress, with a twist - high boots and open in the front."

Part of me wishes Kate would be able to wear some of these beautiful designs...that Valentino is INCREDIBLE. Although Missoni?! No thanks.

THE ROYAL WEDDING DRESS

Ever since the Royal Engagement between Prince William and Kate Middleton was announced earlier this year, the betting scene has been awash with potential winners, all hoping for their chosen designer to create the perfect wedding dress. Now, this is no ordinary wedding, it is the nuptials of a future King of England. This alone suggests the pressure everyone involved with the wedding must be feeling, and the dress is the centrepiece around which everything else revolves.
So who could these potential designers be? It goes without saying, surely, that Middleton will choose a British designer. I certainly hope so anyway!

Now, when one thinks of a British designer, names like Vivienne Westwood, Stella McCartney and Alexander McQueen instantly pop into the head. Perhaps Amanda Wakeley, Julien MacDonald or Bruce Oldfield? All are well-known, world-renowned designers with what initially seems as excellent chances at becoming The Chosen One. However, we must think about the surrounding issues regarding this dress - firstly, no matter what Kate Middleton's personal favourites are, she will HAVE to consider the opinion of the rest of the Royal family, the fact that it will be broadcast worldwide, potential offence her choice may cause by way of design features and history and association with the Royal family in the past few decades.

We can already eliminate names - a favourite, Elizabeth Emanuel, designed Princess Diana's dress when she married Prince Charles. However sweet an idea this might be for the extreme Royalists, I think we can take her off the list. No new bride wants to be cast in the shadow of their mother-in-law, and I imagine that Kate will suggest alternatives. The same applies to Bruce Oldfield. He is the bookmakers number one choice at the moment (such a buzz has been caused that the bookmakers have had to suspend betting), but somehow I can't see it happening. Kate's mother and sister have both been seen browsing his London store recently, so perhaps he will design bridesmaid/mother-of-the-bride outfits as a fitting tribute to Diana, which I think would be lovely. The dress itself however, must stay true to the bride. And as amazing as it would be, I imagine an Alexander McQueen dress is ruled out - after all you can't be married in a dress of the designer who once stitched 'I am a c**t' into the lining of Prince Charles' jacket when he was a young apprentice tailor. What an incredible achievement if she does choose McQueen though. Oh, the delicious irony of it all.

Names like Vivienne Westwood, Jenny Packham, Stella McCartney, Amanda Wakeley and Victoria Beckham have too many celebrity associations to be considered - the brand name can't take over the event itself! Marchesa would be too extravagant for Kate, she already wore Issa for her engagement dress and Christopher Bailey is too commercial.

What about some well-known British bridal designers; Suzanne Neville, Phillipa Lepley, Caroline Castgliano. These names have all been mentioned. After a little research I hope she doesn't choose Suzanne Neville - she seems to be a firm red-carpet favourite for British D-list celebrities. Phillipa Lepley however, I love. A firm favourite.

My two particular favourites on the designer side of things are Erdem and Preen. Erdem would be divine - feminine; not to OTT but also not too demure and the brand stands at the perfect level of notoriety. Preen has a somewhat edgier aesthetic, but could create an amazing contemporary wedding dress that retains just the right amount of traditional elements.

I just hope Kate stands her ground and picks the perfect wedding dress for herself, staying true to her style and her principals. It is believed she has already made a decision and things are in motion, so I can only speculate. It may end up being some obscure bridal couturier (which I hope it isn't - how disappointing), but I can barely imagine the kind of pressure that chosen designer is under. I wish them luck, and I can't WAIT for everything to be revealed!

PROTEST 2010

Finally, images from the 2010 Student Demo....a focus on signage as there were some ingenius and well thought out slogans - many humorous but with an inherent sincerity.

Of course, the Browne Proposal went through by a majority of 21. Times are changing. I have already personally felt the effects of cutbacks when one of my university choices (Ravensbourne Fashion Promotion, to be exact) was removed from my UCAS application due to the scrapping of the course because of limited funding. With the obvious surge in university applicants this year caused by the increased fees of 2012, are the government being proactive by reducing funding and consequently causing the abolition of certain courses (and I bet no Science/Politics/Business courses have disappeared). I think not. We must continue to fight.

Keep updated on movements in your area go to www.ukuncut.org.uk or follow UK Uncut on Twitter by finding @UKuncut.

STUDENT PROTEST 24/11/10

There is another student protest regarding university fees and EMA dissolution tomorrow, in Liverpool, at the Guild of Students outside Mountford Hall at midday. Provided I feel somewhat healthier, I will be there. This time the protest is aiming to condemn the Liberal Democrats - which should have been done from the off. Nick Clegg has severely disappointed the country in his lack of backbone and complete U-turn on his original educational manifestos regarding university fees. Without his support, the proposal would not have gone through.

Disgusting.

I will be tweeting throughout. Do pay attention.

STUDENT PROTEST 10/11/10

Today at 11.30am, hordes of students will be protesting against the forthcoming increases in university fees. The Guardian website is broadcasting live feeds of the protest and students are tweeting as the day goes on. Although the act hasn't been passed yet, I hope this protest brings awareness to the issue and contributes to the eventual decision by the government.

The government increased the number of students at university during the Labour years, which has now led to increased competition and an increase in educational spending. For some unfortunate reason the current government, ahem, the Conservatives, have decided this is a viable area to make cuts and increase fees to contribute towards Britain's extreme debt. If this is passed, it will create embarrassment for the Liberal Democrats (who have always been against fee increases) and, I believe, will result in a future of professional uncertainty.

As Jeevan Vasagar, the Guardian's education editor says 'the cuts are expected to hit the arts and humanities hardest' and it is truly an issue for anyone who hopes to enter either industry in the near future.

Read the full interview and keep up to speed with the progress of the protest at:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/blog/2010/nov/10/demo-2010-student-protests-live

Unfortunately I was unable to attend the protest myself, but I will be following the events closely.

BLOGGERS - 'INADEQUATE, PIMPLED, SINGLE'

An article on the prweek.com website has recently come to my attention. It concerns the demand, or lack thereof, in the opinion of Andrew Marr, of bloggers in the current promotional and public relation industries. Here is the link....

http://www.prweek.com/uk/news/1038899/Social-media-Know-Bloggers/

There are some interesting points made; about the five types of blogger in the current markets.....

1. Experts
2. Hobby bloggers
3. Mummy bloggers
4. Professional bloggers
5. Opinion bloggers

....and there are some insightful statistics concerning how much trust is placed in the information given by bloggers - to be honest, the figures are a little lower than I thought they would be!
I count myself amongst the 'opinion' tribe. I am by no means a fashion expert but I do have strong opinions about the industry and it's influence on society (or vice versa), which luckily cannot be deemed 'right' or 'wrong'. I got into blogging because I wanted to have my say and discuss important and relevant issues with people who are on the same wavelength, and my opinion of this issue is that bloggers and journalists fulfill very different roles in society.

Bloggers are allowed opinions, theories and ideas which people can relate to and embrace. They are also broadcasting in real-time and real-life. Journalists must generally remain impartial and informative. They pretend to know everything, whereas bloggers can admit they don't. Journalists don't connect with people on the same level as bloggers. The relationship is formal and distanced. Nevertheless, we need journalists, just as, in this developing digital world, we need us bloggers.

BYE BYE CREATIVITY

I found out recently that the whole fashion department in Liverpool JMU has been, well, effectively deleted. And, as I am lead to believe, has the Geography and Politics departments. A worrying time for us all in the creative industries. It's a well-known secret that the Conservative government are not huge advocates of the arts - the dissolving of the British Arts Council hailed the slippery slope in my opinion - and these new revelations are indicating more is yet to come. Rumours that the Manchester and Salford fashion departments are at risk are also circulating. Only time will tell.

THE BALLET RUSSES - TREND REPORT

The A/W 2010 and S/S 2011 catwalks were full of garments inspired by the Ballet Russes, whether directly by ballet, as in the case of Marchesa and Alexis Mabille, or Russia - look to Erdem - or just 1920s society, see Jenny Packham. Whatever the influence, the exhibition in the V&A I introduced earlier has had a huge impact on fashion for the upcoming seasons.

If you wish to recreate this look on the high street, regard ruffles, lace and brocade as a must have. Don't shy away from 1920s inspired cuts such as dropped waists and wrapover coats and choose which direction you wish to take - flamboyant embellishment or simple silhouettes. Don't confuse the two.

Jenny Packham S/S 2011

David Koma S/S 2011

Alexis Mabille Haute Couture A/W 2010


Bora Aksu S/S 2011

Chanel Haute Couture A/W 2010

THE BALLET RUSSES

The Victoria and Albert Museum are currently holding an exhibition entitled Diaghilev and the Golden Age of the Ballet Russes: 1909 - 1929. A must see for everyone interested in 1920's society, fashions of the time, designer connections to the ballet, or even just ballet purely isolated as a dance form.

The Ballet Russes was pioneered by Sergei Diaghilev, a Russian creative director, artisan and socialite, who took traditional forms of ballet and developed it into a ground-breaking dance company which incorporated Orientalism, high fashion and radical choreography. For theatre, fashion and dance ever since, the Ballet Russes has had a lasting influence.

The biggest designers of the time; Coco Chanel, Paul Poiret and Leon Bakst, were heavily involved in the costume of the Ballet Russes, designing cutting-edge pieces that allowed the dancers freedom of movement whilst simultaneously conveying the story. The heavy Orientalist connotations, influenced by Diaghilev's upbringing, were featured in colour ways, bold patterns and silhouettes. The harem pant, jewelled colours and Art Nouveau patterns brought this theme together - which was aided and abetted by the influx of Japanese artwork throughout the 1920's and the discovery of Tutankhamun in 1922.

The Ballet Russes was a true fashion phenomenon, yet I have realised, not so widely acknowledged by contemporary fashion enthusiasts. Perhaps this is due to its brief life, engulfed by other major events of the 1920's. Although the Ballet Russes continues today, it has not had the impact in fashion that it initially had, however, hopefully the V&A exhibition will highlight the true importance and influence of such an exciting movement.

'OUR VIV'

Here in Liverpool, people have the tendency to refer to Dame Vivienne Westwood as 'Our Viv'. Too familiar perhaps, but intended with the best of feeling. Vivienne Westwood is one of the very few designers who people easily identify with; as if one could have a cup of tea with her and it would be nothing out of the ordinary. As well as her legendary design aesthetics, it is her mentality that has captured the hearts of the nation - she is a true eccentric.

Opening between the 26th August and the 22nd September in Selfridges, London is an exhibition showcasing her amazing shoe designs. Of course everyone envisions the bondage trousers, the punk era and maybe even her dabble with New-Romanticism and Renaissance fashions, but only recently has a lot of attention been focused on the shoes of Vivienne Westwood. Ever since her affordable collaboration with Melissa, fashionistas have been going mad for her sweet-smelling shoes. I also truly think that Liverpool has an affinity with Westwood that goes above and beyond that of any other city...so it is my duty to let people know about this amazing exhibition and let them flock there in their droves.

WATER AND OIL

Unless you have been holidaying on the Moon for the past three months, you won't have failed to have heard about the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. It has caused untold damage to the environment, animals and the local communities. You also may have heard that recently Vogue Italia has published an editorial featuring model Kristen McMenamy draped over rocks and sand representing the fallen birds and dead fish, cleverly using a variety of feathered garments and dark accessories in a palette of grey and black.
The photographer is none other than Steven Meisel, who frequently champions political and/or social causes through his photography work (most notably in 2006, were he did an editorial exploring terrorism following the 9/11 attacks).
Here are some images of the editorial and of the tarred animals off the Gulf of Mexico....






The editorial has been savaged by most critics and Vogue has been unfairly blamed for using such an economical disaster as a way to sell issues and create a buzz. That may be your opinion but it is not mine. Yes, the fashion world is often accused of exploiting issues such as this, but the film industry and the literary world are no better. I believe that by transforming a human (albeit a model) into the position of vulnerability and sympathy, it enables other people to visualise the oil spill as a true disaster of enormous scale, and perhaps understand properly the effect such a thing can have on the environment. I think the issue has been handled carefully and sincerely, because, in all fairness the clothes are not showcased to the best of their ability, which brings me to consider the fact that that was not the ultimate goal of the editorial. Plus Meisel's input offers me some reassurance.

What do you think?

For updates on how BP are handling the oil spill, please visit www.bp.com and click the 'Gulf of Mexico response' tab at the top of the page.

ADVERT MADNESS

As I flicked through this months Vogue, I realised that two particular advertising campaigns made me stop and stare. This doesn't happen very often let me tell you (see Loewe, Burberry and Michael Kors for reasons why...) And so I decided they needed to be featured on here. In this economic climate, advertising is vital for those sales, and it needs to pack a punch.

The series of Dolce & Gabbana adverts featuring Madonna are both exciting, intriguing and individual. The concept is new and daring - begs the question of why Mr. D and Mr. G have never done it before! Ok, so I'm really not Madonna's biggest fan, but even I have to admit that she really works in this series of adverts, posing as the Italian bombshell in a traditional family. I enjoy the gritty realism of the images and the use of a variety of people which culminates in an effective family portrayal. In a way, Madonna does not automatically stand out as the star of the adverts. I am also a great fan of black and white images, as I'm sure you will grow to learn, so this aspect has a double thumbs up from me!

The Louis Vuitton adverts for the new season are just exquisite. Featuring Karen Elson, Natalia Vodianova and Christy Turlington, they cannot fail to impress. I just adore the composition, the subtle lighting and of course the beautiful garments. I think the models look somewhat like dolls; they just look perfect - perhaps too perfect? Well, it is Louis Vuitton so only the best will do. A classic, I feel.

CORNWALL

I love the quaint English countryside. Truly inspiring.