Movember // Strikes Again

As October draws to a close we move into November which seems to be the most boring month ever stuck between Halloween and Christmas it leaves us all stressed, bored and uninterested. Thankfully November brings the rise of Movember which if you don't know what it is where have you been hiding?

We all love good facial hair and I guess Movember whilst serving a good cause, raising awareness just leaves us with some real beauties to look at (not that we need an excuse). Whilst growing facial hair the real purpose of raising money and awares for prostate cancer, testicular cancer and mental health. Last year they raised an amazing £92 million!

Check out their website for more information //here// which I have to say is looking amazing! Props to whoever designed it!

 

Hopefully through out the month i'll be able to bring you guys lots of great images of brilliant facial hair from all over London! Movember is such a great idea and especially being a guy it really reflects the importance of getting men to talk about health, I know myself guys aren't great about talking about these issues. 

I'll deffinitely be checking up on Movember and finding some of my favourite people and I'll be able to show them to all of you! Also if you know any people who's facial hair is impressive let me know  too! 

Lou Reed // Death of an Icon

News spreads like wild fire in today's society and sadly recently the news we've been given is that of the death of Velvet Underground icon Lou Reed last week. Lou Reed famous for his music we've definitely lost an icon, although I guess one of the greastest things is how many people I've seen pay their respects to him. It really shows how many people his music reached, influenced and inspired. 

Looking back at Lou Reed, you've got a guy who can be linked to so other many great names such as Andy Warhol, Edie Sedgewick, Candy Darling and the whole of the factory crowd. I think it'd be hard to come from such a crowd and not have a reputation, with so much creativity flowing from all the characters involved. 

The infamous factory crowd although a place are something I love the idea of, it's a place a time and a feeling. The whole movement of it all. Lou Reed and The Velvet Underground have made some of the most famous music of all time even allowing for the undertones and second meanings in his music. Song's like I'm Waiting For my Man and Perfect Day having all the expected rock connotations of drugs yet I've also seen his music described as "the exact opposite of what he was expected to do" and "songs of real tenderness". 

Obviously music art fashion and culture all go hand in hand and I think this is why it's important to remember Lou, look back on his life and reflect on that. What I love is how this picture above is just another example of evidence and proof of how his work touched the hearts and minds of people everywhere and not only of his time. Clare Barrow designed this jacket as it says "a personal shrine to her hero" obviously a young desinger reflecting her respect. Proving how far his reach stretches we've really lost a very special musician and inspiration. 

Let's hope people continue to be inspired by him and his music even after his death. 

Greatest respects. RIP Lou Reed. 

Jil Sander // Exits

In new news Jil Sander is reported to be leaving her brand again, this time for the third time. Jil Sander returned to the brand as Raf Simons was leaving to Dior in February 2012, this time her leave is apparently based on personal reasons. Jil Sander's latest S/S 2014 collection was designed by her and the A/W will be continued by the in house design team. 

Do we think that she should or will return after this departure or will somebody come to fill her role? 

 

 

Jil Sander S/S 2014 

Thankfully I think with Jil Sander she's returned to the brand, it's constantly been looked after and I have no fear of it turned into a disaster. I think it'll be kept well maintained and they will bring somebody new in. Although if the in house team are going to be desinging next seasons collection it may mean this persons going to be rising up this way?

Jil Sander's clothes work because of their balance and style, I think it's a brand who will be able to manage themselves and work through this and it'll be fine. My main curosity lies with who if anyone is going to take over eventually? 

Perhaps we'll see a radical change or it'll be a subtle shift I think only time will tell! 

Pop Up // Rose Blair

Just a tiny little post but something I wanna draw your attention to! One of my favourite designers from graduate fashion week Rose Blair has opened her pop up shop today and is open until Saturday 26th!

Rose's collection which was a massively fun pink paradise had everything any girl would want from massively cute crops to my little ponies and everything sparkly in between. Her graduate collection was definitely something to be aware of and she's a new name to keep an eye out for, hoping for big things for this girl. I thought I'd post some of the imagery from Zeum Mag's shoot by Amber Eggleden that included some pieces of hers in and is a wonderfully fun sight! The rest of the shoot can be found //here// which is amazing and totally worth a look.

I think if you guys don't head down and give her shop some attention you'll all be missing out, I'm heading down Friday when I'm off uni and I can't wait to see everything especially since first seeing it at GFW! And remember the address is: 

Port-of-Entry pop-up shop

(basement of El Paso) 

350-354 Old Street 

Shoreditch 

EC1V 9NQ

Hope people come down and show Rose some love!

Bailey's Stardust // Exhibition Coming

Opening the 6th February 2014 a new exhibition opens which will feature over 250 pieces of David Bailey's work will be on show at the National Portrait Gallery. Being such a massive name as Bailey, with so much work and experience stretching across 55 years next year it's definitely an exhibition for all to see. 

  

Definitely something to add to your diary and to watch out for, I mean look at David Bailey's work its phenominal. I think one of the reasons I look up to Bailey and see him as such a respected name is because I generally don't like work of a similar style. Bailey to me really delivers something that's very atmospheric and beautiful whilst still remaining modern at the same time. Take the image of Jean Shrimpton from above it looks as if it's been pulled from a current magazine yet here is an image from the 1960's.

David Bailey is definitely someone who deserves such a massive exhibition in his name especially to show off his legacy, hopefully I'll be able to tell you more about the exhibition once it's open and I'll most definitely be attending! 

LC:M & GFW // Dates Released

Few dates for next year already, we've already been graced with both the dates of London Collections: Men in January and Graduate Fashion Week!

London Collections Men

6th - 8th January 2014 

//Website//

Graduate Fashion Week

31st May - 3rd June 2014

//Website//

Hopefully more information about the two events will be unvailed soon and i'll be able to let you guys know more! Keep your eyes here for more news as and when it happens! 

MIA // Versus Collection

Versace has grabbed yet another name to team up to work on their Versus collection this time amazingly its MIA, a musician rather than a designer. Musicians and fashion go hand in hand they wear most of the main labels and some even end up doing some designing but I think MIA is someone who will actually be able to create something that isn't a massive joke.

I mean look at MIA, her style and views on the world. The way she chooses to shoot her videos and her whole persona. She's got a view point that I find so interesting and I think she'll do an amazing job and the greatest part is it won't all just be a deluded power trip as we've seen in the past.

With her music being used in various fashion shows such as Henry Holland's SS 14 and she even created a mix for Kenzo's AW 13 show, she perfectly lends herself to being in fashion. MIA really represents a type of women that I think girls need to look up to, she doesn't sit back and let the world go  by around her she has something to say and is willing to voice that. 

The collection theme is said to be based on counterfeits, something that Versace are massive for their designs constantly being used and also reworked to suit a more street illustration. I think it's a brilliant idea using a counterfeit to show a different direction a brand has been taken in generally by youth and culture. Donatella has described Versus as fast, noisy and brazen and I think this theme works hand in hand with that. 

 

MIA's 19 piece collection which will be avaliable from October 16th is definitely something to keep an eye out for and something I'm excited to see. I mean look at the Versus website already // here // all gif'd up to the nines. I can't wait to see what she's decided to do and what she's created but she's definitely someone I'd want to be designing, I think she'll have a great understanding and insight into what people want.

Marc Jacobs // LV Leaving

News has erupted that Marc Jacobs is leaving Louis Vuitton after 16 years at the brand, apparently Marc wants to focus more on his own label! The news is interesting as peoples thoughts turn to who next will be the head of LV, many people are saying Nicolas Ghesquiére althought Delphine Arnault's name had also been given a mention.  

Marc's Final LV show was a magical set of black carpets, lifts, merry-go-round and butlers. The set itself was breathtaking and had a very sad undertone in my opinion, as if the brand saying goodbye to Marc. I think the show was a perfect way for Marc to leave the brand and the brand to close and start a new. 

Talking about how he was inspired, looking for the showgirl in everyone I think Marc Jacobs really did put on a celebration for all to witness. The whole collection was full of dark mysterious glamour and everything fabulous you'd expect with showgirls in mind as the main running theme for the collection! The details on some of the dressing being absolutely exceptional and wonderful. 

With all things coming to an end I wonder where LV will be going and who will take over the reins from Marc. Part of me feels sad to see Marc leave LV, especially after he's been there 16 years but I'm also so excited for someone to take over and give their all to LV. 

Schiaparelli // Head Designer Revealed!

In exciting news Marco Zanini has been appointed head desginer at Schiaparelli and after the brands relaunch with Lacroix it's very exciting news. Schiaparelli is such a big name especially since it's a brand which at once time was bigger than Channel!

"The biggest and most interesting challenge is to bring Elsa Schiaparelli's legacy to the present and the future"

I was super excited when I heard Lacroix was going to be designing for Schiaparelli and I think Marco Zanini taking over as head designer can only be good, it's great to see a brand which holds such heritage being revived and delivered to such a young audience!

One thing I felt last time was it was interesting to see how Lacroix designed with Schiaparelli in mind, I want to see how Marco Zanini translates the Schiaparelli aesthetic. I think that's the beauty of watching somebody take over they always breathe new life into the brand, look at Raf and Dior love it or hate it people everywhere had an opinion on it! Part of me is just so happy the brand is revived and we're reviving brands especially after watching people like Nicole Farhi! 

 

"She had an exceptional, incredible and intelligent approach; she was ahead of her times. The most interesting thing is to make her contemporary and current"

I love the way Zanini talks about Elsa Schiaparalli, clearly having so much respect for her and wanting to achieve something as mindblowing as she was at the time! I agree with him so much I do think she was ahead of her time especially in regards to her thoughts on fashion, having a manifesto on how women should dress and even not having clothing on display, keeping them as real art. 

I can't wait to see what he comes up with designing a couture and a more RTW collection for Schiaparelli!