Topshop X Adidas



Adidas have released a new collection with Topshop '80's hip-hop meets slick sportswear'. This collection isn't as good as the previous collection with only monochrome colours with red to allow the clothing to stand out however I don't quite understand the numbers down the sides of the clothing I feel like it makes the clothing look cheap. 



Rayban Flash Lens


Last year Ray-Ban released the new wayfarer collection the Cosmos with the flash lenses, now this year they have released a whole new line of flash lenses in other popular models such as the aviators and the Justins. Ray-Bans flash lenses come in an array of colours from deep purples and greens. With the flash lenses in many different models you are bound to find the right pair that suits you. 

Festival Season: All White



As seen on WGSN, this seasons colours for festival season is all about white. Taking inspiration from this years Coachella and the brand Etro. What with crochet being a big material for this summer it seems right to wear it white. Pair this with a flower crown and gold/bronze accessories and you will be well on your way to being festival ready.


Styling Board: Denim

I preferred my practice shoot of this look to the studio shoot, I thought the images for this look makes it look more 'summery'. I wanted to zoom in on both the patchwork denim and the bag as they are key points to the outfit. I think the model stands out against the earth colours. 

Styling Board: Active

After the practice shoot I had to re-evaluate what my model was wearing, I decided to choose a baseball style top with a mesh style panel along the side for an active look. I prefer this look to the last one as I feel that it looks more active than the last practice shoot. I wanted only close ups of this look as I thought the top was the main item. 





Sandals


Sliders and thick soled sandals are a main trend for this years summer 2015, as the athletic style trend  is in full swing for this season what better way to compliment it with adidas style sliders or the go to Birkenstocks.

All images- ASOS

Adidas Superstars


Originally a basketball shoe famously worn by Run DMC in 1983, this year the superstars have made a massive come back as the go to shoe for street style fashion. What better way to celebrate this by Adidas launching a collaboration with the style icon Pharrell Williams, with 50 brand new colours in this iconic shoe. My opinion? I don't like them, I feel like they look too shiny with them being all one colour I think they're too bright and 'in your face'.

Pharrell Williams: Style Icon


Not only is Pharrell Williams a musician but he is now a style icon, who would have thought that Pharrell over the years could be come such an inspiration to the way men dress. Want Pharrells style? It's fairly simple; simple is key so make sure you find yourself the perfect casual shoes (not trainers) that can be worn with skinny jeans a plain top and a jacket that stands out to complete the outfit. 



#whomademyclothes

In a bid to support workers welfare Fashion Revolution Day taken a stand and worn their clothes inside out to raise awareness. Consumers want to know where their clothes are from and if the people making the clothes are getting a fair deal, this awareness should hopefully allow companies to see that consumers do care about where their clothes come from. 


 Stella McCartney via Instagram.

Following the Rana Plaza collapse companies such as Gap have been helping to make safety in these work places a lot more sufficient and so with this the Fashion Revolution have joined this to make a stand for companies such as Primark to care more for their workers.

My Perspective: Being Alive



One of Faith Popcorns trends is Being Alive, with a lot of health trends arising it would be no surprise if this was to carry on in the near future meaning many people living past the average age of death which is around the age of 70. A lot of reality tv stars have also bought out their own fitness DVDs to coincide with this trend such as Charlotte Crosby's 3 minute belly blitz. A lot of these quick workouts are said to be better for you than an hour at the gym because you tend to work harder in those 20 minutes than you would in that hour.
Being healthy isn't just about exercise it involves what you do to your body through skin care and of course what you eat and drink. I have found a new product that helps me drink more water throughout the day, essentially it is a water bottle with a filter in the middle in which you put fruit in and the filter helps to allow the water to get the full flavour of the fruit.

Photoshoot Prep: Practice Shoot- Denim

This practice shoot is my favourite out of the two, it's taken outside in the woods around mid day so you get the best lighting. 



I went for a simple denim dress to go with the summer vibe along with black boots and a bright yellow bag to add a bit of colour to the look. Make up is simple along with the straight hair to give her more of an edge. For the studio shoot I may decide to have the hair up to see how that changes the look as I feel it may make the model look more elegant and 'summery'


Photoshoot Prep: Practice Shoot- Active


I had to do a practice shoot for both my trends so that I was aware of what I wanted my model to wear ready for the final studio shoot. Below are some of the images I took.



Originally I had the model set out to wear the t-shirt and shorts but I realised that it didn't look very active so I stuck with the sports bra and shorts. The second look still wasn't looking great as I felt the model was slightly awkward in what she was wearing and so she wasn't 100% on the shoot and so I will need to reconsider what she should wear for the studio shoot. 

Trend Board 2: Denim

Denim has always been a big trend throughout the years and seasons, SS16 couldn't be any different with the love of flares coming on to the scene and denim one pieces. Denim will always be an important trend no matter what year you're in this simple fabric is so versatile. Pair this fabric with bright accessories to make a statement, yellow is a big colour at the moment so what better way to show that with accessories. 


Trend Board 1: Active


For part of this project we have to take images in response to two trends. I have chosen active and denim. This year active has changed a lot of peoples opinions in life not only is active a clothing trend but it is also a lifestyle trend, a lot of people are going out of their way to get their dream body and so many companies have noticed this trend and jumped on the wagon of health kicks. Below is a trend board I have produced which will be my inspiration for when I come to producing my photos for this trend.




Gingham



L-R: Oscar de la Renta, Altuzarra, DVF, Michael Kors, Ungaro

This years catwalk for SS16 is all about gingham, oversized with bright colours is how you should be wearing next years trend.



Above are a few images found, at the moment gingham is only worn in black and white small print however with this new trend arising in the next year I think we will see a lot of different ways gingham can be worn. More colours of gingham need to be shown as well as it being oversized with added layering over the top such as embellishment. 

Round Sunglasses

There's no such thing as subtle, with the seventies trend in full swing this years sunglasses are paired perfectly with the trend. Ray-ban have launched a whole new range of round sunglasses from the famous John Lennon's to the brand new Lilli's with the ever more popular flash lens in a range of colours from electric purple to bright green.






#DropThePlus



#DropThePlus a new craze originally started by model Stefania Ferrario back in February however not a lot was spoken about it until the 'curve' models from Models 1 did the above photoshoot un-retouched to show young girls that they should be comfortable in their own skin. With a lot of news coverage on how women starve themselves to get in to the modelling industry this couldn't come at a better time to promote health and confidence.


Maxi Skirt

Left to right:

Bring out the summer vibe this year with the maxi skirt, perfect for a casual style or for a special occasion paired with some strappy heels. 

The slimming pill

At a time when the fashion industry is set to make a much welcomed U turn on skinny models, there is a growing issue with young women buying slimming product from the Internet. These young women are putting their health and even their lives at risk in a bid to "fit in" with the expectations the fashion industry has set for them. Only today, I was reading in the paper about a 21 year old having died following an overdose of "slimming pills" she had purchased from a website! The fashion industry has to take some responsibility for this! For years now young women have had their self esteem and confidence knocked because of what they have perceived to be a must! You cannot possibly be attractive unless you are a size zero!! It is long overdue for the fashion industry to change these perceptions. Women should be encouraged to accept their size and focus more on being healthy! Even if that doesn't mean being skinny. Healthy eating and exercise should be promoted and women should not be driven to buying so called "slimming products" in order to fit in. The question is, have we left it too late? A whole generation of young women have been affected by the "size zero" trend and this will be a difficult thing to reverse. We need more "normal" models, with curves in the right places. Men should add their voice to this as most men do not find skinny women attractive, that is a fact. I look forward to a new trend of women looking like women, not underfed human beings.

hairstyles from the 60's and today.



So here we are, fifty five years on and the hair styles have come back to the way they used to be back in the sixties. Understandable really as clothes fashion has done very much the same. It's all very nice but doesn't it become a little predictable and boring? fashion seems to be stuck in these cycles, almost as if nobody has the ability to come up with anything new. Could it be that we have exhausted our imaginations? only two different styles seem to come out of every trend, a long hair style that seems very bohemian and a short sleek style for those who like a more formal dress. Does this mean we will be eventually going back to punk? or is there a completely new direction out there to be explored? Change is good and it is about time someone out there was brave enough to introduce it maybe? would that be welcome or rejected? we will never know until we try!

The Apple watch.




The Apple watch is coming!
So here it is, the all singing all dancing watch from Apple. Orders for this new gadget/accessory have been placed and they will be selling like hotcakes apparently. This watch claims to be able to do the more familiar things more quickly and even to do things that were not possible before! 
The new watch is Apples attempt at outdoing Fitbit and Apple have gone all out to achieve this but where Fitbit watches retails at between £40 and around £200, the new Apple watch starts in the region of between £200.00 and the most expensive one is around £13,000.00!! 
So how can Apple justify these prices? Well, the Apple watch pretty much does everything your Phone, Laptop, tablet would do, in one little package around your wrist. Pretty impressive, yes, but for £13,000.00, I would expect it to run me a bath and cook me a gourmet dinner for when I got home from work! This watch, however, will sell because of the demand for new gadgets and the fact that it is a status symbol. Until the next gadget comes along that is...

Fitbit




Fitbit is a new accessory for the health conscious consumer. This clever little accessory can track your activity, exercise, food, weight and even sleep throughout the day and night and help keep you motivated to follow a healthier lifestyle. There is a range of products to suit all needs, from everyday fitness products to performance fitness products.







http://www.fitbit.com/uk/compare

Festival Season 2015




As the Festival season is upon us, here are some examples of this year's favourite outfits. Yellow as you will notice is big this season and there is a emphasis on fringes and flowers taking us back to the seventies. If yellow is too much for you when it comes to clothing, you can still follow the trend by using accessories of that colour to liven up your festival wardrobe.


all images from Topshop and Urban Outfitters.


The Vogue Festival this year will be taking place on the 26th of April 2015, it will be based in two locations. The Royal College of Art, where the activities will take place and The Royal Geographical Society, where the talks will be held. Talks this year will be covering a range of topics, not just fashion. People like Bobbi Brown, Ella Woodward, James Duigan, Andy Puddicombe and Calgary Avansino will be discussing beauty and wellbeing among other things. Jean-Paul Gautier will be interviewed and many other Fashion experts will be there to discuss how their personal styles has affected their respective careers.

For me however, one of the best activities is still the cover shot! this is a yearly event and is to me the best souvenir you can take back from this wonderful festival. For just £10 you get the opportunity to have your own Vogue cover. You will be photographed by one of Vogue's photographers with your makeup and accessories provided by Chanel!

This year's Vogue Festival will once again be the Festival to be seen at! Enjoy!




http://www.vogue.co.uk/news/2015/04/15/the-vogue-festival-2015-facts-and-information

Fast Fashion


Now days everyone is after the newest trends be it suede material or flared jeans for a fair price and websites such as Missguided, Pretty Little Thing and Boohoo make it their job. Websites like Missguided aim to update their website everyday with the newest trends however they're never mentioned in big magazines such as Elle or Vogue. The reason for this being that they don't invent new fashion trends they just copy them and are now copying items of clothing such as items that Kim Kardashian has been seen wearing but of course at a much more affordable price and cheaper material. 

A lot of these websites are great it's something that I head to straight away when I need a new outfit quick and I think the same goes for a lot of people but you pay the price in cheap material a lot of this clothing is made from either viscose or polyester. However I think there is something a lot of companies could take from this, a lot of Missguided's advertising is through social media like Instagram or Tumblr and I think a lot of companies forget that we are moving forward and social media now plays a huge part on advertising, I personally follow a lot of bloggers through Blogspot and Instagram and whenever I see something they're wearing and I like it I instantly want it and I will search through clothing websites to find that item of clothing. 


http://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2015/apr/07/fast-fashion-online-labels-boohoo-missguided

Alexander Mcqueen: Savage Beauty



Last week I visited the Alexander Mcqueen: Savage Beauty exhibition in London at the V&A it was one of the most breathe taking exhibitions I have ever been to. All of his work had been on show throughout the rooms explaining his inspiration and where it all began. There's nothing more annoying than not being able to take pictures in there I was able to get a few on the sly but not as great as the images you can find on the internet. The above image I found on the internet but this is one of the rooms in the exhibition and for this room you had to sit down and take it all in because where ever you looked you found something new. 
Now seeing this exhibition I wonder if the brand should have finished when Alexander Mcqueen died because a lot of the pieces are extraordinary and don't compare to what the brand is designing now. 


Palazzo Pants


This summer it's all about the wide leg trousers, the palazzo pants as they're called, are on trend for this summer. Pair it with chunky sandals and a cropped tight fitted top will look lovely. A lot of these trousers can be found on river island in a range of patterns.


http://www.riverisland.com/women/trousers/_/N-81f

Tidal



New to the music streaming world is Tidal, it's USP? Exclusive music and videos before anyone else. Recently bought by Jay-z and originally named WiMP this streaming website is set to be the next big thing in music however at 20 USD I wonder whether it really is worth it? I thought I would look in to the site however you're not able to necessarily get a tester of the website unless you actually sign up for a trial which means putting in your card details as well. I think a lot of this is all due to artists wanting money they're not wanting to you to be able to listen to music for free with the likes of Youtube and Spotify. But what with Spotify under fire of its free service there is talk that they may remove this however I think their reasoning for having it free is a good reason. They claim that people that originally used the free service did go straight on to a paid service after using it for a while I am one of those users and it is the best 10 pound I spend a month. 

With all these streaming services under a attack as well as talk of Youtube actually changing their free streaming to a paid music service I think this will have a bigger backlash on artists and labels with people going more towards using piracy websites to download their music. 




http://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/apr/05/tidal-10-things-you-need-to-know-jay-z-madonna-music-streaming

New approach to dolls


Even from a young age girls are made to believe a certain look is okay, with dolls wearing an excessive amount of make up and having a skinny, big bust look this gives girls the impression from a young age that we should look like that; however a woman from Australia is trying to change this perspective in a new project called the Tree Change Dolls which has gone viral in a short time frame. These dolls could have a big impact on girls toys what with the law on skinny models I think a lot of this could change a lot of peoples opinions on looking good. At the end of the day these dolls do change children's views of themselves and how they should be looking and it's a good thing to see a woman changing these dolls to have a more realistic and natural look.

http://treechangedolls.tumblr.com




Illegal for being skinny


France have proposed a new law where it is illegal for modelling agencies to hire models who are underweight and malnourished this law would be set based on a models BMI as well as this magazines must state if an image has been photoshopped.
If this law isn't obeyed they risk a six month prison sentence and a fine. However I find that using only your BMI won't work as some people are naturally skinny due to high metabolism, they should also consider the models mental state along with the symptoms of anorexia. 



I think this is just a step to improve views on models in the eyes of young girls who aspire to be them. I think at the moment you will struggle to see it making a difference but as time goes on I think you will see a bigger outbreak of the extreme measures these models go to to stop agencies to hire these models. On the other hand I think this has always been an issue and a lot of the fashion industry want skinny models and I feel they will still find a way of bending the rules to allow these girls to model.


Brave a bob



Fancy a change of hair style? Why not brave a bob, these celebrities know how to work a bob be it dead straight, loose curls or beach waves you'll sure be on trend with this hair style. What make up will you work with? Well I think a bare faced natural look with a small pop of colour on the lips for a evening look to stand out but to also let the hair have the limelight. 


My Name is Lolo




Fancy some new espadrilles this summer? want a spend a bit more money and have many different colour options? Well, My Name is Lolo a basic Spanish espadrille brand has dedicated themselves to the quality of the shoes and so the price of these espadrilles will be a lot more expensive compared to your usual espadrilles, price ranging from 85-95 pounds so if you fancy new summer shoes why not invest in a pair? You can buy online or in Notting Hill.

Not feeling the price? Here are a few I have chosen to get you the perfect pair you're after.



(From top left to bottom right)


Ranging now from 58-7 pounds this is a lot more ideal if you're on a budget with both websites doing student discount. Keep on the suede trend with the purple suede espadrilles from Topshop, or if you don't like the idea of the woven bottom why not go from TOM's they're ultra comfy and you help a great cause when you buy a pair they also give a pair to a child in poverty. Still don't like the idea of the TOM's? try out Topshop's skate inspired snake print shoes that are on trend this season... They are a bit painful on the feet so make sure you have plenty of plasters if you do decide to buy a pair.






Paisley Love


One of my favourite patterns has to be paisley... anything paisley I love! So why not try out the print yourself if you haven't already it always seems to be on trend whenever you look on the 'new in' section of almost any website. Here are a few of my favourites above, I would often pair it with a block colour top or trousers as it is such a busy pattern you don't want to over do it and have a mix match of patterns. If you're feeling brave Topshop have a paisley top that also brings in the stripe trend in to the top.




Looking to spruce up your living room with new accessories and furniture? Well this Kings Road inspired interior will surely keep you up to date with the latest trend. If you're after earthly colours and geometric style patterns you are definitely on the right to track to achieving this. 
I noticed when visiting Kings Road that a lot of the furniture window displays were showing a lot of earth colours and geometric patterns together. 



If you're looking for an urban, casual style then this Brick Lane inspired outfit will certainly fit you! Going casual with jeans and the Adidas Superstars (which are suddenly on trend again) paired with this stunning embellished bomber jacket will certainly have heads turning. Very different in styles with Kings Road and Notting Hill this certainly meets the criteria of the vibe in Brick Lane. 

Brick Lane



Brick Lane famous for it's vintage markets and curry houses the area of Brick Lane is totally different in comparison to Notting Hill and Kings Road. It's a very urban and on trend are in which you will find a lot of the younger generation hanging around this area. My favourite part of Brick Lane? Well of course it's the Beigel Shop just before you turn off heading in to Bethnal Green, if you ever need cheap lunch this is the place for you. 

Boots- Office


Similar style to Kings Road, with this long sleeved white striped t-shirt and black jeans you have a much more relaxed styled paired with ankle boots you're ready for a stroll along Portobello Road. You'll be ready for spring with the short sleeved shirt dress paired again with the ankle boots.


Notting Hill



Notting Hill/ Portobello Road notoriously known for its Carnival during August bank holiday weekend. Walking through the streets of Notting Hill it is clear to see that you don't get the full atmosphere going here on a week day during 'non market day' and so of course it was a disappointing visit. I noticed that shop windows were slightly different in this area with a lot of antiques as well as a lot of contemporary inspired interior shops. The highlight of this was the Humming Bird Bakery... I bought a red velvet cupcake and it was without a doubt the best cupcake I have ever eaten I'm annoyed with myself that I never bought more. 



Want to achieve the Kings Road look at affordable prices? Warehouse are one of the best for providing elegant fashionable items that achieves exactly what you're looking for. The above items show a smart casual look for everyday wear or work wear, teamed with a statement piece it could easily be transferred to evening attire.

Kings Road



Kings Road, a symbol of mod culture back in the 1960s has a different style now to what it did then. Walking through the streets and side roads of Kings Road it's clear to see that it has a high end street style with everything looking very neat and elegant. The houses were big with what would seem to be a lovely walk around the area, side roads are very peaceful and with the sun shining it was a lovely day. 



Geometric patterns and earth colours seem to be the main interior inspiration for this Peter Jones shop window. A lot of mustard yellows and dark browns were the centre piece for this showing a winter feel to your home.





Faith Popcorn

Since the 1980's Faith Popcorn and her organisation BrainsReserve has been tracking changes in consumer lives using trend forecasting.


Faith Popcorn uses cultural brailing as one of her techniques to predict a trend, this is done by taking everything that you hear, see and taste and taking inspiration from this to detect changes. This requires you to be completely observant in your surroundings by asking yourself simple questions such as who started the trend? and where it came from? These questions need to be answered to be able to understand what the trend is. 

Milan Fashion Week- Dolce & Gabbana


Throughout 'fashion month' controversy was spread across the whole. Dolce and Gabbana chose to do a fashion show celebrating motherhood. Bianca Balti, who is heavily pregnant (see top right) walked down the catwalk in a lovely nude dress. As well as this runway models would walk down with toddlers sporting matching mother and daughter outfits. I thought the runway show was wonderful it seemed very refreshing to see beautiful babies and toddlers walking down the catwalk with their happy faces. As well as that the clothing itself was beautiful with the pattern of an english rose throughout the collection. A lot of light colours were shown to create a refreshing look. 


#AskHerMore




Reece Witherspoon (wearing Tom Ford) protested on the Oscars Red Carpet this season saying that women on the red carpet are more than their dresses and encouraged interviewers to ask more questions about them such as 'what inspires them' instead of asking what designer they were wearing. My opinion? I think it is a great idea however I don't think that will get very far, personally I think that questions like that are used more for the interviews that celebrities do in magazines, the red carpet is there to take pictures of the celebrities attending this event and of course if you're wearing an outfit people will want to know where it's from... I think it's a bit hypocritical when you're wearing a designer dress, of course you will be asked about it after all it's almost your duty because at the end of the day the majority of these celebrities are getting these dressed for free so you would expect the girls to do the designers a favour and at least talk about how stunning the dress is. If you were to do this right you wouldn't wear a branded name or use your stylist you use your own sense style. 









http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/02/23/all-hail-the-feminist-oscars-on-askhermore-patricia-arquette-and-nph-s-balls.html

Bare All



I'm certainly not brave enough to attempt this but these celebrities certainly were for the Oscars After Party. I'm not a fan of any of them what so ever, I know black is meant to be classed as a slimming colour but that doesn't mean you can show off nearly 70% of your flesh... I think they took the idea less is more a little too serious. This style was definitely a trend for after party and I don't quite understand why.

Oscars After Party


After the awards there's always an after party, another way to get your name on the best dressed list. I found I liked more of the dresses at the after party than I did at the actual Oscars. Julianna Hough in Naeem Khan was by far my favourite look, words can't describe how much I loved it! The detail on the dress was so beautiful she looked so elegant, again another twist to the nude trend but standing out with the vibrant colours. Hair slicked back allows for the dress to be the centre of attention. 
Lupita Nyonga toned down her looked from wearing a personalised Calvin Klein pearl dress to a gold shimmer strapless dress which I thought complimented her skin tone beautifully as well as this basic make up was used besides a dark lipstick which allowed for the dress to stand out more. I have always thought red was the perfect colour for us brunettes and Nina Dobrev (in Reem Acra) proves my point perfectly, with the embellishment and the cut sides this dress flatters her perfectly.

Oscars Best Dressed



Another awards ceremony another best dressed post! The Oscars were on Sunday and there was a lot of out there outfit such as Lady Gaga's unflattering dress paired with red gloves... However there were some beauties on the red carpet and the above celebrities were definitely my favourite. Both Emma Stone and J-Lo wore stunning Elie Saab dressed, Emma risked the lime green colour and I think it works wonders with the elegance of hair colour and style paired with a simple orange lipstick. J-Lo again risked the nude colour trend, I don't think I'm 100% on the fact that it does blend in with her skin tone but none the less she looked stunning with the slicked back pony tail to allow focus on the dress. Dakota wearing Saint Laurent looked very basic with the updo hair and red lip but I think this dress compliments that perfectly along with her fair skin it really stands out, she wears the dress compared to the dress wearing her. 

Adidas x Kanye West AW15 collection



Last week we see the full collection of Kanye West's collaboration with Adidas. After watching the video of the catwalk I have to say it honestly put me to sleep. The collection is nothing special, it's not something I would see adidas every releasing if you look at the above pictures. This collection was inspired by the London riots and of course Kanye being Kanye believes that this collection can help people have better lives. Personally I think the collection was a disaster, Adidas allowed Kanye to have complete control over this collection but I wonder if there is too much control. The last time Kanye released a clothing line he had spent 10 million to create it and no one wore it. Will this collection be the same?


http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/kanye-west-says-adidas-range-was-inspired-by-the-london-riots-10053749.html 

Disney


I am blown away by the designs inspired by Disney's Cinderella. Disney has asked 9 designers to come up with their own interpretation of the Cinderella shoe which would be released the same date as the brand new Cinderella film (March 13). Practical? Of course not! but who on earth cares? I mean just looking at the sketches say it all at how delicate and stunning these shoes are for example Stuart Weitzman, the only one to design a boot style heel which would be made with over 3,000 Swarovski crystals on the boot. I'm starting to wish I was rich enough to buy them all! These will be released all around the world but with only limited stock you best be sure to get your hands on them as soon as you can.




Viva Glam


It's here!! The new MAC Viva Glam collection this time from Miley Cyrus! If you haven't heard of Viva Glam this is a limited collection from MAC which started in 1994 to raise awareness of AIDS, all the proceeds of the product goes straight to the men, women and children affected by HIV/AIDS. However I wasn't too happy with the lack of colour choices given to us with only one colour being by the looks of the picture a bit too pink for my liking, it is very Miley Cyrus but not very much me. 





http://www.macaidsfund.org/theglam/campaignhistory