Model behaviour

Fashion isn’t merely about beauty and glamour. It's so much more than that. Fashion likes to be bold and make a statement – ensuring that its campaigns / editorials have a lasting impression in the minds of fashionistas.

One must remember that “fashion” cannot exist without the pre-fix “fash”. And by definition “fash” can mean “to vex”, “to bother” or “to trouble”. It comes from the 16th Century French, fascher and the Latin, fastidium which can be synonymous with disgust and aversion. This correlates with the controversy that the fashion industry has seen over the last few years.

Let us not forget the meat dress that Lady Gaga wore. This meat theme continued onto an episode of America’s Next Top Model for a photo shoot. Kate Moss lit up on the catwalk giving the finger to the smoking ban enforced in public places. The legend that is Alexander McQueen once had a collection entitled “Highland Rape”. And let’s not forget these shoes of his which still to this day, astound people.

The latest controversy was plastered all over the news this weekend:

 

Images from French Vpgue

At first glance, the face is flawless and the accessories are to-die-for. Another stunning Vogue shoot. So why the drama?

Well, answer me this: how old do you think the model is?

She is actually pre-pubescent. She is just 10 years old.

This opens up a whole new debate: how young is too young?

Are the stilettos, full face of make-up and body language / positioning all appropriate? Or too sexualised for a ten year old girl?

I have no problems with these images – on the condition that they aren’t sending out the wrong message to other young girls. I would hate for them to have a harmful effect on young girls who are highly impressionable. I would hate for them to start making comparisons and not think they’re skinny / beautiful enough. A lot of us already compare ourselves to the models in the glossy mags. But deep down, we know there is a great deal of air brushing involved to create that perfect image. This is something that younger girls are perhaps not even aware of.

Insecurities commonly establish themselves during puberty and it would be such a shame if it hit earlier with a younger age group. At age ten, children are still children and childhood should be enjoyed. Besides, their bodies have yet to go through changes. If in the future I have a daughter, I would hate for her to have a confidence crisis from as early an age as this.

What are your thoughts?

Topshop sale!

Pretty much every retailer on the high street is luring us in with sales at the moment. And most of them quite impressive – the majority offering us 50-70% off which is a nice contrast compared to the measly 10-15% knocked off by some stingy stores.

I had a day off work this week for a friend’s wedding. Over breakfast before I got ready, I checked my emails and found an email from Topshop late the night before saying: “lucky you – you’re the first to know about our sale!"

My ass, I was the first to know about their sale!

Apparently the Topshop sale started that very morning and seeing as I was up early anyway, I thought it couldn’t hurt to have a quick look. Usually I’m the last to know about a sale and I miss all the good stuff. I had amazing luck this time round. A variety of sizes were available and there was a big range of sale stock to choose from. And so an “adding to basket” frenzy ensued.

But by the time I’d reached the last few pages, I could tell Topshop.com was in hot demand. Everything was selling out in record time. I found some fabulous shorts I’d been lusting over for ages which were even more fabulous now they’d been reduced. But alas, they had more or less sold out. Perhaps just a size 16 left? In fairness, I had more than enough in my basket – countless shirts and some underwear:

I find all of these blouses and shirts so versatile. As much as they’d look adorable tucked into shorts, they’d also be perfect for a day at the office. I especially love the paisley and bonsai prints – both so unusual. And I can never ignore anything with cats on it. To say I love cats is a bit of an understatement!

I loved these underwear sets when they were full price so I’m delighted I managed to find them half price. Sunflowers are my favourite flowers. And next week I’m going to a Disney fancy dress party as Alice. The blue of this blue set reminded me of the blue of my Alice dress so I couldn’t resist!

Anyone else buy anything nice in the Topshop sale? 

Mesmerised

They say your hands are the first part of you to age and that you can often guess someone’s age from their hands. If there’s any truth in that, I was an 80 year old woman for a while. I had what you would call “builder’s hands”. Nasty, dry mitts with a texture not all that different from sandpaper. And let’s not forget a lovely set of jaggy nails prone to chipping and splitting. My hand wrinkles offended my eyes and I was sorely tempted to iron them out.

Miraculously, no longer being in education seems to have been the cure of all cures. My nails are no longer chewed and non-existent – they actually have whites to them!

But their continued growth and strength is all thanks to this wonderful product:

Never have my hands been so smooth! If you haven’t already tried Atrixo, I highly recommend it. You can find it in your local Boots for just £2.03 for a 50ml tub.

Never before have rings suited me. It’s like seeing a burger with whipped cream on top – Just. Not. Right. Now I have semi nice ish looking hands, I have a new found appreciation for rings. And this ring in particular caught my eye in last week’s Stylist:

Aqua Tear Druzy, £79, www.redrubyrouge.com

The site also has an array of different colours and styles. The “Milk Tear Druzy Ring” also makes for good ring porn :)

I am so in love with the pictured blue gorgeousness, it’s not funny. But the price makes me cry a little inside. This would be most of my day’s wage gone in an instant.

I know there are similar “rock ring” creations on the high street at the moment but they just don’t compare in terms of quality. I like to think that for £79, this ring would last a life time.

What are your thoughts? Is this ring gorgeous enough to merit the £79 price tag? You can also find me on Twitter: @Lucy_Angele

Birthday summary

Birthdays at my age are weird. I never know whether to celebrate or not any more.

"Hooray, X years ago I emerged from lady parts."

I sure as heck wasn’t in a manger surrounded by livestock. Nor was I immediately presented with frankincense, gold and myrrh. I did however receive a gigantic teddy bear. Apart from traumatic “lady bits”, it was apparently one of the first things I saw.

Birthdays nowadays don’t seem like such a big deal. Especially when like me, your birthday always falls on a really stupid / inconvenient day. Last year, mine was on a Tuesday or Wednesday (I forget…). I arranged a night out and not many came because it was a week day and there was uni / work / exams the next day. 

I wanted to be excited this year. But my birthday was on a Thursday. There was no point organising something for that very evening – it would've been social suicide.

This year I wanted to get out of my rut and be excited for birthdays again. Thanks to the Bank Holiday, I managed to start celebrations early. Here’s my birthday week in pictures:

Sushi lunch with the girls

I originally planned to get and nail art done with the girls too but there weren’t enough appointments available for all of us :( We did however go out Friday night and had a BBQ on Sunday which were both really fun 

Getting cupcakes “to go” and eating them in the park.

Lots of birthday “treats” to share around at work!

Indian takeaway on the actual day

Day trip in search of adventures! The highlight was hiring a boat

Yep, that's me driving! Wearing ASOS cardigan first mentioned here

Yes, a little extreme to go from I'm-not-bothered-about-birthdays to partying almost every night and going out most days… Maybe I milked this birthday a tad? But hey, why not? It’s only your birthday once a year!  

Eco-Fashion

A recent trip to the Science Museum in London inspired this post. Round about the time my batteries were running low (I was in dire need of some caffeine!), I came across an exhibition about eco fashion, which really got me thinking about what I wear and how it has repercussions on both the environment and the working conditions of those who work within the fashion industry.

This exhibition opened my eyes to alternative materials, colourants and ways of producing clothing that are far more environmentally friendly.

On display:

This dress made from old recycled Metro newspapers.

The skirt layers of this dress are made from ‘bioplastics’ which come from plant sugar(s).

This black dress is composed of nettle fibres (yes, the stinging kind) as they 

are stronger than cotton and apparently just as soft. Nettles grow well in 

the UK (they don’t need much) so they are a good source to use.

This shimmery dress uses a fabric called Morphotex which imitates the

 reflective nature of Morpho butterfly wings. This fabric reflects light and 

creates this  lovely shimmery colour without the need for dyes 

– which is a lot better for the environment.

How eco friendly are you?

Lots of people play their part by recycling, washing their clothes at a lower temperature and so on - but it’s never enough. There is so much more we can do to help. Here are some ideas of what you can do:

• Don’t bin your clothes if they are still in wearable condition. Hand them down to others so the clothes get as much wear as possible.

• And for the very same reason, buy second hand / vintage pieces. I love owning something that I know has a bit of history to it.

• Don’t just throw out your clothes if they are ripped / holey. Transform them into something wearable. Old jeans can be cut into cute little denim shorts and given a new lease of life.

• Buy ethical or organic clothing where you can (if you can afford to do so). Some of you may know about Free People (Emma Watson has done some modelling for them and they feature on sites such as ASOS.com). Here are some of my favourite items:

Trimmed Edges Eyelet Top - £78.32 

Lace Cropped Kaftan - £139.51

Eyelet Scalloped Shorts - £53.85

New Romantics Cala Luna Tunic - £78.32

 Vintage Victorian Long Sleeve Shrug - £200.70

I love the floaty, relaxed nature of the fabrics. I can visualise wearing these on a hot sticky summer’s day, sitting on a beach somewhere, digging my toes into the sand. Accessorized with sunnies and a huge floppy hat, of course.

However caring for the environment needn’t be so expensive. 

There are cheaper alternatives where eco-fashion is a lot more accessible.

This has been demonstrated perfectly by Natalie Portman recently. 

For a pre-Oscar party she wore this incredible dress:

 Source here

Was this a designer’s dress? No. Believe it or not, this is actually a dress from H&M’s eco-fashion range called the Conscious Collection. Expensive? No. At least I find £29.99 for a dress is nothing compared to the £75+ that you may be expected to pay for an eco-friendly top elsewhere. I love their scallop shorts:

 They are recycled polyester and at £12.99, they are more than affordable.

 Eco-fashion can be costly but we have to bear in mind the following:

• Eco / organic materials can cost more

• These materials are meant to be better quality and have a longer life span

• They are usually not mass-produced like most high street clothing

• If they are made locally rather than overseas, the production process costs more

What do you think about eco-fashion? 

My top picks from London Fashion Week

Firstly many thanks for all your get well wishes. I am starting to feel human again which is nice. I realise London Fashion Week is over now and that this post may be seen as “old news” but whilst I was bedridden, I followed as much of it as possible online and I just had to share my favourite pieces with you. My favourites this time round include:

Jena Theo

I love the super hero mask look – it makes the collection so edgy and “in your face”. I also have serious hair envy – I love the relaxed, boho vibe that the hair stylists created on the models. There is something quite animalistic about this collection and I adore the drama and the dark colour palette used. I live in capes / shawls and Jena Theo’s cover ups just look so comfortable and practical for everyday life. And this is an achievement in itself, as not everything seen on the catwalk is practical for us mere mortals.  

Matthew Williamson

I am a girl who worships Aztec print and Matthew Williamson’s use of colour for his dresses is just incredible. His blue version would go with the turquoise jewellery du moment to perfection. And the coral Aztec dress is so inspiring that it would break even me - of all people - out of my dark colours style rut (I live for black clothing). And how cute is the jacket? I love the use of lines and I can imagine it flowing in the breeze with every step I take.

Sass & Bide

Sass & Bide have a real tribal feel to their collection featuring vibrant orange hues that are trending and oh-so-hot right now. I am seriously smitten with the patterns on show – I would love a poncho / bed jacket / cape like this. I am in love with the burnt orange / rust / not sure what to call it / colour that was prominently featured. It’s not a colour that I’ve worn before, but I’d love to own those shorts and that one shoulder knit dress.

Temperley London

My absolute favourite. But then I’ve always been a big fan of Temperley. I love this collection as it looks so wearable – I can actually see myself wearing most of it (if only I had the money!!). Bear witness to flowing, silky fabrics (gotta love that champagne coloured dress!) and the intricate attention to detail of the embellishment combined with sheer fabrics. My favourite piece? It’s a difficult choice… But I am crazy about the white belted dress.

So, what’s new in my life?

• My cape / poncho obsession has reached a whole new level. I bought not one but three this week from H&M. Awful.

• Tesco now officially hates me. I spent £2.04 on a magazine and some chocolate and paid them with a single pound coin and the rest of it in two pence pieces. My purse is happier and much lighter for it though.

Images from LFW A/W 11

Roses are red, violets are blue...

... I don’t want to give into commercialism

And neither should you.

The above sums up my thoughts about Valentine’s Day quite well. It’s a day where the card companies and the alike try to manipulate you into spending a fortune in the name of love. And make you feel damn guilty and a terrible boyfriend / girlfriend if you don’t. But let’s face it, you don’t need to spend a lot to show someone that you love them. Handmade cards are much cheaper than the soppy, heart infested ones you get in the shops. And they show a lot more time, effort and care - it wasn’t purely an impulse buy at the till whilst you were out food shopping.

I found some mugs on Cafe Press which I feel are a true representation of Valentine’s Day:

("Express your love when you want to, not when you're told to.

Down with Valentine's Day!")

("Chocolate makes me fat. Roses make me sneeze. I hate Valentine's Day")

 ("Happy commercialized holiday!")

Brilliant. But also slightly ironic. Many of us moan about the commercialism of Valentine’s Day but now there is a new market (the anti-Valentine’s Day squad and the singletons) which the companies can then make money from too. Terrible, huh?

I am loved up and have been for the last 5 years. We never make a big deal out of Valentine’s Day because if you love someone, you should love them all 365 days of the year – you don’t need one day a year to say / show it. We never go out or have a master plan. Firstly because restaurants are a total rip off at this time and secondly because the one year we did make a plan, I was insanely ill which ruined everything. And we don’t do gifts. But there have been exceptions to this rule. Last year, my boyfriend surprised me a gift and this weekend, we’re going away.

And the question lots of us face: what should I wear on a date? 
I feel like Valentine’s Day adds extra pressure on us to look good (another reason why I semi dislike the day). I have come up with some ideas for looks based on the sorts of things I would wear for each occasion. I hope these are useful / inspiring:

Staying in

If it’s just you and boyfriend home alone, dress comfortably but also add a little sexy twist if you can (he’ll thank you for it!). Try wearing matching lingerie or nightwear with a floaty cover up:

Tesco - babydoll

Topshop - teddy in "Berry"

Topshop - dip dye water colour kimono

Cinema / day time

Because of this seemingly “special” day of the year, you can get away with being a little bit smarter than usual. If you’re making a day of it, wear what’s comfortable - avoid tight fitting garments and high heels. Wedges are a good alternative as they give you a little bit more support and won’t kill your feet after an hour. Floaty sheer shirts, lace detailing and flowing skirts can all look very romantic.

New Look - beaded mesh top

New Look - chiffon gypsy top

River Island - 3D petal tunic

River Island - cream lace skirt

River Island - Peter pan shift dress

River Island - peep toe wedge boots

Topshop - abeline boots

Topshop - crochet lace vest

Topshop - silk shorts

Nice restaurant / night out

It’s up to the individual, but I would choose a dress for an occasion like this. If you are going for a many course meal avoid tight body con dresses and waist belts. Been there, got the t-shirt. You will feel mighty uncomfortable afterwards and in a body con number, your food baby will be quite clear. Try flowing dresses that skim over your stomach and team with a nice pair of heels:

Miss Selfridge - black lace V dress

Miss Selfridge - tan canvas heel

H&M - dress 

… and finally, a clichéd look

If you really love Valentine’s Day, you may want to wear your heart on your sleeve (literally). The High Street has so many options right now so you can wear head to toe hearts if you wish. Show The Love with this cute ASOS hearts cardigan which would look lovely slung over a black dress. Or alternatively team a sweatshirt like this with these gorgeous Topshop scallop shorts and patent shoes. You can even include your legs in the heart fest with these ASOS tights.

ASOS - heart cardigan

ASOS - heart sweatshirt

Topshop - scallop shorts

Topshop - "Kitty" black patent shoes

ASOS - heart tights

  

Hope all you have a lovely Valentine’s regardless of whether you’re single or loved up!