Archive for February, 2010

So I’m a bit late in posting this but if you haven’t heard already, Benetton have launched a new “It’s My Time” campaign to find 20 individuals to fly to New York and model their Fall/Winter 2010 collection. This isn’t just your average model casting however – Benetton are hard at work looking for REAL people with REAL personalities and REAL style. Even if you don’t think you have what it takes to be the next Kate Moss, this casting is all about a bit of harmless fun and showing off the true you, warts and all.
The signing up process is dead simple – just a few vital details here and there, followed by however-many-photo-and-video-uploads of yourself as you like! You also have the opportunity to vote and comment on your favourite lookbooks, too.

I’m glad at least one high street chain is taking notice of the significance of using real people in their campaigns. It seems like Dove’s Campaign For Real Beauty has highlighted the public’s appreciation for everyday faces on our local billboards.

Question time: what do you think about brands using non model types in their campaigns? Is it a good idea? Have you entered the Benetton It’s My Time competition?

P.s. I apologise for the lack of postings recently, and am back with a vengeance a full-bodied, non-advertising post next week regarding alternative/indie style!

In the meantime, please vote for my lookbook on Benetton’s “It’s My Time” campaign!

I’ve always steered away from store cards for the simple fact that “high interest rates” and “crippling debts” have to be two of the scariest phrases used within the English language.
Recently though, I’ve found myself leaning towards being in favour of this said store card.

I mean, I can see how everyone cringes and shudders and holds up handmade crucifixes at the mere mention of the word, but I don’t think the guys behind these store cards are the mind-warping crooks we make them out to be.

I mean sure, the guys at the Bank companies don’t exactly cut off their right arm to tell you about payments, but it’s not hard to work out how long you have left before the dreaded interest rates start teaming in.

The key, my friends, is to use the store card only when it is absolutely necessary. Look out for the shockingly brilliant discount days and take advantage. Providing you know you can definitely pay off the debt within the next month or so, then there should be no reason to get behind with payments and end up in a sea of drowning paper statements and red-lettered notices.

For the most part, I think I’d rather pay outright for an item of clothing than deal with the hassle of paying at a later date. Saying that, though, some retail outlets are so desperate to have you use their store card that they’re willing to give you a whole chunk of money off in the mere hope you might forget to make your next payment. Totally worth it, if you ask me.

Question time: What is your take on the whole store card fiasco? Useful or totally, evilly unnecessary? Any cringeworthy or positive experiences?

Image Source: fashionindie.com

As you may have already heard, one of the decade’s most awe-inspiring designers has died, aged just 40 years old. Alexander McQueen completely obliterated the runway with his 2009 “The Origins of the Species”-inspired collection, embracing a whole wave of new fans whilst simultaneously satisfying the old.

Like anyone, I am immensely shocked. Especially since it was only recently I was raving about the depressing nature of the industry. It saddens me to think that when I light-heartedly wrote “seems like everyone in the industry is suffering from some form of clinical depression” I had no idea that this would relate directly to one of the world’s best-loved designers.

Being a bit of a sentimental thing at heart, I can only hope Alexander is with his mummy right now, and enjoying designing a nice range of creamy-white collections for his fellow angels.

Personally, I wasn’t at all affected by or even aware of McQueen’s talent until his most recent collection. When those crazy heels and fabrics breezed down the runway last October, all I could feel was a tingly sense of wonder and love. Usually cynical about weird and wonderful runway pieces, I finally allowed my imagination to run riot with the beastly elements of the collection. It was then I realised that predictable draped dresses and tailored suits were no longer going to fulfill my fashion tastebuds as far as any designer was concerned.

In a weird way, McQueen seems to be a bit of a Michael Jackson of the fashion world. He might not have touched so many hearts or reined long enough to show off his full goodness, but he certainly received the respect and admiration that he deserved.

Question Time: Have you been affected by the death of Alexander McQueen? What were your greatest McQueen fashion moments?

I’m not a fan of Ms. Moss but kudos to her, Sophie Ellis Baxter and Lily Cole for alerting me to the latest revolution in nail colour technology.

Ladies beware: I think I have found the answer to speedy drying yet chip resistant polish. And, what’s more, it’s only £2.99 a bottle. Behold…. Rimmel’s I ♥ Long Lasting nail polish!

You know, I’m not much of an advertisement whore but I’m completely head over heels in love with this product. I wouldn’t even consider myself much of a nail fanatic; if anything I find nail polish shopping a chore and a bore rather than a God-given pleasure.

But there is something about the Hotshot and Electric shades which really caught my eye when skipping my way through Boots the other day. And what’s more, the cute “♥” symbol on the packaging really appealed to my girlieness. Proof, then, that it really is the smallest of things which make your day, and that I really am so gullible as to be won over by a ‘♥’ symbol on the packaging of a nail polish bottle.

On the subject of hands, I also decided to update my ring collection now that the high street is awash with super-discounted jewellery sales. The dimpled oval ring on my index finger was an absolute steal at £2 from Wallis (reduced by £8!) and the very fussy beaded piece on the middle digit was slightly more expensive at £9 from Oasis. I felt the detailing was worth it though, and being a student meant I got a couple of quid off the price tag!

Oh man, I am such a sucker for cocktail rings and pretty nail polish colours. What are your favourite nail polishes, and are you a fan of pretty rings? Spill.

A recent thread over at the Lookbook forums alerted me to one of the most recent controversies in the fashion blogging network:
“Why I hate fashion” by Tanya Gold. Honestly, if you’ve got a spare minute, I suggest you read it. It’s interesting.

Now, being involved in the fashion blogging sector means I’m obviously inclined to disagree with a lot of Gold’s points and beliefs. I don’t think fashion is to blame when one is flattened by a train and I can’t help but feel saddened by the fact Gold’s personal insecurities clearly lay the outline for much of her pent-up hatred.

Then again, despite some of the ignorant hilarities which pop up throughout the main body of the article, I am inclined to agree with Gold’s attitude to some of the ideals of the Industry.

I mean, in some ways fashion is pretty inconvenient. If I had it my way, we’d all be donning Shakespearian ruffs and wear our underwear on the outside of our jeans. But hey, fashion says this is all a big no no and that we must instead listen to the big wise words and amusing accents of Mr. Karl Lagerfeld and Jean Paul bloody Gaultier. Fair enough.

And of course, there is no doubting that modern fashion does only exist with the barely-pubescent size -4 girl in mind. But that’s OK, because us insanely obese Size 8/10s and above have managed to work ways around this.

What annoys me most about fashion, though, is not so much the whole famine-is-fashion controversy but rather the sheer moodiness that the industry emits. Sulks, rows, tantrums and turmoil are notorious behind the big names of the industry – BUT WHERE ARE THE SMILES? Everyone from the models to the writers to the big name brands appear to be suffering from the most acute form of clinical depression. Seems like being draped in all the latest Haute Couture just doesn’t cut it then. Sigh.

So in retrospect, fashion is a pretty annoying thing if you choose to perceive it that way. You could even say the roundabout of trends is a mere ploy to test our stupidity as the human race.

But why take fashion seriously? Who said the designers are always right and the consumers always listen? Who says we can’t laugh at Alexander McQueen and revel in last year’s stuff? Fashion, dear friends, is thus: the more seriously you take it, the more it hates you. The more you scorn it and play with it, the more it wants to love you. Man that was deep.

Now, if you don’t mind Ms. Gold, me and my Jimmy Choos have a train to catch.