Kate Moss… can she do no wrong?
April 6, 2009 by Amy Brewster · Comments
She’s a model, a fashion designer, a style icon and a party girl-Kate Moss covers all aspects of the spectrum. She’s known for her distinctive figure, her celebrity friends and more recently, her alleged drugs scandal but still landed on her perfectly formed feet.
Her appearance on over 300 magazine covers all began when she was discovered at the age of 14 by Storm Model Management and became known as the “anti-model” of the 90’s as she contrasted supermodels such as Claudia Schiffer and Naomi Campbell, who were known for their curvaceous and tall figures.
She quickly charmed the fashion industry and soon became the face of Rimmel as well as supporting campaigns by major designers such as Gucci, Dolce and Gabbana, Versace, Roberto Cavalli and Dior. This led to her appeaance in British Women’s Sunday Times Rich List in 2007, where she was estimated to be worth £45 million and ranked as the 99th richest woman in Britain.
Whilst everything appeared to be going swimmingly for Kate, on the 15th of September 2005, London’s Daily Mirror ran front page images that appeared to show Moss snorting lines of cocaine at a recording session. Five days later, H&M announced that they would be dropping her from their autumn clothes range which was designed by her good friend, Stella McCartney. On September 6th, Chanel announced they would not be renewing Miss Moss’ contract with them and Burberry also decided to drop the star from their campaign.
Kate apologised for her actions and was heavily defended by friends such as Naomi Campbell and ex-boyfriend Johnny Depp. Designer Alexander McQueen showed true devotion to the model by wearing a t-shirt saying ‘We love you Kate’ during his walkout after a fashion show.
A year after the cocaine scandal, Moss made a huge comeback by bagging 18 top modelling contracts in 2006 including Rimmel, Agent Provocateur, Roberto Cavalli and Calvin Klein. The effect of her cocaine scandal appeared to be fading away and it was suggested that her earnings after the scandal were more than before the incident. In 2006, Moss won Model of the Year at the British Fashion Awards and whilst this was a clear sign that the public and the industry had forgiven her for her antics in 2005, the award was caused controversy.
In 2007, Moss decided that being a model and a party girl was simply not enough to keep her busy and on May 1st she launched her own collection in 255 Topshop stores. The launch caused a media frenzy as she appeared in the window of the flagship store on Oxford Street, London, modelling a red dress from her collection.
Moss it seems has made a full public recovery and the nation continue to admire and rely upon her for effortless style. Only last week, Cameron Diaz was spotted entering a hair salon in LA clutching a picture of Kate Moss only to come out with the exact same hair-do! So girls rest assured that even the most famous and beautiful of women, with stylists on hand, take tips from Miss Moss…
Making a Return…. The Gladiator Sandal
March 16, 2009 by Amy Brewster · Comments
As Summer creeps upon us once again, one accessory making a stomping return is the gladiator sandal. Seen on the likes of Linsey Lohan and Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen this versatile summer shoe can dress up a casual jean and t-shirt combo as well as dress down a floral summer dress.
Not only does the gladiator sandal provide style and sexiness to an outfit but the shoe also offers pain free practicality. As we know this makes a change for female fashion, we’re used to six inch heels as opposed to flat, strappy sandals. So girl’s it’s no longer painful to be beautiful!
They can be found in a a variety of styles from a gold, elegant, lacey sandal which would be perfect for accessorising a simple outfit like skinny jeans and a vest top or a masculine black patent pair that could be used to make a floral printed, floaty dress look a little more rock chic!
With the majority of high street stores stocking this returning trend, here are a few that we at InJournalism fell in love with…
- Gold Topshop gladiator sandal £25.00 www.topshop.co.uk
- Brown Miss Selfridge gladiatorsandal £28.00 www.missselfridge.com
- Bronze Kurt Geiger gladiator sandal £95.00 www.kurtgeiger.com
- Heart Print Tights, £10, Topshop
- ‘Velvet Feel’ 120 Denier Grey Tights, £7.75, www.asos.com
-
Emilio Cavalini Heart Seam Tights, £10.95, mytights.com
-
Natural Leopard Tights, £8, Miss Selfridge
-
Bow Net Tights, £8, Accessorize
-
80 Denier Navy Tights, £5.50, www.lovecolour-lovetights.com
-
Chocolate Opaque Tights, £4, New Look
-
Jasper Conran Red 60 Denier Tights, £8, Debenhams
-
Autograph Microfibre Diamond Tights, £8, Marks and Spencers
-
Jonathan Aston Tartan Print Tights, £7.49, www.tightsplease.co.uk
Starbucks Makes It’s Runway Debut…
March 9, 2009 by Amy Brewster · Comments
As the talk of London and New York Fashion Week quietly comes to an end, Milan’s designers were in full swing. This year’s catwalk designs were showing a little less glam and a little more practicality. The theme seemed to be wearable pieces but still designed for the elite with the price tag still very much attached.
Two twin brothers have taken these practicality pieces to the next level and donned their models with big sunglasses, back-combed hair clutching Starbucks coffee, fashion magazines and occasionally smoking.
Dan and Dean Caten, known as Dsquared, have enhanced the ‘ordinary girl’ look and marched it down the catwalk. Their new collection includes feather skirts, denim jackets and slouchy beanies. So is casual the new dressed up? This season I think so.
As well as clutching their Starbucks coffees and magazines, the models checked their Blackberrys and listened to their ipods whilst strutting down the runway. It is thought that Dan and Dean got a lot of their inspiration from the Hollywood stars who work it in the streets of LA with their take-out coffees and boho accessories, much like the Olsen twins!
Dan and Dean’s designs are best described as ‘glam-rock’ and have been worn by celebrities including Justin Timberlake and Madonna and have appeared on America’s Next Top Model and Fergie’s video for hit single ‘Clumsy’. It is also quite fitting that Dsquared have launched their new line in Milan as their flagship store was opened in the city in 2007.
Natural beauty and effortless fashion seem to be what’s in this season so keep your eyes peeled for big-haired females strutting their stuff on the high street wearing big sunglasses and clutching their Starbucks and Blackberrys.
To see Dsquared’s new collection visit www.dsquared.com
Top 10 . . . Sky-scraper heels
March 1, 2009 by Amy Brewster · Comments
Following London Fashion Week, the high street is doing high fashion and bringing in sky scraper heels. Here’s our Top Ten catwalk style heels: Read more
The ever controversial… Mr Karl Lagerfeld
March 1, 2009 by Amy Brewster · Comments
The renowned Karl Lagerfeld hit the headlines at the beginning of this year with his flippant remarks about some rather controversial subjects.
The designer who has worked for names such as Chloe, Fendi and Chanel, was asked about fur worn within the fashion industry. It was his reply to such a widely reported subject that found him at the centre of a widely argued debate having said: “killing those beasts who would kill us if they could.”
Lagerfeld then went on to cause more uproar when he was asked on a radio show about size zero models. Lagerfeld again gave his own opinion on the tiny models walking down the runway and tried to divert the issue with little luck and said: “the bigger issue is the zillions of fat people.”
Whilst his remarks may appear arrogant it is that confidence that has created such a power driven designer and entrepreneur and led him to be renamed by Vogue as the “unparalleled interpreter of the mood of the moment.”
Born in Germany in 1933, his childhood was where Lagerfeld’s love for design and fashion first began, spending time sketching and designing. As well as this, he was well educated, learning French, Italian and English along with his native German which would later contribute to his love for cultural art.
In 1952 he emigrated to Paris where he studied informally to be a fashion designer with the intention of getting involved in the world of French Haute Couture. During his time in Paris, at only 16 years of age, Lagerfeld sent one of his designs into an International Wool Secretariat competition; the judges included such names as Pierre Balmain and Hubert Givenchy. This would be the start of his designing career as he received an award for the best coat sketch which consequently resulted in Pierre Balmain offering him a job in his couture house. This coincidentally happened to be the same competition in which Yves Saint Laurent was awarded best sketch for a dress.
From this he worked in several other design houses until he began working at Chloe in 1959, where he would stay for 19 years. His work for Chloe was highly influential and it is suggested that it was his contribution to the label which brought it back into the limelight in the 60’s. During his time at Chloe he also started designing furs for Fendi in 1965 and in 1975 launched his own company, Parfums Lagerfeld.
He designed independently from 1978, after finishing designing for Chloe, and he began designing haute couture at the House of Chanel where he would soon become Chanel’s head designer. By this time he had designed for three of the most dominant labels; Chloe, Fendi and Chanel. It is argued that Lagerfeld made them what they are today. Known not only for his designs, Lagerfeld caused controversy when he named his Fendi collection “shaped to be raped” but overcame the criticism and received France’s Golden Thimble award for his Chanel Haute Couture collection.
More recently, in 2004, he collaborated for H&M’s first ever collaboration. Over 1, 000 shoppers entered the H&M store in New York, 5th Avenue, to see the collection he had specially designed.
As well as his work with Chanel, Chloe and Fendi, Karl Lagerfeld is well known for his trademark appearance including a fan, a white ponytail and sunglasses. In addition to his expertise in fashion, Lagerfeld runs his own publishing imprint, a bookshop in Paris and has several art and house collections, perhaps stemming from his cultural upbringing.
Whilst Lagerfeld has already achieved much more than most designers, in and out of the fashion industry, you may be hearing his name again this year as it has been reported that Cameron Diaz has asked him to design her wedding dress for her marriage to British model Paul Sculfor. So keep a look out ladies!
Examples of Karl Lagerfeld’s work can be found at www.karllagerfeld.com
Top Ten Tights For This Season
February 22, 2009 by Amy Brewster · Comments
The weather may be keeping us from flaunting our summer shorts and dresses but it is not stopping us from looking stylish. Here are our Top Ten Tights to keep you warm and fashionable this spring.
20 Years at the Forefront of Fashion
November 29, 2008 by Amy Brewster · Comments
The Clothes Show Live 2008
It’s coming up to that time of year again where 500 leading fashion and beauty brands and thousands of shopaholics come together in style to celebrate the return of the Clothes Show Live. Read more
Dying for a tan?
November 10, 2008 by Amy Brewster · Comments
With Winter drawing close it is no surprise that more and more people are turning to sunbeds to top up their fading Summer’s tan. However, whilst three minutes on the sunbed here and there may seem innocent and harmless, when you put it under the microscope it’s far from it.
Anger over parking costs
October 31, 2008 by Amy Brewster · Comments
Students are having to pay up to £1200 a year for parking on campus because they have a residential parking permit.
The University of Sunderland will not allow students who own a residential parking permit to also apply for a parking permit for any of the university’s campuses. This means that those students who live in Halls of Residence, such as Clanny House, and own a car have to pay one pound an hour which on some days can add up to eight pounds a day.
Over a 40 week university year this would amount to an average of £1200 – A third of university fees for a year.
Students who do not have a residential parking permit need only pay £1 a day to park on campus.
Kayleigh Munday, a first year student, said: “It’s ridiculous. I brought my car to university so I could drive to lectures everyday and not have to get the bus but it’s too expensive to park.
“I would have expected the university to understand that if a student was living at Halls of Residence and had brought their car then they would be more than likely drive to university.”
Miss Munday lives in Clanny House in South Hylton and studies at St. Peter’s Campus so she said it is unrealistic for her to walk to university in the morning.
Students have resorted to parking on nearby streets she said: “The streets are not very safe to be parking on and they’re very risky. There’s not always spaces, no matter how early I get there in a morning so sometimes I have to park in the car park and end up having to pay one pound an hour anyway.”
A spokesperson for the university said: “Facilities have funded the Campus Bus now for several years. The bus has provided frequent, safe and reliable transport to and from the Halls of Residence to all the teaching campuses – alleviating the need for residential students to use their own vehicles.”
However, Miss Munday said, “The campus circular bus is always full when it arrives which means being late for lectures or having to pay for a taxi so it would be a lot easier to drive to my lectures.
To gurantee a seat on the bus you have to get there at least 20 minutes before the bus is due and when it does come it involves being pushed around. At eight o’clock in the morning this isn’t very fun.”
Kayleigh is hoping the universities car park permit rules will change so she will be able to drive to her lectures and only pay £1 for the day to park.
