Vice's 10th Anniversary Party

This wasn't your average 10 year old's bowling party, this was a mid-week rave up of all things Vice-tastic.
Thousands queued for at least an hour to enter the Cable club in London Bridge, and once in, the place was ram packed with three rooms of live bands and DJs and a complimentary bar (courtesy of Jagermeister, Sailor Jerry and Black Cow Vodka) to keep everyone happy.

Mark Ronson's DJ set was my highlight of the night playing 90s hits and old and new school hip hop and rnb so we danced non-stop and managed to get a snap of him after he finished!

Iggy Azalea, rapper Danny Brown, Trashtalk were among those who performed and Klaxons also dj'ed.
A fun night had by all who came down!

Iggy Azalea performing 

Vice ass


Three happy ladies
 (l-r,  Jerry, Lazy Oaf.co.uk - PR & Marketing Director, myself and Natalie, owner of LFFBoutique.com)

Frightening Fashion Faves for Halloween

Well not quite frightening, more fabulous and Gothic to keep your wardrobe on-trend and timeless.

Here are my top 5 Halloween items that you could wear for this weekend and beyond!

1. American Retro Faux Fur Biker Jacket - £325

Fur, Fitted and perfect for the coming months! This style usually constricts itself to leather biker jackets but not any more. Wear as the Yeti femme fatale at those Halloween parties and then as a sleek stylista throughout the cold upcoming days of Winter.

2. Jeffrey Campbell Lita Skull Stud Boots - £180

Ideal for Halloween and spot on with the gothic trend. Jeffrey Campbell studded boots are everywhere at the moment yet these are a little different to the standard spikes that everyone and their mother has their hands on. Engulfed with miniature gun-metal silver skulls, a unique pair of shoes that are currently being sold at independent brand Lazy Oaf.

3. Givenchy Printed Rottweiler Medium Shoulder Bag £695

This my fave lust-have for Winter! With its chain handles and penultimate gangster pet photo, this couldn't be any cooler. Enough said.

4. Astrid &Miyu 'Conficting Choices in Gold' Necklace £39

I used this item along with the matching bracelet on a shoot recently to add a modern edge to what was very elegant womenswear. Although there are a lot of spikes around at the moment on the high street this only gives a subtle hint to the trend, creating a timeless classic. And for a limited time only our friends over at Keungzai.com are giving their fans 20% off at Astrid and Miyu here

5. Mc Q Alexander Mc Queen - Skull Print Jersey Dress - £235

I couldn't not talk about gothic, dark style without mentioning my favourite designer of all time. This piece can be dressed down with flats or up with gold bling jewellery and stilletto studded boots; ideal for any occasion.

Rio Fashion Week Fun hits Dalston

Music. Fashion and dancing - that's all we need in life and where better to do it than at Vice's Rio Fashion Week Party to get you in the mood pre fashion week.
To celebrate the launch of Vice's new series of Fashion Week Internationale they gathered all things that represented the film and of course Rio Fashion Week - Transvestites, Colour popping cocktails, good music and amazing dancers, all at Ridley's Bar in Dalston.

The series steers clear of the usual Fashion Week celebs and models, and delves into different aspects of the Fashion Week worlds - first off in Rio looking into the lives of transvestite models.

With Brazilian beats and outrageous creatives, the place was buzzing, good vibes were had all night long! Thanks for the goody bags too!

The darker side of Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga has revealed the TV advert to her début fragrance 'Fame'. In Gaga's words, "Fame is an illusion. If you really want it, anyone can have it." Nice.

Like an epic 'dramantasy' (dramatic fantasy) Lady Gaga is seen clad in PVC, leather with sharp accents of amber, clamouring in a dark fantasy world (verging on something from the Matrix or 50 Shades of Grey).  

Drenched in black oil she clambers over what can only be described as her male 'slaves'; for those of you who find the Lady Gaga/Illuminati referencing fascinating, black oil is also associated with aliens who've deposited a virus on Earth - though this is also associated with the X Files which is non fiction lark. Next is the ending shot of her 'minions' climbing over her, Lady Gaga, the mother of her darker world.

This ad is fantastically different to the usual pretty in pink, sweet and angelic Taylor Swifts of this world; lets hope the scent lives up to this.

Mid week tunage

It's finally mid-week, here's a couple of songs that have been going round in my head this week:

1. Frank Ocean - Thinkin Bout You

Ok so you would have all heard Pyramids by now, here's another off the album.. :

2. Kendrick Lamar - The Recipe feat Dr. Dre

Yes its been around for a little bit, but the hook is addictive. So annoyed I missed his gig the other week when he was in town, I'll console myself here:



3. Delilah - Never Be Another
The lady who saw her breakthrough with a Chase and Status collaboration keeps getting better and better:



4. Lianne La Havas - Is Your love Big Enough
Catchy, brilliant live (as per her example at the Rough Trade launch gig I saw her at last Monday), this is a nice uplifting track for when Summer eventually comes...

24 gigs in 24 hours for The Princes Trust

I was asked earlier this week to do some live tweeting/blogging for the Princes Trust around London so accepted the invite and headed down to the London Eye for the first stop on the schedule. In aid of the Princes Trust, Leo the Lion from the band, The Streets trekked across London to do 24 gigs around town in 24hours, non stop.
Destinations included as mentioned, The London Eye, to a Prison Cell,  The London Dungeons and The Royal Ballet School all amalgamated into twenty four gigs.
With a great voice and help with his band members each gig felt like it went so quickly and each tune stayed in my head long after I left the crew. Congratulations to Raw Material PR for their well planned and thorough co-ordination of the night, and the band for keeping us entertained and ultimately raising money for a well deserved cause!

Below are a few images captured from the night:

 The London Eye

 The Chard from The London Eye

 Gig on a Thames Clipper Boat

  Gig in a London Eye Pod

For info on the Princes Trust head to http://www.princes-trust.org.uk/ 

Issey Miyake exclusive Fashion Film for Dazed Digital

A beautiful fashion short by Issey Miyake for Dazed digital epitomising Miyake's juxtaposition in design - the modern high tech with beautiful Japanese ancient construction. I love the modern sleekness of cut and design and neon brights side by side with traditional patterns and prints. For more on the construction of the pleats and Miyake's fascination with it visit Dazed here
Enjoy!

Chanel Resort Collection 2013: Rock n Roll takes on the French Aristocracy

A collection deep in contrast yet succinct in its concept; Lagerfeld's idea of marrying the ancient with the modern shone through this collection for 2013.With the show held in Le Palais de Versailles in the Louis XIV's gardens, this opulent collection of ice cream colours was inspired by the very grounds of which it walked round - this being the monarch who once wondered around in them, Marie Antoinette.
The collection for me, is a brilliant mix of modern day grunge merged with French History; the dusky blues, lavender tweeds, soft tulle skirts and chiffon frills, contrasted with the blue denims and (amazing!) pastel brothel creepers with white soles (perfect for Spring/Summer!), creating a collection that will be on every fashionista's wish list! Culottes, Capri pants and swing coats were key pieces to the collection, boucle and bejeweled.
In conjunction with keeping it current, the hair was pastel but not grandoise creations from the 1700s, a blunt bob was in the offering instead finished off neatly with a plait to link to the Marie Antonette days. Make-up was soft and delicate, a 'double c' Chanel freckles on their cheeks - perfection! An homage to perhaps what Lagerfeld might believes the modern day Antoinette might be; time to take note and practise being Queen for the day!

   

Summer's dream sneakers! House of Holland and Superga Collaboration

               

Two more days to wait! I'm so excited about this upcoming collection from Superga and Henry Holland who have joined together to create a candy-coloured range of shoes inspired by HOH's 'Pastel Punk' S/S12 fashion show.
They are hybrids of Superga's classic 2750s plimpsols, hightops and flatforms(!) - I'm lusting after the lilac polkadot pair, available exclusively to Asos.com.
The concept was “perfect embodiment of our distinct style with a House of Holland twist" which has definitely been achieved in my eyes. All you're missing is a slogan tee and you'll be the epitome of HOH (House of Holland) chic. Or play it cool with yours teamed with a pair of pastel jeans, crisp white shirt and be the envy of your peers.


I'm heading to the launch tomorrow (hoping to pick up my flatforms, yes they are already mine! or so I'm hoping) so will update this post with more pics!

Check out the video of the range below:



Priced from £55-£70 the range will be sold at Office stores nationwide from the 31st May alternatively the whole range is available on www.superga.co.uk
Selected pairs on www.houseofholland.co.uk

Jeffrey Campbell x Black Milk Collab

 For Black Milk's first step into footwear, this couldn't have been a more ideal collaboration. Teaming up with the brand famous for its heavily printed leggings, is Jeffrey Campbell who's extravagant prints have been unleashed onto the Black Milk brand.

Updating his best selling shoe styles - Damsel, Lita, 99 and Night Lita, they have been dipped in Pop Art style prints (think Roy Lichtenstein to all you Pop Art movement lovers). From the cosmic designs of 'Rainbow Galaxy' and the monochrome shapes on the wedge boots, to the 'The Sick of Men' comic book design, there is something to love for all unique fashionistas out there; less Irregular Choice OTT and more sleek, modern pattern. My new must-have collection!
With the pre-order lists sky-rocketing, they are on sale exclusively through solestruck.com and in limited amounts, hot foot (pardon the pun?!) it to the check out!

 Lita Fab in 'Sick of Men'

Damsel in 'Rainbow Galaxy'

Damsel in 'Bone Machine' pattern

2Pac 'Live' at Coachella 2012?!

This is definitely the cleverest thing I've seen in a while!
Imagine being at Coachella, having a good time and one of the most legendary rappers in hip hop comes back from the dead to perform- its insane to think about but actually happened.
Here's the video of the whole performance with Snoop Dogg.
All I can say is wow, I wish I was there.



That ish cray..

Old skool midweek five

Having some time off this week and thought I'd take it back to a time full of good vibes; Enjoy

Company Style Blogger Awards 2012 with New Look

I was invited to the Company Style Awards Party just off Scrutton Street, Shoreditch, a great gallery space (often used by Vice) and close to home. The event had a tropical backdrop upstairs with ginger inspired gin cocktails, but downstairs was where the excitement began.

Handpicked clothes from New Look filled the rails, like a sea of a pastel hues all desperate to be tried on - at this point the NL daily team were on our case to film a video of "Dancing Party feet"? Sounds mad but with dj working his magic in the background, we were game. There was a great assortment of on trend designs from New Look,  they've really upped their game on the high street.

Congratulations Company on a fun-filled fashiontastic event and an even more fabulous goodie bag featuring  Bastiste, a gorgeous multi-print scarf, floral sunnies, Kinder Bueno and much more!

My friend Alice and I (right to left)

LFW Lowdown (Autumn Winter 2012)

So with Milan Fashion Week past us and Paris Fashion Week in full swing, London Fashion Week seems a while ago. However I haven't been able to write my summary until now so here we go.
As LFW drew to an end, I headed to bed, not moving for a day after running, snapping, posing  and reporting for five days (I don't cover menswear so not six days for me).
Here is my lowdown on what and whose hot for Autumn / Winter 2012. Enjoy!
Christopher Kane
Top of the list, for current, modern style. The collection was prim with a punk edge - I loved it. He took sinister colours, violet, crimson red similar to that of blood (Kane's own words), deep blues and black, and used fabrics such as moire as he said it resembled "the inside of coffins". If I could quote movies the collection would be a combination of nineties cult classics 'Beetle juice' and 'Batman Returns' - now you get the picture. Even the animal print was used in a foreboding way. Kane's intricate details still prevailed through the collection; where last season he gave us flowers in delicate, soft pastel shades, here we saw the opposing beauty of cashmere threaded with wire. An inspiring collection for the darkest of Winter days.

Louise Gray
Wow, pattern personified! The collection threw up prints and pattern galore in the most intricate and beautifully designed form. As the Chicago House music blared out as the soundtrack to the show, models wore Nasir Mazhar's beautiful stand-out head pieces whilst being adorned in striking prints that referenced cubism and artists such as David Hockney's eighties era sets. Debbie Harry, a great female idol was also a reference for the show. The excessive prints emphasized her idea for the collection to be about "Everything, all the time", this was definitely certain.  Amazingly intricate and bold prints complimented by the striking make-up, made this an exciting show for London.

Meadham Kirchoff
A definite change to their image a few seasons back, Meadham Kirchoff remains, as per S/S 2012, fun, playful and bright. From the determined struts of the models, it was a disco circus of delights with a nineties soundtrack featuring Mariah Carey (?!) Excellent and fun filled. I for one, definitely want one of their multi-coloured furs next season); who said Winter was all doom and gloom?

 

For an exclusive backstage look at the incredible make-up from the show, read here; an As You Are Magazine exclusive.

As much as there was a sure trend thoughout the season, these I found being the Ladylike trend - sharp tailoring seen at Marios Schwab and Vivienne Westwood, as well as black lace and leather appliqued onto outfits at Christopher Kane; there was definitely a fair few who didn't stick to this with Summer pastel trends still peaking through at Fred Butler and Meadham Kirchoff.

To read my full reports on some of the shows and more pictures, click any of the designers' names below:
Vivienne Westwood
Christopher Kane
Fred Butler Presentation
Fashion East
Bernard Chagrin
Ashley Isham

And for more great fashion underground news head to www.asyouaremagazine.com

LFW A/W 2012 Strong looks and spot the celeb photos

Between the to-ing and fro-ing of the shows I did manage to catch a few snapshots. Take a look below:

Me, day 1

                                                    Henry Holland, Louise Gray et al

                                                           Molly from The Saturdays

                                                                 Pandemonia

Style queen Alexa

Journalistic legend Hilary Alexander

Vivienne Westwood FROW

Olivia Palermo

 Nicola Roberts