CATWALK REPORT

Photography Fun

 PLEASE NOTE NO PHOTOS FEATURED IN THIS POST ARE TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY.

Here was our first week in the studio, we used different types of lighting including Bowens Led panel, a dado kit and a ARI 150 & 350. Each photo was taken using different lightings and back drops - as you can tell each produced a completely different image.

The second week we used different types of flashes including a BX500 kit and Einichrom lights. Each produced a different type of picture, the bottom picture was a soft flash where as the top was a high and bright flash. We even managed to find the timer on the camera so we could get 'family portraits'!!

This week we used a Nikon 105 Macro lens and I absolutely loved using these! 

It was so great picking out parts of an item that it was even difficult for the naked eye to see and it would still come out crisp as anything. It was quite hard to get the images focused as I kept shaking. However it was so much fun and I can't wait to use them again.

My November Faves

MY FAVOURITE 3 FASHION BLOGS AND ARTICLES FOR

 NOVEMBER 2014

1)

It's finally October and this can only mean one thing,

AUTUMN IS ON IT'S WAY.

Here are some things I love about Autumn that i'm really looking forward to:

Hot Chocolates

Halloween

Autumn Leaves

Scarves, Hats and Boots

Candles, Candles & more Candles

Pumpkins

Horror Films

Bonfires

Cosy Socks

Comfort Food

Salted Caramel being IN SEASON

Oversized Jumpers

Getting the fire going

The feeling that Christmas is approaching

More baths in the evenings

Rainy days under the duvet watching films

 Evenings get darker

Being able to watch Hocus Pocus

Conkers

Wearing more onesies

Fireworks

Sparklers

What are you excited for around this time of the year?

http://www.zoella.co.uk

 

2)

BEYONCE is launching an activewear label with Topshop, which will include "clothing, footwear and accessories across dance, fitness and sports categories". The singing superstar has created a 50-50 partnership with the British retailer, listed as Parkwood Topshop Athletic Ltd, to produce an athletic streetwear brand, which is - as yet - unnamed.

"I could not think of a better partner as I continue to grow the Parkwood business. I have always loved Topshop for its fashion credentials and forward thinking," Beyoncé said in a statement today. "Working with its development team to create and produce a technical and fashion-led collection is exciting, and I'm looking forward to participating in all aspects of this partnership."

Philip Green - owner of Arcadia, which operates Topshop - was keen to distinguish this venture from other high-profile celebrity collections on the market, noting that this is a "partnership" rather than a conventional collaboration. 

"We have been looking at this category as fashion-inspired fitness develops, and know that this is right in our customers' heartland," Green said. "Creating a partnership with Beyoncé, one of the most hard-working and talented people in the world, who spends many hours of her life dancing, rehearsing and training is a unique opportunity to develop this category. Being partners with Beyoncé and her team, who have the greatest creative energy and enthusiasm, is inspiring for all of the team at Topshop. We have much to achieve in just under a year, but we are all up for the challenge, and look forward to delivering athletic streetwear in an inventive and exciting way."

Topshop confirmed that Green intends to hire a separate team to run the Beyoncé activewear label, including a creative director and designers.

http://www.vogue.co.uk/news/2014/10/27/beyonce-knowles-collaboration-topshop-athletic

3) Almost everyone I know has a style crush on Kate Hudson! So her co-launching Fabletics, a new sportswear range got us super excited. Fabletics is a lifestyle active wear and accessories brand co- founded by the award-winning actress and JustFab, the worldwide leading fashion subscription company.

"It is definitely a fun and exciting way to reach more women with a positive message about living outtheir passion and focusing on something in their own lives to motivate them in new directions."

Kate Hudson Co-Founder of Fabletics

Fabletics offers today’s woman high quality, fashion-infused active wear to help her look and feel her best as she lives her busy life. Sharing the same commitment to supporting women on their journey to keep fit, Fabletics and Hudson have collaborated to create stylish, high performance designs using premium fabrics and construction to complement a variety of body types – all at accessible prices. 

Fabletics features workout essentials such as sports bras, shorts, leggings, and vests, with complete outfits starting at £44. The collection focuses on easy-to-wear layering pieces such as jackets and hoodies, buttery soft tees and long-sleeved tops, stylish cardigan wraps, and accessories such as scarves so women can look good and feel great no matter where their workouts take them.

Fabletics changes the way women shop for active wear with a curated shopping experience that offers personalised outfit recommendations based on their style and workout preferences. Members who choose VIP membership at checkout receive the greatest value, with complete looks that include a top and a bottom starting at just £44 – a saving of up to 40% off retail prices. VIP members will also save on individual items, and receive perks such as reward points and exclusive offers. There is never an obligation to buy – VIP members can buy an outfit or simply skip the month. Shoppers can also check out as regular members and still enjoy the value and savings that Fabletics offers compared to competing premium brands. All members enjoy free delivery and returns on orders £44 and over.

Here are some of our favourite picks from the collection, check them out at Fabletics.

http://www.a-listed.co.uk/2014/07/fabletics.html

Retail Report - Oxford Street

Oxford Street, the UK's capital of shopping, the street every girl dreams of because of the huge high street stores that are available.

From Topshop to Selfridges and Santander to Nike Town, Oxford Street really does offer something for everyone, however I would state that the primary customer for the street would be from all ages, who are potentially professionals that have the spare money to be able to take full advantage of what Oxford Street has to offer as well as those who enjoy an intense shopping experience.

It is no surprise that it is so busy when 200 millions people visit each year,

the thing I loved about this place was the fact it was a whole experience for example there are facilities on offer like free wifi from 02, more than 7 park spaces just off the street to enjoy, first aid centre and welcome ambassadors. 

It is the perfect destination to update any wardrobe with the large variety that is on offer for example it holds the flagship stores for Debenhams, House of Fraser, John Lewis, Selfridges and Topshop meaning that there is a larger variety of items on offer. Living in Devon I noticed this the most, Devon holds onto smaller stores of the big brands and therefore when I have the chance to go to London there are always items I have never seen before in the stores. 

Oxford Street itself does mean lots of walking from one end to the other so sensible shoes is a must. There is public transport all around, with the tube coming in right opposite Topshop - the centre of everything. Therefore it makes access incredibly easy, in contrast to something like Dover Street in which it is a walk away from any tube station.

(4)

One thing  I did find on Oxford Street was repetition of shops - for example, there are 4 Zara's on Oxford Street, I have to say each are slightly different and hold different items but I felt that everything was just repeated and maybe one or two would be enough, or like Topshop, they make one huge Zara. 

Personally Oxford Street is great, I only get to go every so often due to travelling however I wouldn't go to Oxford Street just to pop and get a new pair of heels I would go for a large shopping spree that I had saved up for. 

Oxford definitely lives up to London hectic lifestyle and isn't for the light hearted.

What & Who

WHAT IS A LIFESTYLE TREND?

A lifestyle trend is something similar to a fashion trend - fabrics and interests of those who are thought to have started from the middle class - rich. A lifestyle trend is something that is fashionable at the time that changes the way you live - for example eco living has become a sophisticated lifestyle trend from the campaigns by charities and the thought that organic foods are seen as expensive and lush - ones that the rich can enjoy - therefore others aspiring to be like them and adopting that way of life swell. This can include furniture, TV programmes, food, activities. Recently, magazines and newspapers such as 'Devon Life' have enabled people to view the only imaginable lifestyles in which they aspire to have and the power of advertising has encouraged a wider variety of people to join in on these trends - for example Go Ape, a tree top adventure that swept over the UK.


WHO IN THE FASHION INDUSTRY IS INNOVATIVE & WHY?

Vivenne Westwood

I'm a huge fan of Vivienne Westwood simply for her controversy, with some describing her work as unwearable and others, like myself, believing her work is incredibly influential. Being bold and never shying away from a statement I feel she is definitely one designer I look up too in the sense that I shouldn't be afraid to not play it safe and encourages me to make bigger statements. She isn't afraid to push the comfort barriers for example she insisted sex was fashion, much to others despair and developed punk and takes inspiration from where others may not - like the rebellious youth and politics in which she is hugely passionate about.

Gok Wan 

What I find extremely inspiring about Gok is that fights for real women, after suffering from weight issues himself, his tv shows helping women build confidence and to try change some ways in which the fashion industry works. For example, having bigger manniquens in shops so women can help build the confidence and learn how to dress to shape their body in the correct way.

 Marc Jacobs

The man you see everywhere, Marc Jacobs' designs are everywhere from the leather jackets to the army jackets. He has influenced many other designers and high street stores. As well as his designs, he is known for his work at Louis Vuitton, where he made the brand the most profitable of parent company LVMH's fashion stable.

REFERENCES

http://nymag.com/news/features/influentials/16912/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vivienne_Westwood

Photoshop & Photography - The Beginning

With not having much experience with a camera i'm actually quite ashamed with the outcome of my first piece of photography work.

After giving instruction on how to change the camera settings to change:

> Shutter speed
> Aperture
> ISO

We were then asked to go off with the cameras and photograph an image that represents a letter of a name.

C- Car
H- house
L- Lamp
O- Oxo cube
E - Ear

After having a small lesson on photoshop we then edited the pictures to spell out our name - you can tell I wasn't very good and the pictures came out horrendously.

However, this week were in the studio learning about lighting and as a group we were asked to explore different lightings. Using a light meter, we learnt how to adjust the camera settings to match the lighting setting on the light meter. I thought this was so good to know as it really changed our final images, simply by adjusting the lighting and camera settings, you could already have what I would personally call a great photo. 

We were introduced to three different lights, spotlights and LED lights including boxes and reflectors and were encouraged to gain experience with them all.

This lesson was so much fun, finally getting some hands on experience as I haven't been exposed to cameras very much - however being the 'in your face' girl that I am I couldn't wait to jump in front of that camera and pull some faces.

Horst P. Horst Review

Horst P Horst Review at V&A, London.

‘Fashion is an expression of the times. Elegance is something else again.’ 

Horst, 1984

Being famous for his work with fashion and the human body, Horst P Horst was a German-American fashion photographer. Horst’s created images I absolutely loved gracing the publications of the respected Vogue and House of Garden. 

Mainbocher Corset being his most famous and my favourite piece of his work, capturing the elegance and curves of the female figure. To Horst, the human figure, both male and female was more than just a body it was seen as a sculpture of beauty, in which he portrayed through out the show with his graceful models being captured with ultimate delicacy. 

I did form a relationship between Horst’s work and the show, however I didn't feel excited in the show like I have others, the dim lights and dark walls creating a relaxing feel for me which personally I don't think you should feel during a show. It was amazing how it was like going on a time machine of Horst’s work it not only captures his spectacular view of the human form, surrealism but also his travels and his imaginative use of patterns.

For me, the most exciting part of the show was how the show featured high-end designer clothes such as Elsa Schiaparelli, encouraged the audience to picture themselves at the shoot with Horst himself. It was so exciting to see the clothes in real form, seeing the fabrics, I just wanted to touch them.

The show, for which I was very grateful, did not just stick to Horst’s photography. Including a video of a young Horst on a shoot enabled me to feel as if I knew Horst, breaking up the show, keeping me interested in what I will see next.

I have become more intrigued by Horst’s work however that was because I enjoyed his actual work - not necessarily because the show did his work justice. In some areas, I was suffocated with the amount of work that was featured in the show and actually less of his work would have encouraged me to study his work in closer depth - However Horst’s immaculate work did make every movement around the show more interesting.

Mainbocher Corset - image from the V&A website