Pinterest, nail overload

Type in nail art, acrylic nails, nail ideas into Pinterest you'll get 1000's of images for inspiration. I have been a fan of acrylic nails for a good 2-3 years now, I love the way they look and elongate your hands. I love to try out new colours and designs. I am a person of extremes, I either will have pretty/girly colours or black/grey nails. Not much of an in-between.

So as I'm looking into what nails i fancy for Christmas and my trip to NYC I thought I'd show you some of my favourites that I'm torn between (that sounds sad, and I know it's not a life issue but I want nice nails so that's that).

Which do you prefer...?

Winter: My Make up Favourites

With the weather becoming cold and miserable, our skin hits the devil time, I'm talking dry skin, annoying spots and rashes...I have a few make-up must-haves that will help disguise this and also a fabulous energising face wash to help your skin out.

 They're Real-Benefit Mascara

This was actually a freebie in a magazine, yet one of my favourite mascaras. Its actually a primer but does a good enough job to be a main mascara!

Si Giorgio Armani- Perfume

Everyone needs a mini perfume, good to go for a night out, work, day trip what ever your day to day plans are. Also helps that it smells like heavennnn!

High Light- Highlighter

£1.99, £1.99 this little bottle of beauty cost me from TK Max. Perfect for under the brows to give them definition, cheeks to highlight your cheekbones and give you that glow all year round.

MAC concealer 

Small but mighty. This concealer is used by professionals to hide as much as tattoos, so if the winter is causing you to break out in spots this item is the way to go! £15, yes expensive but I've had it for 6 months and I'm not even half way through as you only need a dab!

Seventeen Define&Conquer- Contouring Kit

This is one of my favourite items in my make up bag. Easy to apply and easy to blend. I use this on a day to day basis if i want more definition to my face or a settler method instead of bronzer. I will use it for a night out or event along with bronzer and ensure i blend well or ill look like an orange...no one wants that.

EXTREME eyeliner- Collection 2000

The only black liquid pen eyeliner i have ever used, and don't plan on changing anytime soon. A pen for me, is the easiest to apply, its strong and bold and once on will be there until you decide to remove it.

Energising Face wash- Clarins 

A gift from my mum when my skin hit a very rough patch. I used this in the morning when i woke up before applying my make up and every so often in the evening to ensure all my make up was off. Within a week my skin cleared up dramatically and felt a lot healthier. Give it a go and see the difference it has!

Blusher- YSL

A palette of a soft pink and a soft sparkly pink to give the natural look of blushed cheeks. This has been in my make up bag for a long time (originally my mums, sorry!) and now mine and its still going strong. Perfect for every occasion.

The Fashion Industry- Reflective Journal

The Fashion industry holds many opportunities including marketing, PR and social media. We looked into each role further by watching a documentary by Alexa Chung, a fashion editor in British Vogue. Events or journalism stood out the most to me. Every business has to think about the FCP process, a series of steps taken in order to create innovative fashion communication. It is key to all context areas, internal factors which include the 7Ps (product, price, promotion, physical evidence, place, people and process), the market, trend, competitors and consumers. For any product a business must consider context, the big idea, creative concept and the execution. The was shown in the Grayson Perry documentary where he took individuals identity and personalities and tried to mirror this through art by collecting primary research and sculpting a piece of art that best reflected them. I have learnt how every brand has its own vocabulary though pattern, motif or colour palette on a product, promotional element or in store. For example, Tiffany is known for the blue box which is a specific shade made personally by pantone.

After getting an in-depth insight in these key areas, we had to put it into practice with a 4-week project. We looked into the predicted trends for A/W15 from secondary sources such as WGSN and create visual mood boards with common narratives. Brand analysis consisted us going into all market levels to look at a selected trend, for me this was denim jeans, and how the brand used the 7 p’s to communicate and promote the trends.  Areas such as the layout, VM, pricing and labelling. We looked at what worked well, what didn’t and the comparison to how they promote the trends through value, mass and high end markets.  Next we took to the streets of Nottingham and collected primary images on what trends had trickled down from in store. We discovered there was a strong focus on colour, pattern and silhouette. Finally, we analysed a brand of our choice who demonstrated the trend of denim and looked into their values, identity, marketing mix and what we would change or add to the brand. We chose Urban Outfitters who sell for the urban minded edgy individual, a store that knows how to promote through social media, interior layouts and makes “every store an experiment”. With their marketing mix being of a high standard there is no wonder it is such a successful store worldwide.

Fast fashion was very interesting to me, learning how some stores have 52 seasons a year putting huge pressure on manufacturing countries to produce mass items cheaply and quickly within 6 weeks. I blogged about the importance to think about who, what and where every product came from.

I have continued practice on Photoshop and InDesign. Learning how to master magazine layouts, photos and text layout. I look forward to experimenting with on our next brief. I have become confident in the areas taught and look forward to using these skills continuously in the future.

Christmas Spirit in NYC

As my countdown to the big apple trip is in full swing ( 34 days to be exact) i thought today i would blog about the best of the best window displays that consist in New York this Christmas. From Macy's to Bloomingdales there is no hiding that this year its all about the bigger the better 3D designs, strong and contemporary themes.

Traditional wintry themes of icicles and snowscapes run throughout, with Barney's taking it to the next level by transforming windows into ice lockers featuring live ice sculpting and continually growing ice caverns. Department stores partner with world-renowned sculptors, florists, luxury brands and childrens’ television shows to create striking Holiday windows

Lets have a look at the best...

Barney's

An overarching theme of Chillin’ Out, which is taken very literally in these 2 displays. Barney's brought in ice formation company Ice Castles to create a fully operational ice locker to continually grow an ice cavern throughout the duration( image on the right) The second display, In the live performance, raw blocks of ice are carved into sculptures using chainsaws, chisels and drills to celebrate and glorify the craft.(image on the left)

Saks Fifth Avenue

Adopting a cold, icy feel in its Winter Palace-themed windows. More than 225,000 lights have been used on the facade, transforming the store into a winter palace complete with crystal spires, towering icicles and snow-covered magnolia arches. The windows represent some of the world’s greatest wonders, reimagined in subzero temperatures.

Bloomingdales

Bloomingdale’s partnered with world-renowned florist Jeff Leatham for this year’s windows, entitled Holiday Through the Senses. The displays reference each of the five senses through floral assemblages, faceted sculptures and props. Best collaboration I've seen!

Macy's

Inspired by Charles Schulz’s Peanuts gang, and are a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the first airing of A Charlie Brown Christmas.

The windows are 3D representations of six iconic scenes from the animated television special, featuring characters Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy, Linus and Schroeder among others.

8 items that you must have in your winter wardrobe

Winter is back. It seems to come quicker each year, christmas lights are going up, we are struggling to get up in the morning as its colder and darker. So why not make it easier knowing your going to your wardrobe to get clothes that will fight the cold off whilst looking stylish too!

Her are my 8 essentials this winter...if you like any of the items just click on them to be directed straight to their website.

Faux Fur coat/jacket

What else can help keep you warm than a coat either covered in fur or lined inside with fur!!

A classic oversized snuggly hoodie

Perfect for lazing around in, running to the shops, the gym or to sleep in when the radiators are not fulfilling their role and a hood for the classic British rain.

A High neck oversized jumper

On trend and extra cosy, perfect layered up with a coat or jacket

Last but never least, a pair of heel boots

Just enough heel to give it some class but not too much that your feet hurt walking around the Christmas markets and visiting friends and family over the new year...and who says you can't have both of these, there too nice to pick just one!!

Kylie's Lip Kit

1 minute. That was all it took for Kylie Jenner's new product to sell out. Most of us girls have been influenced by Kylie Jenner's make up secrets, the lip injection craze and her fashion influence in general.

We can't all afford designer labels and to have a glam team on stand by 24/7 when we need it, but we can afford her lip kit that is priced at $29.00 ( that's about £20 ) for a liquid lipstick that drys matte and a lip pencil!! 

There are 3 shades, Candy K, Dolce K and True Brown K. My personal favourites are Candy K and Dolce K! I love the packaging, it combines edginess, fun and will draw attention to anyone. Perfect shades for this winter...

Fashion Revolution

"Fast fashion isn't free. Someone somewhere is paying"

April 24th, 2013. Rana Plaza, Bangladesh collapsed. A manufacturing company for the western fashion market. 1133 dead and 2500 injured. At this point, the revolution began, it became time to stand up and demand a change. A demand for a cleaner, safer and fairer fashion and textile industry. Fashion needed to become the power to a change in the world.

Ask yourself "who made my clothes",  could you really answer? No..? Then its time for you to become curious, find out and do something.

Fashion Revolution is a company that 'On 24th April each year, Fashion Revolution Day will bring everyone in the fashion value chain together and help to raise awareness of the true cost of fashion, show the world that change is possible, and celebrate all those involved in creating a more sustainable future.' With 78 countries involved so far.

The aim is provide a worldwide platform to ask questions, raise standards, make a difference and demonstrate change is possible. Fast fashion now means 52 seasons a year, new products on the rails each week and a change over from catwalk to mass development in 6 weeks. Low wages, limited safety precautions and abuse to some workers both physically and through health conditions. Take a stand and think who made your clothes, where were they made and how...

http://fashionrevolution.org

Vogue China: Cover call back

Vogue china is reaching its 10th anniversary, and for any brand, business or magazine thats a proud milestone. Angelica Cheung is the editor in chief of Vogue China and has played a crucial role in the development of China’s fashion industry. Cheung launched the title’s first issue in September 2005. It sold out of its initial print run of 300,000 and had to be reprinted twice.

Angelica Chung stated "In our magazine, we talk about positive, forward-looking women who uphold our society’s ideals,” says Cheung. “It is as important for the reader to be encouraged, to cultivate a sense of self, as it is to be told where they can buy the prettiest frocks.”. She goes on to discuss over the next ten years “Our content will be increasingly mobile, social, video driven and viral,”.  “The Vogue network is truly global and Chinese consumers are increasingly global in outlook — I see tremendous opportunities to leverage this phenomena in exciting new ways for Vogue China and our partner"

Personally my favourite part of Vogue China is their covers, bright bold and not afraid to stand out. So lets have a look how the magazine has evolved from 2005 until now!



 

my love for Urban Outfitters

Urban Outfitters is an innovative specialty retail company with an emphasis on creativity. A Focus to offer a product assortment and an environment so compelling and distinctive that the customer feels an empathetic connection to the brand and is persuaded to buy. Stocks that reflect inspiration from contemporary art, music and fashion. From men's & women's apparel and accessories to items for the apartment, they offer a lifestyle-specific shopping experience for the educated, urban-minded individual.

Urban Outfitters are one of my favourite brands to follow on Instagram, they reflect their brand, values and image so well its addictive. The inspiration from their posts are amazing! They also involve their audience by having an account just for the public who are wearing or decoration an interior with their products at 'UOEUROPE'

These are some of the reasons why i have decided to do my project for my course on this brand, based around the A/W15 trend on denim. How they adjust to their values, target audience, their marketing mix, promotional methods and communication within the store and online. I've become a little bit obsessed. Its so good to see a brand that does more than sell clothes, Urban Outfitters involves themselves within your lifestyle, through art, music, fashion and everyday inspiration...almost like they've created a distinctive, edgy and super creative world for you to absorb yourself in.

 



 

Important life lessons we learn from our favourite film characters

A blog idea inspired from careergirldaily.com that i loved and thought about myself. Either films we watched growing up from films we see as teenagers, characters teach us a lot of life lessons from their experiences, strengths or flaws.

Elle Woods- Legally Blonde 

Favourite film since my auntie introduced it to me when i was younger, both as a film and in theatre legally blonde is the best of the best. Elle Woods only goes to Law school to get the guy, but on her way surprised herself with passing her SATs, winning a court case and marry the 'other' guy. lesson learnt= No need to change for anyone!

Maleficent

A fairytale that doesn't sugarcoat reality. Teaching us that you continue to fight when your strengths become weaknesses. Remain determined and always be unstoppable. There is evil in this world but it has no power over us, unless we allow it to.

Jenna Rink- 13 going on 30

Another favourite film. From being at school and worrying about popularity and wishing you had everything you don't, learning that life is about embracing what you were gifted with and never wish your life away. Everything will fall into place in the end.

'Andy' Sachs- The Devil Wears Prada

A very relatable character for us all, whether its starting a new job, dealing with certain individuals or struggling to get to grips with a new situation. Andy shows us that perseverance and taking charge of your life is what to focus on in a tough situation and you'll eventually come to the other side.

The power of pink

Now that autumn and winter are in full swing, its finally time to change up our all black wardrobes. Its time for the Autumn rose and berry pinks to have their time again, a variation of colour that given the political and sociological contradictions of pink, designers continue to use it again and again. This time giving a sense of strength and stylishness.

Catwalks for A/W15 have shown their interpretation of pink in fashion and its powerful comeback to battle the cold away this year. From Chloé, Prada and Alexander McQueen....these trends then trickling down into our classic mass market stores of Topshop and Zara.

High End/Couture

Mass Market- Topshop X Kendall and Kylie, Zara

Take a look at Prada's A/W15 advertising campaign and the hidden power of pink!

Trends with tech.

A new emerging trend is occurring. It combines geek with style, technology being our geek and fashion as our style. We are not talking about LED flashing shoes or an apple watch. The aim is to integrate high-tech wearable technology with mainstream fashion pieces. We need technology to fit into our life without allowing it to disrupt our day to day life. Many of these inventions were discovered through crowdfunding sites that come with apps and are unisex.

Glasses are common, can't find them your phone will know the exact location with the help of a small Bluetooth embedded into the frame. A handbag that comes with a charging plate, internal lights, 2 USB docks and a charging dock. What about a connected ring, notifications on your phone connect to the ring that send small vibrations to alert you instead of constantly checking your phone and wasting time looking at twitter, snapchat etc when really there is no need. You can actually get on with what you need to do and only be interrupted when you need to be.

Technology is moving faster than ever at the moment, we cannot remove it or block it out as it does bring huge benefits and movement to our lives. Technology now is being adapted to our way of living instead of us being immersed into the world of technology leading us not getting on with our day to day necessities.

Sunday inspirations

As the normal Sunday morning is spent in bed with breakfast and a nice cup of tea, we all spend longer than normal scrolling away at tumblr, instagram, twitter etc... and i came across a few quotes that i thought are good to read as a new week approaches.

Hopefully they will help give you that little boost of inspiration and motivation to try something new in the week, from something as little as trying something you have always been too scared to do, all the way to booking a flight to Australia and ditching everything and going travelling (obviously this is the extreme far end of the line, but still!).

PEACE + LOVE collection- 'Created for the fierce, powerful anduntouchable'

Missguided has become one of the most popular online shopping websites, and too right!! Stylish, edgy and on trend fashion for a good price. Constant offers and discounts are there key marketing skills that keep them so well known and popular. Myself included, am always tempted when I receive an email saying ‘20% off everything’ or ‘Free next day delivery’….who wouldn’t want there clothes cheaper and arrive at your doorstep the next morning?!

I have been obsessed with their collection ‘Peace + Love’, a collection for the nights out and dressy days. We are talking stunningly cut dresses, high knee boots, metallic skirts and glamorous tops, what more could we ask for. Here are a few of my favourite pieces.

We have the glamorous red dress, perfect for fancy dress nights or Christmas parties. Dress it with your favourite pair of strappy heels and your set to go and guaranteed to stand out.

(left) Then my favourite, the edgy/rock and roll black sleek look. This long line contrast trim duster jacket is my dream. Edgy yet classy and filled with class when dressed with the right outfit. An item that makes an impact and builds the fierceness of the collection in my opinion. I mean those strapped boots are just…basically I would like the whole outfit please.

(right) This metallic dusty pink skirt gives you the playful girly look, yet when worn with a top shown brings back that edginess and instant flirtatious sense with slits in the top.

I would say as a collection they have clearly stuck with it being for powerful, fierce and untouchable women with strong contrasting colours, silhouettes and use of the material.

So If I were you, I would be going straight to their website www.missguided.co.uk as they also have discounts going on as you read this…get moving!

*all image are from Missguided website*

Victoria's Secret Fashion Show 2015

With the phenomenon of which the Victoria's Secret fashion show is each year, no doubt will this year be as outstanding as ever. However, it is also one of the best-kept secrets within the industry and unless your working within, its a struggle to get the gossip!! just plenty of Instagram uploads...and a look into the design, build up and creative concepts the show demonstrates! Music guests are confirmed, Selena Gomez, The Weekend and Ellie Goulding!! Models confirmed and outfits at the ready, LETS GO!! xoxo

Christmas season has arrived, maybe a little too early...

This weekend, to say the least was very unproductive in the uni work area, however very productive in the shops, city centre and food areas...we can call it research! With the christmas lights and decorations being put up everywhere you look, that always seem to get earlier and earlier. I was pleased to go and get a Starbucks and be handed over a christmas cup... gets me a little excited for christmas season although i refuse to show my festivity till December 1st. I won't listen to a christmas song until then, bad luck and all that!!

My favourite things about the christmas season are...

1. Warm drinks- preferably the new chocolate fudge hot chocolate from costa


2. Yankee candles, of course


3. Over sized hoodies and fluffy socks


4. Movie nights in with every duvet and blanket in the house


5. Baking cookies, brownies, cakes and every other option and using the excuse that its christmas and you need to store body fat for the cold weather approaching


6. Peaking out the curtains in the morning to check for snow and hope you don't have to go to uni, even though its only a 10 minute walk and no hills involved


7. Being in the hustle of London with the christmas lights above you and obsessing over Selfridges window displays


8. Pointing and hinted to everything you want for christmas "oo i love this, no i don't need it now mum!" "no honestly its fine, i can't afford it!"


9. Lastly, the feeling that your nose and fingers are so cold you think never again will they be usable, bitter sweet feeling

Reflective journal- Fashion Communication and Promotion

“Fashion is a cultural phenomenon growing out of the interactions of individuals and institutions”

Since starting FCP, I have learnt that the fashion industry is a much broader sector than people assume. Its about looking further than magazines and runways for inspiration and new trends. Where did the items come from? What influenced them? You have to be bold and question everything.

Fashion inspiration alone from primary sources such as brands and retail are too direct. We have to look at the broader creative landscape, sources such as photography, theatre, dance and art. Fashion is everything around us, the way we live and what is happening in the world. Narratives and motifs trickle down from mega, macro, micro trends that come back around when suitable in todays time.

Outside industries influence a brand. Music can help explore and tell a narrative for campaigns and catwalks. It helps draw in attention from all ages. For example, H&M at Coachella and Victoria Secret who focus on Live performances at runway shows, keeping a brand on trend with their target audience. Music instantly impacts an audience’s perspective on a brand. Film focuses on the cultural influences that leads to new trends. Bill Cunningham focused on fashion coming from the ever changing streets of New York. The power of individuals setting trends. ‘Dior and I’ focuses on a new collection of haute couture designed by Raf Simons’, inspired by music and art. The economy impacts fashion dramatically, during the recession fashion was conservative and functional with a focus on classics, as the economy improves fashion can be bright and extravagant.

A brand will conform or rebel against society norms. Take a risk or stay safe. WWII lead acceptance for women to wear trousers at work in the fields and factories, out of working hours it was unnatural and unattractive. However, 1966, Yves Saint Laurent designed ‘Le Smoking’, controversial at first but the elegant style made it acceptable and women could embrace the comfort clothes could bring. Rebellion against past views allow new ideas to break through.

I have learnt about the importance and power of colour. Colour can represent cultural codes, social codes and historical codes.  Historical codes have been a focus this A/W15 with drama filled white gowns and embodied lace and sweeping skirts as black as night. History will forever continue to influence fashion. I have put colour into action this week, focusing on a colour story and expressing it as a narrative through art, craft and photography. Something that is easier said than done!

This information is essential within all aspects of the industry. For events, I will always need to be aware of trends for colour, motifs and narratives. Trend forecasting, I will have to act as a sponge and take in everything going on globally, from entertainment, lifestyle, world culture and news. I feel I have grasped the new concepts well and have continued with further reading to build a broader aspect of the key topics. Over this module I need to focus on bringing all the new information I have learnt with me and continue to keep up to date with what is going on politically and economically and socially in the world to understand the changes that occur in the fashion industry.

Motivational Monday- The world needs a little more individuality

Now this may be a blog that a lot of you think ‘oh i know this’ but the truth is we may know it but we don’t always have the courage or self-confidence to show it. With there being over 7 billion of us in the world, not one person is you.

I feel over the last year or so I’ve learnt who i am and become happy expressing who that is. I no longer am concerned on how people view me, as long as I’m happy within myself and the people i love around me are happy thats what matters most, Im not afraid to say what i believe in, i show how i feel and i have learnt to trust my feelings and go with what i feel is right. I was always told growing up to believe in myself and be confident which i struggled with outside of my life as a gymnast. Gymnastics was my life for over 10 years, i trained 30 hours a week and knew very little other than school, train, eat, sleep x 100000, my method of expressing who i was in an environment that i was 100% comfortable. Yet outside of that i used to be the quite shy one who worried what others thought. Being a gymnast has made me who i am today as an individual, I’ve learnt hard work, motivation and sacrifice. Ive come out of the sport with a group of friends who are my family, i trained with them 6 days a week and we become the building blocks for each other, the courage to be who we are and what we wanted to succeed in.

When we wake up every morning, we are a blank canvas. We have a choice on how we wish to look, what sort of person we want to be, how we speak and the way we think. We are a blank page with a hidden history but we are the artist who can paint an image of what we want others to see. Our past makes us who we are. We all have a story that makes us strong and gives us lessons to learn from. These are the things that make us unique. Our inspirations, our mind, our soul and our desires…this exact combination is only held by us. Just us out of the other 7 billion people on the earth. You can’t get more unique than this, and thats what we need to keep hold of and embrace.

We need to ensure we do not get wrapped up on what society thinks and whats cool and whats not. Negative people with negative thoughts need to be kept out. We need to get out of the box that society, media and people try their best to keep us in. The world needs uniqueness and individuality, without it new ideas, inventions, designs and art would never occur. The world needs YOU, not who you try to be.

Raf Simons - Dior

 It was yesterday morning, when i had my daily email notification regarding the daily digest page of ‘Business of Fashion’ when i saw that Raf Simon was parting ways with Christian Dior after a three and a half year collaboration.

Strangely enough, Monday afternoon as part of my course at uni, we watched the documentary ‘Dior and I’, a film that gave huge inspiration and insight into the pressure of the fashion industry with no where to hide and the need to achieve, along with the heart warming feeling and proudness when the job is done.

The documentary shows the behind the scenes footage of Raf Simons’ first haute couture collection as the new artistic director in Fall 2012, along with his right hand man Pieter Mulier. A collection and a show that screamed beauty, elegance and class. The collection was shown in Pairs, of course and Raf’s goals were to “recapture the feminine glamour of his mother’s Belle Époque ensembles, and to transform his mannequins and clients into blooming and blossoming and extravagantly womanly archetypes”.

It was not only the clothes that captivated everyone, but the fairytale setting that demonstrated Christian Dior’s passion for flowers, 5 rooms with walls and walls of roses, orchids and dahlia blossoms- basically every girls dream for a wedding setting, well mine anyway!

Whilst reading upon Raf Simons’ choice to step down i came across some text on vogue.co.uk which i couldn't agree with more.

“It's all too easy to think that a fashion show and the clothes just happen when it comes to Fashion Week. Amid a social and style circus; a pit of flashbulbs, stars; celebrity and front row gossip; a collection struts out down a catwalk. We want to be that girl; we want that hair and make-up; and we want those clothes. It's a grand feat of production. And it happens twice a year. But behind it, there are the designers: terrific geniuses but humans also. They have feelings, are scared and feel the pressure too. We forget that. Until you see it up close, which is exactly what Dior And I does”

So in appreciation of Raf Simon and his ground breaking creations over the past 3 and half years i have selected some of my favourites.

“I am usually very attracted to things that i can’t define. If something’s too clear, its very often not inspiring to me anymore” - Raf Simons

 

Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only.

If you were to look in the mirror at an outfit, you are not just looking at the garment and how it fits, or what colour it is, you are looking at a reflection of society and culture from a decade ago to as little as a year ago.

With the gym being the ‘new’ place to be seen and the obsession on eating clean and working hard, this alone has impacted the fashion industry hugely. It has spread to Instagram pages, blogs and columns purely focusing on eing fit/healthy and what green shake people are drinking that morning. The ‘it’ girls of London heading to the SBC (Skinny B*tch society) being one of the most talked about fitness groups around, this has spread across the pond over to LA having morning runs consisting of 100’s people before work, morning smoothie/shake raves…of course they beat us on the craziness scale! This has led to new fitness lines and a need to have a sense of athleticism for designers to work with. The need to own a pair of nike running shoes, or high tech fabrics and sports mesh clothing. New collaborations have been the result, for example Stella McCartney X Adidas or Topshop X Adidas.

A macro-trend such as increasing technology. The social need for information at our fingertips across all sectors such as art, architecture, film and fashion has lead to apps such as Instagram, Tumblr and Pintrest. The power of technology has gone off the scale. Pages of creative ideas leading to a new trend.

For example, having bright coloured dip dyed hair, to nail art designs and sneak peaks of upcoming collaborations within fashion and beauty. The power of Snapchat, footage for all the big runways and fashion weeks giving the audience a faster insight of designs before they have even had a change to hit the magazines. We as consumers have become so obsessed with receiving information faster than before and needing to be part of the industry from the comfort of our own homes. With us becoming, i guess in a way ‘greedy’ for information, fashion has to change at a faster rate…’Fashion can be seen as irrational in the sense that it seeks change for the sake of change’ ( Fashion a Philosophy-Lars Svenden)

Everything within culture such as artists, films, theatre, dance, music,sport or global news etc, all have the power to influence new trends within fashion. We see Fashion collaborations with all of the above giving a new sense of life. By joining these sectors to become one, the ability to tell newnarratives and be unique in such a demanding industry becomes more accessible. It allows the consumer to be a part of that world and little do they know, they have the power to change future trends with them being a member of society and their involvement within global cultures.

Fashion X History

If history did not go the way it has, what would fashion be?

Fashion for me is the way someone can present themselves, identify themselves and be the unique individual we are all meant to be. Many people may not be interested in fashion or think it's worth learning much about but the fact of the matter is everyone is involved.

There is a small individual book store in Nottingham called “Ideas on Paper” which specialise in individual books, magazines and journals…if you are ever in Nottingham be sure to go and check it out, there's something for everyone guaranteed!

I bought a book called ‘100 ideas that changed fashion’, and since reading it I've begun to think about the huge impact history has had on fashion.

From the beginning of couture, which would not have started if it was not for Charles Frederick Worth and his fashion house that he set up at the age of 20 in 1858. Pastel colours to bold prints, as a method for women to show self expression. Global influences made a big impact on fashion and broadened people horizons on the possibilities that garments could hold. With affordable airline flights in the 70s becoming more accessible, world travel led to fashion influences and cultures to flourish in fashion around the world. Ideas such as layering clothes, embroidered waistcoats led to the luxury hippie aesthetic. Now this one surprised me the most, it was a scandal and shocking for women to wear trousers in the 30s and 40s. (Girls imagine no jeans, leggings or work trousers….what would we wear!!) During world war two it was acceptable for women to wear trousers for work in the fields and factories but after that, no trousers for women-it was unnatural and unattractive. It was not until Yves Saint Laurent came to the rescue in 1966 and came out with Le Smoking ( sleek tailored trouser suit), which was controversial at first but with the elegant style it became acceptable for women to embrace the comfort clothes could bring. 

Wars lead to changes in trends, as citizens became more exposed to images of the military, of course the influence trickled into catwalk shows… we all are guilty of owning a military style item of clothing! it was not just design and pattern, but also practicality of clothing. More pockets for storage, belts and zip jumpsuits for quick access to put on over nightwear in the event of an air raid.

So its now hard to tell if fashion is ‘new’ anymore or just a simple act of recycling the old and adjusting to become an adaption of the past. The clothes we wear today are a consequence and inspiration of the culture, events, music and people of the past. Trends have become smaller over the last decade in comparison to the ground breaking fashion trends of the past. I’d say without history and those involved, where would we be now. So next time you buy a new top, jacket or pair of shoes, think were they would have been inspired from or who inspired them!