all walks.

All Walks Beyond The Catwalk launched almost 2 years ago - London Fashion Week, September 2009. In their own words:

"All Walks Beyond the Catwalk is an initiative founded by Caryn Franklin, Debra Bourne and Erin O’Connor working with influential Catwalk designers and top industry creatives to celebrate more diversity within the fashion industry."

I bring it up now as this year, All Walks had a stand and did some press at GFW (they did last year, too, but I wasn't there in 2010), and beforehand, Caryn Franklin made the trip up north to give a (really interesting) talk at Northumbria.

That was, of course, some months ago (April, I think? Maybe even March...) but that's when the work started to pile up and I never did get round to writing about the project.

It's an inspiring one, though - the mission is, ultimately, to change the way the fashion industry works, encouraging diversity in the industry, changing the way the media presents fashion, and showing women everywhere that the beauty standard is not the tall, thin, young and white look set by the industry (for the most part) today.

Rankin shoot//i-D shoot - from allwalks.org

In their two short years, the project has launched high profile campaigns - features in i-D, events at LFW and GFW, and at the National Portrait Gallery - and has attracted big name designers (Vivienne Westwood, Matthew Williamson, Stella McCartney etc) and other big industry names (Rankin shot the first big campaign, above) as well as new names on the scene (Mark Fast, David Koma, Hannah Marshall etc). With the big, influential names of the future now getting involved, it's easy to assume that progression has been made, but only time will tell.

At Northumbria, Caryn talked a little about All Walks, but also about women, media, fashion and beauty in general and raised some points I couldn't ignore. Trying to decipher my months-old notes is a challenge, but my scribbles include points like:

- caucasian women, on average, have lower self esteem than those of colour, and are more represented in fashion. Coincidence?

- manipulation of images damages mental health, but while it's illegal to misrepresent a fridge, for example, in advertising etc, you can change a man or woman's body beyond recognition without anyone batting an eyelid.

- the availability of catwalk images compared to 30 years ago means we are now reaching a global audience, which means model's looks are too.

Most impotantly to me, I think, she asked, do designers not have the skills to dress women of different body types?

I can assure you, we aren't taught such skills. We aren't taught to grade patterns (how hard can that be?) or what flatters someone who isn't model-sized. There isn't time, I suppose - on my course, there wouldn't be the time/money/resources to produce a collection in final year for anyone who wasn't model sized, for example, but somewhere in the 4 years (or even on a 3 year course), would there not be room for a project for a plus-sized women, or a petite women, for example? I've certainly seen a couple of jobs advertised for plus sized designers which I haven't applied for, knowing I'm not confident that I could design successfully for such a customer.

That isn't to my advantage.

In fact, it's to no one's advantage.

All Walks is doing something important and necessary; something I hope any other bloggers reading this can appreciate. The majority of bloggers are real people with real body shapes; a lot of you work in the industry, or are hoping to at some point. You can get involved and raise awareness with a quick visit to the site (linked at the top of the page). I can only encourage you to get your tutors/bosses involved too, or spread the word if you can.

In the meantime, follow All Walks and Caryn Franklin on twitter...

full of Grace.

Just bringing this Guardian interview with Grace Woodward to your attention - I think she makes some great and very true points about the industry, particularly this run of questions:

Fashion is often perceived as a lowbrow, fluffy subject. Does that annoy you?

Fashion is art, and there are designers who are geniuses. It's highbrow. Are you saying Hussein Chalayan isn't a genius? I have felt demeaned when saying I work in fashion but that's only because people don't understand what I do. They confuse styling and fashion with the high street.

So what is the difference?

Fashion, in its purest sense, is about breaking rules. High street is a watered-down interpretation. I am a stylist, and style is neither fashion nor high street. Stylish people tend to shop the least because they aren't swayed by what's on-trend or in-store.

You're not a fan of Primark then?

I appreciate the high street but "fashion" for the masses is everywhere, like processed white bread. Everyone eats it.

The fashion industry is often accused of being run by interns. Do you agree with this culture of unpaid work?

I blame universities. They are taking 60-plus students on their fashion courses when there just aren't enough jobs out there. It's irresponsible because they end up interning for no payback. Why is there no accredited apprenticeship scheme with fashion houses, where designers get paid to impart a trade that makes you viable? I have thought about going to David Cameron about it. It's giving fashion a bad name.

You seem passionate about the ethics of the industry – what's your take on the body image debate? Do you resent fashion getting the blame?

Fashion magazines shouldn't have to bear the weight of the responsibility. It's a lazy observation, cultivated by the media. Like I said, we are trying to create a fantasy, not tell people how to look. I know it sounds like a flimsy argument but I don't think you can nanny people. It's a psychological issue. It's not fashion's fault.

and the winner is.

ANTM cycle 16 already started, but cycle 15 winner ann ward was finally in vogue italia (as shot by ellen von unwerth) and up on fashion gone rogue.

i can take or leave the first and fourth shots, but the last one and the two in the second row are fabulous - ann is one of the only girls to come through the ANTM mill who could actually do something in the industry, but then, they say that about someone every couple of cycles.

no one is really floating my boat so far in cycle 16; thoughts?

also: ANTM is one of those ultimate guilty pleasures. like project runway, but considerably more guilty. like, obviously it's pretty far removed from the reality of the industry and it's completely OTT and cringe-y, but it's also awesome. right? RIGHT?

anyway, ann is/was awesome and the deserved winner. i still say allison was robbed in cycle 12.

the plight of aa.

American Apparel is renowned for a number of things. whether that's for being a blogger favourite - a well publicised brand in this currently rather internet reliant industry, a mainstay in the eyes of communities like chictopia and lookbook.nu; for their somewhat over-sexualised ads or for their somewhat oversexed CEO; or more recently for their ever increasing money problems.

the highly sexualised reputation of both AA and Dov Charney are, mostly, taking the blame for what could be the companies demise, but is that really the cause? I MEAN REALLY? it's not like this is a new development - in the beginning, there was the image. at the height of AA-fever, there was the image. AA is the image. there is no escaping the image.

we are to blame, if anything, that ol' fashion-foe, the economy.

of course, here's some personal experience: i have but one AA item, a moss green tube dress which has rather lost it's elasticity, and cost me 22 of my best british pounds a couple of years ago. good quality, ill give you that. a great basic. a good jersey piece. despite its tendency to slip down now when i wear it as a dress, i keep it in my wardrobe. it makes a good skirt when belted and twisted into some sort of shape. i still like it. but two years later, £22 wouldn't get me much in AA. take, for example, the lace trim cycling shorts.

they've become quite the must-have item, especially for this modesty-concious cyclist, but a pair of (shiny, and therefore not ideal) shorts in the covent garden AA store (oh yes, i've done my research) would've set be back a whopping £28. TWENTY. EIGHT. POUNDS.

FOR SHORTS.

FOR CYCLING SHORTS WHICH WILL BE WORN UNDER THINGS.

FOR, ESSENTIALLY, AN ITEM OF UNDERWEAR.

WHAT?

....you can get similar lace trimmed cycling shorts, in a lovely matt jersey, in H&M for under a fiver. i think it is obvious where one such as myself would rather purchase my shorts.

once could argue that AA have their ethics and USA-produced garments and that's the reason for their high prices, but when one has increasingly high debts and clothes that are approx. 7 times more expensive than your competitors; maybe it's time for a rethink. the hipster vote isn't going to help you now, Dov, no matter how you try to change your image*

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*what with new product lines and such. you may have noticed that AA is no longer merely where spandex goes to die, but also home to sheer loveliness (maxis; blouses; frilly tu-tu affairs) and other gorgeous non-jersey pieces (i really, REALLY like the tailored trousers in store atm); and i will forever be a fan of the huge range of colours available, but alas, AA, i and many like me can't afford most of your wares, and as such, you are doomed. additionally, your sizing is a little mental. i'm 90% sure the aforementioned tube dress I own is a medium. i'm a size 8/10. surely only children fit into the XS size?!?

elaine.

woah, woah, woah. cue slap bass.

img from geometric sleep.

sorry, is that the pic from my sidebar?? i think it is.

this past week has seen some Benes-loving in the fashion world, at least in the above clipping (i want to say it's from the new york times? shrug.) and up on my twitter feed. i can only approve wholeheartedly. if my hair was long enough for a huge front fringe quiff bouffant... thing accompanied by some serious frizz, then it would be happening.

i like to think i'm ahead of the curve, or that i secretly have a mental connection with downtown NYC, but it's likely that the reality is either this is a shortlived/microtrend, or it will totally not catch on. (SADFACE.)

that said, the length is really something that's big right now (or at least, maxis are still in for a/w and will probably keep going till next summer, but a move on to a calf or ankle length would make sense), and collars - especially the high necked/buttoned up variety - are something i'm seeing about the blogs these days. whether it's the Elaine effect or not (which I doubt given how many people around my age have actually seen Seinfeld. boo at being in a minority.), this is a relatable trend and seems totally approps right now.

EXCUSE TO POST THIS GIF, YES!

err, wait, does that mean i'm actually appropriately dressed for something? this can only mean that the rapture is upon us.

...brb, bidding on calf length dresses with long sleeves and collars on ebay.

who makes "the rules" or, where's my fucking maxi skirt?!

I'd like to know something.
Who is it who dictates what we can and cant wear?
Who makes The Rules?
Who says fat birds cant have cake AND bodycon (quote Ana...), and who says short girls can't do full length or hareems? (And yes, this is related to the ode to the maxi post....)

While it would be simple to scapegoat the media, from the gossip mags who demand "what were you thinking??" of celebs, to the high fashion bibles which set the trends, it isn't necessarily they who set these Rules. Quite the contrary; the answer, it seems, is you and me.

We (by which I mean women, primarily. And the gays. The gays always have an opinion on the fashion), are destined to give each other the once over and declare "that dress makes her look fat", or "those jeans are doing nothing for her arse".
While yes, it is likely that such publications as heat, and the tabloids, have influenced the way we think, it is our own mentality, and our modern day society, which forces us to judge others.

Not that that's always a bad thing - style is subjective, everyone has different tastes, if we were all the same it'd be boring, blahblahblah - but often turns into public ridicule, and herein I draw the line. There is, quite simply, no need.

I'm ready and willing to put my hand up and declare myself a little guilty. We all are. It is, to quote Prince, a sign o' the times.
Personally, I think you look ridiculous in your Ugg boots; tatty from walking in the rain/snow/ANY WEATHER IN THE UK*, and with jogging bottoms tucked it. Yeah I'm looking at you, rah community.

But equally, you more than likely think the same of me, in my skirt lengths which aren't necessarily made for my height (care?), tapered trousers which only emphasise my already massive hips, and my heels come rain, shine, or 2 mile walk to uni and back (a mile each way; steady now).

I always bring it back to the height issue, because it's relevant to me, but this goes for any body shape. We are conditioned to believe that we can't wear certain pieces if we're built a certain way. No taking into account styling, or, y'know, whether we care for The Rules.
The Rules are there to dampen creativity. They probably were created by the media, for the style "challenged"; those who now rely on Gok to supply them with dressing ideas; in order to give them a vague guideline. To box them in. They'll look good, sure, but they'll look the same as everyone else. As you will look the same as everyone else if you only shop at Topshop (cue more ridicule.). The Rules are there to make the world a "prettier place", if you will. Where everyone dresses "well".

But I, for one, am not interested in "pretty".
I'd much rather have "interesting".
Why else is it that blogs so popular right now? Because they are full of people breaking the rules, and keeping it interesting.
Queen Michelle @ Kingdom of Style dons lingerie as outerwear on the regular.
Arabelle @ Fashion Pirates has been known to wear a tablecloth as a skirt.
Susie Bubble throws on, like, 25 different florals in one outfit.
Do these people care about the rules? No. Are they criticised for it? Quite the opposite.
They pull it off because the have confidence (having a blog and sharing your style with the internet world = confidence, in my eyes.), and (I hope), they don't have time for the people who tell them they look all wrong.

If there is one thing I've learnt in my time immersed in the fashion world, it is this: there's no such thing as The Rules.
Make up your own rules, goddammit.

Even down to designing. Quote Tim Blanks off of the Vice interview; the most interesting designers are those who aren't afraid to fail. I put it to you, Internet, that also, the most interesting dressers are those who aren't afraid to fail.

In the end, unless you have achieved a level of fame where you could end up on a Worst Dressed list; you are dressing for yourself and yourself only, so who gives a shit what anyone else thinks? And even if you ARE at that level of fame, you are pandering to people who have different tastes. One gossip coloumns' worst dressed is another's best dressed. Any press is good press. Good lord.

But, of course, to throw away these Rules; for everyone to accept that they don't really exist... well, that would create chaos.
See, in Rule-following, there are two camps.
Non-followers (denouncers, perhaps?) deem followers unimaginative; sheep; boring. Label whores. Trend-a-holics.
Followers deem non-followers ridiculous; over the top; crazy for crazies sake. Try-hard. Weird.
What neither camp takes into account is that all of these people; every single one; when dressing on a morning, puts on what they feel comfortable in. Or at least, I hope this is the case.
I think I can say with conviction that there are no Rules. There aren't! There is but one, and it is as follows:

Thou shalt dress in what thou bloody well wants, and thou shalt not judge others for doing the same (at least not out loud.)

And, y'know, I reckon caring what others think isn't a desirable character trait, yeah?

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Hey! Some related posts around the internetz!

teh rulez @ Nice&Tacky
an awesome maxi look on a 5'6"-ish lady @ Fashion Looks North
ana done a post too, @ one fabulous thing after another

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* seriously, what weather are the supposed to be for? Sheepskin boots don't do well in wet conditions, aka winter, and are too hot in summer, surely? I will ne'er understand...

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the great vintage debate

Well now, quite frankly I meant to post about this weeks ago but yknow, other things came around that I wanted to post quicker and this never got done...
This is, in fact, another Vice-based article. And I warn you, it's pretty heavy.

Firstly, if you haven't seen the Guide to Liberia you should watch it in full or by chapter - here it starts at part 1 of 8; you'll need a spare hour-ish to watch it all...

As it goes, Liberia has been through some stuff, yeah? Founded in the 19th century on the backs of freed slaves from America, whose government was modelled on the US's (even their capital city, Monrovia, is named after the 5th president, James Monroe), Liberia has been in turmoil for the past 30 years following a military coup in 1980. This resulted in a civil war and the collapse of the economy which devastated the country, making it one of the poorest, most deprived countries in the world.

Vice filmed all around the slums in Monrovia, which are among the worst slums in the world, and interviewed the inhabitants, including some ex-warlords. They also took a bunch of pictures...

photos from viceland.com

It feels a little disrespectful to then take this into a fashion context, but also, I think, interesting.

These are people, mostly kids, from around the slums of Monrovia. Here, all in vintage style tees. Imagine these on eBay, or in vintage stores, where they would sell for a pretty penny...?

This Vice article offers insight (and makes some good/similar points):

"Supply and demand comes with completely different connotations in Liberia. Demand does not control the goods supplied; it’s the other way around.

Clothing exemplifies this inverted chain. Liberia’s struggling economy does not have enough buying power to dictate what comes into one of the most import-dependent countries in the world. Its war-destroyed infrastructure means there’s very little domestic production of anything.

Some new clothes do make it into the country. But outside the cheap Chinese kitsch sold in the potholed and rubbish-strewn Waterside Market, most new clothing is far outside the affordability of the average Liberian; as many as 60 percent of the country are said to live on a dollar a day.

So, demand creates a different supply chain where low cost is the trump. Donations from the US and the wholesale purchase of massive amounts of used clothes fill hundreds of sea cans with clothing no longer wanted by Americans. These end up all over Africa, but Monrovia—the capital city of a country built by freed slaves of the 19th century in the image of the United States—receives a high proportion of used American garb.

It’s these packed sea cans that set the parameters of style. Trends get set by what shows up in the shipping containers, not the other way around. For example, around Christmas last year, a multi-colour striped t-shirt made of cheap cloth could be found for about 80 cents anywhere in the country. It’s near impossible to pass a day without seeing the “Be the Reds” shirt, produced by the millions to promote South Korea’s football team as they hosted the 2002 World Cup. And sometime in the spring, a wave of cheap top hats showed up on the street, starting a trend for young men on the streets of the capital."

OK, so, from this, I get two trains of thought:

ONE (the heavy one)

Are we in the western world so jaded as to pay so much for what is, essentially, just an old tshirt (or a skirt, or a pair of leggings...)? We consume much too much of everything as it is, but it's becoming a bit of a joke when we're paying £50 for an 80's bodycon dress which are somewhat readily available.

I will excuse the avant garde, and the designer vintage, on the grounds that they are much more rare, much more one off. But a tshirt is a tshirt, and if the vintage piece looks just like something that's all over the highstreet then what's the point?

I always have a reservation with vintage, as much as I love it; so often is it overpriced. I will often turn down pieces on eBay (both vintage and second hand) which I feel are too expensive. It'd have to be a particularly special and/or well made piece for me to consider spending a lot of money on it.

Yeah, and, I'm not entirely with Mary Portas on her charity shop mission (it's connected, what?).

Charities need money, yes, of course, but upping the price of common items is not the way forward imo, for then it is just the same as the overpriced vintage. Better if her mission involved pricing pieces - good quality, rarer, more unique - accordingly, and those which were unlikely to make real money for the charity - high street basics, etc - be sent off to those who do actually need them. Surely places like Liberia would be better served by second hand clothes than those who will buy them from charity shops? Old jeans, leggings, tees?

Of course, having more clothes are the least of their worries, but yknow, every little helps and such.

TWO (the pondering one)

I find it interesting that in such a climate, such ideas as 'fashion trends' are still present. It feels like a very organic route. It is the same as our trend process, but on a basic level.

We see, we want, we buy. Or, more truthfully; we see, the high street decides what's easiest to copy and does so, we buy.

We see, we take, there is no other option is surely the Liberian way, and it seems odd to think of there being a much pared down set of trends, non?

Listing the trends (counting on fingers...) for the new season could take over two hands, but imagine if our trends were determined by purely what was available then and there?

Would it force more creativity (especially in those wishing to stand out)?

Would we feel a sense of community (as we all wore our second hand top hats)?

Would those inclined to design do so still - and if so, would it be a case of re-appropriating available garments, or finding any available fabric with which to create your vision?

I think such a climate could be a creative breeding ground, and would be interested to see what could come out of places such as Liberia given the opportunity. Maybe we should be donating things like unwanted sewing equipment (no electrical products, of course), and then perhaps Liberians and other 'third world' populations could gain a better quality of life.

That sounds a bit 'fashion can save!' but what I mean is...well, if you've seen the videos, you'll know how these people spend their days, and surely anything is better than that.

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the trouble with tavi; or 'why IS everyone jealous of a 13-year-old?'

There seems to have been an influx of Tavi related posts around lately - on blogs that I read; blogs that they've linked too; in magazines; quotes on sites from various fashion aficionados....etc etc.

Hell, she even defended/commented on her own mass of press in a recent blog post.

I never really intended to join in with this somewhat random trend - it wasn't necessary. It isn't necessary. I'm not in the habit of commenting on other blogs - there's room for everyone in the blogosphere; you read those that you want, you bookmark what you like, you forget what you don't - but sometimes it's good to articulate things, and rather than dabble in the aforementioned influx of posts, leaving comments, I might as well put my thoughts all together in one place.

If you have been living under a rock, or y'know, aren't immersed fully within the fashion blogging world then really do click the link above and ponder Tavi's blog.

Ponder far enough to see some of her writing on fashion and also some of her outfit posts - I honestly do think she writes in an interesting way, and I follow her blog because of the way she writes.

Also...well, I mean, when I was 13 I was busy playing on Neopets and such like, so to see someone at that age be so passionate about something is kinda sweet, if a little precocious. Which is something I too have been labelled in the past.

One thing I won't really comment on, though, are claims that 'it's not her who writes it'. The claim that comes to mind cites the Rodarte video Tavi made for their Target line as their source, saying that in person, the way she talks of fashion doesn't sit with the blog musings. I haven't seen the video, but I second some comments I've seen that express their disbelief that anyone who would write a blog like that; that successful; would let a middle school student take the credit.

My only...problem? That's not the word, but that's the only one I can think of. My reservation, perhaps. Or, my first thought upon hearing of her and checking her out... is that Tavi's style isn't all that, to me. I know, I know, style is subjective, but I think the point is that, to me, her style only works because of her age.
The 'throw anything on' approach sometimes comes close to bag lady territory in my eyes, but at 13 that's ok, even kind of cute. A juxtaposition, certainly. I understand the interest, but it's not for me.

But that's fine. As I said, style is subjective and my style isn't for everyone, as is true of any blogger. Any PERSON.

I can't help but bring to mind a memory of myself at around that age. Early 2000's. Height of boho. Wore a cream maxi/gypsy style skirt to non-uniform day at school and was the source of much bemusement to my classmates, who were all dressed in jeans or tracksuit bottoms. God knows what would've happened to me had I been as often OTT as Tavi...

To address this blog title though...she's everywhere.
She's front row at Dior Couture.
She's writing for POP and Harper's Bazaar.
She is, essentially, living the dream life of a fashion journalist; but without having "earned it".

I don't mean to say she hasn't written in an interesting manner, expressed views, engaged readers and otherwise been a journalist, but I'm imagining this from the perspective of those who consider themselves "real" journalists; those who've worked for years to earn degrees and worked their way up in the industry, probably in the days before blogs, who are suddenly competing for jobs with girls who won't be joining the working world for at least another 5 years (and that's if she doesn't go to college, which given her clearly high IQ level is unlikely, right?).

Lesley Blume, Style Editor for the Huffington Post thinks "...she’s very dear, but I think it’s crazy. I think it was insulting enough when we were expected as adult women to take our fashion cues from Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. All of a sudden women in the fashion world were starting to look like bag ladies. I mean, that’s very silly."

from this post at TheCut

(which is a good read)

To Ms Blume, I say: What does age have to do with style? Really? As we get older, perhaps, tastes get more refined, but the highly influential street style blogs are saturated with young people. Not usually as young as Tavi, but certainly teens and 20-somethings.

Essentially, it seems to boil down to this: the backlash has begun.

As is normal for any phenomenon which blows up in such a manner as Tavi-madness has, people - it must be said, particularly those in the industry, including such heavyweights as Anne Slowey off of Elle magazine - have begun to question the sanity of the situation. In fact, Slowey's words were as follows:

"People in fashion are constantly looking for the next unique boundary-pushing extreme thing to get excited about, but, you know, it’s like outsider art. What am I getting out of a 13-year-old’s opinion about fashion? How does that help me distill the collections? What am I supposed to be buying? That’s what an editor’s job at a magazine is."

To read a blog is one thing. You choose to read, you choose not to, you make your presuppositions about the person who writes the blog. But I suppose what Slowey means is; people choose to read Tavi's views on fashion on her blog, but for these views to be in a magazine is to assume people should value her opinion.

Surely this is where the jealousy sets in. There's going to shows and being a bit of a fashion darling - and there are plenty of bloggers these days who do get invited to shows and presentations and work with designers on varying projects - and then there's writing for magazines; the big hitters.

It's a little ridiculous for the editors of such magazines to get up on their high horses about it, but I could understand why, say, a freelancer might worry and even hit out at bloggers - not just Tavi, of course - who are writing in guest spots and columns which they could be writing in; making money for.

But it comes down to what's going to sell magazines, whether by good writing or publicity. Those hitting out should probably consider spending less time ranting about 'those damn teenagers' and more time honing their talents, less they come off petty and bitter.

As for those not being professionally "threatened" by Tavi's opportunities of writing and attending shows and such - man up. Yeah, we'd all love a gifted Stephen Jones hat, but if it's gonna happen, it's gonna happen. Plus, yknow, jealousy isn't a good look.

Basically, for all the rise in blogging and "the fall of paper media", there is a certain audience for each, and there are a large portion of those who read Vogue, Elle or Harper's who don't read blogs.

To be published in one of these magazines is a big deal; a piece which will a) be read be thousands; millions of people and b) likely be on record for ever, at that. (I mean, our Uni library has every UK & US Vogue ever published available for the reading) - and it means the fashion people; those who have real influence over fashion; value your opinion and think their readers should too.

And quite frankly, who wouldn't be jealous of that?

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around town

So you might've noticed the Vice badge over to the right there, and I believe I mentioned in passing that I was now a Vice magazine Student Ambassador...as that goes, I get a ton of information for the promoting from Vice.

I'm not gonna write about everything, obvs - as I always do, I'll write what I damn want, it's my blog. But as it goes, I was gonna write about this anyway cos it's all relatable.

So, long-ish time readers and friends will know about my travelling adventures in October, all over Europe (newer readers, archives - Oct last year - gogogo) and also about my shiny iPhone times (as a christmas present...). I went a bit app mad upon getting said iPhone, as I'm sure most do, but both that and this app would've been mucho useful in October. Gah.

Nike True City (download it here!) is a guide to 6 European cities (ones I went to and everything!), as added too by people in the know - clubs, bars, food places, shops...it's like google maps + wikipedia + "i heard from a friend of a friend of a friend that there's this cool place down here.." all rolled into one.

I heartily enjoy that the above screenshot is of Berlin.

I guess they also point out where Nike stores are...?

I downloaded it a few days ago, but since I am in none of the cities currently it's a bit wasted on me right now. I shall certainly be using it next time I'm in London, or if we do indeed traverse to Berlin at Easter as planned.

Some of us were gonna go over this weekend just gone, for fashion week, but it never materialised.

*sniff*.

I love Berlin...

Hey, if they need a Newcastle one I am available for pointing out excellent places.

body image is a pretty serious matter, actually.

This might be the most serious article I've done, ever. It probably will remain the most serious post on this 'ere blog for a long time to come.
I warn, it's lengthy - there's an intro rant, a link which you MUST read before continuing, a lengthy dissection of said linked article, and a bit of a pimp to an on-going campaign which is very much connected, but I guarantee you it's worth it, and I hope you do read and leave your thoughts.

I was at home this weekend, which is the only place I tend to read non-fashion magazines. Now, not to say that body image hasn't been addressed in fashion publications, cos I'm sure you've all seen, at least online, the articles in ELLE Canada [here] and V [here] and [here], mostly involving the gorgeous Crystal Renn. If not, of course, click the links above and have a little look see - all provided by the very opinionated and fabulous Tom&Lorenzo. They pretty much share my views on these editorials.

So yes, at home, I tend to read heat, and the magazines that come with the Sunday paper. Fabulous is the mag that comes with the News of the World, and had an interesting article this week.

As it happens, the article is online, although I was going to scan it. Click the link. Read the article.
I'll wait.

Done?

Good.

If you read the comments, you might've noticed me. If not, I'll reiterate/edit what I said forthwith - as advice to the 4 gorgeous girls featured, as well as anyone who battles with the way they look on a regular basis.:

"You are all beautiful.

I can only draw on my own experiences here - despite what my mam told me at that age, I was also unconvinced, and thought of myself as an ugly duckling of sorts. Big nose, big thighs, bad skin....

I'm now 21, and am absolutely confident in myself, my body and my looks, despite working, somewhat, in the looks-obsessed fashion industry. (Studying fashion and blogging count, right?)

And though I've changed my hair a few times, pierced my nose and my chest has increased in size somewhat, I'm essentially exactly the same (my nose, thighs and skin are just as they were 7 years ago...).

Please, I beg of all of you, don't commit yourselves to surgery, nor take what boys your age claim to like. At 14/15, they probably don't know any better than what they've seen in magazines; don't know what 'real women' are like.

People do grow into their looks (and you will! Although you are all beautiful already, even if you don't believe me! The best people get better with age, I heard.) and often (again, drawing on own experiences), the 'pretty, popular girls' are the ones who end up living in the same town their whole lives and never really moving on after leaving school. A generalisation, perhaps, but as of my old school, a true one. Trust me, I've done the leg work (on facebook...)

You don't need to me 'slim and pretty' to be successful. Success is measured by hard work and talent, and you can get everywhere with those - looks can fade, but personality, drive and intelligence do not."

Honestly, I think not growing into my looks until my later teens was the best thing that ever happened to me. Not attracting boys until the age of at least 17, and not acquiring one of those proper boyfriend things until 18 and a half meant I threw myself, really, into work and friendship - I passed every single one of my GCSEs, mostly with A grades, and at college I passed my Art course with a Triple Distinction (the highest grade) and got into my first choice of uni... I made a lot of friends at school, despite not being one of the 'popular' kids, and most of those relationships have stuck, too. More so the ones from college. I currently live with a girl I've known since I was four (Gemma), a boy I've been good friends with since Year 9 (Dean), a friend I made in college (Luke) and a friend I made through that friend (Aaron)...

I've gone a bit off topic, I think, but I think the point of that paragraph was meant to be, I think, that re:boys, they're not all they're cracked up to be. And they can, potentially, put your future in jeopardy...schoolwork and stuff, yknow.

And that all leads into success! Success is achieved by working hard - those that are famous just for 'being pretty' rarely stick around too long (no matter how successful a model, unless she's Kate Moss, she tends to have a fairly short modelling career; and glamour models are a flash in the pan type too. I assume these are the kind of girls teenagers compare themselves too). Those who are actresses and musicians and such usually have the talent to back it up, and anyway, they have full time personal trainers/nutritionists/stylists/hair and makeup types.

I think I've done enough rambling, now, but I will include, for shits and giggles, some pictures of me in my teen years. I am digging through the old pics, gimme a minute...

OK, apologies for the dodgy pic quality of some of these, and the sheer number (there are 23. yeah.)...

2002, age 13 - I would be the one in the denim maxi skirt on the right...

2003, age 14, on holiday with the family...

2006, age 17/18, going to a Horrors gig, incase you couldn't tell/pissing about in college - dunno how I did pass with DDD, but there you go/me & Charlotte at an AFI gig...

2007, age 18/19, night out involving Luke/Patrick Wolf gig with Ana&Hana (&Aaron&Loula, off camera)/more larking about at college, including with Luke at our final show, after the blonde/and some blonde/and some 'last college trip', involving me&Deanne&Kim&Lou&Rach&Ange...

...and me&kim, Halloween 07. Told you Corpse Bride was my go-to outfit.

2008, age 19/20, in New York/at the beach in summer/at Latitude festival with somewhat dishevelled hair...

2009, age 20/21. You already know this was the best year of my life. In order: Me and Aaron, a night out in January/in a cafe in London, around the time I started this blog/me and Luke in our best model poses (black&white is my friend)/on another night out in Newcastle - look, I'm even reeling the gays in these days/Daniel being beautiful, followed by Luke being beautiful, after the hair dye...if I can feel good about myself when surrounded by such beautiful people as this, as all of my wonderful friends, then everyone can, non?

And these days (this is about a week old) - age 21, with some of best friends, at 4 in the morning. Proof, if proof were needed, that if you have awesome friends, you need little else.

Thankyou friends&family who are in these photos, for being amazing.

Thankyou friends&mam whose facebook profiles I've stolen these off.

Man, that long natural coloured hair was doing me no favours.

This all neatly ties in to British Style Blogger's Body Image Campaign - do what you can, especially you Brit bloggers. They've already been featured in ifb's link's round up...

And kids, remember, the most beautiful thing you can be is to be confident within yourself.

ah, nice&cheesy. ;)

happy new year!

Yo, 2009, imma let you finish....


...but, ummm, this is genius.
HAPPY NEW YEARRRRR!
(and Happy Birthday Ana!!!)

PS, 200 posts, hello.

anotherman

You can read the new AnOtherMan magazine online here, which is nice.

Good for things to be free.

You may wonder why I'd post about a men's fashion magazine (hey, just cos I'm not wearing the clothes doesn't mean I can't look at and be inspired by 'em, yeah?) but OTHER THAN THAT there's also an interview (and some brooding pictures) with one rpatzzzz. Mmm.

And he doesn't look too tired.

I mean, he always looks tired, right?

Courtesy of AnOtherMan

There's some other good stuff to be read in here; plus yknow, it's all free and online and shit.