The Winter Issue: Womenswear

Behind every great man in an editorial is a great woman. Or three.

And luckily for them, the lace up Acne and Jeffrey Campbell platforms acted as a stylish alternative to the Archiv vintage hiking boots that the men were subjected to. It's an unusual feeling making a 17 year old model's eyes water by cramming their size 11 feet into size 8 shoes...

However, as promised, here come the girls. I'll let the pictures do the talking here but I will say only two things:

Firstly, the Jaeger sheepskin coat that Sara is sporting is to die for. Secondly, the Holly Fulton dress in the first image was worn by Samantha Cameron just a few weeks ago which wasn't exactly the look this editorial was going for...

 Images, again, courtesy of Mark Shearwood to be found in full at Fashion156

C. x

The Winter Issue: Menswear

Picture the scene.

You're on your way to the Christmas party. It's snowing, it's cold and you're, of course, impeccably dressed for the night's festivities. However, the car breaks down on the roadside and, with the vintage hiking boots that every respectable man keeps in the boot for emergencies such as these, you are forced to trek to the party.

Sound familiar? Well, not for most of you. However, the story for Fashion156's winter mens (and womens if you keep an eye out) editorial struck a chord with me, bringing back memories of the Leeds English Ball 2010. When news reached our ears that a refund wasn't  on the agenda, every single one of us decided that snow or no snow, taxi or no taxi, we were going to claim our half a bottle of red wine per head at all costs.

Standing in the entrance of the grand Queens Hotel were a few curious outfit combinations of cocktail dresses and Hunter wellies alongside suits and Sainsbury Local bags as everyone leant on one another in a bid to look vaguely presentable as they transformed from Tundra explorer to distinguished guest in under 10 minutes. In all fairness, unlike in the shoot, the snow was thankfully absent and the pricetag of the clothing had a few extra noughts on the end. Regardless, I felt somewhat connected to the idea my Boss had in mind.

So take a look at the most recent shoot I assisted with for Fashion156's winter issue. Below are the menswear shots featuring Lanvin Navy pinstripe suits and Alexander McQueen double breasted tuxedo jackets that showed up the Primark suits I assume half the Leeds guests were wearing (well, we can't all afford John Smedley cashmere roll necks on a student budget can we?).

Particular love must go to Lyden in the T.Lipop sheepskin coat in the group shot. I absolutely adore it and it was a last minute snatch courtesy of Tom himself forcing his PR to hand it over. Particular distain goes to the £150 Lanvin bowtie which mysteriously went astray and sent the office into utter panic mode. Ugh.

The Mark Shearwood shot editoral can be found at Fashion156
Womenswear to follow....

Becoming a 'Yes' Man: L'Oreal Casting Day

Have you ever experienced those bored moments in the early hours where, after sitting blurry eyed in front of the screen exploring the hidden depths of profiles and blog entries, you just do things for the sake of doing them?  We've all been there. In fact, I'm pretty sure 'facebook stalking' was invented around the 1am mark on a dull Thursday night.

It is exactly this that has lead me somewhat to becoming a 'yes man'. To explain, some of you may have had the misfortune of watching the 2008 Jim Carrey film in which a miserable man (who is supposedly sold to the audience as a slapstick-rib-tickling-comedy-genius, of course) challenges himself to say yes to everything. Well, I decided to do the same with consequences infinitely funnier than anything that happened  in those 104 long minutes.

I entered a facebook competition for amusement. A L'Oreal Casting Creme Gloss hairdye competition to be exact. The aim of the game is to create a faux advert, share it with your friends and get them to vote for you to be in an advert with one Miss Cheryl Cole. I didn't do anything you were supposed to past whacking a photograph into their program. As hilarious as I found it looking at my face on a hairdye box, it's always best to remember your friends aren't in on the joke and that, after a little sleep, it's not even funny nor ever was. Luckily I remembered this and proceeded to forget about it.

Turns out, strangers rather liked my face and voted me into the final 50 in the Redhead category. Let's all join together in a collective chuckle, shall we? But it was at that moment I became a 'yes man'. I actually redyed my hair and turned up with the other 49 redheads on 13th December for some of the funniest few hours of my life. I really dislike others doing my makeup and it seems noone can do my fringe as well as I can but who cares? I took a morning out to chat to hairdressers and makeup artists and have a good time.

Saying yes to things is good - a valuable life motto in fact. Being a cheesy git on camera, however, is not. I just can't do it. Being cheesy is abhorrent to me.

"Flick your hair"
- I can't, it's not long enough. It just wobbles.

"You receive a compliment from someone you really admire and you feel ellated, it really gives you a boost" - que a look akin to stubbing ones toe.

"Because I'm worth it"
- the most memorable sales pitch ever perhaps that I simply couldn't remember to say.

I also swore in front of the judges. On camera. And then flapped my arms.

So after strutting to music, doing the peek-a-boo stanceam I Worth It? Of course I am. Am I L'Oreal's definition of 'worth it'? No chance.
However, I'm looking to take this 'yes' attitude as a resolution for the new year. Except when being asked if I want another glass of wine when the answer will be no....just no.

Images: L'Oreal

Until my next ridiculous escapade...
C. x

Into The Woods

After a frankly exhausting month of being M.I.A. and neglecting this humble blog in a terrible way, I have returned with much to tell. For a while now I have been getting up at 6am and returning home at 8pm as part of a lengthy process of putting together the latest issue for Fashion156 – The Headwear Issue. 

I have had the pleasure of contributing to near enough every section of this magazine so it’s like my baby! From picture research to locating street styles to writing the blurbs, a feature and even uploading each component before it goes live – it was a whirlwind and hilariously stressful. But there are worse things to do then write about hats and go on shoots with attractive young men who are more than willing to model the last-minute handmade headpieces you’ve just created. What am i on about? Just another ad hoc task for a creative intern. With the help of one of my best friends, Catherine, who swooped in last minute as my assistant (an assistant with her own assistant? Oh yes) the shoot ran smoothly. The majority of headbands below were actually made by her fair hand and modelled on my not so fair head.

The theme: Headwear. Beyond that, it was a play it by ear day which soon turned into a midsummer night’s dream affair with lilac smoke and floral garlands in a perfectly autumnal setting, dressing with pieces from Liberty to Acne.  All accompanied by a team of not very Shakespearean scousers, lead by photographer Mark Shearwood, who created some gorgeous shots. The end results? Look no further:

P.S. The model with the thicker eyebrows is Sasha, photographer David Bailey's son!

Beyond this, my days consisted of insane amounts of blogging, research and anaylsis to help put together the new issue which can be found in all its glory at fashion156.com.

In other news, I’ve barely had time to breathe. Contributing blogs here and there (yet not here here, I must apologize) and writing a lengthy ol’ article for Who’s Jack December issue, my fingers are worn out. However, you don’t care about that! So never fear, with much in the pipeline, I’ll be getting my camera out of its dusty case and going in search of adventure.

Until then.
C. x