Fashion etc.

2010 Highlights

2011-01-01T18:12:00.004Z

Hello all,

I know it's been a very long time since my last post and yes I did say it would be my last but I though I'd do a little something to tribute the year that was 2010...

For those of you that follow me on Twitter ( @rmenashy - I tweet much more than I blog, simply because 140 characters is a lot quicker and less planned), you might have noticed me going all gushy whilst looking back at the past year. I was inspired by others reminiscing about their years and thought I'd take a step back from 'right now' and look at the things I achieved in 2010.

Whilst being caught up with the job search, the past few months have had some ups and downs but looking back I realised it had been a great year for me..

My absolute highlight of 2010 (and probably the last 5 years) was the Sketchbook pop-up shop that I launched back in March/April. It seems a million years ago since I visited the Sketchbook HQ in Notting Hill and pitched my idea to Wafa (editor-in-chief) and Luma (features editor). They loved the idea and simply said: "Do whatever you'd like and we'll support you". A few months later on 30th March we very excitedly opened the lovely blue door and invited you all to join us for a glass of wine and a cupcake to look at the exhibition, listen to our band and generally explore the venue, which was head to toe with illustrations. I'll never forget that night, or the following weeks jam-packed with lectures, workshops, live music and lots of fun. I met some amazing people: the Sketchbook team, guest speakers, bands, artists and of course lots of visitors.

Then there was Graduate Fashion Week, where I exhibited a film and book of the pop-up. I also attended as Sketchbook press and watched a bunch of the catwalk shows, sitting inches away from Hilary Alexander and Susie Bubble. Although GFW is mostly for designers, it was great to see some Marketing/Promotion/Photography/Illustration work too, and I was pleased to have been selected to exhibit.

Shortly after GFW came GRADUATION DAY. This meant a new dress, new shoes, lots of photos and hugging, 2 very proud parents, champagne and a lovely dinner by the Epsom Downs race course. The one downer to the day was when a fellow graduate threw his hat in the air only for it to knock my (full) champagne glass all over my silk dress.

Next came a well-deserved holiday with the other half and our 2 best friends. Although we stayed in the beautiful and quaint Salies De Bearn, we also took some road trips and visited other areas of SW France, as well as crossing the border to Spain to visit Bilbao and San Sebastian. Other than the wine, the olives, the freshly baked bread and croissants and obviously the company, I'd have to say the Guggenheim museum was definitely a favourite.

After a reasonably quiet summer I was approached by Vauxhall Fashion Scout, who asked me if I'd like to join them at LFW as front of house manager. Again: a chance to meet lots of people, watch some great catwalk shows, work alongside a great team and FROW watch - the most impressive being Jimmy Choo!

In October I had a lodger in the form of my good friend Becky. Stuck up north and wanting to crack London, I offered her a place to stay at Chez Menashy and she gratefully showered us with gifts and lots of giggles over northern slang. Days were spent stuck to our laptops and the occasional trip to Hampstead or Central London. I always wanted a sister!

November was birthday month and Paul treated me to afternoon tea at the Hilton, Park Lane. I drank my FIRST (in life, not just that day) cup of tea (although was some herbal one so perhaps that's cheating) and ate lots of sandwiches, cakes and yummy things. After tea we went down for a massage and glass of champers.

Christmas Day was another good'un with 14 people to feed and entertain. In preparation I must've watched Jamie Oliver's Christmas show at least 3 times with my mum, who was viciously taking notes in order to get everything perfect. On the day there was lots of food, chatter and a game of 'Who am I?' - the old post-it game that never fails with big crowds.

NYE was spent with friends in our pyjamas drinking wine and eating M&S bite-size food whilst playing more games. We hardly even noticed when it hit midnight because we were so wrapped up in our game!

All in all it's been a good year with lots of personal triumphs and great memories.

Happy New Year everyone xx

Goodbye for now...

2010-07-18T16:07:00.002+01:00

This blog was set up in 2009 as part of a research project for my final year dissertation on the growth of blogging. I wanted to get to know the blogosphere, understand what it takes to set up a blog and generally meet and follow other bloggers.

After completing my dissertation I kept up the blog for a while, although whilst I was working on the Sketchbook pop-up shop I didn't find much time to update my own blog whilst managing the pop-up shop section of the Sketchbook blog: http://sketchbookblog.tumblr.com/tagged/Pop-Up-Shop

I have now graduated from UCA with 1st class honours in Fashion Promotion and Imaging (Marketing & PR specialism) and am focusing on finding a job and staying creative.

It's been fun and addictive but I'm now much more active on Twitter than on the blog: http://twitter.com/rmenashy

Thanks for following and I hope you enjoyed reading the blog. Who knows, maybe I'll pick up where I left off someday...

Graduate Fashion Week: International Fashion Show

2010-06-15T16:55:00.008+01:00

During Graduate Fashion Week last week, I went to the international catwalk show, featuring the best collections from Munich, Singapore, St Petersburg, Basel and Amsterdam. Sitting metres away from Hilary Alexander and Susie Bubble, I watched each city battle it out in the first ever GFW international show.

What I enjoyed the most way that each designer showcased both menswear and womenswear (even if it was just a single piece of one) as well as the masks (which seemed to be a trend throughout the shows) and (as ever) the shoes. Unfortunately I'd left my camera charger in Epsom whilst staying in London and it died about a third of the way into the show! I tried to make it last by fiddling with the battery but didn't get as many photos as I'd like..

Akademie Mode & Design, Munich:

Denise Nadine Paché

Ramona Lehnerer

Wolfgang Jarnach

Lasalle College of Art, Singapore:

Li Sang

Lidya Chrisfens

AMFL, Amsterdam:

Floor Kolen

SUDT, St Petersburg:

Anna Sergunova

My favourites were Munich and Amsterdam, with St Petersburg definitely my least favourite. They just didn't do anything new and exciting and I felt very uninspired. Although I think it was a good idea to bring some international designers to London's Graduate Fashion Week, to bring in some new press interest etc, I also felt that it wasn't fair to steal the London designers' limelight! What do you think?

Graduate Fashion Week: UCA Epsom Fashion Design Show

2010-06-09T12:19:00.019+01:00

Sunday was the first official day of Graduate Fashion Week where myself, along with hundreds of Britain's fashion graduates (and a few internationals) have been exhibiting/showcasing our work. I had spent Saturday helping to set up the UCA Epsom stand and foolishly volunteering to sticking up all the vinyl names of each exhibitor on my course (along with 1 other student) - therefore staying until gone 6 when all the other students had left hours before to catch the Epsom Derby or generally go out.. Sunday was a day to have fun, meet people, eat some skinny cow ice creams and have a mooch around the other stands.

A couple of the Sketchbook girls came along to have a look at my work and interview me for the Sketchbook blog and I invited them to watch the UCA Epsom BA Fashion Design show. We took our front row seats and swapped around so I was sitting next to my friend Mike. The next thing I knew, Hilary Alexander sat down next to the seat I was originally sat in! Damn..

Anyway this post is about the graduate show so let me show you some of my favourites (and not-so-favourites)...

The first collection to grab me was Laura Clark's.. A charming mix of travelling and military references with fur (or perhaps not) cuffs and crisp tailoring...

I also liked Katie Barret's use of pleating and accessories in her menswear collection...

Still can't make my mind up about Alice Driver's collection. I think perhaps I was too distracted by the glasses and chelsea boots?

Notice Zandra in the background (above)?

The only words I can think of to describe Beata Gebka's collection are 'Modern Amish'.

Anna Piercy made everyone laugh by sending alphabet inspired pieces down the catwalk. The models then rearranged themselves to spell out RANDOM, which yes, it was!

William Hamil kept his collection simple, using mainly white with the occasional nature inspired print (which I couldn't find a good photo of on my cam)...

Miho Chico featured acrylic jewellery and primary colours against black, creating the effect of stained glass windows.

Another one that stuck out to me was Alice Halliday, who's religious influenced collection featured heavy embellishments and religious accessories with a medieval yet angelic feel.

I loved the shapes and use of accessories in this collection. Stency Kidega sent her models down the catwalk to "I'm a little airplane now"!

Each designer also paraded down the runway at the end of the show, some embarrassed and stupidly hiding their faces from the cameras (therefore ruining a potential press shot) and some grinning from ear to ear.

Good luck to the UCA graduates!

Exhibiting at Graduate Fashion Week

2010-05-26T17:13:00.003+01:00

My Final Major Project has been selected to be exhibited at this year's Graduate Fashion Week. I will be showcasing a short film and photo book that document the Sketchbook Pop-Up Shop, a concept I coordinated as a live collaboration for my final major project (as you probably already know).

Graduate Fashion Week

Earls Court 2

London

6th - 10th June 2010

www.gfw.org.uk

Day of deadline

2010-05-19T21:57:00.003+01:00

Monday was the big day - handing in my Final Major Project and putting the finishing touches to my exhibition space for assessment. 3.5 hours sleep on Sunday and not much more the night before but I was finally finished at 11.45 (deadline midday).

Here's a sneak preview of my space - better pics to come from tomorrow night's private view..

And here's a bunch of us - exhausted, relieved, hungry.. Not looking our best!

This picture was followed by a well deserved trip to the pub.

1 more week to go until my second deadline and it'll all be over!

Happy times at the pop-up shop

2010-05-13T00:27:00.006+01:00

Last night it sunk in that today really is the last day of the Sketchbook pop-up shop. I had a bit of an emotional outburst in my living room because I really want to be there for the next few days, at Susie Bubble's talk, at the closing event and even to paint it all back and hand over the keys. Gutted that I'm stuck in Epsom doing all my uni work (deadline Monday) and that I can't escape to say goodbye...

I've decided to make a happy post, showing a lot of the good times I had at the shop... At least all the ones caught on camera!

Launch Party

Blogs & Brands Panel Discussion

John-Paul Thurlow Private View

Lee Lapthorne Lecture

Photography: Sarolta Marton / Nedim Nazerali and various people on my camera..

The Live Issue Launch Night

2010-05-09T21:20:00.008+01:00

On Wednesday night I went to the launch of The Live Issue both to support my friends Susie and Katie and to host the Sketchbook live blogging area.

The Live Issue concept was the brainchild of Katie Burkes and Susie O'Brien, two final year students at University for the Creative Arts, Epsom. The pair, both on my course, studying Fashion Promotion & Imaging, decided to collaborate with eachother, in order to put their skills in photography, marketing and PR to the test. They decided to take the idea of a traditional magazine and turn it on its head, creating a live installation, ‘The Live Issue’. Rather than turning the pages of a printed magazine or clicking the next button on an e-zine, guests were invited to step into The Future Gallery and physically walk through the issue.

Sketchbook was there holding live interviews with the participants and other guests we met, with illustrator Gabriela Mot working on quick sketches of the interviewees and photographer Sarolta Marton documenting the night on her camera. All in all, we had a great time and met some really interesting people, we were really chuffed to be involved.

A pre-recorded interview by editors Katie and Susie with unsung hero Pam Hogg was screened in its own room, which had been transformed into an intimate space with a boutique vibe. Live models represented a live and moving fashion photograph. Pam was there inviting people in and chatting to them whilst they looked around.

The night also launched Bitching and Junkfood’s debut collection, with a fashion film in collaboration with Gabriel Gettman. Princess Julia, i-D’s music editor hit the decks and Izzy Electric also played a live set, showcasing a sound installation in collaboration with designer Rachel Friere, who’s collection, displayed on mannequins in the event area was a big hit.

Advertising was even key, with a photocopier available for people to take pictures of themselves, their items, in the style of an unseen Commes Des Garcons ad. Illustrator Nikki Farquharson and print designer Marie Hill were creating live art. Also on display was a Don't Panic illustration exhibition, with the work of Luke Embden, the winner of the competition, taking pride of place. With the drinks flowing and the music pumping, the night was a success, with bouncers keeping people waiting outside because the place was so crowded.

The girls should be very pleased with themselves and I look forward to the launch of the second Live Issue in the future.

www.theliveissue.co.uk

Photography by Sarolta Marton

Annie Driscoll's Private View at the pop-up shop

2010-05-09T01:41:00.005+01:00

Last Sunday at the Sketchbook pop-up we held the Private View of Annie Driscoll's first solo exhibition. Her work will be displayed until the shop closes (for real this time) on 14th May.

A live performance by Dervla O'Shea and Nils O'Hara showed us that you don't need a big band to make good music. Nils was strumming the guitar, blowing into the harmonica, tapping the tambourine and knocking on his guitar (as if it were a drum). Dervla, complete with ripped tights and chipped nails (on purpose I think), sang covers of some of her favourite songs, including MGMT's Electric Feel and Priscilla by Bat for Lashes. I enjoyed watching the guests tapping their feet along to the music (unaware).

Film and Images courtesy of the very talented Sarolta Marton

Hibernating and photo book preview

2010-05-07T00:48:00.006+01:00

I'm currently spending my days hibernating in the library working to my final major project deadline. Today I finally sent off my photobook to be printed in time for hand in - Can't wait to see it! I worked on the book together with Kayleigh Moulds, using photographs taken throughout the pop-up shop period to document the event.

Here's a sneaky peak at some of the images in the book. It features the work of a number of photographers but the shots below are by the very talented Sarolta Marton. I wish I was as good as her with my camera!

I'll do a proper post next week once I've received the book!

P.S: I know I've been neglecting this poor blog recently but my (June's version of) new years resolution is to get back on track once uni is finished (not long now) and post regularly like I did back in 2009, when apart from writing my dissertation, there were no worries in the world about job hunting, graduating, putting on a pop-up shop!

To view more of Sarolta's work, visit her blog: saciii.blogspot.com.

ADvintaged, Wimbledon Village

2010-05-02T19:54:00.004+01:00

As promised in my last post (http://rachelmenashy.blogspot.com/2010/05/1940s-vintage-evening-bag.html) where I showed off my new 1940s evening bag, I said I'd tell you more about my trip to Wimbledon Village.

I'm not sure if it's naive of me to presume that everything can be found online nowadays (here's me sounding like I'm 65) but I am extremely disappointed to learn that the very lovely vintage store I wanted to tell you about doesn't have a website. I dragged my poor boyfriend into loads of little shops and after spending a good 15 minutes "oohing" and "aahing" over the shop's contents, I felt bad and rushed off, taking 2 quick reference snapshots on my phone (thinking I could look it up later).

Had I known there would be no website I would've spent more time taking some decent photographs (I'm never sure whether this is allowed/appropriate in a shop like this) and talking to the owner (who was helping a customer) in order to have a better story to tell. You'll just try to have to imagine it..

The beautiful window display and girly pink exterior of 'ADvantaged' called out to me from across the street so I went inside for a better look.

As I opened the door, I realised I had found a gem. The walls were adorned with shelves made of fashion books, each with a small display of delicate bags, scarves, gloves and hats. The rails carried an array of vintage dresses, each as elegant as the next and clearly handpicked by the buyer (who I wish I'd spoken to!). Underneath the first rail were a row of hat boxes - which I wanted more than I wanted any of the hats - obviously belonging to the range of hats on the next shelf.

The shop was very well set out, with casual dresses on one rail, evening dresses on another (the most beautiful and expensive in plastic zip bags) suits (skirt and jacket) on another, cardigans and knitwear on another. The cash desk was home to cabinets full of vintage jewellery and leather gloves, as well as headpieces that I wish I could wear but don't think I could pull off.

This is a destination shop that you'd visit for a special dress - the prices are high but you know you'd be the only one wearing it.

My favourite piece was a cream leather handbag with a telephone dial and handset on it. Very Lady Gaga. I could also very easily have bought a number of silk scarves, leather gloves and pretty cardigans if I had the money to spend.

Next time you're in Wimbledon Village make sure you stop by for a visit. Please take pictures and send them to me!!!

ADvintaged, 15 High Street, Wimbledon Village, SW19 5DX.

1940s vintage evening bag

2010-05-02T13:04:00.003+01:00

After 3 years living in Epsom, I finally got round to visiting Wimbledon Village to have some lunch and a mooch around the independent boutiques and vintage shops.

after walking into Traders Antiques, I quickly spotted this 1940s evening bag and decided I had to have it. At the time I was trying to be sensible and thought to myself "it's the same colour as the shoes I bought for the Sketchbook launch party which I've been struggling to find a bag to wear with ever since". Obviously every tan shade is different and no, it's not the same but I love it all the same and will wear it with pride!

I also found a really beautiful vintage boutique which I will tell you more about later. Right now I've got to dash, I'm on my way to the Sketchbook pop-up shop to catch the Private view of Annie Driscoll's illustration exhibition (3-6pm, 10 Newburgh St, Carnaby).

Gabby Young & Platform 2 at the pop-up shop

2010-04-30T16:46:00.004+01:00

On Sunday 18th April at the Sketchbook Pop-Up Shop, we were joined by Platform 2 for a creative session and poetry reading and Gabby Young for an acoustic set.

Here's a snippet of the day's actions filmed and edited by talented photographer/filmographer Sarolta Marton.

The Live Issue & Sketchbook Magazine Live at The Future Gallery

2010-04-28T19:54:00.005+01:00

In collaboration with The Live Issue, Sketchbook will be live blogging at The Future Gallery (formerly The Photographer’s Gallery) on Wednesday 5th May as part as a live magazine installation.

“The Live Issue takes the conventional pages of a magazine and brings them to life in 3D. Uniting fashion, film, music and art to create an experience that allows you to step inside the issue and explore the pages room by room".

Myself and Wafa (Sketchbook editor) will be hosting a stand along with some of the Sketchbook writers, who will be busy tapping away at their laptops and interviewing key guests such as Pam Hogg. We will also have our on-sight illustrator Gabriela Mot sketching the guests on the spot.

An intimate interview with Pam Hogg will be screened alongside key pieces from her collection and other short films and imagery. Designer Rachel Freire who presented at On/Off this LFW, will be there with Izzy Electric collaborating on a sound installation. The night will also hold an exclusive screening of Gabriel Gettman’s fashion film in collaboration with Bitchingandjunkfood.com and live art from illustrator Nikki Farquharson and print designer Marie Hill. The Live Issue illustration competition, in collaboration with Don’t Panic Magazine, offered budding illustrators the chance to design a print to be used on the goody bags and displayed in the Don't Panic exhibition room. Other things to look forward to are the interactive advertising room, featuring Commes Des Garcons ads and a Live DJ set from i-D magazine’s music editor, Princess Julia.

The Event is at The Future Gallery on Wednesday May 5th from 7-11pm and is invitation only. If you'd like to attend please contact nataliemiller@sketchbookmagazine.com to be added to the guestlist.

www.thefuturegallery.co.uk

www.theliveissue.co.uk

www.sketchbookblog.tumblr.com

Forget Me Not

2010-04-26T17:43:00.006+01:00

Forget Me Not is a forthcoming exhibition, based on nostalgia and memories and curated by Anna Mould, a third year Fashion Promotion & Imaging student at University for the Creative Arts.

The exhibition includes an installation of a deserted bedroom filled with abandoned objects and furniture. A short film tells the tale of the previous life of these items and the owner who left them behind. All around are aged echoes of sadness and a time that has passed.

The exhibition aims to make us, the visitors, consider what happens to these objects when we are gone. It poses the question: Will they be stored in a museum for future generations or left alone to go rotten and hysterical?

The abandoned items (including old furniture, mirrors and photographs) will be auctioned following the exhibition, allowing us to 'rescue' these objects from their abandonment.

The Private View will take place at the Horse Hospital, Bloomsbury, on Monday 10th May from 6-9pm. The exhibition continues until Wednesday 13th May.

http://www.thehorsehospital.com/now/forget-me-not/

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=108528352515436&ref=ts

4 images to sum up my university career

2010-04-25T22:15:00.007+01:00

We've been asked to submit 3 images for the Graduate Fashion Week year book, of which the tutors will pick just 1. How on earth do I sum up 3 years of uni in 1 image?! Obviously it's got to be something I'm proud of and therefore an image from the pop-up shop...

I decided to cheat and produce a couple of moodboards with a number of images on them. Even then I couldn't narrow it down so I ended up choosing 4 - the tutors will just have to deal with it because it's too hard!

So here is my university career edited down to 4 images...

Illustration by Susan Keys, Poster by Jade Cummings and Photography (mostly) by Sarolta Marton. Oh yes and John-Paul Thurlow for his Covers invitation!

Alternative Fashion Week 2010

2010-04-23T11:52:00.006+01:00

I was invited down to day 2 of Alternative Fashion Week at Spitalfields Traders Market to view a range of collections by new and emerging designers, who have each fought for a place in the final 60. Alternative Fashion Week 2010 is presented by Alternative Arts, with daily catwalk shows at 1.15pm all this week.

Tuesday’s line up included 4.2morrow, Charlie Chambers, CoolTan Arts, Dorota Damian, Hackney Community College, Hanna Kille, Prilly Lewis, Pavel Merxuz, Georgia Nash, Stacey Richards, Tanya Smith, Kimberley Startup, Hayley Trezise and West Thames College.

I was there to support contemporary designer TANYA SMITH. Tanya graduated from Leeds College of Art last summer and has been interning at high street fashion houses and working on her own collection since. The Natural Look AW 10/11 was inspired by shapes, contours and colours found at Kew Gardens.

Designer Tanya Smith with Amelia Gregory of Amelia's Magazine

Key pieces included an oversized coral jacket with large lapels and an ankle length dress with dolman sleeves, high-waist structured bottle green jeans with top-stitched pleating detail and retro floral printed (by textile designer Anna Maria Horner) side pockets. Jumpsuits were also heavily featured in the collection, shown both on their own or teamed with interesting jackets.

Another collection that caught the eye, though not for the same reasons, was Come On Now Kimi, Grow Up by KIMBERLEY STARTUP, a nostalgic collection including wooden toys and colourful accessories, which sent the photographers crazy.

The final designer GEORGIA NASH showcased her collection The Nut Was Too Strong to Crack, with each model representing a different character from The Nutcracker production. The velvet, satin and silk fabrics beautifully complemented the shapes and layers of the outfits, each teamed with interesting accessories including clutch bags and oversized bows with little wooden nutcracker dolls glued to the models’ heels.

Here's a clip of what went on behind the scenes:

Images & film clip by SAROLTA MARTON

To view Tanya's look book visit http://www.tanya-smith.co.uk/

Spread the word - Street Style London shoots American Apparel

2010-04-22T10:26:00.003+01:00

After Jill from Street Style London: Pics by Polka Dot emailed me telling me all about her latest project, I decided to spread the word...

American Apparel asked her to shoot their latest ad, which she did with a street style twist. She found a girl - Emily - on Oxford St and asked her to model. Luckily she said yes and together they produced a gorgeous bunch of images (I've only seen a few but I'm sure there are lots more).

The point is to show American Apparel the power of blogs - if we each tag and comment the blog, the test is to see how far it goes. Personally, I'd love to see Jill do a whole series of ads - she brings out the fun side of advertising by using (in her own words) natural style icons - people we can relate to but who still make the clothing look great.

Check out the rest of the images by visiting:

http://streetstylelondon.blogspot.com/2010/04/together-we-have-voice.html

Purchase the clothing:

http://store.americanapparel.co.uk/

John-Paul Thurlow Private View at Sketchbook Pop-up shop

2010-04-19T18:51:00.003+01:00

We were lucky enough to twist John-Paul Thurlow's arm enough for him to let us exhibit his some of his artwork from his Covers series at the Sketchbook pop-up shop. The private view was last Sunday with Pocket Satellite playing 2 live sets.

Here's a little preview of what went on...

Film clip by Sarolta Marton

Very late pictures from Launch

2010-04-08T17:31:00.011+01:00

Images by Sarolta Marton

Sketchbook hosts solo exhibition of cover illustrator John-Paul Thurlow

2010-04-07T23:25:00.004+01:00

I am delighted to announce that we will be showcasing John-Paul Thurlow's solo exhibition at the Sketchbook pop-up shop from Sunday 11th April. The private view will be held from 3-6pm on Sunday and will include live music from Pocket Satellite as well as complimentary drinks and cakes. Hope to see you there...

PRESS RELEASE

John Paul Thurlow: 11 April, 2010

Leading fashion illustration magazine Sketchbook collaborates with renowned cover illustrator John-Paul Thurlow in his first ever exhibition.

Celebrating 50 years of fashion and music in the Newburgh Quarter of Carnaby

Sunday 11th April, 2010 3:00- 6:00pm 10 NEWBURGH STREET, CARNABY W1

7th April, 2010 / London, UK: In their continuous mission to support the art of illustration, fashion illustration magazine Sketchbook is collaborating with famed cover illustrator John-Paul Thurlow, to showcase and celebrate his works so far. John-Paul Thurlow will be showcasing his famed illustrated covers that pay homage to every magazine he has ever owned for the very first time, and more.

Created using fine pencil lines with astounding delicacy, these magazine covers show incredible technical skill. Rather than simply reproducing old covers, though, he adds punkish scribbles and leaves parts incomplete, alluding to the artist’s struggles and frustrations with perfection. Our exhibition shows the working process by exposing the different layers of progression until the piece is finished.

London-based graphic designer John-Paul Thurlow, who currently works as part of a creative agency with high profile clients like Gucci, launched his projects Covers, which is now being turned into a limited edition book (print run of 100) featuring his first 100 covers. Recently featured on this month's Elle as an Elle Preview and with Spike Jonze already asking to buy one, Sketchbook couldn't be more excited to be hosting a special exhibition for the famed illustrator at the pop-up shop.

The Sketchbook pop-up shop has already seen an influx of high profile art and fashion industry experts, including Yvan Rodic of fashion blog The Facehunter, Charlotte Smith from leading online fashion marketing agency Glam Media and also host of her own blog Stylecartel, Laetitia Wajnapel of Mademoiselle Robot, Disney Roller Girl, and over 50 others in attendance.

Fashion designers Maria Francesca Pepe and Yan To also provided an insightful look on what it takes to become a fashion designer.

Marian Kihogo, blogger of mariankihogo.com and also a celebrity fashion stylist, described it as “walking through a live version of an issue of Sketchbook.” Whilst first issue cover girl Susie Bubble said “Sketchbook had enlisted an incredible roster of illustrators for the pop-up shop.”

Nestled in the East Quarter of Carnaby, central London, the Newburgh Quarter is a treasure trove of unique projects and inspiring people. The area is packed with independent boutiques showcasing unique fashion, art and design. It is here at 10 Newburgh Street, Carnaby, W1 that Sketchbook has been holding its hugely-anticipated Pop-Up Shop, in celebration of Carnaby’s 50 years of fashion and music, with live bands playing every Sunday.

Some of the upcoming events and lectures include the Blogs and Brands panel discussion on Thurs, April 8 with Leon Bailey-Green, Dwain Lucktung, Ollie Olanipekun and Style Salvage Steve to name a few, also, a live interview with Lee Lapthorne, creative director of On|Off and not forgetting live music by the upcoming band POCKET SATELLITE.

Join us at the private viewing to get a first glance at these amazing works. There will be drinks and cupcakes provided by ENIOLA’S OhSF Treats and entertainment by upcoming band Pocket Satellite. Based in Sheffield, Pocket Satellite’s sound is a blend of acoustic, folk and alternative sounds that incorporate a wide variety of instruments.

10 Newburgh Street, Carnaby, London W1F 7RN.

Private view: Sunday 11th April 2010

Exhibition open from Sunday 11th April – Monday 19th April 2010

Monday to Saturday: 10am-7pm, Sundays: 12noon-6pm

To RSVP to the private view or request more information please contact: rsvp@sketchbookmagazine.com

Sketchbook Shop

2010-04-07T23:12:00.006+01:00

The Sketchbook shop has been thriving the past few days with sales of T-shirts by Lucia Emanuela Curzi, Personal Space Invaders merchandise, limited edition prints by Ollie Stone and Craft kits by Craftivist Collective to name a few...

Make sure you pop by to have a look in the 'cupboard of curiosity' and 'Lucia's Boutique' to see if anything catches your eye.

Here's a new images of the shop area shot by photographer Nathan Pask...

A lot of the stock is exclusive to the Sketchbook shop and all the money goes straight to the artists themselves. Please come by to support them and of course to see us too!

Pop-Up Shop Launch Party Video

2010-04-02T13:33:00.003+01:00

Sarolta Marton's 2nd video clip shows the madness behind setting up the launch party, as well as the party in full swing!

New Schedule Updates

2010-03-31T23:15:00.001+01:00

Here’s our latest schedule of events for our Pop-Up Shop, which include exciting lectures, panel discussions, workshops and gigs, we’ve added some talks onto the list so be sure to check it out and RSVP!

To ensure you’re on the guest list, please book your seats by RSVPing to rsvp@sketchbookmagazine.com quoting your name and the event you wish to attend.

We’ll be updating our schedule with more events on a regular basis, so stay tuned to our blog, Facebook event and follow us on Twitter for the latest news.

Looking forward to seeing you if you have not come by yet, and to all those who have already seen the shop, we can’t wait to catch up again!

All the best,

The Sketchbook Family

Sketchbook Pop-Up Shop, 10 Newburgh Street, Carnaby, W1

(Closest tube: Oxford Circus/Piccadilly Circus)

Getting Started’ Lecture by Fashion Designer Maria Francesca Pepe

Thursday 1st April 2010, 1 pm

The Italian designer studied Literature and Philosophy followed by Womenswear Design, Illustration, Pattern cutting and Fashion Business. She has worked as a designer at Kookai and Luciano Soprani and now owns her womenswear and jewellery labels, personally designing each item herself. She’ll be giving a talk on how she started her own successful womenswear label and present her latest collection.

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‘Getting Started’ Lecture by fashion designer Yan To

Friday 2^nd April, 1 pm

Yan To is a fashion designer with no formal design training. The design process to him is about solving a series of problems. His debut collection was picked up by B-Store in 2009. He’ll be giving his insight on how to break into the fashion design industry and overcome the various challenges.

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Fashion Illustration workshop by Gabriela Mot

Saturday 3^rd April, 12 pm

A workshop introducing basic fashion illustration and collage will be given by Gabriela Mot, who’s currently completing her masters in Textiles and Fashion Design in Romania. She has spent most of the past year working as a fashion assistant at Melanie Porto Bridal Couture London and preparing for the Geometry fashion show at the University of Arts and Design in Romania.

Materials: Bring unwanted magazines, newspapers, sketchbooks, markers, and scissors.

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‘Getting Started’ Lecture by Fashion Stylist and Creative Consultant Rebekah Roy

Saturday 3^rd April, 1 pm

Currently working as Fashion Editor at Fashion.Music.Style magazine, Rebekah styles for a wide variety of clients including Visa, Harvey Nichols, Harrods and Virgin. She has worked with Sarah Brightman, The Feeling, Little Boots and Billy Idol. She regularly writes for Drapers Online and is well-known for her blog Stylist Stuff.

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EASTER SUNDAY – Live Music by Personal Space Invaders

Sunday 4^th April, 3 pm

Angular guitar, compulsive bass, seething electronics, forceful vocals coupled with a storming backbeat, Personal Space Invaders are a London three-piece with international blood. Their recent single, ‘Not My Boyfriend’ has been spun by Nick Grimshaw (BBC Radio 1) and James Theaker (NME Radio). It’s a high-energy post-indie electro-punk track with most obvious influences from Heaven 17, Talking Heads and New Order and the single includes remixes by Jeff Leach and Lethem.

http://www.myspace.com/personalspaceinvaders

The Sketchbook Pop Up Shop Garden is going to contain a human sized Easter egg that visitors can illustrate.

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Week 2

NEW-Craftivist Collective– Craft Lecture

Monday 5^th April 1pm

Craftivist collective is an organisation that aims to expose the scandal of global poverty and human rights injustices through the power of craft and public art. Sarah Corbett the creator of craftivist collective is coming to talk about why she set up the organisation, the journey they have been on and what the future holds for them.

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The Growth of E-Commerce Panel Discussion with Dia-boutique.com and My-Wardrobe.com and the Association of Internet Marketers

Panelists: Rasha Khouri, Lauren Stevenson, Roddy Scaife

Monday 5^thApril, 3pm

Rasha Khouri, Lauren Stevenson and Roddy Scaife will discuss luxury and mid-range brands and how they are giving e-commerce a voice. It will cover how these brands work, how they meet their consumers’ needs and what sets online-only stores apart from in-store.

Panelists

·Rasha Khouri - Entrepreneur and founder of the first English & Arabic luxury e-Commerce site Dia Boutique, which stocks emerging and established designers from East and West, including George Chakra, BodyAmr, Tahir Sultan and Karen Karam to name a few.

·Lauren Stevenson - PR director at My Wardrobe, leading online designer retail site, stocking the likes of See by Chloe, By Malene Birger, Acne, Vivienne Westwood, J Brand, and Manoush.

·Roddy Scaife – Chairman of the Association of Internet Marketers, in the last four years he has consulted on and built a variety of websites and has had a central role in the management of the marketing creation and execution. As Chairman of the Association of Internet Marketers, Roddy has gained further insight into the fast-paced and intricate world of internet marketing.

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NEW-How Wolf and Badger Got Started- Samir Clerc, Zoe Knight

Tuesday 6^th April – 1 pm

Wolf and Badger is a unique lifestyle store that provides a platform to showcase the best design talent from the UK and beyond, spanning fashion, accessories, jewellery and homeware. Samir Clerc and Zoe Knight run the Wolf and Badger boutique in Notting Hill and they will be coming along to talk about the brand, their drive to support independent designers and their journey with the shop and the designers they’ve helped make big!

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‘Getting Started’ Lecture with Fashion Consultant and blogger Laetitia Wajnapel

Wednesday 7^th April 1pm

Lecture with Laetitia Wajnapel, a Parisian journalist now living in London, Laetitia is also a fashion consultant and launched her own blog Mademoisellerobot.com in 2007. Laetitia will be discussing how she went about starting her blog, the highlights of her career and her inspirations and motivations. There will a question and answer session giving the audience a chance to get to know more about how to set about starting a blog!

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Glocality Lecture with Kiki Claxton and Harry Major

Wednesday 7^th April, 3pm

A lecture by two influential art students from the Chelsea College of Art, collaborators and founders of the Chelsea Award, who have created ‘spaces’ for the production and discussion of Contemporary Arts linked by online resources. They will be discussing the concept of ‘Glocality’ and where this is going.

NEW-Craftivist Collective – Craft Workshop

Lead by Sarah Corbett (Founder)

Thursday 8^th April, 12pm

Craftivist Collective, using the power of craft and public art to make a stand about global poverty and human rights are joining us to run this exciting workshop making mini protest banners and a chance for you to learn more about the valuable work the Craftivist Collective does.

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‘Blogs and Brands’ Panel Discussion

Panelists: Leon Bailey Green, Laetitia Wajnapel, Ollie Olanipekum, Style Salvage Steve, Dwain Lucktung

Thursday 8^th April 2010, 3 pm

This discussion will look at the relationship between blogs and brands and how it is developing. Suzy Menkes has previously posed the question about how much intervention is going on between brands and blogs, and whether or not bloggers that have been invited to shows believe, in their innocence, that they are independent.

Panelists:

·Leon Bailey Green - Founder of Online Fashion Agency, his commentary has been featured in Retail Week, Drapers and Vogue.com.

·Style Salvage Steve - One half of men’s fashion blog Style Salvage, which showcases emerging and established design talent and includes interviews with key industry members.

·Laetitia Wajnapel - A Parisian journalist now living London, Wajnapel is also a fashion consultant and has launched her blog Mademoisellerobot.com in 2007.

·Ollie Olanipekum - runs blog Better Never than Late and works closely with brands such as Nike and B Store.

·Dwain Lucktung - Dwain Lucktung is the digital content editor for Ctrl.Alt.Shift (www.ctrlaltshift.co.uk). Ctrl.Alt.Shift is a UK youth initiative, set up to engage and empower the next generation in the fight against social and global injustice; through a bi-annual magazine, a community website, events, competitions, campaigns and more. Follow his work at www.dwainlucktung.blogspot.com

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Live Interview with Lee Lapthorne, Creative Director of On|Off

Sketchbook Magazine Interviews Lee Lapthorne

Friday 9th April, 1pm

Creative Director of ON/OFF and Doll, Lapthorne is described by ‘Design Week’ as one of the country’s hottest creative talents on the annual list of the 50 most important people in fashion and design today. On|Off is now considered the life blood of British Fashion and is the showcase for UK and International emerging talent, including bringing Hannah Marshall, Pam Hogg and Jasper Conran to the ON shows.

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Accessories Workshop with Maureen Campbell

Saturday 10th April, 12 pm

Irish born Maureen Campbell came to London from Dublin as soon as she finished her degree in womenswear. She interned at Future Classics and has been lecturing short courses on Accessories Design at Central Saint Martins for the last 5 years.

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Live Music by Pocket Satellite

Sunday 11th April, 3 pm

Between them, the band members come from 4 different countries and play an impressive 15 instruments including the antique Glockenspiel that inspired “Toy Train”, their brand new EP. They have been playing their unique melancholic acoustic folk songs up and down the country to the listeners of 6 Music and have just passed through to the second stage of the Surface Unsigned Music festival.

http://www.myspace.com/pocketsatellite

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Week 3

‘Getting Started’ Discussion with fashion designers Ara Jo and Viking Wong

Monday 12^th April 2010, 1pm

This lecture will feature two talented graduates Ara Jo and Viking Wong who will individually talk about their work, inspirations and developments together before opening the floor to questions and comments.

·Ara Jo – a graduate of Central Saint Martins in 2009 with a BA in Womenswear, her creations have since been worn by the likes of Lady Gaga and shot for Dazed and Confused.

·Viking Wong – a graduate of London College of Fashion In 2009, his work has since been exhibited at the V&A Young British Designers and Mapping Fashion Exhibition.

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‘Getting Started’ Lecture with Donald Smith, Director of Exhibitions at CHELSEA space

Thursday 13^th April 2010, 1pm

Donald Smith has worked as a curator and lecturer at the Chelsea College of Art and Design before taking over as Director of exhibitions at CHELSEA Space, a public exhibiting space where invited art and design professionals are encouraged to work on experimental curatorial projects that may not otherwise be realised. CHELSEA space are currently celebrating their fifth year anniversary by holding a series of exhibitions organised by RUN gallery and curated by major artists and curators including Bruce McLean, David Gothard, Lisa LeFeuvre, Teresa Gleadowe, Jo Melvin, Mick Jones of The Clash and guests.

Smith is also Chairman of the trustees of the Chelsea Arts Club Trust, a registered charity set up in 1990 to encourage art and design education and support artists and designers.

This will be another talk as part of our Getting Started series, where Donald Smith will highlight the most influential point in his career and how he got to where he is today.

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‘Getting Started’ Open Discussion with Alexander Barakat, editor of Muraqqa Magazine

Wednesday 14^th April, 3pm

An open audience discussion where Alexander Barakat will introduce his inspirations, ideas and how he got through the competitive industry to build his successful magazine and explain how he educates the masses on the contemporary art coming out of the Middle East.

Alexander Barakat runs contemporary print and online art magazine, Muraqqa. He is also an art critic and an arts and culture correspondent, focusing mostly on Arab and Iranian contemporary art.

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NEW-‘Getting Started’ Lecture with Amelia Gregory, founder & editor of Amelia Magazine

Thursday 15th April 2010, 1pm

As part of the Getting Started series, Amelia Gregory will give a talk on her influential fashion and arts illustration magazine, Amelia’s Magazine. Amelia will discuss how she’s developed the brand and now expanded it into a blog to keep up-to-date with today’s generation of online fashion guru’s.

Amelia first started out shooting for publications including ES Magazine and 125 Magazine before launching Amelia’s Magazine six years ago. Many of her issues are now collectors’ items covering everything from art to ethical projects to illustration.

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Fashion Illustration workshop by Gabriela Mot

Saturday 17^th April, 12 pm

Gabriela Mot will be running her workshop again for those who missed it the first time, introducing basic fashion illustration and collage. Currently completing her masters in Textiles and Fashion Design in Romania, she has spent most of the past year working as a fashion assistant at Melanie Porto Bridal Couture London and preparing for the Geometry fashion show at the University of Arts and Design in Romania.

Materials: Bring unwanted magazines, newspapers, sketchbooks, markers, scissors.

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NEW-Tatty Devine Lecture – Diary of a Decade

Saturday 17^th April 2pm

Tatty Devine is famous for bright inventive jewellery design, each piece proudly made by hand. Tatty are 10 years old this year and Rosie and Harriet from Tatty Devine Headquarters , will be reflecting back over the last decade at Tatty Devine giving a real insight into the brand with some fantastic anecdotes.

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Live Music by Gabby Young

Sunday 18^th April 2010

Gabby Young’s twisting path took her from her rural roots in Wiltshire, through life’s tribulations at an early age before combusting in the London music scene, to cause one of the biggest reactions seen in years. Although classically trained, Gabby Young has a diverse musical taste which includes pop, rock, folk, jazz, funk and experimental and that shines through in every song. The last couple of years have seen Gabby appear at major festivals such as Glastonbury, The Secret Garden, Marlborough Jazz Festival, Standon Calling and many more.

http://www.gabbyyoungandotheranimals.com

www.myspace.com/gabbyyoung

Sketchbook TV footage

2010-03-31T22:48:00.000+01:00

And another clip from Komal Verma of Sketchbook TV...

Film Clip of us setting up!

2010-03-31T22:43:00.002+01:00

Here's some great (and embarrassing) footage of us setting up the pop-up shop over the weekend courtesy of Sarolta Marton...

Setting up the Sketchbook Pop-Up Shop

2010-03-29T12:21:00.006+01:00

A few pics from the long and busy weekend! Just one day to go! Make sure to come along to the pop-up shop in Newburgh Street (behind Carnaby Street)....exciting things happening in the next 3 weeks!!!

Please visit the Sketchbook Magazine blog for more updates and pictures!

http://sketchbookblog.tumblr.com/

Finally Announcing Sketchbook's Pop-Up Shop Schedule!!

2010-03-24T00:01:00.002Z

We’ve finally announced our latest schedule of events for our Pop-Up Shop, which include exciting lectures, panel discussions, workshops and gigs.

The Schedule can be found on the Sketchbook Blog:

http://sketchbookblog.tumblr.com/post/468787035/sketchbook-pop-up-shop-schedule-announcement-23rd

To ensure you’re on the guest list, please book your seats by RSVPing to rsvp@sketchbookmagazine.com quoting your name and the event you wish to attend.

We’ll be updating our schedule with more events on a regular basis, so stay tuned to our blog, Facebook event and follow us on Twitter for the latest news.

Looking forward to seeing you all there!

All the best,

Rachel & The Sketchbook Family

Sketchbook Pop-Up Shop, 10 Newburgh Street, Carnaby, W1

(Closest tube: Oxford Circus/Piccadilly Circus)

My week in words

2010-03-21T22:30:00.000Z

- Stressful
- Exciting
- Unpredictable

It included:
- Planning
- Schedules
- Proposals (for funding, not the other!)
- Cake (as always)
- Sending out invitations
- Writing lists
- Emails
- Emails
- More emails
- Furniture hunting (still need more if anyone knows anyone!?)
- A trip to Costco
- Scouring the Ikea website
- And the Homebase website
- Working out costs
- Lots of train journeys
- Delegating jobs to my lovely helpful assistants
- Carrying round my laptop (sore neck)

And lots more! Hense why I have no time to blog (sobs).. I miss it!

I can't wait for the pop-up shop to open! Countdown 6 days until we start setting up - paintbrushes poised!

Goodnight folks, sorry to be so absent - hope you all come down to Newburgh St to join me at the pop-up. Schedule to be announced very soon!!

X
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

Pop-Up Posters

2010-03-16T22:13:00.004Z

Come along to the Sketchbook Pop-up shop, we're open to the public from Wednesday 31st March and have a jam-packed schedule of events up our sleeves, including live music, guest lectures, panel discussions and workshops.

For updates visit the Pop-Up Shop section of the Sketchbook Blog:

http://sketchbookblog.tumblr.com/tagged/Pop-Up-Shop

I'll try to keep you updated on here but there's strength in numbers and the Sketchbook blog will probably be more up to date!

Alice in a not so wonderland

2010-03-14T22:58:00.002Z

A very important date? I've had better...

I'm so upset to say that I really didn't enjoy Alice in Wonderland. I heard bad reviews but brushed them off thinking I'd love it anyway. Well, I fell asleep a few times and at least 3 couples walked out during the film. I was so so excited to see it both because it was a Tim Burton film and because it had such a great cast (not to mention that it was going to be 3D). Unfortunately it was almost as much of a let down as Nine was - great cast but the film was blah.

Helena, Johnny and Matt Lucas (x2) were very good but the film itself was just pointless... I wasn't excited by the story line and the 3D was not even a blip compared to Avatar.

Sorry Tim, it was a disappointment.

Face Hunter Book Signing

2010-03-13T14:54:00.005Z

It was a busy day at Sketchbook yesterday - I spent the morning and first part of the afternoon in the office, followed by a visit to the pop-up shop with our team of illustrators and curators (and then a quick trip with the editors to La Pain for some yummy strawberry tart)!

I then went over to Foyles to catch Yvan Rodic at the FaceHunter book signing, along with Cleide (Sketchbook writer & recently appointed 'discussion panel topic extraordinaire' or some other fancy title we're working on!)..

We took the opportunity to get our books signed whilst having a quick chat, both in French and English... Sadly enough Yvan had to correct my pronunciation of Bisous (the final S is silent!) when I was suggesting what he could write in Cleide's book - she insisted he wrote something in French!

A quick photo opportunity...

Hopefully we twisted his arm to come along to the pop-up shop at some point next month

(between his crazy schedule)...

Spent my journey home looking through the book and choosing my favourite photographs.

Congrats Yvan on the success of your book - we saw loads of people walking around Tot Ct Road hugging their copies! Hopefully we'll see you again soon...

I'm with him

2010-03-09T19:32:00.002Z

A friend pointed this image out to me! Love love love it! (Thanks Nick)

Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

Antiques Fair Finds

2010-03-07T22:41:00.003Z

I took a trip to an Antiques Fair this morning with my housemate Anna.. I found loads of amazing furniature pieces but unfortunately I don't have the money or the space for them. I settled for another (much smaller) jewellery box, a brooch and some earrings (which yes I will have to sterilise before wearing!

Here are my purchases...

Susan Keys Illustrations for Sketchbook Pop-Up Shop

2010-03-06T11:23:00.003Z

Illustrator Susan Keys has drawn us some lovely illustrations of the Sketchbook pop-up shop...

To see her work in progress visit her blog Susan Keys Illustration: http://susankeys.blogspot.com/

Sketchbook Magazine Pops-Up in Carnaby

2010-03-01T23:33:00.003Z

As you know I have been working on a project with Sketchbook Magazine... Well I can now reveal that I have been busy organising a pop-up exhibition which will be launching at the end of this month!

This morning I met with Nick from Sister PR (who we are working with on this project) to have a look around our shop space! With the Sketchbook editors, a camera and a tape measure in-tow, I excitedly looked around every nook and cranny of the 2 storey space, imagining what it will look like once we've 'moved in'.

The exhibition will be 'popping-up' at 10 Newburgh Street in Carnaby for just 3 weeks and we will be putting on loads of exciting events incuding interactive illustration workshops as well as lectures and discussions with key industry figures such including Susie Bubble and loads more! Rub shoulders with guest illustrators, bloggers, designers and editors whilst participating in our scheduled events, watch films and join in the live threads in our screening rooms and generally get involved and inspired in a creative environment.

You are all invited to join in the Sketchbook experience and help document the events, with cameras available and a large blank canvas for you to illustrate, write your thoughts, stick photos on and show your support, I want to know you enjoyed yourself.

I will be keeping you posted on the events schedule but for the mean time SPREAD THE WORD and I look forward to seeing you there!

Debenhams ticks all the boxes

2010-02-27T23:31:00.005Z

Debenhams has become the first British retailer to feature a disabled model in its latest ad campaign. This move follows the decision to replace the size 10 mannequins in its Oxford Circus store with size 16s. Wheelchair bound Shannon Murray, is joined by Kate Fullman (a size 16 model), Tokumbo Daniel (a size 10) and Tess Montgomery (petite).

"This isn't just a one-off... We're committed to using disabled models in other photography with a second photo shoot already organised" - Jenny, Debenhams Blog Editor.

"I think this is a fabulous step forward by Debenhams and I'm proud to be part of such a big move towards positive representation of disability in high street fashion" Shannon Murray (in Debenhams Blog).

Will other retailers follow this positive step by embracing women of all shapes, sizes and disabilities? I would like to think so but I'm not entirely confident - we are living in a shallow world of stereotypes - tall, skinny and beautiful is usually the way forward...

Tim Burton's Alice In Wonderland

2010-02-24T15:59:00.008Z

I can't wait to crack out my super cool 3D specs to see Tim Burton's

Alice in Wonderland!

Great cast: Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Anne Hathaway,

Stephen Fry, Matt Lucas, Barbara Windsor, Alan Rickman and

Timothy Spall, as well as Alice played by Australian Mia Wasikowska.

I'm even looking forward to seeing Crispin Gloves- 'Creepy-thin man'

from Charlies Angels!

Unfortunately, Odeon Cinemas are refusing to screen the movie

(apart from the premier) in protest to Disney's decision to release the

film on DVD after 3 months rather than the usual 17 weeks.

“Odeon/UCI has invested considerable sums of money, especially in

the UK, over the past 12 months to install digital projection systems in its cinemas to enable customers to enjoy 3D. The popularity of 3D titles meant that last year these films played in Odeon/UCI cinemas for an average of 18 weeks from initial release.” - Odeon & UCI Cinema Group.

Watch the trailer here:

Good excuse to shell out the extra cash on an Imax ticket!

No more lies: airbrushing exposed

2010-02-24T11:21:00.001Z

Super skinny models are soon to be exposed! Whilst we all wish we looked more like the perfect looking women (or men) we see in magazines and on billboards - we sometimes forget that they also have flaws. Lumps, bumps, spots, wrinkles and bags.. They are taken away easily through the use of editing programs such as Adobe Photoshop.

New rules are being called for, insiting that all edited images are complete with a warning label. This will hopefully show young girls and boys that there is no such thing as 'perfect' and that their idols are actually 'normal' people with flaws...

Photoshop, which has become a vital tool for editing photographs, celebrated 20 years last week.

Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

Ahead of the game: Burberry Prorsum

2010-02-23T23:04:00.010Z

Last season, Burberry was one of the first to stream the LFW show live online, alongside a handful of other designers including Alexander McQueen and Louis Vuitton. It was obvious that the Fashion Week set up would significantly change this season, with the British Fashion Council announcing a digital schedule, showcasing over 40 shows and allowing the outside-in.

Christopher Bailey has been trying hard to make Burberry appeal to the digital age - streaming live and launching social networking site 'Art of the Trench'. This season he has succeeded to outdo other designers by streaming the Burberry Prorsum A/W 2010 Womenswear show live - and in 3D! Parties were held in New York, Paris, LA, Tokyo and Dubai where visitors were given 3D glasses to watch the show. Not one to take the easy route - Anna Wintour flew to London exclusively for this show, rather than attending the NY viewing.

At the Sketchbook offices, we turned the lights off, closed the curtains, turned the volume up and tuned in to watch the show (in regular 2D) online at 4pm today. There were a few technical hitches (especially at the beginning) and we thought it was going to crash but through 2 laptops and 3 websites, we managed to watch it!

As usual, the collection was full of "I wan't that one" pieces and we all "ooh-d" and "aah-d" in all the right places. We were very exited about the zip concept that allows the wearer to adapt a long jacked to a cropped jacket etc. I also loved the leather buckle details, brass buttons and high neck shirts. The silhouettes are equally as flattering as always and I loved the earthy/military/navy inspired colour palette.

Missed the show? Watch the playback at: http://live.burberry.com/

Ella's Pop-up Bakehouse & other Topshop treats

2010-02-22T22:44:00.004Z

After a meeting in Carnaby Street, I popped over to Topshop to pick up some delicious looking cupcakes from the Ella's Bakehouse pop-up store (located on the upper ground floor opposite the information desk).

I picked 2 vanilla cupcakes (complete with dresses and shoes), 1 vanilla with maltesers and 1 lemon with poppyseeds. All scrumptious - Please note: I shared them with 4 others, didn't scoff the lot. They open from 12 and if you visit at 3pm, Lorraine Pascale (the model-turned-baker who founded Ella's Bakehouse) will be giving icing demonstrations. Yum!

Also visit Topshop for a range of additional LFW treats - Live DJ sets, TOMS shoe customising, a Wah Nails pop-up salon and a video wall showing various live shows fresh from the catwalk.

Tomorrow from 12-7 you can also visit a blogging masterclass - run by the girls behind Disneyrollergirl, Oh Elle and Coco's Tea Party.

Tomorrow is the last day to catch the LFW events and workshops at Topshop so you better get yourselves down there fast.

Enjoy!

For more info on all the events I mentioned above visit www.topshop.com

Plus - Size - Zero

2010-02-21T13:57:00.004Z

Last season, Mark Fast caused a media frenzy by sending plus size models down the catwalk to showcase his collection. Despite this, he stuck to his guns and used curvy models again yesterday, during his A/W 2010 show. Alongside these models were the usual (or un-usual!) size zero types...

I'm not sure why he mixed things up - maybe he wasn't confident enough to rely on the curvier models? In my opinion, he should've stuck to the curvy models - because adding the size zeros made them look much bigger in comparison, whereas on their own they look healthy and normal.

I don't see why more designers haven't embraced curvier women - even just size 10s at least? Slim but with a bit of curve and no bones sticking out...

French Connection's new look

2010-02-19T19:55:00.007Z

Quite impressed with the re-branding of French Connection.. Their latest S/S 10 campaign has caught my attention..

'His love for his beard is fierce and raw. He knows that a beard is a poem. Do not touch his beard. If you do not know so much about the beard, the man can help you.' - French Connection Manifesto

'Men have lost the ungentle art of manliness. The man in the street doesn't know what to bring to a knife fight. He gets nervous around large fish. He can't tie a full Windsor. Men have forgotten how to snap a bra open with a click of their fingers - women are undoing their own bras to save time! Meanwhile guys are eating little portions of leaves and putting too much gel in their hair... It's time to man up.' - French Connection Manifesto

I don't understand the bunny ears? Can anyone explain? - Marc Jacobs reference? Or Playboy?!

I don't completely understand this concept but it's definitely made me remember the brand. I even stopped in the street to take photographs... Usually I don't pay any attention to French Connection!

Skylon Restaurant

2010-02-16T12:58:00.003Z

On Saturday night I was taken to Skylon, a restaurant located within the Royal Festival Hall. The restaurant includes a floor to ceiling glass window that overlooks the South Bank and River Thames. Being afraid of heights, I made sure Paul reserved a table in the middle of the restaurant rather than near the edge!

The service was very good - our coats were taken to the cloakroom as soon as we arrived, our waiter answered all our questions about the menu and helped advise us about the best desserts. Our wine was topped up (cleverly) as soon as the contents in our glass started to get low but we weren't pushed to buy another bottle.

The food was delicious.

To start I had the Pumpkin Soup although I'd never tried pumpkin before. It was served in a very small bowl with a very wide rim but it was just enough to go with the complimentary bread. Paul had the Chicken Broth with Ricotta Tortellini which was also good (although I don't like chicken).

For the main course I had the Caramelised Lamb Shoulder with Spiced Couscous and Red Onions. The portion of lamb was massive, although the couscous was pretty scarce. The meat was very tender and cooked beautifully. Paul had the Slow Roasted Pork Belly with Parmesan Polenta and Cider Sauce. He thought it was a little under-cooked but ate most of it happily despite this - I should note here that Paul is a bit paranoid about meat being under-cooked so likes everything well done. I think it was fine! We also had green beans on the side (nice but you can't really go wrong with beans).

Choosing the dessert was more difficult because we wanted most of them! We finally chose the dessert of the day - Chocolate Brownie with Vanilla Ice Cream - and Catalan Rice Pudding with Orange Zest, Vanilla, Fennel and Mandarin Sorbet. Both equally scrumptious!

The atmosphere was relaxed but chic - with a mixture of valentines couples, bankers and city types, middle aged men and women and young proffessionals. The bill was reasonable for the food and wine and I'd happily go back there (although only for a special occasion).

http://www.skylonrestaurant.co.uk/

http://www.danddlondon.com/restaurants/skylon/home

NB: Images from Skylon wesbite

Wicked: The Musical

2010-02-15T23:38:00.008Z

It's been a busy week what with all this commercial Valentines nonsense which I admit I seem to get caught up in (and my boyfriend too) every year. We went for dinner and to the theatre on Thursday night, to dinner again on Saturday night (more about that in another post) and stayed in and cooked dinner on Sunday night.

I'll start with Thursday night...

I took Paul on a surprise visit to Wicked: The Musical. I have actually seen it before (about a year and a half ago) but Paul was always jealous that I went to see it with my friends and not with him, so I decided to take him. Didn't take long for him to guess though - as soon as we stepped out of Victoria Station the whole road was glowing green!

Once again it was a really enjoyable production with catchy songs and a great set and stage costumes. Wicked tells the 'untold' story of the love/hate relationship between the good witch and the wicked witch, pre-Wizard of Oz.

What made it for me - both times - was Elphaba. Elphaba (the wicked witch) is played by Alexia Khadime - previously Nala from The Lion King - who has the most fantastic and powerful voice which definitely stole the show. In comparison, Dianne Pilkington who plays Glinda (the good witch) has a very screetchy voice which got on my nerves almost instantly.

I don't want to say too much as I don't want to give anything away and ruin something incase anyone decides to go... The story is fun and suitable for adults as well as children. Don't expect a deeply educational evening but I'd definitely recommend this show to someone looking for some light hearted entertainment...

http://www.wickedthemusical.co.uk/

A tragic Loss: Lee Alexander McQueen

2010-02-12T11:48:00.006Z

I was shocked yesterday when I heard the news that Lee Alexander McQueen had killed himself. I was on the train at the time and started frantically trying to Google the news on my phone.

It appears that he was so devastated by the death of his mother that he decided to take his own life - the day before her funeral. He had tweeted the news of her death and later admitted that he had had an awful week but his friends had been very supportive... "Now I have to somehow pull myself together". McQueen had also previously struggled with the loss of close friend Isabella Blow in 2007.

McQueen was awarded 'British Designer of the Year' four times and also received a CBE. He was a great inspiration to British designers and will continue to influence many individuals for years to come. It is not known what will happen to the Alexander McQueen label but I am hopeful that it will continue to thrive. His latest collection was due to be shown during Paris Fashion Week in a few weeks.

I decided to take a walk down to Old Bond Street to visit the McQueen store, as I was in the area with some time to spare. The store was closed and the window display had been stripped away, leaving a blank window with a small sign announcing his death.

"On behalf of Lee McQueen's family, Alexander McQueen today announces the tragic news that Lee McQueen, the founder and designer of the Alexander McQueen brand passed away.

Lee's family has asked for privacy in order to come to terms with this terrible news and we hope the media and the public will respect this."

A single candle was burning by the entrance and a few flowers had been left by the window...

I stood there for about 5 or 6 minutes and although it had been pretty quiet when I arrived, it seems many people had the same idea as me as it soon began to get busier although the atmosphere remained quiet and emotional.

To Mr Lee Alexander McQueen CBE.

RIP.

It's not just any ad... it's an M&S ad

2010-02-11T10:43:00.005Z

The new M&S ad campaign will be hitting our TV screens / magazines next month. But this time there is a new line up. Joining Twiggy this season will be...

X Fator judge Dannii Minogue (4 months pregnant might I add)

Model/TV presenter/radio host Lisa Snowdon

Singer VV Brown, known for her kooky vintage style

Brazilian supermodel Ana Beatriz Barros

Dannii has been tweeting about the lovely weather in Cape Town, where they are shooting. She also admitted "I'm so excited to be a Marks & Spencer girl"!

An eclectic mix of models this time around - I wonder how they will all get on?

Kissed by Lulu Guinness

2010-02-09T22:28:00.008Z

On Monday afternoon I took myself off to Carnaby Street to visit the Lulu Guinness Pop-Up shop which opened earlier that day. Unfortunately I was too busy to make the photocall at 1pm so I missed the better photo opportunity with Erin O'Connor, Lulu Guinness, Harold Tillman etc. but I still wanted to have a mooch round.

Clean, simple and girly, this store features a limited selection of products including rows of the famous Lulu Guinness Lips Clutch in loads of different colours. There was a couch in the shape of lips and Lulu's kisses all over the walls. There was even a laptop linked up to the blog where I posted a comment on behalf of Sketchbook Magazine.

My favourite thing in the shop was funnily enough not a handbag or cute necklace but a £10 mug - plain white with a red lipstick mark!

Lulu is donating a percentage of the sales to students studying the historical and contemporary practice of fashion at London College of Fashion. She launched a scholarship for MA Accessories/Artefact Design last summer, to celebrate her 20th anniversary.

The store 'Kissed by Lulu Guinness' is open for a limited period, closing on 22nd Feb.

Catch it quick: 65-67 Broadwick Street (Off Carnaby Street).

Visit the blog for updates on events and visitors in the store and to watch a clip from the opening:

http://kissedbyluluguinness.blogspot.com/

http://luluguinness.com

Rules Antique Interiors

2010-02-07T22:14:00.005Z

Whilst in Windsor over the weekend I discovered a bunch of hidden treasures - lovely little shops that made me want to move to Windsor!

In addition to 'Mostly Boxes' which I mentioned in yesterday's post, I came across another antique store, this time antique interiors. After walking up a very long road that seemed to be taking us a little bit off the beaten track, we noticed a shop with a lovely door. The door was round - I had to go in!

Inside the shop - Rules Antique Interiors - I entered a magical world of kitch furniture and vintage accessories. The shop, over 2 floors, was complete with vintage theatre seats, an antique barbers chair, playful masks and an array of interesting lights.

You MUST go there if you visit Windsor. I could've stayed there for hours! I already plan to go back to Windsor and this shop is definitely on my agenda.

There is a 'Rules' website but it doesn't live up to the store. This is a place where you need to walk around, not just browse the website. I'd like to furnish my (future) house with all lovely pieces from this store. I suppose this wish is almost as likely to come true as me moving to Windsor. Oh well... a girl can dream!

Visit the store:

39 St Leonards Road

Windsor SL4 3BP

Or nose round the website:

www.rulesantiques.co.uk

Antique Wooden Soldier-come-Jewellery Box.

2010-02-06T19:49:00.011Z

So back in December I announced that I was on the hunt for a vintage wooden jewellery box Unfortunately I have been so busy with everything going on at uni that I haven’t had a chance to look around…

So Paul and I (that’s my boyfriend by the way) took ourselves off to Windsor today to try and find one. We discovered some great little shops - which I will post more about another day - but didn’t really find what we were looking for until we crossed the river into Eton after being recommended a shop called ‘Mostly Boxes’.

We had just under half an hour left of the parking ticket but spent so long looking round and round this shop, talking to the guy who works there about various jewellery boxes and weighing up our options that we had to abandon the shop and run back to the car. We decided to drive to the shop and try to find parking outside, not really knowing how we were going to get across the river! In the car we hummed and harred about whether the boxes were too expensive, if they had enough space, if they were in good enough condition to use etc. We almost gave up because we couldn’t find a space but luckily we found one eventually and decided to go back and have another look…

It was then that I came across a box hidden away underneath a bunch of other things that I knew was ‘the one’. The box once belonged to a soldier G. R. Coulstock, and then to his son.

Within the box was their original fountain pen and ink pot, their army certificates, a lighter made of old ammunition, a photo of the owner and a bunch of other bits. I knew this box had the character I was looking for! From the certificates and other bits in there, the guy in ‘Mostly Boxes’ has worked out that the box is from about 1814. Almost 200 years ago!

The box, complete with working lock and key is going to be the new home for all the jewellery I have stashed away in drawers, on hangers, in boxes etc. The ink pot will be replaced by rings. The pen section will be filled with bracelets and the bottom will be full of all the big jewellery pieces I own.

Don’t worry, I’ll safely store away all of G.R. Coulstock’s belongings so that I can dig them out in years to come and make lots of money!

If you're ever in Eton check the shop out for yourselves:

Mostly Boxes - Antique Wooden Boxes

93 High Street

Eton

Windsor

Berkshire SL4 6AF

Eggs

2010-02-04T23:23:00.004Z

I've been missing True Blood terribly since I finished series 2 last month...

Luckily I've just come across the new Calvin Klein X Underwear Ads featuring Mehcad Brooks, also known as 'Eggs'. It's not exactly a replacement for the series but it's a nice reminder!

Enjoy the eye candy girls!

iamamiwhoami - The internet's Banksy

2010-01-31T21:32:00.008Z

Three short videos posted by 'iamamiwhoami' have caused a major debate amongst YouTube users. I for one am not much of a YouTube girl but after hearing about this I spent a good hour and a half watching and re-watching the videos and reading back all the comments that people had posted in response to this viral marketing campaign. I then re-visited the page the next day and the next...

The videos each last about a minute long and were released 3 weeks apart (in order to drive viewers crazy no doubt!). Viewers are spending ages decoding numbers (each video title is made up of a sequence of numbers) and arguing with each other about whether the woman in the video is Lady Gaga, Christina Aguilera or many others.

After reading all the comments I think Christina Aguilera is behind it, with lots of clues pointing to her...

The title of the 1st video 'Prelude 699130082.451322' has been decoded to mean 'CH . AG' (CHristina AGuilera). Adding all the numbers before the decimal point equals 38. If A=1, B=2 etc then 3=C and 8=H. Adding the numbers after the point gets 17. 1=A, 7=G.

Using the same method as the first example, the title of the 2nd video '9.1.13.669321018' translates to 'I. A.M. CH'.

The title of the 3rd video '9.20.19.13.5.723378' has been decoded as 'I.T.S. M.E. C' (which could be C for Christina or C as in see).

In one of the videos you see a strawberry cake floating in water. The week of it's release Christina was photographed at the Pee Wee Herman LA Show wearing a strawberry cake T-shirt.

Christina has worked with artists such as Goldfrapp, Ladytron and Sia for her new album 'Bionic', due for release later this year (Bionic = nature, life, technology).

Sia is from Australia - the address of iamamiwhoami's page is Australian. One of the tracks that features Sia on the album is called 'I am'. Other tracks include 'Birds of Prey' - there's an owl clip in one of the videos - and 'Lullaby' - there's lullaby music in one of them too.

In the 3rd video at 26/27 seconds you see a knee briefly coming out of the water with a faint inscription on it. Someone has copied this to read 'Xtina'.

The original videos have now been deleted and a new set has been re-posted, replacing only the original animal clips with illustrations of the same animal. This could be a sign or it could just be because the animal clips were taken from an existing video and they got in trouble!

I know this post is jumbled and confusing, trust me I've come back to it 3 days in a row to try and unjumble it but if you watch the videos then read this back it will make more sense I promise!

View the videos at: http://www.youtube.com/user/iamamiwhoami

Biscuits, laptops and dictaphones: Sketchbook HQ

2010-01-28T23:10:00.002Z

This week I started working at Sketchbook Magazine, a publication that I have mentioned a couple of times previously (see September archive for a review on Issue 1 and December archive for a Q&A with editor-in-chief Wafa Alobaidat). I am working on an exciting project that I will fill you in on at a later stage..

In the Sketchbook studio you will find:

- An endless supply of biscuits

- Lots of busy interns

- Rows of laptops

- Plug sockets full of chargers

- Dictaphones, cameras, more chargers

- Magazines

- Music playing (everything from Gaga to Chilli Peppers)

- People coming and going all day (writers, interviewees etc)

- Wafa and Luma (features editor) with endless lists of things to do

- More biscuits

Today I went location hunting around Shoreditch for a gallery space for an exhibition project I am working on. Juggling my laptop bag, camera, notebook and handbag was a bit of a challenge but I managed somehow (regularly swapping my bags from shoulder to shoulder)! I came across some great spaces and spend the afternoon sending emails out enquiring about the availability of some of my favourites. I also searched for more potential locations and looked into all the nifty boring bits like funding.

Tomorrow we have a video guy coming to film the Sketchbook team at work - should be interesting!

Goodnight all x