why don't you be the artist

Future Beauty: 30 Years of Japanese Fashion.

So a group of us visited the Barbican last friday as part of our course, we went to see an exhibition that is basically the first exhibition in Europe to meticulously survey avant-garde Japanese fashion; back from the 1980's up until today.

Some exhibitions can be tedious in the sense that walking around them takes alot of mental affort and after twenty minutes looking at clothing it can feel like twenty hours.

This however was nothing like that sort of experience; the general ambience was quite calming on the bottom floor, cream draped linen hung from the ceiling so that when walking around you couldn’t quite see the manikins until you walked through the curtains.

The lighting was generally quite dim to compliment the calming music and give and overall sense of serenity, it made looking at the clothing a lot easier as i felt more inclined to pay attention without feeling like it was taking a lot of effort.

Upstairs had a slightly different feel to it, instead of the cream curtain there were separate sections and the clothing was alot more upbeat and modern with the use of mirrors and projected videos echoing the modern feel.

Curated by the well renowned Japanese fashion historian Akiko Fukai , Director of the Kyoto Costume Institute, the display explores the ‘unique sensibility of Japanese design, and its sense of beauty embodied in clothing’.
It features iconic designers such as Issey Miyake, Rei Kawakubo and Yohji Yamamoto, who have been celebrated for their redefining designs and together will the ‘acclaimed’ Jun Takahashi and the ‘new generation of radical designers’ Tao Kurihara, Akira Naka and Mint Designs the mix made for interesting viewing.

The exhibition has now ended, but if you fancy looking at some photographs or a video from it check out the website by pasting this address into your tool bar.

http://www.barbican.org.uk/artgallery/event-detail.asp?ID=10771

book nerd.

I have always been a bit of an addict when it comes to books, spot the girl sat on her own in a coffee shop (drinking tea i might add) and that would be me, to some it’s a sad and stereotypical fate, but for a book loving teenager being sat on my own for a few hours hidden away was a perfect way to just chill out.

Getting ‘lost’ in a good book has been in fact lost in my list of things to do recently, but over Christmas I got back into it and now at the moment I have 2 books on my reading list.

The first is by one of my favourite authors, Philappa Gregory, I have always been a big fan of hers and of history (especially the tudor period) and have many of her books based on the tudor court.
So i chose a new book of hers which focused on a more modern plot based in rural England, a seemingly simple story about a mother and her daughter in laws' relationship develops into a complex thriller which i have found hard to put down. I didn't realize until i was searching for an image of the novel but it was actually made into a dramatisaion by ITV last year!

The second is the novel that recently was made into a film with Julia Roberts, written by Elizabeth Gilbert; the title Eat Pray Love’ conveys a sense of a spiritual journey and that’s exactly what the story has been described as.

I’m looking forward to reading it after I have finished ‘The Little House’, Gilbert has had great reviews from high fashion magazine Elle who commented that was a ‘a word of mouth bestseller’ and the guardian described it as ‘utterly of the moment’.

Happy *belated* New Year...

After a very lap hazard beginning to the new year I am finally sorting ‘life out’ and getting up together with the more important things such as, blogging, reading, socialising and updating ones wardrobe.

University of course has begun again and I am already feeling behind with everything, but oh well this week is going to be a productive week in the sense that I have purchased new accessories and clothing to go with my ‘2011 self’ which roughly translated means: it’s the new year and there are sales so what other reason is there to splurge the loan?

Anyway this is my first blog of 2011 and I have already broken my new years resolution of be better with money, I have come to terms with the fact that I am lame with money, I put want WAY before need therefore if there is an item of clothing that I must have I will buy that and then think about how to get money for the lesser important things such as food.

So for my first post of 2011 I thought I would do a list of things I have bought, want, etc..

New Purchases:

Topshop Brown Satchel £36

Primark Brown Brogue style shoes £6

New Look Cream Patterned Shirt £18

Things I want to Buy:

Urban Outfitters Swallow Hand Ring £8

Pins and Needles Dress, (Urban Outfitters) £48

H&M 'Urban Vibes' Jumpsuit £24.99

Super Sixties..

Since having my fringe cut in i have loved the idea of mirroring a sixties style...

It's apparant that this is not an original trend to follow; it has been reproduced over and over so many times through designers collections and magazine editorial photoshoots and i don't think this is at bad thing at all, i know sometimes it can get a bit repetitve when trends and eras are repeated in fashion but this is one style that will never fade..

Edie, Twiggy, Julie, Brigitte, Mary... all of these women had one thing in common, they were icons of their time:

Edie Sedgwick was a troubled innocent soul.

Twiggy was the first prominent teenage model.

Julie Christie an icon on the stage.

Brigitte Bardot was arguably the most famous sex-kitten of all time.

Mary Quant is best-known as the creator of the miniskirt

From 'magic school' to 'magical'..

Like everyone in society today i have been gobsmacked by the whirlwind change of Emma Watson, it seems only yesterday i was watching her thirteen year old self at the premiere of a Harry Potter film; a picture of pure innocence and naivety when it came to fashion.
Now cutting off her long hair seems to have liberated her and she looks aboslutely fantastic, pulling of a Twiggy and Edie Sedgwick mix of sex appeal and vulnerability.
The look is not easy but she successfully pulls this off combining it with her own twist on the iconic style.

The photographs below are from the December issue of Vogue (UK).

been lacking in motivation recently..

SO i have been terrible recently in keeping up to date with everything, blog, news, fashion, etc.. so i have decided to buck up my ideas and stay up to date.......

I've been looking at Vogue.co.uk daily and spotting the new trends this is definitely one of my favourites, i love the Shearling Jackets- wearing it over a flowery dress or something quite feminine makes the whole outfit look a little bit more grungy.

With the fur oversized collars and echoing a fighter plane pilot look (think Top Gun but for women) the Aviator theme has been seen all over catwalks for the Autumn/Winter 2010 collections.

I'm defnitely going to be buying into this trend even if i can't quite afford the jacket below by Burberry Prorsum...

Been looking at...

Been Listening to..

Eliza Doolittle,

Ellie Goulding,

John Mayer,

Florence and the Machine,

Jose Gonzalez,

Marina and the Diamonds,

Been dreaming of....

Ever since i read a book about Paris on holiday a few weeks ago i have been literally wanting to go back and visit Paris, obviously its one of the most beautiful cities in the world (standard) but its the little alley ways and back street cafes that i really want to visit..

i picture myself sitting in a coffee shop (with a cup of tea im afraid i have never been a big coffee drinker) reading a book and possibly wearing a beret? or is that too far a french dream? ha i dont know but i want to go....

"Kate represents the ultimate kind of woman - an icon of our times," Mario Testino.

So.. i havent manged to update my blog in a while as have had the crazy process of moving house and setting up interent, bils etc! It has been a bit manic but finally we are settled in and have fully functioning internet!

Anyway i was looking through August's issue of VOGUE this week and noticed that some of the stunning photographs taken by legendary photographer Mario Testino have been published on the coveted pages and my they are amazing. Kate Moss of course is one of the most iconic supermodels of all time it doesnt even need to be said outloud we all know it, but in these photos you see a vulnerability and more human side to her.

The photos catch her smoking cigerettes, lying naked, applying eyeliner whilst crouching on the floor, etc..simple static poses that capture the real essence of a human being whilst showing how beautiful Moss truely is behind all of the glamour.

I urge you to buy a copy of August's Vogue or try and get along to the exhibition in London showing the photographs by Testino, they truly are a masterpiece...
Here are a couple:

invest in a polaroid..

I have had a polaroid for years now but have never got round to buying the film for it because well at twenty pounds a pop its a bit pricey for 8 photos :)

But when my birthday came around i decided to 'take the plunge' and purchase some off EBAY and just used it to capture some of the moments with my friends, family and boyfriend...

I have always loved the effect a polaroid camera creates, lets be honest it just looks so cool and remind me of the photograph style seen in magazines such as DAZED&CONFUZED and VICE, quirky images page to page- which is why i will be investing in some more film soon...

my favourite design duo...

Ever since celebrities such as Gwen Stefani set up their own lines of clothing i have always been a bit aprehensable about following such collections as some of these such lines are not fashion based at all and can end up creating a great big fashion faux pas!

However one of my favourite such designers is a duo; one half designer and one half actress/model/socialite, i am of course talking about Sienna and Savannah Miller who together created the desinger brand Twenty8Twelve (named after Siennas birthday date 28/12)

The collaberation has been engulfed with media attention proving that celebrities can create clothing that is definitely not out of place on a catwalk, the designs echo the Brit chic look, adding in grunge, indie cool, bold prints and the London Look to finish.

Take a look at some of the Spring/Summer 2010 collection:

my boyfriend hates hats

So i went and followed the biggest hat trend this summer and purchased a trilby style straw hat- which im going to admit i love and do not care if i look like another standard indie girl!

I love these hats i think they epitomize summer style and are seen on everyone from people on the streets to models off duty:

I went for a straw style one from Accessorize that has little flowers on it which i thought would make it a bit different to the 'norm' style of trilby, however alas my boyfriend DISLIKES my choice of purchase commenting that apparantly Fearne Cotton started the trilby trend (and he thinks shes annoying), but i had to correct him and say that in my opinion models such as Daisy Lowe and Kate Moss have a lot more repitrable street style and in fact i saw them wear it before Miss Cotton! (Sorry Fearne)..

OH and i had my hair cut finally say hello to a fringe and unknotty hair for once:)

style icons...

So obviously i havent had this blog for very long but i figured people should know a bit more about me, for example who i look upto in fashion, who do i see as a fashion icon?


Well here are my top four :)

KATE MOSS- Always understated grunge glamour, she will always be the ultimate British Model....

































DAISY LOWE- Daughter of Pearl Lowe, she has followed in her mothers footsteps and become one of the coolest young brits around, love her hair style and the way she sexes up grungey outfits...

LARA STONE- Love her unique beauty, her quirky face has quickly made her one of the most popular models in 2009....

and last but not least my ultimate style icon, yes its not very original but without a doubt ALEXA CHUNG is the only true brit style icon who has stuck to her british roots, even whilst living in America she still manages to echo British stule with her standar geek chic look perfected ALEXA CHUNG is my ultimte style icon...

My female crush, Jessica Szohr (Vanessa from Gossip Girl)

GOSSIP CENTRAL

So i saw that my good friend becki clark posted a post about how much she likes little jen out of Gossip Girl, for those of you who do not watch it YOU MUST!

If not for the storyline or beautiful characters but for the stunning designer and vintage clothing that is used on the programme.

My favourite character is Vanessa, i have always been a bit of a hippie and love her Sienna Miller Style-esque Boho look of long shaggy hair and draped clothing.
Check her out, major girl crush for me :P

WEEKEND FUN

So saturday night turned out to be a really funny night, we were gonna lounge around the lazy students that we are but then we decided to take a spontaneous trip to UNIT, hadn't been there in months but Beck managed to persuade us... the consequences were such:
went to bed at 7am
got up at 10
came home at 5
back in bed at 8 :)

birthday fun...

birthday treats

So it was my birthday on friday and j e s u s it was bloody amazing! The girlies organised a party lunch in the kitchen with sausages, cakes, sweets and sandwiches AND PLASTIC CUPS :)

Then in the evening everyone came round and we had drinks in the kitchen, got rediculously drunk and ended up dancing around like maniacs at Wahoo!

Was a wicked night though... cheers guys.....

Photos for magazing design project :)

thursday evening

I spent thursday evening being massively productive doing work, i managed to whack out 1200 words of a fashion history essay which i was chuffed about because the idea of sitting there typing it was driving me to suicide. Also did a couple of fashion style boards to go towards my magazing design assignment which was WAY more fun but heres a few pictures so you can see :)

xoxo josieeee

This is Lizzie my main model :) Pretty isn't she, i wanted to make my shoot look as though it could feature in a magazine like Dazed and Confused, I.D or LOVE - i wanted them to be a bit quirky which is why i tried to get the reflection of the sun on the shot and i think it was successful...