Style Cramp

Please make your way to the exit

2011-08-11T16:48:00.001+01:00

I should have wrapped things up a while ago...thanks to everyone who has read this blog since it was launched. It's been fun.

Everything you crave can now be found on OhDearism.

Style Cramp xxx

Poly Styrene - a life in punk

2011-04-27T13:39:00.000+01:00

Poly Styrene

"I know I'll probably be remembered for 'Oh Bondage, Up Yours!'. I'd like to remembered for something a bit more spiritual." - Poly Styrene

If not for the spiritual, then Poly Styrene will certainly be remembered for her spirit. Poly Styrene, born Marian Joan Elliott-Said, was the original riot girl. Growing up in Brixton and mixed-race (her father was allegedly a Somalian aristocrat), Marian ran away from home at 15 to live a bare-foot existence, moving from hippie-pad to music festival.

After seeing The Sex Pistols play Hastings Pier on her 18th birthday in 1975, she placed a newspaper ad looking for "young punx who want to stick it together", and X-Ray Spex were formed. They were a band to rival the Pistols; exciting, assertive and topical. As a punk, if you had any two albums in 1977, you had Never Mind the Bollocks and Germ Free Adolescents.

At the height of X-Ray Spex's fame, Poly Styrene shaved her head. "I'd read that girls in concentration camps did that after being raped by the Nazis, to get cleansed." No man was going to stand in the way of her liberation, not even Sid Vicious, who once threatened her with a scythe.

She certainly didn't care whether people thought she was cool or not. She wasn't interested in being a pin-up, in fact she was determined not to be one. "There's nothing wrong with beauty," she said, "but whether it's actually helping the female cause of being equal to men, you have to judge for yourself."

Entering the scene that levelled the playing field for women in music, she was an icon to my mother Jackie, a fellow young punk, because she was an outsider; a dark-skinned woman with huge dental braces who loved her body. "With punk, you weren't required to be beautiful," says Jackie. "Poly Styrene wasn't pretty, she had a mouth full of metal, and a result, she was perfect. We could all relate to her. The 'real girls' were united."

Poly Styrene continues to be a heroine for girls, even after death. 30 years later Heather, who is in her early twenties, thanks her for the inspiration. "She had a hugely positive influence on me growing up," says Heather, "even though it was long after she gave up music. I loved her with all my heart! She was a goddess to my teenage self."

Poly Styrene didn't want to live in a world where everything was "made of plastic"; when punk became the mainstream, it was time to move on and by 1979 she wanted a new sound. She quit the band in 1979 after being pelted with tomatoes during a gig in Paris. "We'd tried to change our sound," she explained. "They didn't like that, the anarchists in their black leather jackets. They thought it was the French revolution all over again." She recorded her first solo album, Translucence, the next year.

Marian, having survived being hit by a fire engine in 1995 and being sectioned in the 80s, with misdiagnosed schizophrenia, lived up to the Poly Styrene legacy: "Some people think little girls should be seen and not heard but i think....OH BONDAGE, UP YOURS!!"

Poly Styrene (Marianne Joan Elliott-Said), musician, born 3 July 1957; died 25 April 2011

[This post is also on OhDearism.com]

[Poly Styrene quotes are taken from The Guardian and NME]

Where Did The Night Go?

2011-04-11T22:43:00.000+01:00

Long ago the clock washed midnight away

Bringing the dawn

Oh God, I must be dreaming

Time to get up again

And time to start up again

Pulling on my socks again

Should have been asleep

When I was sitting there drinking beer

And trying to start another letter to you

Don't know how many times I dreamed to write again last night

Should've been asleep when I turned the stack of records over and over

So I wouldn't be up by myself

Where did the night go?

Should go to sleep now

And say fuck a job and money

Because I spend it all on unlined paper and can't get past

"Dear baby, how are you?"

Brush my teeth and shave

Look outside, sky is dark

Think it may rain

Where did

Where did

Where did

[Gil Scott-Heron]

Porn for girls, what's your position?

2011-03-23T13:50:00.005Z

Fem-porn director Erika Lust

SEX!!!

Now i've got your attention...

You may remember Anna Arrowsmith if you followed last year's elections. She was the Liberal Democrat candidate for Gravesham. Nick Clegg supported her, but said her previous occupation was not his "cup of tea". That's because before that she was known as Anna Span, the UK's first female porn director. She made independant porn for women. This year she has been nominated for a Feminist Porn Award, for Sex Experiments: Bisexual Scenes and Sex Interviews.

Recently, Jacqui Smith reopened the debate on the impact of the porn industry on society when she made "Porn Again", a BBC Radio 5 documentary about pornography. Arguably her agenda is PR-led, given the embarrassing leak about her MP expenses and the dirty movie she claimed for in 2009. She also claimed to have been "shocked" by the amount of sexual content to be found on the internet. As a spokesperson for modern women, she doesn't ring true for me.

Anna Arrowsmith says she used to be anti-porn until she realised her anger was jealousy. "I was envious of men having their sexuality catered for. I realised the best thing I could do was to work towards women learning their own sexual identity."

In mainstream porn, the woman plays one part, an object. She is a hole to enter and a tool for male pleasure. Every mainstream hetro porn film culminates in the 'glory shot'; the man ejaculating, usually on to a compliant woman. Her orgasm has no part to play, and even if she is supposed to have come, it's hard to tell for all the moaning.

Whenever i've seen porn, i've found it impossible to move past critiquing the women, from bad hair extentions, hideous red talons or botched boobs jobs. Women want to see, like in the real thing, credible performances. And real bodies, that looks like ours, with women really enjoying themselves. Having seen pornography where the woman looks less than happy to be there, it's disturbing.

So why does the porn industry refuse to budge? Research suggests that it may be bowing to change. Patrick Kwasniewski specialised in gender and queer studies at the University of Klagenfurt and is currently researching his thesis on feminist porn. He says: "The mainstream industry faces loss of profits through not changing their traditional ways of production or distribution and producing very repetitive films that have more and more troubles on the market". Even men are getting bored of the same old positions, in the same old order. Art-core director Petra Joy says that people want more variety, more authenticity.

But the pornographers (middle-aged men nearly all) don't feel the same. Fem-porn director Erika Lust says that the men who's porn she criticises says their movies are for everyone and she's the "tight" one for offering an alternative.

If you asked your female friends, how many would admit to liking porn? Not many, probably. Some might be embarrassed to admit they do, or have strong feelings about the objectification of women. Some might not feel that strongly about it and think it's generally quite funny to watch, with stale plots, and less than erotic. In women there is a potential audience being overlooked not because of our lack of interest, but because our interests are not being catered for.

Most of us don't want to fight the women in the sex industry. But we do want to fight the industry that leaves female performers with nothing to show but their bodies. We want to opt-in.

Quotes are taken from The Guardian.

[The article is also on Ohdearism.com]

The Sapphires

2011-03-13T21:33:00.002Z

After selling it to my flatmate with the premise "it's about Motown. Or something", I felt duty-bound to explain myself in that I hadn't actually read too much about play The Sapphires, at The Barbican, before going to see it. It was free, thanks to FreeB, the Barbican ticket service for under 26s, so she could hardly complain.

It turns out The Sapphires is to Motown what boyband Blue is to Stevie Wonder. A poor rendition of the real deal but, sort of entertaining in a 'we didn't pay for it' kind of way.

The Sapphires tells the story of four Aboriginal soul 'sisters' (i'll get to that part) from the outback of Australia. Discovered singing in a club by manager Lovelace Dave, he takes them on a whistlestop tour of Vietnam to entertain the US troops. Hilarity ensues (except when someone gets blown up by a landmine, but to be fair I did laugh).

When the band finished playing the opening song, I couldn't help but feel a sort of sympathetic encouragement, like you might feel watching your young nephew's school play, so I really wanted to like it. Once i'd laid my preoccupation with issues of characterisation aside, I did enjoy singing along to the Motown classics, though none but one of the girls had a voice strong or velvety enough to do them justice.

I found myself entirely confused by the race issue. While they were portrayed to be black, I saw no clues that they were Aboriginal. All in all, the whole show was pretty shambolic; one curtain was stuck in the middle of the stage through two songs and no-one seemed too bothered. The performances lacked energy and the outfits fell short.

The Sapphires: Wednesday 2 – Saturday 12 March 2011 at The Barbican Theatre

[This post is also on OhDearism.com]

FAD winners at Vauxhall Fashion Scout

2011-02-28T13:30:00.006Z

Described by Vogue as an 'undeniable springboard', the Fashion Awareness Direct competition is open to emerging young designers in the fledgling stage of their careers.

With more universities entering than ever before, it's a must for any fashion student worth their salt. Previous winners have gone on to design for brands including Asos and French Connection.

The catwalk show was held at The Freemasons Halls, home to showcase Vauxhall Fashion Scout.

Maria Alvarez, Director of FAD, introduced the show of 15 finalists with a few words about this year's theme of escape and what was expected of the finalist designers; a mini collection with inventive detail, excellent finish and original creativity.

Milly Jackson, 22, from Nottingham Trent University was crowned the 10^th FAD Competition winner, with a £2,000 prize and a placement with Whistles, for her dresses inspired by the best selling novel ‘Life of Pi’.

The finalists:

Annie Vallis - Nottingham Trent University (2nd runner up)
Emily Booker - Bath Spa University
Ashleigh Downer - London College of Fashion
Emma Clifton - Edinburgh College of Art
Kerri Goulden - University of Salford
Qi Zhan - Edinburgh College of Art
Lucy Johnson - University of East Anglia
Rachael Brooks - University of Brighton
Kay Wilcox - Huddersfield University
Este Ndongala - University of Salford
Millie Jackson - Nottingham Trent University (winner)
Shaban Mahomed - Thames Valley University
Joanna Louise Mandle - Manchester Metropolitan University
Laura Carew-Gibson - DeMontford University (1st runner up)

An impressive panel of judges included Martyn Roberts, director of Vauxhall Fashion Scout, Professor Wendy Dagworthy, head of the School of Fashion & Textiles at the Royal College of Art and Anne Tyrrell, chair of BFC Colleges Council.

Millie receives her accolade

Emily Booker's design - SC's fav!

Lucy Johnson, great menswear

Laura Carew-Gibson

Original images

Alex Winston: Sister Wife

2011-02-25T13:19:00.000Z

Alex Winston is exactly the sort of performer us Brits embrace. While she could be ready to wrestle Lykke Li, Feist, Ellie Goulding or Laura Marling for the 'quirky pop songstress' crown, this Detroit girl is a pin-up star for the 'Pitchfork' crowd.

We've no qualms about calling the songs off her new mini-album Sister Wife 'catchy', but that doesn't mean they're sickly sweet.

They're tunes that you will find yourself humming every time you get up to put the kettle on, but they have an incredible depth to each of them.

The namesake track reminds us of conversations with girlfriends over lovers we should just stop seeing: "Hey there sister wife / get the hell out it's my night / you don't know the way to his heart like I do."

[ohdearism] Who are you sister wives?

[Alex Winston] Sara, Jaki and Janet. Three of the greatest birds on earth.

[OD] Who influences you?

[AW] Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Elvis, The Supremes, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, The Arcade Fire, Screamin' Jay Hawkins, Feist, Betty Davis, The Stones, Iggy Pop, Motown as a whole, the circus.... I could go on.

[OD] Where do you buy your clothes? Who are your style icons?

[AW] I only shop when I'm back in Detroit and its usually at the Salvation Army store. I hate spending money on clothes. In terms of style icons, I like Bianca Jagger's style.

[OD] We Brits adopt lots of US stars as our own. But is being big in your home country important to you?

[AW] As much as I'd be honoured to be one of the UK's ugly stepchildren, it is important to me to at least be available in the US, however I don't mind planting the seed here to start.

[OD] You've said you write late into the night. How do you spend your days/days off?

[AW] I watch Louis Theroux and eating Thai food.

[OD] You opened for Chuck Berry in St Louis. That's incredible, was that a pinnacle moment for you?

[AW] Absolutely. He is one of my idols, so opening for him was a huge deal. It was the only time in my life that I was ever star-struck. I think he is such an an amazing performer. He was 82 at the time! A real inspiration.

[OD] What does Motown (Detroit is the home of Motown) mean to you?

[AW] It means some of the best music ever written and a calibre of talent and musicianship that I feel has yet to be matched.

[OD] What’s the worse question you’ve ever been asked in an interview?

[AW] Do you have a boyfriend?

[OD] Why did you choose the covers for your last EP?

[AW] Honestly, I'd be working on my own music and I'd hit a note, or play a chord progression that reminded me of The [Rolling] Stones or Mumford [And Sons] and I'd completely scrap what I was doing and start working on my own version of their songs. I guess I'm a bit...ADHD or something! It was just fun for me.

[OD] What else do you have lined up this year?

[AW] I'm working on completing my record which is due out in September. Other than that, lots of shows and travelling!

[OD] You're from Detroit. Do you have a Detroit Rock City story? (Have you ever gone to great lengths to see/meet your idol?)

[Laughs] Yeah, Chuck Berry! It took months and months of begging and 10 hours of driving, but it was well worth it!

[OD] And finally, you were number 853 on the New band of the day list by The Guardian. The week before were The Midnight Beasts, who've just made a song for Marie Stopes about safe sex, with the line "up the bum won't make you a mum". (We just thought you might like to know!)

The Sister Wife EP is available to download now, with a physical release on 4 March. The Sister Wife single can be downloaded for free here.

[This post is also on OhDearism.com]

LCF presents Beatrice Boyle

2011-02-23T14:00:00.001Z

Artist/designer Beatrice Boyle is something of a success story. Having only graduated from the London College of Fashion in 2008, she has already created a capsule collection for Browns Focus and has worked with American Rag Cie, Dazed Japan and Elle.

In her new exhibition at Old Street art store 39-39, she has photographed models and then deconstructed the images with broad brushstrokes. Inspired by her earlier work using pages torn from fashion magazines, Beatrice turns commercial images into art.

[Style Cramp] Your work’s been described as ‘anti-fashion’. Would you disagree with that?

[Beatrice Boyle] I don’t know if it is. I mean, I deconstruct original images that are glossy and perfect and subvert them. But at the same time I work with magazine images and i’m obsessed with advertising campaigns and models and everything else that goes with fashion. It might look like i’m anti-fashion but I’m definitely not.

[SC] Why did you start using your own photos?

[BB] Because I wanted to construct the whole thing. I wanted to have creative licence. To photograph women myself was really interesting because we could work together. So I could have a concept in my mind first. With Kirsty [Beatrice gestures to a striking image of a topless female model], I was like “yeah let’s dye your hair purple!” She was really up for doing stuff.

[SC] Do you only photograph women?

[BB] Yeah I do sometimes. I’ve become a bit too efficient. I used to watch it every day.

[SC] Sorry, I said do you use always images of women…

[BB] Oh my god do you know what I thought you said? “Do you watch loose women?” I felt really guilty like “how does she know!?

[SC] That answer’s so going in. So is that the essence of your work: loose women?!

[BB] I did think it was a weird question! But I usually use women, yes. Men are a bit boring! I brought out the male models before but it seems like there’s not so much to them. Their eye lashes aren’t as long and they don’t have tits.

[SC] What creative projects do you see yourself taking on next?

[BB] I want to work on a massive scale, covering walls and using collage. I’ve also started working on silk scarves. I’m definitely looking to do something a bit more experimental with silk.

[SC] Perhaps with Liberty?

[BB] Yes! For their scarf emporium!

[SC] Given the scale you want to work on, could you see yourself going into set design?

[BB] Absolutely. I’d like to work with other photographers on shoots. I’m obsessed with Shona Heath and her photo shoots. She does awesome stuff.

[SC] Cheryl Cole was recently shot wearing a top from your collection for Browns Focus. Who would you love to see wearing your designs next?

[BB] Perhaps… oh I’m useless at this question.

[SC] Maybe someone on Loose Women?

[BB] Basically, it’s all about Loose Women. What’s her name…Colleen Nolan!

[SC] And finally, there’s obviously a link between fashion and art. Why do you think it’s a strained relationship?

[BB] Fashion is self-confessedly commercial. It’s about big money and it’s about luxury and its about massive funds. Ok, Margiela is ‘anti-commercial’ in that there’s no labels, but there are still massive commercial aspects. Art stands apart because it’s not. But there are so many fine artists are working in fashion, like Louis Vuitton. I love that.

Beatrice Boyle’s 39-39 exhibition runs until March 2011.

3939store, The Basement, Life, 2-4 Old Street, London, EC1V 9AA

[This post is also on OhDearism.com]

The Museum of Everything

2011-02-04T17:42:00.001Z

Outsider art, or Art Brut in French, is art outside the boundaries of general culture. Fitting then, that British pop artist Sir Peter Blake’s* celebration of Outsiderism, The Museum of Everything, is so at odds with its refined Primrose Hill home.

The Museum of Everything is a trip to Coney Island, via the British music hall, freak shows and the circus, and it’s only open until Valentine’s Day. The exhibition is an anthology of Blake’s assembled oddities with featured artists.

Across from leafy Regents Park, the exhibition could be a trendy hair salon in Hoxton. The space was once a dairy and you can still smell it. That and – almost – the smell of the grease paint. Maybe they’ve pumped that circus smell in, but it certainly has the right effect.

Admirer Damien Hirst has lent work: a diorama of stuffed rats in waistcoats, to the Victorian taxidermist Walter Potter’s Museum of Curiosity. If you love the notion of kittens at a tea party, this one’s for you.

Arthur Windley’s miniature fairgrounds are slightly spine-chilling; wait for the quarterly hour ‘show’ and they’ll light up and spin at breakneck speed, like something out of a Stephen King horror film.

Recently, La Familia Missoni flew over from Milan for a family portrait kitted out in the SS11 collection. Aptly, the colours Blake has incorporated evoke the Missoni brand distinctly. Madam Missoni (Angela) considers herself an ‘assembler’, like Blake. “I thought [the exhibition] was fantastic and very close to my aesthetic.”

L-R Tatiana Santo Domingo, Eugenie Niarchos, Margherita Missoni.

Blake’s collection of the curious breathes fresh air over London’s art scene, with a wiff of Gilbert and George and the ‘spectacle’ of performance. It’s comic but never grotesque. Well, unless you’re averse to seeing stuffed toads on a seesaw.

*Not sure who Peter Blake is? The album cover for Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band is his handiwork.

Images:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/11/fashion/11iht-fmissoni11.html?_r=1

[This post is also on OhDearism.com]

Black Swan: Rodarte does Degas

2011-01-06T15:50:00.000Z

As a former dancer, Style Cramp understands just how nitpicking and perceived imperfection can cloud a performer's life.

Black Swan stars Natalie Portman as a talented but troubled prima ballerina cast in Swan Lake's title role, who finds the character of Odile crawling all over her Odette-like qualities.

Darren Aronofsky's horror-tinged ballet thriller showcases 40 theatrical costumes created by Rodarte, design-duo sisters Laura and Kate Mulleavy.

No doubt it's Portman's doing that they were involved, she's famous for being a huge Rodarte fan. Most of the costumes (sketches pictured) appear onstage in performances of Swan Lake.

British design studio LaBoca's adverts echo ballet adverts from the early 20th century:

Rodarte's ballet-inspired SS2008 Ready To Wear line:

Costume sketches by Rodarte:

Black Swan is in UK cinemas January 21

Images and sources:
http://fashion.telegraph.co.uk/galleries/TMG8231700/1/A-fashionable-preview-of-2011.html
http://www.vogue.co.uk/fashion/show.aspx/full-length-photos/id,5331
http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/filmblog/2010/dec/20/black-swan-posters

Logic CD launch with Rodney P, Lowkey, Akala and more

2011-01-05T16:09:00.000Z

HULLO.

Gawsh, Style Cramp's been sick as a Battersea dog. Cough cough.

Anyway, you don't care do you?

Back in Dec, Style Cramp and friends were at the launch of General of the People's Army and UK Hiphop star Logic's CD launch, at Brixton Jamm. "LISTEN", he said. Listen, actually is the name of his new album. But also, you should listen.

Logic

Some seriously banging music from Arabic rhymer Shadia Mansour, Frantic Frank, Heartless Crew's Mighty Moe, Daddy Skitz (bit mad), Lowkey and a surprise appearance from the awesome Akala, performing Yours and My Children but not Shakespeare ("I ain't doin' no Shakespeare shit."). We didn't see Rodney P, alas.

Now we've kind of missed the Zeitgeist ferry here (hey, we've been totally ILLIN') but remember that little Jody McIntyre? The one who savaged Ben Brown when he tried to pull a Paxman on Newsnight? Yeah he was there, man of the hour, with an harem of pretty female student admirers. He looked pretty smug if you ask me.

HAPPY NEW YEAR CRAMPERS!

A very Crampy Christmas

2010-12-23T13:07:00.003Z

Merry Christmas!

Sorry for the prolonged hiatus.

Normal service will resume in the New Year!

Remember, Style Cramp loves you. xxx

Tricky - Ghetto Stars ft. Franky Riley / Brown Bread Fred

2010-12-03T12:35:00.002Z

A fly video here by Tricky with newcomer Franky Riley providing additional vocals. Tricky is hot, whatever you say I totally would.

Tricky - Ghetto Stars with a foreword by Frankie 'Brown Bread' Foreman

This cut is provided by Future Shorts. A foreword by Freddie Foreman, aka Brown Bread Fred, the disposer of Jack "The Hat" McVitie, chum of those cheeky Kray twins.

Basically, he's telling us that crime don't PAY, crime in't COOL. Well we know that, but that's because no crim in their right mind would sport a name like that these days. The gangs who hang around Brixton Hill would be a lot less menacing if they had members called Jeff "Parsnip Teeth" Munroe.

Franky is cool, she reminds me of Lauren Socha, who I massively LOVE.

Tricky's new album Mixed Race is ace. Check out Murder Weapon as well.

Here is a previous Style Cramp post on a Future Shorts vid. It's really good, this one, have a look.

Links:
Future Shorts on Youtube
http://www.futureshorts.com

Talkin' Bout A Revolution

2010-11-30T14:19:00.004Z

Bit of a tricky one, this. As a fashion blogger, I probably shouldn't be trying to piss off Topshop or Philip Green, but i'm also a staunch supporter of the student protests, incensed by the goings-on under the coalition government that will prevent my younger siblings getting the education they deserve.

If a Topshop PR happens upon this post, then so be it. I have nothing if not my integrity.

'The Flashmob', accessorizing in orange rags to symbolise the bondage of student debt, outside Topshop Oxford Street

Mobilising through Twitter and Facebook, students from UCL and more have gathered in front of Topshop's flagship store on Oxford Street as part of the ongoing protests around tuition fees and the removal of the Education Maintenance Allowance, plus other government cuts.

Their target today is Arcadia boss and alleged tax-dodger Sir Philip Green , the retail billionaire and efficiency adviser to the government. Arcadia cashed in the largest cheque in corporate history in 2005, Green squirrelling it away to his wife in Monaco, a tax-haven. No UK income tax was due. Lucky boy. Tax Research UK reckons Phil saved an eye-watering £285m by paying the dividend to his wife. UK Uncut want these missing millions found and invested back into public services, like education.

A striking image for the protests: school girls in uniform protect a police van from further unwelcome violence

The main purpose of UK Uncut's campaign against Arcadia is to drive a wedge between pal David Cameron and the Lib Dems who are calling for tax avoiders to be driven out.

It is not without irony that I am blogging about this, rather than protesting. But I think Sofie Buckland, an English Literature student at UCL sums the situation up pretty well from inside the bubble, in this article in The New Statesman:

"The defining image of the student occupation at University College London is probably a MacBook. [But] the social media obsessed, apathetic, celeb-enamoured generation of popular myth are taking the emblems of this stereotype - the laptop, the Blackberry, the internet - and turning them into political tools."

From the Twittersphere:

For more Twitter updates on the UCL/general student protests from the front-line, follow @UCLOccupation and The New Statesman writer @PennyRed. UK Uncut's Twitter hashtag is #ukuncut, but also in use have been #2010demo and #dayx.

@UCLOccupation

"Philip Green, national thief, pay your tax or we won't leave!"

"You'll get the daily mail down here saying you're having an orgy."

@PennyRed

Topshop employee: "please, destroy the store for us! Company profits are up nineteen percent and our yearly bonus was just five pounds." (someone's in trouble)

VIVE LA REVOLUTION

Images
UCL Occupation blog
blinkofaneye's Flickr

Sources
The Guardian: Philip Green to be target of corporate tax avoidance protest

Alice by Temperley 1st birthday - English Eccentrics party

2010-11-29T13:50:00.001Z

At Paradise in Kensal Green on Thursday, Alice Temperley celebrated the one year anniversary of the launch of her second line Alice by Temperley, with a truly decadent and quintessentially English affair.

The dress code (English Eccentrics) brought out the whimsical in Alice's guests. Style Cramp, along with YAY OR NAY, was in mighty fine company, with Daisy Lowe and Ellie Goulding on decks and some of fashion's most elite in attendance. Top hats, coat tails, LOTS of fur, this was The Beautiful and the Damned. Though us two bloggers felt more Damned amongst these Beautifuls.

On arrival, we headed straight to the bar for Chambord cocktails and canapés. Setting ourselves near Alice's table, we took in the room and started to put names to faces. I sat down next to a beautiful lithe blonde, only to inwardly exclaim "christ, it's only Laura Bailey." INTIMIDATING.

Sure beats any fancy dress parties we've been to lately. The last of which I was dressed as Josef Fritzl *oh the shame*.

Right to left: Brian Ferry escaping our cam, Alice Temperley in glorious leopard print

Left: Daisy Lowe on the decks

Where: Paradise at Kensal Green

What: Dress code - English Eccentrics / food - fried saffron risotto, duck pancakes, chicken gojones with tomato salsa / drink - Chambord cocktails inc. The Blushing Alice

Who: Nicholas Kirkwood, Sophie Ellis Bextor, Bryan Ferry, Bip Ling, Lily Donaldson, Lara Bohinc, Mary Charteris, Nick Grimshaw, Zara Martin, Ben Grimes, Gizzi Erskine, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, Jacquetta Wheeler, Annie Mac (and more)

Highlights: Karaoke with Daisy Lowe

Lowlights: Making a tit of myself in front of Curtis from Misfits (Nathan Stewart-Jarrett):

YAYORNAY: Just go say hello, for gods sake.

STYLE CRAMP: No, it's too embarrassing!

YAYORNAY: *push*

STYLE CRAMP: *silence* HI! Er...I love Misfits, it's my favourite programme, sorryitjustHADTOBESAID!

NATHAN: Er, oh, thanks...do you want a picture

STYLE CRAMP: *frantic nodding*

Images YAYORNAY

Amsterdam, gangster man - Rotjoch, Rocks & Killa P - Ganja/Jonko

2010-11-18T10:29:00.001Z

Style Cramp is Amsterdam-bound this afternoon.

This video by Rotjoch, Rocks & Killa P, crew members in Cemetary Warriors seems apt, given they spit about travelling from Brixton to the Dam.

Rotjoch, Rocks & Killa P - Ganja/Jonko

Hold tight Amsterdam. Gangster man.

Links:
Video on Youtube
Cemetary Warriors on Myspace

Windward tales: The Power Of The Vagina + The Almighty Penis

2010-11-16T11:59:00.001Z

Style Cramp's done a feature for Ctrl.Alt.Shift on upcoming Trinidad and Tobagan film director Jimmel Daniel, whose two documentary films The Power of the Vagina and The Almighty Penis caused quite a storm at the Portobello film festival in September.

Jimmel Daniel stops traffic, in The Power of the Vagina

The films are funny, candid and well worth seeking out if you can get them online.

Lady Saw: her punnany's her paycheck

Massive thanks to Jimmel and his co-producer Renee Pollonais for chatting to me.

Check out the article here:
http://www.ctrlaltshift.co.uk/article/feature-power-vagina-almighty-penis-portbello-film-festival

Baby Blue doubles up

2010-11-14T18:00:00.003Z

Female MC Baby Blue won Style Cramp over with her vocals on "Little Derek" on Sway's debut album This Is My Demo in 2006. Her new track Double Up ft. Sean Starr was first to be played on Ace and Vis' 1Xtra show last night. Glad to see her cracking the mainstream.

Baby Blue ft Sean Starr – Double Up

Style Cramp recommends: Both her mixtapes, Out Of The Blue Volume 1 and Out Of The Blue Volume 2.

Quotes: "A Technicolour person in a monochrome world, she would shine most places - like Kelis gone to charm school." - Plan B Magazine

Links:
http://www.myspace.com/babyblueonline
http://www.bbc.co.uk/1xtra/aceandvis/

Let's adore and endure each other

2010-11-08T22:51:00.001Z

Well...

It seems a mighty long time ago I started this blog (about a year) with two friends/fashion insiders. We had some big ideas and it worked for a while, but they had other commitments and the contribution trailed off. That's OK, but I stuck with it.

I went from sending apologetic emails out to PR agencies, to getting invites, to getting second invites. No, i'm no Susie Bubble and I still have little impact on fashion/blogging dynamics, but that's OK because i'm at least getting respect.

I've been wanting to expand my horizons a little bit for a while, but have struggled with the question of whether to keep a strict focus on one thing like fashion to gain a following, or whether it's OK to put other things on here. Do I want to be one of those 'personal bloggers'? Is being another 'fashion blogger' any better? I love writing about fashion, but it's not all I write about in my freelance work, so in the end I just thought "well it is my blog. I can write what I like."

I'm going to let some other tings trickle in here. I still love fashion. But I also love blues, reggae, grime, Caribbean films and books. And sometimes I even think about social stuff, YA KNOW?

So we'll see what happens.

This is not the end. This is only the beginning.

Cramp crush: Laura Lombardi Jewellery

2010-11-05T13:51:00.002Z

I love love love these ethnic pieces from Laura Lombardi. They're available from Dust, which is an ace little boutique in Herne Hill. Due to rocketing rent prices and the general over-running of chains which is now beginning to occur on my road (oh the grief we've caused the new Pizza Express downstairs!) they're being forced to relocate. Very sad, but this is not the avenue to groan about the loss of localised business. I shall proceed with that on Twitter.

Vintage brass stud earrings / £20.00

Scale necklace / £35.00

Stacked rectangle necklace / £45.00

Ethically produced and not overly expensive. Tick and tick.

If anyone is taking note for Christmas, the last one is my favourite!

Dust will continue to sell online. Laura's jewellery is also available on her Etsy shop.

Links:
Laura Lombardi for Dust
Dust Boutique shop
Dust Boutique blog
Laura Lombardi on Etsy

Cramp crush: Etsy vintage

2010-11-03T15:45:00.001Z

The newest recruit to my vintage bag collection! Soft leather and big enough for a picnic:

Vintage basket weave leather hobo bag / $30 (19.20)

A woven body with leather circular drawstring at the top.

Links:
www.etsy.com

Fashion's Night In - and out

2010-11-02T13:56:00.003Z

Fashion's Night In ended at midnight last night. Net-wide discounts, bargains and prizes to be got. Here's Style Cramp's pick of the best:

www.kurtgeiger.com KG by Kurt Geiger:

Jewelled platform sandals / KG by Kurt Geiger / original price £160 now £120 (25% off) / www.kurtgeiger.com

Love the 20's feel of these platforms. Opaque black tights necessary!

www.theoutnet.com See by Chloé:

Metallic woven skater skirt / See by Chloé / original price £215 now £86 (60% off) / www.theoutnet.com

London has lots of skating rinks to choose from this December. Wear this skirt for what it was intended!

www.liberty.co.uk Manolo Blahnik for Liberty:

White silk illustrated shoe shelf scarf / Manolo Blahnik for Liberty / original price £150.00 now £135 / www.liberty.co.uk

A colourful classic.

www.my-wardrobe.com Helmut Lang:

Droid leather drape jacket / Helmut Lang / £977.81 / www.my-wardrobe.com

Edgy, cool, probably warm. The draping would break up smart tailoring effortlessly.

www.my-wardrobe.com Vivienne Westood Anglomania:

Sparkle twister elephant dress / Vivienne Westwood Anglomania / £292.31 / www.my-wardrobe.com

The cut of this looks so flattering. We bet it suits most body types, too.

www.cultbeauty.co.uk DuWop:

Eyecatcher shadow duo / DuWop / original price £18 now £12 (£5 off for every shopper) / www.cultbeauty.co.uk

This eyeshadow set is a bargain and the collage colours make blending super easy.

Fashion's Night In - live

2010-11-01T21:31:00.000Z

So what is Fashion's Night In?

It's discount shopping for one night only that you can do in your slippers. Courtesy of the lovely internets.

Vogue's teamed up with all the best online purveyors of style for discounts, prizes, free shipping and more. And the best bit is we're all in on the action.

Here are the best deals, courtesy of Telegraph Fashion:

- Angel Jackson: 30 per cent off the entire range.

- All Saints: 10 per cent off all their styles and free shipping.

- Asos: Designers Richard Nicoll and Louise Gray, along with ASOS's head of womenswear design Sarah Wilkinson, are answering sartorial Qs on Twitter from 6pm. Spend over £100 this eve to be entered in to competitions to win a styling session or must-have goodie bags. Join ASOS.com's Facebook group to get 20 per cent off orders on dresses.

- Boden: 15 per cent off along with free delivery and returns. Everyone who places an order will also be entered in to a prize draw to win £500 of vouchers.

-Harrods: enter to win the Ultimate Girl's Night Out Party Pack, which includes must-have accessories and beauty treats. Plus 10 per cent off all fashion and beauty orders.

- Harvey Nichols: 10 per cent off all fashion, beauty and accessories orders during the evening.

- Jaeger: From 5pm until midnight, 20 per cent off at Jaeger.co.uk , as well as the chance to win a £100 gift card in an hourly prize draw. Those who spend over £250 will be sent a jacquard weekend bag.

- Kurt Geiger: a 25 per cent discount between 5pm-midnight.

- Liberty: 10 per cent off all orders placed until midnight.

- Olivia Rubin: 20 per cent off all night.

And for second hand fiends:

- Oxfam: 20 per cent off all clothes and accessories orders, as well as free delivery.

GET SHOPPING!

We'll be trawling Twitter for the best bargains available, more tomorrow! In the mean time, keep up to date all evening with the Vogue live blog.

Links:
http://fashion.telegraph.co.uk/article/TMG8102512/Get-set-for-Fashions-Night-In.html
http://www.vogue.co.uk/fashions-night-in/live-blog/

Style Cramp at the Blitz Party: Pt II

2010-10-27T13:42:00.009+01:00

Style Cramp was back in the Blitz again this weekend for the ever-popular Blitz Party in Shoreditch.

Understated Hollywood glamour was my look this time. In May I went for a younger, evacuee-style look, with bobby socks and brogues and a simple blue cheesecloth dress. More Blitzy than Ritzy. See May's Blitz post HERE.


Dress (vintage), £60, vintage fair Colchester. Mary Janes (vintage), £4, Victoria Pub Jumble Grove Road. Seamed stockings, £9.99, Pretty Polly

The Blitz Party scores big points for me on my Night Out Fun Agenda:

1) Massive lindy hopping opportunities: tick.

2) Mega dress-up facilitation: double tick.

3) No-hassle, jolly-good, right-old-riot frolicking: well for that, it's just the event.

But my second Blitz party just didn't quite cut the mustard. I'm well aware that if this was 1940, there'd still be those silly twerps around fighting on the dance floor and stealing juice from the bar, but it ain't what you want from a classy establishment.

So it just wasn't like my first, where the dancing and the costumes were proper spiffs. But hey, seamed stockings? I don't need much of an excuse to get 'em out.

NB: Despite my moans and groans, i'm very grateful to Village Underground for sorting us out (and boy, thanks for all the gin fizzes - blerk).

Links:
http://www.theblitzparty.com/

HELLO, want more pictures? Go to the Style Cramp Facebook page! And 'like' it while you're there. Thanks sexy.

Here's the Blitz Party album:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=491908507159&set=a.491908352159.299719.298377607159#!/album.php?aid=299719&id=298377607159

Fashion, maths and zombies

2010-10-13T11:40:00.073+01:00

Well have you seen them on the front row together? Makes perfect sense, really.

Fashion equations by FASHEMATICS.

And. FASHEMATICS has immortalised the best looks from the Spring/Summer 2010 runway shows in a zine called FASHEMATICAL, reinterpreted as a horde of zombies and robots, hell-bent on taking over the planet.

Featuring Prada, Bernhard Willhelm, Balenciaga, Alexander McQueen, John Galliano, Chanel and more!

Fashion and zombies (or at least our 'to-the-hills' escape plan) comprise 98% of Style Cramp's waking thoughts, so, a meeting of the two has this blogger in awe. Or should we say "oooourrrrrr...."

Images and sources
http://fashematics.com/

Time stops on the 9th arrondissement

2010-10-11T18:32:00.007+01:00

It's unknown why Madame de Florian left her flat in such a hurry before the War, but one thing is known - she never returned.

This is her flat in Paris, halfway between the Pigalle red light district and Opera, as it stood when she left 70 years ago. Nothing has touched it but dust, until this week.

One thing that stands out in these images is the Mickey Mouse toy. The apartment has a personality and these are Madame's personal things. It makes you wonder why she left a place so suddenly if it was more than just a show-home.

As it turns out, Madame de Florian was the granddaughter of Marthe de Florian, an actress loved by many men, including the 72nd prime minister of France, George Clemenceau, and the 19th century Italian artist Giovanni Boldini, for whom she was his muse. The artist's love letters to Marthe lay interned in the apartment, the only clue to the identity of the girl in the muslin dress who adorns Madame's wall.

Call it sentimental, but it's sad to think about the dismantling of the rooms . If it wasn't missed until Madame's recent death, then it would be nice to let it be, as a testiment to a mysterious French woman, and a life lived.

Images
http://www.howtobearetronaut.com/2010/10/paris-flat-unopened-for-70-years/

Sources
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/8042281/Parisian-flat-containing-2.1-million-painting-lay-untouched-for-70-years.html

Adam Entwisle SS11 catwalk show

2010-09-23T14:12:00.004+01:00

At the last show of the On/Off Victoria House schedule, Adam Entwisle showcased his SS11 ready-to-wear collection.

A flourish of berry brights panelled against camels and nudes, sharp tailoring married gentle draping. The hair was fabulous; the angular bouffants were cool and sleek while the boxy bobs were ultra-feminine. The clothes was retro-futuristic, referencing Entwisle's inspiration for the collection: Roger Vadim's films of the 1960s and Jane Fonda as Barbarella.

Style Cramp loved the Sci-Fi aesthetic, and packing our hair is already a lifestyle choice, so this collection gets a huge thumbs up.

One front-rower was extremely on trend in her 60s-style white platform space boots.

As for the event: filthy rock 'n' roll from Marner Brown, plus posh cider, jellies and a medieval-styled banquet.

Go to the Style Cramp Facebook page for more photos.

Links
http://www.adamentwisle.com/

Thanks
Vitaminwater for the invite! http://www.vitaminwater.co.uk/

Rag N Bone tales

2010-09-20T13:19:00.015+01:00

Style Cramp has been going to Deptford market on Deptford High Street for donkey's years. A vibrant and bustling agglomeration of £1 dresses, vintage porn and rickety furniture, the market defines the phrase "one girl's junk is another girl's treasure." And Style Cramp loves junk; the floral cropped vest and wool high-waisted trousers i'm wearing today were £1 and 50p respectively, and there's just no way you'd be able to tell!

Also on the High Street, past the £1 vendor is Rag N Bone, a vintage shop that is packed to the rafters with amazing finds (certainly not junk) and cheap too!

Dolcis leather pixie boots (vintage), £16, Rag N Bone

Harrods beaded gown (vintage), £49.99, Rag N Bone

Rag N Bone

140 DEPTFORD HIGH STREET
LONDON SE8 3PQ
+44 (0) 20 8691 4463

Deptford market is open Saturdays and Wednesdays, on the High Street.

A Chanel afternoon at Claridges

2010-09-16T13:27:00.008+01:00

Style Cramp was thrilled to be invited on Monday to an intimate tea and chat with Chanel biographer and former Vogue features editor Justine Picardie.

Coco Chanel: The Legend and the Life is published today.

In her chic (dressed in Chanel, of course) and completely charming way, Justine unravelled a truly fascinating story of her journey to discover the 'real Coco', over Earl Grey and macaroons in pastel shades.

From private collections, Justine has brought to light some wonderfully intimate photographs from Chanel's youth, including one of her fishing with the Duke of Westminster, in which she looks effortlessly feminine in his tweed trousers. These personal photos uncover Chanel's inspirations, of course in the tweed, but also in images from Auberzine, the French convent where she was raised. Look closely at the pictures of the austere black and white stained glass windows and you'll almost see the famous Cs of Chanel's logo. The language and iconography of Chanel's work emerge in the pictures of her youth.

Ghosts and perfume

Justine encountered her own ghosts in her retreat at Auberzine, and that of 'the Mademoiselle'. Justine felt Chanel's presence in her apartment, where you can still smell the perfume of No.5 that Chanel enveloped herself in, and in the Ritz where she lived and died.*

It was inspiring to hear Justine's journey as a writer and lover of Chanel, from writing at her ink-stained leather desk at her apartment, to spending time with Gabriel, the great niece (or possible granddaughter), who let her try on Auntie Coco's own silk-lined jackets, which still hold her signature scent.

Hiding in her own reflection

Chanel hid in mirrors. Her apartment at 31 Rue Cambon is heavily mirrored, but in a way, her reflection hid her real identity. She would hide at the top of the staircase at her shows, watching from the sidelines, seen by no-one but herself.

It is fitting to say that Justine has held a mirror up to Chanel to explore her identity in a way that perhaps only an English writer could. Exercising her Cambridge alumnus status to open the Churchill archives, Justine expands on Chanel's close relationship with Winston Churchill. As a British biographer, she possibly had more scope to delve into what is considered by the French as a stain on Chanel's career; her World War dealings and her affair with a German officer.

A vulnerable icon

So what stood out for Justine in her research, about Chanel as a person?

"I think the fragility and the vulnerability. Words that are often used to describe her are 'bitch', 'Nazi'. As well as 'genius' of course. But she had a great fragility to her.

"She also told so many lies. She covered up everything: her birth certificate, her age. She covered up the shame and humiliation of her background."

Style Cramp can't wait to delve in and explore this book. Having seen the newly published photos in the book and Karl Lagerfeld's exclusive drawings, it's safe to say that this is going to be a definitive exposé on Chanel as an icon, and as a woman who lived and loved.

* Justine believes Chanel surrounded herself with her perfume, having a member of Chanel spritz it through the doorway as she came in every morning, to deal with her own morbid horror of bad smells which probably emanated from spending possibly days with her mother's dead body as a small girl.

Justine Picardie will talk about the book and answer questions at Kensington High Street Waterstones on 23 September, 7pm.

Links
http://www.waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/products/justine+picardie/coco+chanel/6680028

H&M launch online

2010-09-16T09:56:00.001+01:00

H&M's online shop opened at 9am!

Oh MY, this is going to be dangerous.

Guide through a selection of their Autumn 10 line with sleek graphics that fall away like they're printed on silk as you click through to the next image.

A great feature is 'The Outfit', which gives you great suggestions for styling items. Style Cramp loves these vinyl-effect trousers. Perfect for London in the coming cold months!

Links:

http://www.hm.com/gb/

Noughtie Nightlife

2010-09-14T21:40:00.003+01:00

Style Cramp dropped in to the launch of an exciting new photo exhibition at Rich Mix in Bethnal Green last week. Noughtie Nightlife was a celebration of all that was fabulous and a bit mental about the dress-up night club scene of the noughties. Cue flashbacks to nights spent travelling to Shoreditch from uni and, maybe i'm mad, but i'm sure I recognised a few characters.

The curator, DJ and photographer Antony Price, is a researcher and lecturer at the London College of Fashion. The exhibition gives an insight into how important club photography was to the noughties night scene, emerging online on sites like Dontstayin.com. And the fashion was hugely important.

The underground culture gave us acts like Erol Alkan (curator of cult night Trash, RIP) and Bloc Party and from the shadows re-emerged a New York-like dirty glam scene. Remember Jodie Harsh?

Check out these mad lovelies from the launch night:

(COR BLIMEY I think he ate Culture Club)

A little sneaky peek:

Noughtie Nightlife Exhibition
Thu 9 Sep - Sat 2 Oct / Mezzanine / Free

RICH MIX
35 - 47 Bethnal Green Road, London, E1 6LA

BOX OFFICE:
020 7613 7498

Links:

http://www.pigeonsandpeacocks.com/noughtienightlife/
http://www.richmix.org.uk/
http://www.arts.ac.uk/newsevents/13928/london-college-of-fashion-announces-noughtie-nightlife/
http://www.dontstayin.com/

Moody & Farrell for Bobbin Bicycles

2010-09-04T11:57:00.000+01:00

Moody & Farrell make hats from your wildest dreams or most mundane musings.

Happily for all you bike obsessed (eg. Style Cramp of late), they've now teamed up with Islington bike fellows Bobbin Bicycles, and done a spiffing/marvo/tremendous line in cycle hats.

I say, Mr Benn!

Elementary!

As an alternative to the Breton top that is being overworn right now, howsabout a sailor collar with reflective scotchguard trim!

Hello sailor!

Best worn for trips to your nearest public house for jolly japes and lashings of ale or ginger beer.

Info and sources
http://moodyandfarrell.co.uk/
http://www.bobbinbicycles.co.uk/

Style Cramp fashion radar: Lanvin X H&M | Zara online

2010-09-03T09:16:00.014+01:00

Yesterday was an exciting day for UK fashion!

Firstly, the rumours have been confirmed: Lanvin is collaborating with H&M. Style Cramp loves Lanvin. Lux and out of our price range, as are most coveted things, so this could be ACE. As Lanvin himself puts it:

"It [isn't] a project about a dress for less. I think that I loved the idea that H&M was going luxury, rather than Lanvin was going public."

Nothing wrong with Lanvin going public in our eyes - fashion's for everyone. BUT, if the outcome is anything like the cheap and tacky Sonia Rykiel for H&M in 2009, this just won't work. Tacky shoes and cheapo underwear.

See the artistic director Alber Elbaz tell it for himself:

Isn't he great? Like a funny little fashion Ronnie Corbet.

ALSO

Zara launches online store

Going the way of Urban Outfitters, Gap and Banana Republic, Zara is opening itself up to the internet. It goes live here on 16th September.

Links:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0X1avJD0-g

http://www.zara.com

Cox Cookies and Cake

2010-09-02T09:26:00.005+01:00

Shoe dude Patrick Cox has opened a patisserie just where you'd expect with a name like that; Soho.

Combining the innocent delight of cupcakes and the playful eroticism of his surname, Cox Cookies and Cake opened on Brewer Street yesterday. Cox is in partnership with the French patissier Cake Boy, aka Eric Lanlard.

Cox's cakes aren't sweetness and light, they're Soho and kitsch, which is perfectly prescribed in the ‘beef cake’, decorated with a bulging bicep.

If the neon pink sequined walls make you think 'sex shop', you'd be forgiving for thinking you'd gone in the store next door.

And for culture fact fans: Tracey Emin designed the ‘I Keep Haunting You’ sign behind the counter.

Cox Cookies & Cakes, 13 Brewer Street, W1F 0RH (020 7434 0242 or coxcookiesandcake.com).

Image sources:
http://www.gq-magazine.co.uk
http://www.dailycandy.com

Links:
http:://www.coxcookiesandcake.com
http://www.patrickcox.com/

Hardy Amies Past Present and Future: Vintage at Goodwood

2010-09-01T11:05:00.001+01:00

Style Cramp were lucky enough to have front row seats at the Hardy Amies runway show at Vintage at Goodwood, showcasing their style archive, with some sneaky peeks at a future collection.

British tailor Hardy Amies opened his English couture house on Savile Row in 1945, after designing utility Clothing during the Second World Waw. Amies was dressmaker to HM Queen Elizabeth II from her accession to the throne until his retirement from fashion in 1990.

Vintage at Goodwood: style spots

2010-08-30T16:58:00.001+01:00

Vintage at Goodwood was, as anticipated, a showcase of the best in vintage style. For this festival's punters, music came second to coiffed hair, and immaculate attire. The Saturday that Style Cramp was there (in a leg brace and on crutches!), the look was all about winged spectacles and 50s dresses. The epitome of post-war British couture in a modern setting.

Due to our dedication to photographing the wonderful people and surroundings, Style Cramp and co was (SADLY) unable to peruse the rails and rails of vintage clothing. This was on par with a vinyl aficionado being locked in a record shop and told not to touch anything. Torture! But, professionalism prevailed and I dragged my sorry knee up and down the high street, taking it all in.

Here's a selection of some of the best dressed:

And leg brace-chic (Style Cramp):

Sky Ride Style

2010-08-10T22:59:00.001+01:00

Don't you know yet? "Cycling is officially chic."

If you're London-based and haven't seen one of Boris's bikes on the road, then you've probably been walking round with your fashionable eyes closed, my dear.

Kelly Brook is the face of Sky Ride Style, a new style blog running alongside the Sky Ride campaign, giving fashion tips on looking ravishing on your Raleigh!

Sky TV have come together with British Cycling to celebrate our love of the humble bike and get everyone out on the road. They've set themselves a target of getting one million more people on a bike by 2013.

Sky Ride will be putting on 12 free events, from road races to group rides for everyone from the seasoned cyclist to absolute beginners, in 11 cities across the UK.

So if you're planning on picking up a Boris-bike next weekend, you're possibly not prepared to kit yourself out with skin-tight lycra and clips (though a helmet is always a good idea!); obviously wearing something appropriate but glam is most important!

Cycle Style Hunter

The best part of the campaign. Sky Ride Style photographers will be taking to the streets to find the best-dressed-on-bikes. The most stylish cyclists at the end of the summer will win a bespoke cycling outfit by designer Kate Halfpenny.

Sky Ride cities

Bath

Birmingham

Blackpool

Bradford

Glasgow

Leicester

London

Manchester

Middlesbrough

Preston

Redbridge

Southampton

Bike-friendly buys

So it's not easy looking good when you're sweating under your helmet and there's mud splattered up your fav beige cigarette trousers, but here's Style Cramp's pick of the bunch to see you're comfy without scrimping on the look-good:

From top to bottom left: KTZ SPACE Pring bum bag, £30.00, Bitching and Junkfood (sale) /
BERTIE Norman Brogue Chaplin Boot, £110, ASOS / REMADE Deep Scoop Leather Shorts, £39, Bitching and Junkfood (sale) / J.CREW, Celine plaid wool poncho, £670, Net-a-Porter.com (yeah, that one's for the wish list)

Sign up at Sky Ride Style for more deets!

Links
www.goskyride.com
http://www.goskyride.com/about/sky-ride-style.aspx

My Gosh Marvellous

2010-08-08T16:46:00.002+01:00

Style Cramp, alongside Yay or Nay, got on the jive again at the My Gosh Marvellous vintage summer ball at Proud Camden last Sunday.

Gypsy jazz, 30s and 40s decadence, West End performers, magic and cocktails.

Style Cramp LOVES a bit of 40s escapism.

Thanks Y.O.N for letting us nick the pics!

Looking for real vintage inspiration?
Check out the Vintage Queens on www.queensofvintage.com. Style Cramp's got a couple of articles on there too, seek 'em out!

Want to jive with the big cats?
Why not take up the Lindy Hop! Style Cramp did a few lessons, it's not easy we can tell you!

Links
www.mygoshmarvellous.co.uk
www.proudcamden.com
www.queensofvintage.com
www.swingdanceuk.com

Cramp crush: Yazbukey

2010-08-05T09:30:00.003+01:00

Style Cramp's crush this week is accessory line, Yazbukey, not least because it's run by two Ottoman princesses born from the loins of an Egyptian king.

There's something quite charming about their plexiglass icon-faces on strings.

We want the Karl, WE NEEEEED THE KARL!

They reminded us of these masks which Style Cramp took to The Secret Garden Party.

Another fun element is working out the pop icon. Kind of like couture minipops.

Designers Yaz and Emil say they're inspired by the music of Gershwin, the tales of the brothers Grimm, and the movies of Hitchcock and Burton. There's definite likenesses between these pieces and Gilbert and George for Tatty Devine. Style Cramp loves both.

Think pop art images of Freddie Mercury and Marylin Monroe lacks originality? Well what about French singer Sébastien Tellier for a muse (AW2010)?

Pick up a pendant from their website

Links
www.yazbukey.com
www.tattydevine.com

The Secret Garden Party - festive stylings

2010-07-29T23:24:00.001+01:00

Style Cramp was at The Secret Garden Party this weekend and there were more than a few fantastic outfits on show - more than we could ever possibly photograph! SGP is one of those newish breeds of festival where fancy dress is key.

When Style Cramp was a whipper-snapper at hippie fests and later, Reading, festival style was about wearing out your one pair of trousers, maybe changing your knickers once or twice and of course some choice nudity, but these days, things couldn't be more different. At SGP if you weren't dressed up for at least one day, you stood out for all the wrong reasons.

Style Cramp were lucky enough to catch a 'catwalk' show at the village hall stage showcasing some of the best outfits:

Festival fashion is still as much about relaxed styles as it is about fanciful dress-up. It's fine to be a little uncomfortable if you're doing it justice in a huge tin-of-Spam costume, but if you're chilling in your own clothes, you want to make it look like you've made as little effort as possible, while managing to accidentally look super chic and on-trend.

These guys at SGP on Sunday managed it very well. Spot the models!

Style Cramp's take on dress-up glam:

Clothes

Left - headdress, bespoke, made by Marion at Bitching and Junkfood (www.bitchingandjunkfood.co.uk) / gold crop-top £4.99, Urban Outfitters, sale (www.urbanoutfitters.co.uk) / gold hot-pants £2, vintage wholesaler, Canning Town / sandals £9.99 Urban Outfitters, sale / gold bangles, £1.99 each, charity shop

Right - headdress, as before / dress £25, Rejuvanate in Brixton market, vintage (@spacemkrs) / belt, borrowed, vintage / sandals, as before / gold bangles, as before

Clothes

headdress, as before / gown, £3, vintage wholesaler, Canning Town

Want more? Here are the rest of the summer's best dress-up festivals:

- Vintage at Goodwood
- Shambala
- Bestival

Want laid back style? Try:

- The Big Chill

You might also like:

Style Cramp: Festival chic exposed

Links:

http://uk.secretgardenparty.com/2010

[To read the full Style Cramp review of SGP for Sony Bloggie, go here]

The Secret Garden Party - fancy dress(es)

2010-07-27T15:46:00.001+01:00

No love for our box. Just flippin' burgers!

2010-07-20T13:40:00.009+01:00

Well doesn't Style Cramp talk the big talk! After all that, we didn't even SEE any styles at Lovebox since on Sunday, we decided to help out our mate instead. Well we were there Friday night mostly sippin' on Relentless in the Relentless VIP bar. Sugar hiiiigh.

Style Cramp was at Lambeth Country Show in Brixton Saturday and Sunday packing meat on Old Spots' organic pork stall. The look du jour was apron, one blue glove, sweaty fringe. FIT.

So what's a fashionista to do when thrown behind a griddle with no pattie experience and a brain NOT made for counting change? Well next time we'll insist on wearing this Etsy beaut. Definitely more suited for mixing up a monster Pimms in the garden than avoiding grease spatter.

Gingham watermelon apron from Etsy, $30, as featured on Domestic Sluttery

Secret Garden Party is three days away, we're giddy with excitement and no, we certainly won't be selling out on this one!

Style Cramp purchased a glorious floor length gown and a pair of gold hot pants (who doesn't need?) from our wholesale vintage stockist yesterday for £3 and £2 consecutively and they're ready to be packed!! Woopee.

Links and sources
http://www.domesticsluttery.com/2010/07/etsy-pick-gingham-watermelon-apron.html
http://www.etsy.com/listing/48284774/retro-apron-watermelon-print-retro-apron
http://www.flickr.com/photos/37153875@N08/3730053609/

Love my box

2010-07-16T13:45:00.001+01:00

Style Cramp is off to LOVEBOX in Victoria Park tonight and Sunday. YAYSERS. So we'll be back Monday, with a hangover, to bring you some festival style.

Plus points for crazy jumpsuits and interesting headwear. Minus points for sunburn and hairy backs.

We're excited to see:

SINDEN
JOY ORBISON
CHROMEO
HORSE MEAT DISCO

plus two of Style Cramp's top style icons, GRACE JONES and PEACHES.

Maybe we'll do some interviews if we're not having TOO much fun.

Smell you later beautiful.

Heads and (peacock) tails above the rest

2010-07-13T13:53:00.005+01:00

We hate to brag but we're off to THE most stylish festival in a couple of weeks, Secret Garden Party and we've begun to put together our maddest, baddest, most preposterous outfit yet. This year we won't be beaten. The theme is fact or fiction, so a Star Trek jumpsuit takes care of a 'theme', and Karen Carpenter-esque dresses and glitter takes care of the rest.

In need of a stunning headdress, we tweeted the love and stunning Miggy of www.miggylikestheinternet.com, wearer of nice head-gear and style blogger extraordinaire, and Bitching and Junkfood was the direction in which she sent us. Loving their feather and leather crowns, but being all poor and lowly and that, we timidly asked them to make us something up, bespoke like.

And they were more than happy to! Here's Marina of the Diamonds wearing a Bitching and Junkfood beaut:

Bitching and Junkfood have been on most fashionista's radar for a while, and it's clear to see why, they make right nice accessories.

Necklaces and headdress from B and J line for Urban Outfitters

THANKS Bitching and Junkfood!!

Links and sources

Marion from Bitching and Junkfood!

http://twitter.com/secretgardenhq
http://www.bitchingandjunkfood.com
http:blog.bitchingandjunkfood.com/
http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/the-vogue-blog
http://www.urbanoutfitters.co.uk

J'aime mon bicyclette!

2010-07-12T13:47:00.001+01:00

Bikes bikes bikes! It's all Style Cramp can think about right now. Soon we will be cycling around London with market goods in our basket, pretending Elephant and Castle is Montmarte. Ok, we have a BIG imagination.

YOU BEAUT

Isn't it this Bronx Metropole a 24 carat stunner? S'red! With a basket! Yeah we don't know a lot about bikes, but we know what's pretty. And it'll soon be ours.

Now, we aren't likely to be Tour de Francing it up in lycra shorts and shaving all our body hair off. So long as we don't catch our dress in the spokes we're happy. But we will be cycling to work so we'll need a sensible-while-chic bag type affair.

You can put your fruit in it, apparently

[Ally Capellino for Apple]

This is THE bag we want. We don't have an Apple Mac *CRY*, and the price of this gorgeous canvas rucksack, sadly, is in realms of the reason why don't. Here are some alternatives for all you keen bike fans. BIKES RULE!

We love the leather satchel so! Both bags are from Asos, so it's good to know there's choice in the men's section if we struggle to find one in women's.

Links
http://www.asos.com/Asos-Collection/Asos-Canvas-Rucksack/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=1150277&cid=9265&sh=0&pge=0&pgesize=20&sort=-1&clr=Mustard

http://www.asos.com/Asos/Asos-Tan-Leather-Rucksack/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=1019835&cid=8730&Rf44=342&sh=0&pge=0&pgesize=200&sort=-1&clr=Tan

http://allycapellino.co.uk/cmsx1.html

Sources
www.asos.com
http://bellsbicycles.co.uk/node/22
http://allycapellino.co.uk

Upholstery magic

2010-07-09T13:31:00.011+01:00

We made a chair seat! Like, from scratch! Oh it's so beautiful. Nobody is allowed to sit on it, only look at it and marvel. This must be what it's like to be proud of a personal achievement because we felt all warm inside and a sort of wistfulness as we chipped in the final tack.

Here are some shoddy pics of the chair taking shape. Don't know why we don't have any of the first stages, so we'll have to explain that bit:

After cutting off the old lino from our charity-shop-chair, a hard-wearing hessian tape was threaded back and forth across the frame of the seat, and pulled through some dewberry which we hoisted between our thighs to pull it super tight. Then this was tacked onto the frame with brass tacks. This formed the skeleton of the chair.

Hessian was then tacked over this and a length of twine was woven across and up to form a loose criss-cross in which to stuff 1lb of acrylic wool.

Then, a sheet of wool wadding was laid loosely across the seat. If the hessian tape is the skeleton which stops your arse falling through, think of the wadding as the muscle and tissues that make it comfy.

Calico was tacked over; a timely and energy-zapping task! The tacks had to at first be loose, then as you pull the calico tighter and tighter, retacked and the wadding and wool slowly moulded into a perfectly smooth seat. It's harder than you'd think! This took two and a bit hours.

After the calico was perfect and the corners finished off, with no excess, the fabric was laid over and secured in the same way. There's a very particular way to do the corners. They have to be right or the seat doesn't go back in the chair!

The under-covering was then attached. Another laborious task; these were the tacks that would show and we wanted it to be perfect. It wasn't easy getting the fabric to lay flat all the way around, and secure it while you are finding the best place for it to line up with the corners and the edges. Plus, there were so many tacks already in the chair, every third hammer tap, we'd find one and our perfectly placed tack would fly across the room!

The finished article!

YIPPEE! We made something that isn't a badly hemmed second-hand dress for once!

If we got a tattoo

2010-07-03T12:00:00.011+01:00

It would be a tribute to a fav East End matriarch:

PAT BUTCHER!!!

We'd get it on the front of our calf. Love a duck.

Links
http://www.3am.co.uk/essex-woman-pinky-darling-has-pat-butcher-tattoo-on-her-arm/23069/

Pink? Blue? Blink? Poo?

2010-07-02T12:49:00.008+01:00

Bit of a science-meets-fashion post here. Coz we are, like, well bookish and clever. Actually we don't really understand science at all. Can you tell by the title?

A friend put us on to this in Bad Science and, er, once we skimmed past the techy bits, it was an interesting insight into the evolutionary idea that girls prefer pink stuff and boys prefer blue.

"At last, science discovers why blue is for boys but girls really do prefer pink" (so says the Times).

Here be a graph!!!

The study asked over 200 20-somethings to choose their favourite colours between two options, repeatedly, and then graphed their overall preferences. It found that infact boys did tend to go for blue and girls pink. This is because boys do hunting (blue things?) and girls, er, are hunter gatherers and need to be good at identifying berries.

RIIIGHT

From Bad Science:

In 1918, the Ladies Home Journal wrote: “There has been a great diversity of opinion on the subject, but the generally accepted rule is pink for the boy and blue for the girl. The reason is that blue being a more decided and stronger color is more suitable for the boy, while pink, which is more delicate and dainty, is prettier for the girl.”

The Sunday Sentinel in 1914 told American mothers: “If you like the color note on the little one’s garments, use blue for the boy and pink for the girl, if you are a follower of convention.” Some sources suggest it wasn’t until the 1940s that the modern gender associations of girly pink became universally accepted. Pink is, therefore, perhaps not biologically girly. Boys who were raised in pink frilly dresses went down mines and fought in World War 2. Clothing conventions do change over time.

There's still a taboo though, if boys wear pink? Perhaps not. We've recently teased our 14 year old brother for wearing a chavvy pink polo shirt. But that's because it's a polo shirt. It's less to do with the colour. And he turns his collar up, hence inviting abuse. If he wore a pink band t-shirt we'd probably say, "oh. Cool t-shirt."

When we researched this post, little came up in high fashion that is pink. Pink in menswear is generally associated with high-end chav. Something an extra off Hollyoaks is inclined to wear.

A fashion article on About.com says there is something alluring about pink. Maybe that’s because psychologically it is known to have a calming effect. Or maybe it’s because a man who wears pink exudes confidence, yet is sensitive. ... And lastly, if you're still not convinced how great pink is, women love pink and are more likely to give you a second glance.

Um. Well. Yeah we probably would give you a second glance. A glance that says "put your collar down."

So our non-scientific conclusion is, that men who wear pink are, just men who like pink. We don't like pink, because the colour is naff. That's just a personal preference. Nothing psychological in that. But then we don't gather berries...

Links
http://www.badscience.net/2007/08/pink-pink-pink-pink-pink-moan/
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/science/article2294539.ece
http://mensfashion.about.com/od/wardrobebasics/a/pink.htm

Image Sources
Bad Science

THE WONDER!

2010-06-28T14:04:00.000+01:00

Screw Glasto, we went to see the WONDER on Saturday!

The Uniform Project: Picture Book

2010-06-25T13:49:00.001+01:00

1 dress. 365 days. Sounds like a boring challenge, right? Not if you're as sartorially savvy as New York-based Sheena Matheiken, who pledged to wear the same LBD every day for a year, with a LOT of creative license.

This has been around for a while, but it was just brought to our attention, so it'd be a shame to miss it off.

For every day she posted a picture of herself accessorized to the NINES, Sheena donated a dollar to the Akanksha Foundation, a grassroots movement campaigning for schooling for the 7.5m Indian kids that are not in education.

Money raised so far: $103,253
Kids in school = 286

Links
http://theuniformproject.com/

Image sources
http://www.guardian.co.uk

Festival chic exposed

2010-06-23T14:02:00.003+01:00

Thank goodness one fashion insider is practical when it comes to so called fashion 'chic':

"Round my way, a festival look is at least three sweatshirts, a bad pair of jeans, lame wellingtons from the high street that leak because you were too cheap to go Hunter, hair that hasn't been washed for three days, eyes that haven't been shut for four".
-- Hadley Freeman, The Guardian, 20th June 2010

Our realistic tips for your summer festivals. And they don't include info on battery-powered hair straighteners:

1) Look utterly ridiculous
This is no time to look chic or understated, there are men in dresses everywhere for god's sake. Someone wants to do a cock on your head in flouro paint? Let 'em and wash it off next week. But go for something other than crudely drawn genitalia. This hairstyle would never have worked without three days of grease and a polystyrene cup. Loved it so much we slept in it for 2 whole nights.

2) Dress-up
The theme at Secret Garden Party this year is 'fact or fiction'. We went as a tree imp last year ('Eden and Babylon'). We might write the words to Rime of the Ancient Mariner all over our body. This is too wanky, right?

3) Let it all hang out
Everyone loves a pair of tits in the front row at the main stage, and here's where you can get away with flashing your bits at choice moments during the weekend. Go on, do it, it's hilarious.

4) Recycle your undies
A boyfriend of ours once lost all his luggage. He wore our underwear all weekend and probably loved it.

5) Get diirty
No don't slide in the mud, you will regret that, but a cowboy bath (with baby wipes rather than an old rag) is acceptable and frankly, respected in our eyes. Don't take dresses you're going to worry about sitting on the ground in, because that's just dumb.

6) Slap on the glitter
Yeah your face is covered in zits, but you've got four days of glitter on so no-one can see it. Sleeping in fake eyelashes may be the quickest way to a sty, but we just don't think about these things when we're crawling into our tent at 5.30am.

7) Take clothes and shoes you don't mind losing
We once lost a flip flop in a human turd at Reading. They were not missed. If all goes to plan, you should end up naked sleeping in the stone circle anyway, so take something old and swap clothes with a handsome stranger.

8) Pack light You don't need three headscarves, trust us. And do not, as Glamour recommends, pack it all into a wheely suitcase (have they ever been to a festival?!). And if the weather's like this, you'll want to get out sharpish.

Let's be honest, unless your press or a performer, this is the reality of your festival look:

Images
flickr.com
www.dailymail.com
Our own SGP shots

Sources
www.guardian.co.uk
Experience!

Rockabilly stylings

2010-06-17T17:07:00.047+01:00

Style Cramp's had some Stray Cats in our earphones this morning, and it's got us thinking about Rockabilly and fashion.

Americana has always been a bit of an obsession of ours; as a kid we had an Arkansas Razorbacks varsity jacket which was pretty coveted by the other kids in year 5.

We listened to nothing but Elvis Presley from the age of about 8 til 12 (until we discovered the black singers he was copying and changed our musical affiliations). A visit to an Elvis convention weekend aged 11 was heaven until we got to go to Graceland and see the real thang.

Just like the Stray Cats did in the '80s, fashion has taken elements of Rockabilly and created a new, contemporary look with it. In the same way the working class fashion-minded boys of the 1950s revived Edwardian 'Saville Row' type tailoring and made it their own, Alice Dellal has made a name for herself with her trademark look of cropped vests, hot pants, ripped fish nets and brothel creepers.

The teddy boy shoe has made quite a comeback as an alternative to the tough and casual boots of AW09 (the trusty favourite of ours, the DM being an example).

We love these blue ones from Asos, but we'd rather buy creepers with a story to tell, like kicking a mod. Blood stains included.

So brothel creepers with ripped hosiery is all very well if you have the hot bod of a supermodel a la Dellal, but what about for us normals? What's a good teddy boy look?

We're liking bootlace ties at the moment. If you don't fancy looking like Johnny Cash though, then team a ribbon or narrow scarf with a high-necked shirt. Make sure to get some leg out though, to balance the whole look out and avoid been called a 'Sloaney Pony' which is what our boss called us. We told him it was 'rodeo chic' but he didn't buy it!

Skinny jeans or girly dresses also look ace with creepers. Add a pair of ankle socks for flirty feminine charm with edge. Despite the fact that one creeper-loving Independent journalist calls the sockless "Godless", rule and there's no two ways about it.

Here are some of our favourite Rockabilly-inspired looks from across the fashion sphere:

Links:

http://thesartorialist.blogspot.com
www.asos.com

Image sources:

http://www.asos.com/Asos-Collection/Asos-1-Of-100-Brothel-Creepers/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=685290
www.dailymail.com.uk
http://thesartorialist.blogspot.com

Graduate Fashion Week - Introducing Kitty Keay

2010-06-15T10:39:00.038+01:00

"Novelty makes fashion more alluring."

Kitty Keay, Mulberry Accessories Award winner, Graduate Fashion Week 2010

It's the place to look for upcoming talent; Graduate Fashion Week drew to a close with a gala show last Wednesday.

Alberta Ferretti presented the £20,000 River Island Gold Award to Rebecca Thompson, whose collection mixed hand-pleats with jersey, lace bibs with endless pleats and boasted crisps collars Lagerfeld would be proud of. All very wearable. Rebecca is a name to look out for.

Rebecca Thompson's Graduate Collection, winner of the River Island Gold Award
Our style eye was firmly on the winner of the Mulberry Accessories Award, Kitty Keay. We are massively biased as Kitty's from our little home town of Colchester (Colchester School of Art, Design and Media), but we don't care. It got our attention and then when we checked out her collection, we loved her SHIZ.

Mulberry Accessories Award winner Kitty Keay, Colchester School of Art, Design and Media
Kitty has only gone and bloody been picked with ten other students to be photographed by RANKIN. We're so proud!

Photo by Rankin

Emma Hill, Creative Director of Mulberry, said she chose Kitty's collection as it was 'full of charm and wit'. Apparently she loves Kitty's accessories, and if they have anywhere near the gorgeous detail of this multicoloured tasselled jumpsuit, we're sure they're ace!

Kitty says she's inspired by exotic animals, youth and frivolity. While Rebecca Thompson's pieces have much merit in their crisp yet loose tailoring and bright whites, it's a mature collection. We think Kitty's designs represent everything that young fashion should be about - fun and a little bit of silliness. We're not usually one for pastels, but the colour palette looks rather edible!

We'll be looking out for this one in the future.

Here's Kitty's graduate portfolio:

Links:
http://www.vogue.co.uk/news/daily/100603-rankins-graduate-fashion-week-phot.aspx http://www.artsthread.com/p/kittykeay http://kittykeay.blogspot.com/
http://www.gfw.org.uk/event/blog.aspx

Image sources:
http://www.manchesterfashion.com/c/19/398/graduate-fashion-week-winner-rebecca-thomson/http://www.gfw.org.uk/event/blog.aspx http://www.artsthread.com/p/kittykeay http://www.stylebubble.co.uk/style_bubble/2010/06/gggggggfw.html?cid=6a00e5508e95a98833013482f6b223970c
http://www.manchesterfashion.com/c/19/398/graduate-fashion-week-winner-rebecca-thomson/

Shoes on t'internet

2010-06-06T14:58:00.009+01:00

These Forest/River shoes, which Susie Bubble featured on Style Bubble today, are limited to 90 pairs worldwide. Do you think they'll still be available when we've been paid at the end of the month? We think it's highly unlikely. They're handmade in India and also available in green and black. We want them in the multicolours! They'd be perfect on our feet at Secret Garden Party and Latitude this summer.

The Adam and Eve Project (which broadcasts "exclusive collaborative projects by the worlds most respected and emerging creative people from Art, Fashion, Architecture" etc, according to their website), has some great stuff for sale on their Twitter, like this gold-plated key necklace.

We also want these, £40 in the Urban Outfitters online sale:

Now that's bargainomics.

http://theadamandeveprojects.com/shop

www.urbanoutfitters.co.uk

Fashion Fringe - the panel and finalists

2010-06-04T22:31:00.015+01:00

We've been following the panel debate for Fashion Fringe at Covent Garden all day. John Galliano chaired the event and he was joined, in discussion on London's creativity and the future of fashion, by Nick Knight, founder and director of SHOWstudio.com, and fashion empress Lady Amanda Harlech.

10 semi-finalists were invited to London, tested in a technical day at LCF and then grilled before the panel of fashion dragons.

Fashion Fringe was conceived in 2003 by Colin McDowell, fashion historian and Sunday Times Style Contributor, and is an annual project designed to coincide with London Fashion Week and showcase young British fashion talent.

The 3 finalists will showcase their collections at LFW in September. They'll spend the next three months in an intensive mentoring programme, and with studio space at the London College of Fashion, and technical assistance, they'll create 8-12 “looks” for their capsule collection.

Here's a selection of the questions put to the panel, from the Twitter feed running all day:

To Nick: what is creativity?

Nick: fashion is extremely exciting at present. The internet has changed the evolution of fashion and retail. Fashion film is taking over. It's a fascination time to work in fashion with a huge amount of creativity.

To the panel: do we want the whole world to know about the process of fashion?
Nick: there is the reality of the world and how we imagine it should be. People no longer want to travel the world to see collections.

To the panel: how does the approach to film and stills change the creative process of communication?
Nick: when still photos are taken, the vision is compromised. Garments are created to be seen in movement. Stills to film is 100% different. There are perimeters (sic) to be learned about fashion film eg. you need music that follows fashion.

To the panel: is fashion film a silent movie?
Nick: no narrative is implied in still. Fashion film inserts movement, gives the dynamic of a still and communicates the essence of the design.

Well Galliano didn't say much, did he? What was he doing, twiddling his luxurious moustache?

Here's a bit of blurb from their website:

"For 2010 the challenge is to reinvent the sense of adventure in London fashion. Fashion Fringe at Covent Garden is looking for cutting edge, iconoclastic talent in design and creativity to continue the tradition of Vivienne Westwood, Hussein Chalayan and the late Alexander McQueen."

The finalists were Alice Palmer, Jade Cang and Carly Neilson. Congrats!

The Advisory Panel included:

Anna Wintour, Vogue
Anne Pitcher, Selfridges
Claudia Croft, Sunday Times Style
Dolce & Gabbana
Francis Corner, London College of Fashion
Harold Tillman, British Fashion Council
Marc Jacobs
Miuccia Prada
Natalie Massenet, Net-a-Porter.com
Stuart Rose, Marks & Spencer
Tom Ford
Zac Posen

The Bicycle Portraits

2010-06-04T13:18:00.020+01:00

This isn't strictly fashion, but it's good to branch out every now and then, right? Right. While searching for a new bike, i've come across this.

The Bicycle Portraits is a photography project born in Cape Town and Johannesburg by photographer Stan Engelbrecht and designer Nic Grobler in early 2010, capturing South Africa's vibrant bicycle culture.

Whenever possible, they meet people in and around the cities, who ride their bikes for work and pleasure. They ask why people ride, why they chose that particular mode of transport and how it fits into their life.

A published book will hopefully follow.

Bikes are ace, I can't wait to get mine and cycle everywhere possible.

Follow Stan and Nic's project here and here. Follow the project on Twitter.

The Great May Masked Ball 2010

2010-06-01T22:23:00.015+01:00

All the world old is queer save thee and me, and even thou art a little queer.

-- Robert Owen

_______________________________________________________

Style Cramp were under-dressed this week (or over, in fact) at The Great May Masked Ball at Debut in London Bridge. We went more on a whim than anything, and fully did not prepare, so we were severely disappointed at the lack of effort we appeared to have made, considering some of the ridiculous outfits that hang much-loved but unworn on the picture rails in our room. We stuck some old sequins on the side of a plain black eye mask and put on our highest most painful platform heels. Housemate went in a frog mask.

It was something of a decadent and debauched affair to say the least. In the queue outside the venue, a huge series of interlocking rooms under London Bridge station, we began to feel very ashamed of our lack of theatrical flair, but we were there now, so we could only admire the unique choices of costume. There were dandys, fops and executioners, and those were only the ones who'd gone for an 18th century masquerade theme. Many went the fetish route, but there was less cock rings than might be expected. Most had chosen detail over nudity. Apart from this gentlemen, who practically had to beg girls to 'tug his leash':

Girls in teeny thongs and bras, with HOT bods, walked their man friends behind them before engaging in some, frankly quite engrossing sensual behaviour! I'm not a pervert, but it really was quite a site. I did regret eating some brie which had been smooshed by the heat of the four naked bodies writhing on the food table, which was filled with all the succulent delights you might expect on Caligula's dinner table. But, you know, I was embracing the mood of the evening. As was the guy who was pashing a whole cauliflower.

Sadly, and this is becoming a sorry habit, we did not have a camera, but there is a fantastic gallery here which captures the mood.

I also didn't get to ride the naked girl rodeo, as we left at 1pm with severe foot ache from our beautiful stupid shoes. By the time someone asked me the way to the hot tubs on the way out, I could barely stand.

I loved the Death Jazz band. Kid Page needs to expand her mind.

http://twitter.com/DebutLondon
http://www.thelasttuesdaysociety.org/gallery_3.html

Alfie's Nostalgia Saturdays

2010-05-27T22:48:00.041+01:00

Style Cramp's getting a little obsessed with the 1940s! What with struggling to stuff our hair into victory rolls before work and lindy hopping badly round our room, we've picked up a few catchphrases along the way. I've tweeted 'spiffing' at least three times in the last fortnight, and for some reason I have the urge to keep shouting "potted meat!" at Apollonia. We even had a mutton and turnip pie at the Ministry of Food exhibition at the Imperial War Museum, but thank goodness their rations stretched past powdered egg and acorn coffee.

On Saturday we trekked over to Alfie's Antique Market in Marylebone with old college chum (see?!) Natalie who was reviewing Alfie's Nostalgia Saturdays for The London Word and yearned over the enormous collection of shoes, hats, frocks and slacks. A sprawling and expertly-selected antiques market across three floors, their weekend events have a different vintage theme every week and this week it was '40s and '50s.

We loved the Mad Men stylings of the '50s office furniture and there was some beautiful glassware and kitchenware - a Bakelite Thermos caught my attention - but I know practically nothing about antiques, sadly, though I was pretty interested by what the dealers had to say about their pieces.

Rather than attempt to research '50s furniture design, we'll stick to talking about the fashion.

The Girl Can't Help it was the main clothing outlet, packed to the rafters with high-quality vintage merch. Not cheap but for these excellent garms it shouldn't be.

Lord Robert of Wembley and Chastisement

He wrote to Queen Victoria to make that title official but the fat bitch never got back to him.

TRUE STORY.

http://yayornayblog.blogspot.com/

http://alfiesantiques.blogspot.com/2010/04/alfies-nostalgia-saturdays.html

“Things That Only Work on Paper” and other news

2010-05-20T13:47:00.013+01:00

I may start a section entitled “Things That Only Work on Paper”. First submission will be a picture of the rodeo shirt and cravat I am wearing today, because I think I may look a big sack of insane.

My bad-taste filter, the gauge that most people employ to their choice of clothes in the morning, seems to be faulty, because when most people look in the mirror at the unwitting choice of all the primary colours in one outfit because the curtains were closed and think “woah, step back,” I think “does that look good? No it doesn’t, so it does!”

I’ve not posted in ages because, well. I’ve been right shit to be honest. I can’t say I’ve been ill, or on holiday, or even particularly busy. But when I get home from work, I have become increasingly drawn to the couch, an airport-sized Toblerone and Eastenders.

These slothy evenings are mostly a result of days like yesterday, when I locked myself out without any keys, Oystercard or wallet, meaning hiding my face and running past the market vendor I owed £2. Turns out it could actually get more annoying than that; I engaged in an act of wanton delinquency the details of which I won’t divulge. Then the heel of my shoes just bought from E&C market for £2 (see above) crumbled on the pavement on my way to a gig.

By the way, here's a picture of some of the excellent shit that's available for half the price of your lunch at Elephant & Castle market. I know i'm a pikey, but I love it!

We’re off to ogle some antiques and vintage beauties we can’t afford at Alfie's Nostalgia Saturday's antique market in Marylebone, with our lovely mate Natalie who’s interning at The London Word. She promises to mention Style Cramp in her write up and Nat, I’ll hold you to it!

STYLE CRAMP APOLOGISES FOR THE MUNDANITY OF THIS POST. NORMAL SERVICE WILL RESUME SHORTLY.

Style Cramp at the Blitz Party

2010-05-11T09:51:00.029+01:00

What a thoroughly spiffing Saturday night Style Cramp had! We were guests at the Blitz Party, where we swing danced the night away in an air raid shelter, stopping only briefly to rehydrate on a gin fizz or two.

Village Underground in Shoreditch was blacked out for the night to give us a real flavour of an East End wartime dance, complete with sandbags and ration books for cocktail menus. There were even pork pies and doorstop sandwiches for the peckish.

Style Cramp began the night in heated rollers, preparing our victory rolls. After many attempts to do my own, I gave up and asked Kid to help me. How did these gals deal with bobby pins before Youtube tutorials?!

I donned a pale blue crepey-cotton button-down frock with a cotton slip underneath, bobby socks and Oxford loafers (bare legs). I figured if i'd have been a young woman in wartime London, i'd be working down the munitions factory, so I didn't bother with feathers or a fancy hat or all that lark.

Apollonia wore a stunning and very flattering wrap-around Hawaiian print dress from Vivien of Holloway (someone's been dating a GI!), lined stockings and a white flower in her hair, and Kid wore a long red ruched dress with netting on the neck and simple brown Mary Janes. Somewhat posher than my outfit. But all our dresses were genuine 1940s vintage! For makeup we wore simple black eyeliner and matte pale eyelids with red lipstick and bareish cheeks.

We all got very excited as we got on the tube, imagining an air-raid siren might sound and running up and down the platform shouting "VICTORY IN EUROPE!!" and cursing the blasted Gerrys. I must try and remember to act with some decorum at these events...

After a round of cocktails and a wander, the swing band kicked off, playing 40s and 50s tunes with flair and imagination; the lead singer got out a set of bagpipes and did a mean impression of a trumpet that we didn't even believe possible! We couldn't quite believe Satchmo wasn't hiding behind the curtain! He was like a jazz Nick Cave. And when he screamed Winston Churchill's Fight Them On The Beaches speech the crowd went wild.

The standard of the outfits was very high. Some of the girls hadn't got it quite right - there were a couple of poor-man's Betty Grables - but all-in-all everyone had made a stellar effort and the majority of costumes were enviably authentic. The boys who weren't quite sure of the best way to wear a cravat had gone for the safe option of an army uniform and it really paid off.

We left tired, sweaty and very very satisfied. As we started out on the dreaded night journey back to Brixton.

we all cursed that we were born in the wrong era. Sunday morning I woke up and put some Billie Holiday on the Ipod. I wish every Saturday night could be like that. No fights, no aggro, just good ol' fashioned fun. And music I can actually dance to!

A couple of minor grumbles. Firstly, i'm disappointed I didn't see a Bettie Page (though props to the popcorn seller girl! Very sexy) and secondly, there were plenty of boys in GI and allied uniform, so why did none of them offer to walk us home?!

Links
http://www.theblitzparty.com/

Screen Icons: Betty Grable (A Blitz Party special!)

2010-05-10T21:08:00.028+01:00

"There are two main reasons why I am successful in show business, and I am standing on both of them."

This is just the sort of cheeky and humble comment that can be attributed time and again to the brilliant Hollywood star Betty Grable, the proud owner of a winning, girl-next-door style smile as well as a certifiably perfect pair of pins!

Betty Grable starred in a number of films that American and international cinema goers genuinely loved, from her big break in the musical Down Argentine Way (1940) to the comedy Coney Island (1943) and, my personal favourite, How to Marry a Millionaire (1953), alongside Marilyn Monroe and Lauren Bacall.

Betty also gained public recognition when she married the actor Jackie Coogan, made famous in his youth by his role in The Kid with Charlie Chaplin, though the two divorced after just three years together.

Considering all of these notable successes, it was not an acting role that really made Betty Grable an icon – it was a photograph. The public already loved Betty thanks to her fun personality and strikingly pretty looks, so it was no wonder that when a pin-up photo of her was released during WWII showing off her fabulous legs, she became the sweetheart of the nation, and, historically, of the armed forces.

The beautiful and all American girl Betty clearly reminded soldiers of what they were fighting for at home and her pose swiftly adorned barracks around the world. Betty herself was clearly flattered by this and took on the mantle of the forces pin-up with gusto, commenting: “I'm strictly an enlisted man's girl.”

It was this popularity that really fired up Betty's film career, with the treasury department noting that in the year 1946-47 that she was the highest paid actress in Hollywood, earning $300,000 a year. It was at this stage in her career that 20th Century Fox famously insured Betty's lusted-after legs for a quarter million dollars, a wise move considering that she was so in demand!

On screen Betty was an enlivening presence, using her talents as a trained dancer to perform with energy and warmth, which perfectly offset her enviable physique.

These attributes were obviously noted by costume designers as the outfits that were chosen for Betty were usually sleek and sparkling for glamorous roles, sporty-chic for her more light hearted appearances, and still slim fitting for parts in war films such as A Yank in the R.A.F (1941), though room was always understandably made to show a bit of leg!

This classically American styling carried through to Betty's publicity shots and personal attire, indicating either a canny awareness of her public image or just good old fashioned taste for clean lines, vibrant colours and flattering shapes.

In the shops this season the sporty American look and military styling that Betty is associated with can be easily found, largely thanks to the fact that shorts are everywhere right now, much to the delight of Vanity and Kid!

Super small shorts in an array of bright colours that can be paired with simple t-shirts or vests will jump out at you in H&M or Uniqlo, whilst shops such as River Island, Zara, New Look and even M&S are sure to have some great basic shorts in khaki, brown or sandy tones to achieve an army surplus look, which I am gearing up to try.

Just like Betty, accessorise with a slim belt around your waist, cracking pins, high heels and a smile!

Apollonia Gish x

If you like this, check out Style Cramp at the Blitz Party

Fashion Fridays at Topman

2010-05-07T10:00:00.005+01:00

Last week kicked off Fashion Friday at Topman on Oxford Street, with the inception of Stylist; a bespoke styling service exclusive to the flagship store.

This article should be about the launch of AAA, the new rock 'n' roll line for Topman, but we can blame a swift change in direction on that darned volcanic ash as the merch wasn't delivered in time.

So last Friday, Kid Page and I grabbed a couple of beers in the reception area on the second floor and the head stylish Luke showed us some of the signature looks (very tailored: carrot-cut trousers, sharp-shouldered blazers, trilbys, slim scarves. Think JLS meets Bros) and explained a bit about the service.

You can book a place for up to two hours, have a few beers, get groomed and preened and walk away with, hopefully, something more stylish than a striped polo shirt.

Upsettingly for me, as I like wearing men’s chinos as they hang better, the cropped ones I tried on would not go over my enormous calves. Ok, they’re not enormous at all, but they felt it when I couldn’t get them off again. That’ll teach me for trying to save time by trying on things on the middle of the shop floor…

Topshop launches make up

2010-05-04T17:26:00.006+01:00

Topshop Make Up launches tomorrow. Buy three or more products and get a limited edition cosmetics bag. Aces.

As well as a core range, there’s the Trend Collection; a limited edition line which will be released every three months.

Hmm, well it’s all terribly exciting I suppose, but we just hope it’s better quality than the gloopy and cheap Miss Selfridge glitter compacts we used to buy circa 1999.

Topshop, as our UK fashion stalwart, we expect big things!

Images from the Topshop blog: http://topshop.insideout.com

Superette Rummage Sale

2010-04-27T21:52:00.003+01:00

Style Cramp will definitely be at this on Sunday:

According to their website, "Superette is the newest arrival in east London's thriving artistic scene. Freshly refurbished, it provides a unique exhibition, retail and workshop space in Brick Lane ideal for showcasing undiscovered & exciting talent across the fashion, DIY design and creative communities."

RUMMAGE!
#1 - The Illustrators' Special
The arty afternoon jumble sale

Sunday 2nd May • 12noon - 5pm

Superette
66a Sclater Street, Off Brick Lane, London E1 6HR

I love stuff! I love other people’s unwanted stuff even more and spend most my weekends looking for the oddball couple at a car boot sale so I can rifle through their possessions. The downside to my dedicated pursuit of second hand delights is the thought of setting off before sunrise to car boot it and seeing the rise of regular ‘professional’ sellers at pub jumbles.

In response, I have created RUMMAGE! an afternoon jumble sale held in a gallery space that not only invites a different bunch of talented folk each month to spring clean their studios, declutter their homes and have a good ol' fashioned clear out but also promotes, exhibits and where possible sells their independent works.

RUMMAGE! is for me and my fellow thrifters who not only want to sift through an interesting person’s unwanted belongings but would also like the chance to meet and support all the talented Londoners who independently draw, dance, blog, design, craft, perform and create for a living.

To start this unique series of events we have invited our favourite illustrators to take part. So join us for a fun filled afternoon of trawling jumble, sifting through samples and gazing intently at the artworks of London’s most exciting illustrators.

There will be tea and homemade treats on offer to sip & nibble on our tiny terrace and goody bags for early birdies.

Event Details:

Sunday 2nd May
12 noon - 5pm

12 noon

Goody Bags for Early Birds!
(limited quantity available)
Tea and Homemade Treats all afternoon

Meet the illustrators...

Suzy Q and the Owls
Yuki Nishimura
Cat Sims
Liv Bargman
Meow Magazine
Noodoll
Cathy Olmedillas
Garudio Studiage
Leona Clarke
Bryony Lloyd
Laura Bird
Laura Stimpson
Lucy Davidson
Belinda Chen
Jasiminne Yip
Katey Harvey Lisa Jones
Sarah Lawrence
Brennan and Burch

Existential Anxieties of a Plastic Bag (or Green is The New Black)

2010-04-26T22:38:00.012+01:00

This affecting little film called Plastic Bag, by Ramin Bahrani, is part of a collective of shorts grouped as Future States, a free online project by the Independent Television Service.

Struggling with its own immortality, a discarded plastic bag (voiced by brilliantly peculiar German film director Werner Herzog) ventures through the environmentally barren remains of America as it searches for its resting place in the ‘Great Pacific Garbage Patch.’ Sigur Rós keyboardist Kjartan Sveinsson does the score. ACE.

The bag is Wall-E for the post Al-Gore Western world, for an audience suffering from its ecological-anxiety in episodes as short as this film.

Plastic Bag has inevitably got me thinking about sustainability, particularly as a trend. So, as this is a fashion blog, let’s talk about eco-fashion.

It’s a no-brainer really, but as background, eco-fashion is part of the growing trend for sustainability; a design system which promotes environmentalism and social responsibility in fashion. The idea is to reduce the ecological impact of the product by using sustainable materials and natural fibres and more responsible methods of production. This includes using fewer chemicals to turn raw materials into textiles and fewer pesticides (hence organic cotton, which incidentally only represented 0.03% of cotton production ten years ago). Worringly, two-thirds of a garment’s carbon footprint will occur after its purchase.

There’s no denying eco-fashion is a big trend now and that’s a big reason why it sells. Trends will always have a bigger impact than social conscience, so if Natalie Portman wears vegan or Emma Watson designs Fair Trade/organic , you want, right?

But surely the fact that fashion with a conscience is trendy right now isn’t a bad thing? If anything can tap into the Zeitgeist, it’s fashion. And whatever helps. Bob Geldof may be a mildly irritating figurehead for world poverty, but you can’t deny he raised a fuck-off load of cash for Ethiopia in the ‘80s.

Here’s how some designers define ‘Sustainable Fashion’:

Frida Giannini, Gucci creative director: “Quality items that stand the test of time – it is this concept of sustainability, symbolised by a timeless handbag that you wear again and again, and can pass on, that I am always thinking of when I design.”

Oscar de la Renta, designer, brand founder: “Sustainable fashion implies a commitment to the traditional techniques, and not just the art, of making clothes. I work today in the same way that I first learnt in the ateliers of Balenciaga and Lanvin 50 years ago. We need to ensure that the next generation of seamstresses and tailors have the skills necessary to develop clothes that are not only beautiful but extremely well made.”

Anya Hindmarch, designer, brand founder, and initiator of the “I am not a plastic bag” initiative: “I would define the ideal as locally sourced materials that don’t pollute in their creation or demise (preferably recycled) and with limited transportation to achieve the completed product.”

So you can see how some minds in fashion are still very much still motivated by their own designs and ‘brand’ as opposed to re-aligning the fashion world with our rapidly depleting natural resources. Hindmarch is on the money.

Even the Centre for Sustainable Fashion at LCF doesn’t seem quite convinced itself of the position of sustainability in the industry. “Supporting industry through transformation through sustainable business development.” Mmm…I’m confused, is this eco-fashion or self-motivated protection in light of economic change?

Eco-fashion has trickled down to the high street in the same way high-end design does. But in a transient high street world, I’m not entirely convinced that selling/buying organic cotton t-shirts in Primark is any solution to the problem, given that the ethos of the shop is ‘buy today, throw away and buy another next week.’

Is this really more responsible than not shopping there at all? In fact, do you even NEED another t-shirt produced by a slum-worker in Bangladesh for 13p an hour? Plus, they’re usually about 5% organic, rendering them almost entirely pointless. But then I couldn’t argue that sustainability should not be promoted on the high street. Like I say, I’m not convinced.

See video at http://futurestates.tv/episodes/plastic-bag

Neo-Expressionism: An Impact on Fashion

2010-04-21T21:51:00.015+01:00

I'm seeing loads of Neo-Expressionist influences in fashion at the moment.

Neo-Expressionism emerged as a movement in the late '70s, early '80s by young and upcoming artists in New York as a response to the staid work of their contemporaries. It was filled with vivid colours, rough patterns and vibrant symbols.

Jean-Michel Basquiat was one of the most notable in the movement. He was an African-American artist living in New York in the '70s and '80s and began his career in graffiti. Apparently there's a film about his life in which David Bowie plays his mentor Andy Warhol. Can someone please tell me if his performance is bad-good like the Goblin King in Labyrinth or bad-bad like Pontius Pilate in The Last Temptation of Christ?

The movement was big in fashion too. Maripol, an artist, fashion designer and Madonna's at that time unknown stylist, became the art director for Fiorucci, a line known for its colourful, pop-art prints.

About a year ago I bought this long, side-slit vest-dress in Uniqlo, which has one of his prints on the front. It says "beef, pork, salt, water, corn syrup, solids, sodium nitrate". The idea of wearing the disgusting ingredients of sausage ("solids"?!) on my clothing appealed.

This vintage dress I recently bought in Garage in Berlin (a fantastic vintage warehouse where you buy by the kilo *DRIBBLE*) is totally neo-expressionist in style. It was below the knee, but I lobbed about 9 inches off the hem.

Additional photos of Jean-Michel, trainers and model (no, not me) from trendhunter.com and the Urban Outfitter blog.

We're Alive! And Tessa Jowell Likes Our Dress

2010-04-14T13:53:00.011+01:00

Brixton Village has recently been host to some wonderful new community business ventures called Spacemakers. Here's a little bit off their website:

Brixton Village - also known as Granville Arcade - is a 1930s indoor market in South London. By mid-2009, a large number of its shops were standing empty. We've been working to turn that around, bringing new community-driven businesses and creative projects into the market.

In the past few months, Brixton Village has hosted everything from pop-up theatres and galleries to a Community Shop led by Transition Town Brixton*, designers and makers' studios, vintage studios, vintage clothing stores, a sweet shop and a cluster of new cafes.

The Times called it "the largest example yet of a growing nationwide trend" for the creative reuse of urban space. Come and be part of the adventure - join us for our all-day events every Saturday or drop in during the week for great lunch options.

It's a Style Cramp summer-resolution to spend more time in Brixton at the weekends. It really comes alive in the sunshine. And with a Portuguese tart in hand on the newly built promenade outside the Ritzy, there's few places in London i'd rather spend a sun-soaked afternoon.

One of the best things about the market is this shop, Rejuvenate. The owner is a sweetheart and she's sourced out some great vintage items and very reasonable prices.

Taffeta cream dress (vintage), £30, Rejuvenate

This fantastic dress was slightly too tight on the breasty region, otherwise I would have had it. It was a steal at £30. I told the owner that she should hike the price up as it was worth more. This was obviously after i'd tearfully admitted it didn't fit.

As I was flouncing about in the doorway letting the owner take my picture, who should come over and shake my hand and comment on the dress, but TESSA JOWELL, MP!

My charming friends call me Jowls, or Tessa, owing to my apparent Droopy Dog face, so this pretty much made my week!

Rejuvenate

40 2ND AVENUE, BRIXTON VILLAGE
LONDON SW9 8PS
+44 (0) 7506 152 670

Brixton Village is open late on Thursdays and every day during the week.

Screen Icons: Jean Harlow

2010-04-08T22:43:00.028+01:00

Baby faced Jean Harlow was marvellous mischief, easily taking the title of Hollywood's good time gal in her short and scandalous 26 years.

The starlet known as Jean Harlow was actually born Harlean Harlow Carpenter in Kansas City, Missouri, and in a tale made for the silver screen, ran away from home at just 16 years old, marrying the first of her three husbands, a 23 year old business man named Charles McGrew, arriving in Hollywood soon after their union.

It was a disastrous marriage but it got Jean to Tinseltown, where she secured work as an extra and in film shorts until she won her big break in Howard Hawks' epic Hell's Angels, a perfect title for Harlow if there ever was one.

Following this, Jean really caught America's attention in a sultry role in Platinum Blonde and went on to make Red Dust, directed by John Ford, starring alongside Clark Gable, who she made six films with. With him, she more than matched for on screen charisma and off screen gossip, especially when her second husband, MGM producer Paul Bern, committed suicide.

The release of Red Dust made Jean a star and she soon cemented this status with films such as the comedic Dinner at Eight and the scandalous Hollywood parody Bombshell, after which she had another short lived marriage to cinematographer Harold Rosson.Later movies that really showed Jean's talent were the adventurous China Seas and Saratoga, which turned out to be her final film as she died from uremic poisoning during filming in 1937.

Perky, sexy and always entertaining, Jean knew how to blend a sensational appearance with her innocent looks, cultivating an iconic style that took in her trademark soft platinum blonde curls and slinky dresses in silk or satin that daringly drew attention to her assets, which she apparently iced before she walked on set to make sure that all eyes were fixed solely on her.

Legendary claims about the savvy Harlow were that she never wore underwear and slept nude, a quote that clearly had quite an impression on a young Marilyn Monroe who credited her as her hero.

Jean's public persona was also enhanced by tales such as her partying with brewery employees the night that prohibition ended in 1933, smashing a bottle of beer over the first truck lined up to deliver legal alcohol. It was stories such as this that reportedly endeered Harlow to the mob, with notorious figures including her former lover Longy Zwillman bankrolling her two picture deal with Columbia Pictures whilst she was godmother to the daughter of the infamous Bugsy Siegel.

Though many consider other actresses of the era far more beautiful than Jean Harlow, few are remembered as being as attractive as the baby faced bombshell, whose appeal lied in a dangerous look in her eye that suggested that she loved trouble, and it loved her right back.

Jean Harlow described her reason for success best herself: “Men like me because I don't wear a brassiere. Women like me because I don't look like a girl who would steal a husband. At least, not for long.”

Apollonia Gish

Egyptian Hip Hop

2010-04-07T17:30:00.002+01:00

Egyptian Hip Hop are some cool little mufuckers, look at these t-shirts! Not to mention the hair, but we'll stick to the fashion. Nice.

Sam Eastgate from Late of The Pier is producing their stuff so they're bound to be brilliant and perhaps i'll be as obsessed as I was with LOTP three-ish years ago. Sam was rude to me at Corsica Studios once and it's now a running joke that every time I mention the band I bring that story up. It just still pisses me off for some reason...

Jumbling Massive

2010-04-06T21:44:00.008+01:00

So aside from the 10 police at the now infamous Brick Lane T-Shirt Idiot Riots (it's up there with the 1981 Brixton race riots, I tell thee), it would appear Easter Weekend went without any major injuries. Sunday night was a somewhat lengthy drinking affair, coupled with a visit to my favourite East End watering-hole/jumble sale, The Jumble Club @ The Victoria, where I bought a white cotton jumpsuit with gold and black speckled paint-effect, a striped white pencil skirt, and a wool blouse (St Michael, natch). No pictures I’m afraid as I have spot cream on my face and i’m damned if I’m going to photograph me in them now. Ebay-style photos on the floor are a little lack-lustre, so you’ll have to employ your imagination.

Not only does the Jumble Club do fry-ups for £4 and haircuts by the lovely Steph for £20, it’s way cheap and replenished frequently, which is great if your hip friends of the same size and shape get there just before you and bag all the good shit.

Needless to say I’m pissing my pants about the new DM collection that went on show at the Northampton HQ this weekend. The suede brogues in baby blue are FIT. They will be mine.

In other news, new Levi Shop was opened on Regent Street Wednesday. Didn’t have an invite to the event Tues, but from what I’ve seen of it now it’s open, they’re using an interesting bunch of ‘real’ models. I like this gal’s hair.

Can’t beat Levi 501s. I have them in acid wash, dark, and cut off. Sorry dad…

Peace out, Vanity.x

Images from betweeneveryline.blogspot.com and disneyrollergirl.blogspot.com/

Decision well made

2010-04-03T13:29:00.002+01:00

No words can describe how retarded this is...