Freshly Social » fashion

Notting Hill’s Pride; The Portobello Market

admin — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 09:12:18 +0000

The epicentre of London has so many diverse and amazing things to do and experience. They really have catered for Londoners and tourists alike. In the upmarket and quiet suburb of Notting Hill made famous by the movie ‘Notting Hill’ starring Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts, lies the well known Portobello market.

Portobello market is one of the most famous street markets in the world and the world’s largest antique market. It is situated on Portobello road which spans two miles long and was originally a farm, named after Puerto Bello in the Caribbean in memory of Admiral Vernon who captured the town in 1739. Many people enjoy the hustle and bustle of the Portobello market on Saturdays. North of the road is where you will find the fashion section. Old, new, designer and affordable. If you are looking for something you can wear on your body then this is the section to go to. Vibrant colours and rich textures fill the street with bargaining going on all around you. In the middle of the market is the delectable fresh food section. Locals come to purchase farm fresh fruit and vegetables transported there by a refrigerated courier ensuring the freshest quality. There are bread stalls, for an amazing morning croussant; a fish monger; a French cheese stall and an array of colourful and beautifully decorated cakes on show. Later on the Saturday some real bargains can be found as traders want to get rid of their last stock because in terms of food logistics they would rather sell the produce than have it rot. They are heard shouting “Parnd a Box, Parnd a Box”, which means, give me a pound for this box which is packed with the last of the ripe fruit and vegetables from that day. The antique section of the market is prominent and antiques from any past year can be found, especially popular collectables. There is an old, used section were hidden treasure and peculiar, beautiful things can be discovered.

The Portobello market is a shoppers dream. You may be going there with a specific thing in mind or just to wonder the market street, whatever your intention the experience will prove wonderful.

Fashion in Film Festival celebrates Costume in Cinema

admin — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 10:56:48 +0000

As the festive season approaches, Londoners will set out in search of fashion bargains and retailers will begin to recycle hangers as their clothing and accessory stocks sell out. For those who are more concerned with high fashion than high street shopping however, the Fashion in Film Festival will be a great deal more attractive than the Christmas fashion sales.

Founded in 2005, the Fashion in Film Festival (FFF) showcases and celebrates the use of fashion in international films. The Fashion in Film Festival is loved by film fanatics and fashionistas alike – the biennial festival is attended by designers, photographers, filmmakers and performers. The couture featured in the cinematic spectacles of the FFF is a far cry from the everyday brands you’ll find on shoe hangers in your local boutique!

The 3rd Fashion in Film Festival will be launching across London this December, and the theme, “Birds of Paradise”, is a rich visual exploration of the use of costume in European and American films. These include feature and documentary films, newsreels and animated shorts. This December’s Fashion in Film Festival will demonstrate why costume plays such an important role as a cinematic spectacle. Ticket-holders can expect to see rare screenings featuring the most exotic fashion imaginable.

The London venues for December’s Fashion in Film Festival are BFI Southbank, the Tate Modern, the Barbican and The Horse Hospital. The festival will run from December 1 – 12 and tickets are available from the various venues. From the lavish costumes of E.A. Dupont’s 1928 production of Moulin Rouge to the Oriental opulence of Alexandre Volkoff’s Secrets of the East, the Fashion in Film Festival is a visual treat not to be missed!

Japanese Fashion show on at Barbican

admin — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 12:25:16 +0000

If business activities such as Malta company registration have kept you occupied the entire week, then perhaps it is time to enjoy some of the hottest Japanese fashion trends at the Barbican art gallery. All of the avant-garde Japanese fashion clothing will be on display, from the 1980’s up until 2011! Japanese fashion trends have played a huge part in global fashion and these Japanese fashion brands are sure to spark just about anyone’s interests.

Explore the world of Japanese fashion and discover how it affects Western trends. Japanese fashion is about deconstruction, the unfinished look; a pure visual of intercrossing lines that penetrate the sacred veneer of Japanese fashion and spirituality. Famous Japanese fashion historian, Akkio Fukai will explain some of the more puzzling pieces, while other top Japanese fashion brands legends will be on hand to have their ear bent. Issey Miyake and Yohji Yamamoto, Rei Kawakubo of the Comme des Garcons label and many Japanese fashion legends are included.

For designers young and old, the Japanese fashion show at the Barbican art gallery is a must see. Thankfully, the exhibition only closes its doors on the 6^th of February so there is still plenty of time to catch the Japanese fashion show in action.

Stella McCartney: subtle and timelessly elegant

admin — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 08:23:27 +0000

Stella McCartney never fails to impress and her show at this year’s Paris Fashion Week, which took place earlier this month, was no different. Pieces from the designer’s ready-to-wear collection exhibited her characteristic luxurious yet subtle style, which is always warmly received by her always star-studded audience.

Celebs like Thandie Newton, Lara Stone, David Williams, Twiggy, and Sir Paul McCartney all had sought-after front row seats to view the latest Stella McCartney clothing. Outstanding pieces from the range include top with a broad black and camel stripe, plain elegant linear coats and comfortable yet trendy fisherman’s jumpers. McCartney dedicated the collection to her late friend and fellow fashion icon Alexander McQueen who committed suicide in early February.

Many a Hollywood glamour girl has been spotted in a Stella McCartney dress on the red carpets of prestigious events and awards shows. Kate Winslet was gorgeously elegant in a simply beautiful black dress by from the designer’s Pre-Fall 2010 collection at the BAFTA awards earlier this year.

Anna Paquin received loads of attention at this year’s Golden Globes for her Stella McCartney gown. The True Blood star’s glittering sequined floor length dress with a low-cut neckline was one of the fashion talking points of the evening. Some people declared it a stunning showstopper while others thought it was a little over the top.

Stella McCartney is also an astoundingly talented shoe designer. This season it-girls such as Rihanna and Blake Lively have been photographed wearing her thigh high boots, one of the hottest footwear trends of the season. This year her fish scale platform heels have been a firm celebrity favourite, with the likes of Ke$ha, Kelly Osbourne and Camila Alves all sporting the beautiful shoes in black or caramel.

At less than 40 years of age Stella McCartney certainly has made a significant mark in the world of design with her clothing, shoe, and Stella McCartney perfume ranges in high demand all over the world. The start of her career was met with skepticism as critics speculated that she was riding on the fame of her superstar father Sir Paul McCartney. However her work spoke for itself and she is firmly established in her own right.

If I were an estate agent Bayswater I would totally pull the ‘Stella McCartney lives here’ card.

Britain’s most expensive items

admin — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 12:23:57 +0000

Money talks; money makes the world go round; money is power: the idioms based around money are endless for the plain reason that this particular dirty word occupies quite an important place in our global consciousness. In keeping with the general obsession with money, we’ve compiled a list of the most expensive items ever sold in Britain and the world.

Most expensive house in Britain

Uptown Court in Surrey is one of the most expensive homes in Britain. Aside from its capital value of over £70 million, it costs an estimated £250,000 per month just to keep going. With 24 bedrooms, large marble bathrooms and a park rather than a garden, this palatial property is no typical UK semi. Occupying this house will also provide you with a few interesting neighbors like Elton John and the Queen herself.

Most expensive item of clothing

I don’t know anyone who’s woken up with the desire to own the world’s most expensive belt, but if you have, look no further. The 18 carat gold belt by Selfridges goes for £20,000 if your waist is less than 28 inches. If not, they charge an extra £800 per additional inch which seems to border on politically incorrect.

Most expensive sheep in Britain

Until August this year, Britain’s most expensive sheep was a Ram named Tophill Joe who sold for £128,000 and fathered lambs worth over £1 million. Unfortunately, he died recently, but he was replaced as the most expensive sheep in Britain by Deveronvale Perfection who was bought for an astounding £231,000. The hardy ram fetched this price owing to his strong physical attributes and the new Glaswegian owner intends to use him for breeding purpose.

Most expensive pints in Britain

The exclusive county of Surrey once again comes out tops for the most expensive items. A survey completed last month revealed that Surrey sells the most expensive pints in Britain. The average price for a London pint is £2.90, while in Surrey pints have been pushed over the £3.00 mark. For Britain as a whole, the average price of a pint stands at £2.68.

World’s most expensive bike

Britain’s most expensive bicycle was put on sale last year for the price of a posh car. The 24ct gold framed bicycle was put on sale for £9,500. Unfortunately, the astronomical price means that this particular pair of wheels is too expensive to be insured (insurance covers bicycles up to the price of £4 000), so the retailer has offered the services of a security guard to accompany the bike. I’m not sure how the logistics are going to work, however, as it doesn’t appear to be a tandem.

These are only a few of Britain’s most expensive items. The obsession to make items unaffordable extends to golden food, imported coffee and even children’s beds costing over £2000 each. The only question that’s left to ask is who would buy these extravagant items?

What your work wear says about you: a quiz

admin — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 08:21:31 +0000

Take this quick quiz to decide if your corporate work wear is screaming, ‘Barbie or Ken doll’ or ‘still lives with mummy’ or if it is simply saying all the right things (like, I’m a success!).

1. When the cold weather hits and you need to pull out the jumpers from the back of your wardrobe to wear to work. Do you…

a)   Favour the sweater given to you 5 years ago by your nan which keeps you very warm but is not out of place in an eighties horror movie?
b)   Favour the tight scoop neck sweater which got you a lot of attention in high school?
c)   Wear anything with a name (not a nickname but rather a name brand) like Pringle?
d)   Choose something warm and well cut that hides the bad and emphases the good without putting you at risk of indecent exposure and/or frost bite (see b)?
e)   Have a good collection of sweaters ranging from the good to the bad and finally the ugly and your choice is mood dependant?

2. You have to go to a job interview and all experts tell you to dress for success. Do you…

a)   Pull out your dusty interview/funeral outfit from 1992 which covers your ankles and is not unlike a strait jacket?
b)   Go shopping and buy anything bright, strappy and tight from Top Shop which can be used for both work and casual wear?
c)   Go shopping: Gucci, Prada, and Armani – (your credit card knows no limits)?
d)   Borrow a well-cut button up shirt from your best friend and wear your trusty leather shoes to work?
e)   Wear jeans baby: (It’s work wear given to us by mother earth)?

3. It’s that time of the year that you go shopping again to replenish your wardrobe. You’ve decided to buy three work wear outfits to mix and match. Do you…

a)   Go to charity shops and give yourself a mental dual pat on the back for helping the poor and saving pennies all in one go?
b)   Get completely sidetracked and spend all your money on bikinis or Hawaiian shirts for your upcoming holiday in Ibiza?
c)   Spend £15 pounds on glossy magazines and 5 hours on the internet to do your research for the most fashionable work wear the night before?
d)   Trawl through all the high street stores for the best cuts as well as the best value for money?
e)   Buy your work wear clothes online? It’s the future after all.

4. It’s that time of the year again: the annual Christmas function and it’s time to shed the work wear cocoon and look your best, to impress either Dan from accounts or Sue from marketing. Do you…

a) Consult your mother? Most moms have really bad taste but yours is a fashion guru even if she insists on tweed and shoulder pads.
b) Consult your friends? They should have an M degree in looking hot or choosing the hippest tie.
c) Consult the people up there – the celebs, the socialites, and the fashionistas?
d) Consult your own inner stylist?
e) Get out your only pair of smart shoes and your only button up shirt? Sue is a real looker after all.

5. It’s the year’s thickest snow today and you decide for once to not use it as an excuse to skive off work. Do you…

a) Wear your ski jacket, snow shoes and ear muffs and make sure that every part of your anatomy is covered in something thick and neutral-coloured so that you don’t come to work imitating an icicle?
b) Find this the perfect opportunity to wear that fluffy white coat to work that you spent your Christmas bonus on?
c) Wait to be dragged out of bed by your significant other because the weather will most certainly play havoc with your hair?
d) Layer carefully so that you stay warm but do not sacrifice your work wear fashion sense entirely?
e) Layer like you are a colour blind gypsy moving to Siberia?

Results: what your work wear says about you

Mostly A’s: Your work wear says, Momma’s little angel
If you’re not still living with your mom, you need to stop calling her every night. You’re an adult now, after all, with a fulltime job and a right to choose your own stylish work wear clothing. But don’t worry, you can still catch up over Sunday lunch.

Mostly B’s: Your work wear says, Potential for the playboy mansion
It’s time to wake up and smell the cheap office coffee. Your office is not a place to scout out potential dates and try to get to the top by going low-cut. Being professional and stylish is far more attractive than giving away too much.

Mostly C’s: Your work wear says, Fashion snob
If you stop being such a slave to name brands, you may be able to pay off your credit cards, and develop your own unique work wear style.

Mostly D’s: Your work wear says, Innocuous professional
You know how to dress for success and to please the boss and still look great but you can still add a little ‘oomph’ to your work wear. If you’re going all black at least wear those crystal red earrings you got for Christmas.

Mostly E’s or inconclusive combination: Your work wear says, Laid back over sleeper
You may not care what people think of your fashion sense but when it comes to work wear, if your boss doesn’t think you can represent the company suitably, your chances for promotion are negligible. Hold on to that invaluable carefree attitude but couple it with a few well-cut business suits for those important days.

Find the right workwear supplier : Get Instant Quotes Online.

UK Government Looks to Industry to Ensure Sustainable Fashion’s Future

admin — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 14:15:29 +0000

The clothing and textile industry in the UK has not been very conscious of exactly how environmentally sustainable the fashion business is, and what its social impact on the world is (particularly in the third world). Approximately 90% of clothing sold in the UK is imported, with a large portion rumoured to have often come from sweatshops in China and India. Also, the industry’s carbon footprint has been largely ignored, until now.
According to the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the clothing industry’s annual carbon footprint stands at a whopping 3.1 million tonnes, and every year it produces 2 million tonnes of rubbish. These statistics are shocking, which is why the Defra initiated the Sustainable Clothing Action Plan (SCAB), which was launched at this year’s fashion show, with many designers coming out with eco chic designs.

The aims of the plan are to reduce the harmful environmental and social impacts that come out of the clothing and textiles sectors. The plan aims to address all levels of the industry’s value chain activities; this includes importing from environmentally aware and ethical producers to reducing unnecessary disposal of clothes. No stone has been left unturned. And with the backing of over 300 clothing and fashion organisations, the plan is likely to make a measurable difference in the lives of UK citizens.
Many of the big names in fashion and clothing have committed to taking firm action such as Marks and Spencer’s commitment to building eco friendly factories in its supply chain. Nike, Tesco and Oxfam are some of the other heavyweights who have signed up to be part of the solution.

The actual plan itself consists of four broad aims, namely:
1. Improving environmental performance across the supply chain, including: sustainable design; fibres and fabrics; maximising reuse, recycling and end of life management; and clothes cleaning.
2. Awareness, media, education and networks for the sustainability of clothes in fashion.
3. Promoting markets for sustainable fashion and clothing.
4. Improving traceability along the supply chain (environmental, ethical, and trade).

It is hoped that the United Kingdom will catapult from being one of the worst clothing wasters to being sustainable fashion and textiles producers and consumers, and in the process help the environment specifically by reducing the nation’s carbon blueprint.