Rhinestone Rain!!!
I think I’m going to post a few of my favorites from my new series of kids drawings over the next few days as orders come in and pieces sell out. Thanks so much to everyone for all the support! Tell a friend!
Opinion
Mark Fast Keeps It Real
Mark Fast shocked London Fashion Week with his ‘plus size’ – or more aptly ‘realistic’ women on the catwalk. It’s a breath of fresh air to many of us, and sparks the question of whether a new curvaceous form may be set to conquer the fashion world. Catwalk models are willowy and tall, with a pittance of a BMI and a somewhat androgynous form and it’s been this way since the 60s. In recent years it reached a level where we were starting to witness emaciated morsels of girls, looking so frail that you wonder how they have the energy to put one leg in front of the other. We then went through the controversial banning of the size zero models, thus creating an almost philanthropic feel to the fashion world for a short period – but I can’t help thinking that nothing has really changed. Of course, those of us who don’t have a concave figure and osteoporosis are rejoicing at the fact that finally we can visualise catwalk couture on ourselves and that the true female form is being celebrated, but many in the fashion world would strongly argue that it is very much a separate facet to the real world and that current trends mean a slender figure prevails for the showcasing of designs. In fact, reports suggest that there was such a discrepancy in belief between Fast and his stylist that she is no longer working for him. Catwalk designs may not be created to be worn by real women, but designers such as Fast are producing garments that can be translated into the real world, so why shouldn’t he demonstrate that they look good on a woman who has the national average dress size? Body Envy? I’d like to sit here on my moral lily pad and profess that the fashion world is a key contributor to the rising levels of eating disorders and low self-esteem amongst women in our society, but due to the more rapidly rising obesity figures, I would feel hypocritical. However, saying that, this fat nation could just as easily be the result of millions of women having severe body envy, leading to depression and the consequent consumption of any high fat product they can get their hands on. I am doubtful that we are about to witness a reformation in the type of women who come down the catwalk, and although stunts like this are a welcomed controversy, the ‘skinny is beautiful’ phase is still very much aflame in the ever-powerful fashion industry. Rule breakers are always more interesting though, so greatest respect to Mark Fast for celebrating the lady lumps of our nation! Canvas Magazine
I have now landed in Wellington, New Zealand and I’m absolutely loving living here. I’ve been spending some time scoping out different scenes in the past week and I came across this really cool digital creative agency called Resn. They’ve done some really innovative interactive work and I love their design skills, especially with what they did for Shapeshifter.
Wellington based singer/song writer Louis Baker is absolutely unreal. From time to time I get an artist who I cannot stop listening to and Louis is one of them. In 2009 for me it was Jessie J and look at her now - I expect big things from this guy. I’ve done an HTF Introducing feature with him for Hit The Floor Magazine - www.hitthefloor.co.uk - so watch this space.
This week I had a clothes sale with my friends - to sell the millions of things I can’t take with me to New Zealand. Sigh. It was quite a hard experience but I had wine and a bun so I was ok. It was strange because I hadn’t worn most of those clothes for ages but I still had an emotional attachment to them. I also knew other people would wear them in different ways, with different things and it has inspired me to look at my wardrobe yet once again and see what I really need. It’s quite a cleansing process!
