Queen B

"Life Is But A Dream"

    Not one person springs to mind who dislikes the GODDESS that is, Beyonce. For me, she is an incredibly inspirational woman; being one of the biggest pop and fashion icons in the world, as well as simply being the most beautiful creature to roam Hollywood. Although she has apparently admitted to lip syncing at last week's inauguration, there's no doubt in my mind that the pre-recorded track and the actual performance showed talent and deserved credit.
    Yes, we can all be a little too nosey when it comes to the mysterious personal life of celebrities, but there's no one else who is more highly-respected in the industry, as Beyonce keeps the majority of her personal life away from the media (just like Rihanna..). This makes her more admirable, but it also somehow brings a sense of humanity. I believe revealing her stories in a soulful, more tasteful, way, she isn't pretentious and arrogant. If anything, it brings her down from the pedestal and allows her fans to be coherent with her true emotions and desires.
       
   "Life Is But A Dream", an HBO documentary explains her personal feelings towards her heartbreaking experiences over the last couple of years. The rumours of miscarriage and surrogacy are revealed, as well as her thoughts on the notion of fame and what it has brought for her.

Airs Feb 16th on HBO (damn you, UK!)

Penn, the Teller

"Sensitive people faced with the prospect of a camera portrait put on a face they think is one they would like to show the world. ...Very often what lies behind the facade is rare and more wonderful than the subject knows or dares to believe." Irving Penn, 1975

Turquoise

New bargain necklace today - Primark £3

City Chains

Spoilt with three great colours. They remind me of those Crayola metallic felt tips

City Lights Multirow Necklace - £14

Beginners

Ewan McGregor, Christopher Plummer, Melanie Laurant

   

   Beginners (2011) takes you back through the stages of Oliver Field's childhood and late thirties, unraveling reasons for his tendency to remain in dead-end cycles of relationships and the blossomed one between himself and his late father Hal. After revealing his homosexuality subsequent to the death of his wife, Hal was stubborn to hide his rapidly progressive terminal illness from his friends, his new lover and himself.

   After his loss, Oliver encounters a new woman. Anna is beautiful and mysterious. You feel relief as the helpless protagonist falls for her, but this later turns into uncertainty as Anna is found to be just as emotionally unsettled as Oliver.

   I did get teary, but I think there were many different reasons why. The narrative is extremely emotive. Reflective. I was convinced I was as lonely as the characters presented. Beginners is about new discoveries, learning how to cope, learning how find yourself and, above all, learning how to love.

Rosey

'Initial'
Fashion Installation

LOVE Cara

How amazing does Cara Delivingne look in the 9th Issue of LOVE Mag - The Clean Issue. She reminds me a bit of the Corpse Bride (in the best way possible), and those eyes, woaaa. She's just everywhere and we love it.

Eye-Openers

    I have a lot of time on my hands at the moment before my course starts again and IMDB has always had a knack to steal me for hours on end. I was fixed by documentary films on Sunday night after being reminded of the new MTV series Catfish: The TV Show.
    Starting with Catfish the film which takes us through the story of Nev, a photographer (a handsome one at that) and his Facebook romance with a girl states away. Not to give too much away, it's pretty obvious his dreams are later dashed when he pieces together hints that the woman he is falling for is different to that behind the profile, IM, texts and phone calls. Anyway, it's a pretty good watch. Whether it's real or not - it doesn't matter, it is produced well, and mainly, is a good lesson for those forming close relationships through the internet.

    I can't wait to delve into a little collection of 'must-sees' I now have. I wasn't aware of many of these feature documentary films, and feel somewhat guilty because it's so important to give time and attention to the light that has been shined on such documented social issues and movements.

    Here are some of my favourites on my Watchlist:

1. Food, INC (2008)

An insight into the corporate-controlled food manufacturing industry of the USA

2. Project Nim (2011)

The story of a chimpanzee raised as a human child

3. The Cove (2009)

Undercover documentation of the dolphin slaughter in a highly secretive Japanese town

4. The Interrupters (2011)

Elders in Chicago aiming to stop the violence plaguing their community

5. Waiting For Superman (2010)

Following a handful of America children in the inadequate educational system

6. An Inconvenient Truth (2006)

The documentary aiming to bring worldwide recognition to Global Warming 

Topman Today

Favourite Finds at Topman

    I browsed the hundreds of shirts, jumpers and tees for hours before Christmas (clothes are basically the only thing I can find for my boyfriend and two brothers). After recently applying for a job at Topman, I was intrigued what things they had in at the moment. These are my pick of the lot:

Black Moody Ombre Jumper - £42
This manly-pretty jumper looks soo snug

Age of Aquarius Mayan Print T - £28
A bit different to the striped Aztec tees they had in previously

Green Flying Ducks Print Smart Shirt - £30
A Christmas gift for my boyfriend this year, it looks even better on

This Multi-Coloured Knit Beanie is the perfect bobble hat I've been looking for, multi-colour is always welcome! 

Wish me luck!

Velvet and Sparkle

 Zara Of Course

    Being a big slipper person, I spotted these sparkly beauties in Zara before Christmas and added them to an extensive list of black, silver and GLITTERRR. My feet seem to have a size of their own, different to any high street sizes, so when my sister bought me some studded slips from Topshop, of course they were too big. Luckily these Zara pups were in the sale and were snapped up instead! 

Shiny Slipper - £30 (were £40)

The SHINY range also includes these pumps and clutch which are also both very tempting. Can you have too much of a good thing?

January Red Carpet

Critics' Choice 2013

The Best

Anne Hathaway

Looking incredibly slender for Les Mis, Anne 

glows in this Oscar de la Renta gown

Her smile is the only thing she needs to accessorise

Marion Cotillard

Looooove everything about this Zuhair Murad dress

Perhaps a more simple heel?

Octavia Spencer

I love this chick

Her Tadashi Shoji gown looks great and is complemented

by the simple midnight heels

Katie Aselton

Love the pattern, if its beaded- bonus!

A little short though!

The Worst

Famke Janssen

This John Galliano dress is pretty unflattering, 

not sure what the front fringing is doing

Elle Fanning

Only a slim young'un could get away with this lack of shape,

cute Chanel design but the chunky heels just ruin it

Carrie Keagan - EMILcouture

I just don't understand this

Leslie Mann

Fabric, colour, shape, all bad for this Honor dress

Great Jimmy Choo sandals though

Golden Globes 2013

The Best

Adele

My favourite of Adele's signature black gowns

This gorgeous Burberry dress is just perfect for her

 Jessica Alba

Continues to amaze me how beautiful she looks in 

EVERYTHING - especially this Oscar de la Renta gown

Jennifer Garner

Vivienne Westwood red sequin couture gown

Can't really go wrong

 Lucy Lui

This Carolina Hererra dress is so romantic, 

it has me very excited for spring

Taylor Swift

Looking beautifully vampy in a Donna Karen Atelier

plum fishtail gown

The Worst

Emily Mortimer

I like this Jenny Packham silver sequin gown, but perhaps 

is a little young

Halle Berry

Not a fan of this sickly sweet Versace Atelier number

Tina Fey

Looking a bit stiff in this L'Wren Scott dress

Heidi Klum

We know you have one of the best bods in

the world, no reminders necessary

Megan Fox

This Dolce & Gabbana lace gown is just a little

too nighty-ish for me

Photographs by Rex Features, Andrew Evans, Emiley Schweich/PR Photos

No copywrite infringement intended

Another Great H&M Dress

Monochrome Stripe Dress - £34.99

Flattering, polo necked and 60s-esque, what more could you want?

Also worn by Beyonce's sexy saxophonist during the 2013 Superbowl half time.  

Punchy Pumps

ZARA's Studded Heel Ballerinas - £16.99

I badly need some simple black pumps as my Topshop pointed flats have been 'worn in' to say the least. These would go with everything, and from personal experience, Zara shoes are well made and such good value.

Great Expectations

  H&M to Launch Luxury Brand & Other Stories in Spring

   I am very excited to see what H&M can deliver with its latest venture - luxury line & Other Stories 
this spring. This week, the Swedish multi-retailer announced the arrival of seven stores across Europe for its new offspring, including on London’s Regent Street. A awaited online store will also be launched to bring availability of its bags, accessories, ready-to-wear and beauty products to 10 European countries.

   Such development has been in the public eye since last year. It has been encouraged for the reclamation of the world’s largest fashion retailer, which was taken from H&M by Spanish retailer Inditex (bringing us its much loved offspring Zara). Launching brands such as Cheap Monday, Monki and COS under the Swedish umbrella have diversified H&M’s audience, becoming more attractive to older, more affluent audiences who are less effected by the economic downturn since 2008.

   Rivaling that of Inditex’s Massimo Dutti, & Other Stores claims to bring designs that are ‘diverse, ranging from masculine tailoring to feminine chic’. This seems to go hand-in-hand with its sister brand COS, which is acclaimed for clean cuts, minimalist designs and pretty tailoring. So what will be different? It’s hard to say, but after watching the series of brief documentaries from the new brand, it’s clear their motives include attention to detail, quality of construction, high fashion trends at affordable, wide-ranging prices. I’m sure whatever will be produced from this venture this spring, it is sure to be eye and purse pleasing.

   Take a look at the series, their sensual imagery and sound has created great anticipation…

Diamond In The Rough

BA FASHION COMMUNICATION
Fashion Publication Process - Photographic Editorial

Photography & styling: Rosie Sparks
Model: Clio Cooper
Location: Newcastle-upon-Tyne

Highstreet Hitlist - Day Dresses

Finding the perfectly versatile dress for both day and night

Topshop

Topshop is usually my first stop for something designed ahead of other highstreet brands. For me, it can be pretty hit or miss with dresses as a lot of what they have look great on the hanger but just dont really suit my petite.5 frame. Nevertheless, when I hunt down that one dress, I wear it in several ways and it stays with me for a couple of years. I think these are the best of the bunch at the moment:

1. Boucle Sweater Dress - £38
2. Petite Contrast Sleeve Dress - £38
3. Bow Shirt Dress by Annie Greenabelle - £51
4. Knitted Tile Jacquard Dress - £15 (was £45)

Also check out the Speckle Roll Sleeve Mini Dresses, I'm eager to add the dark green one to my wardrobe!

Asos

We know Asos can be a one-stop-shop with hugely extensive ranges. But after you've sieved through hundreds of tops for that perfect one you didn't know you wanted until you found it, you can find some great designs at great prices. These dresses are super cute and can be worn both girly or a little more fierce:

5. Ganni Swing Dress - £89
6. Dahlia Denim Pinafore - £60

Urban Outfitters

Beware, UO can make you fall in love but crash hard once you look at the prices. For me, it's a little overpriced but the items are pretty much spot on trend. These two flirt with UO's rocky-ethnic theme.

7. Silence + Noise Slit Back Dress - £20 (was £55)
8. Staring At Stars Babydoll Elephant Dress - £52