The Best of Reading Festival 2010

I've just come back from Reading Festival and although exhausted, hungover and in need of proper food (i.e. fruit and vegetables) but I had a great time!

Here is the lowdown of my weekend:

Top three acts:

1. Kele - Frontman of my favourite live band, Bloc Party, Kele has such a great stage presence and charisma, he was my favourite performer of the weekend. The remixed Bloc Party songs interspersed with his solo work went down a storm with the crowd! Listen to Bloc Party's 'Flux' below.
2. The Libertines - Great to see Pete Doherty and Carl Barat reunited and playing all their classics. The atmosphere in the crowd was electric during their big numbers.
3. Dizzee Rascal - Such an energetic performer, really gets the crowd going. Only downside was that I missed the first half of the set :(
   
   
   
   

Other highlights included Foals (loved the crowd surfing, scaling of speakers and climbing of tent supports), Los Campesinos! and The Drums.

Top three style:

1. 
   
   Pete Doherty - You either love him or hate him and I'm definitely of the former when it comes to the music. He was working the indie staples of black skinnies, fine knit jumper and black fedora. Obviously Pete Doherty was bang on trend with the minimalist look. Next gig, the aviator trend...
2. Jonathan Pierce, lead singer of The Drums - Looking good in the perfect shade this autumn - mustard.
3. Kele - sporting a chef's outfit but still managed to work the look with confidence.

Top three festival accessories:

1. Floral headbands - These were everywhere this weekend on adolescent girls and boys alike who were channeling the Peaches Geldof festival look. I'll reserve judgement...
2. Slogan t-shirts - These t-shirts were seen everywhere from the direct, 'Your tent or mine', to the charming, 'No way, you're a minger!'
3. Morphsuit - The all-in-one suit as seen on our favourite 'Hartbeat' star Morph.

The Best of Reading Festival 2010

I've just come back from Reading Festival and although exhausted, hungover and in need of proper food (i.e. fruit and vegetables) but I had a great time!

Here is the lowdown of my weekend:

Top three acts:

1. Kele - Frontman of my favourite live band, Bloc Party, Kele has such a great stage presence and charisma, he was my favourite performer of the weekend. The remixed Bloc Party songs interspersed with his solo work went down a storm with the crowd! Listen to Bloc Party's 'Flux' below.
2. The Libertines - Great to see Pete Doherty and Carl Barat reunited and playing all their classics. The atmosphere in the crowd was electric during their big numbers.
3. Dizzee Rascal - Such an energetic performer, really gets the crowd going. Only downside was that I missed the first half of the set :(

Other highlights included Foals (loved the crowd surfing, scaling of speakers and climbing of tent supports), Los Campesinos! and The Drums.

Top three style:

1. Pete Doherty - You either love him or hate him and I'm definitely of the former when it comes to the music. He was working the indie staples of black skinnies, fine knit jumper and black fedora. Obviously Pete Doherty was bang on trend with the minimalist look. Next gig, the aviator trend...
2. Jonathan Pierce, lead singer of The Drums - Looking good in the perfect shade this autumn - mustard.
3. Kele - sporting a chef's outfit but still managed to work the look with confidence.

Top three festival accessories:

1. Floral headbands - These were everywhere this weekend on adolescent girls and boys alike who were channeling the Peaches Geldof festival look. I'll reserve judgement...
2. Slogan t-shirts - These t-shirts were seen everywhere from the direct, 'Your tent or mine', to the charming, 'No way, you're a minger!'
3. Morphsuit - The all-in-one suit as seen on our favourite 'Hartbeat' star Morph.

On the Streets at the Edinburgh Festival

I’ve just come back from the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and it was fantastic. I’d been a few years ago but managed to miss the Fringe (unintentionally) and arrived for the art and film festival which was great but didn’t have the incredible atmosphere on the street that the Fringe does. However, one thing was the same; the relentless rain.

What I loved about the Fringe was that the up-and-coming artists mingled with the established acts. The beauty of the Fringe is going to unknown small shows and discovering a treasure; however you have to kiss a few frogs to find a prince...

The city had an electric atmosphere as people were singing, dancing, pirouetting, pulling rabbits from hats and riding unicycles from morning until night. A must-see festival for arts lovers!

On the Streets at the Edinburgh Festival

I’ve just come back from the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and it was fantastic. I’d been a few years ago but managed to miss the Fringe (unintentionally) and arrived for the art and film festival which was great but didn’t have the incredible atmosphere on the street that the Fringe does. However, one thing was the same; the relentless rain.

What I loved about the Fringe was that the up-and-coming artists mingled with the established acts. The beauty of the Fringe is going to unknown small shows and discovering a treasure; however you have to kiss a few frogs to find a prince...

The city had an electric atmosphere as people were singing, dancing, pirouetting, pulling rabbits from hats and riding unicycles from morning until night. A must-see festival for arts lovers!

Aviator Hat

I can't wait to wear my aviator hat this A/W. I bought it at the Recoleta market, Buenos Aires, in the sweltering heat this January. I'm not sure what possessed me to look at a winter hat in 40C but I'm pleased that I did!

Aviator Hat

I can't wait to wear my aviator hat this A/W. I bought it at the Recoleta market, Buenos Aires, in the sweltering heat this January. I'm not sure what possessed me to look at a winter hat in 40C but I'm pleased that I did!

Coat Frustration

I, like many others, am getting very exciting about the autumnal chill in the air for one reason. The change of season means a change in wardrobe.

I've found myself recently reading any fashion magazines, sites and blogs I can get my hands on for the best in A/W clothing, particularly the winter coat. Now, one thing that annoys me more than anything is when an item is featured, and for it to be out of stock when the article is published - what is the point of featuring it!?

I found this last week with the amazing long, camel, double breasted coat (as worn below by the stylish Natalie Hartley) which was featured in The Times fashion supplement showcasing the best in winter coats.

As soon as I saw this I scoured Asos.com to purchase the coat only to find that it was no longer in stock and nor would it be re-stocked.

What is the point of featuring a coat that your readers cannot buy? Surely it defeats the whole object of newspaper short-lead fashion features where the pieces are supposed to be instantly accessible to the reader and not restricted to the same time restraints that long-lead monthly magazines are?

My plea to short-leads is: please try and feature items currently in stock when your article is published, not a month before when you are brainstorming the piece!

Coat Frustration

I, like many others, am getting very exciting about the autumnal chill in the air for one reason. The change of season means a change in wardrobe.

I've found myself recently reading any fashion magazines, sites and blogs I can get my hands on for the best in A/W clothing, particularly the winter coat. Now, one thing that annoys me more than anything is when an item is featured, and for it to be out of stock when the article is published - what is the point of featuring it!?

I found this last week with the amazing long, camel, double breasted coat (as worn below by the stylish Natalie Hartley) which was featured in The Times fashion supplement showcasing the best in winter coats.

As soon as I saw this I scoured Asos.com to purchase the coat only to find that it was no longer in stock and nor would it be re-stocked.

What is the point of featuring a coat that your readers cannot buy? Surely it defeats the whole object of newspaper short-lead fashion features where the pieces are supposed to be instantly accessible to the reader and not restricted to the same time restraints that long-lead monthly magazines are?

My plea to short-leads is: please try and feature items currently in stock when your article is published, not a month before when you are brainstorming the piece!

Capes are the new coats

I hate the fact that I’m now looking forward to autumn/winter seeing as I hate the cold and love the heat, however I can’t help but be excited about the new clothing season. What I’m most excited about is the cape.

It is a look that I’ve never warmed to seeing that your arms are exposed in the cold months, but I’m willing to forgive them for this and put on a jumper and gloves as I have found myself falling for them in a big way. There are so many beautiful capes on sale at the moment, including the capes featured below from Asos, Burberry and Emilio Pucci respectively.

I really like minimalist clothing at the moment and perhaps this is why capes are now more appealing than ever because of their clean lines and easy style. Whatever it is a cape is on my shopping list come payday.

Capes are the new coats

I hate the fact that I’m now looking forward to autumn/winter seeing as I hate the cold and love the heat, however I can’t help but be excited about the new clothing season. What I’m most excited about is the cape.

It is a look that I’ve never warmed to seeing that your arms are exposed in the cold months, but I’m willing to forgive them for this and put on a jumper and gloves as I have found myself falling for them in a big way. There are so many beautiful capes on sale at the moment, including the capes featured below from Asos, Burberry and Emilio Pucci respectively.

I really like minimalist clothing at the moment and perhaps this is why capes are now more appealing than ever because of their clean lines and easy style. Whatever it is a cape is on my shopping list come payday.

Marc Jacobs Entering into Plus-Size Clothing

Marc Jacobs is pioneering the fashion world by becoming the first high-end fashion label to create a plus-size range. This is revolutionary for an industry that tends to ignore any woman over a UK size 14.

The plans were revealed by Marc Jacobs’ business partner, Robert Duffy, on Twitter. "We gotta do larger sizes," he added. "I'm with you. As soon as I get back to NY. I'm on it! It will take me about a year. But stay with us."

Duffy told followers that the brand was ‘in talks’ about the range and hinted that the plus-sized range would be an entirely new range rather than including plus-sizes in his catwalk collections. Fans are being asked to brainstorm names for the new range which is set to be launched next year.

Marc Jacobs is not just breaking new ground in fashion but is also partaking in a savvy business move for the company. The demand is certainly there for plus-sized clothing, but at the moment the supply is not. Marc Jacobs is simply responding to the markets needs and if this range is successful, other designers will certainly follow suit.