Still deciding which music festival to go to? Try the festival finder

Right in time for the music festival season, thetrainline.com has introduced their new U.K festival finder website.

Attending a music festival is practically a rite of passage for modern day young adults, correct? To have reached your mid-twenties without doing so could be considered a little strange, possibly? Well unfortunately I fall into the latter category, although I did try to rectify the situation a few years back and began researching various festivals happening around the UK. Two years later and I am still in the same position after never managing to settle on one particular festival I felt catered to all my music loving needs and that of my friends. Thankfully, thetrainline.com have created their own online festival finder where you can select a group of your favourite performers then it helps you gauge which festival best suits your individual music preferences.

What is great about the festival finder is that if you’re struggling to remember the artists you would like to see live, the website lists a large number of acts set to perform on one of the various UK stages – therefore allowing you to simply pick and click away. If your taste is especially eclectic and you are struggling to find an event that stands out, the online search engine still lets you know the specific festival your choices are playing at. Also, whether or not the venue in question has sold out, what ticket prices are and dates of the occasion.

Music festival tickets aren’t exactly cheap, so making sure to choose the right one for you is an important yet increasingly difficult task considering just how many there are to choose from nowadays. And that just goes for the UK, I’m not even taking into account the various festivals that happen throughout Europe and the rest of the world each year (see Helen’s recent Coachella style overview).

Maybe things will be easier now for all us indecisive folk. Who knows, with the help of the festival finder and Jo’s recent Glastonbury packing essentials post, I may have finally lost my music festival virginity by next year.

Miss Vogue launches on Monday | How will it do?

Back in January British Vogue announced it was launching its first ever magazine aimed at the teen market, calling it Miss Vogue, and the first issue officially hits the shops this coming Monday. It got me wondering whether other ladies like myself – now ever so slightly older than Miss Vogue’s target demographic – would have loved something like this when we were younger?

Who else remembers ELLE Girl? British ELLE magazine launched a similar attempt to appeal to a younger audience back in 2001, only for it to fold five years later with reports suggesting that the increase in online e-magazines and blogs was one of the main reasons for the publication’s untimely demise. While not identical in their content, considering the aforementioned reason for Elle Girl‘s closure and the fact that reading material available online has continued to expand dramatically since 2006, it’s uncertain exactly how well Miss Vogue will fare in the already struggling magazine market if Condé Nast decides to continue printing it. Just last week More! magazine became the industry’s latest casualty announcing its publication had been suspended after several previous efforts to reinvent the glossy.

However, in the last few years there has been what can only be described as a tween/teen explosion with the young population’s adoration for the likes of One Direction, the Twilight movie franchise and the emulation of stars’ style including Taylor Swift and Kim Kardashian’s little sister Kendal Jenner (who, incidentally, has modelled for Australian Miss Vogue) taking on a life of its own. Team this with Vogue’s stellar reputation and it looks as though there are enough components in place to make Miss Vogue a guaranteed success.

Thanks to a recently renewed Vogue subscription I got to flick through the magazine before its official launch next week as it comes free with the June issue. My first impression was that I would have probably loved it when I was younger and taken lots of style inspiration from their numerous uber-colourful fashion editorials. On the other hand, I’m not entirely sure how many British tweens and teenage girls can afford the Louis Vuitton leather duffel bag advertised for a whopping £780, or the Tiffany platinum and diamond pendant with an equally eye-watering price tag of £9,675 also featured? At the same time, this magazine has been produced by the Vogue family, a publication famed for championing the finer (fashion-y) things in life.

Who else is keen to see what kind of reception Miss Vogue gets from the public next week? We are rooting for it here at Style and Then Some!

Don’t overlook the printed book | World Book Night

While YouGov reported a substantial increase in sales of the Amazon Kindle Fire e-reader last week, World Book Night, which took place on Tuesday, appealed to the globe not to overlook the printed book.

There’s no denying that devices such as the Kindle Fire are amazing wee inventions, but despite this, I have no desire to possess one. When it comes to books, in my opinion, nothing much beats that feeling of satisfaction once you are fully immersed in a great page-turner and the proof can be physically felt and seen from the thick wad of read pages clasped in your hand.

Perhaps I’m just easily pleased, but in light of World Book Night earlier this week – an event which celebrates reading of the printed book – I decided to do something I hadn’t done in a while. Instead of having a quick scan of Amazon, I stopped by my local book store to have a thorough look at the latest titles available on the shelves. In this digital age it can be easy to forget what a truly pleasurable experience browsing around a book shop can be, even without looking for anything specific; from that thrill of coming across a surprisingly interesting title, to actually getting to hold and quickly flick through a book you were actively seeking out.

True to typical book store form, the atmosphere was extremely chilled and I ended up purchasing three fantastic books. First up, 23 Things They Don’t Tell You About Capitalism by economist and Cambridge University lecturer Ha-Joon Chang. Simply because at the tender age of 24 I have finally decided to find out how the world actually works – it’s about time really. Secondly, Chavs: The Demonization of the Working Class by The Independent columnist Owen Jones, because I have been guilty of laughing at chavs from time to time (Jeremy Kyle anyone?) when I should really know better. The third book was Anne Frank‘s Diary, embarrassingly enough I decided to buy this after the recent Justin Bieber furore (in which he remarked that she may have been a fan of his. For goodness sake) made me realise I had never actually read it.

In support of World Book Night, The Guardian online has compiled a list of quotes by famous writers in a bid to encourage more people to delve into a good book, see it here. Visit the World Book Night website at www.worldbooknight.org.

Is social media stopping us from living in the moment? | Part 2

I came across a story in the entertainment section of the BBC website which I felt echoed the sentiments of an earlier blog post of mine. The subject of which we have all been a victim of at some point, maybe even been the perpetrator ourselves on occasion…

As if worrying about finding a half decent spot at a gig which allows you to actually see the band isn’t hard enough, we now have to contend with an array of smartphone wielding, vision obscuring pests. In these instances you have few options; either knock the phone out their hand and risk getting punched , grit your teeth and bear it or if you are feeling especially brave and confident you can compete with the noise, ask (yell at) them politely to stop. But what if we could skip all this and more performers followed Indy band, the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s example, who recently appealed to the audience at their New York gig to refrain from filming their set. This was reminiscent of Stone Roses frontman, Ian Brown’s announcement to a crowd last year that, “If you put your cameras down you might be able to live in the moment. You have a memory there of something you’ve never lived.”

I applaud the likes of Ian Brown and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs – not only for lead singer, Karen O’s amazing style – but for taking into consideration their NYC fan’s visual enjoyment and being concerned with preserving the artistic integrity of their performance. After all, what really is the point of seeing a band live if you are just going to watch the show through a lens? This is where the parallels between my previous blog entry ‘Is social media stopping us from living in the moment?’ and this recent report became apparent. In it I talked about the time I pretty much ruined a short trip to New York by concentrating more on taking as many pictures as possible as opposed to actually looking around and drinking in such an amazing city with my own two eyes.

After the Yeah Yeah Yeahs aforementioned plea hit the headlines, a discussion ensued on BBC Breakfast asking for comedian, Marcus Brigstocke and musician, Graham Lambert’s views on whether or not spectators of every artistic discipline should no longer be allowed to film live performances. Lambert, a member of the band, Inspiral Carpets was quick to point out that his group welcomes it and are thankful for the free publicity it brings, as it has now become an indispensable way of lesser known acts gaining more recognition. looking at it that way, am I maybe wrong to condemn it?

Australia Fashion Week S/S’13 | Who stood out?

When it comes to Fashion Week something I am guilty of is only really concerning myself with the New York, Paris, London and Milan shows, despite the fact that there are now well over 100 Fashion Weeks around the world. Australia Fashion Week, held in Sydney, concludes today and considering that Oz has brought us an array of great designers over the years such as, Sass and Bide, Josh Goot and Collette Dinnigan, I thought it was about time I checked it out. Here are the two collections which really stood out to me:

First up is the label AJE which is made up of two designers Adrian Norris and Edwina Robinson. The design duo’s attention to detail is clear to see from the intricate sequin patterns featured on several of the looks in their show. Many very wearable, beautiful and extremely feminine pieces have been slightly frayed in places to give the range some edge, a look AJE prides itself on. To see the full collection click here.

Then came Alice McCall’s show on Wednesday. McCall’s eponymous label has been on the go for almost ten years and she credits Kate Moss and Diane Kruger as fans. Her SS’13 collection consists of flattering cut-out shapes and sandy beach like patterns against the organic style silhouettes resulting in a rather elegant outcome on the catwalk. To see the full collection click here.

Are you impressed with these S/S’13 Australian Fashion Week offerings? If you are eager to see more click here.

Great One Piece Swimsuits On The High Street

If like myself, you too weren’t lucky enough to escape to sunnier climes this Easter it does not mean we can’t get excited about all the great high street swimwear in the shops at the moment. After all, summer is just around the corner apparently.

Due to the distinct lack of any proper spring weather (you may have noticed), I have actually taken to frequently googling sunny luxury destinations such as Hawaii and the Seychelles and then looking at plane ticket and hotel prices pretending I can afford them. Sad isn’t it? However, I recently rediscovered a far more proactive and cost effective way to indulge in some brief escapism that is much closer to home.

After a five year hiatus I took the plunge, quite literally, and headed to my local swimming pool for a nice leisurely dip (none of this fast lane at the gym nonsense) and sauna session in a bid to kid myself I was on holiday for an hour or two. Once again, how sad, but effective as my spirits were instantly lifted. Not the most bikini friendly environment – what with several small children splashing about at the other end of the pool – it got me thinking about stylish yet comfortable and relatively discreet one piece alternatives available on the high street that also wouldn’t look out of place on holiday.

After an extensive internet search I realised there is a fantastic and flattering swimming costume selection out there to choose from for us ladies whose figure leans towards the more curvier end of the spectrum and who would like options other than black. Here are my top 5 finds:

 

Seafolly shimmer bandeau swimsuit £91

ASOS spot tie front swimsuit £25 (ties around the neck too)

Very.co.uk Resort halter £25 (comes in black too)

Debenhams Beach Collection, Blue figure flattering seagull print £22

Florence and Fred Tesco Moulded cup swimsuit £14

Trendy trainers | ebay sales of trainers up 98%

We have all been there haven’t we? There you are getting ready for an occasion where the dress-code calls for a fabulous pair of heels. You slip them on, feel great, until later when the inevitable burning pain sets in and of course your chic little clutch is nowhere near big enough to accommodate any emergency flats. Women’s fancier-than-usual fashions aren’t often designed with comfort and practicality in mind.

However, if the latest statistics published by ebay.co.uk are anything to go by then issues like this could soon be a thing of the past. Laura Wilkinson-Rea, a spokesperson for the website had this to say:

‘Trainers were the footwear of choice on the FROW as bloggers and editor’s alike combined comfort and style by wearing trainers with anything from couture gowns to suits.’

Sales of trainers – or ‘sneakers’, to our American audience – have soared on the online marketplace by a whopping 98% since London Fashion Week last month, also thanks to the likes of model-of-the-moment Cara Delevingne and singer, Rita Ora wearing them frequently. The label, Sister by Sibling, even had all the models in their LFW’13 catwalk show wear the shoe, but there were plenty of appearances off the runway. The Guardian online caught up with a few of the aforementioned bloggers attending the various shows in February where it was clear that this season heels were no longer the go-to-shoe for Fashion Week, see here.

Ebay shoppers have been opting for the more classic trainer designs lately as opposed to the extremely popular Isabel Marant high-tops - that still seem to be sold out everywhere – and subsequent rip-offs (yes I know they weren’t her original idea); below is a list of their top 5 most sought after styles. The Nike Air Max’s number one spot will be in part due to the fact the iconic shoe celebrates its 25th Birthday this year, but what’s your favourite?

The relationship between celebrity and fashion | as strong as ever

From high end to high street, reports this week indicated brands such as Mulbery and H and M have suffered sales slumps of late, once again making it clear no fashion company is safe. Mulberry is yet to reveal their plan of action, but Swedish retail giants, H and M have done what any clothing label worth their salt would do in this situation; roped in a familiar face (Beyonce Knowles anyone?). The undisputed power of the celebrity fashion endorsement deal strikes again.

In other news, this week saw the launch of women’s clothing label Issa’s first ever store in Japan. A contributing factor to this recent development will no doubt have been due to the fact Issa saw stratospheric surges in their sales a few years back after Kate Middleton famously wore one of their blue silk dresses to announce her engagement to Prince William.

Onto the other Kate whose name is synonymous with iconic style. A matter of days ago Arcadia owner, Sir Phillip Green announced that he would not rule out another Kate Moss, Topshop collaboration. Not exactly a shocking revelation considering the success of her previous Topshop offerings.

The legendary fashion model seems to be the go-to-girl for pulling in much needed crowds. This week alone saw Miss Moss fronting a new campaign for the relaunch of – defunct until recently – Motorcycle clothing brand, Matchless. She even found time to design a sushi box for the ‘Sushi Shop’, to coincide with the opening of the French food chain’s first ever British store next month.

Images of the latest hot celebrity, whether in a magazine or on the side of bus is a far more ubiquitous sight than ever before, it seems like everyday there is a new collaboration of some sort. So what is it about these celebs and their style that we all still just can’t get enough of?

Sexism in the media | Give us a break

This time last week Style and Then Some was celebrating International Women’s Day, a day which highlights the hardships still faced by many women around the world. It got me thinking about something that really ‘grinds my gears’ – the issue of sexism in the media and the completely unrealistic standards females are expected to live up to.

Allow me to make one thing abundantly clear before you read on – despite her current status as one of the most photographed and talked about women in the world, I am not a big Kim Kardashian fan. Having cleared up this potential misconception, I can now reveal that she is however, the subject of this particular post after being the victim of a rather sexist attack in the media earlier this week which reflects the aforementioned unfair attitudes towards women in society today.

One of the headlines in question read, ‘Hardest working zip in showbusiness!’ Referring to Miss Kardashian’s choice of skirt that day, which according to internet gossip columnists, struggled to contain the reality television star’s pregnant belly and slightly bigger than usual behind. First of all – keeping in mind this is a woman who apparently just got told to relax her exercise regime after a miscarriage scare recently – how incredibly offensive, not just to her, but to pretty much every single woman in the world that has been pregnant at some point or has plans to be.

As if carrying a child isn’t stressful enough and extremely uncomfortable at times (then there’s the whole going-into-labour-fiasco to look forward to), it’s thanks to stories like this us women are once again put in our place and reminded that if we ever become pregnant, we might get bigger, most likely everyone will notice, and it’s just not good enough.

Note to the journalist who wrote this piece – whether you are male or female (it doesn’t say strangely enough) – when someone has another human growing inside of them, through no fault of their own, they will probably put on a bit of weight and clothing can become a hassle. This is not rocket science, it happens all the time and it’s nothing to be ashamed of.

Don’t forget | International Women’s Day

We have often dealt with issues of sexism and feminism here at Style and Then Some, so it should come as no surprise that we are excited about the 102^nd annual International Women’s Day today. IWD strives to highlight the plight many women still face to this day, but also to celebrate the achievements of various gallant ladies throughout the years – for instance, the Suffragettes – that have contributed to bridging the gender equality gap. Speaking of gaps…

Whether it’s the gender pay gap, or that age old double standard that allows men (if they choose) to sleep with whomever and however many women they want without so much as an eyelid bat from society, but God forbid a woman – also a sexual being – dares to do the same. To the more extreme end of the spectrum, let’s not forget, we live in a world where a young and extremely brave 15 year old girl, Malala Yousafzai, was recently shot in the head in Pakistan by a member of the Taliban simply because she openly expressed her desire to go to school and receive a good education. Again, how dare she.

With the likes of International Women’s Day continually raising awareness around the globe on the issue of gender equality, it gives you hope that stories such as that of Malala Yousafzai, could one day become a thing of the past, and sooner rather than later. Though it is clear there is still quite a long way to go.

James Brown said ‘This is a man’s world’ but more recently Beyonce claimed we apparently run it. Although we are evidently not quite there yet, I have faith we are getting closer. Happy International Women’s Day everyone!

Fendi AW13 | The fur debate

I wish someone would let Karl Lagerfeld know that being in possession of an unmitigated artistic genius does not give one license to be obnoxious. In recent years his ability to ruffle a few feathers has at times eclipsed his reputation as one of the world’s most relevant, leading innovative designers.

Do not get me wrong I am actually a huge fan of Karl Lagerfeld’s work, but that somewhat hostile introduction was in relation to his latest Fendi show at Milan Fashion Week yesterday which involved copious amounts of real fur, including fur head-pieces. Not only that, spectators were greeted with the show’s controversial tagline on each chair – “Fendi is fur! Fur is Fendi!”

Obviously many designers around the globe still choose to use real fur in their collections, however I cannot help but feel this in-your-face unapologetic delivery was quite distasteful. With Lagerfeld’s immense talent and foresight – not to mention the vast wealth at his disposal; the owners of Fendi , LVMH, saw record profits last year – was there really no alternative available to him in order to achieve his desired effect?

Anyone who at this point feels the ‘faux fur doesn’t look as good’ argument applies here, please weigh that up with animals being killed for what is essentially a short show and needless Western indulgence.  Once upon a time people wore fur for the sole purpose of keeping warm so they would not die, we do not face this predicament anymore.

The Diet Diaries 2 | Maybe being fat wasn’t so bad after all

Last week I documented my diet struggle (oh woe is me) and this week is no different, however get ready for a far more positive spin on the whole situation I know many ladies out there can only empathise with, and some gents.

With London Fashion Week AW13 now well under way I have already found myself being bombarded with image after image of beautiful models and their equally beautiful figures (minus those of the more skeletal variety), not to mention all the gorgeous clothes already on show; so yet another incentive to say NO to cheese burgers etc. as I sob into my celery stick stash.

When you are on any kind of super strict diet it can feel as through you are depriving yourself of any sort of enjoyable foods and things can get pretty boring, pretty fast. The thing is though, you can’t deprive yourself of the finer things in life forever can you, so what the hell happens next?

On T.V lately there appears to be several diet programs advertised that deliver specially made healthy meals to your door, sounds ideal doesn’t it? However, if like me, you’re a rather picky eater and this option is slightly out of reach due to the expense then maybe it’s time to start taking matters into your own hands.

For example, I have recently compiled a list of all the foods I actually enjoy that are healthy and far less calorific, which I assumed would be few and far between, but more often than not, chances are there will be more then you thought. Then categorized said food list into meal appropriate sections (e.g. natural yoghurt – breakfast, possibly dessert) and with the help of my new best friend Google, mixed in with a bit of creativity, I came up with several easy recipes resulting in a far less fatty daily food intake and voila, my very own DIY diet. One that does not make you contemplate jumping off a cliff all because you ate two chocolates from that box of Valentine’s Milk Tray you promised you wouldn’t. Just an idea…

I must stress to you all that I’m no dietitian and that you should really consult your Doctor before undertaking any kind of drastic change to your diet.

The Diet Diaries | this is the most un-fun thing ever

To all those dieting out there and hating every second of it, Dear God I feel your pain. As you suffer, I suffer with you but together, we will (maybe, possibly, hopefully) make it through. After all, Summer is still a good few months away which means plenty of time to prepare for swimsuit season. Apparently it will all be worth it in the end…

Time I used to spend eating is now consumed with idle thoughts and general grievances of mine, at the top of the list; I may scream if one more person presents me with their teeny tiny tummy pouch and then exclaims to the room how enormous they are. You see, I made the foolish mistake of thinking junk food was my friend and unfortunately it has landed me in a less than ideal situation where I am now in possession of  a rather rotund silhouette. Team this with the fact I have never been a major fan of exercise, it’s safe to say I haven’t really helped myself, until now that is.

Another thing I’m not too crazy about lately are people waxing lyrical about some miracle diet they just discovered that’s just so darned easy once they got into it. Well this may be the case for some but I feel as though I’ve tried every single diet out there, thoroughly despising each one and this time is no different. Letting my mind wander is a seriously dangerous past time recently as it leads to ideas such as cheating, chips and not forgetting chocolate. For instance all I seem to want to do these days is stick my face in a bucket of Nutella then have some chips for dessert.

The moral of this story – Two weeks out your life is not very much is it? Well in this short space of time through sheer dedication, no alcohol, light exercise, eating well and not so often, I have already lost over half a stone. It has been painful but extremely worth it and if I can do it and stick to it despite my crazy cravings that refuse to desist then I wholeheartedly believe pretty much anyone can. So it’s Ryvitas all round and here’s to a slimmer 2013.

Catwalking Cartoon | Smurfette’s First Fashion Show

Forget your Zac Posens or your Diane Von Furstenbergs; fast becoming the most eagerly anticipated show at New York Fashion Week later this month is one all about everyone’s favourite Smurf, the itsy-bitsy blue beauty, Smurfette.

Beloved lady cartoons are no strangers to the mainstream fashion scene, last year it was all about Miss Minnie Mouse at London Fashion Week with designers such as Giles Deacon, Richard Nicoll and Lulu Guinness creating dresses and accessories in homage to this particular Disney favourite. However now it’s arguably the most attractive Smurf, Smurfette’s turn to steal the stylish limelight.

To coincide with the upcoming movie release of ‘The Smurfs 2’, the clothing company, Junk Food Art House, along with creative minds from lady’s online lifestyle magazine HighSnobette.com and Sony Pictures Animation are launching an entire collection inspired by the cartoon character. Entitled ‘Le Look Smurfette’, the range is set to be a quirky yet very wearable, updated take on the Smurfette look of days gone with nothing overtly ridiculous.

Some may view this recent development as slightly childish but if you think about it, as young‘uns these fictional females were arguably our first introduction to the world of individual style and how fashion can set someone apart from the crowd through channelling one’s personality into their outfit. Therefore it makes sense to celebrate iconic cartoon characters and their equally iconic ensembles.

Showcasing at New York Fashion Week on February 13^th, ‘Le Look Smurfette’ will eventually be stocked in various department stores including Bloomingdales, Saks Fifth Avenue and Selfridges.

Waste of time?

These days it would seem as though everyone is extremely busy: busy jobs, social lives, busy lifestyles in general, we all seem to be far busier than ever before. Yet in the midst of all the hustle and bustle that is modern day life, according to recent headlines some people still manage to find themselves with far too much time on their hands.

It started earlier this month when news broke that tens of thousands of protesters had taken to the streets of Paris to oppose the possible legalisation of gay marriage in France. I couldn’t help but think, protest all you want it doesn’t exactly stop humans being born gay and of course wanting equal rights, do these people honestly have nothing better to do? As I’m pretty sure there are far more proactive, constructive and less offensive ways to while away the hours.

Then this week reports surfaced that a group of Senators from the American Republican political party were seeking their opposing leader, President Barrack Obama’s immediate resignation over claims that singer Beyonce may have mimed the USA’s national anthem at his recent second inauguration ceremony. They appear to feel very strongly on the matter with one Senator in particular saying,

“If Beyoncé lip-synched the national anthem, how do we know President Obama didn’t lip-sync his oath of office?”

Now, if she did it’s a little disappointing but I’m sure there will most likely be a valid reason as Beyonce has proven her strong live singing credentials consistently over the years through her frequent concert tours and television performances, but how this apparently then reflects negatively on Obama’s ability to lead his country is where I and many others become confused. To be quite frank I think the American President has far more pressing issues to concern himself with than this incident.

Aren’t there far more important things we should all be worrying about? After all we live in a world where poverty is still rife in many parts, extreme financial difficulties continue into 2013, large scale devastating natural disasters are happening more frequently, there are horrific wars going on, I could go on but we may be here all day. When it comes to certain people I feel a little bit (a lot) more perspective wouldn’t go amiss.

Moisturising Jeans Anyone?

Due to somewhat insufficient funds on my part of late, I have had to hold off on renewing my Vogue subscription until further notice, much to my devastation. Thankfully, the magazine’s website, Vogue.com, has meant I no longer have to miss out on my much needed fashion-news-fix like this rather interesting report I stumbled on earlier in the week about denim brand, Wrangler’s slightly unusual impending ‘moisturising jeans’ launch.

I have always been slightly dubious about skinny jeans because of suggestions over the years which indicate that wearing them too often can be hazardous to your health. This is as a result of some ladies, and of course some men opting for smaller, far tighter sizes than they actually need in a bid to avoid that oh so unattractive wrinkly knee effect; therefore increasing the chances of restricted blood flow to the lower portion of our bodies leading to possible yeast infections (ick), sometimes lower back pain, to far more serious issues including nerve compression problems.

However, this new Wrangler offering comes only with health benefits such as minimising the appearance of cellulite and soothing sensitive skin over time, so ironically you are actually encouraged to wear this particular pair of skinny-fit jeans as often as you can. Great news for those out there who may have been put off purchasing some new ‘skinnies’ in the past due to things like the aforementioned negative stories. Also, a lot of our time is spent trying to beautify ourselves from head to toe so this does seem like a rather good way to kill two birds with one stone, moisturising on the move if you will.

You can choose from a range of three different types including Smooth legs, Aloe Vera and even Olive Extract. The process of achieving these outcomes involves spraying the denim with the appropriate skincare product, then they are dried to lock in the beneficial effects that last for over two weeks, but do not fear you can top up along the way by buying an additional spray.

Fronting this new Wrangler campaign is Elizabeth Jagger who claims in a promotional video for the upcoming skinny jeans launch that after a day of wearing them her legs “come out feeling more silky than usual.” Well she would say that wouldn’t she? Are you prepared to part with £85 to find out for yourself?

They will be available to buy on January 28th from asos.com.

Who can resist a man in a (Tartan) suit?

It wouldn’t be a proper fashion week without at least a hint of it; one of the key trends that kept emerging earlier this week during the London Collections: Men Autumn/Winter 2013 shows was Tartan suits, slightly distorted or otherwise. A look previously endorsed by famous faces such as Sir Paul McCartney and even hunky ‘Gossip Girl’ actor, Ed Westwick.

Some of the labels showcasing their take on Tartan this week included Scottish fashion designer Patrick Grant for, E.Tautz, the brand often associated with royalty, Hardy Amies, never a stranger to the odd plaid parade, Vivienne Westwood and even Hackett menswear touched upon the trend.

We ladies have worn it just about every way possible in recent times, but it now seems to be the boy’s turn to take over and fully embrace this forever evolving and relevant historic pattern, far beyond the world of scarves and shirts. Could we soon see these designs filter down from the catwalk to High Street giving more men around Britain the chance to possibly ditch their trusty black and navy suits in favour of a slightly more eccentic Tartan orientated ensemble by the end of the year, or is this just slightly wishful thinking?

I would hazard a guess that most of us ladies like a man in a suit. Nothing much beats a well groomed gentleman sporting a well fitted getup, but will factoring copious amounts of Tartan into the equation still have the same desirable effect? Time will tell whether or not Tartan suits will be the next big thing for men this coming autumn/winter, watch this space.

Katy’s Favourite Things of 2012

At the risk of gaining the reputation of being Style and Then Some’s resident wet blanket, unfortunately, I have become one of those cantankerous like creatures who will be quite happy to see the back of 2012. It’s just that rather cliché scenario involving a 20-something girl graduate seeking some much needed direction in her life blabla, get the violins out etc. Having said that, it’s not all been doom and gloom readers; as this year draws to a close I still feel that I’ve many things to be thankful for.

1. First up, I’m now going to try my best to avoid being labelled a blog ‘brown noser’ as I express my gratitude to Katie Wright and the Style and Then Some team. After spending four long years at University I faced the annoying realisation that many of you may identify with; I had not studied for the career I actually wanted, which was writing. I then enrolled in a short course in Journalism at the London College of Fashion where I met Miss Wright. Like our teacher, she showed faith in my writing ability and I’ve now been a SATS contributor for the best part of a year, despite once upon a time not thinking a whole lot of the blog community, I now love it. For anyone out there reading this considering pursuing a journalism career, do not put it off like I did and get blogging!

2. Oh look at that, it’s turned into a double parter. Style and Then Some has opened many doors for me, through the blog I have had my writing featured on the official Facebook page of the Scottish Fashion Awards with various businesses throughout the country reposting the same article. I have also got to attend various press events and even sit in the audience at London Fashion Week which has been rather exciting. It has also given me the confidence and the much needed experience to gain placements with different publications.

3. As a frequent visitor to The Edinburgh Fringe Festival – the biggest international Arts festival the world has to offer – a long-time dream of mine was to work at it and this year I finally got my chance. I became a comedy critic for a week for Scottish independent magazine, The Skinny’s website and seeing my work posted there was quite a thrill. More recently I returned to the Big Smoke to complete another placement, this time with fashion magazine, LOOK. While there, I got a real insight into the inner workings of a weekly glossy through assisting on photo shoots and even writing and researching some articles which resulted in seeing my name in print for the first time which felt rather amazing.

4. Not dissimilar from my initial blog impression, I always thought I didn’t care all that much for Weddings. However, Summer 2012 brought about the subject of one of best friend’s Wedding and much to my surprise when I was asked to be a bridesmaid, I quickly realised I had been full of shit all along and was utterly chuffed to accept her offer. There was something pretty special about being there for such a close pal and putting my seemingly useless art degree to the test by helping with the décor. I am looking forward to my next bridesmaid gig whoever it may be for…

5. Although this may sound somewhat morbid, I ask you to bear with me. I had the misfortune of losing my Grandmother earlier this year and was trying desperately to think of something I could keep that would forever remind me of her. The first thing that sprung to mind was jewellery, until I remembered a common love we both shared; never major shoe enthusiasts, myself and Grandma Prim were both handbag obsessed often finding ourselves the butt of many a family joke focusing on our overflowing bag collections. It soon clicked, and for the last few months I have been frequently using some of her favourite handbags which have been a great source of comfort, not to mention super stylish as she was quite the sharp accessorizer.

6. To conclude, here’s a brief overview of public eye goings on that I’m also very thankful for: Obama getting voted in again, the alternative didn’t bear thinking about, I’m a massive tennis and Andy Murray fan (always have been and no I didn’t jump on any bandwagons) so when he finally got his first Grand Slam title after winning the US Open I was elated, staying up til 2am to catch it live. Television wise, I am slightly ashamed to say but my new guilty pleasure is the ‘Real Housewives of New York’. Despite actually starting in 2008, this show is just as, if not more popular than it was back then and it’s pretty addictive, trashy television that I just can’t seem to switch off.

 

What took you so long, Karl? | Chanel comes to Scotland

The Chanel Métiers d’Art catwalk show – now in its tenth year – took place earlier this week. The spectacle – described by British Vogue editor, Alexandra Schulman as “magical” on the magazine’s website – specializes in showcasing the expert craftsmanship of all the beautiful trimmings, including buttons and feathers, created by various artisans for Chanel clothing and accessories.

Chanel Paris, New York, London and now Edinburgh? I’m still finding it somewhat surreal wading through all these numerous articles discussing Chanel’s head designer, Karl Lagerfeld’s recent decision to host the luxury label’s annual Métiers d’Art fashion show up here in Scotland. More specifically in Linlithgow Palace which is situated just outside the Scottish capital – as this is somewhere I often used to visit on holiday as a youngster.

Then I started thinking, isn’t it about time the house of Chanel graced our icy shores? After all, we are the home of many things synonymous with the brand from fine Tweeds to the best Cashmere money can buy and even some of the label’s wool suppliers are based here such as Johnstons of Elgin. And if you are looking for anywhere with an impressive scenic backdrop, steeped in history then Scotland really is ideal; keeping in mind that Mr Lagerfeld is all about preserving Chanel’s history, with his designs rarely straying far from the Coco classics of the past. So the question remains, what did take you so long Karl?

The collection drew inspiration not only from the country which was clear to see from the frequent use of Tartan throughout, but from the style of Mary Queen of Scots, who was actually born in Linlithgow Palace. Click here to see the show.

ICEBAR London Adventures

There’s always a sense of achievement when you finally do something you have planned to do for ages. It’s that satisfying feeling of ticking something off your bucket list, another memory and another experience under your belt, or in the case of the younger generations, another impressive Facebook album and/or profile picture to proudly display. I had the pleasure of being in this position at the weekend, yes ladies and gentlemen, I went to the ICEBAR.

A trip to the ICEBAR in central London definitely brings out ones inner child. My attempts to stop smiling on arrival and refrain from clapping my hands excitedly after receiving our futuristic blue Parkas were in vain. They came complete with cosy gloves that allow you to caress the walls in a bid to prove to yourself that it’s not glass and that you are in fact encased in an igloo like structure that just so happens to have a bar and annoyingly limited seating.

Once any child-like tendencies calm down you find yourself slowly but surely morphing into one of those oh-so-cliché tourists. As you begin posing for a series of generic pictures whilst clutching your novelty ice glass and trying to convey an expression which screams, ‘look everyone, it’s real ice!’, you can’t help but sigh at yourself in your icy reflection, but it has to be done, doesn’t it?

Overall it was a fun outing but due to the cold it’s near impossible to stay for any real length of time and if you’re looking for something different to do in London, it’s a good port of call. However, you are paying to be cold in a country where a lot of time and energy is spent desperately trying to keep warm so don’t be entirely surprised if, ironically, you start longing for a warm, normal bar halfway through your visit.