Chanel Couture...

Chanel has showcased some interesting couture for Spring/Summer 2014... sportswear. Well Karl Largerfeld's take on Sportswear.

The collection is everything that you can associate with Chanel, beautiful fabrics, gracious styling, tweed twin sets and trainers and bum bags. Wait what something is just not quite right there. It was all very girly and sweet, pastel shades with florals and glistening gems, but all teamed with running shoes. Albeit stunning running shoes made from glorious tweed and bejewelled with gemstones. It was all very futuristic and not very traditional whatsoever.

But if this is sportswear then count me in. I'd love to be seen running (loose term) in the marathon in one of the feathered floor length gowns, or biking in some jewel laden cycling shorts. Maybe I will skip the

NYFW...

It may not have finished yet
But this has stolen the spotlight for the entire week

I also have serious topknot envy of a 2 year old!

Racist Clothes. Political Correctness overload or downright racist??...

This last week has raised some serious racial claims for the fashion industry. But where does racism start and political correctness begin. When is going to far, to far?

First up was the Indian Headdress scandal for Swedish super giant H&M. Now we all know the uproar caused by the Native Indian ensemble worn in 'that' Victoria's Secret show last year. To an extent we can understand, the model was very scantily clad. However the demand to remove an innocent accessory seems to far. The item in question is marketed for festival wear. I myself have seen many at festivals in past, along with the whole Navajo theme. In no way do I find this offensive or in the slightest racist. 

This is political correctness gone mad. I admit, yes, I am no Native Indian so, no, I do not have a leg to stand on. However, where do you draw the line. When I was 6 I had a whole outfit, headdress included, Pocahontas style.Now is there a problem with that? I was never aware that I was being racist in a game of dress up, and isn't festival wear just an adult form of dressing up. Is because you are now an adult that the tables have turned. If demands to remove stock from shelves should this not apply to the entire trend. Whose to say a jacket, like pictured above isn't racist? Or Jewellery which is inspired from Native Indians or Aztec or South East Asian Hill Tribes, are these all not deemed to be racist.

The second news story this week broke today. The Nike leggings which have been removed from sale, as they a deemed offensive to the indigenous people of Australasia. To some they look like a pattern on a pair of leggings. At some point I am sure pretty much every pattern has appeared on a pair of leggings, including the above mentioned trend. The leggings design has come from tribal tattoos from Islands such as New Zealand and Samoa. These tattoos and patterns are sacred in their culture. So really this is debate of culture, not racism. Its sad to think that throwing the word racist into a story makes the readership increase.
The same question arises though. The leggings are not demeaning culture, they are showcasing it. People buy the patterns on their clothing because the like it, they find it attractive. Should all tribal designs and tattoos be banned on anyone not from that culture? 
Things like this start to raise all kinds of issues which others may actually take serious offence to. One comment on the article posted by Vogue states, "how do white people even think they have the right to decide what's offensive to cultures that aren't their own oh wait i know the answer".
Now this starts to open a whole other Kettle of fish, where people are assuming that the white man is out to get the black man, such an archaic view on racism which the world is trying to stamp out. The hero that is Morgan Freeman was quoted saying "How do we stop racism? Stop talking about it. I'm going to stop calling you a white man, and I'm going to ask you to stop calling me a black man".

British Highstreet...

The Great British Highstreet, one of our beloved parts of heritage, but is it soon to be something of the past?
I certainly hope not. Admittedly I have never really had a high street in the traditional sense, yes my local town does have a high street but its littered with take aways, hairdressers, charity shops and bookies. There's not one bakers, or butchers or anything along those lines, all we have is one sad looking newsagent which is overshadowed by Waitrose on the corner. With shopping malls and out of town complexes the 'Great British Highstreet' is quite out of fashion.
But should we be loosing this heritage?? Food shopping seems to be getting more and more expensive and grocery markets seem to be springing up everywhere. Maybe we should be going back to buying local instead of the big conglomerates. Maybe the little butcher in the next town that managed to stay trading is the best option.
I was reading a report on the rise of rates for retailers on Drapers today, and if tax on Bricks and Mortar stores goes up again then how are independents going to survive. Are we condemning them to failure? What's the next step in getting our heritage back...

London...

I am soon to be moving to London, a large ambition of mine is to finally come true. I have always loved London. Right from the very first time I remember going there...
The year was 2000, I was 11, my dad took me to the Millennium Dome. I remember sitting excitedly on the tube from Hatton Cross into central London. Looking at the map and asking what was at what stop. The Piccadilly line does a wonderful drawing of Above the Underground showing you all the famous places. I remember it being empty which is odd for the tube, something which I grew up to appreciate those times. Swinging from the centre poles and basically being a kid. I remember it being one of the earliest times I had my own camera, cue many selfies of me and my dad. I remember being very happy.
Happy
That is purely what London is to me. I have always wanted to to live in that hustle and bustle, and the ability to just go anywhere at any time and see everything.
Considering I have been overseas for some time I hadn't been to the Capital for a while. I treated myself to a wander around Spitalfields and Brick Lane. 
I had momentarily forgotten my sheer passion for the place. I wandered around from market to market in simple awe. I quite simply cannot wait to be living within touching distance of everything. 

Photo A Day...

This little one is soon to be joining my household. Stuck for a name however, suggestions are welcome 

Photo A Day...

Set up for the day