Vibe Magazine 1993-2009

The past 8 days have been unsettling, I'm wondering whether anything is sacred? apparently not? After 16 years and a couple of owners r&b, hip hop monthly Vibe Magazine shut its door on June 30th as the editorial team were working on the Micheal Jackson tribute issue. Born to Quincy Jones in 1993 then taken over by the Wicks Group in 2006 Vibe was known for in 360 degree perspective on music culture.

As print and digital media battle over readers Vibe struggled to maintain its popularity and circulation figures. But right in the thick of the drama the magazines Fashion Director

Memsor Kamarake cranked up Vibes style content to full blast. As soon as I saw the first 'breaking news' emails started arriving from various sources I was a tad worried, after all we talking livelihood in a recession here! I didn't manage to catch up with Memsor until this evening and smile as I listen to him all fill he me in. He now has time to be at home, relax, tidy his apartment, organise plans for his family at home in Seirra Leone, and not surprisingly he's ridiculously together.

After 15 years, Memsor maintaining his togetherness, is a given, if he didn't I would be worried. As I rambled on about change and how the world and the universe look very different to how they did 10 years ago (I'm a Taurean, we're not great with change) He reminds me that, so the terrain is shifting and yes its unsettling, the very things in your space, part of your daily noise are no longer a given. Nothing is protected from that uncertainy BUT tomorrow, and if not tomorrow then the days after will be a good day in other words dont take what you have granted and hold it togther and keep moving.

He's the former Fashion Director and anything but typical! he's telling me he's getting well meaning emails and texts telling him everythings going to work out and be just fine. And actually they sound more worried than he does! He doesn't sound like he's in a nightmare, why? because he's taking time out to get some well deserved r & r, he has projects and offers ! (watch this space) remains positive, focused and ambitious. Was he was listening to my suggestions to jump on the Internet, maybe? and maybe Quincy Jones will follow Ram Shergill's DRAMA Magazine and Wound Media Wound digital and launch Vibe Digital.. we'll keep you posted.

Michael Jackson 1958 - 2009

Didn't believe this its insane but watching Sky News..

the LA Times, Reuters & Associated Press have announced

Michael Jackson has gone.. he's passed away..??!!

updated on CNN at 00.10am its really true.. unbelievable..

Farah Fawcett has passed away..

of the 70's.. the Fawcett freestyle.. skateboarding wearing

Nike Cortez.. what a way to be remembered..

From the Streetmuse ..'High Summer'

Doing a round of retail gawking for new tee shirts and spotted MTV Streetmuse collection in Zara Oxford Circus. MTV & Zara interesting brand collaboration..(not a celebrity designer in sight) Streetmuse is a rather nice range of graf print tees representing some of my favourite architecture. The 'high summer collection' that's in store now is for the style conscious music & I would add iconic architecture appreciator. The tee's mash up iconic buildings, graff style visuals, music references and objects of the streets. A mix of old school Pop art graffics re-presenting the grand daddy of Bauhaus Walter Gropius' Bauhaus building in Dessau Germany, the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, the David Broderick Tower and the Michigan Central Depot in Detroit and the beautiful Caminto in Buenos Aires. Music, fashion and buildings .. my favourite!

Capsule / Richard Young Gallery

Richard Young Gallery and London College of Fashion present ‘Capsule’ an exhibition of work by forthcoming 2009 graduates from BA (Hons) Fashion Photography. This is a collaborative project in support of emerging photography talent between celebrity photographer Richard Young, London College of Fashion and the BA Fashion Photographers. An amazing opportunity to showcase work at the launch of any career!

Curated by Paris based fashion photographer Martine Houghton and fashion designer Kenneth McKenzie of menswear label sixeightsevensix, Capsule will showcase highlights from 40 entries from the class of 2009. Richard Young, alongside LCF alumna Wendy Bevan who since graduating in 2004 has been commissioned by Russian Vogue, POP and i-D Magazine will judge entries. Alongside this Simon Coleman from Nikon have generously donated a camera and equipment worth more than £1,000 to the student with the most 'creative potential'.

Young said, “I am thrilled to working with London College of Fashion to showcase the work of their talented fashion photographers in my gallery. I am looking forward to judging what I’m sure will be a very high calibre of work that highlights each student’s unique flair and talent. There is no doubt that they have chosen a challenging and competitive career, which in my experience, is one of the most exciting and rewarding that anyone could dream of. By providing support to emerging talent I hope to help the next generation follow in my footsteps and launch their own successful careers.”

Course Director Edward Barber said, “We’re delighted to be working with Richard, one of the UK’s most successful photographers. With our minds never far from the economic downturn it is fantastic to see investment and support from our industry for up and coming photographers. Now in its sixth year, BA Fashion Photography provides a unique learning environment for students to graduate with a strong signature style and a firm grounding in fashion photography. The opportunity to show in such a prestigious photographic venue reinforces the importance of our graduates within the creative industries.”

Capsule

Richard Young Gallery

4 Holland Street

London

W8 4LT

Wednesday 1 July – Wednesday 15 July 2009

Monday – Saturday: 10.00 am – 6.00 pm

Nearest Tube: High Street Kensington

Beam Me Up Scotty

Summer is well and truly here and I am excitedly busy planning and researching my summer sojourns for this year. I have to head over to New York for a dear friends wedding and am also planning a girly break to Espana with two very cool senoritas.Travelling for a product junkie like me often turns into an utter fiasco. I am NOT the girl that over packs with clothes, shoes and handbags . I AM the girl that is loathe to leave any of my beloved cleansers/exfoliators/moisturisers/facemasks/hair oils behind. I want to take it all with me!Reality is that I can’t for reasons far beyond the enforced airline restrictions ( it’s just not practical, I will have no room to put all the new products that I will undoubtedly discover on my travels etc etc ). This is when I normally start to panic in search of the perfect Travel Kit that I can actually take on the plane with me ( in -flight skincare is a must) and still have enough ‘stuff’ left to use on my holiday.

Well, the lovely ladies of the beauty department at The Communications Store have come to my rescue and pointed me in the direction of Lisa Hoffman's Night and Day 24HR Skincare . This is skincare which was developed with the consummate traveller in mind. Your daily dose of skincare (Cleansers,Day and Night Moisturisers,Toners,Serums and Eye Creams) all come in space age looking ampoules and contain just the right amount of product for each specific stage of your regime. You can purchase as many days supply as you need for your holiday and the packettes are super portable. What's even better is that a lux looking linen drawstring bag is also provided for you to store your packettes in ( or not!)

L.O.V.E Chantal

Love, Lurve, Loave, Loff

Sharing more 'Lurve' inbetween duties a quick picture post of model Daul Kim 

at Lurve Magazine launch party. Never mind that this is another Love titled magazine still liking the look of this  independent publication which is new to the UK. Currently isn't widely stocked

but the first issue is on sale in RD Franks, London.  Look out for Lurve its a hottie! 

Roughing it in Kings Cross..

A couple of years ago Kings Cross hotels had, shall we say, a very different reputation. The area has was a bizarre magnet for attracting the dodgy characters hanging about on street corners, clubbers (remember Bagleys warehouse!) and other creative talent. It was the last place you'd expect to find diamond in rough! The Rough Luxe Hotel is a very special quiet haven a listed building from the 1850s tucked away on the edge of central London. A Georgian terraced house conversion created by architect slash interior designer slash gallery curator Rabih Hage.

Period property conversion are notorious for throwing up not so nice surprises, at Rough Luxe you must set aside all thoughts of hotels with conventional air-conditioned constancy, marbled flooring, polished finishes and bland colours. Rough Luxe is the complete antithesis to all of that. As you can see from the wall treatment in these images Hage has coupled the rough with the refined. Gloriously opulent contemporary wallpaper and modern art plus top quality furnishings sit next to unfinished walls and exposed plaster, what would ordinarily be the preparation stage of decorating, stripping walls down to the plaster into stylistic focal features.

I'm imagining a few marmite grimaces .. you'll either love it or really not like..hate it! I'm loving it, I have zero expertise in this area but I'm prepared to trust the greater knowledge of the expert extending design out of conventional boundaries and a fearless approach to experimenting. Early on in the refurbishment, layers of wallpaper were peeled away to reveal decoration ideas from centuries ago. Rabih’s instinct was to keep this intriguing ‘archaeology’ of interior design rather than cover it up. There are nine rooms. Most have en suite bathrooms, some share and all small, intimate and comfortable. Original light fittings, cutlery, nik naks, door fixtures with their period charm and obvious wear and tear

According to Rabih Hage ‘Beauty is subjective. Perfection doesn’t mean beauty. It’s not important. What makes a place great to stay is the location, the welcome you get and how well you are looked after. The material side is irrelevant.’

The Rough Luxe Hotel London

1 Birkenhead street, London, WC1H 8BA.

Tel : 02078375338 Fax: 02078371615

NEWGEN Winners Announced

Mary Katrantzou / Fred Butler / Mark Fast

NEWGEN S/S 2010 winners have just been announced at London Fashion Weeks new home Somerset House in Central London. Sarah Mower announced the new winners of the BFC's NEWGEN scheme in the Catwalk, Presentation, Exhibition and Accessories categories. With BFC showing support and confidence in Brit designers with only 3 less shows than last season. There's a definate increase in supporting 'presentations', which in my humble opinion can only be a positive move. They cost far less to produce and potentially offer so much more in the creativity, brand identity and control department! What with SHOWstudio in the House I'm on the look out for a few BFC supported fashion films! Its good to see Mark Fast on the BFC catwalk again and

Fred Butler in accessories! OK so without further a do, the Winners are..

Catwalk
House of Holland
Mark Fast
Mary Katrantzou
Meadham Kirchhoff
Peter Pilotto

Presentation
Danielle Scutt
Louise Gray
LP.BG
SYKES

Exhibition
Cooperative Designs
Craig Lawrence
Danielle Scutt
KTZ
Louise Gray
LP.BG
Mark Fast
Mary Katrantzou
House of Holland
Michael van der Ham
Peter Pilotto
SYKES

Accessories
Atalanta Weller
Dominic Jones
Fred Butler
Michael Lewis

PS people..

Although we're loving the support given by Topshop, BFC, LDA etc.. etc we're missing the mix and blend, the fusion that London is famous for. We're a ridiculousy diverse epicentre! wander around the stands at Graduate Fashion Week, the halls at Central Saint Martins, London College of Fashion, University of Westmisister and the capitals surronding streets its hard to miss it.

If the FACE Fits..

I have a few vintage .. old issues of the FACE that I hung on to and occasionally, browse through very carefully both are in pristine condition. I won't open the spine too much for fear of breaking it or turn corners just in case one day they should become collectors items. Maybe that's the future of the print edition but after shutting up shop in 2004, 5 years ago! tongues are wagging about a possible resurrection, under Bauer Media a comeback maybe ! If you don't know the FACE (I'm pretty certain I was on a holding site late last year which has been taken down, but) here's a dedicated flickr page. 

I Want to be Italiano ...

I celebrated my '21st' (ahem) birthday a few weeks ago and not only did my fabulous friends throw a surprise Tea Party for me but I received gorgeous gifts too! I am a very lucky lady . My gift from my friend Kate came with a disclaimer ' You will become addicted to this product but it is only available in a few supermarkets...in Italy' (It's actually available on Amazon too , but keep that to yourself).

With those words she handed me an azure blue plastic bottle labelled 'Aqua Distillata Alle Rose' that's distilled Rose Water to us non Italian speaking folks. This very special Rose Water toner produced by Manetti & Roberts has been around since 1867 . It is made only in Italy using distilled water from Florence and the pure essence of the Centiflora rose petal, the solution contains no colorants or alcohol and the original formula has never been altered. Italian women have been using this toner for more than a century and swear by it's refreshing and softening qualities. I have been using it for a few weeks now and am, ( as Kate predicted) equally addicted.
I have begun to keep my precious bottle in the fridge and after a particularly long day I soak two cotton pads with the water and place one each over my closed, tired eyes for a few minutes. This for me is complete and utter bliss.

The formula isn't the only thing that hasn't changed for this cult product . The packaging is gloriously vintage and not one line of the original design has been interfered with ( if it isn't broke then don't fix it!) . I find myself staring at the beautiful bottle and imagining myself strolling through a 'giardino bello' filled with blossoming Centiflora roses....ahhhhhhhh

Ding Dong..

If you've ever wondered if your consumer rights can be exercised when a retailer advertises a different price in the window from the RRP price on the shop floor. This is how it could be done ! This is Sam modelling a discounted bargain and doesn't he look like the cat that got the cream cheese! "Feeling swelegant in my new Matthew Williamson for H&M jacket a snip @ £19.99! Yes - I exercised my consumer rights and paid the price as advertised in the window instead of £59.99 .. Ding Dong!" 

Truth Publicity ..Pass the Banknote

Technically classed as mutilated or damaged I was given this £10 note by a cashier in my local Salisbury's. It has an aim.. to publicise and gain the support of who ever might be the next hand it passes through. Its like a form of political viral messaging, information designed to be passed on 'hand to hand' and shared. I gave it to a taxi driver and watched him read it as he drove off. The power of free speech! I wonder how long this £10 note has been circulating with this message?

Rococo Magazine Launch

Be on the look out for Rococo, an amazing piece of fashion fabulosity which if your lucky and they havent all been snapped up yet is on the shelves in Harrods, Selfridges and Harvey Nichols and other cool epicenters. Rococo is a fabulous new fashion magazine, launched last night with a glam party in the appropriately sumptuous surroundings of Il Bottachio on Grosvenor Place.

Rococo’s inaugural cover star VV Brown performed a fantastic set that went down a storm with the audience of fashionistas. Brown came on stage barefoot and retro-fabulous in an electric blue jumpsuit and moved the crowd which included lots of faces including Tamsin Egerton, Henry Conway and Henry Brett who mingled with three of the aspiring Britain’s Next Top Model girls. Up-and-coming actress and model Tolula Adeyemi arrived at the event in a flower-bedecked Karma Kar and was the centre of attention posing for photos in a stunning baby blue top/dress designed by LCF alumni Manjit Deu.

Anna Thomas-Ismond / Maria Asasdi (on the right!)

Rococo has a great team behind it look out for this inspiring 22 year old Anna Thomas-Ismond, Rococo's Editor-in-Chief!! we love that Anna is 22 years young and already Editor-in-Chief! way to work it Anna! As well as fashion Rococo offers beauty and the other person you all need to be on the look out for is Maria Asasdi (know to many of us at the London College of Fashion) as Maryam Asadi, have a look at her website hopefully well have Chantal do a beauty profile here on Style Canteen in the next couple of weeks.