Tim Walker: Art that stirs the senses and captures the heart and humour of life

Tim Walker’s photographic work changed the way I perceived fashion in every respect imaginable. It urged me to trust the erratic and outrageous elements of my creativity I had once tried to subdue, and taught me to expect more from this industry.  An epic, illustrated novel, a bewitching cinematic adventure, such art that stirs the senses and captures the heart and humour of life is a rarity. I was hooked.

A photographer who delights in the macabre of his own fictitious and ethereal world, challenging our generic ideas and bull-dozing our creative boundaries.  A captured mermaid, dying slowly and beautifully, skeleton puppets, pastel coloured Persian cats, a giant glass-eyed doll stalking through the woods at twilight.

Creativity that inspires visually whilst evoking an artistic essence of style is the only way to experience this beguiling industry, surely?

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All wrapped up (and sweaty) waiting for Autumn Fashion!

Ok, now I tend to get a bit of stick about this from friends…but I’m just not a summery kind of girl. It’s either too hot, or too humid, and usually, following only a mildly energetic slow walk, I’m worn out!

My season is Autumn. Thoughts of clichéd crispy leaves, a golden haze and the prevalent need for furry woolies (specifically mittens – I LOVE mittens) leave me sat here in significant discomfort, in the sunshine, planning my toasty dream outfits…

Orla Kiely Blouse, Topshop Velvet Shorts, Topshop Coat, Mawi Necklace, Saks Leopard Print Booties

Orla Kiely Blouse, Topshop Velvet Shorts, Topshop Coat, Mawi Necklace, Saks Leopard Print Booties

When The Body Met The Nobody: An Audience and Interview with Elle Macpherson

Here it is. My most bizarre, surreal, fabulous interview yet (and likely ever). Thank you to STYLEetc magazine and, of course, Elle :)…

 

There are several moments in life, not that necessarily define us, but that define our memory banks with rigid ferocity, be that in a pleasant or unpleasant way. Luckily (for me) I’m about to tell you a story about the former.

Recently, STYLEetc were invited to interview a Mother, a Business Woman, a Supermodel, a Philanthropist, a Fitness Guru, an Actress and someone with the most gloriously golden locks of hair that we have ever seen! Yes, we were invited to sit down and chat with Fashion Icon Elle Macpherson, to discuss good underwear, the joys of Instagram, and most importantly, a revolutionary new product, the Super Elixir, that she has co-developed with her friend and Nutritionist, Dr Simone Laubscher.

Elle Macpherson

Elle Macpherson

Allow us to set the scene. STYLEetc wait with eager anticipation outside San Carlo Farmacia Del Dolce on the basement floor of Selfridges Exchange Square, fresh notepad in (a somewhat clammy) hand, watching as a bustle of people make preparations for an imminent arrival. Two chairs are set before the rest, awaiting the co-creators of the wondrous Super Elixir.

The Super Elixir is designed to support healthy nutrition and to generate an overall sense of wellbeing and vitality. It claims to balance hormones, regulate digestion, and as a result, improve our appearance. Sounds too good to be true right? Well, it actually isn’t.

We’re not claiming you’ll wake up looking and feeling like Elle Macpherson after one shot of the green stuff, but we’ve found that by supplementing our normal diet with a couple of teaspoons of the Super Elixir each day, after several weeks, we now feel more energetic, refreshed and balanced. ‘Beauty and wellness from the inside out,’ is how Elle explains it, and despite our skeptical journalist tendencies, we can’t help but agree with her.

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Elle arrives suddenly, towering above oblivious passing shoppers and looking, frankly, phenomenal. Tall, tanned and slender with locks of long, lustrous hair. Her most attractive feature? Her smile. Radiant, warm and within an instant, us media folk are put at ease.

In accompaniment is Dr Simone, Elle’s Nutritionist, who, as the Supermodel puts it is, ‘a wonderful woman, a woman of integrity.’ Together they developed this product of super greens to combat Elle’s fatigue and increase her sense of wellbeing. It worked so well, that for Elle’s 50th (Yes, 50th!!) birthday, she decided to give back, to make this must have health product available to everyone.

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The texture of the elixir is surprising. A fine, powdery substance, you can mix it with lots of water (Elle’s favourite way to take it), take it as a quick shot on the go, or sprinkle it over a cold salad. We were given our dose with some iced water, ‘the nicest way to take it,’ Elle assured us with a smile.

Despite being initially somewhat put-off by the pond water-esque colour and consistency, the taste was fresh, with hints of pineapple, and was actually quite enjoyable.

After discussing the Super Elixir with Dr Simone and a small audience in the intimate cafe setting, Elle would then sit down one on one with STYLEetc, to elaborate on the origins of her new product and explain why promoting inner wellness is so important to her…

I chose to come to Manchester you know, I could have gone to Birmingham! I was here for Britain and Irelands Next Top Model actually and I found some really beautiful girls here. British girls have such great style. There’s a real respect for eclectic individuality here. You have your own way of doing things and I like that, I like a good sense of humour, I like that it’s irreverent.

I find that if you’re healthy, you feel good and then you look good. I wanted to make the Super Elixir because I was feeling flat and I just didn’t feel healthy. I had all of these vitamins that I would take each day and I just didn’t feel like they were working.

I led a really healthy life style but just felt as though something wasn’t quite right. We went through a shopping list of things that weren’t working for me. She diagnosed me as having basically a very highly acidic body. Too much stress, too much coffee and not enough greens. She told me that I was eating well but that actually I wasn’t absorbing the nutrients into my body and I needed something to help me do this better. I started on a kale and green powder to help regulate my PH balance and I started to feel better, so we then started to add ingredients. Lets do this, lets do that, lets do hair, lets do skin, lets do kidneys and we did it together.

It wasn’t like I just had a business idea, this was an evolution. We shared it with friends and family and they were saying, ‘hey this products great!’ And everybody loved it so that’s when I said actually you know, I want to make this accessible!

I think true wellness comes from joy, having fun, having a laugh, looking on the bright side of things, doing the unexpected, being spontaneous, watching movies, watching children, actually talking and interacting with them. Drinking lots of water as well of course – I’m talking 3 litres a day, it’s so simple and so effective

Society’s idea of beauty has changed a lot in recent years, their perception of beauty. You see it on Instagram and Facebook, girls are taking selfies, they know their light, they know how they look good, they’ve got style, they don’t need Revlon telling them – they absolutely know themselves! And they know how to portray themselves, it’s quirky and it’s individual and it’s unique and it’s truly them and I love that! It’s so interesting, there’s no stereotypical idea of what’s beautiful anymore.

We’re all beautiful and we can all find that beauty…that may sound a bit cliché but I truly believe it and when I look at my Instagram and I see everyday women posting pictures of what they love, whether it be their children, flowers or a sunset, I think great! We can see beauty everywhere, how cool is that?

If I feel like the clothes are wearing me, I’m just not comfortable, and comfort is so important! Comfort, not sweatpants…but sometimes sweatpants! Just finding something that really works for me. I look at French Vogue for fashion inspiration. I like that sort of sexiness, not strong sexiness but that effortless, strong air French women have. I like clean lines and silhouettes, keeing it simple.

Great Lingerie can help women feel empowered. A woman’s silhouette changes when she’s got good underwear on, it really supports the body, it’s comfortable, it gives a good breast shape that slims the hips. When you have a stronger silhouette your whole attitude changes . Your clothes look better, you look better. Embracing femininity and sensuality helps women to be more open-minded too, less self conscious, less turning inward and more open to people because they’re feeling beautiful and comfortable in who they are.

A day off for me is spent with my kids, I like to be with my children, I say children, my son is 16 so it’s few and far between that I get days with him! I love to go to the movies, to swim and ski, I like to climb, I like to paddle board in the sun…

After a quick round of selfies (taken kindly by Elle – our arms were not even nearly long enough!) just to make sure we had evidence of this surreal encounter for disbelieving family and friends, she was gone, and we were left with a fabulous sample of the Super Elixir, which is available online at http://www.welleco.com and exclusively in store at Selfridges. For a daily boost of energy, stronger nails and a significant reduction in bloating, we’d recommend giving it a try. After all, it’s always good to channel your inner Elle!

 

STYLEetc Quickfire Questions:

The last film you saw…

A Viggo Mortensen film, he was great in it!

Favourite book…

From Atoms To Angels, it really changed my life.

Personal Mantra…

I believe that lifes a reflection, what you see around you is a reflection of what’s going on within.

The best advice you could give…

Drink lots of water!

Favourite City…

Manchester, of course!

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By A Starstruck Grace Fleming

 

Festival Fashion And White Teethed Teens

Another article for STYLEetc magazine on the perils of festival fashion. If, like me, you’re not compatible with the festival way of life (i’m talking excessive hair grease and pale legs) then at least we can get our own back with a killer wardrobe…


 It’s that time of the year again people. A time when skin gets darker and drinks get colder, when music gets louder and life gets better. Yes, festival season is finally upon us and it officially kicks off this weekend here in Manchester with Parklife!

For all those lucky enough to be going (we’ll see you there!) and for all those who are attending gigs later in the year, STYLEetc are on hand to help with the biggest dilemma of a weekend of festival fun…what to wear!?

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First off, lets deal with the essentials. Those items you NEED, whether you’re waiting for Snoop Dogg beneath a thunderous downpour or baking in the sun whilst queuing for an overpriced chip butty, you need to be prepared (and fashionable, of course.)

The first check on the list should be the portable waterproof. Now, don’t be alarmed by visions of billowing bin bags or those plastic monstrosities issued in Alton Towers, we’ve got you covered (pardon the pun).

This handy waterproof poncho from ASOS provides the perfect compromise between functionality and fashion. It comes with a hood and can be packed (or stuffed) effortlessly into a bag of any size. It’s cheap, cheerful and you won’t cry if you get any number of liquids spilt all over it.

Poncho, ASOS, £13

Poncho, ASOS, £13

Poncho, ASOS, £13

Poncho, ASOS, £13

Footware is another biggie. You need wellies, of course, and in our opinion, its got to be Hunters. Think of them as an investment. Buy a pair now and they’ll last you all the way through your festivalling years, until you’re old and use them to walk your 5 dogs. Team these classic, forest green tall ones with some bobbly over-the-knee socks and add some glam-grunge to any ensemble.

Hunter Wellies, Schuh, £59

Hunter Wellies, Schuh, £59

In warmer weather, you may want to give the sweaty wellies a miss, in which case we suggest some leather sandals or / and a trusty pair of Converse.

These ASOS sandals come in black and brown and are almost identical to a pair worn by Alexa Chung during Coachella this year, whilst these high-top stars and stripes Converse can handle the mud and will offer some comfort around about 12am when you’re starting to flag and yearning for your sleeping bag.

Little niggles have the potential of triggering the dreaded festival blues, don’t let hot feet be one of them, or sore feet, we don’t care how badly you want to brink those stilletoe court shoes, you won’t thank yourself!

ASOS Leather Strap Sandal, £35

ASOS Leather Strap Sandal, £35

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Converse, £50

As festival veterans, we can’t speak highly enough of the bum bag! It’s by far the safest means of carrying valuable items and the easiest, and yes, they can look good, you just have to choose carefully. This tasseled River Island number has a great zip up compartment and will complement any outfit.

BumBag, River Island, £20

BumBag, River Island, £20

However, we think that the old crinkly ones look the best. Try rumaging around in Manchester’s vintage shops for some inspiration, you’re sure to find a nice leather one there, or Ebay of course – just make sure they’re in good condition – you don’t want anything falling out of moth bitten holes whilst you’re jamming to Annie Mac!

If the bum bag isn’t your thing and you’re not overly bothered about functionality, then we recommend this pineapple print rucksack from Topshop just because, well, we’re a tad obsessed with pineapples!

Pineapple Rucksack, £34, Topshop

Pineapple Rucksack, £34, Topshop

DENIM SHORTS! An absolute must for your festival wardrobe ( any wardrobe actually). Old vintage Levis make the best ones. Find a pair of scissors and get snipping. After a wash in the tumble dryer they’ll have subtle fraying around the edges and a stone-washed appearance, perfect with a band tee when the weather heats up!

Levi Denim Shorts, £20, ARK

Levi Denim Shorts, £20, ARK

A trusty pair of sunnies is also something you won’t want to leave home without. They can cover all manner of sins instantly without looking try-hard. We just LOVE these Karen Walker sunglasses. The kitten-esque frames will flatter any face shape and the tortoise-shell trim will flatter any outfit colour combo. A great investment!

Sunglasses, Karen Walker, £179

Sunglasses, Karen Walker, £179

A little bit of advice: at a festival, minimalism is key, so go for something simple. We’re talking dresses, playsuits, jumpsuits, tunics – not an outfit consisting of a million different things that will take ages to get on and take up too much room in your bag! (We’re not worrying about the logistics of toilet trips in an all-in-one, so neither should you, but make sure you have a friend close at hand to assist during these ventures, especially in the dark!)

This fabulous gingham dress from The White Pepper Company is bang on trend for the S/S 14 season. Wear with or without tights, some muddy wellies and a battered fedora for a failproof festival look.

Button-Cuff Angel Dress, £55, The White Pepper

Button-Cuff Angel Dress, £55, The White Pepper

This Topshop jumpsuit is another great option. The relaxed, jersey fabric allows for even the most eratic of dance moves whilst providing comfort. Take it from day to night with this Oasis biker jacket (another festival staple) and team with a statement headpiece. Rock ‘N Rose are always our go-to’s for floral fancies!

Floral Jumpsuit, £32, Topshop

Floral Jumpsuit, £32, Topshop

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Quilted Leather Jacket, £169, OASIS

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Violet Floral Crown, £45, Rock ‘N Rose

Remember, just because you’re hip deep in mud and covered in cider, theres nothing to stop you from looking glam! Why not bring along something a bit daring and dress it down with a hoody? American Apparel have a wide selection of colours and their fluffy, fleecy linings will keep you snug and warm when the sun goes down.

Hoodie, £4o, American Apparel

Hoodie, £4o, American Apparel

Tropical Slip, £50, Topshop

Tropical Slip, £50, Topshop

These are just a few looks to consider when planning your festival wardrobe, the real key is to feel comfortable so that you can focus on what it’s really all about, having the time of your life and making magical memories…

 

xGx

 

Awkward Journalist Wannabe Meets Fashion Goddess!

Today I met Elle Macpherson…Gosh that felt good to type! to discuss her new wonder product, the Super Elixir! Here’s a sELLEfie (couldn’t resist) I’ll be posting the full interview asap for STYLEetc magazine so watch this space! xGx

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Check Mayte…

 

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Ey up! As promised, more posts, and more Polyvore love. Spring is undoubtedly my favourite fashion season; bare-all bralets and bum-cheek-cupping shorts are not yet in full fruition (thank god) however 3 year old ‘comfy’ winter warmers can be put back in the wardrobe till next year – The perfect balance of looking good whilst not freezing your finger nails off!

I love jelly shoes and I also love Tim Walker. In fact, expect a post on each soon, they are both fabulous and deserve as much. xGx

Wicker Woman…

Accubation is the process of eating or drinking whilst lying down, both of which I am doing right this second as I write this post on handbags (I’m still having problems with the beginning of my posts, ‘hi’ just isn’t doing it for me and this turned out to be plan B – Sorry.)

I thought I’d write a bit about bags largely because Summer is pretty much here and as a die hard fan of Autumn / Winter fashion, I feel like I neglect my Summer wardrobe somewhat and need something to make it pop…

So, in an effort to calm the fashiony beast within I’ve been trawling the net in search for a cute bag to accompany me through the season ahead and I think I’ve found one!…

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This handheld number may seem somewhat, ‘picnic in the park’ but I think it offers a fun and unique twist on the generic ’embellished, quilted, across the body’ clone you see so often both in the day and in the evening on girls all over the show.

To tell you the truth I’ve been looking for a bag like this for a while, having seen a picture of the adorable Audrey Hepburn, photographed for Vanity Fair, complete with her own little wicker basket.

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Not only is this bag unusual, but it’s practical too (this is NEVER usually a factor I consider when purchasing clothes/accessories, take the CHANEL Hoola bag for instance, ridiculously unnecessary in the most fabulous of ways and I need it in my life). The interior boasts a cute floral print and is spacious enough to fit both my MAC essentials and broken down iPhone. It’s just been ordered from BeyondRetro.com so I’ll let you know how it fares!

xGx