VOLT not by Conventional Standards: Introducing VOLT CAFÉ

VOLT the famously oversized and unbound fashion biannual does not follow the conventional rules, so welcome to the new interactive VOLT CAFÉ, which is an extension of the magazine online. It's not a blog and not merely a mag website but is an immediate online platform which showcases new talent, artists and designers as soon as they happen, while remaining equally focused on recognized brands (what VOLT does best!) 

VOLT CAFÉ I warn you is seriously addictive already spent my morning neglecting the washing-up mesmerized by the elegant and seductive mini-films in VOLT TV. See some of the amazing editorials in the recent  7th issue come to life, such as the 'World Party' shoot displaying the desirable new adidas Originals A.039 Spring/Summer 2010 collection.  

This beauty editorial - The Treasure Nest is just beautiful, I urge you all to check it out! 

Photography James Brown and Styling by Ella Dror, what a fantastic combination.

This is the issue 7 revised cover version of VOLT by knitwear designer extraordinaire Craig Lawerence. 

These are a series part of a unique concoction between VOLT, F.TAPE and Swarovski CRYSTALLIZED launched at London A.W 2010 Fashion Week.  

Young British designers who took to recreating the iconic covers included Hannah Marshall, Craig Lawerence, Holly Fulton, Katie Eary, Dean Quinn, Fred Butler, Manjit Deu and Gemma Slack. They had all previously been displayed in exhibition at the Swarovski CRYSTALLIZED cafe  to all then recently auctioned off in a specialised online sale to raise funds for young designers... only wish I was lucky enough to have got hold of one of these amazing one-off artworks.

VOLT 01

Photographer Rui Faria
Customised by Holly Fulton

VOLT 04

Photographer Benjamin Lennox
Customised by Fred Butler

VOLT 06

Photographer Roger Deckker
Customised by Gemma Slack

You can download these an many more exclusive VOLT and F.TAPE art pieces in postcard format via the CRYSTALLIZED website.

VOLT CAFÉ  www.voltcafe.com

The Politics of Fashion

So we are all a bit over indulged with the constant coverage of the run-up to the election and do we say thankfully it's here and I guess in a way it's all over (or the beginning however you wish to view it). So no looking back now the votes are in and they are being counted, please do not call in now or you may be charged... pardon my mistake it has been rather X Factor like with all this leader pleas­ and pledges (often begging for votes) the live T.V debates where they must give a performance of a lifetime or face the prospect of being chucked out (and in Gordon's case he has to fight to the bitter end). 

Well I do hope everyone used there right to vote, I know I did but it has got me thinking, perhaps in a selfish way but then again I guess politics all effects us individually. However I have been looking at the prospects of what ever future party is in will have on the Fashion industry (well hey I am in it I guess) I would like to think that studying for a Fashion Degree that the British Industry will only benefit and prosper. In the current sphere the focus of leaders wives has been propelled especially with on their much deliberated fashion choices.  

Image Via Vogue UK 

It all started off with the ultra 'classy' and sophisticated look of Michelle Obama which captured the attention of the world along with the world fashion press, she was the on the cover of Vogue with the anchor "The First Lady The World's Been Waiting For". Choosing Designers such as Jason Wu, Thakoon and even J crew. 

As always Britain often tries to follow suit and the British press have turned their attention to our own party leaders wives style credentials. With Sarah Brown (currently) in the hot seat you cannot deny the effect she, herself has had on British Fashion especially her involvement in the past two London Fashion Weeks. The Guardian even stated in Sep 2009 "How London fashion got its groove back — with a little help from Sarah Brown". Brown apparently help swoop London back firmly onto the fashion map as it was slowly began slipping off the radar. The BFC secured our prime talent of Christopher Bailey and Matthew Williamson persuading them to come back home. Brown also hosted a well-to-do fashionable dinner for the Fash elite, where she wore her own privately purchased (she does not accept freebies) Erdem dress and confimed that the government will provide finical backing for the industry. Finally getting the country on par with our european counter parts who have historically always had fanstic support from their retrospective governments. She supports british designers (Erdem, Osman and Issa) which is refreshing as many of our British celbs will often move onto the larger design houses offers very quickly. 

Image R>L: Sarah in Erdem via The Telegraph and in Osman Yousefzada at Elle Syle awards via The Mirror  and Sarah Brown and Naomi Campbell welling it up at Glastonbury promoting the white ribbon alliance via The Daily Mail.  

Her white ribbon alliance with her and naomi cambell getting friendly and putting their high profiles to a well respected and worth while charity, which is not only admirable but says alot about her character. She recently also suggested while on the GMTV sofa with her husband that there would be a possibility of them both entering into charitable campaigns and support when the politics game is all over. 

So to me losing the power of Sarah Brown by Gordon's side in this election would be a devestating blow to UK Fashion. Would other Parties still continue with this positive impact and good work?

To remain slightly impartial although completely speculative, we could see Sam Cam follow suit as I mean she is involved in Fashion herself with her position as creative director at Symthson. So maybe if the tories do edge it in, we would hope that she would protect and push for her own industry so to speak. Her style has not gone un-noticed either and I must say slightly jealous of her wardrobe which I would never believe I would hear myself say of a party leaders wife. She is often found hob-nobing at swanky london do's with the likes of Christopher Bailey so she may already be having quite talks for next Fashion week, you never know! 

So which ever way the vote goes lets hope there is a positive step and the leaders wives in-fact continue to play an important and crucial role, not only as great female representatives but as supports of the fantastic and I must say underrated British Fashion Industry. 

Samantha Cameron in Erdem with the incredibly talented man, (Sir...give it time) Christopher Bailey 

via Confessions from Kuwait 

In need of a 'Wedding Guest' Dress

Spring time is blossoming, lambs are being born and low and behold wedding invites are falling through the door. The poem for ode'de Spring. realisation of aging womanhood does not come any bolder than, a 'you are cordially invited' scribed ivory stationery, to yet another friends wedding. I am often found myself thinking, boy does time fly, and is this stage in life not all coming round a bit too soon? 

Well after initially having put the invite aside for a couple of weeks it finally creeps up on me that shit I realy should figure out what to wear. Wedding attire, feels me with fear... I just don't get it! at first I thought the principle was simple, Just a smart summer dress, shawl and hat, done! But oh no wedding politics like most politics is hard to fathom, all the rules of you must never wear white, must not reveal to much flesh, must not wear the same colour as the mother of the bride and under no circumstances should you out-dress the bride, bridesmaid of immediate family. Don't you just hate rules. 

I find the idea of putting the wedding guest outfit together as a challenge, one which I don't particularly enjoy. Spending out money on an assemble which often is quite frankly not usually suitable for any other event than wedding or the races, feels my heart with sadness that it will lead to a spree that will then be neglected to the back of the wardrobe collecting dust until next spring. Yet that is the thing isn't it, weddings are costly business and I am not even the one getting married. You can never duplicate your wedding outfit to another, as all the photos will reveal this fact. It also now seems that a more casual way of dressing to such weddings is now more apparent as I recently found out when I wandered into the church 'tartly' (could be a phrase to use) dressed, as all day I was self-conscious and actually felt that way. 

So here comes the dilemma all over again, a wedding approaching in less than two weeks, What to wear? arrrgh.... 

Floral- I mean nothing says spring wedding more right? And I guess floral means that the dress then becomes more adaptle to summer wearing also (money saving bonus!) So above are a few of my favourites and as much as I believe that the Nicole Fahri Peonie print dress that I saw suggested in The Sunday Times Style as the 'almost' perfect solution for s/s wedding dressing, but one thing other than the price tag I guess. But in comparison the Ted Baker dress (almost similar in print to my recent cheaper version from Miss Selfridge) and for just a £1 extra I would rather own a versatile and beautiful Fahri by Nicole Fahri classic tea dress, than dare I say it an overpriced ted baker piece (as much as I love it also). 

Money, Money, Money, crux to life for a mere student, so I think those two pieces are safely out the question, but can we forget that wonderful site I mentioned several times before. Girl Meets Dress, designer dress rental hire, for any occasion and solves all the issues of forking out on expensive garments to never be worn again. It offers admirers of designer pieces the chance to actually experience the luxury for themselves. The site has it's own 'Wedding guest' dress section and above are a few wxamples that showed up. I am considering this is the best option for myself this time, yet which one to choose??    

Hat or not to hat, that is the question? 

Do people still wear hats? I hardly see them myself any more and the opportunity of being able to wear a hat fills me with excitement. I adore hats and fascinators but they also come with shopability issues much the same as the dress. Do you match or not match? I feel so overwhelmed by choice, for a previous wedding I last minute impulsively brought a purple fascinator (similar to the one pictured above) but do I disregard this one completely or do I use this as the foundation to finding the dress? Should it be a complete purple match piece such as the Miu Miu above or would it be advisable or perhaps more suitable to just use the purple as an accent colour maybe coming through in the delicate print of the dress (such as the whistles tropical dress below). That also brings up the assumption that women must wear a dress, is not acceptable to wear separates or even a smart trouser suit? I just do not have a clue about wedding attire, hopefully this may come with more experience, as at the moment I feel lost, this is a whole new world...I am more than open to suggestions pleasssssseeeee!