Just scrolling through my Instagram stream before I went to bed this evening (as I do - what on earth I did in the times mobile phones could only make calls or text I don't know), I came across a couple of images posted by a US based fashion editor, of a couple of outfits from an Yves Saint Laurent catwalk show. Except I couldn't tell you what those outfits were because my attention was demanded instead by the frighteningly skeletal frames of the models wearing the clothes.
When will these designers stop doing this? Not only do these poor girls look like they're swamped by the clothes and about to keel over through starvation, but the clothes just look shapeless and no better than they would look if simply presented on a shop hanger. Hardly the way you'd want to present something you've worked so hard on for womanly, curved bodies to wear, surely?
And just for the record, yes, I do mean poor - I don't believe for a second that any of these skeletal, sinewy looking models are naturally so thin if they're maintaining a remotely healthy lifestyle. And I think it's absolutely disgusting that any model agent, designer or otherwise should be allowed to put pressure on any of them to reach such a weight.
This just cheapens any attempt the fashion industry makes to convince us - usually with a token "plus size" model here and there - that they're trying to change the way things are. Here, one of the world's most prestigious designers, turns all those efforts right on their head.
What happened to the beautiful, slim and healthy look of the original supermodels such as Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista et al? They'd still look far better on the catwalk showing off designer creations at circa 40 years of age than these super SKINNY models nowadays do.
I've said my piece. It probably won't make a morsel of difference, but one person continuing to harp on about it is better than none.
This evening - Tuesday November 12th - Birmingham Town hall will be lit up in purple as part of a campaign by a small new Midlands support group to raise awareness of Pancreatic Cancer - a disease that has the lowest survival rate of almost every other form of cancer.
Currently the fifth most common cause of cancer death in the UK, the disease receives less than 1% of all research funding, which is what prompted the Midlands support group's three founder members to set up in September this year - to work with all those who are touched by the disease in some way.
Laura Wilks, one of three founder members of the newly formed support group, said: “The five year survival
rate is less than 4% and shockingly most cases are diagnosed too late for
surgery. We all feel that awareness is absolutely key to making a difference
and wanted to do something that would make people sit up and take notice."
You may be wondering why I am writing about this on my style blog. The reason is that I know how quickly and viciously pancreatic cancer can take hold of even the fittest of us. A neighbour from my childhood, and then in more recent years my former dentist were both diagnosed with the disease and in what seemed like mere months, both sadly lost their battle. These are the cases of all people I've known who have suffered from a form of cancer that have most shocked me.
They were both very fit, very healthy men - my neighbour was a policeman who pounded the streets on a regular basis and my dentist was a regular on the tennis courts at the David Lloyd gym I once worked at.
I never saw the effects of the disease taking hold of my neighbour - perhaps thankfully, as I can always remember him as I knew him - fit and healthy.
Unfortunately, when it came to my dentist (the only one I ever really liked and trusted, too) the disease took hold of him in the period of time between my six monthly check-up. I only found out because I'd raved so much about him to my dad that he'd switched his dentist to mine and then shortly after came his diagnosis.
Months later, shortly before my check-up was due, I'd been to my dad's local pub for dinner and, just as we were leaving, there was a little commotion at the doors. In walked my dentist, held up by his two friends; skeletal, weak... I'm not sure I have ever been so shocked by anything in my life. At that point, you could tell there wasn't much time left. It was almost like his last chance to spend with his friends, at his local, as he would have done regularly for so long. He died a week or two later.
No form of cancer is pleasant for anyone - those who are going through it and those whose friends or loved ones are going through it. If by raising awareness of the types of disease and the support groups we can help, in however small a way, contribute to helping save or support just one life, any effort will be worth it.
The Town Hall will be lit up at circa 5.30pm. If you're in the area, do go along to show your support.
Last week saw the highly anticipated Harvey Nichols Birmingham Autumn/Winter 2013 fashion show. My previous blog mentioned how its popularity had been growing fast over recent years and this time was no different. With the 'frow' seating a host of footballers, WAGs (including Danielle O'Hara) and other local celebrities and more people than seats, the pressure was on for the sell out event to showcase the top fashions available to those who want to stand out from the crowd over the coming season (purse strings allowing of course).
With both menswear and womenswear being strutted down the catwalk, it was clear to see which emerging trends are set to be the focus for customers of the luxury designer store.
With a personal passion for shoes, naturally my eyes would gravitate to the feet clip clopping down the runway. But even those who aren't bothered so much about shoes (how can you not love shoes?) couldn't miss the footwear on show; some of it was certainly eye-catching. Take the fluorescent yellow men's high tops for example or bright pink ladies high heeled sandals. Lush!
Now Harvey Nichols have always been good when it comes to eveningwear and yet again they didn't disappoint. Surprisingly however, my favourite outfit wasn't from the womenswear department, but from the men's. A rather dapper, yet slightly quirky suit from Vivienne Westwood got my vote in this department, with the cane by Alexander McQueen taking the prize for best accessory. I love something a little bit different. Don't take my word for it though, check them out below.
Left: Vivienne Westwood suit, Christian Louboutin shoes. Right: DSquared jacket & bow tie, Givenchy shirt & trousers, Christian Louboutin shoes, Alexander McQueen cane.
A firm favourite in ladies eveningwear will always be Philip Armstrong, and his distinctive style stood out once again in a beautiful purple dress below:
Philip Armstrong dress, Sophia Webster shoes
More ladies eveningwear:
Left: Jenny Packham dress. Jimmy Choo shoes & bag. Right: Rachel Gilbert dress. Jimmy Choo clutch
A big trend I see coming out for AW is leather. It's already creeping into high fashion stores all over the place and Harvey Nichols had some fantastic pieces to offer the girls from a gorgeous leather panel dress by MuuBaa to leather jeans and leather skirt. Teamed with a fake fur jacket - as demonstrated - this is certainly a trend for the fashion forward.
Left: SGM coat, Muubaa leather trousers. Centre: Unreal fur coat, MuuBaa leather panel dress, Jimmy Choo shoes. Left: Unreal fur jacket, Pinko leather skirt, Jimmy Choo Shoes
Casualwear also caught my eye this time, with my favourite look from the show being a bold zebra knit by Escada Sport teamed with T by Alexander Wang leather jeans. The causal jeans, knit and stilettos (below) was also an easy, but great look. As with all jeans though, it is of course all about finding the right fit for you.
Left: Escada Sport cardi, T by Alexander Wang leather jeans. Right: Acne jumper. Rag & Bone jeans. Sophia Webster shoes. Stella McCartney bag.
Finally, there's been much of a hoo-haa about 'the pink coat' proving very popular as a trend this season. Not one to miss out on this hot seller, Harvey Nichols also pulled out this gorgeous hot pink wool coat by Marlene Birger.
Marlene Birger coat, Escada Sport trousers, Paul Smith jumper, Stella McCartney bag, Alaia ankle boots.
Other trends featuring throughout were prints - clashing and mixed - for ladies and there were several pieces in mens casualwear featuring skull designs.
All in all a fantastic show from Harvey Nichols. Now if you will excuse me whilst I go and argue with my bank manager over how much money I'm planning on spending...
September is always a good month for the style queens and fashionistas of Birmingham, and this year it's going to be bigger and better than ever.
We have Style Birmingham Live taking place towards the end of the month, the Bullring and its iconic Selfridges store celebrates its tenth birthday (which also makes me feel old as I was a student working in a store there when it opened)... but first up is something I always look forward to: the Harvey Nichols Birmingham Autumn/Winter Fashion Show.
Once held in store with just a rejig of space, the event keeps on getting bigger and bigger. It's now become so popular that the Spring/Summer show earlier in the year had to be moved to a huge space in the Old Post Office building within the Mailbox complex, where it will be held again this time.
Set to showcase
the very best in designer collections, the catwalk event will be staged this coming Tuesday September 10 and will feature striking new season ranges from
Christopher Kane, Kenzo, Stella McCartney, Gucci, Markus Lupfer, Christian
Louboutin and Philip Armstrong.
Always an event that manages to pull out a few well known faces from the football world (and, of course, their 'WAGs'), for
this event the luxury store has gone one step further, teaming up with Professional Player – the magazine delivered to all UK professional
footballers. And quite frankly, they might as well - the number of Guccis and Louboutins these so-called WAGs - and no doubt the footballers themselves - are rumoured to splash out on, they'd be missing a trick if they didn't make it an official partnership!
Harvey Nichols have, incidentally, also recently announced their expansion plans for the Mailbox site, so the catwalk show should hopefully give us a taste of things to come.
Richard Vickery, General Manager of Harvey Nichols
Birmingham commented: “This
will be our biggest show to date in such an amazing venue.
“We are expecting the most exclusive front
row yet – it certainly will be the event to see and be seen at.”
That's good enough for me! Roll on Tuesday!
INFO:
Tickets
cost £15 and the evening will kick off with a Champagne reception at 7pm.
Following the show, guests can enjoy an exclusive 15% discount in store. There
will be a charity auction, hosted by TV presenter Nick Hancock, with money
raised going to the footballers’ charity XPro.
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