Peter York's Hipster Handbook

Documentaries are definitely guilty pleasures of mine - and one I came across recently really caught my attention. 

Peter York, a cultural commentator and author who has created a documentary called Peter York's: Hipster Handbook. He explores the most ironic conventional subcultures - the hipster. It seemed to be about making, selling and self-consciously consuming products that came with some lengthy, complicated story in order to justify the whopping price tag! 

Being involved in the whole business, as makers or buyers, transforms people into what York called micro-connoisseurs (and its expensive living in cool areas, drinking 10-quid coffees!).

Dressing like a workman, particularly a vintage workman from Appalachia, was perhaps a way of reclaiming the macho. Brewing ale like your ancestors and restoring old cameras was perhaps about looking to the past for something authentic and certain. 

I personally believe, you can't say we lived in certain times now, but did we ever? Entertaining, funny and insightful as York was, that seemed to be the main hole in his argument. All history has changed, old certainties are dying away, people are scrabbling to get them back.

This documentary may still be available on BBC iPlayer but if not I'm sure you'll be able to find it lingering on YouTube - definitely worth a watch!

Tell me your opinions!

Brandi Kristine  

Trend Alert: Fragrance Advertisments

Ever since I've started my degree, I've forced myself to become more aware at all times, which basically means forcing myself to watch and listen adverts (yawns). 

I usually only watch TV at night after Gomorrah (10pm - a lot of people wouldn't expect me to watch that but thank my boyfriend!) which seems to be the time for fragrance adverts to come out and play!

I've noticed a significant trend - fragrance ad's LOVE extravagant hair!

Juicy Couture by Juicy Couture

Versace Bright Crystal

Moschino I Love Love 

Viktor & Rolf Flower Bomb

Kenzo Kiss 'n Fly

And that's just a few examples!

Have you noticed any other fragrance trends? Let me know in the comment box!

Brandi Kristine

Photo Credit: Google Images, Pinterest

Tough 90's: Retail Research

American Apparel

Topshop

Anya Hindmarch

Braderie - Nottingham

Urban Outfitters

Selfridges - Oxford Street 

Gucci - Harbour City Hong Kong

Brandi Kristine

Tough 90's: Ad Research

Dazed and Confused Article - Maison Margiela Vs Vetements 

Katy Perry for Moschino Autumn/Winter 2015

Calvin Klein Fragrance Advert

Tommy Hilfiger Throwback 90's Collection 

The Cool Blue - Dazed and Confused Editorial

Christian Dior Magazine Ad - Dare To Be Totally Diorific 

French Connection Spring/Summer 2016 campaign

Marc by Marc Jacobs' Spring/Summer 2014 Ad by Juergen Teller

MAC Selena inspired Collection 2016

Brandi Kristine

Tom Ford: Nocturnal Animals

Tom Ford's Nocturnal Animals hit the cinema a few weeks ago but I've finally sat my arse down and watched the film instead of hearing about it from everybody around me! I must admit the movie continued to haunt me even after I watched it... 

Specifically, I found the ending of the movie to be enigmatic and worthy of a further conversation. In the main time period, Susan (aka Amy Adams) is living in an unhappy marriage and unsatisfied with the art she's putting out into the world. When a book titled 'Nocturnal Animals' hits her doorstep from her ex-husband, Edward Sheffield (aka Jake Gyllenhaal), Susan quickly reads it till its conclusion. 

In gripping fashion, the movie recreates the events of the book's plot, with Gyllenhaal also playing Tony Hastings, a man whose wife and daughter were brutally murdered. While Hastings kills the man responsible, he ends up injured.

The movie ends with Susan emailing Edward to set up a dinner meeting at a restaurant. She waits at the restaurant for hours. Edward never shows up. We cut to end credits. What does it all mean?

After all I've just watched, how is standing Susan up for a date supposed to be satisfying in any way?

I think it's clear that Edward's book is about his marriage with Susan. However, the events in the book Nocturnal Animals are all about Edward's revenge on Susan. I think Edward doesn't give a flying monkey about Susan anymore, but he does know that Nocturnal Animals is a hit, and that talent and brilliantness is something Susan will be attracted to. So, he put in front of her the opportunity of meeting up again and possibly rekindling old flames? I quote Elias Wiesel "The opposite of love is not hate, its indifference" (thanks dad for this quote!) so I believe the film's ending is a much more hurtful form of revenge than anything Edward could actively do to hurt Susan. 

What are your thoughts on Nocturnal Animals? How do you feel about the ending, middle or beginning of the movie?

I'll leave a video the Nocturnal Animals movie trailer below:

Brandi Kristine

Photo Credit: Google Images

COACH Girl: Selena Gomez

Welcome back! After being in University for almost three months now, it sounds pathetic but I really miss just relaxing and stalking celebrities for the entire day! I hardly was on social media because I had so much work to do and genuinely didn't have time, but one celebrity who always had some good tea was of course - Selena Gomez! (don't judge me - my interest in life are so wrong!).

Selena Gomez with COACH Creative Director Stuart Vevers

So as you can imagine, when I visited my home for the first time I made myself some green tea and got cracking! I came across probably the best thing that I believe has ever happened to the fashion house Coach. Selena Gomez will be the new face of the brand starting Winter 2017. Selena will be working as ambassador and creating a collection for Coach. 

"I am so excited to work with Coach and love the clothes and accessories designed by Stuart Vevers. I am especially looking forward to getting to know the Coach team, as well as becoming involved in the foundation's support of step up".  - Selena Gomez. Stuart added "The women I design for is a authentic, honest and possesses a romantic charm mixed with a cool. confident attitude. Selena embodies all of these qualities perfectly - but the fact that she has always loved Coach, and believed so strongly in our philanthropic mission, made her a true Coach Girl." 

I love this collaboration! Honestly, Coach isn't a brand that pops up in my head instantly but I think when this collection comes out - it will be amazing and for me, put Coach back on the map again. This reshuffle of brand ambassador and creative director is exactly what Coach needed!

Brandi Kristine 

Photo Credit: Instagram, Coach 

Quotation Credit: http://uk.coach.com/shop/selena-gomez

American Apparel BANKRUPT!

Shock horror American Apparel are Bankrupt!

The company has filed for bankruptcy in the USA for the second time in just over a year... The brand, which at its peak had more than 200 stores including 18 in the UK, has suffered falling sales. To be honest, I'm not surprised. I've always thought American Apparel were so over priced and I think that was their biggest down fall (I could probably make half their clothes with my handy sewing machine!). 

I was walking down Oxford Street and I saw all these closing down posters and up to 30% off throughout the store (which I was extremely happy about!). 

Don Charney was fired two years ago as chief executive of the company he founded in 1989 while at University. The board accused him of misusing company funds. American Apparel combined sexy, fashionable clothing with ethical production. Instead of making clothes at low cost in Asia, Charney opened a factory in Los Angeles, paid good wages and used "Made in USA" as his heading. 

Gildan Activewear, a Canadian clothes manufacturer, has agreed to buy the American Apparel brand and certain assets for a whopping $66m in cash! (God ol' mighty!) 

So, are you surprised about American Apparels new financial crisis or not so much? 

Brandi Kristine 

Photo Credit: Google Images

Summative Project

All FCP students were given their first official individual/summative brief - eek!

This is going to involve a report document, which will include research into a fashion concept, developing a variety of Big Ideas, creating a set of mood boards, producing images to be used on social media - basically everything we done for our formative projects but now individually and with different trends, brands and products.

From this, I was given Tough 90s as my fashion theme, a travel plug as my product and STA Travel as my brand (and for the record, I'm freaking out!).

I'll be documenting my creative inspirations here on my blog so that anybody who is interested can get a little insight into how things are going. 

Brandi Kristine

Photo Credit: Pinterest

Execution: Photoshoot

Hi! Today we had to present our Execution stage photoshoot outcomes. I was really excited because I enjoyed myself so much (I actually felt like a creative director for the past two days!). 

We were asked to create a DIY photoshoot with a creative concept taken from existing editorial shoots from the Vogue Archive. Our photoshoot had to incorporate a fashion accessory, and produce 3 high quality photographs. We were given the Vogue Editorial: Let's Dance - May 2004 photographed by Corrine Day and our accessory was a hand bag (Bao Bao Issey Miyake). As a group, we had to also generate 5 keywords to inform the look of our photoshoot - we picked the words: 

EXHAUSTED

DARKNESS
MOVEMENT
BACKSTAGE
DECONSTRUCTED GLAMOUR

After a lot of hard work and editing these were our final 3 photographs:

I really really loved this project, we tried so many things and explored so many new places in Nottingham which was the best part! Initially, we wanted to do our photoshoot backstage at the Playhouse Theatre but unfortunately we couldn't because they had performances booked for the week. Instead, we managed to shoot outside the Theatre which made our photographs just as great!

The two last images were shot inside the Bonington building - on the stairs and on a wooden handle. I think our most effective picture was on the stairs, I believe this image is super strong and is the definition of our keywords. The Bao Bao Issey Miyake hand bag was so easy to shoot with as we could physically place it however we wanted it.

I loved my group and I loved this project! I'm going back to London today as it's the start of my Christmas holidays! I have over 4 weeks off and I'll be visiting exhibitions/galleries so I'll keep you guys updated on that!

Brandi Kristine

Victoria's Secret Fashion Show 2016

This fashion show has been a highlight for me ever since I can remember! Everything about the show gets me excited and crazy. The year's show took place in Paris, the fashion capital of the world and City of Love! Anybody who is subscribed to Hayu can stream the show today, if not 4Music will air the fashion show on the 14th December (so keep an eye out!).

Every year I feel that there's a certain exclusivity that surrounds it (which probably makes me even more excited about the show!), it's damn near impossible to get in depth gossip about the events which will unfold during the show. 

However, I feel as though I get the impression that VS wanted to make the show more accessible, this was mainly through their decision of airing key moments of the show on SnapChat Live. Many celebrities vlogged their experience or filled their SnapChat stories with exclusive backstage access. 

Again this year, best friends Gigi Hadid and Kendall Jenner were centre stage, alongside them was Gigi's sister Bella Hadid, Adriana Lima and Stella Maxwell (who was voted No1 in Maxim magazine's Hot 100 List).

One thing I've always believed in is VS is now looking for models with a dominant public figure i.e. celebrities, instead of those who have worked their way up in the industry. Kendall Jenner and Gigi Hadid coming from a reality show background (Keeping up with The Kardashians & Real Housewives of Beverly Hills) is definitely a tactful move from VS because if we're looking at it from a promotional perspective they have created a huge wave of publicity. 

The greatest thing about a VS Fashion Show is the buzz which starts from early in the morning and doesn't die out till the next day (in my case, the next week!). The models showed off their final preparations - but quickly seen chomping down on burgers afterwards. 

The live music was great too! Starting the line-up was LADY GAGA (I feel as though I haven't seen the Mother Monster in decades!), moments after was pop star Bruno Mars and completing the line-up was The Weeknd (Awks award goes to Bella Hadid!). 

What are your views on VS new hiring strategies? 

I'll leave a link to the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show 2016 for anybody who loves gorgeous women, sexy lingerie and a few cheeky winks! 

https://123movies.is/film/the-victorias-secret-fashion-show-2016-18226/watching.html

Brandi Kristine

Photo Credit: Instagram, The Sun

The British Fashion Awards 2016

The Fashion Awards 2016 were held on Monday 5th December at the iconic Royal Albert Hall. Hosted by Jack Whitehall, the ceremony saw the best of the British and international fashion industries. 

Here, talent is celebrated within every area, whether it be style icons and models to brands and emerging stars - nothing has gone unnoticed in this popular ceremony. 

Unfortunately, it isn't a televised event so I spent my Monday evening refreshing their official website to find out who the winners were. 

There were a number of people I was happy to see win, including: 

She's worked hard and deserved this award (look at her outfit! *lovestruck face*).

I'm a definite lover of this! 

You either love what the Smith siblings are doing or you don't - I happen to L-O-V-E what they do for fashion!

Yay to the Brits!

I saved the best for last! Let me tell you who I thought was the best dressed female at the event... 

Alexa Chung wearing SS17 Prada

While many on the red carpet played it safe in head-to-toe black, I can always count on Alexa Chung to take more of a sartorial risk. Chung wore a kimono-collared pale yellow two piece, embellished with glittering details and feathers (Yes sweetie!)

Do you think all the winners were deserving of their awards, or did you disagree with one or two?

I'll link the official website below for anybody interested in finding out more winners of today's event:
http://www.fashionawards.com/

Brandi Kristine

Photo Credit: Google Images, The Fashion Awards

Yay or Nay: John Lewis Christmas Advert

My favourite time of the year is in full swing - I couldn't be any happier with my birthday just round the corner and just under a month, I'll be at home enjoying some precious time with my beautiful family and friends. 

Of course with the build-up to Christmas, its only right that majority of all major competitive retailers produce their annual, seasonal television advertisement. 

John Lewis - for me you've done it again! I really liked this advert.

John Lewis Christmas Advertisement 2016:

The two minute clip focuses on the four-year-old boxer dog called Buster who steals the show with another tearful tale. Alongside him are computer generated stars - two foxes, a badger, a squirrel and even a hedgehog who had come out of hibernation - who enjoy a late night bouncing session on the new trampoline in front of grumpy Buster who is stuck inside before he gets a turn on Christmas morning!

I think that John Lewis aimed for a sense of fun in this year's campaign, after 2016 has been proven to be quite a year (Brexit and USA Elections), and also acknowledging that last year's 'Man On The Moon' was "a bit sad". There are a number of reasons why this advert tugged at my little heartstrings, the first one being John Lewis tried to be happy, they tried to show us something innocent and gleeful - after all that's what it's about this time of the year!

Anyone who is a big fan of animals just like me will also have liked the cuteness of all the animals featured in the advert - another "aw, look at how cute they are" moment that is well worth a watch if you haven't already done so. 

Meet Buster... 

...And his friends

The third and most important reason why I personally adore this year's advert is due to the fact that The Wildlife Trust are this year's charity partners for the campaign and will receive a 10 per cent of every £15 soft Buster or £12 soft Halle the hedgehog, Betsy the badger, Otto the fox or Sid the squirrel sold. This is something SO important and that I'm all for. After all, animals are just as important as us and deserve to be treated well - especially at this time of the year.

Craig Inglis, customer director at John Lewis, said "2016 has certainly been quite a year, so we hope our advert will make people smile. It really embraces a sense of fun and magic, reminding everyone what it feels like to give the perfect gift at Christmas".

My thoughts of the story behind this advert was amazing, and of course John Lewis have also created Buster pyjamas, Buster's Christmas - a children's storybook and you can download Buster images on SnapChat to transform faces into a dog face!

What's been your favourite Christmas Ad this year?

Brandi Kristine

Photo Credit: Google Images, Youtube 

Vogue Editorial: Let's Dance

Editorials have always been a great interest of mine, I just love staring at them for hours on end! Today my lecturer gave us our final formative project which is the Execution stage - we was asked to do a DIY photoshoot and produce three high quality photographs.

In groups of about 5 or 6 we was allocated a creative concept taken from existing editorial shoot from the Vogue Archive. My group was given the Vogue Editorial: Let's Dance - May 2004 photographed by Corrine Day. I wasn't very familiar with Corrine Day so I went away and in my own time researched her style and movement.

Corrine Day is part of the Realist Movement, she tells a story of reality rather than fantasy throughout her photoshoots. Her style is very grungy glamour which you can see from the above images. The Let's Dance Editorial almost feels like the backstage of a dance show. The colour palette is very moody and pale, you can see this by the model's face expressions and body postures. As I researched more in depth, I realised Corrine Day could've been inspired by many different movements such as  dance - Guy Bourdin and Nick Knight or Art - Toulouse'-Lautrec (1800s).

This editorial reminds me of the movie Moulin Rouge and what I think Nicole Kidman and her dancers' dressing room would look like.

As part of our project, we got the opportunity to re-create this editorial, we also had to incorporate a fashion accessory we were given by our lectures. We was given a hand bag (at first I thought we was given glasses and I nearly had a meltdown!) and I couldn't of been happier. I will be posting images of our final 3 photographs in a few days. 

I really wanted to express my feeling and thoughts about the editorial I was given and I can't wait to start shooting as I think this will be my favourite project out of all formative projects that we've been given!

What do you think about Vogue's Editorial: Let's Dance? Tell me your thoughts and feelings in the comment box and I'll be happy to respond!

Brandi Kristine