10. 10. 2011
Increase your wardrobe’s shelf life I
t’s hard to let go of a fond fashion friend, like the fail safe summer dress which always guaranteed flattering photos or the go-withanything shorts that took you from beach to bar and back again. So, when you find something which compliments you perfectly, don’t cast it aside at the first sign of cold weather, but, like a faithful friend, hang on a little longer. The key is reinvention. Returning to university is the perfect time to reinvent yourself so why not put a new spin on some old clothes while you’re at it? Take that dress and carry it through with a few carefully selected items which channel this season’s latest trends. The androgynous look is in so take your nice dress, then think brogues with ankle socks and a bowler hat. Add some wet look leggings and heels for a fetish feel, or take an old jumper, the more vintage looking the better, and shove it over your dress with some heavy tights or socks for a dressed down look that’s perfect for winter. Kate Kelley Dress, Topshop, £50. Brogues, H&M, £24.99. Hat, Topshop, £25. TIghts, River Island, £9. Jumper, Topshop, £38. Leggings, H&M, £14.99 Shoes, River Island, £55.
Style Jury
Street Style
Jason Wu
ason Wu’s Autumn/Winter 2011 collection showcased masculine bow ties and structured tailoring alongside feminine skirts with floral detailing. We asked five University of Bristol students what they thought of the look.
‘I love the bow tie! I want a paisley one.’ Hannah, History, Third Year ‘She looks like a funeral director- but the kind that would make you forget about your dead uncle.’ Matt, Philosophy, Second Year
he evenings may be drawing in but open any high fashion glossy this season and the images are playful, light-hearted and full of life. Winter collections are typically dominated by austere gothic glamour and vampish scarlet pouts; however, this time around there is an evident shift in the market from the forbidding to the fun. A personal favourite is Helena BonhamCarter’s campaign for Marc Jacobs. She may have appeared as the Red Queen in Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland, but in this campaign she is the queen of kooky fun. There is a youthful feel to the shots that makes the fashion not only more accessible, but in a strange way more desirable. Similarly, Weber’s portraits of 14 year old Hailee Steinfield eating pizza relays the message that Miu Miu’s A/W ’11 collection is real, down-to-earth and wearable. Chanel’s latest offering sees model Freja Beha Erichsen posing in a photo booth: old-school perhaps, but for Chanel something entirely new and unexpected. Campaigns for high-end brands are becoming quirkier and fashion advertising is becoming increasingly innovative rather than classic. Sultry, contrived images are being rejected in favour of the light-hearted approach of current collections.
Student Zahra makes the most of the October heatwave by finding a new way to wear her old baby ballet skirt. Top, Selfridges. Animal print bandeau and black tube skirt (just seen underneath), Topshop. Belt, American Apparel. Shoes, Office.
Miu Miu
‘It’s not quite right but I can’t work out why…I think the skirt’s quite old-fashioned? The shirt could work with something more casual on the bottom.’ Becky, Drama, Third Year
Matthew McCrory
‘She looks like a waiter.’ Tom, Geology, Third Year
T
Marc Jacobs
J
‘I think it would only work on someone in the city. If a student wore it I think it would look a bit formal.’ Sadie, Philosophy, Third Year
The fresh face of advertising And it isn’t just the pictures that seem to appeal to a younger market this season. In Stephen Meisel’s Fall 2011 Campaign Movie for Lanvin, models Karen Elson and Raquel Zimmermann dance to Pitbull’s ‘I Know You Want Me’ while wearing the latest couture fashions, offering a refreshingly youthful perspective on the iconic fashion house. There is also a lot to be said for the inclusion of pets in recent campaigns. Pugs à la Louis Vuitton are the order of the day and this is catching on in the middle-market with brands like Tommy Hilfiger and Clarks getting in on the act. It speaks volumes of the way in which fashion advertising is no longer just about the clothes, but about the attitude. From Chanel to Jigsaw, brands are working harder than ever to prove that their fashion is more fun, flirtatious and forward thinking than the rest. French Connection’s recent financial turnaround – which coincides with their latest series of adverts directed by photographic / filmmaking collective Leila and Damien de Blinkk - proves that marketing is key. The ads are creatively inspiring and put an entirely fresh perspective on the French Connection brand. And it would seem that ’fresh’ is just what Autumn/Winter ’11 is all about. Sophie Dee-Shapland