Alice In Wonderland

Avid followers of our blog will remember how much I was looking forward to this movie. I am a huge fan of the book and always like Tim Burton films. I was incredibly disappointed. (From here on out this blog has spoilers so if you don't want the movie to be any more ruined than it already is don't read on, because I can't NOT spill the beans on anything)

I personally hate film adaptations of books I have read and love to pick them apart as to why they are not like the book (never watch harry potter with me) so when I found out that this was a new story that was a continuation of the original in which Alice has grown up and returned to wonderland I was happy. If you're going to write a new story don't keep using bits from the old one. They kept just using things that happened in the book. Although I can see why they needed to steal from the book, the story was pretty thin on the ground.

The story goes like this: Alice goes to wonderland. The red queen (Helen Bonham Carter) is in charge instead of the 'white queen' (who? Since when are there two queens in the book?) and they are fighting for some reason that isn't explained. Alice must kill a jabberwocky and the white queen will be in charge again for some reason that isn't explained. Things happening and not being explained is a pretty major theme of this film.

On to the fact that the whole movie was too Johnny Depp centric. The entire film revolved around him playing Willy Wonka in a different outfit. Why does he talk with 2 different accents? And why dear god does he keep saying "why is a raven like a writing desk" other than to irritate. In the book it was because they were having afternoon tea, and at tea you tell riddles. There was no reason to keep repeating it. I can't decide what moment was worse, when it looked like Alice was about to kiss him or the dance.

The movie wasn't all bad; it had 3 saving graces.

Helena Bonham Carter's hilarious performance as the queen of hearts (even if it was slightly stolen off Queenie in Blackadder). My favourite line "fetch her some clothes, I don't care if you have to cut up the curtains"

Matt Lucas as Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee. Another very funny performance that I wasn't expecting to be good.

The costumes. Alice got alot of costume changes due to her ever-changing size, each dress was beautiful. Snaps also to the white queen and her court for some lovely 18th century inspired outfits. Unfortunately I can't find any pictures.

Overall though the movie was a disappointment. It could have been visually stunning, but it wasn't. The whole thing was just dull. I actually heard someone snoring in the cinema.

Nadia xx

Goodone

Just received the press release and look book from Goodone, after seeing their exhibition at LFW, we loved their collection and its made of entirely waste fabrics and yarns (we couldn't believe it either!)

Their sustainable fashion is really wearable and certainly doesn't look like recycled fashion, this is achieved as a lot of the collection is constructed using panels, and it is all really well made.

Above are some images from the look book, I am a massive fan of their body con dresses with knit panels on the hips (middle pic above) We also loved the deconstructed hoody, below, made with quilted fabric, which was actually constructed by using shredded old t-shirting as wadding.

Now you can treat yourself, knowing your helping the environment and getting some guilt free fashion.

Check out the website here.

Loz xx

Felder Felder

Just a quick mention to Felder Felder. I really enjoyed the way they teamed chunky chain adornments teamed with big frills which, I think, gave this collection a power dressing feel. Womanly but strong.

The industrial feel to the embellishments on this tailored jacket was counter balanced by the soft lines of the drape fabric. This mix of styles also reminded me of what I had seen at Sophie Hulme with her armour plated, oversize bow necklaces (see blog entry).

Knitted ruffel sleeve dress. Wow.

For more information

http://www.felderfelder.com/

Hannah xx

Ahead Of The Trends: What I Saw LFW

Zips are definitely going to play a key part in design for Autumn/Winter '10. Although perhaps not as you might think.

Instead of being functional, decoration and adornment are now their sole purpose, or for this season at least!

Here are just a few examples of these designs in use.

David Koma taking this idea to the extreme. Structured pieces are enhanced by the adornment.

www.davidkoma.com/

Underwear designer Marlies Dekkers has used zip edging on this bra for decoration. Her pieces are designed to incorporate underwear with outerwear.

http://www.marliesdekkers.nl/

Bodyamr use gold zipping to add an accent colour to this structured panelled little black dress.

http://www.bodyamr.com/

Also featured in the Bodyamr collection was this printed dress.

The illusion of having the drape printed instead of the fabric manipulated is something that we were expecting to see a trend for last season but it looks like we were ahead of the game. Perhaps it will show it's face now then? Keep your eyes peeled!

Hannah xx

LFW Day 6 (Menswear): Aitor Throup Presentaion

And then to Russell Square to see Aitor Throup's presentation. This was a retrospective of his work from 2004-2010.

We walked in and were instantly impressed with the layout of the show, it seemed more like we had come into an art gallery than a fashion presentation. There were life-size mesh figures suspended from the ceiling, all in hunched poses. Despite the collection being called 'legs', it took us a minute to realise that the only garments being displayed were trousers. These trousers were pieces from collections that he had produced over the last 6 years.

The show was split into each different collection and concept. The first we looked at was entitled, 'The Funeral of New Orleans'(2007). It represented a marching band in the midst of the destruction of New Orleans. The trousers were displayed on figures in the correct pose for the instrument they played. All were made in the same wool but had been exposed to water for different time periods to allow for shrinkage. Then placed in order accordingly. Instruments had been covered in the same wool and were held high as if to protect them from the rising water levels.

'When Football Hooligans Become Hindu Gods'(2006) was based on a story created by Throup about death of a British Hindu boy after a racist attack of a group of football hooligans. It looked at the remorseful hooligans who had turned to the Hindu faith to look for redemption. The trousers in this collection were made from Harris tweed, a symbol of British heritage. They were replicas of military garments that evolve into a depiction of a Hindu god.

What was great to see at the presentation, that you wouldn't notice on the catwalk was the attention to detail. Many pieces had no inside seams, as in sportswear, which allowed for a more sculptural shape. Also, topstitching made a feature of seams and contour lines.

Throup's trademark is to include feet in his trousers as he doesn't believe that a garment has to be cut off at the ankle or wrist. We really love this feature of his work as we are both really interested in functional fashion and being able to create your own environment within your clothes.

Definitely the most thought provoking show. Every one of Throup's collections had a interesting, unusual concept, which he had explored fully in his designs.

He is currently working on a ready to wear collection, as until now he has never sold any of his own pieces. We cannot wait.

Lucy & Loz xx

LFW Day 6 (Menswear): JW Anderson

Straight after Carolyn Massey we were treated to the J W Anderson catwalk show, the mood changed instantly as the models came on to pumping music. Although the collection was entitled 'The Saint and The Assassin' we named it the anarchist in love. As for us, the punk tartans and dog collars mixed with love hearts, roses and picnic blankets conjured up an image of a romantic punk.

Yoke and shoulder panels knitted with a long pile yarn.

Some really interesting knits. Chiffon tee over a chunky cable knit jumper.

A novel way of using a picnic blanket, tartan rugs were turned into jackets and bags.

Fabrics made to look like others. A modern take on a sheepskin coat, cut from cashmere.

Anderson used models that seem to fit perfectly with his concept. One guy had his septum pierced, adding to the punk vibe.

The 'piece de resistance' was the beautiful floral covered rucksack. There were also flowers stuck in the heavy, spiked boots.

Accessories were key in the collection. As well as the boots, models wore leather collars and L.O.V.E. H.A.T.E. rings.

Some of the pieces had the word 'Mizpah' written on them. I've checked out the definition and it means, 'the emotional bond between people who are separated'. Perhaps in reference to the good v evil character you envisage from the collections title, 'The Saint and The Assassin'.

After seeing the show we left feeling wide awake and very positive for the rest of the menswear day.

Lucy & Loz xx

LFW Day 6 (Menswear): Carolyn Massey

Its another early morning start for us with Carolyn Massey showing at 9.30am. Although it is also a gentle awakening, with this soft military look. The colour palette consisted of light greys and beige's with peaches and faint pinks, the silhouette was boxy with some really strong shapes but at the same time the knitted pieces felt relaxed and fluid.

We particularly liked this boxy top (above) with the back slightly longer than the front.

This all in one, baby grow style suit (above) was knitted with a grey shimmery yarn, actually it was knitted in 2 shades of grey yarn so that the bottom half was slightly darker that the top. When we first saw it, it looked as if it was two separate pieces.



A lot of the collection was build up with lots of soft layers. The fingerless gloves were styled on top of the jacket cuffs, giving it a more street edge, like we saw earlier at the b Store presentation. The sleeveless jackets had raw edges around the arm holes.



Apologies about the lack of legs and feet from these photos, we were sitting on the third row back so could not get a decent full body shot. A lot of the trousers were cropped and underneath some of the models were wearing large holed fish nets in a peachy light pink colour with military style boots, and they looked amazing! Subtle but equally daring.

Bring on more menswear!

Loz & Lucy xx