Designer Talks: Hello Washington

by The Dream Stalker

Feeling very inspired by African culture following me trip to the mother land, and very proud of the impact that African culture is having on fashion, music and art [everyone seems to be getting on the African inspired express]

So I wanted to talk to someone who was and continues to be inspired by all things African, and why not an African born (to be more specific: Nigerian), New York based designer? Washington Roberts, who runs a label of the same name, catering for the 'contemporary women' of the world with his elegant, stylish and timeless pieces.
Of fashion, WR said "Fashion is my form of expression of how I think and see the world." and of himself and his brand, he said: "I want to represent possibility"
TDS got the opportunity to ask Washington Roberts a few questions. Here are some of the things I wanted to know about and the answers that WR had for us.

In LUST

Why did you decide to start Washington Roberts and why did you name it after you? 

I always wanted my own company, no matter what industry I ended up in.  After working for other companies, I learn you can’t really get your point of view across. So, I decided to combine what’ve I learned from my grandmother, my fashion school knowledge, and fashion industry experience plus my desire to own my own company the birth was Washington Roberts Collection. Also I choose the name, because every collection is a part of me I'm sharing with the world. What better way to describe my creation and I feel it  wasn't a coincident that i was named Washington Roberts, it was God's plan for my life.

What inspired each of your collections?

My first collection; AW 2010 was inspired by Beach Rocks. Reminiscent of the beaches along the coast of Nigeria, the layering and drapery of the collection is an embodiment of the beach rocks along the coastline. The textures and hues of the beach rocks along the coast came to life in the mixing and manipulation of fabrics – silk and wool, and silk jersey and crepe back satin silk.

Lost in My Mind: We are all perfect.

by The Dream Stalker

 

Perfect by Pink 

It's really no secret that the number of people with eating disorders is on the rise [I say people because the illness doesn't discriminate] and so many explanations have been put forward for why (and many solutions rendered)

Media (fashion magazines, music videos etc) has been blamed endlessly but I personally don't think that eating problems are a result of what we see around us but more about what we think about ourselves, Our bodies. The idea of perfection is in the mind

This Holly and Fred article tells the story in way better words then I could.

Eating disorders are serious problems and we should all do our best to help those who suffer from them.

Get involved to help sufferers because we are all perfect in our own way!!

PS: This season I am embracing my big forehead, its all about the up do, so why not embrace one of our least favourite things? Get involved! Challenge yourself.

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Spotted: Would You?

by The Dream Stalker

Who? 

Amelle Berrabah

Wanted to know if you'd ever consider that outfit. So would you?

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The Steyning Way: Art House 50 Presents Elizabeth Jardine

by The Dream Stalker

I may have left Steyning but my heart & post (and apparently emails too) are still in that little town [so many years and memories]. Art House 50 which opened earlier this year, has continued to present some incredible art in their basement gallery. Next month, they present Elizabeth Jardine!!

Art House Press Release: In September the gallery space will be displaying a solo exhibition by Elizabeth Jardine, a Brighton-based artist making paintings and paper-mache sculptures inspired by nature. Her delightful sculptures playfully explore space, while her paintings radiate an unfolding, ethereal stillness rooted in an earthy reality. There is a sense of timelessness, of being drawn in, and surrounded by growing things, light, and depth. In the composition of paintings the artist seeks a balance between shadow and light, ground and sky, physicality and transcendence, growth and decay.

Opening Times

Fri-Sat-Mon: 10am -5pm

Sun: 10am - 4pm

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Music Stalking: No Regrets

by The Dream Stalker

No Regrets by Dappy 

I'm not really a fan of the music but the lyrics are very meaningful. 

A friend once asked me 'if I cry today, will that save me the tears of tomorrow?'

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WishLust: Come On Ted, Cuff Me

by The Dream Stalker

 Cuffs have been ma-hoo-sive this season and usually I don't jump on the trend bandwagon but these leather cuffs by Ted Rossi have me hooked. 

Miss Universe 2011 ~ Sao Paulo

by The Dream Stalker

It's about that time again! Where a bunch of beautiful women from around the world come together in order to compete for the title 'Miss Universe' [Wow!]

This year, I have a particular vested interest in the pageant. One of my amazingly good looking friends,Nadine Alexandria, is actually in the competition taking place on the 12th of September in Sao Paulo, as Miss Indonesia!! *proud and excited*

You can be involved and have a say because voting for semi finalists is open to the public, all you have to do is click HERE and follow instructions. Who will you be voting for?

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Blogger Meets Tumblr: One Very Confused Tumblr User

by The Dream Stalker

Remember when I announced a new tumblr? Well, just in case you don't, here is the post! Less than a month after that announcement, I'm seriously missing my old tumblr (which I newly renamed, NoRegretsJustDream and revamped) So I wanted to share some of my favourite photos from my personal tumblr account! ENJOY

Preview: Ryder and Rowe

by The Dream Stalker

Just before I left for African soil, the lovely people at Felicities invited me to the preview of the new Ryder&Rowe collection at 123BGR [which by the way stocked some very interesting pieces by other designers such as Alice Palmer and Ada Zadition, and a few other oddities, like dedication candles and bespoke jewellery etc] The Ryder and Rowe design team is formed of three designers (one male and two females: Random Facts).

The newest collection from Ryder and Rowe is inspired by the 'English Riveria', consisting of both lingerie and outerwear which are patterned with prints inspired by the Riveria, from the actual map to Seagulls and Beach Huts.

Through their lens: Armene Da

by The Dream Stalker

 Remember this photo? The best ever seen on Stylepage?

Okay, what does that photo have to do with the one above (and the others to follow)? Well, all the pictures in this post and the one in the previous post belong to Armene of armene.com; a twenty-something year old Russian photographer, who captures some very interesting; sexual, simple and sometimes odd images.

Living up to the name TDS, I tracked down Armene (because he is a brilliant photographer) and asked a few things about photography, here is what the Russian turned Czech Republican had to say: 

On Photography: 'Photography became my life style about 5 years ago. I've always had a need of self expression, in the beginning it was drawing then I came to photography, because photo is a way to make my creatures as realistic as possible.'

On Inspiration: 'I watch a lot of visual material, thousands of images and a lot of movies, also don't forget to walk and to look at world around. I want to make photography not only my walk of life but my main form of income too. What can be better than to combine pleasant and useful?'

Beware: Explicit Content

Lost in Stockholm with Amanda Brohman

by The Dream Stalker

You may have noticed from my post on Jenny Grettve a while ago that I have a little thing for Swedes, so following my mini crush, I have been planning a trip to the capital Stockholm. Inspired by my 'obsession' and Acne's postcard (coupled with a little confusion), I contacted Amanda Brohman of the Amanda Brohman blog to help me plan the prefect Swedish experience. Here is what Amanda had for me [and now you too, that is if you ever fancy a trip to Stockholm]:

Stockholm is one of the best cities in the world to go to if you are interested in fashion and style. You might call me one-sided since this is my capital but I am extremely honest when I say this: it’s difficult to find a trendier place than Stockholm and this I know from experience. I’ve been in Germany, Italy, Great Britain, Greece and Spain and I always come home with the same thought on my mind – Stockholm and Sweden have a unique sense for what’s trendy and hot in the fashion world at the moment and the best to offer when it comes to Scandinavian, minimalistic fashion. Therefore, I will try my best to guide you a bit through this minimalstic, sophisticated and awfully stylish country and capital by giving you some of my personal favourite shops and designers – from the budget ones to the more high-street, posh ones.

The best store to find budget clothes which look 100 times cooler and more unique than the clothes from H&M:

Monki – this store has with time become one of my absolute favourites to shop at. Here you can find everything from girly, cute dresses and bow headbands to ripped jeans and transparent little black dresses. It’s perfect if you want to look young and hip but not spend your entire shopping budget on buying awesome clothes!

The best department store in Stockholm: 

PUB – PUB is an absolute must-stop-by for me each time I’m in Stockholm. This clothing/ design/cosmetic department store have all the Swedish designers you need to know about plus a selection of international designers as well (such as Opening Ceremony, Carolina Herrera etc.). Here it’s not unusual for me to spend hours walking around, trying on clothes, shoes and make-up. This department store is high street but more youthful than Stockholm’s biggest designer department store NK and you can find some great designer bargains here, especially during sale seasons! Also, PUB was where Greta Garbo worked when she was discovered (in the underwear department to be exact).

Should Children be allowed to dress like Grown Ups?

by The Dream Stalker

So much for a blog break right? Haha! As I lounged and surfed the internet (even though I really should be disconnected from the world) I saw something which was pretty interesting and controversial. It had to do with French Vogue and a particularly pretty 10 year old girl; Thylane Blondeau.

I usually leave the news writing for IamJojo but seeing as this is fashion based, I thought maybe it's best discussed here. Recently, French Vogue shot an editorial of 'young supermodel' fully clad in adult clothing; wearing stiletto heels and what look like heavy jewellery, with a heavily made up face.

Photo Source: Jebezel 

Following the release of the pictures, parents and people around the world have criticised the magazine and the parents of the young girl saying this is over-sexualisation of a child and they should know better. 

I found it pretty disturbing that a 10 year old was made to look so adult like, I'm all for new 'beautiful' things fashion wise but maybe thats pushing the boundaries a bit too much, I thought. However after thinking about it some more, I started to think about the 13 and 14 year old girls who are shipped off to walk the runways of huge shows from New York to Milan, why is it okay for them to be dressed like an adult and a girl only 3 years younger be criticised for it?

Dress Up your little white dress

by The Dream Stalker

Very Matchy Matchy! Maybe without the belt for an evening look?

As I prepare to go on holiday (7 HOURS!!), outfit making has been the order of the day. Very Tiring!! This summer (even though almost over *sad face*) for me it is all about the LWD, dressed down or dressed up.

Dressed down with some sandals and a beach hat & bag. It doesn't get any more casual than this.
I love the little white dress because it is perfect for the heat [if you get a light fabric]

What were your summer necessities & how did you dress them up? (Send me a photo if you have to)

PS: Remember to enter the beauty basket giveaway HERE, see you when I'm back!  

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Katrina Ferrari lets me in...

by The Dream Stalker
.....on the secret to Affordable Haute Couture.

I arrived in front of the door and rung the bell *ding dong* and a few seconds after, a shadow emerged from inside and the door opened; stood there smiling, was non other than Katrina Ferrari, herself clad in a red shift dress and clogs.

Katrina is smiling even after tens of annoying emails asking for directions [you can't really blame me, unfamiliar terrority]. She lets me in and offers me some juice (boy did I need that) before we headed to the garden for a sit down. The interview was as informal as they come, we just relaxed and let the blackberry record our every word (and sometimes even our movements).

Here is a peek into our 40minute long conservation:
The Dream Stalker: It's just been Couture Fashion Week and seen as you are a couture designer, who were your favourites?
Katrina Ferrari: Ummm....I've always liked Givenchy, they are always my favourite, especially a couple of seasons ago when they did the all white collection. I don't tend to look at things like that because I feel it can get you side tracked but I think Givenchy is always my favourite.

Givenchy's Latest Couture Collection

TDS: What does couture mean to you?
KF: I think *silence* you can have like a normal dress than you can have like a couture dress, I think with couture you are making more of a statement, there is more of a WOW factor but also it is more technical. You can have a plain dress which can still be couture but the way it is made is different to a normal-say high street-dress.

Spotted: Miss Matched in Camden

by The Dream Stalker

I like the clashing and the vintage feel.

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The Industry brought Kate Nash and Rebekah Roy to town.

by The Dream Stalker

Swarovski Crystallized played host to The Industry's first talk which featured Kate Nash and Rebekah Roy, Kate Nash; an indie British musician and Rebekah Roy; a London based stylist.

On the itinerary were talks about Kate's Charity work, her personal style (which surprise surprise, is based on her mood), the inequality between males and females in the music industry and the portrayal of women in the industry.

One particular topic struck a chord with me, the issue of over sexualisation of women in music (which I feel has become extremely outrageous, especially in R&B and Hip-Hop and increasing in other aspects) you don't have to look too far for evidence of this: I am sure 5mins watching MTV Base or whatever music channel will make this apparent.
But although I feel relatively strongly about this 'issue', the dancers or the girls in the videos aren't forced into doing anything - It's a choice!

During the audience question segment of the talk, someone asked something along the lines of 'how do you feel about artists like Rihanna and Beyonce who are so successful and regularly perform in next to nothing?'

Kate replied: "I would feel and look like a twat running around in a bra and pants" and went on talking about body image and how many young girls, who are song writers feel that they can't be successful because they aren't perfect.