McMenamy Is Back!

90’s model Kristen has returned and is featured in this August’s issue of Dazed & Confused magazine. The eccentric looking model, who is known for her unconventional, alien-like beauty is now a 46 year old mother and looks just as weird and wonderful as she did back then.

Kristen as worked with many of the world’s top fashion photographers, including Helmut Newton, Richard Avedon, Steven Meisel, Juegen Teller and Karl Largerfeld, phew!

We really like the weirdness and wildness of the photo-shoot, shot by Tierney Geron and styled by Karen Langley, it totally encapsulates Kristen’s wild, unnatural beauty.

Photographer | Hugh Lippe

Walking in the footsteps of photographers Guy Bourdin and Juergen Teller, Hugh Lippe is fashion’s hottest one-to-watch.

Born in Texas, Lippe now lives and works in New York City, and has staged several exhibits of his work, including the most recent “The Dirt Under My Nails” at the Rare Gallery in New York.

Lippe has worked for magazines such as Contributing Editor, Plastique and Hobo, where he has produced stylish, edgy images, with a bit of controversy thrown into the mix.

Fast becoming popular amongst fashion bloggers and enthusiasts alike, Lippe is determined that his new-found fame will not compromise his individual style;

“Like I said... I love photography. I love composition. I love the idea of an aesthetic. I'm really adamant about it being strong.”

Rising Star Eliza Doolittle

No…we’re not talking Audrey Hepburn, although there is a theatrical connection! We just can’t get enough of the lovely pop singer Eliza. Congrats to her, as this month she scored her first ever, top 20 single with Pack Up, it’s a real, catchy summertime groove, with easy-breezy, retro lyrics. Eliza is a born-and-bred Londoner, she comes from a family of theatrical successes, her father is RSC director John Caird, her mum is Les Mis star Frances Ruffelle and her grandma Silvia Young!

Miss Doolittle is set to tour in November with Paloma Faith and we can’t wait to see the pairs’ sublime styling. In the meantime, here she is snapped out-and-about wearing our Skull Vest…lovin’ the pink shoe and glasses combo x

Eliza's new album has been out since July 12th and is available from Amazon.

Getting Real With Rochelle

Bravo to all the peeps who guessed correctly to Tuesday’s competition, Rochelle from The Saturday’s is wearing our Union Jack Rose Top!!! We think that she looks absolutely gorgeous, such a natural beauty and we will be announcing our winner very soon, good luck!!! Well enough of us, blabbering on, right Rochelle…

…Being a member of The Saturday’s we were wondering what your favourite day of the week is and why?
My favourite day of the week has to be a Saturday doesn't it?! But I love Sundays having a lazy day and a roast dinner.

If you didn’t become a member of a pop band, what occupation would you have liked?
Well if I wasn't in The Saturdays I would have probably been trying to be, but I was thinking of taking a course in interior design at one stage!

What advice would you give to people wanting to get into the music scene?
I think it is now a lot easier to be seen with shows like X Factor around etc, also YouTube and MySpace are a great way to get your music out there! But my main bit of advice is to practice as often as you can to make sure you are on top of your game!!

Do you get nervous before every performance?
Now I was just get very excited and can't wait to get out there, but I remember I was so nervous before our first performance!

Tell us a secret?
I snore really badly when I'm drunk!! Sshhhh!!

Who is the most exciting celebrity that you have met?
Beyonce, she is breathtakingly stunning!! I couldn't speak!!!

What is the most interesting place that you have traveled and why?
Probably Asia, we tour there, alot, its a completely different culture over there and I love that!

Who inspires you?
My mum, everyday!!

What are the 5 things that you just can’t live without.
My BBM
My dogs, Tiger and Pudding
Eve Lom face cleanser
Guerlain Masacara
High-heeled shoes

Ten years from now you will be …
Hopefully still performing if people don't think I'm past it!!

Dennis Schoenberg | 90’s Punk Photography

The message from Schoenberg is Take Punk Seriously, and we love this seriously authentic series of work documenting 90’s subcultures.

As a fashion photographer, his work is centred on the punk uniform of Mohawks, studded leather jackets and plaid pants, but we love the way these pictures encapsulate the energy and emotion of the punks.

Schoenberg reflects on his work at the time: “It was totally about realness… It was also subculture-based, much more than pop culture. The 60’s, 80’s was pop culture, and with the 90’s that changed”

Get your own revival going, with Idol’s punk inspired collection.

Au Revoir Simone

Erika Forster, Annie Hart, and Heather D'Angelo have been jamming together since 2003, when the trio formed a keyboard club in their hometown of New York.

Erica was in a band with Annie’s boyfriend at the time but they decided to form a group based on their shared love of keyboards. A ‘keyboard club,’ as they called themselves.

Soon a fully-fledged band, the friends kept the keyboards but now add other instruments into the mix, creating original, electro music with beautiful, haunting vocals.

The girls are way up there in the fashion stakes, sporting 60s-style heavy fringes and long, messy locks, with geek-chic glasses and cutesy button-up cardigans.

The trio’s video for Fallen Snow shows the girls dancing around in woodlands and climbing into tree houses, dressed in floaty, vintage dresses, hair loose and free-flowing. Very Zoey Deschanel if you ask us!

See the girls dancing through the streets barefoot and singing on park benches in their video for ‘Dark Halls’ where the use of faded-film adds to the vintage style the band are so famous for.

Au Revoir Simone are set to tour around Europe in August, promoting their recently released album ‘Still Night, Still Light.’

‘Kate Who?’

This exhibition celebrates the work of Miss Moss, the icon British female model arguably of all time. The exhibition focusses on the exclusive pictures taken by renowned photographer, Mario Testino. Just like Kate Moss herself, the images are edgy and represent Kate’s distinctive mark on fashion since the 90’s.

Her look challenged the idea of beauty, putting her at the forefront of the fashion industry. Life size images focus on Kate Moss at the height of her career, as well as her celebrity status, and influence on celebrity culture. The exhibition also shows the importance of the relationships formed by the designers, models and photographers. To see the ‘Kate Who?’ Exhibition, visit the Saatchi Gallery, London.

Grace Coddington

The image which sparked controversy in The September Issue


One of Grace’s surreal collaborations with Annie Leibovitz


Here with Steven Meisel, entitled ‘Paris, Je t’aime’


Another whimsical collaboration with Leibovtiz


Grace with Vogue’s Anna Wintour

Had we mentioned Grace Coddington a year ago, few would have known the face behind the name. Avid Vogue readers may have noticed the small credit given to her in the monthly magazine, but otherwise, she was under the radar.

This all changed when RJ Cutler featured Grace in his documentary, The September Issue, which showed an issue of Vogue coming together from a behind-the-scenes perspective.

While Editor-In-Chief Anna Wintour was the main focus of the movie, it was Brit Grace who stole the show, and quickly became a nation-wide success.

Finally recognised throughout the world for her unique talent and exceptional eye for detail, the fashion editor and former model (Grace gave Twiggy a run for her money back in the 1960s) has a phone-book brimming with celebrity contacts and photographers alike.

Working with a host of talent such as Annie Leibovitz, Tim Walker, Steven Meisel and Patrick Demarchelier, Grace has created some of the most iconic images to grace the fashion pages of Vogue.

At 69, Grace shows no sign of retiring, and speaking in an interview for British Vogue, said “I want to work as long as I can. As soon as you don’t work, you keel over and die.”

We hope Grace stays true to her word and keeps thrilling readers with her unique, daring and wonderful creations.

Serge Gainsbourg, j’taime!

We love a bit of French 60’s and are excited about the film Gainsbourg, to be released in the UK on the 30th July, have a glimpse at the short trailer. Serge is not only regarded as one of the world’s most influential popular musicians but also dated some gorgeous ladies, Bridgett Bardot, Jane Birkin and Juliette Greco. The most famous song he wrote being the infamous Je t’aime … moi non plus, (French for "I love you... me neither") sung by Birkin and originally recorded with Bardot. Considered controversial at the time and banned in many countries…oohh… surprising in today’s culture…

…In the film we expect to see roaring romance, sensual music, plenty of partying and iconic fashion…we will surely glued to our seats!

JUMP!

No, this is not a tribute to Girls Aloud (or Hugh Grant’s hilarious dancing in Love Actually) but a new exhibition, recently showcased at the Laurence Miller Gallery in New York. The exhibition commemorates the work of photographer Philippe Halsman, who captured some of the world’s most famous faces on camera during the 1950s and 60s.

The series of fifty images was originally named ‘Jumpology’ while the photos, which show each subject leaping into the air, were taken after the formal sessions were over and the celebrities could loose themselves in the moment as Halsman snapped away.

Marilyn Monroe, Bridget Bardot and Audrey Hepburn were some of the stars caught mid-jump by Philippe Halsman, while the photographer even persuaded the Duke and Duchess of Windsor to jump for him. (showing that the royals do have a sense of humour after all!)

Check out all fifty photos from the exhibit on the Laurence Miller Gallery.

Kooky Karen Elson

British singer/songwriter Karen Elson has had one of the most exciting careers a girl could wish for. Born in Manchester, Karen began her career as a top fashion model before turning her passion for music into a new adventure. Her debut album ‘The Ghost Who Walks’ was released on the 25th of May this year and with her ghostly, folk, and Indie rock sound, Karen is sure to spook the sock off you with the tracks ‘The Truth is in The Dirt’ and ‘Cruel Summer’, both romantic and dark. Our girl is set to do a European tour very soon and we look forward to seeing her perform.

I Blame Coco

Ask the next person on the street, and it’s pretty likely they’ve heard of Sting, former lead singer of The Police and all round rock-star. But what about his daughter?

Like Ms Chanel before her, Coco Sumner is set to be as iconic as her name suggests. The 19 year old has been making music since she was barely into double digits, but is best known for modelling in Burberry's Spring/Summer 2008 advertising campaign alongside pals Agyness Dehn and Lily Donaldson.

Rock chick Coco has stormed onto the music scene with her electro punk-pop solo act self-titled I Blame Coco, while her new single, Self Machine, is quickly becoming a summer hit (and most-played on Idol’s iPod!)

When it comes to fashion, Coco’s look is a mixture of punk-rock glam and vintage chic, and, like any true style-icon, she has the bed-head look down to a T.

Enviable style and rock-star status make Coco the coolest teenager in the world. Check out I Blame Coco’s new video for Self Machine. (Available to download from July 11th)



Loving Coco’s style? Check the Idol Bolero Jacket, perfect for layering over a band tee and pairing with skinny jeans and smoky eye make up. Just the look for a festival-packed summer. Now if we could only get backstage…

It’s True Blood!

We’re having vampire serendipity, not only did the box-office smash, The Twilight Saga Eclipse premiere last night in Leicester Square, we were also spooked to see fellow lady of the darkness Anna Paquin of ‘True Blood’ snapped, off-duty, days ago wearing our very own Union Jack Rose Top ..... it’s still available!