Gok's Clothes Roadshow

Whilst sitting in a cafe with the boy a few weeks ago we noticed a flyer through the window advertising the fairy gokmother himself, Gok Wan's mighty arrival to Leeds to film the catwalk show section of his new TV programme Gok's Clothes Roadshow. Filled with vivacious delight I made my way down making sure to defy my usual lack of punctuality to the Leeds Corn Exchange (a most resplendent piece of architecture if you ever get the chance to visit it) with a couple of friends ready to see the genius of Mr Wan flaunt itself before me. Ten minutes. Twenty minutes. Half an hour. Forty-five minutes. Just over an hour later than the specified time, Gok graced us with his presence, donning his trademark black suit. I'm usually one of these annoying fashionably late people myself, so combined with his winning charm and humour, our Gok appeased the increasingly impatient crowds and commenced his fashion fix.

The premise of his new show was very similar to a previous series of his called Gok's Fashion Fix. If you're unfamiliar with the basis of Gok's Fashion Fix, it's basically a fashion showdown between Gok and his arch rival fashionista Brix Smith-Start, with Gok backing the high street and Brix supporting the designer labels. They're both given the same seasonal trends to work with to create an appropriate outfit, which they then showcase down the catwalk. The twist is is that the audience watching the fashion show has no idea which outfit belongs to the high street or which is designer. The audience then votes at the end which lot of outfits they liked most and either Gok or Brix wins the show.

Unfortunately, photographs were forbidden from being taken during filming. Gok kindly allowed us to go snap happy with photos of him at the beginning but after that it was nada. I sneakily tried to take a few on my camera, craftily putting it on it's ISO setting where it would take a good enough picture without the flash - but I must have been a lot more conspicuous than I thought when one of the security guards lumbered over and rumbled, 'No pictures, love.' Ah well. Anyway that's my excuse for the lack of photos and the poor quality of the few I have.

Taking into consideration that the show will air sometime mid January, the styles that were sauntering down the catwalk were a fleeting forecast for what will be big next year.

Trend Number One: Bold Clashing Colours




The models that walked down the catwalk wore bright, block, clashing colours. One wore a combination of pink and red whereas the other (shown above) united green, red and blue in a uniform that surprisingly exuded a quirky sophistication. A trend not for the faint hearted, I'd say. Execution would have to be spot on to get away with this look but I would encourage a few bold flashes of colour to brighten up any day-to-day wear or that little black dress, like these little gems:

Asos Leather Satchel £60


Waterfall Drape Shorts, Topshop, £34



Sash, American Apparel, £6 (in sale)

Trend Number Two: Monochrome

Firstly, let me apologise for the quality of the above picture - and secondly, let me tell you that the timeless combination of black and white will apparently be your best friend this new year. Both Gok and Brix took an alpine approach to it, which knowing British weather will be very apt during January and February. Luckily this is a look that requires minimum effort and will have maximum impact.

Animal Print Maxi Skirt, New Look, £8 (in the sale)

Black Diagonal Stripe Tights, Topshop, £8.50
Heart Knitted Skirt, ASOS, £30

Trend Number Three: Ethereal

I wish I had gotten some pictures of the models for this trend as the dresses they were adorned in were phenomenal. I'll be making sure that I tune in January to find out where they were from as my memory of the event seems to have deteriorated a bit. The dresses were floor length, flowing and subtley jewelled and sequinned. The models looked like veritable Lord of the Rings style Elves, as if they'd just stepped out of the fairy world of A Midsummer Night's Dream. Opt for chiffon, lace, pale colours and dainty embroidery to channel the Queen Titania look.

Victoriana Lace Dress, Oasis, £60
Fringe Dress, Topshop, £150 (in the sale)
Pleated Goddess Maxi Dress, Love Label, £32.50 (in the sale)

Trend Number Four: Oriental

One trend that is already visible in the shops is the oriental theme. Gok and Brix went all out - chopsticks in hair, the whole lot. A more toned down way to embrace the Far East is to swap your cardigan for a very now printed kimono, dare to wear a thigh high slit skirt or dress, don an appleblossom print top or even experiment with some Geisha style make up.

Kimono, Topshop, £28
Floral Print Vest, Topshop £33
Silk Snake Print Kimono, Topshop, £100



I stayed to see the whole of the catwalk show and quickly tried to deduce from the number of pink and black paddle boards the crowd were waving in the air (despite me and my friends' attempts to get Gok's paddle giver outer's attention, we were not lucky enough to gain a paddle and were refused our right to vote) as to who had won out of Gok and Brix. Unfortunately I didn't stay to find out who was the winner, but from my quick deduction I'm pretty confident it was Mr. Gok Wan who came out victorious - but I'll have to wait til sometime in January and become an avid Gok fan once again to find out if I'm right.

Dear Santa...

So my advent calendar informs me today that we are in fact only five days away from Christmas. Scary stuff. Fortunately all my Christmas shopping is done and the attempts at wrapping can commence. But while I've been doing all this selfless shopping for others, I have simultaneously been selfishly eyeing up the rails in every shop I've entered - and instead of furthering my knowledge and keeping up to date with the latest breaking news, I've been scouring the net for any clothes or accessories I can get my grubby mits on. To suit the seasonal spirit, I have devised a Christmas wishlist consisting of ten coveted items, that will shortly be on it's way to the North Pole in letter form addressed to a certain Mr Claus. Let's hope I've been a good girl this year.

So in no particular order... my Christmas Wishlist:

1) O&O Velvet & Mesh Bodycon Dress, Urban Outfitters


I found this piece of loveliness whilst checking out the ladies section on the Urban Outfitters website. Considering the things I look for in a dress, it ticks all the right boxes. Numero uno - it's velvet. I've had an addiction to velvet for over a year now since it's warm welcome back into the fashion charts and I haven't been able to quit it. It's also perfect for the Christmassy season and the velvet is a good insulator against this slapintheface cold we've been having recently. Stylish and warm, eh. Number two - it's black. And I'm a sucker for LBDs. Failsafe fashion. Number three - the Peter Pan collar and the mesh detail. Peter Pan collars are a surefire way to update any look and mesh material has recently been inserted into everything from dresses to shoes, creating a risque look without the sluttiness to accompany it. I have found that this Peter Pan collar trend 9 times out of 10 just plain doesn't suit me, but with the sense of space built by the mesh between the collar bone and the chest, it breaks up the dress a bit which will flatter more and look less suffocating. And then at number four - it's £45, which for a dress in Urban Outfitters standards, is verrrrrry reasonable and is definately worth picking up. I shall be hinting to my brother and sister about this one.


2) Textured Boyfriend Jacket, Topshop


I have an obsession with jackets. Ask anyone who knows me and they will confirm this. I'd be ashamed to know how many jackets I actually own. It's a ridiculous number, I'll let you know that much. I especially love the boyfriend fit style of blazers, as they work equally well in both smartening up any day clothing or dressing down a going out outfit. I'd wear it with a lace trim dress to contrast with the mannish cut.

3) Karen Gillan's Jumper


Doctor Who's new golden girl has been a hit of colossal proportions in the fashion ratings, never seemingly to put a foot wrong and continually making my eyes green envying her clothes. I couldn't find out where Miss Gillan would have purchased this double decker bus print jumper, but I WANT IT. MINE MINE MINE. Printed jumpers have been all the rage this autumn and winter, allowing us to keep warm whilst still looking cool and quirky. From an alpine scene to a squirrel wearing headphones, the more bizarre the print the better. This has got to be one of my favourite trends of the year as jumpers with these kooky kind of prints tend to reside in vintage shops, (which I love rummaging around in ) which means they're most likely a one-of-a-kind and are usually tagged with purse friendly prices.




4) Brocade Military Tailcoat, All Saints

























Daaaah I love this. Told you I was obsessed with jackets. Doesn't this jacket just make you feel like that it was worn by some sophisticated pirate, or that you need a musket to just own it? This is All Saints designing to perfection. I'm an avid fan of the military look, but the faded appearance and feel of the leather, how lightweight it is (yes, I foolishly tried it on) the ornate detailing on the cuffs and the fact it has a tailcoat makes this particular garment a piece of art. Rather depressingly though, as I discovered once taking the jacket off, it costs the hefty price of £450 (now £315 in the sale). My heart sank. Damn you, All Saints, damn you. Look at it though, isn't it beautiful? I think I'm in love.


5) Asymmetric Corset Maxi Dress, Asos


As dramatic as it sounds, I was enraptured when I saw this dress in a magazine. This stunning dress from Asos (at £85) nails two of this season's prominent trends, asymmetry and the colour red. Red has had a revival, making a fiery comeback in the autumn/winter catwalks showcased this past summer. I personally have always loved the colour red, it flatters every skintone and is perfect for creating an eye catching impact. The retail shops of today are heavily embracing the asymmetric trend, adding an interesting twist on what could be a normal run of the mill dress. The use of chiffon in the asymmetry of this dress ties in with the airy, ethereal, damsel-esque feel that evening dresses are leaning towards these days. I can imagine myself now, wearing this dress, gracefully prancing about the palaces of Fatehpur Sikri in India (went there this summer - google image it, it's a treat for the eyes) waving a red veil in the air behind me, Bollywood styleee.











6) Kettle & Kotch Bandana Watches


Watches have never appealed to me much until my brother bought me one for my birthday and I love it. It fits perfectly, blending in with myriad of bracelets and bangles that decorate my wrist. I think that's what I need in a watch, something that looks more like a bracelet than a what it actually is. That's why these intriguing creations caught my eye. London based watchmaker company Kettle & Kotch have designed a whole range charmingly called 'A Spoonful of Sugar' consisting of these little bandana-watch hybridities. There's ten different designs, all very dainty and floral made with their own individual fabrics. Having made only one hundred of each design, these watches are extremely limited. I, myself would choose the above watch, named 'Fabulous' for its toned down colours and it's go-with-any-outfit versatility.






































7) Feather Hair Clip, Topshop

We now live in a time where it is not unnormal to find a girl's tresses adorned by flowers or a Grecian hairband. Hair accessories enjoyed playing an integral part in the summer's festival look and they're here to stay with us through the winter and into the new year where supposedly the ethnic (particularly Indian print) look is predicted to be big. I like to think I'm a bit hippie at heart and think this feather hair clip from Topshop would evoke this style perfectly.










8) Maxi Skirt, Topshop

Maxi skirts are a brilliant, demure alternative to all those tiny tiny mini skirts out there. I love the floatiness of this skirt and the asymmetric cutting, (which in this case, flatters a pear shape figure wooo) it would go beautifully with a big baggy jumper to dress it down. Fortunately they're something I can carry off (most of the time) and I found this skirt a couple of months ago and spent weeks deliberating whether I should part with the £60 needed to be able to wear it (times is hard when you're in your overdraft). Unfortunately I left it too long and my size is no longer available, hopefully it'll reappear in their 'back in stock' section. No wonder Topshop have a rail in their store with the words 'Buy it now or regret it later' painted above it.







9) Peacock Feather Mask, Urban Outfitters


I don't know why I want this, I would probably never wear it unless I was frolicking around my room, but isn't it so cool? or to use a less overused adjective, bewitching? Think I need to get invited to masquerade party this New Year's to warrant buying this.












10) Ginger Sheepskin Shearling Car Coat, Topshop


The first thing I want to do whenever I see this picture of this coat, is to maniacally run my hands all over it. What an immense sensation overload for the hands it would be. It's a purchase that requires consideration at the cost of £350 but it's plain to see that this coat would keep you as warm as an oven on gas mark 6 during even the most Arctic temperatures. Ok, not quite Arctic, you'd need the real Millets type of deal for that, but you know what I mean.

The Beard is BACK

What a long time ago it seems I said I'd get back on here as soon as possible. I'm probably in more of a hectic situation than when I was about a month ago (assessed work for Wednesday, exam on Tuesday and essay for Friday - help!) but I've decided that instead of being the studious little beaver that I ought to be, I'm going to procrastinate and put my energies into something somewhat productive and get back on the fashion train. I was going to say 'wagon' but second thoughts deduced that a wagon has unfashionable connotations. Well, it does for the time being anyway.

So, one thing I've been noticing with my eagle eyes whilst indulging in sinful shopping trips, is the kind of models clothing labels like to choose for their advertising and campaigns, particularly their male models. No I haven't been skulking about in shops gawking at the images of broody male models draped across the walls (ok, maybe once...or twice) but I have observed a theme running through the types of men being cast in the pictures, men with one key, integral feature: the Beard.

The beard? Yes, the beard. I'm not a boy - I'll have you know - but I can imagine that the majority of guys have dabbled in thoughts of how they would look like with a beard, whether they could pull it off - to shave or not to shave, that is the question. It seems like a rite of passage for most guys to go through the overgrown facial hair phase.
Once accomplished, I would say, without any sources to support me on this, that approximately 70% of these men will eventually look in the mirror and sigh, 'what was I thinking?!' and subsequently take out their razor and shaving cream, fast. 20% of these men, on the other hand, will look in the mirror, see their face adorned by what could be said to be one of the boldest statements of hairy masculinity and through rose coloured spectacles unwisely decide that, depsite whatever beard jokes and jibes he may have endured by his mates and/or girlfriend, 'yes, this is brilliant. I look good. The beard is staying.'
Then the last 10 % won't even need to look in the mirror because they are the ones that can truly pull all of it's rugged manliness off. The beard stays and the world is happy. This is the kind of beard being used in todays fashion industry.

It appears that our highstreet - and I'm particularly talking about the European fashion industry here - these days wants to abandon the smooth faced, pouty indie boy who-could-be-in-a band(and probably is)-wearing-skinny-jeans-verging-on-adrogyny kinda look and assume a more macho, masculine vibe, which is perfectly depicted in one of the most striking campaigns of the year:



The epitome of manliness, don't you think? A little dishevelled, rugged and rough around the ages, assuming a nonchalance that almost verges on arrogance. This FCUK campaign has recieved a lot of criticism in the past few months for gender stereotyping and inequality lark, but I like it. It laughs at itself quite blatently, I thought when I first saw the images. And back to the beard, it embraces the wash and go ready routine that realistically most guys follow, and that it's pointing out perhaps we're forgetting what the quintessential man is. This is what those stylish people at FCUK had to say on their blog about their new found love of the shaggy look:

“His love for his beard is fierce and raw. He knows that a beard is a poem. Do not touch his beard. If you do not know so much about the beard, The Man can help you.”

All Saints A/W10



H&M

I also spied men with long hair and beards displayed on the walls of All Saints and H&M, the H&M model Patrick Petitjean, apparently renowned for his Christ like facial hair. So does this mean, as fashion often dictates, that all you men out there must go and follow the trend and grow Jesus beards too? Nahh, I don't think so. I like to think that it's another one of those barriers that fashion's breaking, that along with all the pretty, smooth, clean cut boys that brands like Abercrombie and Fitch or Tommy Hilfiger like to flaunt, that men of the opposite style and look can look just as good and rival them.

It simply just makes looking at fashion advertisements much more interesting and eye catching when there's something a little differnet. It breaks away from the standard you'd expect from a model and will hopefully make way for a few more little differences here and there. I'm in full favour of the beard revival, but I sincerely hope it doesn't catch on to the masses - remember what I said boys, there's at the very most 10% of you out there who can get away with this. Don't go and do a Brad Pitt and ruin your face. Stick to the stubble, guys.