Fashion Voyeur

People will stare, make it worth their while.

Categories: Fashion

British Fashion Council Announces Emergency Fund for British Designers affected by Covid-19 Crisis

After the covid-19 pandemic sent shockwaves through the fashion industry globally, those at the top of the chain who control The Big Four have had to radically alter the fashion calendar and think hard and fast about how we now move forward with what we don’t yet know as our new normal. Production halted for many designers as showrooms sprung up as makeshift PPE production lines for hospitals all over the world casting doubt on whether there would even be time, or the inclination to produce a collection in time for the next season as we currently knew it. As time went on we realised that there might not even be a season, hell what even are seasons any more? When you’re in lockdown the barometer you use to gauge importance shifts a little….

And so smaller designers began to wonder if they’d survive the crisis. Without the huge social followings, the platforms, the masses of product to sell between seasons – it’s hard to thrive in an industry with so many tiers that can falter when there’s a crisis of this scale. Recognising that in order for the hierarchy of design talent to continue to thrive post pandemic, the post graduate, alumni and young design talent need to be nurtured, the British Fashion Council has announced the first round of recipients of the BFC Foundation Fashion Fund, supporting creative fashion businesses and individuals to survive the Covid-19 crisis.

BFC FOUNDATION FASHION FUND FOR THE COVID CRISIS LOGO

Financial support will be given to 37 British designer businesses, with grants taken from the £1,000,000 emergency fund, allocated to viable businesses depending on their urgency and capability to come through and thrive post crisis. A portion of funds has also been allocated to students, underpinning the future generation of creative talent. London Fashion Week has always been about emerging talent, creating opportunities for new designers which might not have been available elsewhere.

Recipients for the Fund are:

Alighieri (VDFF 2020), 16Arlington, Ahluwalia, Aries, ART SCHOOL, Bethany Williams, BIANCA SAUNDERS, Chalayan, Charles Jeffrey LOVERBOY (VDFF 2020), Chopova Lowena, CRAIG GREEN, David Koma (VDFF 2020), E. Tautz, E.L.V. DENIM, Edeline Lee, EFTYCHIA, Halpern (VDFF 2020), King & Tuckfield, Kwaidan Editions, Liam Hodges, Matty Bovan, Metier (VDFF 2020), Nabil Nayal, NEOUS, Nicholas Daley, palmer//harding, PAPER LONDON, paria /FARZANEH, PER GOTESSON, Phoebe English, Raeburn, Rejina Pyo (VDFF 2020), Richard Malone, RICHARD QUINN, ROKSANDA, Stefan Cooke, Toogood

“Over the last couple of weeks, we have seen an astonishing amount of applications come through from British designer businesses all over the country, asking for help to survive the crisis. The need for support is immense. Our hope is to re-open the fund for future rounds, to help as many businesses as possible, and ensure the future growth and success of the British fashion industry.” Caroline Rush, Chief Executive BFC

The emergency Fund was made possible through pooling the BFC talent support grants that would have traditionally been awarded for either early stage showcasing support or business growth and promotion: BFC/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund, BFC/GQ Designer Menswear Fund supported by JD.com, INC, BFC Fashion Trust and BFC NEWGEN. As the BFC/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund had already completed the judging process, the decision was made to split the cash prize and mentoring award across each of the six shortlisted brands for the very first time.

This is the first announcement of recipients to receive funding from the BFC Foundation Fashion Fund for the Covid Crisis, which has seen over 220 applications to date. Fund recipients will receive a maximum of £50,000 and will also be given access to BFC business support and mentoring from the BFC’s Fashion Business Network which includes among others FarFetch, Google, HSBC, Instagram, LVMH, Mishcon De Reya, and YouTube, plus individual expert one-to-one mentors from across the business value chain.

whilst a million pounds in funding sounds like a huge amount of money and it provides a fantastic start to these designers, the scale of the need is much greater and BFC has called on both Government to step in to work with them on significant industry stimulus, and on the industry and individuals to support the BFC Foundation Fashion Fund through donations, so that more businesses can be supported at this time. BFC estimates that a massive £100 million of support in different forms will be needed to help protect this decade’s generation of talent over the next 12 to 18 months. The fund will re-open for further rounds of applications so that more meaningful support can be given, every time the £500,000 milestone is reached. Donations towards the next round of funding have already been received from Alexander McQueen, Browns, Clearpay and Coach Foundation and the BFC has called on all that are able to support, to try to do so at this time in order to protect a future generation of design talent.

Pixie

Categories: Fashion

How to Turn Heads For All The Right Reasons

We’ve all had that experience of walking down the street and noticing a perfectly put together stranger walk by.  There’s nothing outlandish about their outfit, there’s no real reason for them to standout and yet everyone notices them.  Whether it’s their perfectly tonal palette, their clever use of cut, or the accessories that seem to draw the eye to their best assets; some people just know how to turn heads for all the right reasons.  The good news?  There are some clever little ways that you can apply this to your everyday styling.

An image of a brunette woman wearing a tan jacket with a grey t-shirt

Walking Tall

You know the old adage, shoulders back, hips forward – it’s all about projection.  Sure walking is a simple case of one foot in front of the other but walking tall with your shoulders back and down is a great way to make your clothes lie better.  It’s how models learn to walk the runway so that clothes give a flat back line and in most fitness classes it’s how we’re taught to hold our bodies for correct alignment and lateral breathing.

Hair and Skincare

You can’t change your genetics so learn to love what you’re working with, you ain’t waking up looking like Bella Hadid tomorrow.  Retinol is probably the biggest buzzword in skincare right now simply because it works.  If anti-ageing is high up on your agenda the you’re going to want to look for skincare products containing this wonder ingredient; my top picks right now are Olay’s Retinol 24 £35 (choose the serum over the cream as it has a higher retinol content), and The Ordinary Retinol 1% in Squalane £5.80 (a lot more oily in consistency).

When it comes to hair, ask your salon to show you how to blow dry or wave your hair so that you can recreate your salon style results at home.

Stand Out Threads

Generally speaking I’d say that although we think we notice a face first when someone passes us by, we’re actually more likely to notice and remember the outfit.  Take that perfect safari style outfit Carrie wore to scope out her wedding venue for example.  With that in mind, consider your own closet, are the items in there stale? Are they past their best?  Could you do with a cull, or maybe you need a few wardrobe staples to make it a little more user friendly?  If you’re looking to switch up your style then consider buying vintage, hosting a clothes swap or even looking at something alternative like a kimono from Felicity B to inject colour and print.

Make the Most of Accessories

Accessories can make or break an outfit, we all know Coco Chanel was an advocate.  From a simple nameplate necklace (I never go anywhere without mine), to a braided Mulberry belt – the perfect accessory is invaluable.  You also don’t have to spend a fortune on accessories, sometimes the perfect accessory is a simple beret on a transitional day, braces with denim, or in the case of J-Lo – the perfect pair of gold hoops.

Be sure to use accessories to your full advantage.  These items can round off a terrific outfit, or they can be the things that catch your eye when you have to wear less standout clothing, such as when you’re focusing on warmth more than style during the chillier months.  With a wardrobe of accessories, you’ll always have something to make you stand out.

Just remember, as long as you feel great about the look that you’ve put together, then it the look works and that’s all that matters in fashion and style.

Pixie

Categories: Fashion

The Perfect Ganni Seersucker Dupe Dress

Remember the Ganni Seersucker minidress that sent Instagram into a near meltdown last Summer?  Well that gorgeous check pattern in its unmistakeable black and green hue is going nowhere this Summer and the puff sleeve, swing hem shape is sticking around all season.  That particular Ganni dress was produced in a soft cheesecloth type fabric and I’m here to show you how you can recreate the look for a fraction of the price with 100% of the style, and some of the sustainability factor (not that Ganni is particularly known for its sustainability credentials).

Take one high street dress, I’ve always told you that it takes a half a season for the British high street to pick up on pieces at the top end of the fashion chain and turn them into pieces for consumption at the mid to bottom end of the fashion chain, that’s how this thing works.  It takes Fashion Editors and journalists to spot those pieces, models and influencers to max out on them and then the high street to respond to that need after the social media responses are generated in terms of your likes and comments.  Those pieces are then produced in a direct response to what you, the consumer expects, wants and needs as a forecast for the season ahead based on what was popular in the previous season – these are called micro-trends.  Ok, fashion lesson over, on to the dress and this one is a doozie….

Pixie Tenenbaum wears a green and black checked minidress dupe of the Ganni Seersucker minidress at St Mary's Inn in Morpeth
Lime Green Seersucker dupe £35.00 at Topshop

It’s an almost exact replica of the fabric in terms of wearability, it’s got that same cheesecloth type feel with the banding that runs through the checks.  The sleeves stay puffed up (the Ganni dress has to be re-puffed regularly if that’s the look you’re going for), and this one doesn’t have a deep v-neck which is good if you’re particularly flat chested like me.  It’s empire cut so is almost a fit and flare style from the bust out, a very flattering cut on most shapes, especially given its shorter length.

Pixie Tenenbaum wears a green and black checked minidress dupe of the Ganni Seersucker minidress at St Mary's Inn in Morpeth
Lime Green Seersucker dupe dress £35.00 at Topshop

We all know the Ganni Seersucker sold like hot cakes when it was reduced in the sale to £150, but this Seersucker dupe from high street giant Topshop is just £35.00 and you can buy it here, but be quick because I can’t see this one sticking around.  It’s the perfect seasonal transition dress paired with opaques, a light polo neck and boots and then on its own for lazy Summer days and vacations paired with cowboy boots.  Of course if you’re not sold on the empire line and puff sleeves – I get that it’s not a look for everyone – but you want in on the pattern, then Topshop also have this straight bodied version available with frill detailing on the front if this is more your thing for £39.99.

Either way, get amongst it Voyeurs, this is one with a decent amount of wearability in it.

Pixie

Categories: Fashion

Olivia Rubin’s 80’s Inspired Rainbow for FW20

On a cold wet February day in London the fashion elite gathered for Olivia Rubin’s rainbow coloured presentation and for twenty minutes we completely forgot about the weather and focussed completely on animal print hearts, polka dots and the swishing of silky tiers as they sashayed past us up the makeshift runway.

Models lined up on the runway at the end of the Olivia Rubin FW20 Fashion presentation at London Fashion Week in February 2020

Rubin is known for her use of colour. She’s become synonymous with it, whether it’s pastels, prints, primary colours or checks, all of the above work themselves seamlessly into one collection because colour is the common denominator. Like RIXO, Olivia Rubin is a “sunny” designer, one that has the feel good factor, you know that when you slip on an Olivia Rubin dress, your mood will lift, and trust me, it really does.

Her Fall Winter collection for 2020 is no exception – filled with sequins so tiny they’re almost fluid, tye dye ombré that was made for lazy vacation evenings and 80’s inspired silhouettes that look achingly cool when complimented with colour blocked opaque tights and wide sash belts; a look I’ll definitely be wearing next season and undoubtedly beyond.

The most easily wearable and relatable look though is seen in Rubin’s signature rainbow colours draped effortlessly through tiers of fabric in either mini, midi or maxi dresses made from swathes of silk and sequins. With wide boat style necks these gorgeous swishy frocks are sure to keep your spirits high when temperatures begin to drop in September, and with her high end high street price point, they’re pretty affordable for us mere mortals too.

Pixie

Categories: Fashion, North East

Grey Goose Ice Bar at STACK Newcastle

The Ice Bar slid back into Newcastle this week for its second term at STACK, this time with a shiny new sponsor in the form of Grey Goose Vodka and making its grand entrance with a New York theme.

That’s right, everything inside has a nod to the city that never sleeps and it’s just fabulous.  From the huge to the very tiny, there’s something to capture your attention for every single one of the twenty minutes you get inside and it’s all been painstakingly carved out of, or encased in ice.

New York Nicks Basketballs encased in ice in the New York themed ice bar at STACK Newcastle in January 2020

We were invited along on launch day to check it out.  When you arrive you sign in at a welcome cabin and you’re given vouchers dependent on which package you’ve booked – we were there for the basic entry deal, a simple entry to the Ice Bar, shot of something from the bar and a hot chocolate after leaving.  After signing in you’re given gloves and a faux fur hooded cloak to keep you toasty once inside.

You enter the Ice Bar in groups which are pre-booked online so it’s never overcrowded and the numbers are controlled in order to maintain the temperature inside.  Once you get in there you’re immediately faced with ice, and a lot of it.  You  round a corner into the bar and it opens out into what’s actually a pretty big space.

Inside the New York themed Grey Goose Ice Bar at STACK Newcastle

The bar itself is completely carved from ice, as are the glasses the shots are served in.  The toffee Schnapps served as the drink included in the entry fee is simply divine, it’s made fresh on site each evening by the bar staff specially for the event to a recipe they “just came up with”.  There’s also a non-alcoholic apple version available for kids (or adults who just fancy it) and I have it on good authority that that’s pretty amazing too.

Shot glasses made of ice at the Ice Bar in STACK Newcastle in Jan 2020

So what can you expect to see inside the Ice Bar and is it worth going back if you visited last year?  Well, yes actually.  It’s better.  I’d say it’s a lot better.  Firstly, this time everything is tied up with a theme so it makes more sense, secondly there’s a designated seating area and it’s decked out with rugs so if you want to just sit, you can.

The main focal point is the Friends set piece and sofa, it’s the definite Insta zone of the Ice Bar and the lighting around it is so much better than it was in there last year so make a beeline for that if you get in there this year.  There’s some sporting memorabilia in there too in the form of the baseball bat with which Babe Ruth scored his first ever home run and it’s fully encased in ice.

The famous blue Manolo Blahnik pumps given to Carrie by Big in Sex and The City are in the ice too as well as some Tiffany jewellery and there’s a Yellow cab carved out of ice which looks really slick.  Oh, and it just wouldn’t be NYC without Lady Liberty in there now would it?

The Statue of Liberty carved entirely from ice on display in the Grey Goose Ice Bar at STACK Newcastle

After twenty minutes are up, and trust me you’ll be feeling it at sub zero temperatures, you’re ushered out in your group and directed to the end of the bar where you’re served hot chocolate topped with cream and marshmallows and given the option of mingling with the masses at STACK or heading to the Warm Room at the opposite end of the DJ stand to defrost fully.

Overall, it’s a fun activity, doesn’t take up a huge amount of time and doesn’t cost a fortune.  Check it out while it’s here, it’s not around for long.

Pixie

TICKET PRICES

Mon-Thurs (Off Peak) / Fri-Sun (peak)

STANDARD ADULT — £10.00 off peak /£15.00 peak

Includes Entry
Jacket and Glove Hire
Ice Shot (alcoholic or non-alcoholic)
Hot Chocolate

PREMIUM ADULT — £15.00 off peak / £20.00 peak

Includes Entry
Jacket and Glove Hire
Ice Shot (alcoholic or non-alcoholic)
Hot Chocolate
Glass of Prosecco or Bottle of Beer

CHILDREN — £6.00 per child

No Under 7’s are permitted in the Ice Bar

Includes Entry
Jacket and Glove Hire
Ice Shot (non-alcoholic)
Hot Chocolate

FAMILY TICKETS — £30.00 off peak / £38.00 peak

A family booking can be made consisting of 2 adults and 2 children.  More children can be added for £6.00 per child.

Includes Entry
Jacket and Glove Hire Ice Shot (alcoholic or non-alcoholic)
Hot Chocolate

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