Blog Archives - Fashion Voyeur

The End of an Era for InStyle UK

It’s the end of an era Voyeurs, cue the Funeral March and don your best all black couture because we’re bidding farewell to a fashion favourite…… InStyle magazine is no more.

Waaaaaaaaaaah!!! I LOVE InStyle magazine, I love that it’s the perfect mix of the high end, unaffordable but lust worthy couture of Vogue mixed with the levelheaded, sensibility of ELLE. It’s the gateway fashion magazine of choice but that’s all about to change.

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Time Inc have announced the closure of the UK print edition of InStyle magazine and plan to make the brand digital download only, a ‘bold move’ as described by Time Inc themselves. If you were hoping for time to grieve then you’re out of luck there too as the December issue which published November 3rd will be the last ever print version of the magazine.

The UK edition of the fashion magazine, which celebrates its 15th anniversary this year, saw a huge drop in print sales this year as its circulation fell by almost 18% in the first six months of 2016 to 121,000 copies a month. Bummer.

“What we have achieved with InStyle over the last few years has been hugely rewarding and the team has, rightly, won numerous awards and nominations for their work across print and digital,But the fashion world is changing dramatically, the way our audience interacts with it is changing and we have to change to meet that challenge. With a focus on delivering the InStyle experience across all digital platforms, we can really give our audience 24-hour access to all the fashion and beauty looks, trends and brands they clearly have such a huge appetite for.” Charlotte Moore, InStyle Editor

“This new focus for InStyle means we can propel it to a leading position in the UK digital fashion space. InStyle’s authority combined with this significantly boosted content offering will make it a compelling destination for consumers and a very attractive proposition for our advertising partners.” Justine Southall, Managing Director for Fashion & Beauty, Time Inc.

With Conde Nast and Hearst announcing similar plans relating to 24 hour digital content, it’s evident that most editorial content is consumed online and in a digital age, it’s got people asking, is there still a need for print publication? Vogue Editor Alexandra Schulman certainly thinks so, vowing that British Vogue will never devolve to digital only, despite Vogue Online producing most of its readership. She believes there is value in print and most fashion folk will agree.

Me? I’m with Alexandra on this one, I think there will always be a place for print copy in fashion. Certainly where the icons are concerned – give me a fresh edition of Vogue, LOVE or CR Fashion Book over the equivalent online, there’s something great about seeing the collections in print. Sure, the small, lesser known publications may fade away to nothing but the bibles? The Holy Grail? Well they’ll always be here because Voyeurs, print will always be in fashion.

Pixie xo

Categories: Fashion, Models, Uncategorized

VS Fashion Show 2016

SUPER AWESOME IMAGE LED POST ALERT!

I’ve held off with this post for a little but because I know your timelines will be filled with pictures of the VS Angels and those super elaborate wings already, but I can wait no longer!

The 2016 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show took place in Paris last week and boy was it good! With a record number of Rookies, looks and wings, the show set out to wow followers from the very beginning.

We were treated to the casting videos, the #TrainLikeAnAngel campaign videos to make us crave the new sportswear range, and the rehearsal runthrough. By the time Show day came round, we were literally on the edge. With the huge Grand Palais transformed into a rhinestone covered showspace with the longest glitter strewn runway the brand has had to date; the biggest VS Fashion Show to date began with a bang.

Performers Bruno Mars, Lady Gaga and The Weeknd provided the musical entertainment but it was the Angels who took centre stage; you just need to look at the stills for the ultimate gym motivation.

The VS Fashion Show always produces a few stand out high points and this year they weren’t in short supply. I’ve rounded up a few of my favourite moments…

1. Veteran Angels Adriana Lima and Alessandra Ambrosio showed The Rookies how it’s done.

2. Jasmine Tookes looked psyched to be wearing the $3 million Fantasy Bra.

3. Bella showed Abel what he could’ve won.

4. Izabel Goulart put everyone to shame with her freaking amazing abs.

5. Maria Borges. ‘Nuff said, this woman is rocking my world right now. ?

So Voyeurs, whilst you wait for the UK screening on 4Music next week, here are some of the best images from the show itself and I’ll follow up with a Behind the Scenes post later this week to keep that anticipation building. You’re welcome.

But for now, I’m headed to the gym with a picture of Izabel goulart as my screensaver for inspo….

Pixie xo

Categories: Fashion, North East, Uncategorized

Trendlistr Curated Vintage Popup Shop

You all know that I have my own unique style when it comes to occasion dressing but I also have a bit of a penchant for vintage, as long as it’s good vintage; and that’s the trouble with buying preloved clothing, you never know if it’s any good.

When it comes to styling and dressing, I know exactly what I want. That in itself can be a problem because sometimes the thing that I want doesn’t actually exist, that’s why I hack sleeves off tees, add in fabric and draw on clothing – I like to look unique. Buying vintage is great because it allows you to keep your individuality – you’re very unlikely to bump into someone wearing the same thing – and there are styles available that aren’t repeated on today’s high street.

One of the tricky things about buying vintage, is that you never know if what you’re buying is ‘good’ vintage, genuine or what it’s history is and that’s the risk you take. Sure vintage fairs are great, (my absolute favourite, Britain Does Vintage, tours the U.K. seasonally and makes three stops across the North East) but if you’re that person who really doesn’t know what they’re looking for then Trendlistr might be the solution you didn’t know you needed.

Ok, so first you have to establish that you’re interested in vintage clothing, if you’re not, then maybe I can convince you. Cuts, quality and sizing is different (vanity sizing didn’t exist back then) in vintage clothing, with a focus on quality over quantity, things weren’t sold in high volume so if you find a piece you love, buy it, keep it and cherish it. Good designer vintage in decent condition retains its shape and its value pretty well on this day and age, with some rare pieces (Hermes Kelly anyone?) increasing in value.

Louisa Rogers and I have been following each other for some time now and last night we finally met in person at her Curated Vintage Popup Shop in House of Smith. Louisa spotted a gaping hole in the market for a Curated vintage service that links up clients like you and I, with vintage pieces which have been sourced, checked and verified. This was the inspiration that led her to start setting up her business Trendlistr.

Louisa is super passionate about vintage clothing, but it has to be as close to perfect as it can be to pass her vigourous testing. Sourcing from all over the world, she’s built up quite a collection of eclectic pieces and had a small selection of clothing and jewellery on show at her popup.

Trendlistr will operate in a similar way to eBay which offers a marketplace for third party sellers to showcase their vintage items, minus the auction. Louisa tells me she has aspirations for it to become the ‘ASOS of vintage’ and she has faith in her brand. She talks about the importance of getting it right first time and is currently in the process of photographing and cataloging the collection ready for the website going live.

I scoured the collection last night and scavenged a preppy zip through Roberto Verino dress and a Moschino tank – picked for me by Louisa herself as she says she’s clocked my style and thinks it’s very me, she’s not wrong. Amongst the collection I found a pair of very on trend midnight blue velvet Yves Saint Laurent cigarette pants and a flower camo Salvatore Ferragamo pencil skirt, sadly neither were my size. Boo!

Is Curated vintage worth it? Yes, if you’re interested in vintage then it takes all the hard work out of finding really great quality preowned clothing. If you want to try vintage but don’t know where to start, then Curated vintage is your gateway drug, but be careful, it’s addictive.

I’ll always visit vintage fairs there’s no doubt about that, but Trendlistr offers a third dimension, a way to source items in a particular size, colour or style. A way to request dealers to look for a particular item when they’re out topping up their hauls, rather than just shopping off the rack.

When Trendlistr goes live in early 2017 I’m predicting a vintage revival of sorts….

Pixie xo

Categories: Lifestyle, North East, Uncategorized

Christmas Night Market at the Grainger Market

Last night I headed over to the Grainger Market in Newcastle for a very special Christmas Night Market. If you’re not from the North East then let me fill you in…

The Grainger Market is something of a local treasure in Newcastle, housed in a square block between Clayton Street and Grainger Street, it’s been a part of the city since 1835. With over a hundred shops and stalls under the steel and glass roof, it really has to be visited to give life to the description. It’s the home of a collective of vibrant, small local businesses and some awesome creatives who thrive on their solidarity as a unit and if you visit the market, you’ll see that in spades.

It’s quirky, it’s cute and ultimately it’s well planned out. From the original aisles which made up the ‘flesh market’ which now houses local food produce, through to the Grainger Arcade which is the younger, funkier end. Everything in the Grainger Market has a place that has been carefully considered and every Geordie you meet, will have a favourite unit housed within it.

This year, for the first time ever, the Grainger Market played host to a Christmas Night Market with the promise of mulled wine, local food samples and a VIP tour of that famous hidden air raid shelter. To be honest Voyeurs, I heard “Air raid shelter” and was there like a shot.

When I arrived, the place was buzzing with life, a choir was singing with an audience of smiling faces and Christmas jumpers as lights projected out across the glass ceiling, transforming the Grainger Market into a Winter Wonderland. I registered for my VIP wristband and map, and headed straight to Pet Lamb patisserie to stock up on festive treats made with a local touch.

One of my all time favourite stores is in the Grainger Market; Ellen’s Cosmetics is a secret staple for many a Beauty Blogger, known for sourcing hard to find items and products, and stocking brands that you just can’t find anywhere else. It’s my go to for hair toners. Yup, that’s right Voyeurs, when you see me with my many shades of pastel hair, this is my supplier and I picked up some new ones last night taking advantage of their 20% off offer exclusively for the Night Market. ??

I also managed to get a tour of one of the two hidden air raid shelters under the Grainger Market, something I’ve wanted to do since I heard about it in The Chronicle earlier this year and it didn’t disappoint. I headed into the dark tunnel with fellow Bloggers Rachel Kershaw & Ami Littlefair and we were given the lowdown on how it would have been used by the most adorably City Tour Guide.

From the surface, it’s pretty easy to, it’s the entrance despite being wide open & surrounded by metal barriers, it’s hidden in plain sight. The steps lead down to a chamber which eerily splits off into two narrow corridors, it almost feels like picking your fate….

Filled with vintage props, the shelter has been preserved and still has original drawings on the walls. Not my usual post but I’m actually super interested in this kind of thing so next on my list is The Victoria Tunnel tour. I also kind of have to take some responsibility for Rachel bumping her head on a steel joist on the way out, soz dude.

After a good stroll around the market and it’s various entertainment spots, cue buskers, Newcastle Roller Girls Head Coach Kalamity James (and my awesome mate) whizzing around on quads, I headed home feeling slightly less grinchy and munching on a bag of sweet treats.

If you’re the kind of person who seeks to support local business over larger chain stores and you’re in the North East then give the Grainger Market a look. There are quirky independent stores hidden within those old walls and some great places for food that still remain a bit of a Geordie secret. Also, it’s looking super Christmassy in there right now, which is always a winner in my book!

Pixie xo

Categories: Fashion, Models, Uncategorized

VS Fashion Show 2016 Paris Photocall

The VS Angels have landed in Paris ahead of the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show and their first port of call? The Grand Palais of course!

Tomorrow night the venue will be dripping with glitter, feathers and rhinestones as the Angels take to the stage for the 2016 Paris showcase where a record eighteen rookies will take to the stage for the first time. In preparation, the girls hit up Karl Lagerfeld’s favourite show venue for a pre-show photocall

As with every VS Fashion Show press call, the girls posed up a storm for the baying paparazzi and the fresh new intake seemed completely at ease, some of them saying they’ve been training their whole lives for this.

Jasmine Tookes will take to the stage in the $3 million ‘Bright Nights’ Fantasy Bra which is a move away from the traditional, prettified, sparkly Fantasy bra we’re used to seeing. With diamonds and pearls fashioned into cones and spikes, this piece has a real urban and more ‘hard’ feel to it. I have to admit that on first sight, I wasn’t keen but the more I see this Fantasy Bra, the more I grow to love it, especially with the belt piece that will be worn in the show.

The 2016 VS Fashion Show can also lay claim to being the first VS show featuring two sisters walking the same show with Gigi Hadid walking for the second time, and sister Bella taking to the stage for the very first time for the brand. I’m super excited about seeing Bella walk the show, this chica has a walk to die for.

We already know everything we need to know about the show on everyone’s lips, if you need a quick recap the check out this post, and if you’d like to read up on the Rookies before they make their debut, then you might want to consider checking out this post.

I’ll bring you the scoop after the show, but for now, all that’s left to do is check out these images of the VS Angels working the press call ahead of tomorrow night’s show in Paris!

Pixie xo

IMAGE CREDIT: MARTIN BUREAU/AFP/Getty Images

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