Blogger Archives - Fashion Voyeur

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: Beauty, Fashion, Lifestyle, North East, Pixie, Uncategorized

Catch Up on the The Tyne & Wear Lifestyle Awards 2016

Missed the Tyne & Wear Lifestyle Awards on TV? How could you Voyeurs?!

You’ll know by now that the Newcastle Discovery Museum played host to the inaugural Lifestyle Awards Ceremony recently which produced an honours list for North East business. The best of the best, as shortlisted and voted for by you, the North East public.

Made TV broadcast the entire event live with a live edition of The Lowdown as a prelude to the big event itself, looking at red carpet dressing, fashion trends and prepping for the awards.

Why should you watch it? One word: ME! No seriously, you should watch it because the Lifestyle Awards is your essential guide to what’s hot in the North East in 2016/17. You’ll discover the hottest nightspots, the best places to eat and maybe even a hidden gem or two that you weren’t already aware of. What’s really awesome about these awards is that they don’t just focus on Newcastle – an undeniably awesome city – but there is so much more to Tyne & Wear than just our Geordie Hub.

So, this of this as your second chance, your saving grace….. I’m giving you the power to watch the entire show at your leisure, as many times as you like using the following links. Although I will say this, you might want to just skip ahead to part two, that’s the best bit, I’m told it’s because I’m in it but I can neither confirm nor deny that*…… (*It’s absolutely true Voyeurs)

So here you go, knock yourself out Voyeurs…..

Tyne & Wear Lifestyle Awards 2016 – Part 1

Tyne & Wear Lifestyle Awards 2016 – Part 2

Tyne & Wear Lifestyle Awards 2016 – Part 3

Tyne & Wear Lifestyle Awards 2016 – Part 4

Tyne & Wear Lifestyle Awards 2016 – Part 5

Categories: Fashion, Lifestyle

The Tyne & Wear Lifestyle Awards 2016

Last week businesses and fashionistas from all over the North East gathered at the Discovery Museum in Newcastle to celebrate the inaugural Tyne & Wear Lifestyle Awards, broadcast live on Made in Tyne & Wear.

With twelve categories, the ceremony toasted a whole range of businesses, ultimately compiling a guide to everything that’s awesome about the North East in one handy list. I swept up the train of my Claire Pettibone Romantique dress and sped over to the Discovery Museum to bring you the lowdown….

Our venue for the evening, The Discovery Museum is an imposing, red brick building which houses treasures from all over the region and as an event venue it’s pretty special. As we make our way up to the Grand Hall hidden away in the roof space, the internal metal structure exposed, this truly is the jewel in the museum’s crown and the perfect place for a Geordie knees up.

I bumped into fellow Blogger Anth May wearing a fitted TopMan suit and he instantly became my designated date for the evening. After being interviewed for a live edition of The Lowdown about red carpet fashion and new season trends (Did you catch it Voyeurs?) we were seated for a three course dinner inspired by North East delicacies including pease pudding and even a stottie. (High five whoever shoehorned that on to the menu). We shared a table with North East favourites Donna Petch from North East Hub and Joe Sexton from cookery show Fit in the Kitchen.

Pre-show entertainment came in the form of a comedy-fest from Britain’s Got Talent favourites The Mimic Men and as the entire night’s proceedings were broadcast live on TV, the audience were given a jovial reminder on etiquette for fucks, buggers and See You Next Tuesdays before the show got underway.

Our hosts for the evening were trio Peter, Mel and Hazel – you’ll recognise them from The Lowdown, who provided the links, glamour and humour between awards, all whilst looking more dapper than ever. The girls wore aqua blue embellished evening dresses and Peter looked uber handsome in a black dinner suit, (you’ve set the bar high guys, remember, you’ve got to better this next year!)

Guest presenters from all over the region and further afield dished out awards to the best North East businesses, as voted for by the public. I was asked to present the award for Best Fashion Retailer which went to Gosforth boutique Have To Love and owner Kate Walton told me she was ecstatic to have won.

At the end of the evening, a special Tyne & Wear Legend Award was given to Colin Burgin-Plews, otherwise known as Big Pink dress, for selflessly dedicating his time to innovative ways of raising funds for Cancer Awareness charities. Kudos Colin, I think you’re pretty damn awesome.

Once the awards were concluded there was just one thing left to do, party the night away.

For one night only, the best of the best in the North East assembled under one roof, just like the Avengers did – although they did it on a plane – and danced the night away. And if there’s one thing we don’t need an award for in Tyne & Wear it’s partying, we’ve got that one covered….

Pixie xo

Tyne & Wear Lifestyle Award Winners:

Best Coffee Shop – Mister Woods

Best Pub – City Tavern

Best Fashion Retailer – Have To Love

Best Hair and Beauty Salon – Patrick Forster Barber and Shop

Best Hotel – Malmaison

Best Bar – The Botanist

Best Cultural Attraction – National Glass Centre

Best Restaurant – River Beat

Best Club – House of Smith

Best Fitness Facility – Model Health

Best Live Experience – Great North Run

Tyne & Wear Legend Award – Colin Burgin-Plews (Big Pink Dress)

Categories: Fashion, North East, Pixie, Uncategorized

The 2016 Tyne & Wear Lifestyle Awards

On Wednesday October 19th the Newcastle Discovery Museum will play host to the first ever Tyne and Wear Lifestyle Awards. Organised by MADE TV and following on from the success of similar awards shows in Bristol and London, this time, it’s our turn.

After an initial nomination period where the public and proud businesses from across the region put themselves up for the prestigious awards, a shortlist of the most popular was combined and members of the public were asked to vote for their favourites. From Best Fashion Retailer to Best food & Drink Outlet, the Lifestyle Awards is really an essential list of everything that’s awesome about our region.

The awards ceremony itself promises to be like nothing the North East has been seen before, from the amazing venue with its beautiful room in the eaves, to the live TV broadcast, so you Voyeurs, will find out the results at the same time as the winners do, how cool is that?!

The best bit? I’ll be there live from the Lifestyle Awards bringing you the red carpet arrivals, and I’m also presenting the award to the best Fashion Retailer (natch).

Flagship show The Lowdown will also be live from 7pm on Wednesday with Hazel, Mel and Peter so be sure to tune in to grab a front row seat.

So, whether you’re from the North East or not, this is one TV event that should be marked in your calendar, consider it your guide to What’s Hot in the North East right now, after all, this has been voted for by you guys….

See you there!

Pixie xo

Tune In

The next time you can catch The Tyne and Wear Lifestyle Awards on Made In Tyne & Wear is:

9:00 pm, Wednesday 19th October – Tyne and Wear Lifestyle Awards (Episode 1).
10:00 pm, Friday 21st October – Tyne and Wear Lifestyle Awards (Episode 2).
10:00 am, Saturday 22nd October – Tyne and Wear Lifestyle Awards (Episode 2).

Categories: Fashion, Uncategorized

LFW: CIMONE SS17

Carli Pearson, Founder and Creative Director of new womenswear label, CIMONE was trained at Central Saint Martins and prior to launching her own brand, she honed her craft in a variety of senior positions at some of the world’s top houses. She spent her first seven years at Stella McCartney, later moving on to become Design Director at Alexander Wang, Head of Show Collection at Pucci, and Head of Womenswear at McQ, Alexander McQueen.

Her second collection for spring/summer 2017, and first runway collection was shown as part of London Fashion Week’s SS17 season and received to rapturous applause.

A web of contradictions, the collection saw control versus chaos and high-end production values paired with repurposed textures; focusing on the interplay between naivety and self-assuredness.

statement pieces featured unique, interactive embellishment, moving with models bodies and reacting in unique ways, never appearing the same way twice. A subtle and muted whitewash was brought to life with a vibrant injection of juxtaposed bold colour, appearing as splashes and stripes.

Very obviously influenced by the late Lee Mcqueen, Pearson has focused on confidence as the recurrent theme throughout the SS17 collection – with a little fun thrown in for good measure.

Pixie xo