Roving Reporter . . . The Joint Music Rooms

The other week I told you how I went to watch the latest up & coming band at The Joint Music Rooms in Kings Cross. 

The band 'Eddie' - hailing from a mixture of (mainly) Brighton and a dash of London have now played their first gig in New York! and are proper good mates with us here at Fash-Pack, that is why we bring you this exclusive video from that day at The Joint, attended by the likes of your truly and Orange Unsigned competitor Bo Bruce. Watch this video, then check out the bands myspace, while being Pop rather than Indie, I guarantee that these infectious tunes will have you singing along in no time - they are just so bloody catchy!

EDDIE MYSPACE

Roving Reporter . . . Shoot Shoot Shoot

Goodness me, it's Bank Holiday Sunday and I have been up since seven! It is now 10pm and I'm just tucking into some dinner having spent the day shooting in Dunganess.

Where, I hear you cry?! Well it's in Kent, on the coast, it's kinda full of stones and a few randomly placed little houses, so totally not London! 

While I reveled in being out in the sticks, gushing at the cute little cottages, the quaint steam train and the general beauty of the peace and quiet, Bleu-Flats was falling into full scale panic mode! Having never been too far out of Shoreditch, my little Flats was actually having an allergic reaction to our surroundings and spent most of the day in the prep B&B room, eyes watering and tissues at the ready!
We were off to shoot a knit campaign, so while the crew froze to death, on the sunny but cold day, the gorgeous models were kitted out in the most lovely cashmere coats, jumpers and skirts! Damn!
The look was New York - London, Prom Grunge. Perfect really, as London has a punk reputation, while the Big Apple is famous for its pretty, prom style.
Featured are some clips from the day! Enjoy! xx

When we saw sheep, that's when we knew we were very far away from a Starbucks!

(Our gorgeous model Ulla, pulling a face! - how cute is she!)

The models rocking the doubles shots in stunning purple! We all loved these wool coats!

(Tom doing some work, everyone now . . . 1 2 3 READY, 1 2 3 READY, 1 2 3 READY!)

(Tom working again, here with Sarah, does he ever stop?! 1 2 3 READY)

(Ulla and the mitten puppet, definitely the most hilarious model I've ever worked with, she had us all in stitches!)

TOM! WHAT ARE YOU DOING? . . . Oh, the sun is too strong to see the pics on the camera, RIGHT, UHU, YEAH WE BELIEVE YOU!

Bleu-Flats, rocking her Kenny from South Park impression.

Tim sweetie, it's so not your colour!

Me in the Kenny South-Park hat, with Ulla, girls in pink!

Fashion Bitch: Save It for Yourself

Rivkie pulled me out of bed at the ungodly hour of 10 a.m. today (I had to get up at 8, you beast), so naturally while I was waiting the customary 20 minutes at the Tube stop for her to show, I stumbled into a Pret to start caffeinating. Choosing a window seat so I could see the Rivmeister roll up, I had the unpleasant sight of watching someone bounce by in leggings and a supremely short coat. Lady, if you're watching this, you owe me the half of my Diet Coke I spit out.


Yes, we all went through the "Are leggings really pants, yo?" debate a few years ago with Lindsay Lohan (whom I still love dearly). But the woman in question shocked me for a different reason: the too-tight bikini pants underneath.

I'm not going to argue about whether it's OK to trot around the city in skin-tight cotton and Lycra, but what I can say is that whether you like it or not, people check out your bum and your bits while you're in public view. The least you can do is see that your rear end does not separate into quarters - if for nothing else than your own comfort. And you men who like the skinniest of skinny jeans, I hate to bust you, but people are watching you and wondering how you keep a low voice in those things.

When we get old enough to pay taxes, we should be old enough to train our eyes to look away when it's polite. But we should also be able to stop ourselves from feeling just a bit happy that the person with the 90 grocery bags can't squeeze into a crowded Tube carriage, from marveling at the size of the piece of cilantro between a stranger's teeth or from laughing at the person who slips on a banana peel (my friend has actually witnessed this - swear).

We're animals with eyes and a brain - we watch things and judge. In fashion, that's the name of the game. Not every day has to be a runway, but the least you can do is realise that you'll never do yourself a favour by making yourself, or your underwear, a public spectacle.

Roving Reporter: Hot Exhibitions

For those of you who thought that the greatest thing to come out of Sweden was Ikea, then let's face it: You've been living in a deep, dark hole and it's time to come join the rest of the fashion world.

Today the Fash Pack attended the press launch for a new exhibition on Swedish fashion at the Fashion and Textile Museum at London Bridge. We, like most of you, only associated Swedish fashion with our favourite jean brands like Acne, Cheap Monday and of course our high-street fashion fixer H&M.

As it turns out, the underground network of fashionistas bred by this European nation is growing strong, and they are ready to break out abroad! The exhibition (currently touring, it's already been to Moscow andis heading to Berlin and possibly the Far East) is a platform for the great talent coming out of Sweden.

There was a well edited selection of garments, from well known and breakthrough Swedish designers. Topping the bill for us was fashion-week favourite Ann-Sofie Back (who brought her gorgeous dog with her - dressed in a cute little jacket), as well as Selfridges-stocked Fifth Avenue Shoe Repair, bespoke knitwear designer Sandra Backlund and design trio Nakkna (soon to be adored at Topshop). Those were just our particular picks!

We saw incredible work in both jewellery and clothing design. Sweden may not be seen as the hub of innovation, but what we saw here depicts the struggle of a small market of designers trying to break the commercial mould to give us fashion inspired by innate creativity. These designers aren't necessarily concerned with trends and the 'in' print/silhouette for the season. They are rocking it London style and doing their own thing!

While London (often seen as the most creative) has a solid infrastructure for innovation within fashion, our Swedish counterparts have often had to fight the system.

Fash Pack were lucky enough to talk to the curator of the exhibition and 1/3 of Nakkna, and we will be bringing you interviews and pictures in the coming days!

Until then, fashion friends, get yourself down to the Fashion and Textile Museum and check out the greatest exports since flat-pack furniture. Let us know who you're loving!

Roving Reporter: Couture week, a Parisian diary...

Paris is often described as the centre of chic, the home of fashion and the place to be: the only country to hold a week dedicated to couture, the true art of fashion.

This is by no means my first time in Paris. It is, after all, my spiritual home, yet I still get lost in the magic that Paris conjures up.

Firstly, let me start with the look and the ambiance. The look in London can often be described as ‘eclectic’, ‘unique’, ‘creative’ or for those outside of fashion ‘weird’. The London look is one of spontaneity and, in many ways, showing off. Colours are bright, looks are loud, and everything screams ‘fashion’.

Paris, on the other hand, is pure class, down to the last lick of mascara. The age range is different, too. Though you have various generations at LFW, the overall vibe is very young, and uber-trendy.

Paris, however, is very mature, sophisticated and took my idea of Parisian chic to a whole new level. As one companion at the shows told me, 'In Paris, they take fashion VERY seriously'.

The scene was like something out of Dynasty: tightly coiffed hair, heavy makeup, and dare I say it, a slight overload of Botox describes the true Parisian fashion crowd.

Outfits were nothing short of exquisite, but with a much greater feeling that these woman always look like that, unlike their London counterparts (for whom LFW means abandoning the Ugg boots and jeans combo).

Smart trouser suits (evidently designer, by their beautiful attention to detail), well cut dresses and simple yet elegant prints were the rule of the day.

Also, shockingly in abundance was fur. There were very few front-rowers not wearing skin, and whether you are for or against, there is no denying how simply incredible they looked.

On the men's side, lets just say I wouldn’t mind a Parisian man as a souvenir. If only boys in London dressed like that! Suits were incredibly sharp. Coats were very dressy and, again, of excellent quality.

With just a pond in between us, how have we managed to dress worlds apart?

Paris is a lot stricter than London, but the fashion crowd here also have a lot more cheek. I enjoyed taking a step back and observing the air kissing and challenging of the poor security, who often raised his eyebrows at the fashion crowd's own self-importance. But it is these Ugly Betty moments that make me love fashion more.

I don’t affiliate with that crowd, but boy to I love to observe them!

Though the shows certainly do run more on time than London, there is a much more organised, yet laissez-faire approach. There is no pushing or shoving. The Parisians are far to classy for that...after all, they might just scuff their Chanel.