Lagerfeld Confidential

I’m breaking my hiatus from blogging briefly just to mention that whilst looking at coming films, I discovered that there is a documentary type film about Karl Lagerfeld. Okay, so I’m sure most who come and read this will know very well who Karl Lagerfeld is and the influence he has had on the fashion world. Nonetheless, I do find this film concept slightly weird.

With unprecedented access to Lagerfeld’s private and professional worlds, director Rodolphe Marconi has captured the daily life of the flamboyant star to give incredible insight into the man behind the image.

From designing in private to presenting his collection in the glare of the catwalk, from a photo shoot with Nicole Kidman to relaxing with friends in his countryside residence, no aspect of Lagerfeld’s life is left hidden – as ‘the man behind the sunglasses’ is revealed.

I think I may have to see this, just because I find it such an insanely odd concept for a film.

Metallic shine

So, since seeing Skins last Thursday night (which is a brilliant programme may I add), I’ve been wanting some metallic clothing. Such as that worn by Cassie (though I’m not limiting it to metallic shorts), who seems to have the best waredrobe out of all of the characters. Whilst briefly on the topic of Skins, Thursday’s episode was especially good. I laughed when all the ‘Nu Rave’ kids were puking flouresant sick, though that the hoodie that said “Twat” on the back was quite good I thought (I’ll talk about the nu rave craze at a later date, I sense it may turn into a ramble).

I’m pretty sure metallic fabric is in fashion again (though don’t count me on that, because I haven’t exactly looked at ss07 trends in great depth), so I’m assuming it won’t be too hard to find. Failing that there is the option of buying metallic fabric and transforming it into attractive garments.

(sorry, this has been posted later. I’d been looking for some attractive shiny metallic fabric images to use, but alas, there are none)

2 is never as good as 1

Sequels are never as good as the original. This applies to films (exception of a few) and also to Project Catwalk 2. Okay, take this with a pinch of salt because I’ve only seen the first episode, but I was not impressed at all.

Where do I start really? Kelly Osbourne - the new presenter (replaced Elizabeth Hurley) - that’s a good place. I have absolutely nothing wrong with her, she’s not the first person who’d spring to my mind when it comes to fashion, but she’s not an awful choice. It’s just that, Kelly Osbourne seems to have a lot of personality and on the show, she just seems bland. It’s as if they are making her fill the shoes of Elizabeth Hurley, the way she is speaking, what she is saying etc. You notice it more in the title sequence, because the strange smile thing and the words don’t seem right. As I said before, Kelly is not an awful choice, I just wish they’d let it be more natural sounding and let her personality shine through a bit more. Maybe they do later in the series, I don’t know, but that first episode, she really irritated me.

Next thing - the designers! Good god, I’m sure they’re all lovely people, but it was all crap. Of course, taking into account what they had to work with was utter crap also, it’s hardly surprising. Generally, quite an appauling challenge, so I do feel for them. But I still thought everything made wasn’t good at all. I won’t comment on what I think of them as people because a) I don’t know them personally and b) I haven’t seen what anyone is like yet because it is only the first episode.

So far, it’s not nearly as good as the first series. It just seems to have lost it’s edge almost. I mean, whenever I watched the first series, I was always inspired to want to make something myself, regardless of the episode. Episode 1 of series 2 however, did not make me want to do anything of the sort. Possibly because I did not think many of them seemed particularly cool and nothing created was great and I have been disappointed by everything recently. I don’t know. I suppose it’s just because series 1 was such a big hit, that expectations are high for this and now, it’s not quite matching up. I suppose the rest of the series will have to be watched before coming to a full blown conclusion.

(photos from sky)

Orange County returns to our screens

The 4th series of the OC begins today on E4. I wouldn’t go as far to say that I am excited, but I am wondering what is going to happen to them all since Marissa was killed (this is what soaps do to you). It’s a show that may bore or irritate some people, but regardless it is popular and I am one of those who like it.

You could argue that it has nothing to do with fashion and it’s about teen life, but as fashion/style/music etc (all of which relate in some form) are a big part of teen life, it does have quite a bit to do with fashion (thus I post this short entry in which I ramble about the meaning of x, y and z or something equally similar).

Braces & glasses do not equal ugly!

The pilot episode of Ugly Betty showed on Channel 4 today. And I did in fact watch it.

From the mild hype built up around it, I did in fact think it was going be to really funny (”Ugly Betty - the hit US comedy” were the types of things being said) but I didn’t find it really hilarious (I have an odd sense of humour though. Things like the Mighty Boosh and the IT crowd amuse me… okay, not that odd, but slightly odd)

Despite not thinking it really funny (it was quite amusing in parts), I did think that it was quite good. The characters were probably exaggerated a bit, but in my opinion, they could be related to. I found myself understanding Betty - probably because I wear glasses and have braces and have felt humilation because of appearance before (nothing to do with the glasses and braces thing, it’s just what you get from an all girls’ school) - I won’t lie, I actually had damp eyes when they were all laughing at her (sad I know and I’m not normally a crier)! I quite liked the fact that she actually looks quite pretty because it is essentially taking the michael out of this stereotype she is portraying. With this recent thing of everyone being paranoid about skinny models painting the wrong ideal of beauty, this is again possibly tackling the perceptions of what makes someone beautiful.

The plot reminded me a bit of the Devil Wears Prada in that it’s a fashion magazine, the main character is the editor’s assistant and not a fashion follower. It was quite well done and the story was alright also. I suppose I have only seen the pilot episode, so I can’t come to a full conclusion until seeing more of the series. But on first impression, not cracking-my-sides-with-laughter material, but generally, quite a good programme.

Illness strikes…

…And Project Catwalk re-runs are the only decent thing to watch on the tele.

Generally, I do loathe reality shows - Big Brother, The X factor, dancey prancey type things; hate them all. But Project Catwalk I can stand (I can stand project runway, though I’ve only seen series 1). I think it’s only because I do get some ideas from what they do and how they do it. It still shocks me how quickly they can strin something together. Anyway, series 2 starts in January, whether I’ll watch it, I don’t know.

I’ll tell you What not to wear

Yes, I watched it. Personally, I do not like the show. I do think the new presenters are better than Trinny and Susanna, who I think should actually be shot for crimes against fashion.

My only questions, why the leopard print? And why the footless tights? None of which are flattering looks on anyone. Although I suppose leopard print can be worn successfully if worn in the correct manner- though most people don’t wear it correctly and therefore it ends up looking common and quite frankly a bit cheap (as do most animal prints) thus, I do not like it.

Some of the clothes they dressed the people in just reminded me of younger people, like my age (the people this week were only late 20s/early 30s so it’s not too bad I guess) Mind you, all the people my age seem to be into fashion lately- except it’s not fashion anymore, it’s just a trend that everyone is following, making them sheep. I suppose the women did look better and they did seem more confident and comfortable in themselves, which is the idea of fashion really.

I still don’t like What not to wear.

The Devil wears Prada

I actually decided to go out of the house and I went to The Devil Wears Prada. I thought it wasn’t as funny as I had hoped and also it didn’t seem that fashion-y. I mean, I did like some of the clothes, like that white shirt with black jumper & skirt outfit (pictured right), but some weren’t that great in my opinion, like that brown dress (pictured left).

It got me thinking however, do I really want to go into such a cut throat world when I am older? (as I have always wanted to be a designer) The answer is probably no, but then fashion is something I love, (despite the fact that many of my clothes are not great and I rarely look decent) and sewing/crafting is somewhat another passion of mine. So really the answer is yes, I would like to, but whether it’ll be enjoyable, I have yet to see.