Monday, July 12, 2010
Monday Street Style: To The Max
Nothing embodies the free spirit of the Spring season than a maxi dress or skirt - patterned or plain, for work or weekend, they're easy to wear, comfortable, and handy if you can't be bothered shaving your legs:
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Brits are Funny - Shows You Need To Watch
You may or may not be able to tell that the below was written by a uiversity student studying philosophy. Therefore, he has much spare time on his hands to surf around YouTube and source dvd's from around the globe. However, it is to the benefit of us Antipodean beings - turns out the Brits are a hell of a lot funnier than the Vicar of Dibley, Fawlty Towers and Jamie Oliver...
It’s no secret that, these days, the ABC descends further and further into a lame pastiche of its British correlative. There has been talk of those hipsters at Triple J ascending into the evil upperworld of ‘popular’ music in a brazen restructuring of our government’s public transmission service based on, you guessed it, those doyens of youth culture, Radio 1. Soon, expect to see Krishnan Guru-Murthy replace Kerry O’Brien in your evening retinue; and if the ABC’s forthcoming 24-hour newsathon is not at least 75% weather-related, please don’t hesitate to pick up the phone, dial 999 and brazenly assault your ‘numble operator with an aural assault of “well, well, well, wot’s goin’ on ‘ere, then?”
Fortunately, however, the past decade and a half of television in the motherland has been graced by a plethora of groundbreaking comedies, which one can only hope will find their way onto Australian TV sets, as the British invasion re-reaches its 1788 proportions. Of course, Graham Linehan’s (apologies to the Irish Linehan here, but succinctness necessitates my untactful lumping of leprechauns with beefeaters) the I.T. Crowd, Big Train, Father Ted and Black Books all receive the occasional graveyard shifts on the ABC’s (perhaps it’s time for a Beeb-esque nickname, the Ayb, maybe? Or aybo, to induce a peculiarly antipodean linguistic nuance?) secondary stations, and the Mighty Boosh, the Office, Peep Show and the Vicar of Dibley are not short of fanatics either, but bubbling underneath the popular surface are a series of equally influential (though often more sanguinary and cultish) programs which YouTube and multi-regional DVD hacking codes have allowed me to enjoy. So forget Beautiful People, forget Gavin and Stacey (not awful shows, but not indispensible to the weekly televisual palate either) and pull out those bobby hats and fork those fingers, for here’s a jolly rum-go at a list of the best British comedies currently unseen on the Australian Beeb (and, I promise, the end of the bracketed diversions):
1) Alan Partridge
Steve Coogan’s iconic character has spanned several programs (more of which to come) and, although remains popular in the U.K. has never (to my knowledge) seen airtime in Australia. Which is a pity. Those of us fortunate to have witnessed the obnoxious and maladroit talk show host bumble his way through Knowing Me, Knowing You, and the ensuing sitcom, I’m Alan Partridge, which follows his equally awkward personal life, know full well that the mere sound of ‘A-HA!’ signals the entrance of a British comedy character in the pantheon of David Brent, Basil Fawlty and Sir Humphry Appleby. For those who haven’t, a whole new world awaits.
In a few words: “Right, dry skin cream. I'm having an attack of the old flakes again. This morning my pillow looked like a flapjack.”
What to watch: I’m Alan Partridge (Series One).
2) Brass Eye
Some people may be aware of Chris Morris as the rash and eccentric boss Reynholm Denholm from Series One of the I.T. Crowd, but his satire of media sensationalism, Brass Eye (1997-2001), makes Denholm look like Julie Andrews by comparison. The 2001 special on paedophilia received several thousand complaints to the BBC, but the show is perhaps the most accurate send-up of populist media ever created. The genius of the show becomes apparent in the piss-take interviews with real celebrities who are coerced into stating blatant absurdities to support a populist cause – one particularly memorable scene depicts a British Labour MP straight-facedly stating that paedophiles were using ‘an area of internet the size of Ireland’. By comparison, Australian satire looks weak and uncontroversial. Morris’ previous effort, the Day Today (which unleashed Alan Partridge into the world – see his seminal 1994 World Cup coverage) is equally enjoyable viewing; even if many of the political jokes are restricted to now unfamiliar pre-Britpop and pre-Blair Britain. Moreover, a new film, Four Lions – a satirical look at modern Islamic fundamentalist terrorism – has recently found its way onto the screens of many obscure international festivals. Expect a DVD release in Australia some time before the fourth millennium.
In a few words: “An overdose of heroin is fatal - in the short term. But there has been no research whatsoever into long term effects”.
What to watch: Paedogeddon.
(Try http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xbq3kc29Tmg )
3) Never Mind the Buzzcocks (Simon Amstell years)
This gratuitously obscene insult-fest was, perhaps surprisingly, the basis for the ABC’s cute and cuddly, family friendly Spicks and Specks. Hosted for a decade by the quirky but irritating Mark Lamarr, the fresh-faced, homosexual, churlish, witty Jew Simon Amstell took over the hosting role in 2006 to instant audience recoil (his first Christmas special concluded with the immortal words “Whichever religion you are, remember, only one can be right, so...let's have a war! Happy Christmas!”). Sparing no celebrity from his line of incessant insults (“Phil Collins is losing his hearing, making him the luckiest man at a Phil Collins Concert”, “Jordan's third favourite tit and second favourite twat - it's Peter Andre!”, Still going after seven years due to the unfortunate lack of murder, it's Westlife!”), the Amstell series of Buzzcocks are worthwhile viewing for the sheer bewilderment countenanced by the endless C-grade musical and BBC guests. Preston of the Ordinary Boys (...you haven’t? No, neither have I) was a controversial victim of the assault, storming off stage after Amstell derisively read a selection from his reality-TV-star wife’s autobiography (“I can't believe that upset him...I mean...I don't know if he's read it. I've read the whole thing, and it upset me!”), but he is just one of many. I don’t believe this show has ever had a DVD release, but YouTube helpfully contains every episode from season 19 onwards in full. Hopefully one day Simon, Phil and Bill will replace Adam, Alan and Myf on our Wednesday night sets.
(Note: you must watch this. Must. It's totally a must. You will die laughing, or at least stay alive but wishing you had Simon Amstell's smirky wit.)
In a few words:
Simon Amstell: [sadly] Everyone knows Courtney Love apart from me.
Noel Fielding: She’d crush you like a twiglet.
Simon Amstell: She would. Or kill me and make it look like suicide...
What to watch: S20E02 – Donny Tourette (Towers of London) fatefully attempts to outwit Amstell and Bill Bailey, with predictable results.
4) In the Loop/the Thick of It
I’m told that those ever-vigilant sponges of quality, Blockbuster, are soon about to stock copies of Academy-Award nominated film In the Loop within the coming weeks. So, pop on your best Sherlock attire and be ready to sleuth your way through all the usual irrelevant genres in your local DVD library to suss out the singular copy that may find its way to your local, because it’s perhaps last decade’s finest piece of British comedic cinema (or, for us Aussies, this decade’s finest piece of British comedic cinema). The series on which the film is based, the Thick of It, is a brilliant piece of political satire in the same league as Yes Minister, only with high-level profanities. Delving into the harsh world of political spin-doctoring (obscene and abusive Director of Communications Malcolm Tucker is, apparently, based on Alistair Campbell), the show unfolds with the farcical rapidity of Fawlty Towers while never sacrificing its Office-esque subtlety. Famed for its ‘perfect swearing’, one YouTube comment contrasts Tucker with both Gordon Ramsay and Shakespeare – the cursing is as common and brutal as the chef, but as poetic as the Bard.
In a few words: “All these hands all over the place! You were like a sweaty octopus trying to unhook a bra” (Malcolm Tucker berating an MP for his overly dramatic television performance).
What to watch: In the Loop.
It’s no secret that, these days, the ABC descends further and further into a lame pastiche of its British correlative. There has been talk of those hipsters at Triple J ascending into the evil upperworld of ‘popular’ music in a brazen restructuring of our government’s public transmission service based on, you guessed it, those doyens of youth culture, Radio 1. Soon, expect to see Krishnan Guru-Murthy replace Kerry O’Brien in your evening retinue; and if the ABC’s forthcoming 24-hour newsathon is not at least 75% weather-related, please don’t hesitate to pick up the phone, dial 999 and brazenly assault your ‘numble operator with an aural assault of “well, well, well, wot’s goin’ on ‘ere, then?”
Fortunately, however, the past decade and a half of television in the motherland has been graced by a plethora of groundbreaking comedies, which one can only hope will find their way onto Australian TV sets, as the British invasion re-reaches its 1788 proportions. Of course, Graham Linehan’s (apologies to the Irish Linehan here, but succinctness necessitates my untactful lumping of leprechauns with beefeaters) the I.T. Crowd, Big Train, Father Ted and Black Books all receive the occasional graveyard shifts on the ABC’s (perhaps it’s time for a Beeb-esque nickname, the Ayb, maybe? Or aybo, to induce a peculiarly antipodean linguistic nuance?) secondary stations, and the Mighty Boosh, the Office, Peep Show and the Vicar of Dibley are not short of fanatics either, but bubbling underneath the popular surface are a series of equally influential (though often more sanguinary and cultish) programs which YouTube and multi-regional DVD hacking codes have allowed me to enjoy. So forget Beautiful People, forget Gavin and Stacey (not awful shows, but not indispensible to the weekly televisual palate either) and pull out those bobby hats and fork those fingers, for here’s a jolly rum-go at a list of the best British comedies currently unseen on the Australian Beeb (and, I promise, the end of the bracketed diversions):
1) Alan Partridge
Steve Coogan’s iconic character has spanned several programs (more of which to come) and, although remains popular in the U.K. has never (to my knowledge) seen airtime in Australia. Which is a pity. Those of us fortunate to have witnessed the obnoxious and maladroit talk show host bumble his way through Knowing Me, Knowing You, and the ensuing sitcom, I’m Alan Partridge, which follows his equally awkward personal life, know full well that the mere sound of ‘A-HA!’ signals the entrance of a British comedy character in the pantheon of David Brent, Basil Fawlty and Sir Humphry Appleby. For those who haven’t, a whole new world awaits.
In a few words: “Right, dry skin cream. I'm having an attack of the old flakes again. This morning my pillow looked like a flapjack.”
What to watch: I’m Alan Partridge (Series One).
2) Brass Eye
Some people may be aware of Chris Morris as the rash and eccentric boss Reynholm Denholm from Series One of the I.T. Crowd, but his satire of media sensationalism, Brass Eye (1997-2001), makes Denholm look like Julie Andrews by comparison. The 2001 special on paedophilia received several thousand complaints to the BBC, but the show is perhaps the most accurate send-up of populist media ever created. The genius of the show becomes apparent in the piss-take interviews with real celebrities who are coerced into stating blatant absurdities to support a populist cause – one particularly memorable scene depicts a British Labour MP straight-facedly stating that paedophiles were using ‘an area of internet the size of Ireland’. By comparison, Australian satire looks weak and uncontroversial. Morris’ previous effort, the Day Today (which unleashed Alan Partridge into the world – see his seminal 1994 World Cup coverage) is equally enjoyable viewing; even if many of the political jokes are restricted to now unfamiliar pre-Britpop and pre-Blair Britain. Moreover, a new film, Four Lions – a satirical look at modern Islamic fundamentalist terrorism – has recently found its way onto the screens of many obscure international festivals. Expect a DVD release in Australia some time before the fourth millennium.
In a few words: “An overdose of heroin is fatal - in the short term. But there has been no research whatsoever into long term effects”.
What to watch: Paedogeddon.
(Try http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xbq3kc29Tmg )
3) Never Mind the Buzzcocks (Simon Amstell years)
This gratuitously obscene insult-fest was, perhaps surprisingly, the basis for the ABC’s cute and cuddly, family friendly Spicks and Specks. Hosted for a decade by the quirky but irritating Mark Lamarr, the fresh-faced, homosexual, churlish, witty Jew Simon Amstell took over the hosting role in 2006 to instant audience recoil (his first Christmas special concluded with the immortal words “Whichever religion you are, remember, only one can be right, so...let's have a war! Happy Christmas!”). Sparing no celebrity from his line of incessant insults (“Phil Collins is losing his hearing, making him the luckiest man at a Phil Collins Concert”, “Jordan's third favourite tit and second favourite twat - it's Peter Andre!”, Still going after seven years due to the unfortunate lack of murder, it's Westlife!”), the Amstell series of Buzzcocks are worthwhile viewing for the sheer bewilderment countenanced by the endless C-grade musical and BBC guests. Preston of the Ordinary Boys (...you haven’t? No, neither have I) was a controversial victim of the assault, storming off stage after Amstell derisively read a selection from his reality-TV-star wife’s autobiography (“I can't believe that upset him...I mean...I don't know if he's read it. I've read the whole thing, and it upset me!”), but he is just one of many. I don’t believe this show has ever had a DVD release, but YouTube helpfully contains every episode from season 19 onwards in full. Hopefully one day Simon, Phil and Bill will replace Adam, Alan and Myf on our Wednesday night sets.
(Note: you must watch this. Must. It's totally a must. You will die laughing, or at least stay alive but wishing you had Simon Amstell's smirky wit.)
In a few words:
Simon Amstell: [sadly] Everyone knows Courtney Love apart from me.
Noel Fielding: She’d crush you like a twiglet.
Simon Amstell: She would. Or kill me and make it look like suicide...
What to watch: S20E02 – Donny Tourette (Towers of London) fatefully attempts to outwit Amstell and Bill Bailey, with predictable results.
4) In the Loop/the Thick of It
I’m told that those ever-vigilant sponges of quality, Blockbuster, are soon about to stock copies of Academy-Award nominated film In the Loop within the coming weeks. So, pop on your best Sherlock attire and be ready to sleuth your way through all the usual irrelevant genres in your local DVD library to suss out the singular copy that may find its way to your local, because it’s perhaps last decade’s finest piece of British comedic cinema (or, for us Aussies, this decade’s finest piece of British comedic cinema). The series on which the film is based, the Thick of It, is a brilliant piece of political satire in the same league as Yes Minister, only with high-level profanities. Delving into the harsh world of political spin-doctoring (obscene and abusive Director of Communications Malcolm Tucker is, apparently, based on Alistair Campbell), the show unfolds with the farcical rapidity of Fawlty Towers while never sacrificing its Office-esque subtlety. Famed for its ‘perfect swearing’, one YouTube comment contrasts Tucker with both Gordon Ramsay and Shakespeare – the cursing is as common and brutal as the chef, but as poetic as the Bard.
In a few words: “All these hands all over the place! You were like a sweaty octopus trying to unhook a bra” (Malcolm Tucker berating an MP for his overly dramatic television performance).
What to watch: In the Loop.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
FrockQ: Irena Geller, Lucky 13
FrockQ has an uber-quick chat with the uber-cool Irena Geller, designer of Lucky 13:
How long have you been with Lucky 13, and what's your position there?
12 years and I am the head designer.
What are your duties on an average working day?
Sourcing materials, fittings, coordinating ranges, emailing, going out to stores, communicating with customers via email and in person.
Who is the Lucky 13 customer? She is young and fearless and loves to experiment with new textures ands shapes and express her self through her clothing. She also loves mixing the pre-loved clothing with the new and definitely has her own individual style!
Where do you source your style inspiration for Lucky 13? From everywhere, music, books, people inspire me the most.
What are the key looks we can look forward to from Lucky 13 for Spring/Summer? Military with a soft distressed finish; Alice in Wonderland soft, drapey dresses; see-through and sheer finishes on everything.
And with that in mind, what's coming next from Lucky 13? Pieces like these, for starters:
12 years and I am the head designer.
What are your duties on an average working day?
Sourcing materials, fittings, coordinating ranges, emailing, going out to stores, communicating with customers via email and in person.
Who is the Lucky 13 customer? She is young and fearless and loves to experiment with new textures ands shapes and express her self through her clothing. She also loves mixing the pre-loved clothing with the new and definitely has her own individual style!
Where do you source your style inspiration for Lucky 13? From everywhere, music, books, people inspire me the most.
What are the key looks we can look forward to from Lucky 13 for Spring/Summer? Military with a soft distressed finish; Alice in Wonderland soft, drapey dresses; see-through and sheer finishes on everything.
And with that in mind, what's coming next from Lucky 13? Pieces like these, for starters:
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Summer Preview: Sooki Baby & So Sooki!
I admit to feeling a more than irrational despair when my daughter outgrew size 2's, and thus outgrew Sooki Baby. It's just SO cute! And quirky! AND affordable! And it makes me type irregularly in caps lock! But now, little frockers up to size 7 can rock the terribly adorable styles of So Sooki, Sooki baby's older sibling. Except it's really the younger sibling, as this is it's first season. And they can't exactly rock it right now, this very second, as delivery is a few short weeks away.Wow, confusing. What's not confusing are the very, very, very gorgeous prints coming up for Summer - and here's the first look (but only a peep, we have to keep some surprises up our sleeve!):
So Sooki:
Monday, July 5, 2010
Monday Street Style: Socks
The humble sock has muade such a comeback lately - it's cute, warm and covers a lack of pedicure. Knee-high or ankle, if you've got the legs for it and a playful attitude, go for it!
Friday, July 2, 2010
Star Style: Nicole Richie
I've never really given two hoots about Nicole Richie. Previously, I'd see pics of her in a maxi dress and sandals and big sunnies and think, "that's easy, I can do that" and not spend another second caring about what she wears or even what she does. Because until fairly recently, she was one of those unfortunate celebs that was famous for doing nothing. How things have changed. She is still the go-to girl for how to style a maxi, but I've been more and more impressed - enough so to actually pay attention - with her understated chic outfits. Getting the whole "appropriate for being a mum and having baby food thrown at you/chasing a toddler through the playground - effortlessly stylish and subtly on trend" blend right is not that easy. Coupled with the acclaim she's generated for her two fashion lines, House of Harlow and Winter Kate, she's suddenly deserving of a whole lot more respect. What's Paris doing these days, btw?
Nicole, these days, wears an awful lot of black tights/skirts/jackets combos. But for the depths of winter, it's an easy way to look dressed up and stylish, but not overdone:
Nicole, these days, wears an awful lot of black tights/skirts/jackets combos. But for the depths of winter, it's an easy way to look dressed up and stylish, but not overdone:
The playground requires a staple palette in comfy but stylish cuts:
And for evening? Let the sparkles speak for themselves:
Thursday, July 1, 2010
It's Sale Time!
July. About the only time of year one can get almost excited about filing and visits to the accountant; when the full force of chilly winter days really set in and you really get wear out of that coat you've been dying to wear since you bought it in February; and, of course, when stores go mental with reductions on winter stock in order to make way for fresh new Spring goodies. I went to the Miss Shop last weekend and they had 40% off tops and dresses. 40%! We've only done that once, and can I just say NEVER again - it was full-on, to say the least.
Our final markdowns are done and dusted, and there are some absolute bargains to be had. We're clearing out stock at a rate of knots (do you actually know how to measure knots? I don't. I don't even like boats very much. And fish creep me out. Hugely.) Anyway, those among us who are into things like sorting and organising are having a total ham of a time restructuring the storeroom, which is almost ready for the influx of Spring stock. (You can check out a sneaky peeky shortly on our Facebook profile - just waiting on a few more discs of images to come through!).
So where are the good markdowns? Chip Chop tees are just $39, for one. And speaking of, wait til you see the new season collection, it's a little different but it's AMAZING...it's titled "So you think you're from France" for one.
Our final markdowns are done and dusted, and there are some absolute bargains to be had. We're clearing out stock at a rate of knots (do you actually know how to measure knots? I don't. I don't even like boats very much. And fish creep me out. Hugely.) Anyway, those among us who are into things like sorting and organising are having a total ham of a time restructuring the storeroom, which is almost ready for the influx of Spring stock. (You can check out a sneaky peeky shortly on our Facebook profile - just waiting on a few more discs of images to come through!).
So where are the good markdowns? Chip Chop tees are just $39, for one. And speaking of, wait til you see the new season collection, it's a little different but it's AMAZING...it's titled "So you think you're from France" for one.
All of our ediT stock is also marked down, in preparation for the new season - stock is pretty limited but it's also pretty awesome, especially when it's priced from just $59!
And some of the best bargains are on the GRAB page - all previouslty reduced stock has even further reductions, while winter stock is freshly marked down and ripe for the pickin'! I nabbed a Star Spangled Tank - just $49 down from $129.95 - which will be perfect for nights out with some dark skinny jeans and a blazer. Undertstated, but glam. And sparkly.
You might be sick of looking at knitwear in shops (really it's quite refreshing to wander into a store and see splashes of light, bright springtime colour on a grey wintery day, depsite there being no possibility you're going to buy and/or wear them anytime soon), but now's really the time to nab them - it's still gonna be cold for a few months yet! The Mimosa Channel Chain Knit is absolutely gorgeous - and if you live in a milder part of the country (ie, not here) it would double nicely as a jacket, not just a cardi. And for $99.95 (down frm $159.95) that's not bad at all, is it?
Little Frockers can go absolutely nuts - most kid's labels only do 2 collections a year so it's always massively exciting at end of season time because 1) the markdowns to clearout the leftover stock are always massive, and 2) after waiting many months, everyone is champing at the bit for new pieces to look at!
PS - be quick. Seriously.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
FrockQ: Jenny Celebrin, Yunginz Shoes
Here's a new little segment we'll be featuring in the newsletters and also here on le blog - basically, we ask a few not-very-difficult-but-hopefully-mildly-interesting questions to people working in the fash biz, for no real reason other than being curious little stickybeaks!
This week the lovely Jenny, co-creator of cool kid's shoe label Yunginz gives us the lowdown on how she created and runs her own fashion brand:
How did you come to create Yunginz?
Bored and frustrated with the corporate world and the lack of flexibility in the workplace when it comes to full time working mums, I started seriously considering my options and racking my brain about what kind of business I could start up. Out shopping for shoes for a special occasion for my then 5 year old girl, the lack of ‘trendiness incorporating quality’ when it came to footwear options for kids was all too apparent, and it was at that time that I realised what I wanted to do. I teamed up with my friend Yolanda, and we now share the responsibilities of the Yunginz business – creating fabulous trendy footwear for kids.What are your duties on an average working day?
I’m more the sales/marketing and strategic side of the business – so for me it’s day to day contact with customers (both end user and trade), creating promotional strategies, crunching numbers etc. Yolanda’s main focus is more on the company branding (including look and feel of marketing materials, website etc) and she has the (always frustrating) responsibility of accounting/finance. Then there’s responsibilities such as pickers, packers, warehouse upkeep and most importantly the core of our business – shoe design – and these responsibilities we share equally. In saying that, no decisions are made without both of us being absolutely satisfied and in agreement, it’s a great partnership.
Where do you begin when designing a shoe style, and how long does it take from the initial idea through to production?
This is by far the easiest part of running the business! Design and ideas just flow so easily, even when it’s not time to start thinking about it. Having a couple of seasons under our belts now we look at what we’ve done in the past and think about how we can go another step better. In a nutshell we’ll come up with a design, Yolanda will sketch it out, we’ll look at it and go back and forth a few times with different amendments or different looks in order to get it right. Once design is finalised Yolanda creates a formal design specification sheet (drawing and instructions) then we send this off to the factory for a sample to be created. Initial idea through to production usually takes 6-9 months.What's your style philosophy when it comes to kid's fashion?
Don’t think about it too much or they’ll look overdone! I love buying the latest trends for my daughter, but I also love her input she has her own sense of style and it’s great to go with that and see what they come up with. Keep it as simple as you can, you can pick up great pieces at great prices, mix and match, but when it comes to footwear don’t always make the fashion aspect of shoes the only consideration. Kids feet need to be nurtured or all sorts of problems can occur, so think about the comfort aspect for them as well – that’s where Yunginz comes into play – trendy and comfort at the same time!
What cool styles should we look out for from Yunginz in Spring/Summer '10/11?
We’ve got a number of existing styles which we roll over from season to season, simply because they’re totally unique and unlike anything else seen before in the kids footwear market, the styles don’t really date (in our opinion what’s ‘in’ and ‘out’ does occur as frequently – not as much as adult fashion anyway.) We’ve got funky sandal styles ranging from a black Gladette for the more ‘out there’ edgy kind of kid, our Princess of Hearts’ sandal – a bright multi coloured strappy sandal with love heart cut out, to the more subtle Bali sandal with it’s natural tan leather strapping, plus other styles which certainly speak for themselves.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
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