BEHIND THE SCENES

Earlier this month I assisted on a shoot with the lovely Becky White for her first ever lookbook featuring all her awesome clients including Obscure Couture, Cherry Loco, Deadly is the Female and Rebecca Torres.

Have a peep at the SUPER SLICK behind-the-scenes video shot by Tom Duncan and see if you can spot the back of my head...


Becky White PR || Behind The Scenes from Tom Duncan on Vimeo.

How stunning is model Morven, eh? Well jel.

It was a long but fantastic day, and we all pulled off something rather awesome. Here's a few of my favourite shots from the finished lookbook, taken by Euan Robertson. Click to enlarge em.

Pretty hot, no? Especially the new Rebecca Torres and Obscure Couture stuff.

PS - If you haven't already, PLEASE DO go back and have a swatch at my last post about the proposed blogger GET TOGETHER for International Women's Day 2012 - and get excited! All are welcome, the more the merrier, and nearer the end of the week I'll be posting again letting you all know how to officially register to attend. Myself and Charlene have been cooking up a few ideas and I know it's going to be great! Keep checking back to find out more details, or follow me on Twitter as I'll no doubt be tweeting frantically once plans come together...

x

GET TOGETHER FOR IWD 2012?

*This post goes somewhere, I promise!*

March the 8th marks yet another International Women's Day and all over the world women (and men!) will be taking part in events which serve to celebrate women's successes and also highlight ongoing inequality which still exists. This year's global theme is CONNECTING GIRLS, INSPIRING FUTURES.

International Women's Day means a lot to me - you might remember I blogged about it last year. Click the link to find out what it's all about. In case you don't, here' a little blurb again from the website:

The new millennium has witnessed a significant change and attitudinal shift in both women's and society's thoughts about women's equality and emancipation. Many from a younger generation feel that 'all the battles have been won for women' while many feminists from the 1970's know only too well the longevity and ingrained complexity of patriarchy. With more women in the boardroom, greater equality in legislative rights, and an increased critical mass of women's visibility as impressive role models in every aspect of life, one could think that women have gained true equality. The unfortunate fact is that women are still not paid equally to that of their male counterparts, women still are not present in equal numbers in business or politics, and globally women's education, health and the violence against them is worse than that of men.

However, great improvements have been made. We do have female astronauts and prime ministers, school girls are welcomed into university, women can work and have a family, women have real choices. And so the tone and nature of IWD has, for the past few years, moved from being a reminder about the negatives to a celebration of the positives. 

SO, now to my point...

This year Oxfam are encouraging women and girls to hold get togethers (tea parties, dinners, pampering days, clothes-swap days, whatevs) to help raise some money for selected women's charities around the world. If you register on the site they send you out a part pack with lots of party-type goodies, SO I WAS THINKING, since us bloggy ladies love a wee get together and have a pretty darn significant combined audience, that maybe it would be cool for us to help spread the word and hold our own Scottish Blogger get together to raise some dolla?

We could do anything - hold a wee tea party, a clothes-swap party, or just a good old fashioned NIGHT OUT! If I can drum up some interest then I'll get on the case about booking somewhere and whatnot, but I've never organised a blogger event before and I know some of you gals hefty specialise in that sorta jazz so don't be shy with the suggestions/helping me out/organising the whole thing for me!

March the 8th is a Thursday so bloggies, please let me know if, A you're into it and, B if that date would suit you for something in the day or evening... If no-one's available or particularly into it, no worries. But I really hope y'all will be! Obviously ANYONE can get involved - bloggers, non bloggers, guys, kids, grannies, trannies, fannies... Yeah. Anyone. So if you're reading this and fancy a lovely night with some awesome folk for an amazing cause then please comment and let me know.

Also, please leave any suggestions for the kinds of things we could do since the possibilities are endless (I myself like the idea of a clothes-swap party innit), and anyone who fancies helping me actually organise something - email me!! k-mclaren@hotmail.com

Lotsa sisterly love x

DRIES VAN NOTEN MENS AW12

SO, I'm currently sitting in work at 8am having already been here FOR A WHOLE HOUR, so alas this isn't a review as such, but instead a collection of my favourite looks from the Dries Van Noten menswear AW12 show:

Psychedelic Elegance...

Yeah, me likey, but then I AM a sucker for slogans and a narrative print, innit.

Just for kicks let's closer inspect that amazing first look.

Work of art, right? Well, yeah, exactly. This motif print is lifted from Dutch artist Gijs Frieling and the reinterpretation of Oscar Wilde's 'The Happy Prince' by calligraphy artist Letman. So there.

Red hot.

MEADHAM KIRCHHOFF SS12

...also known as the reason I'm getting excited about summer!

Back in September this was really the only show that got me pumped for sugary-sweet pastels, cartoon prints and quirky girliness for summer. Shame on me, I'd sort of forgotten how fierce a collection it actually is!

The show was the ultimate in performance-femininity - the models strutted down the catwalk to a mashup of Hole hits (sadly missing in the video below), and sashayed round Courtney Love lookalikes applying lipstick and jerking around in 90s-style babydoll dresses. The hair and makeup were so extreme that towards the end the girls looked less like models and more like living dolls.

Strangely, the collection itself is oddly similar to MK's SS11 offering (that show even started with part of a recorded interview with Courtney Love) but rather than use the girly, feminine aesthetic to channel feelings of anger and hostility, it instead exudes a genuine sweetness - a real charm and warmth. There are reports that some front-rowers found it all so moving it brought them to tears.

I also love it because it reminds me of some of my favourite bloggers like Tavi and Marlena.

Watch the vid and enjoy!






x

THE BEST MAKEUP TUTORIAL EVER

From the inspiring artistic genuis that is Lisa Eldridge.



This isn't just a make-up tutorial, it's a history lesson delivered with a genuine passion, professionalism, breadth of knowledge and insight that truly is breathtaking. It's really more like a short documentary.

Other so-called YouTube makeup gurus take note. This is how a master does it.

Seriously, could I love Lisa Eldridge more? Her videos are genuinely a pleasure to watch plus I find them oddly soothing.

Enjoy!

VICTORIA'S SECRET SHOW 2012

So, I mean, maybe it's a little creepy of me to post pics of the Victoria's Secret angels on here just so we can all drool over their perfect bodies, BUT I thought this selection from the most famous lingerie show ever might act as some much-needed JANUARY GYM MOTIVATION material...

Karlie Kloss' legs are the eigth wonder of the world... Seriously.

I'm sold. Signing up to the gym tomorrow...

(probs not actually, but I'll now be feeling WAY worse about it.)

RAWWWWWKSANNE!

You don't have to put on your red light... etc.

No, but seriously, I really don't want this blog to turn into a tedious captain's log of all the crap I buy on a daily/weekly/monthly basis cos let's face it, that would be pretty boring for you guys and would also make me look like a some kind of nutcase shopaholic with bags of money to burn - the latter of which, at least, is DEFINITELY not the case...

That said, I've been doing a few freelance things here and there on top of the day job and felt like treating myself to a new Mulberry bag, this time in black. My mind went from the Taylor to the Harriet to the Polly Pushlock and back again, until I realised I was overlooking a Mulberry CLASSIC: the iconic Roxanne bag.

One problem - it's been discontinued. At least I think it has, I've read a few conflicting things - one blogger said it was brought back last year for a limited time - but either way it was an absolute MUST HAVE a good few years ago but has slipped by the wayside in favour of the Alexa and Lily etc. But even Mulberry themselves hold it in the same esteem as their Bayswater classic, and there are usually a few to be found kicking around the outlet stores down south.

Once I realised this was the bag for me, I had a wee reccy on eBay and discovered someone selling a slightly battered, deliciously worn-in black leather Roxanne for only £185.

BARGAIN!

And look what arrived today!

I am so in love with this bag. It's probably not everyone's cup of tea - the brass hardware, pockets, belts and buckles mean it looks quite busy on the front but that's one of the things I love about it. The other is the fact that it's been pre-owned. I couldn't bear the thought of someone keeping such a gorgeous bag at the back of their wardrobe for years, never fully appreciating it, and because it's been used, the thick leather is buttery soft, flexible and uniquely creased. It's the kind of bag that's only going to get better with age - something I don't think I'll be able to say about it's much flimsier cousin, the Alexa, which is already starting to look slightly battered and dated...

Anyway, you get it. I love it. Here it is with me at work, just for the hell of it.

The little Mulberry trees are stamped on all the studs :)

Look, it opens!

I am SO busy at work right now.........

Argh! Sorry for the plook and massive eye bags - currently completing my second week of midnight-finishes which are NOT kind to the skin/eyes/soul.

But yeah. I love this bag. Sorry to, like, shove it all in yer faces. Basically my point is next time you're in the mood to splurge consider some pre-loved designer ware, in particular Mulberry. When the bags are of this high quality and have such lasting appeal, you can't really go wrong.

GOLDEN GLOBES 2012 BEST AND WORST

So by now you've probably read at least a hundred of these Golden Globes summary posts but what the hell, I'm chucking my opinion into the bitchy swill bucket that is a best and worst roundup. You know the drill.

The Bests:

Angelina Jolie in Atelier Versace

This is the BEST of the bests. I have never seen an Atelier Versace gown look bad on the red carpet, ever. Oh Jolie, you shut it down. Check the withering stare. SHE KNOWS this is a stone cold hit.

Claire Danes in J. Mendel

I love Claire Danes. I love her now, I loved her then (skip to 6.40), and I love her in this simple, classic monochrome J Mendel dress. It's actually backless so there's some drama going on when she turns round but I like it from the front too. She looks comfortable and elegant. Plus she brought her Maw. I LOVE YOU CLAIRE DANES.

Emma Stone in Lanvin

The colour of this Lanvin gown contrasts beautifully with Emma's porcelain skin and it's sexy yet still classy (Lea Michelle, take note). Also, I'd happily rock that phoenix-encrusted belt. I'm not falling all over myself in love with it, but it's definitely a safe all-rounder.

Evan Rachel Wood in Gucci

ERW often has the tendency to about 45 years old on the red carpet but this time she got it right. It's nice that she's not shoving her gothy side down our throats, but this Gucci number is still dark and seductive enough to kind of hint that she's a totes rebel behind the scenes. Loving the under-done makeup too. Anything else and it would have been too much. Smug it up ERW, you look fierce.

Kelly MacDonald in Lorena Sarbu

This is the best I've ever seen Kelly look. She got slightly overshadowed on the night what with Jolie, Charlize and Mila etc. stealing the limelight but this dress/overall look deserves some massive snaps. I'd maybe have liked to have seen something a bit more interesting with the hair - maybe a loose side bun? - but that's me being super pernickity. All in all this is definitely a 9.5 for me. In fact, the more I look at it the more I think it's my favourite dress of the night...

Natalie Portman in Lanvin

Loads of folk were bitching about the boxy shape of this gown and the 'distracting' side train but I really love it. We all know Natalie's got a smokin' hot bod under there and I like to see her going for something a little more structured for a change. Plus, I'm sorta feeling pink at the moment. DID I REALLY JUST SAY THAT?

Rooney Mara in Nina Ricci

The gown itself is fairly plain (similar to January Jones' red Atelier Versace from last year) but what I love most about Rooney Mara here is her makeup. It's absolutely flawless. Seriously, just look at that face. I felt the makeup was fairly tame this year, minus the odd red lip here and there, but this smouldering dark eye and fierce contouring REALLY stood out for me.

The Worsts:

Charlize Theron in Dior

The heinous Kelly Osbourne et al were all fawning over Charlize and this disgusting sugary number complete with infantile Alice band. FOR WHY? Who knows, it absolutely escapes me. There's far to many things going on at once - that weird ruffling around the middle, random embellished bit, plunging neck, a split skirt AND a train? AND a bloody hairband? No. Just... No.

Zooey Deschanel in Prada

Oh Zooey. See, it starts well - from the armpits up I love it. Gorge face, gorge hair, gorge lime green sparkly...oh no, wait, what the hell is happening from the armpits down? I don't like the weird sideways-graduated effect of the sequins and I also don't like that slinky bias-cut skirt, which looks too long and clingy. The contrast of the colours and textures just doesn't work for me. At all.

Kate Beckinsale in Roberto Cavalli

Oh hey there, Victoria Beckham's not-so-subtle-boob-job-body circa 2007. Dated, boring, predictable. How exactly is Kate Beckinsale still relevant? Honestly, like why do we care about Kate Beckinsale? I do NOT get her.

Lea Michelle in Marchesa

Oh. My. God. This is horrendous. It's a shame because it's not really the dresses fault, it's just totally inappropriate for the Golden Globes and it clashes horribly with the frumpy up-do and general non-sexiness of Lea Michelle. That fact is clearly lost on her though - did you SEE the poses she was pulling for the paps? Positively glamour model-esque. Lea reminds me here of a bad Halle Berry who also tends to go for an overtly sexy dress and always misses the mark. This one was way off.

Nicole Kidman in Versace

Yeah, check that face out. You KNOW this is bad, doncha Nicole? Horrible colour and it does nothing for her boobs or arms. Her hair MAY have been perfectly coiffed and curled at one point, but here it looks like she got caught in the rain and didn't have time for a sneaky re-tong. Bad news.

Reece Witherspoon in Zac Posen

Someone on Twitter said Reese looked like a bad Pamela Anderson without the boobs, and I can TOTALLY see it. This Zac Posen dress is probably like ten thousand dollars or something but here it looks like cheap taffeta, and I'm not convinced it properly fits at the boobs either. Plus, get your roots done, Reese. There's no excuse.

Honorary Mention:

The Dug from The Artist looking dapper.

 BUT WHERE THE HELL WAS JANUARY JONES??? Shes my red carpet FAV and she wasn't there? I am distraught.

So that's my round up, whaddya all think? Have I left anyone out or been too harsh?