Love Fashion? You Will love the Vintage Festival

With 2012 being such an iconic year for the UK, it seems only right that iconic design legend Wayne Hemingway, has created a festival to celebrate all that is fabulous about Britain. True to its name, the Vintage Festival promises to celebrate eight decades of British culture and cool, covering music, fashion, art and design-which is no mean feat, but an exciting one at that.

This year, the festival is taking place this year in the grounds of beautiful Boughton Hall in Northamptonshire on 13- 15^th July. A venue which lends itself perfectly to perky post war fashions, vintage cars, swinging sixties, psychedelic seventies, emo eighties and in my humble opinion, not so hot nineties, all of which are accounted for at this three day event.

There will be over 250 market stands selling a whole spectrum of vintage wares, alongside fashion shows, clothes making workshops, make up lessons, vintage cars and caravans, record and art stalls, a cinema, roller discos and dance classes….This mini fest is bound to provide something for boys and girls who like dressing up and know how to have fun. And expect lots and lots of that…. With cameras set to be street styling at every opportunity, the seriously cool are potentially going to be scouted on the spot, to walk the runways of the numerous fashion shows, which are taking place over the weekend.

Style legends Twiggy and Jo Wood, are each curating a fashion shows throughout the weekend, with Twiggy highlighting her era of the sixties and showcasing original fashions of the decade; And Jo’s is inspired by the disco era of Studio 54. As well as Rusty Egan and Brendan Cole who will bring their own style to the stage. With original vintage pieces rubbing shoulders with upcycled and customized goods, expect unique, individual and one of a kind designs, and be sure to bring your camera!

But it’s not all about the clothes or shopping, the evening entertainment is just as varied with bands confirmed including Chic, Alice Russell and the cabaret act Nouvelle Vague. there is even a vintage fun fair, cinema and superbly camp Champ Olympiad, which really has to be seen to be believed!

With access on site for camping, or glamping- it wont even matter if the weathers a bit iffy- although it may affect your kitten heels!

Dress to impress and pick up your tickets from www.vintagefestival.com

By Sara Darling

If you cant eat e numbers... look away now!

Girl Eats Food is a new internet cookery show from the heart of real North London, and it does exactly what it says on the tin…

Presented by the antithesis of Nigella, this feisty, tattoo-ed twenty something, chomps, chat and chortles her way through the shows whilst ACTUALLY making something the audience will want to eat! Filled with e numbers, clashing tastes and nothing at all for vegans, this show is bound to be a sure fire hit!

Preview shows have shown presenter Joanna Fuertes- Knight demolish the leftover bags of popping candy and squirty cream, in the process of creating a piece of art that you can eat- also known as Popping Candy Pavlova; And another episode follows her to the butchers, with small talk so small, it would never make it to the BBC….

Spurned on by her hit blog of the same name, Joanna is a natural presenter/show off and the 12, four-minute shows are easy to follow, easy to watch and make you want to join in- purely because she seems to be having so much fun! With no pinny, overpriced organic produce or pretentious tupperware in sight- in fact it seems the only ingredient, which is absolutely essential, is access to a corner shop. And perhaps some booze. Keeping it local of course (but maybe not home grown!)

If you want to impress your friends with Oylmpic Athlete Nachos, or know how to inject (yup I did say inject!!) your leg of pork, look no further than this show, which is surely going to become an underground hit!

Check it out on http://www.vice.com/en_uk/girl-eats-food new shows every Thursday -you can even download the recipes too!

By Sara Darling

Dreaming of a Festival in the sun....

If you’re as fed up as I am with the British summer time, and you are craving sunsets, pina coladas and dancing under the stars…I have good news for you!! You CAN achieve that dream at the new improved Garden Festival in Croatia.

Having experienced the delights of the Garden fest before, I am very excited to see this years offering of tempting talent in a new venue further along the Adriatic coast. Still a winner for those who like to get their groove on, the promoters have picked the cream of the international crop to dj and perform live, with Chilean Nicolas Jaar, a name I am looking forward to- along with classics including Norman Jay, Kenny Dope and Greg Wilson.

The new venue now boasts apartments on site in the Garden village- where I forsee after parties galore….! And Barbarellas club now has an outside space for those who can’t take the heat!! As well as the infamous afternoon boat parties, where you will be guaranteed to meet everyone on the boat!, and your facebook photos will be the envy of your UK friends.

And when you get all danced out, the festival is a mere ten-minute stroll to the village, which has a secluded bay and sandy beach- perfect for the mornings after.

Scuse me while I just check the London weather forecast- rain for the next three weeks- this year’s festival takes place 4-11 July, so I know where I will be!

For more information and tickets check out the www.thegardenfestival.eu

By Sara Darling

STORM

Talk about kicking up a STORM with design.

55employees swung down to the STORM press day to see what the brand had coming up and if we could get any inspiration on a grey day.
The Sanderson Hotel was hosting the day with delicious bagels for breakfast and fresh orange juice, just what 55ers need to get geared up.

STORM known for their strength in fresh and bold design have this incredible range based around the London Olympics using strong colours and aluminium. Bringing a classic retro looking format of watch up to date but not making it gimmicky. We found the design so strong we really wanted to rave about them. 

Certainly check out and don't hold back, they're limited!

One of the 55ers fell in love with their digital design, and I must admit I was rather impressed myself. Definitely for the more adventurous wearer but again holding back from the gimmick and producing good design thats wearable.

Finally we spotted some little gems that I'm sure you will see in 55pages. These quirky industrial wrist bands that are so unisex you can buy for her and wear it yourself. My best kind of gift.

Take a look at what storm has to offer www.stormwatches.com

Sorapol and creative director Daniel Lismore A/W 2012

London Fashion week ends and in true Daniel Lismore style as he creates his own fashion event gathering half of London.

As creative Director of Sorapol, Daniel is know for his extreme theatrical and avant gard production that he brings to the fashion brand.

Being hosted in the old arches below Waterloo station made for an incredible atmosphere, for those that remember SHUNT, cast your minds back for some idea of the vibe.

With a style heavily influenced by European military from the Crimean War and Baroque theatre, this show was far more than clothes down a catwalk. 

The show was around 15 minutes long with the models slowly walking to what was staged similar to corpses in a theatrical production. 

Strong elements of fantasy came along with the production conjuring up old Europe in a creepy but romantic style.

There were some incredible head pieces who we were told by Soropl himself, took up to six months to produce.

Along with the design and what we felt were some of the strongest elements in the show was the hair design with the intwined gas masks and skulls. Something we will definitely take influence from the creative direction of Lismore.

London fashion Week is unique with its hard edged creative explosion of ideas that is then taken to other fashion weeks and worked more commercially. 

The satellite shows around LFW are essential to the energy and independence created in London and with Daniel Lismore producing the Sorpol show it strengthens London's Art and Fashion identity for what we shold all be proud and thankful of.

For a full interview with Sorapol, Daniel Lismore, Boy George and Mark Moore go to 55factory.net and see 55tv

Author - Christopher SIms                       Images - Asia Werbel 

Baseball jackets

Having a small but growing collection of "Vintage" baseball jackets, I really don't need another one. But what's a collection about, collecting...
Well thats what I informed myself when wandering through Camden Market on an early Saturday morning heading towards 55factory for a day with 55employees.

As I darted through the vintage stalls and tye dye, it was there. The Jacket I had been searching for my entire life. The holy grail of Vintage Baseball Jackets.  Well since my old Vintage disappeared via an old flat mate, you know!! I have jsut been looking for a replacement.

Ok, Baseball Jackets from an expert.

1  They should always be old tatty and preferably vintage.
    New Baseballs just DON'T cut the mustard.

2  Girls or kids baseball jackets on guys are perfect especially if your the slimmer petite type.
    Mens baseball jackets on british guys generally don't work. Yanks are bigger than Brits - under nutritioned!
    Also there's nothing better than walking around in your Baseball with Wendy embroiled on the chest.

   
3  Never have a baseball thats too big. They look awful and make you look like you have a pin head.
    The shoulders on Baseballs can be a bit tricky, and although the Dynasty look will never go out, on a guys
    Baseball it never was in...

4 Get into always keeping ya eye out for a old baseball jacket. They turn up in the oddest places and you can get a real treasure for £5. In a different place you can pay over £75 for the very same jacket.








5 If you do happen to fall in love with one that's too big, no to worry. Pad it out with a denim jacket underneath and keep it as ya winter one. I have a few like this and a few that I should have bought but didn't.

6 Have at least 3 summer baseball jackets, but they have to fit you like a sassy slutty cheerleader and this is if you're a guy!!!

Well there's a few tips, dos and DON'TS on baseball jackets. Now go forward 55ers and hunt the ones that are destined for your backs!

Check out Vintage King Unit D04 Camden Horse Tunnel, Camden Market NW1 as they have a great range of vintage that we will be checking out. If you mention that your a
55er you may get a bit of a discount also!!!



By Christopher Sims

Allude A/W 2012 PFW

I'm not really a knitwear or Cashmere girl but after seeing Allude's show during Paris Fashion week, I am slowly starting to change my mind. With a rather classic collection that took inspiration from the 70's and 20's and modern day sparkle, there was definitely some key pieces for A/W 2012. As well as Leather accessories and big rings to toughen up a soft collection, the pieces came in a range of thin and chunky thicknesses and with a wide range of colours for the purpose of blocking Allude has it all.
Overall the pieces are very easy to wear and function perfectly for everyday but have that little trend twist to show that Allude are ahead in the game of Cashmere and tricks.



Words - Lois Waller
All images by Bunnipunch