Style Addict News & Views 13th May

 

Iman – No Longer The Face of De Beers{mosimage}

Top model and wife of David Bowie – Iman will no longer be the face of De Beers. Her contract with the LVMH-owned company expired last month and has not been renewed. Ever since De Beers opened its flagship store on London’s Bond Street Survival protesters have made their presence known with weekly rallies. Holding up placards that read; “Botswana, let the Bushmen live,” The demonstrations were in protest about the removal and resettlement of the Kalahari Bushmen in Botswana, in order to mine diamonds on their ancient land. Iman however, claimed that she investigated the company before she took on the lucrative contract but added further speculation when she didn’t turn up to the glitzy flagship opening. Survival director and campaigner – Stephen Corry saw the move as a triumph. “We are thrilled about this new development,” he told Women’s Wear Daily. “We have been campaigning solidly around this issue for years, and are very pleased that Iman will no longer be representing De Beers.” Iman however failed to comment on the issue, while De Beers insist that the Bushmen issue has nothing to do with them.

 

Vintage Fashion Fair 16th May

For those of you that can’t get enough of retro pieces – this Sunday the 16th May thousands of original frocks and accessories are up for grabs at the Vintage Fashion Fair, Mayfair. From Pucci to Ozzie Clark, along with vintage magazines, costume jewellery, textiles and shoes, it’s a must do for fellow fashion addicts out there. {mosimage}

Vintage Fashion Fair, Sunday 16th May, The Music Room, Grays Antique Market, South Molton Lane, Mayfair, W1.
Bond Street tube.
From 12 – 6pm.
Admission £5- Tel – 020 7629 7034

 

Karen Walker Gets A New Look

Kiwi designer Karen Walker is the latest designer-in-residence at New Look. Following Top Shop’s lead New Look collaborates with some of London’s finest designers such as – Eley Kishimoto, Luella and Tatty Devine. Walker has created a range – Bad Apple Farm, which includes – girly sundresses, tops, vest & knicker sets, beach bags, floppy hats and swimwear featuring saucy and fun motifs. Now available in New Look’s flagship store on Oxford Street, the range is due to be stocked in 30 New Look stores across the UK, for your nearest branch visit www.newlook.co.uk

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Roberto Cavalli Comes to London

Glitzy Italian glamour comes to London with designer Roberto Cavalli’s brand new store – opening today (13th May) at 182-184, Sloane Street, London SW1.

 

Put On Your Specs & Watch a Movie

Ingenio have come up with the ‘Eyetop’ for movie viewing on the go. The Eyetop resembles a pair of oversized sunglasses and has a small monitor attached inside the frames. The gadget can then be connected to headphones and portable devices such as – a DVD player or laptop, where full-size images can then be projected onto the glasses. It has a 16-degree diagonal field of view so that users can still be aware of what’s going on around them. The Eyetop, which costs around £300- is currently being marketed as the ideal gadget for short journeys. A more advanced model with a central screen, greater image and sound quality is due out next month and has been designed for more long-term use.  

 

University of the Arts London

To celebrate the inauguration of the University of Arts there is a full programme of free public events. The University of Arts, formerly known as the London Institute encompasses five creative colleges – Camberwell College of Arts, Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design, Chelsea College of Art and Design, London College of Communication and the London College of Fashion. Some of the talks coming up this month include:

Monday 17 May, 7 – 8pm

Matthew Collings on Painting’s Unlikely but Possible Return as Something Worth Taking Seriously. Matthew Collings (alumnus of Byam Shaw School of Art) is presenter and writer of the TV series This is Modern Art, a practising artist, writer and contemporary commentator.
Venue:   Cochrane Theatre, WC1. Tube: Holborn.
Tel:  020 7269 1606, 2 tickets per person, booking essential

Tuesday 18 May, 6.30 – 7.30pm

Colin McDowell, ‘Is True Fashion Fringe?’ Fashion commentator and author, Colin McDowell talks about his Fashion Fringe initiative to support Britain’s hottest designers of the future.
Venue:   Rootstein Hopkins Space, London College of Fashion, John Princes
Street, W1. Tube: Oxford Circus
Email:  pr@fashion.arts.ac.uk, booking essential

Tuesday 18 May, 7 – 8pm

Will Wyatt and Luke Johnson – The Business of Media Chairman of Channel 4, Luke Johnson in conversation with former Chief Executive of BBC Broadcasting and Chairman of University of the Arts London, Will Wyatt.
Venue:  Cochrane Theatre, Southampton Row London WC1. Tube: Holborn
Tel:  020 7269 1606, 2 tickets per person, booking essential

Wednesday 19 May, 7 – 8pm

Gilbert & George, in conversation, with Tim Marlow Alumni of St Martin’s School of Art, Gilbert & George join writer and broadcaster Tim Marlow to discuss their work.
Venue:  Cochrane Theatre, Southampton Row London WC1. Tube: Holborn.
Tel:  020 7269 1606, 2 tickets per person, booking essential

Thursday 20 May, 6 – 7pm

John Latham in conversation with Professor Roger Wilson – Celebrating the Arts Alumnus of Chelsea School of Art and accomplished artist John Latham speaks with the Head of Chelsea College about the meaning of a university dedicated to all areas of art, design and communications in London.
Venue:  Rootstein Hopkins Space, London College of Fashion, 20 John Princes Street, W1. Tube: Oxford Circus
Tel/email:  020 7514 775, enquiries@chelsea.arts.ac.uk, 2 tickets per person, booking essential

Saturday 22 May – London College of Fashion: Open House

What’s On: Behind the Scenes at Cordwainers at London College of Fashion; Visitors can book onto tours round the famous Cordwainers College to see what goes into creating couture footwear, with demonstrations of the facilities at Golden lane and explanations of the process of shoemaking.
Venue: Cordwainers at London College of Fashion, Golden Lane, EC1Y 0UU
Email:  pr@fashion.arts.ac.uk Tube: Old Street, Barbican Time: Tours at 1pm, 2pm, 3pm, 4pm Notes: Booking essential – by email to the address above. Limited to 20 spaces per tour.

Monday 25 May, 7 – 8pm

Why Not Associates. Central Saint Martins alumni and Why Not Associates founding partners, Andy Altmann and David Ellis talk about the work of their innovative design studio.
Venue:  Cochrane Theatre, Southampton Row London WC1. Tube: Holborn
Tel:  020 7269 1606, 2 tickets per person, booking essential.

For more details check out the website: www.arts.ac.uk

On the 11th of May the official inauguration took place at Banqueting House, Whitehall and as part of the ceremony honorary fellowships were awarded to world-renowned alumni including: Alexander McQueen, Maggi Hambling, Margaret Calvert and Jimmy Choo. Sir Michael Bichard, Rector of the University of Arts fronted the initiative. A former civil servant at the Department for Education Bichard commented: “Now we have a flagship university to champion creativity and the arts, as we do with specialist universities for science and technology.”

 

And Finally…Blasé Records Presents…

Blasé records will be showcasing the first live performance by Max Waters to celebrate the release of his 2nd EP – Sunshine Daylights. Water’s distinctive tunes will be accompanied by visuals by Alex Evans A.K.A. – Bluespoon and artwork by graphic designer – Mitch. The two hour free event will take place at No One Café, on Kingsland Road and will continue well into the night up the road at Dreambagsjaguarshoes.

Max Water’s – Sunshine Daylights – two hour free launch party, Thursday 20th May from 19.30 – 21.30 @ No One, 1, Kingsland Road, London E2.

Jo Iles