Alternative Fashion Week - Day 3

Day three of alternative fashion week brought with it an eclectic mix of the insane and the inspired. Veiled behind the press of people thronged tightly beneath the glass-topped sweep of London’s Spitalfields Market, the catwalk lay in wait for the day’s designers. Through the tight mass of the crowd, interspersed with the occasional glint of a brightly decorated model, protruded the white backed catwalk, onto which the first of the day’s designs stepped out. Hush descended, the lights went up, and the characteristic clatter of a hundred shutters presided authoritatively over the scene. It being alternative fashion week, we were reminded of the freedom of these designs, unencumbered by commercial restraint. For some designs, and I refer here to Amy Day’s ‘Celestial Macabre’ collection, a line of latex designs, it was easy to see why. First I wondered what gave her the idea of using such a brash material, and quickly my thoughts turned instead to how on earth the models had managed to shoehorn themselves into their outfits. My guess to this day remains elbow grease and a heap of talcum powder.

However, the designs weren’t all quite such an unbridled celebration of the freedom of fashion. Adel Andic had obviously experienced the powerhouse that was Todd Lynn’s A/W 10/11 collection, yet her earthen designs of empowering layering, combined with the warrior goddess big shoulders was an absolute triumph.

Gemma Wadsworth’s sportswear collection based on the ‘Tokyo’ trainer was an inspired look at sportswear, boasting an understated luxury. Another of the day’s triumphs was a mixed men and womenswear collection from Havering College, whilst the womenswear was good, it was the menswear that brought them out of the realms of forgettable. Caped shoulders added a fresh twist to their immaculately cut checked jacket, and the flash of velvet on the pocket provided an extra dollop of class. So don’t take the word alternative to necessarily mean it’s going to be a bit ‘out there’, despite the odd flash of schizophrenic style, London’s Alternative Fashion Week is a great place to spot yourself an up and coming designer.

Once Again

Once again, I'm sat here at 3am, thinking that revision really should be my first port of call at the moment, but instead I'm thinking about dungarees. Basically, they're pretty hot aren't they.

Once an iconic statement of the working man, dungarees are turning themselves over to the hands of the fashion pack this season. This pair of skinny dungarees from MAN's s/s10 show, are leading the way, functional, yet suave, they are effortlessly cool, a real display of fashionable practicality, just perhaps best worn with a t-shirt in day-to-day life.

I am intrigued by the concept of this look. The hill-billy chic that once embodied the dungaree, has become malleable, mutated into a cross breed of the infamous 'megging', and the hard-wearing western denim.

So for the best take on your jeans this summer, opt for dungarees, they look great worn smart straps up, or for the more casual look, undo your straps and have the body hanging down beneath a baggy tee to make a harem hybrid that will serve you perfectly for the summer months.

Drink - Student Loan Style

Protruding from a cobble-etched corner of Hoxton Square, Zigfrid von Underbelly provides the essence of Shoreditch chic. In terms of a first impression Zigfrid delivers, from the clean-cut modern exterior, complete with slatted wooden outdoor furniture, right through to its antithetical inner space. To walk through the crisp glass doors, is to take a step back in time. The bar, whose upstairs is split onto two levels, looks as though a multitude of decades crashed headlong into each other, before proceeding to arrange themselves artfully about the room. The entire space is occupied by antiquities, from the metallic jukebox, gleaming with rusticity in the corner, to the assortment of wing-backed leather chairs. Zigrfid von Underbelly seems to be the owner’s artistic creation, cracked leather competing with jagged class, a culture clash set oxymoronically against itself. The effect however, is far from vulgar. In fact, the collision of old and new works entirely in harmony, whilst the lusciously decadent chairs, groom themselves against a gilded marble-topped table.

With the atmosphere set, indulgence invites itself, Zigfrig von Underbelly’s menu ranges from burgers to tapas, and it is easy to feel spoilt for choice. Where often menus of such variety would seem grating, here the character of this bar nurtures an utterly laissez-faire attitude, the multitude of styles that create the surroundings allow any form of cuisine to seem completely natural, effortless within the alluringly frenetic décor. Next for a cocktail? – Sorry, think again. Why not try a Rocktail? Zigfrid von Underbelly takes on the traditional with a fresh twist, try a pineapple mojito, or a passion fruit caipirinha for something as new as your surroundings, the perfect accompaniment to the ‘Art Rock’ bar.

In essence, Zigfrid von Underbelly provides a bespoke experience, music drinks and food complete with a side of wildly artistic interiors. And with regular club nights on the lower floor, keep your eye on the website – www.zigfrid.com - for some of the most exciting nights in London’s decoratively crazed Shoreditch.

Zigfrid von Underbelly,

11 Hoxton Square,

N1 6NU.

Dip Dyed - Get The Look

This year sees the return of a look that's suffered a long hibernation in trailer parks around the globe - the dip dye. This is a trend that has been slowly surfacing through womenswear collections for the last few seasons, and has finally hit matured to the mens market.

Bag the trend at Zara, with this knitted blue number for just £16.99 - a great way to dress down a tailored short.

Or keep it western with dip-dyed denim from Topman at £34 - a fresh take on the (more than mildly overdone) denim shirt.

Take Off

I just spied these feathered heels by Ada Zanditon at Felicities Press Reception in The Hoxton Factory, amazing. Ada has been on Vauxhall Fashion Scout's 'ones to watch' list since '09 and has been featured on Vogue.com for her ethical designs. A former intern of Alexander McQueen and a pioneer of 'eco-fashion', Ada is going to be massive - check out her collections on

www.adazanditon.com

Rhiannon Jones - Style File

With her heavy eyeliner and black lips contrasted against her pale skin and white blonde hair, it’s easy to see where British designer Rhiannon Jones acquired the nickname of Lady Bolshie. She is utterly striking, and with her exuberant fashion sense, which includes doll’s parts; wild leopard print leotards and huge shoulders, the parallels to Lady GaGa practically draw themselves. Rhiannon, however, is no GaGa wannabe, she is in fact one of Britain’s most exciting fashion designers with her label Bolshie already on its second collection.

Rhiannon takes a strictly hands-on approach to the label, saying ‘if it’s got my name on it, I want to do it myself.’ Not only is every piece hand made, a feat in itself, especially with her intricately patched jackets, but she is also the figurehead for the brand, modelling her own creations. This, however is something which seems to be ingrained within Rhiannon’s persona, she describes herself as ‘a natural designer’ having been passionate about clothing for longer than she can remember. The 17 year old from Hull’s attitude towards life seems inextricably intermingled with her creations themselves. The same carefree attitude that allowed her to return to a London train station after her 16th birthday trip to Paris and never leave the city, translates effortlessly into wild pieces that are most certainly not suitable for the faint hearted. Even the name of her label comes from a description that her mother bestowed on her as a teenager.

The pieces can only be described as a fusion between an acid trip and high fashion, the dramatic silhouettes, loud colours and daring accoutrements are flung far from the high street; rather the combination of in-your-face patterns with bespoke design makes the Bolshie label a pioneer of pop-couture. Being seen in Bolshie will most definitely not harm your image, your wallet on the other hand, is going to take a hit. The jacket, one of the key components of the 8-piece collection costs £495 alone. This however, guarantees you exclusivity, the pieces are currently made to order and if you have the money to spend, there is not much else that money could buy to make you stand out even remotely as much as an item from the Bolshie collection. The best advice to keep that element of sheer exclusivity however is to move fast if you are looking to buy pieces. Rhiannon is on the hunt for stockists and it is only a matter of time before someone eagerly snaps her up. Find her and the collection at -

www.bolshie.yolasite.com

Fi Magazine

Fi Magazine is an up and coming London fashion magazine to keep an eye on (I work there, I would say that right?). In all seriousness, Issue 2, the Retro Issue is set to be great. 140 glossy pages of fashion loveliness, much of which is aimed at the prudent student to keep you on trend on a budget.

Make sure to check out the new issue of fi magazine - out this week.

www.fashioninsider.co.uk

Wedged

For the girls, this season is all about the wedge. They provide the perfect combination of class and functionality, effortlessly

dressing up any outfit.

These intricately detailed babies from DVF - are perfect coupled with this season's must, the jumpsuit. - £260

These canvas and cork wedges from Chloe come in at a face-numbing £450, but keep an eye out for cheaper imitiations, (see below £45 - Asos) they are the epitome of chic functionality, a must have summer item.

This post is hardly loan friendly, however, for less than either the Chloe or the DVF pairs, Topshop Unique, have come up with the perfect all-rounder, at £150, these are heardly cheap either, but just look at them.

This fusion of the trainer with the wedge heel works a charm, the perfect daytime city shoe.

3am Craving

It's 3am, the student loan is running close to the overdraft line, yet still here i sit, trawling through ebay for a bargain purchase.

Today's want involves a unlikely mixture of sheepskin and cuffed, high waisted shorts, obviously the two aren't going together, but sometimes it's nice to think about summer and winter at the same time. It puts things into perspective, and doesn't let your expectations of the British Summer get too high.

The desire for sheepskin manifests itself pretty similarly to above (the model above in the blue is a guy called Kirill Vasilev, who i met over a cigarette backstage at London Fashion Week) in the form of boldly utile winter warmth. This is the Topman Design's A/W 2010/11 collection, which i anticipate to cost just over an arm and a leg. So on the hunt i go. Watch out for the high collars and oversized shirts, they're coming and they're going to be big.

Want/Need number two, the shorts, yes we're in a 'mini heatwave' and apparently I'm bored of all the shorts i own. I tell myself this quite often (not just about shorts either), possibly because I really am, more probably because I would greatly like to go out an buy a new pair. This summer's short, that i have decided upon, therefore must exist somewhere, is a harem-esque, high waisted short, with cuffed legs, right above my knee. So, to the hunt.