Converse All Star?

As a college student you will see them everywhere; this is what I think of Converse All-Star trainers - By Hannah Brown

As a college student you will see converse trainers practically every day, but what is it about them that makes practically everyone wants or already owns a pair. 

  

I personally have a pair of red converse all star hi top trainers which I’ve had for about a year. Although I love them I can be sometimes found surfing the internet, gazing longingly at the varying styles and colours, hoping to find a sale. I love converse trainers for a number of reasons.

One is that converse can be worn with practically anything, even the Doctor showed that they went with a suit (although I wouldn’t recommend wearing converse with a suit in a formal situation, such as a job interview).

CONVERSE LAST! This I think is a universal reason why convers trainers are good, as in the time it would take me to wear out two pairs of other trainer, I still have my convers, which if you can get a pair in a sale is a great deal (although though this is if you are not my brother who had his for a few months before he managed to make holes in them, but I’m pretty sure if you gave him a Nokia phone he could break it).

One of the main things I really do love about converse all star trainers is that due to their style it has led to a rise of people using their artistic talents to personalise their trainers. I do not have the guts to do that myself, but it is amazing to actually see what some people have achieved. Whether it’s a random design, or a tribute to a television show or film the designs are always inspired. I don’t know of any other item clothing that has led to such a rise in people expressing their individuality.

10 Best Beauty Buys

Giving you an up to date guide of the top must-have beauty buys of the season, with products from your most loved brands!

1.Daisy Dream, by Marc Jacobs (pictured above):

A light fragrance with a floral and fruity scent, in an array of sized bottles. This 

perfume has a 

faultless balanced blend of blackberry, 

grapefruit, and 

jasmine, amongst 

other infusions.

-Priced from £39

2.Mini hand creams, by the Body Shop:

These 30ml 

hand-creams are 

perfectly purse sized, and come in a range of scents 

including mango, 

coconut and 

strawberry. A 

method of ‘on the go 

hydration’, which 

softens and protects your skin.

-£3.50 each

3.Color drama in Berry Much, by Maybelline: 

This lipstick shade is a new season trend: high end, but not high priced! With a creamy velvety texture, it 

couldn’t be better… it even comes in eight other shimmering shades too!

-£4.99

4.Wonder’ Full  

mascara, by Rimmel:

This feather light 

mascara , gives added length and volume, and is 

perfect for day to day wear. The 

argon oil leaves lashes feeling soft and conditioned, 

giving added 

definition from root to tip.

-£7.99

5.Pro-Base prime and conceal 

Palette, by MUA:

This new ‘complexion 

corrector’ gives you an even skin tone to brighten and 

illuminate your 

facial features. With five fabulous shades, different skin tone problems can now be easily resolved! 

-£4 at Boots

6.Baby Skin 

Instant Fatigue Blur Primer, by Maybelline:

This water based pore-eraser product refreshes skin, 

creating a smooth and silky finish, along with leaving a hydrated glow! It comes in a choice of colours: either cool rose, or warm 

apricot.

-£7.99

7.Colour crush nail varnish, by the Body Shop:

This new deluxe nail range offers a 

selection of twenty-six nature related shades, including Rosy Cheeks, 

Almond Kiss and Oh Petal. With a quick drying time, and high gloss

finish, there’s 

nothing more you could ask for!

-£5 (6.8ml)

8.Naked 3 Palette, by Urban Decay:

This palette is a 

follow up from the 

Naked and Naked 2 selection. It is packed with never before seen shades, and finishes

including: ultra-smooth mattes, pretty pearls and unimaginable 

metallics!

-£37

9.Baked Box Collection, by Beauty UK:

This blush comes in a choice of four lustrous shades: popsicle pink, rose rouge, halo and goddess, all of which are guaranteed to 

highlight and define 

facial features, leaving you with a healthy glow. For easy 

application, there is even a compact mirror built in to the box!

-£3.99

10.They’re real! Push up liner, by Benefit:

The first ever gel-liner, in a pen form! This specific 

formula promises not to smudge, but instead hug your lash-line. This eye-liner also has an AccuFlex™ Tip, which is custom 

angled to help draw an easy line, and a wide base for stable application. Perfect for those that want bigger looking eyes!

-£18.50

Winter Warmers

It’s winter now and you’ll need a coat to keep you warm throughout the sleet and snow, here’s a few favourites from around the college - by Madeleine Lynch.

So it’s winter time again and the coat that you bought last year is seriously outdated and you need a new one. The variation of coats that I’ve seen around college is great and there are so many different styles. Despite this there are some that have stood out to me as being rather popular. Firstly is the New Look Textured Single Button Boyfriend Coat (that’s a mouthful) [pictured on the left]. This coat and others similar to it are popular this winter, especially the boyfriend style and the deep burgundy colouring. It’s in New Look for a decent price of £39.99.

Next is the H&M Grey Fake Fur Coat [pictured in the center]. Fur coats have obviously been popular this year, I myself have looked for one but it’s hard to choose. H&M have provided this for only £29.99 and it’s good quality! Soft and fluffy, as a fur coat should be to keep you warm and it looks beautiful as well. The best thing about fur coats is that they have a classy look about them.

Last on my list is the Topshop Slouchy Mohair Dark Green Boyfriend Coat [pictured on the right], which has been extremely popular as me and many other girls around college have purchased this. It’s has a lovely boyfriend style and it’s great at keeping you warm but I would recommend wearing a scarf alongside this. This coat is a bit more expensive at £89.00 but is definitely the best quality out of the three.

Hello Tartan!

Harriet Stevenson evaluates this vastly popular fashion trend.

Tartan is absolutely EVERYWHERE: scarves, shirts, leggings, skirts, trousers, dresses, coats, bags and even shoes. Where will this fashion trend end?

Not that I’m complaining; I love tartan, it’s such a fun and versatile pattern – you can mix it in with any outfit and it works. It’s also good for all ages: I recently went to London and on the tube almost everyone who had a scarf had one that was tartan – myself included. An old man with a farmer-style cap – he had a tartan scarf like mine, but it worked, as tartan is a pattern that’s been around for generations.

I think you can overdo the tartan though, just like people can overdo leather and denim. I saw a guy the other day with a denim shirt, denim jacket and jeans (all the same shade of denim); to be honest he might as well have been wearing a denim onesie. But who am I to judge?! I sometimes, by accident, find myself wearing triple denim too (why did I ever think a denim backpack was a good idea?)

However, all that’s by the by as tartan can be worn for both formal occasions and casual. It also lends itself to any style, whether it is grungy or preppy; this means that tartan stays unique – something that is very important in a fashion trend. The minute a design gets overworked, it loses its value.

That’s why I would say for the most part you can’t really go wrong with tartan, there are so many different variations of the pattern: small checks, large checks, monochrome or traditional. The world really is your oyster when it comes to tartan! The only thing I wouldn’t suggest is multiple tartan in one outfit - you can overdo a good thing!

Popular New York fashion blogger Lua P stated “There’s never enough plaid in my wardrobe.” If I’m honest I really can’t help but to agree as it just adds that extra pop to an outfit.

So I welcome the arrival of tartan and am excited to buy more tartan items and have fun styling them, though I promise to stay well clear of triple tartan! That’s a mistake I’m sure would not go down well.

Fashion Blogger: ‘Lua P’ – Luanna Perez: http://www.le-happy.com

Stuck on how to style tartan? Some suggestions here: http://www.pinterest.com/kafir/style-tartan/

Celebrity Style Steals

Love your favourite celebrities? Love their styles? Here’s where you can duplicate their outfits at a more relatable price. By Madeleine Lynch.

Cara Delevingne, British fashion model, occasional actress and current face of Burberry, has recently transformed into a big celebrity; you’re seeing her everywhere. She’s even been called the “star face” of this Autumn/Winter season by British Vogue. 

Cara was seen wearing this outfit in London on August 20th. Now her Vivienne Westwood pants, Giuseppe Zanotti shoes and Yliana Yepez bag are probably just out of the price range for this article, so we’ve found some similar dupes to replicate her individual style. You can find most of these things right here in Colchester or see the links to the websites of each item.

Item no. 1 is Cara’s cardigan, it was hard to find something exactly like this so we’ve gone with a simple black blazer instead. You can find this in H&M for £29.99. 

Item no. 2 is just a simple grey vest, this obviously isn’t hard to duplicate and you can find one of these anywhere, but we’ve found one anyway from H&M for only £5.99. 

Next is item no. 3, Cara’s gorgeous Vivienne Westwood tartan trousers, it was hard to replicate these exactly, so instead we’ve gone with some red tartan leggings from Topshop for £25. 

Item no. 4 is the shoes. Now I’m sure any pair of black boots would go well with this outfit but I’ve chosen to keep it simple with a pair of platform sneakers from again, H&M for £14.99. 

Lastly is the accessories. Cara’s kept this simple with only a beanie and some aviators. These are pretty easy to find anywhere at the moment but we’ve gone for the black ribbed beanie from New Look for only £4.99 and a pair of very similar aviators from warehouse for £10.

FALL INTO AUTUMN ○ TRENDS

1. Topshop 2. New Look 3. River Island 4. Cambridge Satchel 5. New Look

Tartan is the perfect print for the Autumn time with it’s darker shades and geometric print. Wear  preppy when paired with a structured blazer, oxfords and chinos or give it a more 90’s grunge edge if you wear the trend with some studded leather and distressed denim. Tartan is one of the most versatile prints of the moment and is something everyone can translate into their personal style.

SHOP THE PICKS

1. is this oversized tartan print tee from Topshop— wear a black long sleeved top underneath for the winter months or with some highwaisted jeans for  the fall.
2. Next up is this plaid shirt -an easy way to work the trend without anything to over the top: Purchase from New Look.
3. Velvet: Another huge Autumn trend and this River Island dress has the perfect mix of the two. The skater style of the dress is classic and the print gives a more contemporary vibe.
4. Tartan can also translate into accessories; the subtle touch of print on this satchel is so unique and unusual. Purchase from the Cambridge Satchel Company.
5. My final pick is this tartan scarf which has a mixture of both paisley and check: scarfs are a must in the Autumn and this  one from New Look is essential.

Tartan is overall a really converted trend this Autumn/Winter, after getting spotted on the catwalks in London Fashion Week. Definitely one to test out when you are looking for something unusual for the cooler months.

by Lucy Knowles

Beauty is an art

Katherine Cudmore looks at controversial photographer Tyler Shields and asks is it art?

In the words of Katy Perry it seems the fun, fresh, fierce aspects of California Girls apply to the men as well, as L.A based photographer and director Tyler Shields is all three.

Kicking it old school by using film and rejecting Photoshop Tyler uses controversial props; raw meat and irons to name but a few, and celebrity subjects such as Linsday Lohan and Emma Roberts to create some truly striking images. Bright red lips, gleaming skin; everyone drips with glamour but Tyler scratches at this Hollywood facade by pairing his beautiful subjects with ugly things such as blood soaked secateurs. But there are more sides to this man than meets the eye. At first glimpse it may look like he’s making the same tired old statements about the falseness of Hollywood. But Shields goes deeper, representing fierce emotions through the use of bold colours and actions stirring feelings within the viewer.

And that truly is the sign of an artist. Someone that makes you not only think but feel as well.
Art is emotion and Tyler captures this perfectly.

Sophisticated Statements for Summer

Frances McClean discusses the vital fashion statements for Spring/Summer 2013

Step into Spring and Summer with bold graphics, bold sheen and sophisticated skirts. This year, we are seeing the most iconic statements yet, so prepare yourself to be amazed.

As seen by Marc Jacobs, graphics are making a stand so there is no time for accessories; let the fabric do the talking. With Aztec prints and bold colours, be courageous, gutsy and glamorous.

In contrast, become a sheen queen seen by Christian Dior and Burberry. Bringing out the best in unexpected metallic colours with shine, you are bound to be treated like royalty. For inspiration, go for silvers, gold and metallic pinks, oranges and lilac. Totally unusual, yet incredibly beautiful.

To keep sophistication, pencil skirts are back. Erderm represent sophistication and clashing colours to give a sophisticated and classy look. Bound to give you a sexy silhouette for any shape or size, pencil skirts are definitely a must have this season. Especially with the most dreaded or most exciting day approaching...

That’s right. Once again, it’s nearly the time of the year. Valentines Day.

You find yourself cuddling an empty box of chocolates, not that somebody bought you, but you bought yourself due to sympathy.
So, how will you overcome this?

  I think it’s time to get glamorous, whether you are with someone or not. Bead embellished garments, chunky jewellery and  subtle beauty are in. Leave the make-up, it’s time to embrace natural beauty and rather than reds, put on pure creams, pinks and pastels.

Only you are able to make the most of your femininity, so what’s stopping you?

Winter's Revenge

Are you ready for Winter? It’s that time of year to get wrapped up in woolly knits, throw on those royal reds and get glamorous with popping gold.

Whether you’re staying in or going out, love Winter or not, it is NOT an excuse to escape fashion and our wardrobes, so get digging! In fact, Winter is personally inviting you to show off those comfy cotton, bead-embellished, super-sized garments. So what are you waiting for?

Winter is personally inviting YOU to show off

Feeling chilly? Don’t freeze with freak. Laser-cut leathers are back to win you over; perfect for a crisp night or day. As the dark nights draw in, make time for those red-wine velvets, super-sized bags and detailed lace which I know you’ve been dying to wear. Perfect for

Christmas and posh parties!

Christmas is just around the corner, and yet again, there is no escape. So if you’re feeling festive, branch out and grab those royal reds represented by Giambatisa Vali or the jumpsuits by Viktor and Rolf with a unique twist of greens, gold and silvers. Luckily, greens, gold, reds and silvers all go well together so whatever you’re wearing, mix and match it up to create the perfect festive outfit.

Red-wine Velvets, Super-sized Bags and Lace; 
PERFECT for Christmas

Get up, get out and get going. If you can’t find anything you like for the price you’re willing to pay, get down to the charity shops and grab as much velvet, leather and lace as you can. So, what are you waiting for?

By Frances McClean

Permanently Unique

Individualism. What does this mean? Definition: an individual quirk or peculiarity.

Not only does everyone seem to be striving for a sense of individuality but unknowingly to some of us, we all show this in a certain way. How, you may ask. If you think about it logically, it’s simple...

Beginning college, I saw everything from Nike Blazers to Military Jackets to Bobbled Beanies. Which may have been expected? People are following the ‘latest trends’. Aiming to stand out, we subconsciously buy clothes which are seen to be in fashion and by doing this, we represent our individuality. However, some of us want to rebel against this ‘following’ tendency and represent our own identities in a completely different way.

My thoughts about this continued throughout the days, weeks and first couple of months of college. Personally, I know how eager I was to represent who I am through what I wore, so I felt obliged to notice others, too.

The more I think about it, the more this intrigues me. Every day we wake up, each and every one of us think about what top or bottoms or shoes we’ll wear. We think about the colours, the materials, whether the outfit ‘goes’ (some more than others). We all consciously or subconsciously make the effort; we know we’ll be looked at by someone this day. So continuously we want to show people who we really are. We put up a front. We know that others who do not know us are going to judge us; not on our ‘personalities’, but by what we wear.

Thus, fashion plays an important role in how one is perceived and wants to be perceived.

None of us want to be ‘the same’. Some of us may choose to shop in TOPSHOP or River Island, others may prefer Charity Shops. And how interesting it is that each and every one of us has our own, individual preference. A question I constantly ask myself is ‘do others notice this?’

Perhaps we’re all caught up in worrying what we wear, that we don’t notice others. We’re all determined to represent ourselves through our clothes; do we really pay attention to the amount of effort one puts into them?

Although the case may be that we do not, I definitely feel that we should. Waking up every day I know that subconsciously my aim is to look my best. Yes, even when I’m at college, I’ll admit. So, if I were told that nobody ever looks at how I represent myself, I’d be truly offended, wouldn’t you? Being noticed isn’t a bad thing and representing our own identity is even better; so remember to embrace it.  Embrace the colours, the materials, the peculiarity or quirkiness and take time to notice how  each and everyone of us show our true selves.

By Frances McClean

How can I achieve the perfect look?

Above: Ginta Lapina AUTUMN/WINTER VOGUE 2012-13 - Shades of grey. 

Tips and tricks for perfect results: Alice Wood looks into the secrets of beauty to see what’s best for our skin this season.

According to the experts at Vogue, the secret to achieving flawless, healthy-looking skin lies with a good skin cleansing and moisturising regime. These days that means a bit more than dabbing your face with soap; the skin trade is now a multi-million pound business, with thousands of products promising to rejuvenate and revitalise your skin. All we need is a bit of time (and a few quid) and we too could be sporting that movie star ‘glow’.

But the reality is that most of us buy a product, use it a couple of times, forget to moisturise, moan when the spots appear and then have a panic attack with the concealer stick. Of course there is no quick fix. The advice from Vogue is to keep it simple. Once you find the cleanser and moisturiser that suit your skin type (and budget) it’s a question of adopting and sticking with a daily cleansing routine.

Building from the base

Choosing the right foundation - both colour and texture – is also key to achieving that perfect look. Vogue says that we should find our ‘true’ skin colour before buying a foundation. How? By testing the product (powder, cream or liquid) on the area of skin between your neck and ear, to determine exactly what shade you need. Who knew that? And does that mean an end to the tell-tale sign of bad foundation – the dreaded tide mark around the chin?

It’s all in the eyes

Foundation perfectly matched, it’s on to the eyes, or more specifically, the eyebrows. The golden rule here is simple: do not pluck your eyebrows too thinly, as they will never grow back properly. Eyebrows that have been drawn back do little to enhance your facial features. They can look quite scary too.

As for mascara, Vogue tell us to make our eyes ‘pop’, to make them more feminine and alluring. This means using a gentle, smooth brushing technique to lift and lengthen’ lashes, rather than short, dabbing movements – which leave unsightly lumps and clumps.

When it comes to choosing eye shadow, do you know your perfect colour match? Blue shades are a definite no-no for blue eyes, in the same way that excessively dark make-up does nothing for brown eyes – in both cases they make the eyes look smaller and less prominent on the face. If you use eye pencils, stick to brown, black or grey, as they complement the tones in your eyes, and effectively work with most outfits. Do not wear coloured eyeliner on the inner rim of the eye.

Violet and purple are this season’s shades; as all skin tones have a touch of purple, you should find they give you a warmer glow – and are definitely more funky than ‘safe’ old brown and grey.

Black should not be used as a shading colour, and should be limited to the lid, inner and outer rims – avoid any shading above the eyelid. For the final twinkling touch, don’t forget your eye drops!

Don’t be cheeky 

When it comes to blusher, less is definitely more. Tans are preferable to pinks and reds, to prevent the ‘clown’ look. However, a subtle blend of pinks and apricots, on the apple part of the cheek will give you a fresh, youthful glow.

Shimmering powders really do add an extra sparkle to skin on show. For best results, apply to your neckline, collar bone, sternum and arms.

So with all that in mind, (and all secrets revealed!) we too can achieve not only the model complexion but the complete look with professional tips to abide by, and used to achieve perfection! We also need not spend a fortune—all of these products are available to us on the market for a very reasonable price!  Get looking, get buying and get doing!

No More Fashion Victims

If you’re stuck for ideas on what to buy your friends for Christmas, think the Environmental Justice Foundation, which have made the seemingly impossible possible, by blending fashion and the environment together.

EJF’s style is organic, bold and meaningful. The collection marks the charity’s tenth year, campaigning on issues of environmental justice, giving the millions of children forced to work in the cotton fields, a right to be heard and sending a message to the fashion industry to ‘Pick Your Cotton Carefully’.


Their biggest trademark piece is ‘The T-Shirt’. It is the most iconic and widespread piece of cotton clothing, used as a message board to positively promote fair-trade production. EJF’s aim is to prevent the use of forced child labour and to stop the use of deadly pesticides from cotton production. Their T-shirts are all ethically made with 100% organic cotton and Soil Association certified printing. Organic T-shirt designers include John Rocha, Betty Jackson, Ciel and John Patrick with most designs giving off that contemporary and casual look, guaranteed to suit everyone. EJF’s products are available from their website at an average price of £30, with all proceeds going towards the charity.

EJF also make organic cotton tote bags perfect for college or shopping. They come in two quirky designs and you can bag yourself one of these at http://www.ejfoundation.org.uk/ for only £15.

These are sure to make the perfect, thoughtful gift for Christmas, allowing you to buy with pride!

Merry Christmas! X

By Amelia Bolton

London Fashion Week 2011: The Great British Autumn

This year’s London Fashion Week went down like a treat for those who have a serious passion for fashion. London truly is one of the most iconic fashion cities and I couldn’t be more proud of us as a nation to be involved with such a great event such as Vodafone London Fashion Week. So what’s in store for this year’s Great British Autumn?

Let’s face it, winter time in Britain is at times rather chilly and damp. However this season, some of our top designers such as Jaeger have allowed us to embrace the wintry months. Jaeger is a global luxury fashion brand which is famous for designing stylish, innovative and contemporary pieces. The great winter coat plays a leading role in Jaeger’s AW11 collection. Exploring dramatic maxi-lengths as well as cropped proportions in rich and diverse textures, guarantees every one of us to find a coat we love! Blending jet blacks against a kaleidoscopic array of rich, jewel-colours such as burnt orange, emerald green and cobalt blue, seems to be a recurring mix within this season’s trend. This creates a minimal, modern yet quirky opulence for winter. We all want to keep warm when it’s blowing a breeze so it’s a good job knitwear is here to save us. It not only allows us to wrap up, but also shows off a diverse range of textures. Blends of brushed mohair, cashmere and sculptural wool jersey are iconic textiles of this Autumn/Winter collection.

Your hair is also a crucial element of your look, acting as your ultimate fashion accessory. TONI&GUY have been working backstage at London Fashion Week to create new and luxurious locks to meet the wardrobes of our designers. The new collection caters for many hair types and styles from casual to glamour, inspired by the world of fashion. My personal favourite is the Sea Salt Texturising Spray which masters the task of creating loose, suede tassels yet still maintaining that chic look.

Leave behind the lugging-your-coat-around-all-the-time feeling and say goodbye to those early morning dramas with your hair, by following this seasons’ trends. You’re guaranteed to feel uplifted this winter!

by Amelia Bolton