Move over Florence, there’s a new red head in town. She’s got sass, style and dance moves to match. Hailing from Brisbane, Bec Laughton is a fiery songstress who creates up beat tunes that are the definition of fun and good times. Editor Samantha McMeekin caught up with her recently to get to know more about the girl behind the music. Tell us a little bit about yourself. Well, I’m a 25 year old singer songwriter who was born in Melbourne, but spent most of my childhood in Sydney and now I live in Brisbane. I’ve always had music in my blood after I grew up with a music director for a Dad. I remember from a young age falling asleep backstage and going to school the next day
with glitter all over my face haha. I was always singing, dancing and acting and then around grade nine I realised singing was for me.
What instruments do you play?
Hmmm guilty pleasure.. I don’t really listen to anything that’s really that embarrassing! I guess I do have a soft spot for girly, fragile, emotional ballads haha. Which is very different for me because most of my songs are upbeat and fun and that’s what I normally like in music.
Drums were my first instrument but I use piano to write. If you weren’t a musician I mainly try to focus on my singing though and I love to what do you think you’d dance a lot! be?
Now tell us, is your hair colour natural? Yes my hair colour is natural! I used to hate it as a child, until one day when I was about six someone told me that when people get older they pay to have their hair dyed my colour. So after that I thought it must be pretty good and I just tried to embrace it. At the moment it’s more of a strawberry blonde after I put a bit of blonde through it for something different.
What is your guilty pleasure to listen to?
I’d love to do a strange and different job I think! The band and I were actually talking about it the other day and I think I’d like to be a location scout for movies. Can you just imagine getting paid to look for haunted houses and castles in Scotland or somewhere? That would be really fun! One of the band members suggested being an ice cream taster haha.
What was the first song you ever wrote and when? Oh god. I can’t remember how old I was exactly but I
can remember what it sounded like. It was horrific! Sort of country and sounded a bit like Shania Twain haha. Pretty much every line rhymed.
understand if it was English but it turns out that it was English but with a French accent so heavy that neither of us could understand him. He’s just amazing and has a Where do you get the in- beautiful voice. spiration for your songs, Oh and Andre’ 3000 would are they mostly based on also be amazing to collaborate with!
your own experiences?
I definitely write a lot based on my own experiences but also observational stuff and what other people are going through.
Where would you like to see yourself in 5 years time? Hmmm 5 years time…I guess the dream would be to be touring internationally. I’d love to tour Europe or Japan. I’d also hope to be collaborating with other artists, oh and maybe prepare to pop out a few mini me’s!
If you could do a duet with any other musician who would it be? Ben L’oncle Soul! He’s a soul artist from France. I saw him at the music festival in Amsterdam with my two friends, one who is French and one who is Dutch and while he was singing we had no idea what language he was speaking. My French friend said it wasn’t French and I couldn’t
Best advice you’ve ever been given? I think my favourite advice is from the sunscreen song. The bit where it goes ‘Don’t waste your time on jealousy; sometimes you’re ahead, sometimes you’re behind…the race is long, and in the end, it’s only with yourself.
Samantha McMeekin
We’re all guilty of putting our romantic interests on a pedestal. And who can blame us? With Hugh Jackman and Ryan Gosling running around we can’t help but imagine our perfect man. Most crush’s are harmless, but when our self esteem is crushed after getting rejected by that oh-sodreamy Usher looka-like, that’s when things tend to get messy.
The roller coaster ride
Or at least they must think they’re too good for you, which makes you wonder if they really are, which makes you think about all the reasons why you must be a terribly horrible person, completely undeserving of love. There goes the self In fact, most likely, esteem no one will ever love you. I mean, this person clearly The moment you’re rejected, found no reason to love you no matter who it is or how so it’s unlikely anyone else much you liked the person will. Wow, that in the first place, you someperson must how feel that because they be so cool. You rejected you, they must be should spend too good for you...right? the rest of your This isn’t high school time trying to anymore. There aren’t lunch think of ways tables where the cool kids to MAKE them sit. You can’t gage someone’s like you. To desirability by the type of make them see watch they have, or the brand what they’re of jeans they wear. So when missing. Cause someone rejects you, sudyou’re pretty denly, you think they’re just darn great. Tons way cooler than you. of other people
would date you. ...Like their best friend!
Revenge Suddenly it becomes less about getting this person to like you because you legitimately want a relationship with them, and more about trying to get them to like you so you can validate yourself and make them cry. Sometimes we love not with the heart but with the ego,
and when you’ve been rejected (whether it be from a job, a friend, or romantically) that’s when your confidence takes a hit. You want a reason for the rejection; something to blame, some kind of definitive quality you can try to change or improve or understand. Suddenly everything you’ve ever hated about yourself seems like the perfect scapegoat. You already know, better than anyone else, all the reasons why you are a terrible horrible person.
Flawed reasoning It’s because you’re mean. And you’re stupid. And yes, your nose is much too large. You knew it would destroy the relationship eventually. It always gets in the way of everything. And this person who rejected you clearly saw all these faults. Oh how superior they must be to recognize all those flaws in you that everyone who loves you was simply too blind to see! It’s an error in our way of thinking. You can’t decide someone is better than you simply because they’ve rejected you. ‘So how am I supposed to know if someone is too good for me unless they reject me?’, I hear you ask, all you need is self-love. We all have insecurities; they are what make us human. And every sappy
quote we doodled in our notebooks in middle school about having to love yourself before you can love another is true, because when your ego is calling all the shots, it’s your heart that takes the hit. You need your own confidence, from yourself. Not validation from some douche-bag who didn’t respond to your text.
Confidence vs. Comparison The common misinterpretation of ‘self confidence’ is a lack of distinction between ‘confidence’ and ‘pomposity.’ Confidence is when you think things like, ‘Man, I’m really great. I have nice hair, cool dance moves, and a re-
ally cool DVD collection.’ Pomposity is when you think things like, ‘Man, that person is fat. At least I’m hotter than that person.’ When you see the best in others you will see the best in yourself. And when that happens it won’t really matter who returns your text messages.
Tempting trends
buying it earlier. Somehow in the course of a month my Every season fashion retailers tastes often develop to appreciate the next ‘big thing’. pack up last seasons clothes Whether it is just brilliant and fill their racks with the marketing by the sneaky mulnewest craze of colours, ti-billion dollar fashion inshapes and styles, ready to line the wardrobes of people dustry or an inability to stick to my guns as soon as I see all over the country. someone else looking firstThere are often moments rate in the Vogue’s next show when I look through shops, stopper, I don’t know. Howonly to be disgusted by the ever, no matter how it haplatest trends that come in, pens it seems inevitable that I convinced that I will never am going to eventually fall for buy something so hideous. almost every new trend. The But about a month later, I find myself being attracted to only problem with following these trends is that once a the same trend, simultanetrend starts to becomes more ously kicking myself for not
popular, it becomes more expensive. With the forever changing style trends, it becomes hard to afford complete wardrobe swaps without being sent broke. So how are we supposed to remain fashion savvy without having to completely destroy the piggy bank? When trends change they change in every aspect of fashion, from clothing and accessories to the colour of your lipstick. In order to not break the piggy bank, you need to prioritise and realise it’s not completely necessary to go out every season and buy all the ‘necessity’s’ of the new trend (unless of course you’re Jennifer Hawkins).
Affordable fashion The most current craze to hit our Australian stores is hard to miss as big, loud florescent pieces hang on every
hook in the store. Everyone knows that the almighty fluoro craze is probably not going to stick around and is a fleeting moment in Australian fashion history, so you may think it is unwise to spend a portion of your savings on those fluoro orange pants or lime green heels. The best thing to do in this situation is to go for small, cheap, yet stand out items. Jewellery to suit almost any trend can be found in abundance and is always cheap. Instead of spending $50 or much more on a dress why not buy a $12 necklace that you can wear over and over again.
It is far more forgivable to wear a flashy necklace twice a week then it is to wear the same dress. Jewellery is far more versatile, cheap and it doesn’t need to be washed after every wear. Plus it is doubtful that you will be going back through your wardrobe in a few months and thinking ‘why the hell did I buy that’ to a bright yellow necklace. If you have gotten a few wears out of it, for only a small price, then it is fair to say that your money was well spent. Another article of clothing that will slide into the ‘cool group’, while sticking to the low salary/student budget, is
socks and tights. Nothing is more fun to rock than a pair of fluoro bright pink socks with a little floral or even plain black dress. Bright tights in winter are also an easy way to convert a humble black outfit into a head turner. And the best part? These easy-to-add-to-any-outfit items usually hit around the $10-$20 mark.
Staple items Sunglasses are another fashion item that are constantly dropping in and out. Whether they are the famous Ray Ban Wayfarer style, vintage
cats eyes, John Lennon 70’s circle frames or some awesome Top Gun aviators, they all have some magical ability to enhance the cool factor of any outfit. I am not suggesting that you start strutting around inside with your sunnies on to add a bit of glam to your ensemble, but when outside in the sun they can be a great addition. Plus they are good
for your eyes! In order to adapt to any trend that runways all over the world will seasonally throw your way, it’s best to have one staple dress that can support any piece of jewellery, belt, hat or hot pink, zebra print, knee high socks that are added to it. These dresses are often timelessly shaped, plain in colour and can be dressed up or down for almost every occasion. Another staple that will get you through any season and
any trend, is denim. Jeans are timeless! As long as you find a shape that looks good on you, you will be able to wear them for years to come. And like the LBD, you can throw on wild and flashy jewellery pieces, fluoro Peter Pan collared tops and leopard print loafers (not necessarily all at once) and they will always look fantastic. Despite all of these things I have no doubt that there will be times when we will throw all caution to the wind and purchase crazy, naughty items that no doubt we will wear once (perhaps twice if we are lucky) and then a few months later it will have vanished from every fashion magazine as new trends fill their pages. And so continues the circle of a fashionable life.
Megan Bernard is hosting a launch party for her latest single ‘Shifting Futures’. For those of you who have never heard of Megan Bernard, it is time for you to discover that she is a soulful singer/songwriter/guitarist based in Melbourne, Australia. She is known for her turquoise blue strat, which she uses to deliver smooth and breathy vocals, comparable to those of Sarah McLachlan and Imogen Heap. In 2011 Megan was chosen by singer/songwriter Jess McAvoy to be the lead guitarist for her Farewell Melbourne Concert at The Corner Hotel. McAvoy stated, ‘A spectacular band of women backed up a set that will go down in history as the best show I have performed in
Melbourne.’ Megan will be returning with full band on December 1st to 303 in Northcote, with support from folk/ roots artist Cat Canteri (The Stillsons). Produced by Kalju Tonuma, ‘Shifting Futures’ follows the successful release of her debut single ‘Big Dreams’. ‘Shifting Futures’ is a moody track in which Megan’s Jeff Beck inspired guitar style creates stunning textures as it weaves seamlessly around the vocals. Having spent the past three years performing solo and duo shows, Megan’s full band shows are a rarity and
a specialty. The band consists of Daniel Hobson (bass guitar), Scott Zimmer (drums), and Jude Perl (keys).
2010 the designer duo have developed in leaps and bounds, selected to appear in this year’s Perth Fashion Festival WA Designer’s Collection.
Erin Vanhaeften and Kate Wilks are the young designers behind emerging Perth label On A Whim. ‘We’re just constantly proRecogniseable by its gressing, we started off with whimsical, playful three or four different dress designs, to now having a and feminine creacollection with 10 pieces in tions, harmonious col- two to four different colours. ours and nostalgia for When we go to the next collection it’s going to be 15-20 styles reminiscent of the 1950s and 1960s, outfits,’ says Kate. On A Whim has So who is the On A developed a growing Whim girl? fan base in Perth.
Kate. ‘I think the trap with doing vintage is a lot of people see it as just as old, it’s kind of a niche and it might not necessarily linger, but I think the direction we’re taking it in is what people are looking for,’ she says.
The designers
The pair met in 2008 while studying at WA’s Polytechnic Institute and both enjoyed considerable success in their solo endeavors. Erin’s collection won the award for BestReady-To-Wear and Kate was According to Erin and Kate, invited to show in Premiere What distinguishes On A she’s fun, adventurous, cute, Vision’s Leather and Fur Whim from others in its field and retro with a classic, mod- trade show in Paris. In 2010 is the label’s commitment to ern twist. Erin and Kate decided to join promoting sustainability in forces to combine their love fashion- shunning throwaway ‘They like to mill around, for fashion, vintage, fun and fashion trends for high-quali- they get dressed up even just adventure. The pair began ty, long-lasting and affordable to go for coffee, even just selling their designs in margarments. to be a bit silly and to wear kets around Perth, creating something a little bit more one-off dresses made from Since the label’s launch in eccentric than usual,’ says recycled and vintage fabric.
Last year they decided to launch their first collection and re-focus on how they could reconcile their ethos of sustainability with a passion for design.
talent such as machinists and use people in the industry to promote us, like All Of The Above who do our photoshoots.’
our unwanted or old clothes. Still in its infancy the project is to emulate the recycling programs by Australian adventure and outdoor apparel company Patagonia. The ‘You can’t compete with project will be based from ‘We’re not into disposable stores like Topshop, but if the On A Whim website fashions so we want all the you have something that peo- (onawhimdesign.com) and pieces to be something you ple want, if you have a good will include sewing tutorials, can wear ten years down the product, people are going laundering and restyling tips. track and they’ll still be in to buy regardless so we like style,’ says Kate. to show that there’s a story While currently based in behind it so that people really Perth, 2013 will see On A ‘We want to reeducate people appreciate it,’ says Kate. Whim go national, with on keeping things in WA, plans to launch their next that it might at a little bit of a For now Erin and Kate say it’s campaign over east as well as higher price point but if you not about the money and are remaining active in Perth’s compare a disposable fashion committed to sharing On A growing fashion scene. item that you can get from a Whim’s ethos for sustainabillower end store, and there are ity through their designs. More than just another la500 of them made for pitbel, On A Whim are part tance, to one garment that’s ‘Monetary wise I could do of a growing movement of going to last you a lifetime this day in and day out and Australian designers who are that you’re not going to throw not get a cent in my pocket, determined to make sustainaway in the next few weeks.’ I love what I’m doing and ability a fashionable choice. really enjoy it while bigger Eco-friendly fashion corporations they want to see a rollover while Keeping the label local and I don’t really eco-friendly means On A mind not seeing Whim supports local and a return for quite Australian talent, manufaca while, just as turing all their garments in WA, using only natural fibres long as I’ve got something to and helping to support the talents of others in the indus- work on and have fun with.’ try. ‘When I was studying I was really into sustainability and I still am, using organic fabric and natural dyeing,’ says Erin.
The On A Whim Project is a recent initiative by the designers to promote ways we can adjust, restyle and recycle
‘We love supporting the local
After recently releasing the film clip for ‘This Haunting’, Sam McMeekin caught up with Alex Watts to find out more about the rock n roll (with a hint of folk) sensation.
the snarling frontman of Melbourne rock band Dirty Sanchez, to becoming an enigmatic and sophisticated solo artist. Together with his band, the Foreign Tongue, comprised of bassist Brian Juffs, saxophonist Jason Jennings and drummer Michael McHugh, the group gained immediate attention from the release of 2011’s Desperate Love EP, which received overwhelmingly positive reviews and support from community Have you ever heard a song radio stations throughout that made you immediately Australia. The success google the band who plays of the EP led to the band it, only to be disappointed making their first appearance by the emo hair cut and lip at The Queenscliff Music Fespeircing features of the band members? Well fear no more, tival in December, 2011, as because this is one band you’ll well as performing alongside be happy to google. Please say several of their favourite local artists, such as The Triffids, hello to Alex Watts and The Kimbra, Conway Savage and Foreign Tongue! Dan Brodie. Alex Watts has been As 2012 comes to an spruiking his brand of think- end the band has just reing man’s pop music for the leased a film clip to their latpast ten years, a period that has seen him transition from est single ‘This Haunting’.
Your latest film clip ‘this haunting’ plays out an interesting story, tell us a bit more about it. This Haunting, the song, is part of a song cycle that will be the focus of our next album. It tells the story of a marriage, from courtship to death and beyond, and revolves around themes of temptation, love and forgiveness. Towards the end of the story the wife takes revenge on her philandering husband with a kitchen knife, and in This Haunting we find her years later, an elderly woman in the grips of dementia, convinced that her husband has come back to haunt her. The point of the film clip was to both to act out some of that story, but also to have a bit of fun with it, as the song itself is quite an upbeat rock’n’roll number.
Who is the elderly lady featured in your film clip? (Bonus points if its your grandma!) We were lucky enough to work with Shirley Cattunar on this film clip, she was actually the only actress I approached for the role and she said yes immediately. Adam Hunt who engineered and mixed the record does a lot of sound work for theatre and had worked with Shirley in the recent past so it was his suggestion. We did two days
worth of shooting with her, which I think she found quite exhausting and stressful, but her performance was just fantastic.
How did you and the band first get together?
mates, acquaintances and people who answered an ad I put on the internet. Over the past two years of performing and releasing music the lineup has changed several times, which has forced the sound to evolve and grow. I’m really lucky to have found such a unique combination of players.
I started the Foreign Tongue in 2010 as I hadn’t been per- Who writes all the forming for about four years songs? and decided it was time to get out there again and do some- I write the songs and we all thing new. The band was chisel out the arrangements selected through auditions, together. a combination of ex-band-
You’ve already played and sing along to ‘Everybody That was alright, I could have Needs Somebody to Love’, stuck with that, but I’ve never alongside amazing that felt pretty good, there found another vocation that artist such as Kimbra were thousands of people I could see myself doing for more than a short period of and the Triffids; if you there. time besides music. I’m not could pick any artreally good at anything else. What do you think ists dead or alive to collaborate with who you’d be doing if you Best advice you’ve weren’t pursuing muwould it be? ever been sic? given? Probably one of the songwriters I really admire, like Elvis Costello or Paul Kelly. I’d have love to have said someone from a completely different genre, but I can’t think of anyone off the top of my head…the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra? The Beastie Boys?
Where is your favourite place to perform? I like really intimate rooms when they’re packed full of attentive bodies rather than big stages, so I enjoy places like the Toff or Cherry Bar in Melbourne or The FBi Social in Sydney. If you can get a crowd engaged and right there with you in a room like that there’s no better feeling.
What has been your most memorable gig? I don’t remember. Contrary to what I just said, I got to get up with Solomon Burke at Byron Bay Bluesfest one year
Before I decided to get serious about my music a few years ago I was working as a full time English teacher.
“Alex, stop slurring at that girl and go home”
We all love clothes, but it takes real dedication and skill to make a living from it. Feature writer Ally Oke, talks to emerging designer Emma Masters about her label emmjane and the struggle of making it in the fashion industry. If you were on your way to work this morning, particularly driving along Melbourne’s eminent Nepean Highway and found yourself momentarily distracted, you could be forgiven. A giant billboard has just been fitted, flaunting a gorgeous model dressed in an array of sweet summer dresses; flirting with its onlookers as if the display has come to life. And no, this gargantuan ad-
dition to the landscape isn’t promoting the latest overseas retail chain to open its doors in Australia (we still love you Top Shop), it’s an advertisement for homegrown fashion label emmajane- a modest little project that designer Emma Masters has been diligently working on since her ‘teens. Securing this prime advertisement position is just one feat Emma can now cross off her growing To Do list, an achievement to match the mounting success of her company.
Emma, now age 24, grew up in the beachside suburb of Mount Martha and quickly developed a love of fashion at an early age. Learning to sew from her Mum, Emma began designing, making and selling her own creations as
was when I was starting out, but I decided to keep fighting for my dream of creating my very own fashion label’, said Emma. Sourcing her fabrics from Hong Kong, and contracting the pieces to be manufactured in Indonesia, means the process from initial sketch to completed piece can take quite some time – but Emma never sacrifice quality. ‘To get the piece from sketch to sample, takes a few months. As my factory is in Indonesia, there’s a lot of back and forth making the pieces perfect’, says Emma. But it’s her commitment to producing beautiful, oneoff pieces that has secured emmajane as the ‘it’ label to turn to for every girl’s Spring Racing outfit this year. Having just launched the Spring/ a high school student, taking there’ll be a few obstacles and Summer 12/13 ‘Tropical orders from friends for party creating emmajane was no Cruise’ collection, the fun, dresses and weekend outfits. exception. flirty frocks are flying off the shelves in reAfter her VCE, Emma concord pace, and tinued to hone her business embody the skills while studying a degree style of this in Business Advertising at year’s races RMIT, fostering her desire perfectly. to build a fashion label in her As Emma states, her designs spare time. ‘The first factory I was dealare inspired by ‘fashion icons, Now, while juggling a full ing with (in Indonesia), sent colours, cultures… and pretty time position in the media me my first lot of samples much everyday life’, which industry, Emma is successand they looked like pilallows her label to reach a fully managing her own busi- low cases. The man I was in broad and diverse demoness – but it hasn’t been an contact with then suddenly graphic. easy slog. became un-touchable and ran As with every new business off with my money! I could of ‘The pieces are designed for venture, it is inevitable that easily given up after this, as it women who dress with class
‘Designed for women who dress with class and charisma’
and charisma, and who have a whole range of different body shapes and sizes,’ says Emma ‘These women are classy, individual, free-spirited and always up for an adventure. From a 12 hour stint at the races, to a lunch with friends, to a 40 degree day, to running for the last tram - I want this range to be something women can wear with full confidence and excitement - to get them through the day in style and comfort.’ With citing designers such as Alice McCall, Camilla & Mark, Bec & Bridge and Coco Chanel as her inspiration, Emma describes her label as ‘casual classy and elegant.’ ‘The pieces are eye-catching with eclectic detailing. We use intricate beading embellishments, mixed with feminine prints and alluring silhouettes. With tones of ivory, coral, violet and tangerine, the emmajane portfolio is subtle and sophisticated yet lavishly playful. Each piece is gracefully unique and perfect for day or night, and very affordable.’ As with most start-up businesses in this day and age, Emma has relied heavily on the use of social media, utilising an array of platforms for added exposure. ‘Social media is a very important tool for my brand.
‘Perfect for day and night and very affordable’ emmajane currently uses Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest. As the label is primarily an online website, it’s all about directing the consumer from a social media outlet to the website,’ Emma said. The world seems to be her oyster. With plans well underway to design and produce both Autumn/Winter 2013, and Spring/Summer
13/14, it’s hard to imagine when the busy designer gets a break in her hectic schedule. As Emma cheekily suggests, ‘a sneaky trip to Bali’ could be the antidote.
Alexandra Oke
Androgony: The dawn of a new era
The runway is sleek and the rustle of fabric gliding on the top of the floors can be heard, with porcelain skinned, size zero mannequins parading the runway strip. As I turn slightly in my seat there are muffled comments from behind. ‘You know that model is a guy right?’ whispered a young audience member. ‘Wow’
was my reaction to the whispers. Why should it matter if a man wants to model and happens to have feminine features? I suppose there are many observations and arguments on androgyny in the modelling sphere, but the question lies with why? The catwalks of Australia are experiencing a dramatic change, with male
models outshining the petite female dolls with their masculine beauty, with the overwhelming example of Andrej Pejic, the Australian beauty who has taken the world by storm. But is all the hype surrounding androgyny just another marketing ploy, something that will fade in time? We caught up with two models in Sydney, in search of the answer to the question poised on everyone’s lips: ‘Is androgyny taking over the essence of femininity?’ 23-year-old Aley Greenblo is a law and commerce student at USYD, a well-known fashion blogger, former Miss Bikini Finalist and Miss Global Australia 2010 winner and has experienced her fair share of modelling. Mod elling for brands such as Victoria’s Secret, Alex Perry and Roberto Cavalli has given her a real under -standing of how the industry has changed. Andrej Pejic has become one of the most talked about figures with his icy blue eyes, petite body and platinum locks, but I believe there are very few who can walk down the runway as either a man or a woman, and pull it off. The fact that he has graced the covers of
about the interplay of with an agency in Sydney. ‘As social and biological influ- a model starting out I can see ences on a person.’, she that the industry is not only says. competitive but one which ‘Pejic identifies as a tends to move towards new transgender model, and waves of looks. Androgyny has found his role as the is part of this forward move‘poster boy’ for androgyny ment but is not something empowering, and I think that creates a threat, but more that’s a wonderful thing.’, or less a way of accepting self Eleanor says. expression.’, she says. Even though she rec ‘Some designers might ognises there has been a focus on unisex looks belot of concern about ancause their garments are for drogynous models- spethat market. It is really up cifically thin male modto the designers themselves els- she believes the real to decide on what sells their issues lie deeper, with the brand the best.’, says Georgia. pressure to be thin just the ‘I remember first see14 magazines alone in 2011, typical nature of the industry. ing Andrej Pejic in a magaincluding an ad for a Dutch ‘Although these preszine and actually thinking he pushup bra, and was voted by sures could suggest a sudwas female. I think if I wasn’t FHM readers to be the 98th modelling or interested sexiest woman ‘I think there will always be a in creativity in general I in the world in have questioned the same year market for classical ladylike would it, but I clearly rememsays it all.’, says ber being inspired by beauty.’ Aley. the way he represented ‘Andrej den new desirability to have this particular brand.’, says Pejic is exciting because he waif-like male models filling Georgia. reminds us that not everyup the dresses and gowns The ideology within thing has to match up with on catwalks, I simply do not the fashion industry has what we have been taught to think enough people can suc- changed yet again, and now expect. People often feel safe cessfully pull it off like Pejic androgyny appears to be the in their comfortable black can. Personally I am proud new ‘fad’. Models like Andrej and white world and recoil of my femininity, but I think Pejic are the products of this with irrational phobias and there will always be a market new era in women’s fashion, fear when something appears for classical ladylike beauty.’, and critics may or may not grey., says Aley. she says. agree. But clearly, this new 20-year-old Eleanor ‘Androgyny is really millennium is here to stay for Butcher won the Show Pony just an exciting, fun and ina while yet to come, or until online fashion competition teresting friend to the fashion the next new ‘thing’ hits the and agrees wholeheartedly world.’ catwalk. with Aley’s opinion. ‘I don’t Georgia Maccan, 18, believe that androgyny is has begun to dapple in modTamar Ankeshian simply about styling, it’s elling, after recently signing
Amsterdam is a destination I’ve always dreamed of visiting. There is something about a city that has such different morals and laws to our own that I find so fascinating. Amsterdam is a place as famous for its virtues as it is for its more devilish qualities. A town renowned for its fields of tulips and old windmills, along with its brothels and ‘dried green and leafy plants’. There is a lot more to the city then what we hear about down our end of the world. While it is definitely an adjustment to get used to such a different culture then to our own, it was the quant character of the city that I personally fell in love with. It is the canals, narrow pathways and bridges that I think set the city apart from other European destinations. So I thought I might offer some advice to travellers as you approach the capital of canals as there are a few need-to-know things to learn about the beautiful city.
The red light district
The infamous red light district takes a little while to get used to. It should be known that not all of the lights are ‘red’, some areas may have blue and purple lights which mean something different. A general rule I discovered is if it’s not a red light, the person behind the window is probably not ‘completely’ female. Also, beware of trying to take photos anywhere near the district. This is strictly forbidden. It will end with you losing your photo and your camera as it will most likely be smashed by one of the brothels security guards.
Sitting inside the ‘I amsterdam’ sign
The almost obligatory photo these days, is a picture capturing the ‘I amsterdam’ sign, with yourself and friends sitting inside the letters. However, it must be mentioned that this is almost impossible to do with the bustling tour groups and other tourists
generally covering most of the sign. It is best to visit at a quieter time during the day. For example, I managed to squeeze my way into a letter D but my picture spelling out ‘sterda’, doesn’t seem to have the same effect.
The city of cycling
Amsterdam is one of the most bike-friendly cities in the world. Once you arrive you will quickly notice that cars are in the minority and it is bikes that are the main mode of transport for the Dutch people. It is common to see a family all piled on to the one bike, or a mother cycling along carrying a trailer full of her children. Just make sure if you decide to jump on a bike that you are a confident cyclist. I quickly learnt my lesson when I attempted to join a bike tour, and was deemed unfit to ride. Just be aware that you are in a city where the bikes rush through the street as fast as speed boats
going down the canals. Furthermore, the narrow streets are lined with cars that don’t enjoy being crashed into, even if I do yell out ‘Sorry! I thought you never forget how to ride a bike!’ in my defence.
Dutch shopping must-buys Cheese
In your travels, a visit to a cheese farm is certainly an experience. Be careful what you buy though, I ended up with a huge wheel of cheese that I was forced to carry around with me for the rest of my trip. But then again, I never went hungry.
Tulips
Amsterdam is known to weird and wild styles, but some as the city of flowers, it beware so does the quality. is here that you will find massive glass houses filled wall to wall with beautiful flowers .Tulips are of particular Dutch heritage and a trip to one of these houses is a must, if not to buy, to at least just to see the amazing sights.
Clogs
I trip to the Netherlands is incomplete without a pair of novelty clogs. You will be spoilt for choice as you will find them in every Amsterdam souvenir store. The styles range from traditional Dutch clogs to more modern