dashing
december | issue 001
An inspirational magazine for the stylish and spirited girl
INCLUDE A WEDDINS G SECTION
Winter WONDERLAND
LOVE BEAUTIFUL THINGS? “An emporium of desirables� - Vogue Artist-designed homeware, striking accessories and affordable art, hand-curated from over 500 arts partners
Hello... CHARLEDY BEAR
FANNI WILLIAMS
illustration: gemma milly
JOSIE HENDRICK
this month:
charley beard
is currently day-dreaming of spending Christmas in New York but as a substitute will be watching Elf the movie at home instead.
www.london-bride.com
And welcome to the first special issue of Dashing! We've been working on this baby for you for a while now and are so excited for the launch. A BIG thank you to everyone who's been involved, from our contributors to our interviewees, and everybody who's been excited on our behalf. We're now busily 'dashing' around getting the Jan/Feb issue ready and whilst we've got some treats up our collective sleeve for you, there's still room for more. So if you run a creative business, or have something you think our readers will love, get in touch at info@dashingmag.com
with love...dashing xxx josie hendrick
is learning Portuguese whilst frantically knitting squares for a blanket in time for Christmas and nearly half way there!
www.savoirweddings.com
fanni williams
Is attempting to make all sorts of handmade presents for christmas this year and baking too many delicious goodies.
www.fubumedia.co.uk www.fanniwilliams.com
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CONTEN 003 EDITOR’S LETTER
023 032 THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE ARE FREE PRESENT POLITICS enjoying life’s moments
giving the perfect gift
006 CONTRIBUTORS
024 BLOG LOVIN’
034 BOOK REVIEW
the talented folk involved in this issue
the best of blog world this month
008 THAT’S SO DASHING
026 ETSY EXHIBIT
a warm welcome from the dashing collective
we’re not just about expensive things!
dashing’s favourite finds in time for christmas
021 DASHING OUT
028 MARWOOD
people stepping out in style to start their day
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dashing : december special issue
it’s all about the neckties
this month’s must read
035 DASHING BABES
balancing life and baby
036 WINTER WONDERLAND brrrrrrr! ice princess photo shoot by alex beadon
Wedding section
ENTS DECEMB ISSUEER 001
042 A SPLASH OF COLOUR
luscious watercolour fashion illustrations by cate parr
048 STAND OUT IN A CROWD
geometric/wooden handmade jewellery by kim lawler
054 LET’S GET THE PARTY STARTED
how to achieve this seasons smokey shimmery eye by liv lundelius
056 MY FAVOURITE SHOP
our readers discover london’s hidden gems
060 DASHING DISCOVERS
calheta, madeira the gem of portugal
061 EAT DRINK DO
fab things you can see and do around the uk
062 DASHING SOUNDS
au palais and our very own... we plan you play
066 GOLDEN GLAM
glitter inspiration for your big day
070 SIXTIES IN THE CITY
the perfect shift dress for the urban bride
080 MAID TO MEASURE
interview with maid to measure owners
084 THE A-Z OF LOVE
real life wedding inspiration
090 WEDDING DECOR
how to reuse your wedding decor from your big day
092 GLITTERATI
add some sparkle into your life and to the party
096 GLITTER DIY CRAFT
how to make your own glitter heels
098 ANNA SAYS
the last detail december special issue : dashing
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LISA
KATE
EMMA
Our lovely
GEMMA
CONTRIBUTORS here are the talented and creative people who have helped contribute to this issue of dashing
kate griffith photographer
emma woodhouse writer
gemma milly illustrator
lisa brown photographer
Kate is a contemporary photographer who delights parents with emotive images of their children. Her portraits tell short stories that capture family love and connection. She also has an unhealthy relationship with books. Especially hardbacks. She dreams in plotlines and pictures, and hopes for a life filled with hot chocolates and home libraries.
Emma Woodhouse is a freelance writer with a background in creative and theatrical writing. In 2011 she established The Wedding Reporter to create literary legacies of weddings for discerning couples throughout the UK. A wedding report acts as an extra layer of texture to the memories of a wedding day and literally produces a story of the day.
Gemma Milly is a portrait artist, wedding stationery designer, and founder of Gemma Milly Illustration. After training as an illustrator at Kingston University, she set up her design studio in leafy Hampshire, and now spends her days drawing pretty illustrations for editorial, jewellery and greetings cards. She also creates bespoke wedding stationery for blushing brides-to-be!
Lisa spends her days with a camera in one hand, and her husband’s hand in the other with an iPod between them. She loves capturing the world around her, whether its a secret smile, a warm embrace or a loving look. She also loves Lomo cameras, shopping for vinyl and warm apple cider on a winter’s day.
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dashing : december special issue
dashing december | issue 001
www.dashingmag.com
dashing
december | issue 001
An inspirational magazine for the stylish and spirited girl
INCLUDING A WEDDING SECTION
ANNA
Winter WONDERLAND atmospheric photography from alex beadon
Cover Photography: Alex Beadon, Model, make up & hair: Lizzie Beadon
dashing magazine is brought to you by:
LIV
co - editors Charley Beard charley@dashingmag.com Josie Hendrick josie@dashingmag.com
creative director & photographer liv lundelius makeup artist
anna blogger
Liv Lundelius is a London based make up artist working in fashion, editorial & beauty as well as in holistic bridal make up. Liv has a strong fashion design background and is known for her creativity. She finds beauty in all and is passionate about helping women finding their strengths and making everyone feeling confident and beautiful.
Anna is a wedding blogger with a predilection for decadent but fun-relaxed weddings and a serious aversion to the usual wedding tat. Anna loves fashion and design but strives above all for style, whether it be couture, cocktails or cuckoo clocks and happily tries never to be “on trend.” Oh, she also has many shoes. Many beautiful shoes.
Fanni Williams fanni@dashingmag.com
submissions submissions@dashingmag.com DISCLAIMER: The views of the contributors are not necessarily shared by that of the publishers. Unsolicited manuscripts, submissions, artwork are accepted on the understanding that the publishers incur no liability for their storage or return. Unsolicited content submitted for use in dashing will be decided upon at the discretion of the publishers. The contents of this magazine are fully protected by copyright law and may not be reproduced without our permission. All prices listed are correct at time of publishing but are subject to change anytime at the discretion of the featured shop owners. DIY craft and downloadable projects are for guidance and personal usage only. The staff of dashing and it’s publishers will not be held responsible, for any disasters, due to individual reader’s own negligence when undertaking any of the projects published in dashing.
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That’s so DASHING a selection of our favourite things we are loving this issue!
words charley beard, josie hendrick photography fanni williams
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dashing : december special issue
#1
NEON ring
Because sometimes it’s not about the classy jewellery, it’s about the neon lovin’.
www.oyemodern.com
#2
FEDORA hat
Sometimes a girl just needs to feel like a lady... www.newlook.com
#3
POMPOM mittens
Release your inner child with these cute pom pom mittens, yes we’re into pom poms. www.asos.com
#4
TEA cosy
Not that we need an excuse to drink more tea, but how adorable is this pom pom red cosy? We found this book, so you can knit one of your own. www.amazon .co.uk
#5
POLKA DOT tights We think these polka dot tights brighten up any grey winter’s day! www.pamelamann.co.uk
#6
STYLISH brogues These chestnut leather San Antonio Brogues are ideal for the fashionable daytime look. www.monsoon .com
#7
HOT chocolate
Chilly weather means we cannot get enough of delicious cups of hot chocolate with cream, marshmallows, and just about anything else we can throw in there. www.bbcgoodfood.com
#8
HOT WATER bottles
Is there anything cosier than a hot water bottle? We’re all finding it hard to be parted from ours. www.johnlewis.com
#9
GLITTER bows Glitter retro geek and glam accessories, there’s always some occassion for that added bling. www.janinebasil.com
#10
CLASSIC books Never judge a book by it’s cover, unless it’s these beauties. www.penguin .co.uk
DASHING Out!
JILL ROBERTSON, london,uk
josie hendrick finds out how people are dashing out in style to start their day!
the tunes WeSC headphones and my iPhone. I always have to have music with me and I’m addicted to Spotify.
the occasion I was on my way to do a hen party at The Create Place, a community arts and crafts hub, in Bethnal Green. I teach hens how to make fascinators, while offering them afternoon tea. Every penny of profit from The Create Place goes directly back into the project, supporting the work which they do in the local community.
the book the outfit I was wearing a chunky knit jumper from River Island, a pair of jeans from UNIQLO, a handbag from Dorothy Perkins and boots from H&M.
‘How to be a woman’ by Caitlin Moran. It is a fantastic book for anyone, male or female to read. It reminds you to always make sure you are making choices in life. Don’t just go with the flow or do something just because everyone else is, especially if it doesn’t suit you and your life.
the job I am the marketing communications and fundraising manager at the Fashion & Textile Children’s Trust. We offer financial grants to the children of those who work in the UK fashion and textile industry.
www.ftct.org.uk
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s g n i h t t s e b The FREE! E R A E F I L IN . cost a penny
t ve that don’ things we lo
dashing loves
illustration
gemma milly
do you have a favourite thing you like to do that is free? let us know at submissions@ dashingmag.com
A spontaneou s lunchtime me et with a friend up for good gossip a a nd some fresh a ir.
Tossing tinsel and ee balancing baubles on thisetmtras whilst listening to Chr all songs makes us feel warm and fuzzy.
Baking delicious n blueberry and cinnamgo muffins and fillin the whole house with the sweet scent! Taking a drive
with our other half to an empty beach on a cold winter’s day and sharing fish ‘n chips under a blanket.
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blog lovin’
THE BEAUTY DEPT
E
ver feel a little lost when it comes to the world of makeup, with a gazillion products out there all vying for your attention and pulling on your purse strings? Not entirely sure which product works best for your skin type and if it really is worth splashing out on the most expensive brand? Well have no fear lovely Dashing readers we have found the perfect blog for you to err... brush up on! Not only does The Beauty Department, bring you your daily dose of makeup pretty but it is also filled to the brim with hair and make up video tutorials and inspiration boards to help you glam up for any occasion.
COLOUR ME KATIE
this month’s
www.thebeautydepartment.com
BLOG LOVIN’
our top three picks of the loveliest blogs you should read this month
words fanni williams
H
ere at Dashing HQ, we love to hear and read about talented individuals who create and live the life they want to live, transforming their environment to accommodate their ever expanding hunger for creative projects. So when we came across Katie Sokoler’s blog, ColourMeKatie, we got so immersed browsing through all her colourful entries that we totally lost track of time. Not to mention also developing some serious envy for the plethora of craft and stationery materials this girl has at her disposal! Katie is a young photographer and street artist from Brooklyn, New York, who is
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constantly dreaming up the most creative visual narratives and setting up some really fun quirky scenes on the streets of her local neighbourhood. We particularly love her paper creations which she constructs in her apartment that no doubt take a lot of love, patience and time to make and then also to photograph. Respect! So if you’re feeling a little down by all this dull grey weather we’re currently having, why not click on over to Katie’s blog and we’re sure it will brighten up your day.
www.colormekatie.blogspot.com
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BAKERELLA
C
hristmas is on the horizon and ’tis the season for giving and merrimaking, so if you’re feeling festive and in the mood to bake, why not click on over to the sweet looking, retro sounding blog that is Bakerella. With creative ideas and recipes galore, you can get baking for your loved ones with some rather wonderful tasting goodness from cakes and brownies to various desserts and pies. If however, all that sounds a little too daunting, why not start off with something smaller and click on the ‘bite-sized sweet, easy recipes’ instead.
www.bakerella.com
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dashing finds
this month’s
ETSY EXHIBIT
introducing you to delightful shops from around the world, all shipping to the uk for that perfect gift!
words josie hendrick
A
s soon as we stumbled across these brightly colourful hand drawn and painted plates and cups from Brazil, we just knew we had to feature them. Etsy shop owner and creator Julie Dely uses a painstaking process combining free hand, pen and ink drawing and painting to bring these beauties to life. And what delightful gifts they’d make. They’re designed to either be works of art, and hung on your walls,
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or eaten off too. Not sure how we’d bring ourselves to eat off these plates though, they’re far too pretty. If you do want to actually use them, you’ll need to wash by hand but they can go in the microwave too! We do like a versatile gift here at Dashing HQ. Which one’s your favourite? We’re pretty torn, but the night balloon small wall plate (pictured above) is pretty darn cute.
www.etsy.com/shop/ZuppaAtelier
dashing : december special issue
ZUPPA ATELIER
SON OF A SAILOR
B
ased in Austin, Texas, William and Jessica are the creative collaborators behind the delightfully named Son of a Sailor. The chevron bracelet (pictured) is one of our favourite pieces (and suitable for the gents as well), but they also have some hand painted geometric necklaces we’ve also got our eye on. Not content with just creating jewellery pieces they’ve also turned their hand to prints, cards and framed vintage books.
www.etsy.com/shop/sonofasailor
NORA JANE
A
lso hailing from the States, this time from North Carolina, is a shop called Nora Jane. Mollie’s cute little stamps caught our eye when we were looking for something festive to bring you. She has darling little reindeer, holly and snowman stamps so you can totally jazz up your Christmas cards, (if, unlike us, you’re organised enough this year). The shop is filled to the brim with stamps ranging from elephants to hearts to cans of beans. Yes, that’s right, cans of beans.
www.etsy.com/shop/norajane
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interview
HANDMA THE UKDE IN TRADITIFROM ENGLISH ONAL LACE
Marwood once the epitome of the gentleman, the geek or the schoolboy – neckties for men are now having their resurgence in style.
words charley beard photography ali mobasser &
rom a small town Somerset girl to designing the most stylish accessory in a man’s wardrobe, Becky French has taken what started as a research project and turned it into a company, producing her first innovative collection of neckties. Founded in 2009 Marwood began as a blog, displaying a detailed sketchbook of research. This was the basis of the concept and attitude of Marwood’s debut collection -launched in January 2011 – it featured ties made from traditional English lace which quickly caught the attention of ‘b store’ in London as well as internationally with Barneys in New York and Harvey Nichols in Hong Kong also placing orders. The Marwood ethos is to create products that rouse a feeling of excitement from discovering something new and unusual, whilst maintaining a strong sense of
F
LACE AND GINGHAM BOWTIES Lace bows - £95 Staircase bow ties - £90
emilie bailey
tradition. The standard is now set for Marwood to continue producing innovative collections of quality items that people will treasure and wear time and time again.
Q
WHAT MADE YOU START MARWOOD UP?
I wanted to work with local manufacturers andhigh quality cloth and make a product that I believed was missing from a man’s wardrobe in the type of fabrication and textures that I envisioned. It grew in to a business from a chat with a friend, to collecting vintage ties, starting a research blog and then producing a collection.
Q
HOW DID YOU FIND STARTING UP YOUR OWN BUSINESS? A steep learning curve! It has been a hard year but very satisfying to learn so much about running a business.
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photograph by: emilie bailey
interview
Q
WHAT IS YOUR BACKGROUND PRE MARWOOD?
After I graduated from Kingston University in women’s design I moved to NYC and worked for Ralph Lauren Purple Label (men’s) and then previous to Marwood I worked for Aquascutum for 5 years doing women’s wear.
Q
WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT RUNNING YOUR OWN COMPANY? The freedom. I can develop any ideas and work with creative friends, designers, photographers, art directors… people that aren’t necessarily fully established or known yet but are doing great things – it is always inspiring and we help each other.
Q
WHERE DO YOU GO TO GET INSPIRED?
My studio - I work with four others who aren’t in fashion. Exhibitions. Book shops. Old vintage shops. My home town.
Q
Q
WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST LESSONS YOU’VE LEARNT?
Time management. Still working on that one.
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HAVE YOU ALWAYS BEEN SURROUNDED BY CREATIVITY?
Yes my mum is a textiles designer/teacher and we were lucky to have a great art department in West Somerset to learn.
WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY?
SO many things! Most recently friends’ new babies are a nice little wake-up call to the real world. Dancing… let-your-hair-downstyle-dancing… that makes me very happy.
Q
Q
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IF YOU COULD DESIGN A MARWOOD ITEM FOR ANYONE WHO WOULD IT BE FOR? Patti Smith. I have a new design in mind that is launching next season… she should have one.
Q
WHAT’S NEXT FOR MARWOOD?
I am currently working on the new AW12 collection, which will be presented in January for Paris men’s fashion week in B Store’s ‘Six London’ Showroom. I’m also preparing for a shoot next week for the new lookbook which I am really looking forward to producing – a limited edition printed book photographed by portrait photographer Eddie Jacob.
www.marwoodlondon .co.uk
OPPOSITE PAGE MARWOOD DRAW OF TIES WITH GREENS AND REDS Various prices GREY LACE TIE OFF WHITE £115.00 BLACK LACE HANDKERCHIEF £65 THIS PAGE GEOMETRIC LACE ECRU LACE OVER BLACK SILK £115.00
Present
POLITICS this issue, contributor emma woodhouse tackles an issue close to home. this month, in honour of everyone’s favourite holiday, it’s all about tactical gift giving...
have if you life l a rea matter o issue n or small, how big like us you’d re drop u to feat ine at l a s u
ions@ submigsmsag.com n dashi led tit ife’ ‘real l
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real life
t’s the final few shopping days before Christmas. It’s dark outside. A trickle of cold sweat runs down your back as you push and jostle your way through hoards of miserable looking consumers. The relentlessly cheerful Christmas music being pumped into the shopping mall does little to alleviate your panic. This is the challenge of buying Christmas presents for your partner’s family; the dreaded in-law shop that you leave until the eleventh hour in case inspiration should strike. It hasn’t. It won’t. You are currently bereft of gifts. Trying to find the perfect present that manages to say, “I’m the best daughter/sister-in-law in the world” without being ostentatious about it has left you wandering the aisles of Boots wondering if a selection box of No. 7 products is really ‘on-message’. Your mother-in-law’s stony face as she received last year’s Dr Atkins diet book was a lesson in avoiding giving gifts that might have a subliminal message. She did not enjoy the insinuation that she might need to lose a few pounds. Likewise, the cheeky socks you gave to your father-in-law asking on the one foot “You know what they say about men with big feet?” and answering with “Big shoes!” on the other might have been more humorous had he not choked on his sherry at the euphemism. That’s not to say that your partner’s family have always nailed the gift-giving themselves. The selfhelp manual from his sister certainly let you know where she thought your shortcomings were and the scandalously inappropriate voucher for a lingerie shop from his sleazy uncle didn’t exactly fill you with festive cheer. As you walk through the labyrinthine hallways
I
of Christmas hell, you soon begin questioning your knowledge of your in-laws. How can it be so easy to think of a series of glorious presents for your own brother, parents and grandmother but always have to revert to the same gardening vouchers and DVDs for your partner’s family? Standing in line at yet another mammoth checkout queue, you quietly resolve within yourself that next year will be different. You will listen throughout the year for clues about things that they would really like and appreciate; you determine to spend time thoughtfully crafting personal gifts from your own fair hands to theirs; you tell yourself that you won’t go through another Christmas like this. The key to all of this of course is time. You need to give yourself time to consider, plan and execute the perfect presents. You need time to revel in your great ideas. You need time to ask your partner once and for all to help you in this quest for gift giving perfection. In the end, the only time that you will actually utilise is the period of recuperation after Christmas. You’ll need time to get over the blank stares of the recipients as they receive their sets of shower gel, bland pyjamas and novelty cufflinks. You’ll need time to absorb your own disappointment in yourself for not being better at choosing gifts for them, but also time to adequately arrange your face when you open a food basket filled with canned goods that you have not-so-subtly mentioned that you don’t like in the past. As you struggle home with bulging carrier bags splitting with goods that no one will appreciate anyway, you know that this might not be your finest year, but at least this time next year you will have baked, made and crafted some of the finest Christmas presents known to mankind. Or you’ll be divorced.
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reviews
LITTLE GODS
DASHING reviews dashing’s resident book lover and portrait photographer kate griffin reviews the books you should not miss.
W
www.kategriffinphotography.com
e live in a digital age, but I read in a physical one. So there are some books, written by storytellers I already adore, that I open with great expectation – I treat them well, hold them gently and read them with tender, slightly obsessive, loving care. And then there are some books that creep up on you, unknown, unassuming but full of promise. My rules of engagement with a book go out the window then, because I just can’t help myself. They come everywhere with me, get tucked into bags, bashed slightly, suffering creased spines and dog-eared pages. One of those love it, lose yourself in it books is Little Gods by Anna Richards. Her first novel, it is spiked with colour, character and charm. Enthused with wit, dark humour and an unexpected warmth that swaddles the painful plotlines, making them just barbed enough to affect us, without overwhelming the reader with sadness. I love a book that swallows me whole and spits me out at the end having experienced something visceral. It starts with an explosion that rips through the street “like a birth,” and we carry that unsettled sensation throughout. From the very beginning you feel this book, as well as reading it. Aren’t all the best stories a felt experience?
the characters of life Anna Richards’ debut is a literary world that I loved to live in, populated by rich, interesting characters and darkly
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comic lives. Little Gods tells the tall tale of Jean, described as freakishly large and cumbersome, a girl who does not fit the life she is born into. Her mother, Wisteria, conceives her not out of love, or even youthful foolishness, but a cruel desire to condemn a wounded soldier to an unhappy marriage. It’s a start in life that signals a childhood of abuse lived in a vacuum of kindness and love – so when she flourishes into a person of great tenderness, the truth of her beginning is even more remarkable.
the meaning of friendship Jean, together with her effortlessly beautiful friend Gloria, stride across the ocean to follow or find love. Stumbling, our heroine hopes to create a Jean-shaped space to exist and love in, but with mixed success. You see, moving across borders changes nothing but the view. We watch the how the dips and swells in her relationship with Gloria depict the politics of friendship, revealing how we often define ourselves by the people we surround ourselves with. So much of what Jean expects from her own life is in contrast to the easy attraction that the world feels for Gloria. Even though “everyone should be adored, in some small way, some time” when Jean’s heart is shattered it’s easy to question this sentiment. For the second time in her life, she suffers a devastating explosion – this rips through her emotional core, rather than reducing the world around her to rubble. But we continue to cheer for Jean – she becomes our champion, a fighter for the dispossessed, the displaced and the unloved. Do yourself a favour, pay yourself a little kindness and read, love, and live in Little Gods for a little while.
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baby steps
DASHING babes dashing’s resident creative mama jenny scott shares her advice for those expecting their first bubba... www.mothers-meeting.com
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Accept its going to be one of the hardest years of your life Okay, so you’ve been living the past nine months with mixed emotions, happy/sad/excited/ scared. Now the baby is here you realise its not all fluffy toys and lullabies. You feel exhausted! But you think it’ll only be a few weeks before back to your old life. No!! It’s not going to happen. This year is all about the lil one, and the sooner you accept that the easier you’ll find motherhood. There’s no point trying to squeeze your baby into your old life routine, it will only result in you feeling stressed and unfulfilled. Not only will you be failing at doing what you used to do you will also feel guilty for not giving your lil one all your attention. Once the first year is over you’ll realise 1 yr is such a short space of time. Just try and relax and enjoy it!
area. Get on a plane and have a week in Spain or even a weekend at your parents. It will break up the monotony of feeling like GroundHog Day. Being in a new environment is always refreshing, and if people want to spoil you – let them.
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Use your time wisely Taking your baby for a stroll can be the best time to think of new ideas, whether it’s an idea for a business venture or even inspiration for a new wardrobe make over. Make sure you always have a camera, note pad and pen and use them. As soon as you’re back to your usual 9 to 5 work routine you won’t have the luxury of having so much time to think. Get some good films and box sets Now you have to be on call 24/7 for the new lil person in your life. Getting up throughout the night, every night for hours on end can take its toll! And the only place you fantasise
4 2 Go on holiday For the most of us, this is the longest amount of time you will have off work. No one said you have to stay at home restricted to your local
about going is the sofa. Rather than waste hours of precious baby napping time watching rubbish TV, invest in a box set and make sure you sit down with your other half and really appreciate the time together.
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It’s ok to feel shit (you’re not the only one) It’s been 3 weeks since your baby was born and you still can’t get out of bed, you know you haven’t got PND but you just feel exhausted and unmotivated. It’s really okay to feel like this, remind yourself what you’ve been through! 9 months of raging pregnancy hormones, piling on the pounds, giving birth (major operation) and now sleepless nights and a new lil person to care for 24/7 really it isn’t easy! So if you feel like shit remember it’s perfectly okay, roll with it! And when you’re ready you will get out of bed wanting to open the curtains rather than hide under the covers. Give yourself a break.
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Winter
WONDERLAND photography alex beadon hair & make-up & model lizzie beadon www.alexbeadonphotography.co
m
lex Beadon is a fun-loving twenty-something international photographer and blogger who loves to dream big and create beautiful photographs. Dashing caught up with Alex whilst on her travels for our 30 second interview.
A
Canon vs Nikon? I use Canon because that’s the brand that my parents chose when they gave me my first camera as a
gift for my 18th birthday (it was the Canon 400d). Indoor or outdoor? Outdoor! Your words of wisdom? Live outside of your comfort zone. Experiment, learn what works for you and what doesn’t. Embrace your differences and the fact that you see the world differently to everyone else. It’ll make you stand out!
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A splash of
COLOUR dashing catches up with fashion illustrator cate parr for a quick chat about her work
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How did you get started in your chosen profession? I studied fine arts at University. However it was while actually studying with artists that I felt I got my best education and would highly recommend it. A few years ago I did an intensive 3 month block of life drawing classes at a local college in Los Angeles. It was wonderful drawing different models everyday and it really helped to fine tune my skills. I currently study with an incredible landscape painter, from whom I’ve learnt all my colour ideas. I would say never stop learning or taking classes no matter what your age.
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Do you have any advice for those out there who want to enter this field? Paint (do) what you love....and the field will find you, not the reverse.
2
What are your plans for the future. Any big projects in the pipeline? I am working on private commissions right now and a few magazine illustrations. I love painting what inspires me and that changes weekly. When it sells in my Etsy store it’s a great feeling because someone has connected with my personal work.
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www.cateparr.com www.etsy.com/people/silverridgestudio
artist feature
Stand out from the
CROWD inspired by american indians, the ‘navajo’ collection by kim lawler is bold, colourful and make great pieces of statement jewellery words kim lawler photography fanni williams
his summer I finally made the leap into full-time self-employment and I’ve been able to concentrate almost fully on growing my brand, Finest Imaginary. The past few years have seen me juggling with my day-job as a web developer, alongside evenings and weekends full of jewellery making. The extra time I can now dedicate to Finest Imaginary is invaluable, and has so far allowed me to create, experiement and grow my brand like never before! One of the first things I wanted to do upon becoming self-employed was create a cohesive collection, something I’ve not had chance (or time) to embark on before. I’ve always been quite inspired by the colours and patterns of Native American woven cloths, and my Navajo range draws upon these inspirations and combines them with my own aesthetic and practice. The mainly wooden pieces combine a bright colourful pallete with acrylic accents and geometrical shapes, creating a unique range of statement jewellery.
T
www.finestimaginary.com
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OPPOSITE PAGE: CIRCULAR CHEVRON NECKLACE Hand painted chevrons, accented with bright yellow acrylic feathers. £14 THIS PAGE: CHEVRON EARRINGS Cherry wood and chevrons hand painted and available in two colourways. £7 TRIANGLE BROOCHES A trio of triangles hand painted in two colourways. £8
OPPOSITE PAGE: CHEVRON BROOCHES Cherry wood accented with acrylic chevrons and available in two colourways £6 THIS PAGE: PATTERN NECKLACE Rectangular pattern of hand painted geometrical shapes £13
L et ’s get this
party started!
HOW TO GET THE PERFECT SHIMMERY/SMOKEY EYE FOR THE PARTY SEASON... words liv lundelius • photography fanni williams • model eve hendrick
get the look
I www.livlundelius.com www.blushless.com/blog
wanted to create something that you can do quick and easy on yourself at home. This is a more modern and simple take on the smokey eye using cream eye-shadows and we will add glitter highlights to make it more festive. This technique works well in any colour you may like - play around and find out what suits you best. We are going to keep the lips nude to keep the eyes in focus. If you choose to apply glitter on the eyelids keep your blusher, lips and highlighter fairly matte. Concentrate the glitter only on one feature of the face.
STEP TWO
Apply dots underneath the lower and on the upper lid, as well as on the roots of the lashes, messy application is fine as it will be blended later. Use a smokey cream eye colour and blend it upwards from the lash line. The darkest colour will be at the lashes.
STEP FOUR
Add a shiny cream shadow up to the brow line and near the centre of the eye to widen the gaze. Then, curl your lashes and apply mascara: you can be generous here and colour in the brows, without making them look heavy.
STEP ONE
Intensify the eyes instantly by drawing on the lower waterline with black kohl liner.
STEP THREE
Apply product to the brush again and blend though to your socket line. Make sure you relax your brow while doing this. Blend your pencil underneath with the brush to soften the line.
STEP FIVE
For this Christmas glitter look you can now apply glitter pigments and sparkle on top of your eyeshadow with a damp brush, keep the focus on the inner corner.
FOUNDATION/BASE Chanel ProLumiere 20/Clair Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage #3 Laura Mercier Secret Concealer #1 Laura Mercier finishing powder “Universal” EYES Laura Mercier Cream EYESHADOW Caviar Sticks :”Amethyst” and “Plum” Jemma Kidd mascara Black By Terry long-wearing Eye-pencil in black Barry M. Glitter pigments in silver LIPS By Terry Lipstick Terribly in “101”
MY FAVOURITE shop name laura holden shack age 31 occupation visual artist & arts educator favourite book the hearing trumpet by leonora carrington
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Claimed by fashion stylists as one of the best in London, Mishka Vintage is a nostalgic shop with a warm welcome. Hidden away in Tottenham this vintage emporium is brimming with fantastic vintage items including designer pieces and even beautiful wedding dresses.
MISHKA VINTAGE words charley beard photography lisa brown
“
Mishka is one of those wonderful shops you can get completely immersed in, it’s a world in itself.
address 210-212 middle lane, london, n8 7la dashing : december special issue
”
name philippa reece winter age 30 occupation womenswear designer at boden favourite tv show poirot
Petersham Nurseries is a tranquil, whimsical oasis of inspiration. Set in an 18th Century Arcadia the owners offer a delightful selection of plants, gifts and antiques and also a popular quirky café which are all set in the most idyllic of surroundings.
PETERSHAM NURSERIES
“
I love the nurseries for their great seasonal selection of products on offer amongst the rustic vintage furniture and gorgeous plants.
”
address church lane, off petersham road, richmond, tw10 7ag december special issue : dashing
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name alice bing age 31 occupation graphic designer favourite word crumpet favourite place brixton village
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Brixton Village is otherwise known as Granville Arcade, which is part of the sprawling Brixton Market. It’s a 1930’s indoor market which previously had fallen on hard times and stood empty for some time until Space Makers Agency and an influx of newcomers transformed the market’s fortunes. Open every day of the week and with live music, performances and gallery openings on Thursdays, it’s a must visit in Brixton.
“
I love Brixton Village as it's an assault on the senses. It's bursting with colour, delicious food smells and bustling noise.
address coldharbour lane, brixton, london, sw9 8ps dashing : december special issue
BRICK BOX CAFÉ
”
travel
image courtesy of madeiraarchipelago.com
CALHETA MADEIRA
this month’s
DASHING DISCOVERS there’s a big wide world out there and the dashing girl likes to explore it...
HOTEL CALHETA BEACH
words josie hendrick
A
beautiful island off the coast of Portugal. Home of Madeira cake and um, Christiano Ronaldo of course! Mild climate all year round and affordable easyjet flights. One of the world’s best firework displays on NYE. The UK doesn’t seem to have woken up to Madeira yet, so you won’t share the island with loads of Brits abroad. Don’t come back without a bottle of Madeira wine (basically port).
sleep… At the gorgeous and affordable Hotel Calheta Beach (because it’s a little way from the capital Funchal) 4* beach hotel, it’s not too pricy.
www.hotelcalhetabeach.com
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eat…
Restaurante Casa Abrigo do Poiso – located high in the mountains this restaurant is a secret of the locals. Drink the famous poncho – ‘rum’, honey, and lemon juice, these babies are potent so watch yourself. Not great for veggies this is a feast for meat lovers with steak and kebabs a big feature.
Restaurante Casa Abrigo do Poiso
do… Porto Santo Island is basically
one glorious long beach, Porto Santo looks like a Caribbean paradise at first glance. Another small island approximately 45 mins by boat, Porto Santo is a must see when visiting Madeira.
www.porto-santo.com
dashing : december special issue
photography by: martynhicks.com
things to do
LIVERPOOL
this month’s
V
LONDON
EATDRINKDO
isit Alma de Cuba a rather magnificient Cuban/Hispanic/Latin American inspired restaurant and bar in a converted church. With an events diary as varied as salsa classes to gospel choirs singing as you eat brunch, plus the option of private hire, Alma de Cuba definitely isn’t your average Liverpudlian bar. If you’re a local, or in the area and you haven’t been, get yourself there pronto! St Peters’ Church, Seel Street Liverpool L1 4BH
your guide to everything and anything... shops to browse, bars to drink, museums to get lost in...
words josie hendrick
A
lovely free chocolate festival at London’s South Bank. The Dashing collective love chocolate. What can we say, whilst we basically just love food, there’s nothing that gets us salivating so much as chocolate. So when we found out about The Chocolate Festival at London’s South Bank from 3rd - 9th December (and Brighton and Oxford in the New Year), we knew this would be one event we’d get off our cosy sofa for. We’re most excited
W
e’re never that fussed during the rest of the year, but the emergence of all these outdoor rinks in winter means we can’t wait to get our skates on. If you’re Edinburgh way, you should definitely hit the rink at East Princes Street Gardens. There is plenty of food and drink on offer including our all time Christmas favourite... mulled wine. Just watch you don’t drink too many and think you’re Torvill or Dean. Open now until 4th January 2012
www.edinburghschristmas.com
about the promise of chocolate cocktails. Yael Rose, Event Director says ‘The event is all about indulging your passion for chocolate and learning that it can actually be good for you! I want to show people the fun and creativity as well as the health benefits that come from this exquisite product.” So maybe that even counts as one of our 5 a day? 11am-8pm on Friday & Saturday 11am-6pm on Sunday
www.festivalchocolate.co.uk
EDINBURGH
www.alma-de-cuba.com
BRISTOL
T
he appropriately named Christmas Steps (one of Bristol’s cutest little cobbled street areas) hosts its artisan market on the 3rd of December. Expect yummy food and drink and plenty of creative wares from creative folk. A perfect package of Christmas cheer and the perfect antidote to all those hideous, swarming department stores. Check out their website for more details. Saturday 3rd December 11am-4pm
www.christmasstepsartisanmarket.blogspot.com
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BAND OF THE ISSUE...
AU PALAIS
http://aupalais.bandcamp.com
DASHING sounds
every issue we’ll be featuring an up and coming band we think you’ll love & what we’re currently listening to on the dashing jukebox. Au Palais are a brother-sister duo originally from Toronto. They create beat-driven ethereal Gothic Pop soliciting comparisons with M83, Zola Jesus and even Daft Punk’s TRON: Legacy score.
WHAT THEY SAY
Google ‘Au Palais’ and you WHAT won’t find much yet. But don’t WE let that put you off. We’re all SAY about the understated sexy vocals and heavy beats and Au Palais certainly don’t disappoint.
Tender Mercy EP out now on London label The Sounds of Sweet Nothing.
playlist
WE PLAN, YOU PLAY
some brand new, some newish and some downright old school, but not a christmas song in sight we promise.
Florence and the Machine Gave Me - What T he Watether flame haired one. Another gem from T he album is killer too.
Listen
James Vincent Mc Morrow - Higher Love ess. All round folky lovelin
Listen
Wolf Gang – T he King And All Of HisareMen getting the Finally these guys attention they deserve.
Listen
Mirror Desire - Mirronorrepeat . We have. You’ll want this
Watch
Video Games g Lana Del Ray –sexy voice and soarin Owner of a super popularity. Listen
Mouths Wise Blood – Loud just exciting. Some tracks are And this is one of them.
Listen
Oh Land – Bloodbuzz Ohio about ) What is it (T he National cover vocalists? T hey have Scandinavian female such hauntingly gorgeous voiceboxes.
Listen
photography by liam cushing
– You’re My T hrill Billie Hollidaysongs ever? One of her best
Watch
Stand T he Rain Ann Peebles – I cCan’t really. Because it’s a classi
Watch
Another Day* your East 17 – Stay ising for this. Now close
We’re not apolog eyes and pretend like it’s Christmas ‘94.Watch december special issue : dashing
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wedding Inspirational
ideas for the stylish and spirited bride
066 GOLDEN GLAM
glitter inspiration for your big day
070 SIXTIES IN THE CITY
the perfect shift dress for the urban bride
080 MAID TO MEASURE
interview with maid to measure owners
084 THE A-Z OF LOVE
real life wedding inspiration
090 WEDDING DECOR
how to reuse your wedding decor from your big day
092 GLITTERATI
add some sparkle into your life and to the party
096 GLITTER DIY CRAFT
how to make your own glitter heels
098 ANNA SAYS
the last detail december special issue : dashing
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dashing lookbook SHOW O YOUR N FF INITIA EW IN STY LS LE
GOLD GLITTER BESPOKE MARANO
From £350 www.anyahindmarch.com
BLACK GLITTER STAR NECKLACE £16.00 www.asos.com
THE PERFECT PARTY RING
Golden GLAM sparkle in this seasons must have shimmery black and golds
GLITTER BOW TIE RING
£10.50 www.tattydevine.com
compiled by charley beard & josie hendrick
MUST HAVE
NOTHING LIKE A POP OF GOLD!
Pommery Pop Gold Champagne £15.00 www.johnlewis.com
BOOM BOOM POWER NAIL POLISH
by Deborah Lippmann £18.00 www.houseoffraser.co.uk
DO FLATS IN STYLE E WITH THESS SPARKLER
BALLET PUMP
£55.00 www.aldoshoes.com december special issue : dashing
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Restoration Cake www.restorationcake.co.uk
AS SEEN IN W E D D IN G , H E AT A N D V IN TA G E L IF E Bespoke Wedding Cakes, Cupcakes & Celebration Cakes
download
With love FROM DASHING! if you haven’t already bought tons of christmas cards to send out this season, here’s one we’ve made just for you. print* at home and share that little bit of dashing sparkle with your loved ones!
CLICK HEORAED TO DOWNLDF THE P
TERMS AND CONDITIONS: The Dashing ‘with love + sparkle’ christmas card is to be used for personal usage only you may not reproduce or resell it anywhere else on the web or in print. Print onto thickest card stock that your home printer can handle. The card (when trimmed and folded) will fit comfortably into an A5 sized envelope of your choice. Dashing will not be held responsible for any colour misrepresentation due to different screens and inks in home printers.
december special issue : dashing
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Sixties
in the City photography emma case styling charley beard makeup/hair elbie van eeden model alana hillenaar
f o h c u o t A t n i r p d r a leop e t a m i t l u for the style sixties
Tousled t n a f f u o b hair
LEOPARD PRINT COAT Stylist’s Own • IVORY TASSLE DRESS Stylist’s Own • SHOES Model’s Own • POPPY EMBELLISHED SILK-GEORGETTE SHIFT DRESS (opposite) – £3500 Matthew Williamson
Embellished shifts for the urban bride
profile
EMMA Case photographer
interview by charley beard
Q
WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY IN THE LAST FEW YEARS HAS REALLY OPENED UP CREATIVELY, WOULD YOU AGREE? Definitely. When I first began looking for a photographer when I got engaged in 2008 I really struggled to find anything that I liked. It’s fantastic that photographers are pushing the boundaries as it becomes about not just documenting a wedding but also about art too. It’s an exciting time to be a part of it.
Q
HOW DID YOU GET INTO WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY – DID YOU TRAIN PROFESSIONALLY? It was a bit of a happy accident as I had been given a camera for Christmas the same year Pete (my now husband)
proposed. I began ‘loosely’ researching weddings and couldn’t find a photographer that took pictures the way I wanted. I was learning how to use my camera by taking pictures of family and then I was asked by some friends to shoot their wedding. It ended up being featured on Rock ‘n Roll Bride at a time when this country was just starting to wake up to the fact that they could have something different. I’ll happily admit that from then it’s been a huge rollercoaster ride and I learn something every time I pick up my camera!
Q
HOW DO YOU DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE OF PHOTOGRAPHY TO COUPLES?
I think honest, individual, playful, emotional, quirky, soft, alternative and completely me. I get asked this a lot and I think my photography is completely me.
Q
WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE PHOTO YOU’VE TAKEN?
It’s probably the 3rd photo I took with the camera my husband bought me for Christmas. The photograph is of him but straight after it was taken he got on his knees and asked me to marry him. For me this photo means so much… it’s the start of my photography journey but also the
fact that behind Pete’s eyes he’s thinking ‘I’m going to propose to Emma right now’ and I had no idea… I love that…
Q
NOW YOU ARE SELFEMPLOYED HAS LEARNING THE BUSINESS SIDE OF THINGS BEEN HARD? I was self-employed before as an actress but running your own business is a whole new ball game. I think it’s a hard transition to take something you love as a hobby and turn it into a paying business as the lines are often blurred, it’s definitely a case of learning from your mistakes. I also didn’t realise how many other hats you need to be able to put on - I’m also manager, admin assistant, marketing officer, accountant. I never realised how much there would be to do!
Q
WHAT’S THE BEST THING ABOUT PHOTOGRAPHING WEDDINGS? I don’t want to sound too corny but I adore telling a story. A wedding day is such a beautiful story with so much emotion. I love the relationships, the drama, the aesthetics, and the happiness. It comes right back to our couples too, they are what make it for us. It really is such a lovely place to be.
www.emmacasephotography.bl
ogspot.com
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fotolia : anna hardy, photography by
We worked with leading alternative photographer Emma Case to shoot our urban Sixties bridal feature. Since struggling to find a photographer for her own wedding day, she was given a camera and has since been at the helm of creative wedding photography in the UK. Since then she has been attracting couples wanting to do things differently with her relaxed and individual photography style.
www.kittyanddulcie.com
Dress
ÂŁ385
Bridal gowns you and your purse will love Photography: Sarah-Louise Johnson www.allisdream.com; Make-up: Katie Reedman www.slap.uk.com; Hair: Mariko Kinto www.athertoncox.co.uk; Model: Dite Anata; Headpiece: Temptation headband www.floandpercy.com
DESIGNWN YOUR OMAID S BRIDES S DRE SE
feature
Maids to
MEASURE treat your bridesmaids to a fun girly afternoon out where they get to design their own bespoke dress. words charley beard photography fanni williams
ucked away in a smart terraced house in Fulham, a friendly face greets the door and welcomes us into a little living room of luxury. The scent of Diptyque is in the air, we sink into the sofa littered with plumped up cushions and are offered tea and cake with a beaming smile (or bubbles but given it was only 9am we politely stuck to caffeine). As I take in the surroundings, gorgeous lace dresses with satin sashes hang, and frames lined up on the bookshelf are filled with real life wedding photos of pretty girls in them. Instantly it feels like you are round your best friend’s house – it’s clear that owners India and Sinclair are all about the personal service at Maids to Measure.
T
girls’ day out I remember the days sat in my kitchen sketching away on my Fashion Wheel - isn’t it every girls dream to design her own dress? We all come in different shapes and sizes but with a set price of £195, each dress whether asymmetric, lace, ball gown, spaghetti strapped or prom is bespoke and will, quite literally be made to measure. In my opinion India and Sinclair have created not only a very much-needed product, but also a service, and an experience. A visit to them will be part of the excitement of being a bridesmaid and not the chore that I know (and believe me, I do) that it can be. Despite their previous employment in finance and law, these girls know what women want.
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I spot something out the corner of my eye – cute cardboard cut outs of fabulous bouquets, which Sinclair explains to me are “for the girls to hold up against their dresses to help them to pick colours”. Sometimes it’s those little things that make all the difference.
design-it-yourself Having worked for Vera Wang, India who is the designer in the duo - was surprised how there was very little flexibility with alterations, sizes and colours for bridesmaid dresses. Meanwhile, three times bridesmaid sister Sinclair felt limited by the high street and the lack of an ‘experience’ when trying on dresses. With many brides choosing to have their closest girl friends and family at their side on their wedding day, Maids to Measure offer the perfect mix between high street and designer dresses for them. The next appointment is due to arrive and I can imagine the excitement of making an event of getting your girls together for a weekend in London (though they do also have a number of agents throughout the
country) and taking a visit to see India and Sinclair. From here, the bride and her maids sift through an abundance of colour swatches, try on sample dresses (they even have a ‘Pippa’ dress), nibble on cake and with the honest advice and help from the experts, set about designing their own dresses.
london, dublin & online Since their launch at the Luxury Wedding Show in October, Maids to Measure is growing rapidly in popularity. Noticing many brides and their friends coming over from Dublin to have dresses made, they now make regular visits over there to offer up appointments. As is often the case with bridesmaids if all your girls can’t be in one place at the same time they will shortly be able to go online, pop in their measurements, pick their colour and design their dress for it to be delivered direct to their door. Now if that’s not Maid to Measure, I don’t know what is.
www.maidstomeasure.com
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wedding style
A-Z the
of love
reflect your own personal style on your wedding day by using inspiration around you and invest in items you can enjoy for years to come words charley beard photography lisa devlin
ewly married couple Hayley and Lucas run sister companies Keep Calm Gallery and Alphabet Bags. Their love of graphic design and all things alphabet meant their wedding was a rustic and relaxed barn wedding with a lot of love‌ and letters. We take a look at their personal styles and see how they incorporated this into their wedding day.
N Q
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONAL STYLE IN FIVE WORDS? Nostalgic, fun, secondhand, colourful AND eclectic.
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Q
DID YOU ALWAYS KNOW THAT YOU WANTED A CREATIVE WEDDING AND HOW DO YOU THINK YOU ACHIEVED THIS? We knew from the start that we really wanted the day to reflect us as a couple and for us to create as much as possible in terms of decor ourselves. At first it seemed a bit daunting - so many ideas and a huge space to fill but once we started finding pieces to use, we could start to visualise the finished space. We had a list of DIY projects and spent most evenings in the months leading up to the day crafting, painting, cutting and sticking!
A MUTUAFLOR PASSIONAPHY TYPOGR IN RESULTEDMADE A MATCHAVEN! IN HE
Q
WHEN PLANNING YOUR WEDDING, WHAT DID YOU CONSIDER TO BE THE MOST IMPORTANT ELEMENTS? The most important thing was the venue itself; we really wanted a venue that offered the freedom to do exactly what we wanted so the barn was the perfect blank canvas. We love food and would never have been able to decide on just one meal so instead we chose a buffet. Guests could also help themselves to bottles of cider and pop from large zinc buckets as we wanted the day to have an informal atmosphere and for them to feel comfortable.
Q
DID YOU WORK TO ANY SCHEME IN PARTICULAR FOR YOUR WEDDING? We didn’t have a particular scheme or set of colours in mind, although we did end up using lots of brown kraft paper, wooden elements and Hayley’s favourite colour yellow!
Q
HOW IS YOUR STYLE REFLECTED IN YOUR HOME?
We don’t have a particular style, it’s a real mish-mash! Everything has been collected over time and most items have a story or memory behind them. A lot of what we buy is second hand and we love that it has a history and a uniqueness about it.
Q
DO YOU BOTH HAVE A FAVOURITE ROOM IN THE HOME? Our favourite room is our living room as this is where we keep most of the bits and pieces we’ve collected. We love the shelves as they’re perfect for displaying our collections of knickknacks!
Q
AS YOU ARE BOTH CREATIVE, DID YOU ENJOY SOURCING ITEMS AND DESIGNING YOUR WEDDING? Yes! We loved creating so many of the details
december special issue : dashing
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together ourselves. We spent time sourcing items wondering around markets and fairs and visiting new places. We were able to justify buying a some new pieces with the view of using them in our home after the wedding! Making some elements was fun, but harder work. Some things we thought would be easy ended up taking up a lot of time, such as individually sticking and gripping every cocktail stirrer until they dried!
Q
WEDDING PLANNING CAN BE STRESSFUL, DID YOU FIND ANY PART OF THE PROCESS DIFFICULT OR PROBLEMATIC? Indecisiveness was our main problem, having so much choice and so many things we could do!
Q
WHAT IS YOUR BEST MEMORY OF YOUR WEDDING DAY?
Q
ANYTHING YOU WOULD DO DIFFERENTLY?
Lucas: One of the best parts of the day was our first look before the ceremony. Watching Hayley walk up was a moment I’ll never forget. We’re so glad we had a moment of quiet together before the madness of the day ensued and that we got most of our tears out of the way then. Hayley: I took a few special moments during the evening with my new husband watching all our loved ones from the edge of the dancefloor enjoying themselves and dancing the night away. It was just the greatest feeling.
Not a thing, the day was even better than we had imagined.
CD OH SO PRETTY COUTURE WEDDING STATIONERY AND PORTRAITURE BY
gemma milly illustration
www.gemmamilly.com
EF
How to reuse your
WEDDING DECOR invest in personal pieces, decorations and items that you can enjoy on your wedding day and as a lovely reminder for years to come words charley beard photography fanni williams
how they did it For Hayley and Lucas, they had many things in their home that they were able to utilise on the day. Such as glass domes, terracotta plant pots and wooden crates which are now bookshelves - were all bought together to create their rustic detailed wedding day. The ‘Love’ sign made out of twine especially for their wedding now hangs pride of place in their study and the moss initials are a key feature in their living room.
how you can do it Do take a look around your own home (or your parents!) for things you can use on the day. You’d be surprised how you
90
can turn that collection of old books into table numbers, or that you can use your favourite collection of vases for top table flowers. These little details all help tie in to make it really reflect you. If you want to invest in a huge framed print, consider one that you can use on the day as a feature and then hang in your living room afterwards. Some decorations such as banners, signs, fairy lights and bunting can all be used in your home or garden afterwards and little touches like your cake toppers or a Polaroid camera are wonderful keepsakes and can be re-used for years to come.
www.alphabetbags.com
dashing : special december issue
Glitterati shine on your big day with unadulterated glitterly prettiness
YUMMY ET V RED VEDLE! INSI
styling by charley beard & josie hendrick photography fanni williams
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RED VELVET CAKE BY RESTORATION CAKE
GLITTER CUTLERY
STRIPEY GLITTER COCKTAIL GLASSES & GLITTER TAGS
DIAMOND RING TOTE BAG FROM ALPHABETBAGS
STARRY HEADBAND FROM GIANT DWARF
TEALIGHT CANDLE HOLDERS FROM EBAY
RED VELVET CAKE BY RESTORATION CAKE
LOVE RULES POSTER BY KEEP CALM GALLERY
Glitter
MAKE YOUR OWN
HEELS! words josie hendrick photography fanni williams
dashing makes
: ITEMS YOU WILL NEED
STEP ONE
Various sized paint brushes. Jar of glitter, medium sized sprinkles work best. PVA craft or fabric glue.
A bowl covered in tin foil (so it’s easy to throw away). Masking tape. Crystal Clear spray varnish.
STEP TWO Proceed to add several more layers of glitter glue. It’s important that each layer needs to be dry before applying the next or else it will create gaping holes in the layer below.
STEP FOUR When you are happy with the coverage and consistency of the glitter layers, check to see your heels are fully dry before using the Crystal Clear spray vanish to enhance and seal them with a final protective coat.
First place the masking tape around the base of the heel and under the arch. Then mix up some of the glitter with the PVA in a small bowl to make your glitter glue. Apply the first coat generously following the contour of the heel with your paintbrush and allow to dry.
STEP THREE With a small handful of loose glitter generously sprinkle over the entirety of the heel, covering any gaps that may still be visible. Tap the heel to remove any loose bits and gently press down the remainder with your fingers to secure them to the glued base and allow to dry.
STEP FIVE Remove any remaining masking tape bits and your glitter heels are ready to party! Enjoy!
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last word...
W
dashing’s wedding columnist discusses... the last detail
ell hello. I’m Anna from the blog Anna and The Ring. I got married just over a year ago and learned a whole lot in the process. In recent months, on the interwebs and beyond, there has been much speculation as to what makes a wedding, a wedding, and I’d like to show you that you can love style and have a thoughtful meaningful wedding. Details, details, details. Are details necessary – well, no. What do you actually need to get married? Bubbles? No. Cake? No. A wedding dress? No. All you need a future spouse and 2 witnesses. Everything else is up for negotiation. But that doesn’t mean the details aren’t important? You are not wrong to love things. I love things too. I love special details. It does not make you superficial to want lots of pretty details in your wedding. I had a day peppered with delicious personal details. Solemnity has its own place at a wedding yet it would not have been my wedding without certain touches. It could have been yours, it could have been anyone’s. It’s the little details that help make a wedding personal. Ideally they should reflect you and your personalities. Mason jars for instance, have become the whipping boy of the “we hate details” team. Yes you do not have to drink from a mason jar for it to be a wedding. Yet, if you want to use a mason jar, use a mason jar. They are cute and wonderful. It’s your choice.
be inspired by yourself If you are clueless about the trends and have no idea what to choose, do look at the magazines and blogs. They do well for good reason because they are inspiring, but don’t forget to look around
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you. What do you adore? Minimalism? Vintage? Computer games? Cats? That should also be your inspiration. Remember who you are. And remember, it doesn’t have to look like a wedding for it to feel like a wedding.
your wedding...your taste... Certainly I am not espousing wedding tat which is peddled by certain catalogues. It’s not my personal style. However, if you want to monogram everything in your wedding and you have always wanted to do so then that is perfectly fine. My taste is not your taste. You are the only ones who need to love your wedding. And don’t fret that people will have seen your details before. Most people haven’t. Most people do not attend 52 weddings a year or read wedding blogs. So don’t be afraid of choosing something popular or trendy. There is usually a reason it is loved. But it’s good to remember you are not planning a performance, you are getting married. It should reflect your love and life together. Weddings can be stripped down affairs or completely deliciously over the top. Neither is better than the other. There is no winner. So please find the details you love. Whether they be intricately-carved ice-swans or a pebble from your favourite beach. For me the details are so important. You don’t need them and they need not be exorbitantly expensive but they make it personal. They make it special and after all that’s what we all want. For our wedding to be the special start to a lifetime of love. Don’t we? I certainly did.
love anna x
I’d love to hear what you think. Join in the debate on twitter and facebook.
tolia : emma case, fo photography by
glondon .blogspot.com
www.annaandtherin
ANNA says
READER SURVEY
dashing An inspirational magazine for the stylish and spirited girl
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CLICK HERE TO TAKE THE READER SURVEY we really really appreciate it! charley, fanni & josie xxx