blanc
This publication is a celebration of girls’ fashion and their empowerment. BLANC – translates to white in French. White also being symbolic for purity and freedom. BLANC is a play on words in relation to a ‘BLANK’ canvas and portraying a girl’s body as a metaphoric work of art. BLANC aims to depict fashion as an expression of our own artistic values by embracing all female formalities. The simplicity and purity of this ‘blank canvas’ will empower BLANC’s audience and participants. The idea of girl power - Girls rising-up together whilst being confident in their own style and body form, however they choose to look or style themselves. From glam make up to no make-up with blemishes, ginger hair to a huge afro, we want to embrace it and be body confident to prove that there is no such thing as ‘perfect’. BLANC encourages girls to love themselves and show off their bodies with pride without being sexualised. A publication showcasing, all kinds of powerful girls in all shapes, sizes and styles. With empowering quotes, heart felt poems and thoughts about the struggles to be the girl we want you to be whilst knowing you’re not alone in your thoughts. We are all in this together. We hope you can relate and engage with us, we’d love to hear more from you. The aim of the publication is to capture girls in positive, empowered images showcasing and celebrating the variety and diversity of fashion and how it can help showcase an individual representing themselves. We want to promote the very best in you. Not only empowering the girls in front of the camera, but with this publication being a conclusion of a variety of talented girls collaborating together to help produce the final outcome. From models, accessory design, print, creative writing or photography, we have all given a part to this and made something amazing is something we want to share with you and hope this is something you can relate to. From a young age I have struggled with self-confidence, anxiety and the constant comparison against others. Not wanting to be me but wanting to be something better than me. I was covered in spots and bigger than everyone else in my class. Or at least I felt it after the “tree trunk” comments about my 15-year-old innocent ¬thighs. I became in a bad relationship with myself, life, food and leaving the house. There was no mention that you could be anything but this idyllic look and it was just a promotion of a very set way I should look especially with being bought up in an army camp that they call a girls school. At this point it was a downward spiral into me trying to be the person who I wasn’t. Through the years of the horrible existence of my teenage years, I found fashion, took images of myself in my exciting new clothes – this was something I could always and tried to be ‘the best’ at. I took the photos, edited my skin and I portrayed myself through social media as someone that I wanted to be, the life I wanted to lead and what wanted to look like - confident, happy. I didn’t leave the house and there was nothing normal about it. But it was easy. I had everyone fooled, apart from myself. But from the split moment I did this, I felt satisfaction from recieving the positive attention. I felt normal. But then you bounce back and realise you’re still somehow stuck. However, in the end of the story you realise that the happy ending is in you and that being the best version of yourself is the best person you can or want to be. “Don’t forget to fall in love with yourself first”
what’s on the inside?
your body is your canvas
flick your hair and move on
this is me.
SINCERELY, ANONYMOUS This was how I struggled to get out of bed; stuck, untouched, unloved. This was how loneliness shattered the light within me; this was how the darkness hugged me, every inch, every curve, every night. This was how I put on my mask; this was how I made them believe I was OK; this was how a smile became fake, forced; this was how to reverse those tears. The shame of being you. This was how to master ‘I’m fine’; this was how to skilfully change the topic; this is how to rip yourself to piece others together; this is how to train self-sabotage, teach yourself that everything you touch, rots, just by a single, gentle stroke. This was how to watch you pull the trigger, how to watch the explosion, pick up the crumbling pieces – all within you. You can’t blame anyone for the mess, am I over exaggerating? It’s such a shame being you. This is how to wither within your internal war, watching eyes – piercing, tormenting, judging – as they follow your every step, discriminating your every move, poisoning reality from imagination. This is how to obediently sit next to defeat, calmly watching the surrounding walls collapsing with might, with power, with strength, in a room filled with nothing. Because that’s what you become. Nothing.
No one. Just another beating heart, that doesn’t want to beat for another second. But stars can’t sparkle without darkness, the moon needs to pass for the sun to shine, the rainbow needs the rain to exist. Time is now your healer. I’ll teach you how to breathe, how to exhale the toxic and inhale the present; I’ll teach you to treasure patience. This is now how to surround yourself with positive energy, with people who understand – offering caressing arms, a pure heart and a serene ear. It’s a blessing to be you. This is now how to accept a bad day; this is how to acknowledge that they will pass. 24 hours precisely. You may be lost in more ways than one, but this is how to enjoy the journey until you find your path; this is how to appreciate the scrapes and bruises; that makes you, you. When enduring a good day, let guilt take shelter in the dark; this is the present, this is now, this is allowing yourself happiness from starvation. It’s a blessing to be you. Let forgiveness hug every inch of you, let love flood the self-loathe nesting in your mind. This is how to absorb the pain of the past and liberate the true you. Those tainted eyes in your past, are the ones that look through your mirror, catching your smile today, and glows.
come as you are.
“ you’re just
jealous that my hair colour can be found in rainbows and yours can only be found in dirt.”
I grow humans.
what’s your super power?
urban pink to make the boys wink.
ONE GLASS OF A SINGLE TINGLE Serves: 1 Preparation time: Unlimited What is the secret ingredient to being a strong, independent woman? A heartbreak. To reach the peak, you have to begin with at the pit. It is inevitable that everyone will get their heart broken during their lifetime. It’s inescapable. Whether it is your friends, family or partner; someone will shatter your heart into a million pieces, force the air out of your lungs and drain the very last drop of happiness you ever had. Do you get angry that you ran out of orange juice to make your cocktail into a Sex on the Beach, or just enjoy the cheeky Woo Woo, with just an extra slice of a strawberry? Fear not, there are remedies to quench heartbreaks, so grab your glass and try a Single Tingle to start you off.
Ingredients: 20ml
grief
10ml
forgiveness
5ml
self-love
7 dashes
laughter
1 twist
motivation
Firstly, just like how every cocktail has a main spirit, every heart break needs time to grieve. This is allowing yourself the space to adjust to a sudden change. Tears are welcome during this time of your life, as it is a method of detoxing the negative, recognising the good and also weeping fear of the unknown future that awaits. I recognised that this is a necessary first step, I ended up comparing future relationships and not enabling myself to close that chapter of my life and commence to transcribe the next. There is no time limit for this. You cannot predict when the last tear drop for that person will fall, you cannot rush the process otherwise when shaken (not stirred) the flavours of life will be sour. Next, add forgiveness. My grandmother always preached:
“YOU’VE GOT TO FORGIVE TO MOVE FORWARD”. Acknowledgement of the past and accepting that nobody is perfect, is the most valuable lesson she ever taught. With this, add a large dollop of self-love. Learning this, is closely followed with discovering yourself. Find out what you love, dislike, what makes you smile, what stresses you out etc. Finding answers makes you learn the real you and with that, being comfortable and confident in living in your own skin. Being proud of having a strong sense of who you are, building those walls that are tough to withhold criticism. Don’t forget to add daily dashes of laughter. It is scientifically proven that laughter releases the body’s natural feel-good chemical, endorphins. One a day keeps the mood swings away, especially for those days that seem harder than yesterday. Finally, shake well after squeezing a twist of motivation. Be fearless in the pursuit of what sets the beat of your heart. Having the motivation to better yourself and grow will open multiple doors, discovering wonderful adventures that you wouldn’t have dared to venture, either due to a lack of confidence or restriction. Strive to reach that perfect blend of joy and success by going to bed with an overwhelming sense of achievement.
follow your own path
“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.�
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
what’s your story?
WIRES INTO BLOOD 11:11 MAKE A WISH:
Your monotonous day begins. You’re endangered, edging extinction. You’re a construction built by institutions. You’re a machine powered by digits. Money. Power.
11:11 MAKE A WISH:
Emotions are nothing but definitions. Nothing but dark, concentrated. Caffeine fix. Memories inhaled by the toxic, stained between your fingers. Stress. Anger. Stress. Repeat.
11:11 MAKE A WISH:
The life you have is a myth. The life you have isn’t living, it’s just…breathing. It wasn’t a dream, nor a wish, nor hope. Nightmare. Exhale.
11:11 MAKE A WISH: Goals sparks motivation. Motivation sparks passion. Passion sparks happiness. The rest? Peace.
11:11 MAKE A WISH: Rise and place a step forward. A step closer to fall apart, shatter. Bruises turned beauty spots, Implanting Each Success.
11:11 MAKE A WISH:
You are a product of your thoughts. Digits aren’t power, institutions are conventional. Craft your own box, Octagonal. Individuality is foreign, Aspired. Rewarding.
11:11 MAKE A WISH TO FIND YOU.
EMILY DAVIS - CONTENT CREATOR, GRAPHICS, ILLUSTRATOR, STYLIST, PHOTOGRAPHER GEORGINA AZIZA - CREATIVE WRITER LUCY PESTRIDGE - MODEL CHANTELLE QUINTON - MODEL MAISY HAYCOCK - MODEL OLIVIA PYATT - MODEL RONNIE FROELKE - MODEL CHARLOTTE REDMAN-MASON - MODEL ELLIE JOHNSON - MODEL LAUREN BIRKS - MODEL LEENA SOBEIH - MODEL ALEKS CHMIELECKA - MODEL TAMIKA WILLIAMSON - MODEL KATE DURBER - HAIR STYLIST BETH MCKENDRICK - MAKE UP ARTIST FLOSSIE OWEN - POMPOM EARINGS DESIGNER LUCY CARISS - PRINT DESIGN MOTEL ROCKS - CLOTHING THE GYPSY SHRINE - GLITTER AND JEWELS
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CONTENT CREATOR, GRAPHICS, ILLUSTRATOR, STYLIST, PHOTOGRAPHER
GEORGINA AZIZA CREATIVE WRITER