The Norm by Grace Lovelady

the norm anything but

no longer shy be curious and pry

editor’s let er.. .

I do love

to sit down, relax, sip on a vanilla latte in a cosy café, look out of the glass window and just have a good old-fashioned people watching session! It’s usually just watching people shop, interact with one another, talking on their phones and doing their day-to-day duties. There is something fascinating about people isn’t there? The way we express ourselves and communicate through this world of ours and especially the fact that each of us are different for one reason or another. It is the little and big differences which I find the most remarkable about each one of us. I’ve always been slightly (very) nosy and always asked millions of questions so I decided to share this ‘quality’ of mine. This magazine is an insight into other people’s lives. Not high fashion designers, not high fashion models, not actors or actresses who recently won an Oscar and walked the red carpet onto Sunset Boulevard but just an insight into everyday people. Everyday people that have that difference about themselves which makes them shine. We all have a story to tell or colours to show and here at The Norm we express these and invite you all in to take a peek and a nosy into the lives of others. So enjoy this magazine and read about other people around you, sit back, relax and enjoy a good ‘people watch’ for yourself.

x x y d a l e v o L e c Gra

donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be afraid of the big blank spaces. . .

break away, fly away, dream, be free, be curious, and flee, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t do as your told, be bold, break away from the mold, take a chance and dare to be dif ferent.. .

everyone has a certain something, not one of another is the same, stand out, tel l your story, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be what they want you to be, we are al l anything but.. . The Norm 8

contents. the good stuff. .

11-28 - Photoshoot with Hanna - the hippy at heart 31-34 - Main feature with blogger Alice Goddard 35-46 -Jonathan Bishopâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Work in Progress.

....

meet hanna The hippy at heart with a love of vintage fashion

Grace: Hi Hanna, Thank you for inviting us into your lovely home. Tell us a little bit about yourself? Hanna: Erm, I’m 21 and I work in the catering industry, erm I live at home with my parents as well as my brother, sister and little pup. I love collecting clothes such as vintage items and charity shop bargains. I love being creative with art and photography. I love listening to music and reading.....Oh and travelling. G: So would you say that travelling is pretty important to you? H: Yeah! G: Whereabouts in the world have you travelled to? H: I’ve been to Europe, the Caribbean, Cuba, Australia, China, America, India.... G: Wow you’re certainly well travelled, is there anywhere that you are still dying to journey to? H: I would love to see South America, California and South East Asia. G: So, you mentioned that you love collecting vintage clothing and rummaging through charity shops. What is it about clothes that you find so attractive and engaging? H: Erm, I hate looking like anybody else. I’ve never been in a situation where I’ve been wearing something the same as anyone else EVER! I just don’t have anything the same as other people and I think that’s what is most important. My worst nightmare would be to turn up at a party wearing the same dress as some girl. G: (Giggles) Yeah I get that! H: (Laughs) I would FREAK OUT! I mean yeah, sometimes I shop at Topshop and that. G: Is there something special about vintage items that entice you in? H: I love that every piece of vintage clothing has a story. I feel kind of strange putting on something new. I mean I love H&M and I love their quirky stuff but the fact that it’s manufactured and new makes it feel a bit strange. Erm, I’m also passionate about where the clothes have come from. I love fair-trade fashion and all the eco fashion stuff but generally it’s charity shops and vintage. The fact that it’s had a life before is fascinating to me. G: Have you got any favourite designers? H: Well, erm I don’t own anything designer I can’t afford stuff like that but I love Missoni, they’re all about seventies crochet and as a family they are incredible, they all design together. G: Have you ever met anyone who has inspired you or impressed you in any way? H: (long pause) I’ve not really met a certain person but I read a lot of blogs everyday and they inspire me massively.

G: What blogs are you the loyalist to? H: Oh, every day I would check Oracle Fox erm Fashion Toast, Where Did You Get That? And Knight Cat. I love a bit of Swedish fashion as well because the Swedes dress really, not at all like me, sort of very monochrome, black and white, very straight, cut and lacy style. I love Angelica Blick, she’s amazing.

G: That’s incredible. You have such an amazing wardrobe yet it hasn’t burnt a hole in your purse.

G: Okay so have you got a specific piece from your wardrobe that you adore? Be it vintage or found in the bottom of a bin in a charity shop? H: I can’t name just one but I definitely have some main pieces found in charity shops that were the biggest bargains. I have a tasselled, black, real suede waistcoat that is probably worth a fortune but I got it for a fiver.

G: Well, if it was special then why not? (Laughs) H: Exactly. I also love my vintage coats, they are to die for.

H: (Smiles) Thank you. I also have a seventies collared dress which has flared sleeves, erm, that was probably not so much of a bargain (giggles) but it was special.

G: They certainly are. Now if you could describe your own fashion style in one word, what would it be? H: Unpredictable.

G: Brilliant! And what is your favourite thing to wear right now? H: I would say my high waist Wrangler jeans. G: You’re wearing them right now aren’t you? They’re lovely H: I love just wearing them slouchy, with a casual top and probably my Toms, I live in my Toms. G: Well by the sounds of it, fashion seems to play an important role in your life. Is this true? H: (Nods) G: Yes? (Laughs) H: Everyday G: So, tell us about your love life. Have you got a special someone? H: Yeah, I’ve been with my boyfriend Liam for eight years in January. G: Aw that’s great. What’s the story behind you guys meeting? H: Erm, well we met at a music concert when I was fourteen and we both looked completely different. I had long black hair and dressed kind of punk and ‘emo’ styled (Laughs). He was wearing a hoodie and drainpipes which everyone wore back then. He’s more into his tweed and heritage trends now. G: Oh I remember the ‘Emo’ trend (laughs) all those safety pins and cut off tights with converse, brilliant but very American. Would you say American fashion has more influence on you rather than English? H: Yeah definitely more American, I don’t really count myself as an English fashion follower. G: So at this music gig, did you make the first move? (Winks) H: Yeah, I went up to him and prodded him in the tummy and said hey. But he kind of ignored me... he eventually then came back later to find me. G: Teenage dreams eh? And you guys have been together eight years, that’s great. H: Yeah he’s my best friend (Smiles). G: Cool. So you say that English fashion isn’t really for you but you’re a Northern girl, since you live in the heart of Yorkshire. How would you describe it up here? H: It’s gorgeous for the countryside and scenery but it is a very slow pace of life, quiet and calm. It isn’t really fashion central, at all. I mean there are some cities in the North that are quite fashionable like Leeds and Manchester but they aren’t as quirky and fashion forward as London. Manchester has got great vintage shopping like Afflecks Palace. The charity shops in the North are amazing and so cheap. I don’t think I’ve ever been into a charity shop up here and not found something. G: Big up to the North! (Being a Northern bird myself...) So you mentioned you work in the catering business, and you actually run your own business at the moment. How did this come about? H: Erm, about three or four years ago my Mum opened up a fairtrade, organic café called ‘O’Crumbs’ and that was also the central base for our catering company which we ran as a family. It was in in-between doing a fashion course that I worked there. I started working there full time when I finished the course so that I could save money to travel and do whatever I wanted. But then my Mum sold the café so I decided to take on the catering business myself. G: Nice one! And is it going well? H: Yeah, it’s good I enjoy it.

G: Well, word on the grapevine is that you make one damn tasty sandwich. What is your masterpiece sandwich? H: (laughs) probably, this spicy Mexican chicken one with peri peri mayo, lots of salad, a bit of mozzarella on a big brown, crusty bun. G: Mmm that sounds too tasty. Maybe you can make me on later? (Giggles) H: If you’re lucky G: So, tell us about your family, you said that you were working together, are you all pretty close? H: Yeah, I’m really close to my family. My Mum is probably the most important person in my life. She’s like my inspiration and my idol. She’s just the best person in the world. She’s so passionate about charity and so selfless. My passion from travel comes from my Mum and Dad because they have taken us all over the word. They travel a lot themselves. My Dad is very (sighs with a smile) laid back but a passionate kind of guy, works hard all the time. My sister is very social and she’s got her own business things going on but she’s travelling South East Asia at the moment. And my brother is... just a lazy s**t.(laughs).

A lazy s**t who doesn’t know what he wants to do. I think we are all like that as a family; we’re all waiting to grow up and waiting to decide what we want to do. My Mum and Dad who are forty-odd still don’t know what they want to do. G: So what do you want to do when you grow up? Where can you see yourself in ten years time? H: Living on a beach. With a cocktail bar, with no priorities and no responsibilities at all but in ten years time we’ll see. G: How about kids? Can you see yourself having a family? H: Yeah, I’ll have children in ten years time hopefully. G: With your boyfriend? H: Yeah, probably (laughter) G: Okay so, a little bit random but what would be your perfect breakfast? H: Oh my goodness by perfect breakfast would be cheesy eggs...

G: Cheesy eggs? H: And loads of pastries, poached eggs and a good, MASSIVE mug of earl grey and (long pause) some fruit juice (grins). G: That’s quite a big breakfast for such a tiny lady. Good woman! H: (Laughs) well you know... G: If you could suggest four songs for us. What would they be? H: My favourite song in the world is probably Dobie Gray –‘Drift away’ because it has some amazing memories with it. And then probably Ben Howard – ‘The Wolves’ that was the first song that got me into him. He’s incredible. Ed Sheeren – ‘The A Team’ because he was born up here in Halifax and erm Manchester Orchestra, any song by them because they are immense. G: So you seem to like quite chilled out, acoustic vibes throughout music? H: Yeah I love to just put music on and chill out. I love listening to reggae. Bob Marley obviously.

G: Oh yes, Bob was an inspirational man. So Hanna, if you were a boy for one day, what on earth would you get up to? H: (long pause) If I was a boy for a day, I would probably get absolutely wasted and be really stupid with my guy friends, avoid getting arrested and into trouble because guys can get away with it. I think lads friendships are totally different to girls because it’s all about having fun and messing about. G: (Laughs) let’s hope you wouldn’t get arrested. Going back to what you are interested in. You mentioned Art, is it big part of your life? H: Yeah, I guess it was when I was studying it at School and College and I kind of do want to get back into it but for pleasure reasons rather than business. Maybe when I’m older and retired I’ll get back into painting, I love oil painting. I think my future will defiantly be to do with art and fashion. I’d love to start a blog but it would just be too much hassle (rolls eyes). But yeah I can certainly see art in my future. G: Is there anything that inspires you to be creative? H: The end product. That would always keep me going. I’m a very visual person. G: Hanna, if you could be reincarnated into anything what would it be? H: (long pause) I would defiantly be reincarnated into a dog. I love dogs. I don’t think anything in this world is loved more than my dog, Jodie. G: Aww that’s adorable. I love dogs too. Maybe we could come back as dogs

G: Name three things that you cannot live without. H: My Levi cut-offs I live in them, can’t be without them. I couldn’t live without my teddy bears and my doggy. Doggy, teddy bears and my Levi cut-offs how sad is that? G: Not at all! I couldn’t live without some embarrassing stuff too...that I won’t mention (laughs). So Hanna, have you enjoyed modelling your extraordinary and expanding wardrobe for us today? H: It’s been fabulous, great to show it off. I’m very proud of it. It’s a collection I know I’ll keep forever.

alice goddard Words by Grace Lovelady Most girls spend their teenage years not caring about the future and just being completely naive to what’s to come. Weekends are spent chasing boys, drinking, smoking and putting on stilettos that are about 4 inches too big for them. As the teenage years fly by the shock of life giving them a hard kick in the backside finally brings them down to earth and makes them want to grow up. The panics of “where will I be in ten years time?” and “will I succeed within my career?” hit them hard and the nostalgic wishes of “What if ” and “I wish” run briskly throughout their heads as they work hard to find a career path and succeed or to flourish within their University degrees and higher education. One young woman, Alice Goddard also has these fears (and of course, she is only 19) however the girl already has quite a lot of experience strapped under her belt. Alice is the personality behind the blog ‘Cool and Beauty’ which she updates regularly on what stylish garments she has picked up around the London markets, vintage shops and charity shops as well as places she has travelled to and fashion shows she has attended. There seems to be a trend recurring within the younger generation. Blogging has hit the fashion world with a bang yet the writers and photographers seem to all be under the age of 20. One most obvious example is how the world fell in love with Tavi, the now famous blogger who began her blog, ‘Style Rookie’ at the mere age of twelve. Thousands view her site for style advice and Tavi is seen at all the highest fashion events in New York and London. Tavi is now fifteen and has her whole life ahead of her, yet she has a following larger than most celebrities have after their career is finished. Alice has a grand fan basewith over 2,000 following her blog which is featured on POP magazines website. The blog started off as a side project of Alice’s since her style choices and outfits were getting her noticed around the London streets and people were photographing for their own street style blogs. Her little blog became huge after POP magazine stumbled onto it and scouted her for their own website. She is now notorious around the London markets for having the coolest style, effortlessly of course and keeping everyone updated through the blog.

From her love of fashion, photography and following other blogs herself, Alice is now the editor of the fresh, innovative magazine ‘Hot & Cool’ which is now in its third issue. The magazine stands out massively from the crowd with its ‘no ads’ style, blog inspired photography and writing manner throughout it. Goddard’s personal style and influence is reflected throughout the magazine from page to page. The magazine includes features on fashion stylists, photographers and other bloggers. The blog, ‘Turned Out’ is a huge feature within the third issue of the magazine. Alice, being the editor really gets involved by contributing towards it by doing the interview, styling and photography within the attribute about the writer of the blog. Oh no, this isn’t just it for Alice Charity Goddard; she also has experience in the modelling world. The photography shoot ‘Love from Alice’ that she modelled for was a stunning collaboration between photographer Clare Shilland and stylist Beth Fenton. The shoot is a beautiful and natural photographic story regarding Alice’s character and individuality. Alice has a close relationship with her older sister, Molly. A lot of influence is passed down from her since she is studying knitwear at Central Saint Martins and has a blog of her own. The sisters are the faces behind their new and upcoming fashion label, ’Lovetits’ which they design and produce themselves over the internet through yes, you’ve guessed it, another blog! After googling Alice a hundred times once I had read her blog and magazine, I was intrigued and wanted to know more about the girl that was such a blogging princess. After speaking with Alice I found that she still isn’t completely sure on where her life is going but she definitely seems happy with where she is at and what she is doing right now. The enjoyment she gets that comes from her work is such a great thing to see and the passion she has is such an important attitude to have when trying to succeed within the fashion industry. She is not one to gloat about her already busy career, as she knows herself she has so much more to achieve but expresses how flattered she is from my asking. Her future path is still in question, “I would love Hot & Cool to grow and become my job, but that’s so much of a dream I try not to think about it” she says as we discuss career choices. “I’m also studying print at Saint Martin’s so I’ll see where that takes me. I don’t want to think too hard about the future”. Fashion is an obvious necessity in the Goddard family as Alice explains, “My Mum used to be a stylist and my sister studies fashion at Central Saint Martins so I’ve grown up in a

up in a house that is very aware of fashion”. The influence is fashionably passed on down through the family which is beautifully portrayed in the both Alice’s blog and photography as well as the ironic fashion label she has with her sister ‘Lovetits’. “I sewed some felt hearts onto a jumper and then Molly made me the sheer version for my birthday” Alice tells me. “Our friends really liked them so we started taking orders and when it got a bit more popular we came up with more designs and colours and started the ‘Lovetits’ blog”. The designs of the sheer tops and blouses are unusual as the felt hearts cover the ‘tits’ area as Alice explains, “The name was kind of an obvious one.” The Goddard girls work together as sisters and business partners whom many would agree could cause some controversial clashes. “We say exactly what we think to each other, which can be a really good thing...or really bad” Alice says as she explains her working relationship with Molly. However, the beginning of the ‘Lovetits’ label was down to their sisterly love so the pair make a perfect team. Alice is quite the quirky character, “My Mum told me to always wear a jumper to the supermarket because the fridge makes it cold in there” she tells me when I ask her on some good advice. The 19 year old model describes her fashion style as “cool” and it most definitely is especially as she bags all the best bargains down at Portobello market every week. She describes her most treasured market find as “a pair of black velvet 1970’s shoes with a really thick high heel. They’re the only heels I can walk in and they cost me two quid!” I can’t help but envy Alice. From an outsider’s perspective, she has a lot going since she blogs for POP magazine that is becoming very popular within the new blogging sub culture, which is rapidly growing. Alice’s advice to anyone creating his or her own blog is “just be honest and personal“. She advises to upload your own photography and artwork instead of re-posting work already out there. “Personally when I look at other blogs I’m much more interested in the ones that use first hand imagery as opposed to the ones that just re-post images off style. com. The only thing I would say is that readership goes up if you update regularly, but don’t get too obsessed!” Being a model herself previously, Alice has got to know the camera lens pretty well being in front of it most of the time. However, since starting to blog and photograph the world surrounding her Alice explains that being behind the camera lens and trying out her own eye for style is her preferred technique. “I prefer styling other people.

I like modelling and it can be a really fun way to make some money but I definitely prefer being in control and being creative.” Although Alice prefers to take the photography herself although she has worked shoots which any model would jump at the chance to take part in. The lucky jet setter was swept away to Sweden to model for a photo shoot. “Last summer I went to Sweden to shoot a project called ‘Love from Alice’. It was collaboration between photographer Clare Shilland, stylist Beth Fenton and art director Wood McGrath.” ‘Love from Alice’ is a stunning photo story following the model around an island in the Swedish Arcipellico. We see her jumping into the freezing cold lakes and baking yummy cakes. “It was so amazing there and I strongly recommend a visit”. The 19 year old has such drive and a huge thirst for fashion that is intimidating and admirable. The relaxed and laid back manner she portrays is communicated in her modelling style, in her own photography and throughout her blog and magazine. The whole age aspect of these young ‘fashionistas’ baffles me slightly since I was so different during my teenage years.

The fact that we are looking for opinions from a younger generation opposed to looking up to our elders is incredible. Being taken seriously in the fashion industry when being so young almost seems unbelievable. It seems that kids are now rushing to grow up and flying through their youthful years rather than savouring them and enjoying the fact that they can run around a super market and pretend that they are on a unicorn without being thrown in the loony bin. Why rush I say? However, the times are most definitely changing and maybe I should stop living in my own dream world and take the big leap that these kids are doing, to come off my unicorn and step into the real world. Check out Alice’s blog ‘Cool & Beauty’ at cooland-beauty.thepop.com and her fashion label ‘Lovetits’ at love-tits.blogspot.com.

a work in progress the illustrations of jonathan bishop

"Right now I’d say that I’m satisfied with my work but what I like about a particular piece today might be the same thing I’ll pick at later, and I think that conflict will always exist "

" I’m so new to this that I still haven’t found my ‘groove’ through which I can feel totally comfortable expressing myself. I’d say my work right now is a lot more focussed on observation than being expressive "

" The first artist who really had me hooked on their work was Pushead (Brian Schroeder). I was initially introduced to his work when a friend of mine wore a Misfits shirt that had a Pushead illustration on the front and from then up until today Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been infatuated with his illustrations "

"At the risk of sounding ‘corny’ though I have to say that my Grandma is and always has been my favourite artist. She paints water colour land scapes and I credit her totally for my early interest in art. Some of my best memories as a kid are arriving at her house and she’d have her paints and pencils and a sketchpad all laid out on the dining room table waiting for me. She’s a cool lad y "

" Billie Holiday is getting a lot of play time at the moment. She has a stellar voice " 43

" I never had any formal art training other than basic colour classes and some mandatory still-life sessions at college, so I never learnt how to be a productive artist and for a few years Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d forgotten about art almost completely "

" I just want to explore and have fun experimenting with as many different mediums as I can, through photography, painting, writing and drawing and hopefully someday tattooing"

Check out Jonathans blog - jonathan-bishop.tumblr.com

donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be afraid of the big blank spaces. . .

why not share something of you own . . .