T h e
F e b r u a r y
I s s u e
Boys vs. Girls
How does Valentine’s Day come across in both camps? Page 8 holds the answer
Films // Games // TV
Albums // Gigs // Interviews Interest // Guides // Opinions Fashion // Trends // Models Art // Books // Theatre
PR2
EDITORIAL | ISSUE 62, FEBRUARY 2011
Editor: James Butlin
Hi. It’s January, and so here is an issue for February, those of you actually read this will notice we never had a January issue. Well, because this is a student establishment, no one was here for Christmas and we don’t stay around. Anyway, onto the business of this issue. We’ve got a number of really amazing things, but we always do, don’t we? We’ve gone all Valentinesy, because February has Valentines in it and we though
FEATURES EDITOR: Lindsay Blair Deputy: Rachael Patan PRFeatures@uclan.ac.uk
we’d either depress you or make you feel all loved up. The front cover looks well tasty doesn’t it, don’t try and eat it though, this isn’t the highest quality of paper, therefore probably not the tastiest. Check out page 8 and 9 for the Features pages on Valentines, they’ve got the best restaurants and a nice argument as to what is the point of Valentine’s. Not only that, but you can find the top sexy bits and bobs from Ann Summers. Ents have Valentine’s films, Style has the terrible fashion of the past decade and Music has a look at the dying HMV and also has an interview with Darwin Deez. Make sure to look through everything, soak it up, oh and as a special treat, I put a few funny picture captions around the place. Mostly for my own amusement, I know no one reads that closely (if at all). No one is reading this anymore, I could say anything, I could start an imaginative rumour about Cheryl Cole. Might get sued though. I’ll leave it just in case.
ENTS EDITOR: Fareed Athman Deputy: Nathan Clifton PEnts@uclan.ac.uk
Page 4 - Fall in love with film this Valentine’s Page 5 - Top games to buy in 2011 Page 6 - Are HMV on their way out? Interview: Darwin Deez Page 7 - Brit Awards predictions Thin Lizzy gig review Page 8 - Valentine’s Day - boys vs. girls Page 9 - Where to go this Valentine’s Day in Preston? Page 10 - Feeling SAD? Page 11 - Reality TV: A ticking time-bomb? Page 12 - Girls and guys: First date Make-up trend: Natural beauty Page 13 - Shop her closet: Alexa Chung Miuccia Prada: Prada and proud of it Page 14 - A decade in fashion Page 15 - Celebrate this Valentine’s Day with a little art and culture Who is your favourite literary romantic?
Like us on Facebook: PR1 Magazine MUSIC EDITOR: Naomi Havergal Deputy: Alistair McGeorge PMusic@uclan.ac.uk
STYLE EDITOR: Eve Douglas Deputy: Taryn Davies PLifestyle@uclan.ac.uk
Follow us on Twitter: @PR1Magazine Take a look at our new site: http://pr1.tumblr.com/
CULTURE EDITOR: Jenna Fordie PR1culture@uclan.ac.uk
THE LIST: Katie Doyle PR1Listings@uclan.ac.uk
CHIEF SUB: Stacey Bartlett PSubbing@uclan.ac.uk
Want to write for PR1? Email PREditor@uclan.ac.uk
FEBRUARY 2011, ISSUE 62 | ADVERT
PR3
PR4 ENTS | ISSUE 62, FEBRUARY 2011
Fall in love with film for Valentine’s
Valentine’s Day. Whether you’re spending it at home with a bar of chocolate, heading to the cinema for a romantic cuddle or snuggling up with your beau on the sofa, here’s a list of film favourites to make your night.
Top on the list is Love Actually, the 2003 Hugh Grant favourite that features a wide variety of romantic situations suitable for any tastes. There’s never a dull moment in the heart of London as a group of people ranging from the Prime Minister to a confessed sex addict prepare for the run up to Christmas and deal with the hassles of being in love. Looking for a romantic snuggle that your boyfriend won’t sit there and complain, scoff or fall asleep through? Then Forgetting Sarah Marshall is for you. Nominated for ten awards, the film follows Peter (Jason Segel) try to get over his ex Sarah (Kristen Bell) by taking a trip to luxurious Hawaii. Unfortunately, Sarah has the same idea with her new man, Aldous (Russell Brand).
Featuring crazy mishaps and some quotes you won’t get out of your head for a while (“You sound like you’re from LANDAN”), this is definitely one for you both to enjoy. For a bit more of a classic Valentine’s, go with Dirty Dancing or Titanic. You can’t beat a bit of Patrick Swayze’s moves and his iconic line “nobody puts baby in the corner” will soon have your girl with a huge soppy smile on her face.
And as for Titanic, Leo and Kate will tear at even the most emotionally hardened heart strings so it may be handy to have a box of tissues close by. Hankering for something new? Well look no further. A spin on the classic, Gnomeo and Juliet is out on February 11 with an
all star cast featuring Emily Blunt, Michael Caine, Julie Walters, Jason Statham, James McAvoy, Dolly Parton, Stephen Merchant and Hulk Hogan to name a few. New from Walt Disney, Gnomeo and Juliet find various obstacles in the way of their true love (flamingos and watering cans to name a few) when they are caught up in a neighbourhood feud, but will the star crossed lovers ever find true happiness? And for the lonely hearts out there, grab a takeaway and one of these beauties for a reminder of how great being single really is... Girls, what else but
Cinema
Cinema
127 Hours
The Green Hornet
Director: Danny Boyle Cast: James Franco, Clemence Poesy
Director: Michel Gondry Cast: Seth Rogen, Jay Chou 6/10 Created in 1936, the Green Hornet has appeared in serials, radio plays, television shows and comic books. The film version has been brewing since the early 90s, but has taken until now to be released. Written by and starring Seth Rogen, The Green Hornet follows Britt Reid, a rich kid who grows to realise that there is more to life than drinking and partying after losing his father. With the help of his
Bridget Jones Diary could put a smile on your face this Valentines? Reneé Zellweger plays the slightly clumsy and long-suffering spinster whose diary entries are full of mishaps and embarrassing accidents that will make you forget about that boy who never texts back. Or you might just fancy a swoon over Colin Firth and Hugh Grant. Make it a double date with the sequel Bridget Jones: Edge of Reason. For an alternative to spinster, P.S. I Love You, featuring Gerard Butler and Hilary Swank, follows recently widowed Holly Kennedy attempting to get
9/10
Michael Jones sidekick Kato, a technological and martial arts genius, he becomes the masked vigilante who gets in with criminals then beats them to a pulp by posing as a villain himself. Michel Gondry’s direction never really manages to make an impression; there are flashes of the style he evoked in Eternal Sunshine and Science of Sleep, but they are quickly washed over by scenes which drag on way too long and a plot which barely holds up. The idea of upsetting the conventions of the
superhero genre is obvious at first, however that disappears quickly and the film falls neatly into line with the kind of movies it aspired to reshape. In spite of these misgivings, The Green Hornet is, in all fairness, a fun watch. Bad guys are dispatched in entertaining fashion, the jokes are funny and the ending is satisfying if predictable. It isn’t great, but it is fun. Seth Rogen and Jay Chou run away from cement mixers.
James Butlin
Danny Boyle’s last film was Slumdog Millionaire, he won the Best Picture Oscar and for this next film, he took a true story and put James Franco in the main role. 127 Hours is the story of Aron Ralston, a climber who heads out on his own to take on the rocks of Utah. While out there he gets himself stuck between a rock and another rock. This is where the entire film takes place, using his personal camera and choppy editing, Boyle
Helen Baker runs down the top films for Valentine’s
over the sudden loss of her husband and adapt to life alone. What she doesn’t realise is that Irishman Gerry left his wife a few surprises to help her. A great story guaranteed to warm your heart! And for you moping guys out there, man up and stick on The Hangover. Yes, it’s about a stag night but going out in Vegas and waking up the next morning to a tiger, a baby and a wedding certificate with no memory of how any of them got there is surely a way to remind you that you don’t always need a girl to have fun. There’s also Anchorman or The Expendables, two different groups of men who know how to have a good time. It’s not all boo-hoo.
tells the story perfectly, giving the right level of suspense and emotion. It’s with James Franco’s acting that the film really takes full shape. Without him, the film wouldn’t hold together, it’s his likeability which pushes you forward. Much like I Am Legend did with Will Smith, it’s a bold move holding an entire movie with just one star. You’ll have rightly seen 127 Hours all over the awards during this awards season and although it’s up against such juggernauts as The Social Network and The King’s Speech, it would be as deserving as those to take away top prizes. previously been considered un-
Cinema
The King’s Speech
fit to be king before his first public
Director: Tom Hooper
speech, tries a number of therapists
Cast: Colin Firth, Helena Bonham Carter,
until his queen (Helena Bonham
Geoffrey Rush
9/10
Helen Baker
Based on a true story and already a box office phenomenon, The King’s Speech (released January 7) follows King George VI’s efforts to conquer his stuttering voice as England is poised for war. Played by Colin Firth, who won best actor for the role at the Golden Globes, the king, who has always suffered speech problems, reluctantly accepts the throne after the abrupt abdication of his brother Edward VIII. King George, or Bertie, who had
Carter) stumbles across the rather unorthodox speech therapist Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush). Through a rather unusual friendship and a number of bizarre methods, George finally finds his voice and attempts to lead England through one of its toughest times: World War II. Nominated for 14 BAFTAs and seven Golden Globes, the film is already being crowned the film of 2011 by MTV. The King’s Speech is shaping up to be one of the must-see films of the year.
“I’m also just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her. “ Julia Roberts, Notting Hill, 1999
FEBRUARY 2011, ISSUE 62 | ENTS
Top games to buy in 2011 L.A. Noir
Grand Theft Auto 5 may still be nothing but a whisper on the wind at the moment, but until then Rockstar’s latest offering, the detective thriller L.A Noir, is certainly worth getting excited about. Boasting some of the most impressive motion capture technology ever seen in a videogame, which can successfully emu-
late facial expressions to a staggering amount of detail, L.A Noir puts you in the role of a police detective in a pixel perfect representation of 1950’s Los Angeles. Taking heavy influence from film noir of the 1950’s, L.A Noir looks to be nothing short of an instant classic.
Liam Richardson gives the lowdown on the top games coming out in 2011
Batman finds himself a cat lady to take home.
Tomb Raider Back in the late 1990’s, Tomb Raider was practically videogames incarnate. At the time it was visually stunning and original with its female protagonist but, perhaps most importantly, incredibly fun to play. Fast forward to 2008, the year the latest game in the series, Tomb Raider: Underworld, was released, and the attitude towards the old girl couldn’t have been more different. The game was met with average reviews, and critics cried out for something fresh and exciting to spice up an ageing
formula. With this in mind, developers Crystal Dynamics have decided to start again with a clean slate by rebooting the classic series. Tomb Raider, released this year, puts you in the shoes of young Lara Croft who is shipwrecked and stranded on a desert island. Unskilled, terrified and alone, Lara must attempt to survive and ultimately find out the island’s dark secret. Not linked to the original series in any way, shape or form, Tomb Raider could well be this year’s biggest surprise.
Portal 2
Portal, released in 2007 to critical acclaim, saw gamers taking on the role of Chell, a test subject trapped within an abandoned laboratory and held captive by a hyper intelligent (and completely insane) robot named GlaDOS. The game was
ground-breaking in its completely original take on the puzzle genre, allowing players to utilise Portals in order to complete a mindboggling set of unforgettable challenges. The sequel, set to be released this year on the 22nd of April, looks to have
Game Kinect
Developer: Microsoft Formats: Xbox
7/10
Nathan Clifton
Dead Space 2
Developer: Visceral Games Formats: Xbox 360, PS3, PC
8/10
Fareed Athman
Batman: Arkham City If you didn’t play 2009’s rather brilliant Batman Arkham Asylum, then you were missing out on what countless critics referred to as the best Batman game ever made. In fact some critics even went as far as to name it their game of the year. Hailed as a triumph amongst fans and newcomers alike, Arkham Asylum stands next to even the most respected instalments in the series, such as The Dark Knight, not just as a companion, but as a fully-fledged title in itself. This year sees the release of its inevitable sequel, Batman: Arkham City, which looks to be even bigger and better than its predecessor in every way. The game boasts a plethora of quality villains, such as the return of the Joker, Harvey Dent, Hugo Strange, Catwoman and even the legendary Calendar man. Combine these with a huge city to play with, some new gadgets to try out, thrilling new combat moves and the promise of online multiplayer and you might just well have yourself the best Batman game ever made.
improved on the original in every way by boasting a long list of new features and improvements such as an extended campaign mode, more puzzles to complete, more answers regarding the originals, a bizarrely ambiguous storyline and, perhaps
best of all, online co-op multiplayer. Valve, the developer of the game, very rarely fail to deliver which only makes us that little bit more excited about a title which already has the potential to be the most exciting game released this year.
It’s been a while now since Microsoft released their competitor into the world of motion control gaming and the jury is most certainly still out.
of a million units within its first ten days of release it has established a foothold early on. This expensive accessory (a starter pack will set you back £126.99 at Play.com) currently lacks any games that would attract the hardcore gamer. Sony is in the same boat with their Playstation Move suffering the same problem. Five titles have been announced to appeal to this audience. Haunt, Project Draco, Codename D, Rise of Nightmares and Steel Battalion: Heavy Armour were all revealed at last years Tokyo Game Show so it will be interesting to see how successful they are in the coming year. Music game Child of Eden is set for release in March and it looks truly beautiful. This is tipped to
be one of the big hits of Kinect’s
which Isaac was the sole survivor. In this latest instalment, Isaac wakes up from being cryogenically frozen on the sprawl, an expansive space city that has somehow fallen victim to the necromorph plague. Isaac has transformed from the faceless, grunting powerhouse of Dead Space to a human being complete with personality and voice; gamers might be hard pressed to decide whether this is a positive or negative thing. But it’s safe to say fans of the franchise are just glad that he’s back, in whatever shape or form. Controls this time around are more or less the same, and any minor changes are most definitely improvements. Gameplay perhaps even tops the first game on the scare levels, with Isaac’s space-
dementia providing frequent horrific hallucinations that will have you letting out girly whimpers far more often than you’d care to admit. Anti-gravity sequences are hugely improved, as Isaac can now float freely using boosters on his suit as opposed having to make calculated jumps. Additional game elements include computer hacking and differing suit types. Most exciting of all is a new online mode, in which players can decide between humans or necromorphs and tear each other limb from limb in skirmishes. A truly horrifying videogame with an incredibly immersive storyline; as the marketing campaign for Dead Space 2 suggests, your Mum will hate it. You, on the other hand, will love it.
Although its release titles leave a lot to be desired the technology certainly has potential. The games currently out for the peripheral are mostly family friendly affairs with the likes of Kinectimals and Dance Central really showing off what the tech is capable off. Other titles such as Sports Island Freedom, Your Shape – Fitness Evolved and Game Party In Motion are all obvious Wii clones minus the actual controller. It feels like Microsoft are just feeling their way in to the market and with the sale Dead Space was a groundbreaking game in many respects, taking third person survival-horror to space in what could quite possibly be considered one of the most terrifying gaming experiences to date.
Game
PR5
Dead Space 2 continues the story of Isaac Clarke and the deadly cult of Unitology, a religion which believes in a greater purpose for mankind. Those of higher rankings in the religion know however, that this ‘higher purpose’ isn’t as holy as it seems. After unearthing a religious relic known as the marker on a distant planet, un-dead, mutated creatures intent on murdering anything in sight (known as necromorphs) attacked the mining ship USG Ishimura, an event from
infancy. The other issues gamers might have is when games like Call of Duty and Gears of War inevitably become compatible with the peripheral will it feel right? What would you use to aim? How would you fire? These are questions developers will have to answer in order to incorporate other genres into the mix. The rumours of its compatibility with Fable 3 were sadly without truth and an appealing title that can do what Twilight Princess did for the Wii is yet to be released.
PR6
MUSIC | ISSUE 62, FEBRUARY 2010
Are HMV on their way out? HMV recorded a loss in sales and announced the closure of 60 of their stores. Dan Birch looks to why we should care and what it means for us students. The recent news that music and shop entertainment giants, HMV is set to shut 60 of its stores across the UK, shows that the public are no longer buying music physically in a shop. It also comes as no real surprise, with HMV having announced a drop in sales. Places that have sold physical copies of the entertainment selection - CD’s, books and DVD’s including Borders Bookshop and Woolworths have both closed in the last years. From an HMV point of view, I still buy some music physically as a CD. However, the average consumer these days tend to make a purchase of music online, because on the whole it’s cheaper. Attitudes are changing and HMV have had to change the layout of their stores to make it more desirable to the customer. Now the shop is full of DVDs, clothes, books and magazines in the front which although gives more of a wider variety for helping sales come through, it has meant that the shop has lost its real soul and purpose of selling music. For a start, a large majority of our student audience don’t really have CD hi fi players anymore. To listen to the music we want to buy for whatev-
er digital platform, we will stream it on Spotify or Last FM. Amazon and Apple, on the other hand have already been on the market for a long time. Although this is the norm at this current time, it is also quite cool that Vinyl is in resurgence for its quality of sound. Surely HMV could have sold a few of these? There will always be people though that want to listen to music on a higher quality than digitalised sounds coming from a computer. One question is why should we feel sorry for HMV shutting down across the UK? It put many independent record shops out of business for where they were part of the tradition within the country. There are hardly any left now, with only ones aimed toward niche tastes keeping within the market. However what we can worry about is the fact that a lot of towns across the UK will be left without any semblance of an actual music shop that sells the audience what they want. This will of course affect jobs in the towns for which the stores help employ the student ages. However
frankly, HMV had a poor Christmas, and unfortunately there is no reason to see the public gain any more interest in the store again. But let us never forget the hub, and the social clique of it, and the community that goes with a store or shop that helps bring people together. Surely, that can prosper once again. HMV is a commercial store and has no warmth in the same way as independent stores. We might be online but let us make sure the community feel is there.
By James Butlin
In 2010, Darwin Deez caught the attention of Zane Lowe in a big way, not only that but they brought out one of the top indie albums of the year and went on the NME Radar Tour along with a number of festival appearances and their own headline tour of the UK. In February, they are set to return to the UK for another tour, stopping off at Manchester along the way. We grabbed a moment to throw a few questions at them as they made their way across America for their current US tour. PR1: Where did the dancing in your shows come from? Darwin Deez: At first, we only used the dances as an intro and outro for our set. I was inspired by a few cuts on the Ghostbuster’s soundtrack, so that’s where the early dance material came from. “Piece of Me” by Britney Spears was another one
we started out with. From there, the dances wanted to expand, and we had to obey. PR1: Where does the Deez in the name come from? DD: You know that phrase “deez nuts”? It comes from that. It’s an alternative spelling for the word “these.” PR1: How was last year for you? Releasing your debut album and going on the NME Radar Tour with Everything Everything and Hurts must have all been brilliant. DD: Last year was a dream. There was a time not so long ago when I would be talking with my band mates, and I would say, “I want to play lots of shows, but I hate booking them. I wish there were a bunch of shows out there, already booked by someone else, that I could just show up and play at.” And now here I am, writing this to you from our tour van. We’re driving to Denver. I didn’t book this show personally,
Interview:Darwin Deez
but we’re gonna pull up at this club in a few hours, and there’s gonna be people there, and we’re going to get to play a show. Dreams come true. PR1: What does 2011 hold for the band? Are you looking forward to going out on tour in the UK in February? DD: My new rap mixtape, Wonky Beats, is about to drop in 2011. We’re looking forward to the UK in February. Looking forward to going loco at Koko. Schooling at Manchester Academy. Bringing sunny days to Glasgow. After that we’re doing Germany, Australia, and Glastonbury Festival, to name a few. PR1: When might we hear a second album? Has there been any writing going on already or haven’t you thought about it yet? DD: The second album is in it’s infancy. A zygote. But I’ve thought a
lot about it. It has a heartbeat. It’s taking shape. It’s growing fingers. PR1: What has been your best experience as a band so far? DD: The band had an entertaining joke session last night after we played Daytrotter. It lasted like two hours, as we listened to the Daytrotter tape reel play back, we ate salads at the Blue Cat down the street, driving through the night to Nebraska. The jokes are a guessing game, and usually the answer is the name of a state or country. It involves wordplay and inventing elaborate setups. here’s one: Q: “In what Canadian providence was the woman when she was shagging the lead singer of the Specials and her husband called and asked her, “Where are you?”, and she decided to just fess up and tell him the truth?” A: “On Terry… OH!” (Ontario)
So that’s pretty great, right? PR1: Which bands around at the moment do you really like or admire? DD: Ava Luna’s a great New York band we recently discovered this December. They have the best live background vocals I have ever heard. We are listening to their EP a lot in the car. PR1: Darwin, we have to ask, how do you keep your hair so curly and your moustache so neat? DD: If a magician explained the secrets of his tricks, it wouldn’t be magic, would it? PR1: Finally, which bands have inspired you and who should everybody listen to from the past? DD: Rage Against the Machine and Pink Floyd.
“You and I go shopping and fall asleep inside the mattress store.” Darwin Deez - Radar Detector
Gig
Thin Lizzy
@ Manchester Apollo
8/10
Album
Social Distortion - Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes Key track: Still Alive
10/10
Alistair McGeorge
Social Distortion have returned after seven years with Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes, their seventh album. Although seen as a standard-bearer of the punk scene, they’ve typically been a rock n’ roll band, with influences from punk to country. Their new record sees Mike Ness continue to prove why he’s such a phenomenal rock n’ roll songwriter.
Alistair McGeorge
Each song on this album is incredible, combining to create a truly special album. Lyrically, Ness continues to be as relatable and deep as he was on older tracks like Story of My Life and Angel’s Wings. Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes continues the Social D legacy in fantastic fashion, showing that even after three decades bands can improve on their trademark sound to make even better music. The production is warm and charming throughout, perfectly complimenting the classic Social D riffs and solos. This is rock n’ roll at its best, and comes 30 years into the band’s history. After hearing his, one can only hope Mike Ness will continue with the band for many years to come, if he keeps putting out records as flawless as this.
FEBRUARY 2011, ISSUE 62 | MUSIC
On a cold night in Manchester, the new Thin Lizzy, fronted by Ricky Warwick, proved the sceptics wrong with a brilliant set that proved a fitting tribute to Phil Lynott. Whilst Ricky is always quick to admit that Lynott can never be replacement, he did a fine job at the Apollo, the roughness in his voice being oddly reminiscent of the great man himself. The show was also helped by the return of founding member and drummer Brian Downey, whose appearance seemed to give Thin Lizzy new life. It certainly made the show feel
for a long time, harking back to the
Album
Trojan Horse - Trojan Horse Key track: Bicycle Jam
9/10
John Consterdine
Winner: Plan B British Female Solo Artist: Cheryl Cole, Ellie Goulding, Laura Marling, Paloma Faith, Rumer Winner: Ellie Goulding British Breakthrough Act: Ellie Goulding, Mumford and Sons, Rumer, Tinie Tempah, The XX Winner: Tinie Tempah British Group: Take That, Biffy Clyro, Gorillaz, Mumford and Sons, The XX Winner: Biffy Clyro British Single: Florence and the Machine: You’ve Got The Love Alexandra Burke Ft Pitball: All Night Long Cheryl Cole: Parachute Matt Cardle: When We Collide
Olly Murrs: Please Don’t Let Me Go Plan B: She Said Scouting For Girls: This Ain’t A Love Song Taio Cruz: Dynamite Tinie Tempah: Pass Out The Wanted: All Time Low Winner: The Wanted: All Time Low Mastercard British Album Of The Year: The XX: XX Mumford and Sons: Sigh No More Plan B: The Defamation of Strickland Banks Take That: Progress Tinie Tempah: Disc-Overy Winner: Mumford and Sons: Sigh No More International Male Solo Artist: Kanye West, Bruce Springsteen, Cee Lo Green, David Guetta, Eminem Winner: Cee Lo Green International Female Solo
glory days of Pink Floyd and early King Crimson. Opener Mr Engels Says... is like the audio equivalent to Alice’s trip down the rabbit hole, taking you on a deep dark journey as the track progresses. The rest of the album dabbles
In this day and age, the music industry has a severe lack of creative minds willing to push the musical parameters in order to create something truly dynamic. The general consensus seems to be sticking to what you’re good at or radio-friendly unit shifters. But step forward Trojan Horse. The Mancunian progressive outfit have turned things on their head and put out one of the most diverse records
with huge soundscapes, soaring vocal melodies and thought-provoking instrumentals, with tracks like Bicycle Jam and Black Russian showcasing the band’s skill and diversity. It’s incredibly refreshing to hear something so bold and original, especially when it has the potential to blow the minds of those major label bigwigs.
Album
Chase and Status - No More Idols Key track: Hitz feat. Tinie Tempah
8/10
Rachael Patan
Chase and Status’s second album, No More Idols is out today and the electronic production duo is set to make their mark on the music world in 2011. The long-anticipated album includes their latest single Blind Faith, featuring rising star Liam Bailey. It also includes Let You Go, featuring Mali and the top ten smash hit End Credits featuring Plan B. No More Idols sees the duo also team up with chart topping giants, Tinie Tempah, Dizzee Rascal, White Lies and Cee-Lo Green. One of the singles from this album, Hypest Hype featuring Tempa T, was released as a free download. It had over 50,000 downloads in the first week and was described by a Guardian Guide reporter as the ‘best thing I’ve heard this decade’. Chase and Status released their gold debut album More Than A Lot in October 2008 and have been touring ever since. The London-based duo won the award for Best Video at the Q Awards and have also been nominated at the UK Festival Awards.
TRACKS OF THE MONTH
Awards season is among us and the Brit Awards is live on February 15. This year sees high flyers with the likes of Tinie Tempah, Ellie Goulding and Mumford and Sons. Hopefully this year will reveal more excitement and celebrity strops. Naomi Havergal predicts the winners of the Brit Awards 2011. British Male Solo Artist: Tinie Tempah, Mark Ronson, Paul Weller, Plan B, Robert Plant
more authentic, with the new line-up including three original members. Kicking in with The Rocker, the show went from strength to strength. Less obvious songs like Still In Love With You and Wild One perfectly complemented the big hits, making for a balanced and slightly unpredictable set. The lights show was phenomenal, with the flashing Thin Lizzy sign backed by two screens, at one point showing a fitting picture tribute to Phil Lynott. It was an emotional performance, and Ricky Warwick’s enthusiasm resulted in a performance that was as close as we’ll ever get to the original Thin Lizzy.
PR7
James Blake - Limit To Your Love Artist: Rihanna, Alicia Keys, Katy Perry, Kylie Minogue, Robyn Winner: Katy Perry
Clare Maguire - Ain’t Nobody (Breakage remix)
International Breakthrough Act: Glee Cast, Bruno Mars, Justin Bieber, The National, The Temper Trap
Jessie J - Do It Like A Dude
Winner: Bruno Mars
Jamie Woon - Night Air
International Group: Black Eyed Peas, Arcade Fire, Kings Of Leon, The Script, Vampire Weekend Winner: Arcade Fire International Album: Katy Perry: Teenage Dream Arcade Fire: The Suburbs Cee Lo Green: The Lady Killer Eminem: Recovery Kings Of Leon: Come Around Sundown Winner: Cee Lo Green: The Lady Killer
Nero - Me & You
PR8
FEATURES | ISSUE 62, FEBRUARY 2010
Valentine’s Day...
Boys... Love, love, love. Love is all you need? The Beatles might be right, but it’s that time of the year when card makers, chocolatiers, florists and jewellers also demand that we say ‘I Love You’ in one synchronised show of affection. And, like a frustrated lone ranger, I’m approaching the 14th February with a mixture of unease and resent. Except I won’t be alone on St. Valentines Day. I’m lucky; I have a like-minded partner of almost a year to whom the thought of a love-wielding teddy bear is about as romantic as a heart-shaped card complete with pump-action blood vessels. Also, thankfully, our first anniversary falls just a week beforehand, with my birthday a day later. Three festivities in one hit? Perhaps not. And with Valentine’s Day coming dead last in the significance rankings, it’s the
easiest to jettison. I will not traipse through Clinton’s Cards or navigate heaving restaurants to ensure that my partner feels ‘loved’. And whilst you might call me some kind of Love Scrooge, I find my opinion rooted in the rational. The past two Valentine’s Days have, for me, been occasions that I’ve spent in lovely, romantic company, but this misses the point. To me it’s just quite simply an affront. I feel I’m expected to buy this and do that and ‘be romantic’, and if I’m not, I apparently don’t love my partner. She lives with three other girls and I’m not hugely enthralled with the prospect of measuring my prowess against three other chaps who love their partners and express themselves in totally different ways to me, but yet are united in an obligation to perform some grand gesture of affection, possibly involving the unquestionable harbingers of happiness and love: chocolates, mass-produced greetings cards and the like.
boys vs. girls
Am I alone on this? Perhaps not. An arbitrary straw poll in one of Preston’s less salubrious watering holes presented some unsurprising findings. Most respondents (not solely singles, might I add) held a dislike towards the Big Day; comments suggested they disliked the commercial aspects, the price hike in restaurants and hotels, and, generally, the contrived nature of Valentine’s Day. A lack of interest from the opposite sex on the day in the past seems to increases ambivalence and feelings of affront – and I can relate to all of these points in my past experiences. However, there were some opinions which ever so slightly warmed my cold heart. More than one person described it as an ‘extra special day’ – not a one off in terms of showing affection, but, perhaps just like Christmas, it’s a day set aside for celebration to reinforce the feelings that couples feel every day. A nice comparison. And, lest we forget, creativity is
not dead. Corporate trinkets need not be given to you loved one – a home-made card or a trip to your first meeting place could be the perfect reinforcer. I suppose my main gripe with this idea, though is the notion that such a day is necessary, and taken on by the retail sector so vociferously. Something as personal, joyful and special as love should be, and is, celebrated constantly. I hate feeling pushed into doing something I’d probably do any other day of the year; I hate the idea of my efforts appearing cynical or contrived all in the name of love, or the idea that having someone to go out with on this particular day is a badge of honour. Should I be grateful that I’m not alone on Valentine’s Day? Or should I just be glad that I’ve been happy in love the year round? Or perhaps I should put my teenage memories of glorious rejection behind me and just buy the lady a bunch of flowers. Alex Grebenar
LAID BARE
This issue Lindsay Blair bring you the top ten valentines gifts to spice things up a bit. It’s that time of the year again when everything is red, covered in hearts and roses are the in thing. Yes 14 February has come around once more. But does this all have to mean soppy cards and a tonne of chocs? Here at PR1 we think not. You may think Valentines’ Day is a right load of tosh filled with materialistic, consumerism values, but we like to think that St Valentine’s Day is rather a special occasion for all those love birds out there. If you’re in a relationship, great. You can spice things up with your significant other or romance them until the cows come home and if you are single, V Day is a lovely opportunity to declare your undying love for that special someone. After all that’s what Valentines is all about, isn’t it. Aside from the soppy love business, there is also the very naughty side to the Big Day (no pun intended), as sales of lingerie and bedroom toys will prove. Now we are a classy bunch on the Features desk, but we just couldn’t resist delving into the sexy business of Ann Summers this February, so have rounded up the top ten products courtesy of the lovely people at Ann Summers. From them, to us, to you, here is your guide of what to buy if you’re feeling naughty this V Day.
1
Rampant Rabbit G-Pulse Remote £45
2
Rampant Rabbit Thruster Deluxe Pearl £39
3
Kissing Cleavage Bra £25
4
Girls... Valentine’s Day: the day every loved-up girl looks forward to, and every single girl dreads. For a taken girl the thought of being wined and dined by your man is undoubtedly very appealing. While for a single girl it means hiding away in your room to avoid all those publicly affectionate couples, who suddenly, because it’s a certain day of the year, take to the streets in their hundreds. But, what’s so special about a day when the price of a dozen red roses suddenly quadruples? And why red roses anyway? What if I want nine white lilies just to be different, and a little bit awkward? Sorry if I seem unromantic here,
Ooh La La Maid £35 but a bunch of red roses, or any other flowers for that matter, would mean the same to me any other day of the year as it does on Valentine’s Day. To me, Valentine’s shouldn’t be about guys competing to see who can spend the most money on their girlfriends. If you’re a girl who needs to be showered with gifts then fair enough, but to me, Valentine’s should be about romance, not money. Don’t get me wrong being showered with gift is pretty awesome on your birthday and Christmas but it’s the cute things that make the difference in February. I’d be happy with just being treated like a princess for the day (not that we shouldn’t be treated like this every other day, but you
know what I mean) if my boyfriend made me a three course home cooked meal served on a beautifully set table, followed by wine and a DVD, I’d think he’d gone to more effort than spending a wedge on a gift. Valentine’s Day shouldn’t be all doom and gloom for single girls either. Think how much money you’ve saved on the present for a start, why not treat yourself instead. Get all your single girl friends together and hit the town, there are single guys out there too you know, who are likely to be doing exactly the same. Despite my opinion that Valentine’s Day is just another holiday invented by Clintons to maximise card sales, and backed by the world’s florists and restaurants, I’m
a complete sucker for it. I’ll probably spend hours getting ready, in an attempt to look gorgeous (even though my boyfriend’s already seen me at my worst) before going all gooey over chocolates and roses and heading to my favourite restaurant. Girls should be spoilt, whether it’s with a gift, a treat or just the good old breakfast in bed treatment. We should be made to feel like we’re worth a million dollars, because let’s face it, we are. We will probably never understand why Valentine’s has this love-drunk-puppy effect on us as girls. It’s no different to any other day of the year, but it gets us every time. Rachael Patan
5
Pure Lace Bra £16
6
Rampant Rabbit G-Pulse £39
7 8
Silver Bullet £10 Lizzy Body £18
9
Pilot Outfit £35
10
Leading Lady Bra £28
FEBRUARY 2010, ISSUE 62 | FEATURES
PR9
Where to go this Valentine’s Day in Preston? You have yourself a girlfriend or boyfriend, you’ve got them coming to visit you. Where do you? Well, don’t fret, Alex Grebenar has made sure you know exactly where to go with these top four restaurants.
Hero Burrito
Great Times
From humble beginnings in a cara-
Think Chinese food: think all-you-
van outside Livesey House, Hero
can-eat, race-against-the-clock
Burrito has made the transition to
gluttony? For a Valentine date,
a restaurant on Friargate. Al-
you could try the less conspicu-
though Mexican food is growing in
ous set-up at Great Times: good
popularity on these shores, it’s still
Chinese food a la carte, and the
a unique choice for a date: beer
mains were served sizzling hot on
and burger this is not. Be warned,
platters for an extra presentation
though, like most Anglicised
dimension.
cuisine, it’s not quite the authentic
The courteous staff seated my
experience.
fellow diners and me under the
The contemporary yet cosy
impressive jade gazebo centre-
interior offsets the slightly quiet
piece to peruse the vast menu;
atmosphere of my mid-week visit.
the usual Chinese favourites were
Two adjoining rooms provide an
bedfellows with more adventurous
intimate, relaxing setting, although
dishes. The Szechuan pork was a
I imagine a fuller room would offer
sweet/salty mash up which com-
a buzz.
plemented the soup starter, and
Despite being an English take on
the chicken in black bean sauce
Mexicana, Hero Burrito seems to
delivered a thick, dark rich flavour
take its food seriously. After a slight
which was scraped from the plate
wait, the maitre d’ reappeared with
for every last drop. Around us, cus-
the neatly presented offerings.
tomers dined in an almost reveren-
My date tucked into her pork and
tial atmosphere; hushed, enjoying
mango burrito (in two pieces to
the food – although it could be a
aid sharing) which added a sweet
little tense if you’re getting to know
taste to the delicious flour tortilla,
your date.
and the quality of the ingredients
I find East Asian meals tend to
was evident as my tangy chicken
be more expensive than other
fajita went down well. Sadly, how-
cuisines, although here there is a
ever, the wedges and salad gar-
reasonably priced set menu to be
nishes weren’t at the same level.
taken advantage of. It’s not buffet
At just over £20 for two mains and
price, but at Great Times you pay
drinks it’s certainly not a budget
for something different and supe-
choice, but if you’re after some-
rior quality, and perhaps you and
thing out of the ordinary then it’s
your date will have exactly what
worth splashing out to impress.
the restaurant sets out to serve.
3.5/5
Source: Tony Worrall Foto (Flickr)
3.5/5
The Olive Press
A Preston legend, the Olive Press takes contemporary Italian cuisine to standards bordering on fine dining. From the sophisticated entrance and the open fire, everything about this restaurant is sure to impress you and your date. Arrive early and enjoy a drink in the subtle cool of the upstairs bar (you may want to warn your bank in advance) to break the ice before the welcoming staff take you downstairs. The tiled interior gives a rustic feel without losing the elegance of the bar above, and the partially open kitchen will have your taste buds piqued even before you browse the varied menu. If pizza’s not for you, the menu offers grills as a speciality, but also a healthier section if you’re still on your New Year diet by then. The food is undoubtedly of high quality, but I found some aspects a little forward with the seasoning – bizarrely, the salads were extra salty. Nothing bitter about the ambience, though, with a mixture of professionals and families keeping the atmosphere friendly. The restaurant is impressive, but the price tag may be a little high to justify for a first date.
4/5
Source: onehungrygirl.blogspot.com
Totto’s Tucked away in an old canal wharf building behind Assembly is Totto’s, a delightful, intimate restaurant serving Mediterranean cuisine combining the best of Spanish, Italian, Greek and Turkish kitchens. Emphasis is on the intimate: if you don’t want to be overheard with your sweet nothings then perhaps you should try elsewhere, but you’ll miss out on an understated, romantic little gem. Totto’s looks tiny from the outside, and inside’s not much different which gives the place a cosy feel. The homely welcome from the staff added to the lovely Friday night ambience. A delicious starter of olives, hummus and some particularly tasty home-made bread laid the foundations of a great meal, with the chef even offering more bread on the house. We declined; I left room for my Napoli pizza which didn’t quite compliment the starter for taste, but a few mouthfuls of my companion’s perfect orange and barbecue chicken left me in no doubt about the top quality of the cooking. After treating the lady to a crunchy, chocolatey Mississippi Mud Pie, the £30 bill was a surprise, but offered value based on the excellent experience. I will be back there without a doubt.
4.5/5
PR10
FEATURES | ISSUE 62, FEBRUARY 2010
Feeling SAD? February’s the most depressing month
Five ways to bust those February blues 1. Act as if you are happy and you will magically feel more up beat. 2. Do some exercise. The smallest movements such as taking a brisk winter stroll can boost those endorphins (the happy hormone). 3. Let go of grudges and woes. Why not consider things in a new light as dwelling on things will only bring you down. 4. De-clutter your life. A clean and tidy environment will help focus your mind and will lower your stress levels, making everything seems much more serene. 5. LOL, literally. Laughing out loud sounds simple enough but to make you feel better, laughter really is the best medicine.
As Christmas becomes a distant memory and UCLan students return back to their chaotic university lifestyles, it might not be surprising that February is officially the most depressing month. Besides Valentine’s Day and Victoria Beckham’s tell-all Vogue interview, the shortest month of the year looks likely to feel like the longest. From its spelling to its exact four week length, February is a time for simply going through the motions. Winter is becoming tedious and summer is still a lifetime away, leaving us with nothing other than spring to get excited for. Depression affects many people throughout the course of the year, but Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), also known as winter depression or the winter blues, is a mood-related disorder where people who have normal mental health throughout the year suffer depressive symptoms. Studies have shown that twice as many women suffer from SAD than men, and it is most common in people between the ages of
18-30. Symptoms include lethargy, disturbed sleep and anxiety, as well as constant mood swings and loss of interest in your usual dayto-day activities. There is a theory behind the disorder, which claims that daylight affects a certain part of your brain called the hypothalamus, which affects your mood, appetite and sleep, and without this light, the hypothalamus fails to function properly, although the exact cause of SAD isn’t fully understood. During the winter months SAD sufferers have abnormally low levels of a chemical called serotonin. Serotonin is an important chemical messenger in the brain and its function has a major impact on your mood. Another theory is that people with SAD may respond to a decrease in light by producing more of a hormone called melatonin, which is known for slowing down the body clock. With many of us over-eating during the Christmas period and sleeping right through to midday, our bodies are getting baffled by our lazy winter lifestyles, and the lack of daylight during the winter months only exaggerates this con-
fusion further. Treatment for SAD can be very similar to other forms of depression, however, everyone is different and some cases are worse than others. Depending on the severity of the symptoms, some GPs may recommend antidepressant medication. It is believed that SAD symptoms start to disappear around spring time. Studies have also shown that exposure to a bright, artificial light is a proven method of treatment and can help up to 85% of cases of Seasonal Affective Disorder. The light therapy, which is also called phototherapy, helps to stimulate a change in the levels of chemicals and hormones which affect your mood. The light boxes used in this form of treatment are 10 times brighter than a normal light bulb and is a lot more similar to natural daylight. Being single at this time of year isn’t ideal and February is the worst month for rubbing it in your face. The holiday hype is completely over and the weather outside is continuously bleak. The New Year promised high hopes and determination and change,
when in fact, the gym has lasted all of three weeks and the exercise DVD you told yourself you were going to buy is still on the shelf in Asda. Not to mention that the extra pounds you piled on from a few too many Christmas drinks are still haunting your post-festive photos. Dietician Janice Elizabeth claims that on average most people put on between five and ten pounds during the Christmas period. However depressing this statement may be, it’s not difficult to admit that the flurry of Christmas parties and festive snacks were way more appealing than pulling on your bobble hat and going for a run in the snow. Experts say that whilst in the post-holiday blues frame of mind, no one should be making life decisions, but with the New Year ritual of ‘change’ pressuring us into being critics of our own lives, how could we resist setting an unrealistic resolution of giving up those Jagerbombs or taking up Tae Kwon Do. “New Year, new me” is no doubt the phrase we’ve promised ourselves, but how many of us have
actually found an inner strength to keep those resolutions alive? The truth is, not many. A case study by Richard Wiseman, a psychologist at the University of Hertfordshire, showed that 78% of the 700 people asked, failed their annual attempt to start over by mid-January. So by the second month of the year the majority of us have come to terms with the fact that nothing has changed and we are still the same person as we were at 11.59 on the 31th December 2010. So is it true that February is the month of misery? Are you experiencing your fair share of winter blues or has your crash diet crashed and burned? If so don’t panic, there are some solutions. Keep yourself occupied with close friends and family and avoid pulling out of any social gatherings. Hitting the gym to release those happy hormones and eating a healthy diet is also a good way to guide yourself through this month feeling a happier and healthier person. Perhaps we should give February a chance, after all, spring is just around the corner. Rebecca Milburn
FEBRUARY 2011, ISSUE 62 | FEATURES
PR11
Reality TV: A ticking time-bomb?
Natalie Mortimer takes a look at reality TV to see if it’s a heart still worth beating. Way back in 2000 Big Brother
ing someone belting out a bit of
to prevent yet another X-Factor
first hit our screens. The nation
Whitney or running around a stage
winner from succeeding in the race
was hooked and it marked the
with dog, yet it seems the public
for Christmas number one. Their
beginning of a whole decade of
may be tiring of the search for the
efforts paid off and Rage against
reality TV. A year later, before Si-
next Hearsay, Girls Aloud or Steve
the Machine sold 500,000 cop-
mon Cowell and his pants made
Brookstein (nope, don’t remember
an appearance, Pop Stars and
him either!)
Nigel Lythgoe were the Saturday
In December 2009 two X-Factor-
night choice of entertainment.
weary people posted this on a
Audiences lapped up Nasty
Facebook group page; “Fed up of
Nigel and his harsh comments
Simon Cowell’s latest karaoke act
made the programme, which
being Christmas Number One?
was the first of its kind and a
Me too! So who’s up for a mass-
complete success.
purchase of the track ‘Killing In The Name’ as a protest to the X-Factor
Fast forward eight years and you can’t turn the TV on without watch-
monotony?” Tracy and Jon Morter started the Facebook campaign
ies of their track, securing the top spot and beating Joe McElderry by 50,000 copies. So is Simon’s empire of talent TV about to topple? You’d be forgiven for thinking so, but this series of the X-Factor actually drew in double the amount of viewers than the first - a whopping 14 million viewers an episode. Freelance journalist and TV critic Adam Postans reckons it’s pretty safe: “You’d think people were getting bored of reality TV. But the fact is, love it or loathe it, shows like X Factor and Strictly are still getting record viewing figures. Dancing on Ice has started to its largest opening audience so there is still clearly a big appetite for them. It might, of course, be down to how bad TV is in general these days.” TV production student Leoni Sterling, 21, disagrees: “I personally think any programme based on a same formula series after series will die out anyway of natural causes, the audience just gets bored and the times move on. It has a shelf life just like every-
more recent series of the show
reality TV could have a long shelf
Brother. In the early 90’s
were worse than earlier ones.
life as long as they keep having
it used to be all about
Sexual health studies student Ash-
new ideas. When it’s a bit different
game shows and sketch
leigh Jones, 22, thinks the same:
you want to watch it don’t you?”
shows, then things
“I stopped watching Big Brother
The introduction of celebrities
moved on to garden-
a couple of years ago, it’s been
to reality TV was perhaps a ploy
ing and antiques, then
going on for 11 series and it just
to hold people’s interest and law
to more reality based
got a bit boring and was same-old,
student Jessica Brown, 21 thinks
entertainment shows
same-old with them always picking
it’s worked, “I’ll never get bored of
and it will soon move on
crazy people. It was better when
watching I’m a Celebrity; I think
again.”
they didn’t know what was hap-
that’s what it is with celebrities, you
pening.”
want to watch them get tortured!
thing else, same as Big
Channel 4 took the decision to ditch Big Brother after 11 series when ratings began to slide. A survey conducted by One Poll found that 80 per cent of the public thought they made the right decision with 70 per cent agreeing that
Britain’s got Talent is the latest
I like Dancing on Ice as well be-
addition to the reality TV family.
cause you feel like you know them
With entirely open views regard-
a bit and want them to do well.”
ing talent, auditionees can pretty
When one show disappears
much do whatever they fancy, from
another one will inevitably spring
magic tricks to Michael Jackson
up in its place and it seems that
impressions. It is possibly this
however many critics these pro-
change in format that keeps people
grammes receive there will always
interested says Ashleigh: “I think
be twice as many supporters.
PR12
STYLE | ISSUE 62, FEBRUARY 2010
Girls and Guys: First date Girls
By Natalie Mortimer
Cupid is practising his aim and love is definitely in the air...yep, Valentine’s Day is once again upon us and it’s time to start planning an outfit to catch his eye! Whether you’re on a first date or a seasoned relationship professional, we’ve picked the best fashions on the high street. Nude, fleshy tones are the order of the day with light fabric shirts dominating the high street. Choose pieces with different textures to add interest like chiffon or satin combined with jersey. Structured belted shorts and skirts with a vintage feel are still adorning the high street rails, with Max Mara and Emporio Armani championing the trend on the catwalk. The iconic trench coat is also back in homage to Audrey Hepburn. And fear not, Burberry’s new embodiment of this signature piece is emulated well in the more affordable end of the market!
With the winter camel/nude trends that have swarmed the catwalks, it’s important to add that extra sparkle with some natural looking beauty as seen on Versace’s Spring/Summer 2011 catwalk. It is important not to confuse luminous with looking tangoed; the best way to do this is to go for a matching skin toned foundation,
Key purchases: 1.
By Victoria Iniss-Palmer
A first date can be really nervewracking so here’s a quick guide to first date attire to help you make a great impression.
2.
3.
4.
5.
1. River Island shorts - £29.99 2. Topshop silk shirt - £40.00 3. River Island quilted bad - £29.99 4. New Look trench coat - £32.99 5. New Look ribbon-tie shoes - £16.99
It is time to wipe away that gloomy wintry feeling with a luminous ‘au naturel’ look. Make no mistake: this doesn’t mean you have to wipe your face clean, it means applying just enough makeup to look naturally beautiful. It’s about using make-up to enhance your natural beauty rather than caking it on and concealing your true identity.
Guys
1.
like L’Oreal True Match. Also use a foundation brush: it lets you apply foundation evenly, giving a smooth, no-streak finish. Give yourself a rosy cheek or a light splash of bronzer, to create a healthy look avoiding that washed-out look that can sometimes occur when wearing nude coloured clothing. The cheek and lip tints by Benefit - Posie-tint or Bene-tint - are ideal for this effect. Maxfactor has a natural minerals bronzer that creates a subtle sunkissed look as seen in Michael Kors’ Spring/ Summer 2011 collection. Long, voluminous lashes like Eva Longoria’s at the Golden Globes, are definitely in right now: it’s about making your eyes stand out and sparkle. The new Hypnôse Mascara by Lancôme claims to thicken lashes
2.
Go for a smart casual look - don’t rock up in a tuxedo, but don’t wear a footie shirt and dirty trainers. Also steer away from more controversial fashion trends; not every girl wants to see a low cut Vneck shirt. Finally make sure to shower beforehand; body odour is an instant fail. If you are heading to the cinema, casual is fine: you’ll be sitting in the dark most of the time anyway. Try a pair of alim-leg dark jeans with a pair of Converse style trainers and a checked shirt. Perhaps your date is dinner and drinks? Opt for chinos and leather shoes with a casual jacket and T-shirt. A bang on trend quilted jacket would be great over a plain white tee or a polo with a smart Harrington jacket. And remember lads, there’s no need to fret about first date success.
1.
2.
3. 4.
5.
1. River Island cheched shirt - £29.99 2. River Island quilted jacket - £49.99 3. Topman canvas trainer - £35.00 4. Fred Perry polo shirt - £50.00 5. Topman navy skinny chinos £28.00
without being clumpy, which is perfect for this trend. For a splash of colour, make like the models at the Fendi Spring/Summer 2011 show and highlight your lips with something like the new Maxfactor Lipfinity Lip Tint pens which come in a variety of colours, but the shades Princess Pink, Berry Burst and Nice ’n’ Nude are best for this look. Last but definitely not least, brighten up your day with a feminine flowery fragrance such as Marc Jacobs’ Daisy, Dior’s Miss Cherie, Chanel’s Coco Mademoiselle or Dolce and Gabbana’s The one Rose. All of these will wipe away those wintery cobwebs and make you feel fresh and fun ready for Spring.
3.
Make up trend: Natural beauty By Rosie Steele
4.
1. Max-Factor lip tiny pens - £7.99 2. Fendi SS11 3. Lancôme Hypnôse mascara - £20.00 4. Marc Jacobs Daisy - £48.00 for 50ml
“A woman’s perfume tells more about her than her handwriting.” - Christian Dior
FEBRUARY 2011, ISSUE 62 | STYLE
Shop her closet: Alexa Chung
PR13
Alexa Chung. I only have to mention the name and your mind goes into over drive, the clothes, the hair, the look. She is stylish. Nobody can deny that. But she goes beyond most stylish people because she owns her look, she embodies it, right down to the beautifully manicured toes, in the newest, hottest Chanel shade nail polish. (This season is their pearl-ised colours. To die for.) What Chung can do is dress for the occasion. She knows what to wear and when to wear it. Chanel Spring Summer show, did you see the cuteness of her loafers paired with the little navy Chanel dress? And yet she still managed to upstage most of the star-studded, designer clad Fashion Pack. I must admit that we were all a little disappointed when she moved to New York and we rarely have pictures of what she’s wearing. But her daily fashion blog on Vogue.com left us all in awe, a daily look into her wardrobe. Swoon. We chose Alexa as the star to give us inspiration for date dressing, as she rarely puts a French Sole foot wrong in the fashion trenches and knows how to dress for when and where.
By Taryn Davies
(l-r: River Island satchel - £36.99 // Jaeger Boutique skirt - £85.00 // Dorothy Perkins - £17.00 // Topshop hotpants - £26.00 // Topshop blazer - £55.00 // Blue boe tie Ebay - £6.99 // French Connection - £35.00)
Miuccia Prada: Prada and proud of it By Yanrong Pang
Prada S/S 08 advertising campaign Known for her eye for detail and scrutinisation of every stage in the production line, Miuccia Prada is a force to be reckoned with. But it’s because of her fussiness that Prada and Miu Miu are the globalised brands they are today. Miuccia Prada was born in 1949. With a PhD in Political Science, a Communist Party membership and a five-year career in mime, on paper no one could be more unsuitable to head up a fashion house. But in 1978 she reluctantly took over the family business and her combinations of different materials in the products have now become Prada’s trademark. Miuccia’s first collection was a reincarnation of her grandfather, Mario Prada’s, extensive use of black nylon for bag coverings. She incorporated this into her collection of backpacks and totes which became her first commercial success. In 1985, her design of black, unla-
belled and finely-woven handbags was such a success it became a fashion must-have. Not having any affiliations with fashion did not stop Miuccia from starting a prêt-a-Porter (ready-towear) collection in 1989, which received critical acclaim. The fun collection embraced women’s curves and was a reincarnation of the 1970s but with minimal fluff. Miuccia’s less expensive, youthtargeted collection was given her nickname Miu Miu, and debuted in 1992. The bright and lighter colours used for its first ready-towear collection was inspired by her personal wardrobe and included mainly hippie-type designs and accessories. Success came knocking and the first London Miu Miu boutique was opened in 1994. The success of Prada and Miu Miu won Miuccia the Council of Fashion Designers of America International Award in 1993. She credited a large slice of her success to Patrizio Bertelli, her hus-
band and business partner. While Miuccia takes care of the creative decisions, it is Bertelli who masterminds the commercial side of the products and the retail strategy. Together they inflated Prada to compete with Louis Vuitton MoetHennessy (or LVMH) at the start of 2000, and took over companies like Helmut Lang, Church Shoes, Jil Sander and Fendi. Branching out from clothes and accessories, a collaboration with LG Electronics in 2007 produced the LG Prada phone, with a second version coming out in 2009. Since then, Prada has opened up 250 boutiques in 65 countries. The Wall Street Journal named Miuccia as one of the 30 most powerful women in Europe. And who could disagree: from a small, struggling brand to gracing the runways of the fashion capitals, Miuccia Prada has created an empire. And as she says herself; “Fashion is instant language.”
PR14
STYLE | ISSUE 62, FEBRUARY 2011
A DECADE IN FASHION We leave the noughties with fond memories but bad style errors. Eve Douglas takes a look over the decade that fashion forgot. As we’re now officially a month or so into 2011, what better way to see in the start of a new decade than to have a look back at the things we have been wearing for the past ten years? It could be argued that the noughties, the 2000s, or whatever you want to call it, never really found its own style. We all know about the flapper dresses and fascinators worn throughout the forties, the prom dresses of the fifties, the hippy sixties, the disco-loving seventies, the off-shoulder tops and leg warmers that shaped the eighties and the girl-power fashion of the nineties. But, as bad as some of those decades were style-wise (leg warmers suit no-one: fact), at least they had a style to call their own, which is more than can be said for the noughties. So if you fancy a trip down memory lane, read on. But be prepared to laugh, cringe and cry at some of the major faux pas the Noughties saw. And don’t even try and pretend you didn’t have a fake Burberry scarf. We all did. How embarrassing. The noughties could arguably go down in history as the era that just borrowed ideas from decades gone by. We had a brief stint with the boho look of the sixties, except we just referred to it as ‘how Sienna Miller dresses’. We also dabbled with fifties-style prom dresses, only we made like Lily and wore them with our Reebok classics. But with all the stealing of styles we did, we never did manage to capture the magic that those items had the first time around and one particular offender of the noughties that sticks unpleasantly is, without a doubt, the gypsy skirt. The bohemian ‘man, I’m such a free-spirit’ look has been a permanent fixture on the fashion scene for years now, and while Sienna Miller isn’t entirely to blame, I think we can unite in holding her responsible for inflicting those most unflattering, table cloth-like skirts upon the world, only made worse by the disc belts that so often accompanied them. Next up we have the Von Dutch cap. The first Von Dutch store was opened in 1999 but these beauties
were inflicted upon the world in around 2002 when every celeb in Tinseltown deemed it necessary to wear one. Designed in only the most garish of colours, these truckerstyle hats graced many a celebs head from Justin Timberlake to Paris Hilton and were copied the world over. But, for those of us that couldn’t afford a genuine Von Dutch hat, there were market stalls up and down the country willing to amend that and low and behold, the Von Bitch hat was born. Classy. It has to be said that Sex and The City did a lot to help shape how we view fashion. After all, it was Carrie and her friends that got us all obsessed with shoes and vintage clothing. But not all the shoes we decided to put on our feet over the last ten years have been quite as covetable as the Manolos favoured by Carrie et al. Crocs, Uggs and Mukluks have been permanent fixtures over the past decade and while people’s inexplicable love for Crocs and Uggs shows no sign of waning, luckily the Mukluk died a death along with the poor rabbits that were skinned to make them. Unethical and unflattering: what a trend. Another fad which had a bit of a moment in the mid noughties
was the trend emo (because ‘emotional’ doesn’t quite have the same ring). We all know someone that fancied themselves as a bit of a scene kid, you may have even been one yourself, but just in case you need reminding it was all big black fringes, big black eyes, and super-skinny jeans. Having a MySpace account was a must for any budding emo, as were brightly coloured t-shirts depicting the name and logo of completely unknown bands. This trend seems to have died along with MySpace, although rumours of angry scene kids camping outside Mark Zuckerberg’s house plotting revenge remain unfounded. And while it was certainly a look, we’ll never understand why they favoured the bathroom as their favourite place to take pictures of themselves. Next on the list of noughties nostalgia has got to be that ever-flattering and incredibly painful looking hairstyle; the cornrows. You may think that this hairstyle was solely restricted to men, and while David Beckham and Kevin Federline did both rock the trend, the likes of Ciara and Cheryl Cole also dabbled with it too. And no, not even Cheryl could make cornrows work. No round up of the decade would be complete without the obligatory mention of the WAG. The Wives And Girlfriends of the noughties’ best footballers were solely responsible for the popularity of hair extensions, the It bag,
the all-year-round perma-tan and the barely there clothes and wherever Victoria Beckham went, Coleen and co followed. However, the WAG world panicked when, in 2007, Victoria ditched the extensions in favour of a short blonde crop which was subsequently copied by A to Z list stars alike. After letting that grow out, Victoria went back to her darker roots and the Pob was born (that’s a Posh Bob, obv). Even though Victoria had a transition from slightly cringe worthy WAG to fully fledged fashionista thanks to her brilliant clothing line and her impeccable taste, which nowadays is thankfully more Hermès than Hooch, she’s still one of the most copied women in the world. We just wish fellow WAGs would take note: tackylooking hair extensions and bright orange skin is officially over. Another element of the WAG look that was also favoured by us and the A List was bling, or worse, blingbling. Bling is an expression that is unfortunately synonymous with the noughties and there was a time in the early 2000s when diamonds, real or otherwise, were dripping from everything. Whether it was on one of the spinning medallions championed by the likes of 50 Cent or on a floor-length, fabulous dress a la Beyoncé, bling was everywhere and the expression bling-bling was officially added to the dictionary in 2002. Diamante earrings, diamond encrusted
gadgets and diamond rings akin to the iceberg the Titanic hit were a must-have with teenagers and stupidly rich celebs all over the country and anything that could possibly be covered in bling was, including teeth. Luckily the world’s love of bling is now as much out of fashion as the expression itself. Blingin’. But as we continue down this road, remembering bad clothes and even worse haircuts, we must remember that the noughties era wasn’t all fashion mishaps and embarrassing outfits. Alexa Chung and her posse of hip and trendy Londonites have singlehandedly made it their mission to put brogues, Breton tops, satchels and granddad-cardigans on the map, so if we can be thankful for anything this past decade it can be that we can finally embrace our inner geek and get called chic while we do it. But before you reminisce to your grandchildren about how fashionable you were in your day, and how the noughties did some fabulous things like revamped black lace, gave shoulder pads a new lease of life, made us want to wear clogs and cemented florals as a wardrobe staple, just remember somewhere, at some point, you were experimenting with impossibly long hair extensions, and quite possibly getting your mate to put them into cornrows. And don’t pretend you weren’t.
“Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart” William Wordsworth
Who is your favourite literary romantic? F Scott Firzgerald’s The Great Gatsby would not be the same without a little injection of money, masculinity and mystery thanks to Jay Gatsby - a self-made man desperate to win back the affections of his childhood sweetheart, Daisy Fay.
Wuthering Heights is one of the most romantic novels in English literature but would it have been the same without Emily Bronte’s deep, dark and brooding leading man, Heathcliff?
With his looks, charisma and unquestionable dedication to love, wouldn’t it be disasterous if this romantic hero didn’t get the girl? Many consider Gatsby to be a tragic hero, consumed by the past and doing everything within his power to recapture it - but what’s life without the chase?
By Jenna Fordie
If you’re struggling to find a good Valentine’s date or simply need an ice-breaker then a bit of light laughter is what we recommend.
Mr Darcy remains one of the most iconic romantics of all time. He is the leading man in Jane Austen’s classic Pride and Prejudice and just as he would have us believe him to be an arrogant snob of a man, he manages to not only worm his way into the affections of Muss Elizabeth Bennet, but into ours too. We soon learn that Darcy is quite the romantic saving Elizabeth from an unfortunate situation, her tactless mother and ultimately herself.
It cannot be denied he is one of the most passionate characters ever to be penned to paper - but it is this passion that ultimately leads to his destruction. Like all great romantics he is blinded by love for his girl Cathy and, it is their love and story that captivates audiences.
PSST...Did you know?
Mock the Week favourite Russell Howard is back for another tour which promises to be just as witty as before - keeping his audiences well and truly on their toes. Appearing at the Liverpool Echo on 16 February, the young eccentric is well worth a visit, offering cheeky annedotes, and wacky humour. It will definitely be a Valentine’s Day to remember. More
FEBRUARY 2011, ISSUE 62 | CULTURE
PR15
information at www.russell-howard. co.uk. ...Also theatre lovers, look out for Joseph and his Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat coming to the Preston Guild Hall from Tuesday 15 February. Tickets available from www. prestonguildhall.com from £9.50.
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William Shakespeare (1564-1616) By Jenna Fordie William Shakespeare, the original Kanye West
Celebrate this Valentine’s day with a little art and culture
By Megna Kalvani
How about sharing your passion for art and culture with your loved ones on Valentine’s Day and move out of that conventional routine of chocolates, flowers and cards? Why not celebrate with something more innovative and non-traditional with that special someone – even if it’s yourself.
If you love to read, spend your Valentine’s with words, and they don’t even need to be your own. Pick out a novel or a book of poetry that are meaningful to you and put pen to paper to write a brief inscription on the inside covers. That way your loved one will think of you every time they open the book. Perhaps attend a book signing or meet the author in person; Steve McLaughlin, author of Squaddie: A Soldier’s Story will be appearing in Waterstones in Preston on 13th February at 11am. Waterstones have also organised book meetings scheduled on 15th February 2011, so if you’re up for some post book-love, drop by for a lively discussion, great ambience and fantastic fiction. Attending an art exhibition is a great way to rekindle your love for the arts. Manchester City Gallery invites you to their latest instalment that on 13th February that allows you to trace back the meaning
and your love for ‘art’ as for each one of us have different ideas and interpretations on the subject. If you are not a conventional person then why not spend Valentine’s Day at the Museum of London. They are putting on an evening of loved-up entertainment, featuring everything from Latin dance classes to Valentine’s paper cutting workshops. You may even learn some sultry Latin dance moves for the cha cha and rumba, make vintage inspired cards and enjoy poetry readings in the Pleasure Gardens, courtesy of gay poets from the Polari literary salon. Jelly mongers extraordinaire and culinary spectacular specialists Bompas and Parr will also be on hand at the Museum of London with their selection of aphrodisiac potions. You can also join curators in an object handling session, featuring some of the more risqué items from the museum storeroom. All this is between 6.30pm -
10pm on 14th February 2011 while tickets cost £6.00. Advanced bookings are required, which can be made at museumoflondon.org.uk If you’re passionate about trains, maybe you would like to spend your Valentines on the rails that have largely become part of British culture. Well, you can, railroads are showing off their romantic sides this February with St. Valentine’s Day Lunch/Dinner Love Trains allowing loved ones to “share dinner in a romantic restaurant car, sip champagne beneath a sexy sky-dome or nestle into some cosy vintage coach,” making the experience unique and romantic. Log on traintraveling.com to book your tickets. But what if you’re single? Don’t wallow in loneliness. Turn your jaded view of Black Hearts’ Day into a special pampering occasion. Show how much you love yourself on this special day and be your own Valentine. Art and stuff
Stop reading this if you have never heard of William Shakespeare... And for those of you who have, let the appreciation begin. It would be impossible to have our annual visit from St Valentine without a good dose of romance courtesy of the most celebrated playwright in English literature’s history. As a playwright and a poet, Shakespeare knew how to craft the perfect love story with the stirring of deep feelings and evoking moods of passion. Shakespeare even dedicated the term ‘romance’ to four of his plays: Pericles, Cymbeline, The Winter’s Tale and The Tempest. It may be argued this genre of play is the original happy ending and, though it may seem throughout that their plots are similarly consumed by betrayal, fuelled by conflict and injected with injustice; it is this happy ending that lends to the theme of romance. This resolve and redemption is complemented with the themes of supernatural events and magical powers, allowing an audience to be brought into a whole make-believe world to the point that some of it may seem staged to allow this perfect ending. Full of supernatural, magical not to mention weird and wonderful
references, The Tempest was the last and most fantastical creation of William Shakespeare’s unparalleled career. With a storm brewed from manipulation, a magic island and a story line laced with sprites, fairies and a half-fish, half-human monster, would it be too difficult to believe it all ends well? It may be argued that romance is not exclusive to these plays. Love is prevalent across the majority of Shakespeare’s works in everything for Macbeth, Measure for Measure and Othello, and while it may not offer the same happy-ending context of the aforementioned plays, Romeo and Juliet remains one of the most memorable love stories of all time and remains a perpetual vision of creativity. William Shakespeare remains an iconic romantic as his work has stood the test of time. His plays are still highly regarded in contemporary society and celebrated by students, enthusiasts and scholars alike. He and his work are a constant source of reference and inspiration, whether it is its presence in everyday observations or modern Hollywood flicks using lines from plays, there is no escaping it.