214 214 Magazine / Autumn Winter 2011
As a new season opens, we leave the light evenings and warm weather behind but fear not this doesn’t mean you have to spend your winter months in hibernation. It’s time to embrace the cold and kick through the leaves in style. This issue is your guide to preparing to wrap up warm yet beautifully, becoming a stylish TOPSHOP girl. Pay close attention to detail. It’s a season for ragged faux fur and copious amounts of leather leaving the accessories to a minimum. Read on for an exclusive interview with blogger Stefany Withers who talks Green Tea and balancing her life around her degree. We give you an insight into designer of the moment Simone Rocha’s recent success and her brand new capsule collection for Topshop. We’ve also chosen our favourite top 10 pieces of the moment to keep you ahead of the stylish game. And if you’re still craving for more, check out www.topshop.com/aw214 for out-takes and extras. Here’s to a new season, enjoy the view...
- CONTENTS Contributors_______Page Four Competition_______Page Five Perfect 10_______Page Six Autumn Momentum_____Page Eight Girl of the moment______Page Eighteen Girl Behind The Blog______Page Twenty Two
TOPSHOP 214 MAGAZINE / PAGE 4
Contributors Topshop’s inspiration for the Autumn/Winter issue 2011 was brought to life by stylist Dana Ali and Belgian model Celine Roels. We took a chance to catch a moment with these two to give you a little insight into their minds.
MODEL
Celine Roels
STYLIST Dana Ali
Are you a city girl or do you prefer the countryside? I’m definitely a city girl, I love the atmosphere it brings.
Are you a city girl or do you prefer the countryside? I’m definitely a city girl I think i’d get bored within the country.
If you had a superpower what would it be and why? If i had a superpower, it would be to change time - fast forward and rewind without people realising.
If you had a superpower what would it be and why? Be invisible when I want so I could sneak about and won’t be bothered
What’s your idea of the perfect christmas? My idea of a perfect christmas is to be in my living room in our house in France, with a christmas tree decorated with lights, presents underneath, candles glowing with my family and my dog. With lots of yummy food.
What’s your idea of the perfect christmas? Staying at home with my family, being cosy and warm, watching lots of christmasy films and eating lots of home made food! I love baking so christmas is the perfect excuse to relax and bake!!
Favourite room in your house (back home) and why? It has to be my bedroom, its huge so I’m able to keep one side messy and I’m able to call friends over. I have a tv so I usually watch movies while in my bed or I play wii
Favourite room in your house (back home) and why? My living room, well my sofa/seating my mum created in the living room. I think its comfy! [perfect place to watch tv or nap]
Worst white lie you’ve ever told? I’m alway honest with my parents so it would have to be one i’ve told a friend but right now I can’t think of any i’ve told recently.
Worst white lie you’ve ever told? Telling everyone at school me and my sister weren’t related..
If you could exchange lives with someone for one day only, who would it be and why? I would love to exchange lives with either Beyonce or a Royal to see their difference in lifestyle’s.
If you could exchange lives with someone for one day only, who would it be and why? Er maybe someone in my family in the past so I can see how things developed...if I’m allowed to do that.
Watch the behind the scenes video for our shoot at WWW.TOPSHOP.COM/AW214
TOPSHOP 214 MAGAZINE / PAGE 5
Win Your Dream A/W Wardrobe
Spotted the perfect winter coat? Knee high boots? Chunky knit? Can’t wait until Christmas? Well here’s your chance to win a £500 shopping spree and get all your favourite pieces for an instant wardrobe update!
ENTER NOW AT WWW.TOPSHOP.COM/214COMP
Terms and conditions WWW.TOPSHOP.COM/214COMP
TOPSHOP 214 MAGAZINE / PAGE 6
THE PERFECT
10
1. Antique Cross Tank £25
Adding glam to a simple tank top. Metallic colours are a must this season.
Get your wardrobe winter ready with ten style updating, eye catching, show stopping, new season pieces.
4. Pleat Block Colour Midi 3. The Boxy Holdall £36
Officially everyones new favourite silhouette: The boxy holdall.
2. The Faux Fur Coat £98
This gorgeous belted fur coat is ticking every fashion obsession box.
Bringing colour to your winter wardrobe with the pleated midi.
TOPSHOP 214 MAGAZINE / PAGE 7
5. Glitter Chelsea Boots £36.00
Add sparkle to your wardrobe with these glitter chelsea boots.
6. Baroque Bodycon £58
This bodycon dress is perfect with a pair of black heels and oversized clutch
7. Draped Blouse £36
Draped at both the front and the back adds detail to a simple blouse.
8. The Luxe Biker £58
The biker gets a super-luxe makeover with a faux fur collar. Winner.
9. Patent Panel Leggings £28
Adding subtle yet rock chic detail to a staple piece in your wardrobe
10. Earmuffs £14
Keep your ears warm in style this season with the leopard print earmuffs. Perfect winter warmers.
All items available on the Topshop Website www.TOPSHOP.com and within selected stores.
TOPSHOP 214 MAGAZINE / PAGE 8
AUTUMN MOMENTUM Welcome the winter months in ragged faux fur or biker leather. there’s something dark yet delicate about the styles this season. Keep make up natural and wear leather with everything. Not forgetting platform wedges to complete the look. Wherever the style wind takes you, enter winter with a bang.
PHOTOGRAPHY______Jessica Ding
STYLING______Dana Ali
PREVIOUS SPREAD Leather Jacket £58 Maxi Dress£26
Velvet Ballet Pumps £18
OPPOSITE PAGE Black Maxi Dress £26
THIS PAGE
Safety Pin Tank Top £22 Patent Panel Leggings £28 Suede Wedge Boots £85
Faux Fur Gilet £45 Black Maxi Dress£26
THIS PAGE
Faux Fur Gilet £45 Jersey Maxi Dress £26 Necklace £12.50
OPPOSITE PAGE Faux Fur Gilet £45 Basic Scoop Vest £6 Necklace £12.50
Pin Vest Top £22 Leather Belt £20 Maxi Skirt £22 Platform Boots £80
TOPSHOP 214 MAGAZINE / PAGE 18
Girl of the
MOMENT Fashion Writer Jessica Ding gives us an insight into the recent of success of designer Simone Rocha and the support she has developed along the way...
“Strong and modern with a sympathetic approach to womenswear and electic eye for accessories” London is a hotbed of young talent within fashion. Topshop are known for supporting the young, creative and fresh. For 214 their most exciting emerging designer of the moment has to be the girl on the top of everyone’s “one to watch” list this season; Simone Rocha. Simone is the youngest daughter of designer John Rocha who is best known for his distinctive style experimenting within fabric and technique. It seems the duo were cut from the same cloth as they apparently have the same understanding of fabric according to John himself. However, he describes Simone’s designs as a lot more “edgy” than his own helping her connect with her generation. Simone may have a design background throughout her family yet she seems to be doing it her way within the industry refusing to let her name get in the way of her talent. Influenced by her father within those early teen years, it all started for Simone when she was just 16 working as an assistant for her father. Stereotypically people may think that this is the route that she would follow. However, Simone has taken an independent route within the fashion industry. Spring/ Summer 2012 was her third solo show at London Fashion Week and it was worlds apart from anything her father has ever created, using a variety of pastel colours and Perspex layers giving womenswear a soft masculine touch. With the entire collection being focused around tailoring and structure compared to her father’s floaty pieces covered with feathers. It’s clear that Simone prefers minimal designs on the garment whereas her father is all about the detail upon his garments.
In previous shows Simone created a lot of attention from her shoes, due to the advanced development within her designs. They have been described as “invisible” heels with a chunky Lucite attachment to the bottom of the brogue, creating emphasis between the heel and ground giving the impression that the models are floating. It is clear that Simone has a lot more to give then just a clothes collection, she may have a shoe line without even realising. Over the past few years, Simone’s success cannot be understated. She keeps striving to be the best within her field. Her new modern feminity that is clearly being portrayed through her clothes. Her designs are characteristic of the latest generation within the fashion industry. They are novel yet wearable taking inspiration and influences from a number of sources including artist Louise Bourgeois who passed away earlier this year. Simone was hugely inspired by the artist and stated she wanted to do an ode for her. Rocha claimed “It was really her metal sculptures that inspired me the most, which is where the gingham also came from. It was herself that influenced the tailoring as she used to wear quite a lot of formal clothing which came through and influenced me on the deconstructed pieces.” The influence from Louise Bourgeois is clearly reflected within Simone’s collections year upon year. Making them minimal with the masculine edge which is what Bourgeois was all about.
Lucite Brogues
Since graduating with an MA in Fashion from Central St Martins in 2010 there’s been no looking back for Simone. The course director from Central St Martins, Louise Wilson praised Simone and her work “Strong and modern with a sympathetic approach to womenswear and an electic eye for accessories.” It seems the fanbase for Simone’s collections were clear before she had even properly began her career, her talent was undeniable. Shortly after graduating, Rocha was approached by Fashion East. >
Using Inspiration from Louise Bourgeois
Behind the Scenes of Spring/Summer
TOPSHOP 214 MAGAZINE / PAGE 20
Fashion East is a pioneering non profitable establishment. It nurtures young talented designers through the early tough stages of their career. Fashion East provides them with funding, a venue and complete catwalk production for London Fashion Week to help them become noticed by press and buyers. Topshop feel that new up and coming designers are the heart of the industry and they are proud to be working alongside Fashion East as their main sponsor and have been since 2003. Mary Homer Managing Director of Topshop said “Topshop is extremely proud of our support and association with Fashion East, which always seems to identify the best of London’s design talent each season.”. Fashion East has helped start careers of some of the UK’s most desired talent including: Jonathan Saunders and Richard Nicoll with many of these going on to win NEWGEN sponsorship. In 2010 Topshop selected Simone as one of their three MA graduates to stock accessories exclusively within their Oxford Circus Flagship Store. First time round Simone chose to make a selection of headwear and now she is back again working within the store, with a stronger approach to create her own 6 piece capsule collection. Her newest collection for the store features beautifully tailored pieces with tough silhouettes and a modern twist at high street pieces so everyone can own a piece.
Simon’es headpieces for Topshop
In January of 2011 Rocha was chosen as one of the “Bright Young Things” of 2011 and given the front of the store window in Selfridges on Oxford Street, to house her Spring/Summer 11 collection for one month only. Her collections have created great press recognition including Collette in Paris who also chose to house one of Simone’s collections Autumn/Winter 2011 which was hosted in their front window during couture week within June 2011. High volumes of exposure within the media both nationally and internationally have allowed Simone to promote her fashion label globally. This includes the U.S, Europe and Asia. Rocha’s key career goal is to be known globally, and the recent coverage within the press is allowing her to achieve this within such a short period of time. Her new capsule collection within Topshop has helped their customers relate to Simone and what she is about a lot more. Within Topshop and 214 they feel that it is important for customers to be able to relate to the designs and collaborations that occur. This is especially important for Simone as she is a new up and coming designer so it’s good to have the mix between designer and high street so early on within her career. Several Topshop fans were asked what they thought to Rocha’s capsule collection. With prices ranging from £75 - £400 there is something for everyone no matter what the budget is. Aimee Westwood, 19 from Sheffield claimed “The collection is quite pricey but they are staples and won’t really go out of fashion, so I could consider splashing out and buying a piece to treat myself!” When asked about Topshop as a stepping stone within Simone’s career, Alex Pottie 22 from Preston gave her opinion “Topshop is definitely helping to establish her career, I can imagine that if this collection is successful Rocha would start to think about opening her own store to accompany her label.”
“I could consider splashing out and buying a piece to treat myself!” The capsule collection is said to be a mix of all the collections Simone has created previously, including the Crombie coat and Shirt dress. Taking staple pieces from her collections and adding new fabrics such as sheer to create a more romantic feel throughout the collection. With minimal detail it’s all focus on the clean cut tailoring and fabrics used within the collection. With a mix of blazers, shirts and trousers there’s something to suit every occasion. The famous Shirt dress from Simone’s Autumn/ Winter 2011 collection has been given a new lease of life. With neon netted sleeves, Rocha’s signature style has been reprised at an affordable high street price.
Classic “Shirt Dress” re-invented with neon netted sleeves
Simone is said to feel privileged to be designing for the worlds largest high street store. When she was growing up there was only one Topshop within Ireland, so whenever she came over to London; Topshop was such a treat. Now with over 300 stores in the UK alone customers are spoilt for choice.
“Fashion East always seems to identify the best of London’s design talent each season!” Although Simone is only within her first year of launching her own brand and is just beginning to find her feet within the industry, she’s already caught the eye of a pop star phenomenon. Lady Gaga has been pictured wearing Rocha’s Spring/Summer 2012 white lacy dress. It’s been heard on the grapevine that Lady Gaga is a big fan of Simone’s after she showed at London Fashion Week. Fashion insiders were pleased to see she chose some of the collection so soon after the show. She even accessorised it with mint green which was a highlight colour throughout the show – Lady Gaga has clearly been taking tips from Rocha.
Simon’es new capsule collection for Topshop
Another enthusiast is Grazia’s fashion editor Sophie Ferguson Jones, who made sure she got a seat within Simone’s latest show and later named it a highlight of her week. Sophie even gave Rocha’s Topshop collection a mention “We were impressed with her collection for Topshop recently and we’ll be keeping a close eye on her, for sure.” So it seems that Simone Rocha is a name to be noted, industry experts have got their statement pieces for this season from her capsule collection but have you? Simone Rocha’s collection is both available within the flagship store on Oxford Street and online www.TOPSHOP.co.uk.
Lady Gaga in Simones white lacy dress White lacy dress on the cat walk Follow Simone on Twitter: @ Simone_Rocha_
TOPSHOP 214 MAGAZINE / PAGE 22
Girl behind the
BLOG
STEFANY WITHERS THE FOUNDER OF “INFLUENCE BLOG” IS EVERYONES NEW FAVOURITE BLOGGER. When she’s not bizzy-whizzy blogging, Stefany Withers turns her eye to books and english being a final year under-gradaute studying; journalism, creative writing and english - not just a pretty face. She started her blog “Influence” in 2010 and just a year later she’s scooped over 850 followers. Take note, this girl at just 22 is definately one to watch and here at 214 we managed to grab a quick interview with her.... WWW.INFLUENCEBLOG.NET
INTERVIEW WITH STEFANY WHERE ARE YOU RIGHT NOW? Right now I’m in my flat having a cup of green tea. WHAT MADE YOU REALISE GLASGOW WAS THE PLACE TO STUDY? I chose to study here because I really love the city and my boyfriend is based here so it’s nice being near him. DESCRIBE YOUR PERFECT DAY. My perfect day would be drinking lots of tea, catching up on blogs, having a lunch date with my friends and then spending the evening with my boyfriend relaxing. WHAT INSPIRES YOU MOST? Lots of things inspire me daily so it’s hard to name just one. Usually it’s something I’ve read in a magazine or on a blog. I also catch a lot of daily inspiration just by walking down the street! You never know what you might come across... WHY DO YOU SHOP AT TOPSHOP? I shop at Topshop because they tend to sell clothes I like - They usually stock a little of everything too, from the basics to the more fun eccentric pieces. DID YOU ALWAYS WANT TO BE A BLOGGER? Not really, I’ve always enjoyed reading blogs but it only occurred to me way later that I should consider starting up my own. WHAT MUSIC ARE YOU LISTENING TO AT THE MOMENT? Bon Iver’s new album Calgary. It’s the perfect chill out album!
FOLLOW STEFANY:
@STEFANY_WITHERS