ROGUE
KING’S COLLEGE LONDON / DECEMBER 2013
WINTER WONDERLAND
Photo on the left page, left to right: Amira wears H&M jumper and her own assorted scarves. Oscar wears Stanley Kane shirt, River Island jumper. Cleo wears H&M coat and Primark hat. Toby wears Stanley Kane sweatshirt.
Clockwise: Toby wears vintage jacket, Zara jumper, Stanley Kane jeans and his own shoes. Amira wears vintage coat, Topshop dress and her own boots and jewellery. Oscar wears Zara jacket, Primark trousers, H&M shoes and his own shirt.
ALL PHOTOS BY KKGAS PHOTOGRAPHY
A
stylish winter on a student budget was the theme of Rogue’s first ever fashion shoot, shown opposite and above. Four KCL students modeled looks that enlisted fur, velvet and leather, and referenced this AW13/14’s key trends of the oversized coat, tartan and leopard print. The models were myself, Tobias Bruce-Jones, Cleo Pollard and Oscar King. The fashion shoot took place around the Strand campus and neighbouring Somerset House, and featured clothing from affordable brands including Topshop, H&M, Zara, River Island, Primark, Stanley Kane and New Look. Londoners deserve an award, as yet uncreated, for remaining stylish when the temperature drops, especially when the weather is rarely on our side. The city’s clever and quirky
student fashion is testament to the attitude that no matter what budget and degree Celsius, there is no excuse not to dress well in winter. Layering is the key to London’s winter chic. This is simply the most stylish and successful way to keep out of the Zone 3 chill. A staple on-trend coat is essential. Brits favour hard-working coats that fit over those bulky Fair Isle knits. Ballet flats are cute in a French Sole way, but boots are your friends this December. The British high street is legendary for its affordability, range and trend-led stock. The shoe department will not let you down: boots come in a range of heights, studs, suede and leather, and I’m not just talking about New Look. In London, warm accessories will ensure you are never underdressed. Your mother might have used to
say to you “Hat! Scarf! Gloves!”, but mums really do know best. Pashminas may be beautiful, but you need to stow them away and bring out the thick scarf. You might not be a hat person, but this will change if the coming winter reaches the sub-zero temperatures of the last. Topshop, H&M and Accessorize always have adorable woolly accessories for next to nothing. However, remember that while it may not be as cheap as Primark, Zara and other high-end high street brands sell good quality wares that last. Do not fret, London’s gentlemen, you are not deprived of fashion kudos. The dress sense of British men has improved in leaps and bounds in recent years, due to an increased high street focus. You will rarely go wrong if you stick to a classic English look, which often
means a thick jumper and this year’s revered desert boots. Shops like Topman cater quite well for menswear, although I have heard on the male grapevine that their clothes are seen as fairly generic. Stores such as All Saints and Ted Baker are more popular for their designs, but unfortunately not for their price tags. A good trick is to look out for newer labels, which care cropping up all the time. Rupert & Buckley and Stanley Kane are two such brands that are particularly good for menswear. Check out the former’s Literature t-shirts and the latter’s sweatshirts and denim shirts. London style is all about a British sense of where to invest and when to save. Given the fact that winter will extend well into next year, you have a lot of time to get it right.
AMIRA ARASTEH
GET THE LOOK: CHRISTMAS JUMPERS 2
4
1
3
1 H&M, £14.99 2 NEW LOOK, £27.99 3 JACK WILLS, £98.50 4 TOPSHOP, £50
BY JACINTA RUSCILLO
LONDON FASHION MOMENTS
SELIN BOZKAYA recaps this year’s biggest fashion milestones Beckham on Old Bond Street: Ex-Spice Girl/WAG Victoria Beckham cemented her career as a successful fashion designer with the opening of a flagship store in October in one of London’s most fashionable areas.
A first for Tom: February 2013 marked a first for A-list favourite Tom Ford, as he unveiled his first ever London catwalk show. The exclusive event featured a front row that included Vogue editor Anna Wintour, and singer-actor Justin Timberlake. Isabel Marant for H&M: This latest designer and high street collaboration launched in November. Despite mixed reviews, the French designer (infamous for the wedge sneaker) incorporates this season’s leather trousers and fitted jackets into the collec- tion. Good luck getting your hands on your favourite pieces, though! Club to catwalk: This exhibition at the Victoria & Albert Museum is unmissable for eighties fashion lovers. The exhibit traces 1980s fashion through more than 85 outfits and designers of the decade, emphasizing the capital’s vibrant and eclectic club scene, and its influence
on style. The exhibition, which runs until mid-February, is a bargain at only £5 for entry. The rise of Brit models: The UK’s very own models have been the talk of the town not only in London, but worldwide, in 2013. The likes of Jourdan Dunn, Cara Delevigne, Suki Waterhouse and others have been gracing catwalks and covers around the globe. Rihanna for MAC: What seems like quite possibly the fastest-selling MAC collection ever (trust me, I lucked out), the stylish RiRi made her debut with a cosmetic line in October, with seasonal ranges that included eye-shadow palettes, lipsticks and lip-liners. Fans and celebrities alike have rocked some of the most popular items, such as ‘Talk That Talk’, a dark purple lipstick that is on-trend for Autumn/Winter 2013/14, and ‘RiRi Woo’, the signature red. Stay tuned for more RiRi & MAC, as the singer has been announced as the new face of their Viva Glam line. London Fashion Week: Of course, it goes without saying that this list would not
be complete without one of the city’s most stylish bi-annual events. Now noticed by the foreign fashion world, LFW was home to 60 shows and over 5,000 visitors this year. The event, which took place in February and September at Somerset House, was, as always, one to remember. What was on-trend? Bomber jackets, big hair, lace and a lot of pink. Charlotte Tilbury make-up: Beauty fanatics and bloggers have not stopped raving about this new make-up range that launched in August. Tilbury, a veteran in the beauty world (and make-up artist to just about everyone from Hollywood to London), turned her masterful hands to her own line. Rihanna for River Island: The adventurous style icon makes our list twice with her affordable clothing line for high street brand, River Island. The line, often worn by RiRi herself, includes daring statement pieces such as tartan leotards, denim onesies, leather caps and spike heels, reflecting the singer’s personal everyday fashion. •
MEN’S STYLE: Glitter? Check! Red? Check!
HOW TO WEAR FUR
BY OSCAR KING
Y
ou might think that the only men who would wear fur are either gangsters or pimps. However numerous Autumn/Winter 2013/14 collections have shown that fur coats on men can look incredibly masculine and stylish. There are two ways men can wear fur. The more traditional approach is to invest in a man’s sheepskin, which is suede on the outside, and wool on the collar and lining. ‘Statement item’ Burberry and Zara have showcased variations on the fur coat which retain the fur collar, but use a wool blend for the rest of the coat. The other option is slightly more outrageous: the full-fur coat. I personally own a real full-length fur coat, which is amazing for keeping warm, and great for my friends to snuggle up to. I would suggest black, as it is timeless and looks expensive if you wear it well. Since fur is a statement item, keeping the rest of your outfit simple is key.
Seasonal make-up means to apply Topshop’s Glitter two things: sparkle and Eyes in ‘Ticker Tape’. red. For extra glitz add one or Now, I know excess glittwo sequin stars ter can sometimes to the corner have a tacky reputaof each eye. tion – Strictly Come If your Ebay Dancing meets Art search is TOPSHOP Attack – but when lucky, then applied correctly, GLITTER EYES p u r c h a s e glitter is the perUrban Defect way to create a cay’s Christfestive look. A simple mas 2012 way to achieve this is Starlight glitter
set, providing you with stencils to place it wherever you want. Not a fan of the glitter? Keep it simple this Christmas with lashings of your favourite mascara, paired with a deep- set red. Revlon Super Lustrous lipstick in ‘Black Cherry’, or Burberry Lip Mist in ‘Oxblood’, will create flawless colour. EMILY FOLKES
How to dress this Christmas BY HELEN LI
T
he fact that it’s Christmas doesn’t mean you have to go out looking as though someone coughed up glitter all over you. How about a more sophisticated Christmas cocktail party? This corset dress (2) is perfect. The intricate detailing of the bodice really makes it stand out, while also cinching in the waist. Pair with metallic heels and a clutch bag for that extra Christmas sparkle. It’s not all about partying in the night. Let’s face it, we all need an outfit that is family-friendly. This elegant white dress (3) is
a great daytime outfit for Christmas lunch. It has a beautiful flowing chiffon hem and textured flowers on the bodice which add detail. Give the outfit a splash of colour with red heels and a daytime clutch. What about that ultimate Christmas party glam? This is the best time of year to channel the 1920s look. This dress (1) screams flapper girl with its beaded detailing, but is subtle and classy in its nude tone. Match with simple nude heels and glam it up with some heavy embellished accessories. •
2
‘Untouchable swagger’ As Macklemore suggests, thrift shops are a great place to start searching for your fur coat – the East End Thrift Store in Stepney Green is a personal favourite. You can feel luxurious without having to pay those extortionate Regent Street prices. However, to pull off fur, you need untouchable swagger. A bold move, yes, but if it is done well, you will look a n d feel like the don of the campus. •
1
3
ONESTO WATCH 2014
BY INDIGO ELLIS
UP AND COMING: LONDON GRAMMAR
London Grammar
Arthur Beatrice
IYES
Classixx
London Grammar (Hannah Reid, Dan Rothman and Dot Major) is the veritable rose-without-trace band of 2013, with an album that hit no. 2 in the charts and in the middle of a three continent– wide tour. London Grammar have garnered support from sources like Zane Lowe and Annie Mac, but their critics claim they’re just “yet another fairly mysterious band fronted by a siren-voiced female” (Constant Gardner, Pigeons and Planes). Despite some negative press, their SoundCloud plays and YouTube views speak for themselves: they are one of the best new bands of 2013.
Freshly tipped as The Observer’s One to Watch and a debut album, Working Out, set to be released in January 2014, Arthur Beatrice’s year has gone from strength to strength. Orlando Leopard, Ella Girardot and brothers Hamish and Elliot Barnes are Arthur Beatrice, the band compared to the likes of The xx and Wild Beasts. Having announced a US tour for next March and arranged a series of UK dates for this month, it’s set to be their biggest year yet. Listen to their EP Carter to get a taste of what 2014 has to offer, and catch them at Cargo on 11th December.
An indie-electro duo from Brighton, IYES released their first single ‘Til Infinity in 2013. Citing influences as varied as McFly, Eminem and the Beach Boys, IYES are a melting pot of sounds that started after a chance introduction at a house party. The vocals for Lighthouse were recorded on their phones at that same party. They exploded on to the scene with SoundCloud demos Glow and Lighthouse, and have just supported Crystal Castles at Concorde2 and had their first headline London show at Servant Jazz Quarters in Dalston.
Comprised of childhood friends Tyler Blake and Michael David, Classixx is an LA-based fusion of disco and synthpop. Their 2013 album Hanging Gardens is reminiscent of early Daft Punk, with clear influences from Active Child and Toro y Moi. Stereogum described the album as bringing “a swooning Cali-pop melodic slickness to the stripped-down, synthetic thump of ye olde Chicago house music”, which is not far off the truth. With no current plans to tour the UK as yet, fingers crossed for their appearance at another Kitsuné club night at Village Underground soon.
BIGGEST ALBUMS OF THE YEAR
D
BY AARON MARCHANT
aft Punk - Random Access Memories An album deserving of inclusion on the strength of ‘Get Lucky’ alone, Daft Punk’s fourth release debuted at number one in twenty countries. Q Magazine called it ‘a mind blower’ and its disco-infused anthems propelled the French duo firmly back into the limelight. Moreover, rather than playing safe after eight years out, the album is futuristic, ambitious, and unexpected – you might not have heard anything like it before, but it’s hard not to love it. Disclosure - Settle While arguments might rage amongst fans as to the extent to which Disclosure are truly a ‘deep house’ act (the featuring of artists such as Eliza Doolittle and Jessie Ware
might suggest not), nevertheless Settle is a stunning album. A mix of hit singles as well as instrumental tracks, there is a sense that Disclosure are more than just another shiny pop clone; this is an album of music for the sake of music, and a great one at that. Arctic Monkeys - AM The band’s fifth album was released in September to great
affair, full of haunting melodies and acoustic guitars. An album that stays true to their roots without staying still, AM is possibly the Arctic Monkeys’ greatest offering yet. Vampire Weekend - Modern Vampires of the City It seems Vampire Weekend have finally matured; moving away from their previous albums, Modern Vampires of the City focuses on serious matters without ever becoming condescending. The songs are spontaneous and melodic, catchy yet not pre-
critical acclaim, reaching the top spot in the charts and being nominated for a Mercury Award. Memorable for singles such as Why’d You Only Call Me When You’re High, the band’s most successful album to date is a strippedback
Weekend really are, creating an influential and mature album. Bastille - Bad Blood So meteoric has been Bastille’s rise that one might forget their debut album was only released in March – and what a debut it is. Propelled upwards by the success of their single Pompeii, the album reached number one on its UK debut. However, it is by no means a onehit-
wonder, with songs including Laura Palmer and Flaws. Despite not garnering huge critical acclaim, Bad Blood is an album with plenty of appeal for all.
dictable. While still referencing numerous other artists, as the title suggests, we finally get a sense of who Vampire
Notable Mentions The Shocking Miss Emerald Caro Emerald Dark Eyes – Half Moon Run Save Rock and Roll – Fall Out Boy If You Wait - London Grammar Pure Heroine - Lorde The Bones of What You Believe – Chvrches Arc - Everything Everything Native – OneRepublic •
4th year KCL Nutritionist SARA FURLONGER shows you how to cook a three course, healthy Christmas dinner on a budget
The cheap and the cheerful
Spinach soup Cost: £3.30 Serves 4-5
2 cloves garlic, crushed (5p) 1 onion, diced (16p) 1 medium sized leek, thinly sliced (62p) 200g new potatoes, cut in half (27p) 500g of fresh leaf spinach (£2) 1 heaped teaspoon of dry thyme (15p) 1 no-added-salt vegetable stock cube, dissolved in 2 pints of boiling water (25p) 2 tsp oil (<1p) 1. Heat oil in a large pan, add onion, garlic, leek and potato and cook for 5 minutes. 2. Add the stock, bring to boil and allow to simmer for 25 minutes. 3. Add the spinach and stir until wilted. 4. Simmer for a further 5 minutes. 5. Can leave chunky, or use a hand blender.
Turkey, pigs in brussels, roasties and veg Cost: £13.00 Serves 6-8
Turkey breast and thigh joint 2kg (£9) 400g frozen mixed veg of your choice (40p) 500g Brussels sprouts, cut off ends, then halve (£1) 4 chipolata sausages, diced (£1) 3 gloves garlic, crushed (8p) 1tsp oil (<1p) New potatoes 800g (£1)
BOILED VEG
1. Add veg to boiling water – cook for 10 minutes. This can be done while the turkey is resting.
ROASTED SAUSAGE AND GARLIC BRUSSELS
1. Mix sausage, brussels sprouts and oil together in baking tray. 2. Place in oven with turkey for 15-20 minutes. 3. Remove from oven, add the garlic, mix and return to oven for further 10 minutes.
Total spend: £19.90
1tsp oil (<1p)
TURKEY
1. Preheat oven to 180C/350F/ Gas 4. 2. Put turkey joint on baking tray, cover loosely with kitchen foil and cook for two hours. 3. Remove foil and cook for extra 30 minutes. 4. Ensure juices run clear before re-covering with foil. Leave to rest in warm place for 10 minutes.
NEW ROAST POTATOES
1. Preheat your top oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6. 2. Chop potatoes in half, add dried rosemary (plus paprika and chilli to taste if you want more of a kick). 3. Season with ground black pepper and mix with 1 tsp oil. 4. Cook in oven for 45-50 minutes, or until crisp.
Spiced plum crumble Cost: £3.60 Serves 6
150g jumbo rolled oats (11p) 50g plain flour (1p) 100g sunflower spread (16p) 3 tsp honey (melted) (3p) 1 tsp ground cinnamon or mixed spice (12p) 1kg ripe plums, halved and stoned (£1.78) 50g sugar (7p) 1 medium orange, zest and juice (30p) 1. Topping – Use fingers to make a blended crumble texture. 2. Filling – Mix sugar, orange and cinnamon together, then add and mix the plums to a shallow oven proof dish (approx 28cm long). 3. Evenly spread the topping on the plum base. 4. Pop in preheated the oven (from the turkey) for 35-40 minutes. •
BEST FAMILY FEASTS AMANPREET PAUL picks the best restaurants in London to spoil you and your family this Christmas
T
he great thing about being in one of the world’s most diverse cities is that there is something to suit every palette. From the traditional Great British Sunday roast to the multicultural cuisine, some of London’s most quirky restaurants have devised tempting menus. Here are my top picks!
and even ending with a Christmas pudding, or two - with an Indian twist of course! If that wasn’t enough, there will also be chai egg nogg. I’m definitely intrigued!
Spicing it up: Indian Dishoom (Shoreditch and Covent Garden) £30 per person
All British bases have been covered from mice pies to mulled wine, brussel sprouts to roast potatoes. Next there’s date, almond, Clementine stuffing, followed by turkey with all the trimmings or pork belly with a celeriac apple sauce. All this is topped off with traditional Christmas pudding with apple brandy sauce or caramel sticky toffee pudding. Need I say more?
Described as a ‘sharing feast’, it’s all about embracing the community, entering the cuisine and culture of Bombay. Be ready for spiced samosas, tender turkey naan, cranberry chutney, coriander kebabs, paneer tikka
Keeping it conventional: British Bumpkin (South Kensington, Notting Hill and Stratford) £24.95/£29.95 per person
Life of Pie
Taste of China: Dim Sum Ping Pong (Shoreditch, Soho and Southbank) £20-£30 per person I have a real soft spot for the steamed parcels of deliciousness that are served up in Ping Pong. They have devised some tasty looking seasonal specials such as honey roasted chicken puffs, Chinese winter punch with rum, chocolate bitters and cinnamon bark. Yes please. Bellisimo: Italian Pizza East (Portobello, Kentish Town, Stratford and Shoreditch) £30 per person Fancy a three course family-style sharing menu? Pizza East has got a good thing going: you can
enjoy an elaborate banquet in a relaxed atmosphere, perfect for large groups! What better way to have a roast than from a wood oven? Whether you go for crispy pork belly, beef lasagna or a whole baked salmon, they have it all. With a baked vanilla cheesecake or salted caramel tart to end, you can’t go wrong. Bring on the tapas: Mexican Wahaca (Canary Wharf, Stratford, Southbank, Covent Garden and Charlotte St) £25 per person It’s all about Mexican nibbles. Fiery salsas, seasonal tacos, tostadas and taquitos - all with an enticing platter of churros for the sweet toothed among us. Everything about this place sounds like my Mexican dream! •
SELIN BOZKAYA fills us in on her ten step time-saving mince pie recipe These delicious Christmas treats might look like they take a lifetime to make, but fear not, here is a simple recipe that takes less than an hour. Prep time: 25 mins Cook: 20 mins
Ready-made pastry, shortcrust (or puff)
Rolling pin
Icing sugar
Round cutter Star-shaped cutter (optional) Muffin tin
280g mincemeat 1 small egg 100g caster sugar
1. Dust a rolling pin lightly with flour. Roll out the pastry until it is flattened out.
Move it around, but don’t flip. 2. Preheat oven to 200°C/gas mark 6. 3. Cut out 12 rounds and place each one in a muffin tin. Press the cut-outs down. 4. Using the star cutter, cut 12 stars out from the pastry for the tops of the mince pies. 5. Now that the tops are ready, take your mincemeat and place 1.5 teaspoons into each pastry case. Take care not to overfill them, as they will bubble up
during cooking. 6. Place the star tops over the mincemeat. 7. Glaze: Lightly beat a small egg, adding the castor sugar to it. This will give a golden glaze on the tops. 8. Place in oven until golden for about 20 minutes. 9. Leave to stand for few minutes before taking them out of tin. 10. Serve warm/cold with a little icing sugar dusted on top. •
You came in like a wrecking bauble
WHAT EVER NEXT?
Miley renounces twerking
EVERYONE who hasn’t been hidden under a rock this year knows Miley Cyrus has been turning heads. Just when everyone seems to get her, she goes and does something completely unexpected. So we’ve had a go at guessing what’s in store for 2014...
Miley Cyrus/ grumpy cat fusion David Attenborough observes Miley’s unique mating call
Miley tries to work the skinhead look
2013 IN FILM DJANGO UN-
CHAINED n a J Aysha Harwood
Quentin Tarantino did not disappoint with the highly anticipated Western, Django Unchained. Jamie Foxx plays the part of a slave being transported through 1858 Texas, who after an encounter with a mysterious German (Christoph Waltz), discovers the location of his enslaved lover. They attempt to set her free from the sadistic antics of plantation owner Calvin Candie (Leonardo DiCaprio). This dizzying and brutal action film depicts one man’s revenge on the slave plantations of pre-civil war America. The storyline, screenplay and soundtrack are all flawless. Tarantino’s audacity must be admired, as slavery is a subject modern Hollywood usually shies away from. However, there is definitely no nervousness in this production, with the constant repetition of the ‘n-word’. Tarantino is able to make us see through the characters, while allowing us to become completely involved in the action. This is a talent that is magnificently showcased in
Django Unchained. CLOUD ATLAS Joshua Stupple Cloud Atlas’s accomplishment is only matched by its ambition. In its three hour running time the film tells six different stories set in six separate time periods. It also includes a star-studded cast, all of whom play multiple parts. The film is a marvellous balancing act.The directors are able to keep the audience involved and interested in each of the stories, while also managing to juggle action -set pieces and high-minded philosophy. Cloud Atlas is a rare kind of film, grand, stylish and uncompromisingly odd. It was one of the best films that came out this year, and it is destined to become part of the cult classic canon.
Feb
Mar
EVIL DEAD Christian Hill Raimi and Campbell return to their hallowed ground of horror with a show-stopping remake of the cult phenomenon, Evil Dead. Diehard fans of the original aren’t going to be disappointed when the blood
starts flying! A relentless barrage of visceral carnage ensues when idiotic Eric finds out what a real page-turner the Necronomicon is. Through dismembered arms, power tools, syringes, and of course a chainsaw – Evil Dead nails every gory note going with aplomb. Just when you thought the cabin in the woods sub-genre was getting old, Evil Dead manages to wash over the satire with a fresh torrent of blood.
Apr
THE GREAT AND POWERFUL OZ Annie Bacon The Great and Powerful Oz serves as a prequel to the Wonderful Wizard of Oz depicted in the 1939 film with Judy Garland. This initially creates two problems, one being that we already know what becomes of the wizard, and the second that it lacks the innocent, endearing qualities of the 1939 film. However, if you can suspend your disbelief then it serves the purpose of being an action-packed, vivid and witty film.
STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS Chuke Dharmawardhane The second instalment of J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek reboot was one of the most anticipated films of the summer for sci-fi fans; with its gorgeous visuals, compelling storyline and stellar cast, it does not disappoint. The film follows Captain James T. Kirk (Chris Pine) and the crew of the USS Enterprise in their struggle against villain John Harrison (Benedict Cumberbatch). Fast-paced yet thought-provoking, it delves into the distinction between good and evil, exploring the shades of grey in between. It’s not all doom and gloom, though, as light-hearted comedy is shown throughout.
May
DESPICABLE ME 2 Chuke Dharmawardhane Despicable Me 2 manages to do the unlikely – improve upon its original. A feel-good film for all ages, it is fun, quirky and entertaining. It sees the return of former criminal mastermind Gru and his three adopted children.
Jun
Their much-loved Minions also return even bigger and better than before. The story follows Gru’s journey into spy work, and the hijinks that follow will have you chuckling and letting out an aww or two. THE HEAT Megan Page The Heat is a laugh out loud triumph for director Paul Feig after the acclaimed Bridesmaids. Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy were an unexpected, hilarious success as a duo. They thrived in their ‘good cop/bad cop’ roles, proving that whatever men can do, women can do better! The action-packed plot was full of car chases, gunfights and the takedown of drug-dealing criminals in a destitute area of Boston. Both a hilarious take on the action genre and a step in the right direction for levelling the gender playing fields in Hollywood.
Jul
THE CONJURING Chuke Dharmawardhane Easily one of the best horror films of the year. The film centres on the Perron family, who
g into a cursed, 150 Au year old farmhouse. unknowingly move
A series of strange, vi- olent events follow: the clocks all stop at 3:07 a.m., things go bump in the night, and Carolyn Perron (Lili Taylor) keeps waking up with inexplicable bruises. She recruits the help of Ed and Lorraine Warren (Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga), a husband-and-wife team of paranormal investigators. Directed by James Wan (of Insidious and Saw), The Conjuring is packed full of expertly-timed scares, which, despite being predictable, are still terrifying. The Conjuring will have you looking over your shoulder for a good long while.
ABOUT TIME Victoria Collins In Curtis’s final project, he’s doing what he does best: rom-com. The film follows the awkward mishaps of a 21-year-old time-traveller (Domhnall Gleeson), who is able to go back through his life to correct mistakes. As he falls for the beautiful Mary (Rachel
Sep
McAdams), he uses the power to correct awkward bedroom fumbles, family troubles and general mayhem. While you might be reaching for the Sensodyne during the achingly sweet bits, there are still plenty of laughs, sincerity and some decent acting in between.
Oct
HOW I LIVE NOW Georgia Ioannou Uppity American teenager Daisy (Saoirse Ronan) stays with her bohemian cousins in the British countryside. Daisy and her cousin Eddy fall in love, but they are forced to separate by armed soldiers after the outbreak of the third world war. Here the film flips from an idyllic love story to a hard-core war film. The following is heart-wrenching, leaving the family broken, and causing Daisy to find new family loyalty. GRAVITY Kyveli Short Alfonso Cuarón’s nail-bitingly intense 91 minute space odyssey is about two spacewalking astronauts, Dr. Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock) and
v
No
Matt Kowalski (George Clooney), who find themselves floating above the earth’s atmosphere with their oxygen running dangerously low after their Hubble-attached shuttle is hit. Tethered to nothing but each other and spiralling out into the abyss, the film follows their fight for survival. The brilliant 3D effects leave you with the disorienting sensation of being in space. Gravity is the most thrilling, absorbing and sublime film to have hit cinema screens this year. THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG Charlotte Woods So many amazing films are released in December each year, in the hope of being the Christmas blockbuster. And this year is no exception. Debatably, the most eagerly awaited is The Hobbit – The Desola- tion of Smaug. For extreme Lord of the Rings fans, this is the most exciting film release of the year. But will it match up to its predecessor? We are expecting the same stunning sets, costumes and acting. Can it live up to its expectations? •
De
c
2
My Christmas Wishlist Dear Father Christmas,
1.
I’ve been a very good girl this year and I would like: Damien Hirst Cataclysmic cup and saucer
4
(£15, Tate, available from shop.tate.org.uk)
2.
The Modern Art Doodle Book: Create Your Own Masterpiece
3.
Alice Cards Wall Art
4.
(£9.79, Waterstones, www.waterstones.com)
(£15, Urban Outfitters, www.urbanoutfitters.co.uk) 2 x Miranda Hart: My, What I Call Live, Show
1
(£67 for two, O2 Arena, www.theo2.co.uk) Thank you, and I shall ask the KCL Baking Society girls to bake you some Christmas treats! Love from, Jessica Moffatt-Owen
Ho! Ho! No. Lifestyle columnist FAYE BROWN is disillusioned with Christmas
I used to wonder if the person who wrote ‘Tis the season to be jolly’ had consumed copious amounts of mulled wine before they defined the whole of winter in such broad terms of happiness. Tis not the season to be jolly if you have Christmas deadlines and exams. Tis not the season to be jolly if you cannot walk to uni without being hounded by carol singers, who do not seem to understand that student budgets do not stretch far enough to justify giving away £1 you don’t have, regardless of the charitable cause. Tis not the season to be jolly if you are having a Home Alone Christmas while the rest of the world is having a Love Actual-
ly Christmas, so that in the end all you really want is a Narnia Christmas in order to disappear through your wardrobe and frolic with some fawns. Since fantasy worlds don’t exist, though, tis certainly not the season to be jolly when you have to settle for a Nightmare Before Christmas, thanks to your self-inflicted hangover. No one likes a Scrooge, and fortunately it doesn’t require an encounter with the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future, to relieve you from your misery. Here are some ways to keep your spirits high this Christmas, no matter how studious, stuffed,
skint, and single it will be. If you have exams: Make a pit stop for a hot chocolate at the Fleet Street Press en route to the Maughan Library. Milky buttons are blended to make the chocolate and they don’t hold back on the whipped cream. It is happiness in a mug. If you want a longer study break: Visit the Geffrye Museum in East London for free. Its ‘Christmas Past’ exhibition explores English customs of Christmas from the 16th century, and really gets you in the mood for some good old-fashioned Christmas festivi-
“canoodling Christmas couples”
ties. If you are counting the calories: Consume as many Mince Pies as you want, convincing yourself that the currants in them count towards your five a day. Perfect solution for gluttony without guilt. If you are skint: Head down to The Stockpot bistro in Leister Square, where hearty traditional English food can cost as little as £6 for a main course. If you are single: Visit Richmond’s Old Deer Park. It boasts beautiful winter scenery and has the advantage over central London parks of being less busy and less polluted by canoodling Christmas couples. If this doesn’t work, then find comfort in the knowledge that it’s one less present to buy. •
For those who hate Christmas, there’s comedy and pantos galore! DAISY BARTLETT looks at the alternatives to the traditional Christmas festivities
T
here’s more to Christmas than carol services and mince pies… Here are our favourite ways to make the most of the festive period. Sheeps Festive Bash Friday 13th December, The Tabernacle, off Portobello Road, £20 Sheeps host their annual bout of festive fun at The Tabernacle this year. Expect lots of silly sketches from
Sheeps themselves, tomfoolery from the legendary Tim Key, fantastic comedy double-act, The Pin, and many more. Sing-a-long-a White Christmas 12th December, The Prince Charles Cinema, £16 What better way to celebrate the festive season
than
getting into the spirit with a showing of the Christmas classic? You’ll be provided with props to use during the film so you’ll be out of your seat singing and dancing in the aisles in no time. This is guaranteed festive fun for even the biggest Scrooge! Aladdin 6th December- 12th January, New Wimbledon Theatre, £10-32 Jo Brand makes her pantomime debut in this hotly-tipped production of Aladdin. She stars as the Genie, alongside Matthew Kelly and Britain’s Got Talent dancers, Flawless. This is fun for all the family, so make sure you’re ready to shout, “He’s behind you!” Tim Key – Father Slutmas 16th-21st December, The
Invisible Dot, King’s Cross, £12 The master poet-comedian returns with poetry and other festive bullshit for an evening that’ll undoubtedly be more fun than the average Christmas night out! With the prospect of tinsel and an audience Secret Santa – what more could you want at this time of year? Jack Off the Beanstalk 19th November -5th January, Above the Stage Theatre, £12-22 This LGBT focussed theatre, recently relocated to a renovated railway arch in Vauxhall, hosts their annual naughty Christmas panto, which is certainly not suitable for children! With cross-dressing, silliness, audience participation and songs, this looks to be a raucous way to end the term. •
Dear Santa
After being good girls this year, pretty please could you deliver the following:
2
1. Breakfast with Lucian by Geordie Greig (£25 from Waterstones) 2. Frida Kahlo Necklace (£75 from Tatty Devine) 3. Lomography Gatsby Fisheye Camera (£45, Urban Outfitters)
1
3
4
5
4. Tea Tumbler (£19, www.bluebirdteaco. com). They even have a mulled wine tea blend with orange peel, cloves, cinnamon, hibiscus, lemon, rosehip and apple (£4.95). Yum! 5. 36 Hours Europe and London (£24.99, www.oliverbonas. com) Love from Daisy Bartlett and Amanpreet Kaur Paul
SKATE
SOMERSET HOUSE Tickets start from £7.50, but there are also £8.50 student tickets available from Monday to Fridays at 12.30, 13.45 and 15.00. EYESKATE Tickets are £10.50. NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM Student tickets are 8.50, plus a drink included.
BY ELIZABETH METCALFE
W
hen did ice skating in London become such a big thing? I mean, it’s a little strange that we actively choose to swap our boots for a pair of smelly skates and then shuffle around a patch of ice that’s little bigger than a tennis court. But there are now at least seven seasonal rinks in central London. Believe it or not, skating in the city goes back to the mid nineteenth century. Since the technology to preserve natural ice had not yet been developed, skaters found themselves zooming around on an artificial ice made of hog’s lard and a mixture of salts - tempting! There was something of a ‘rink mania’ as they popped up across London, and in 1876 the world’s first mechanically frozen ice rink was set up on King’s Road by John Gamgee. Still, they were only really patronised by the upper and middle classes; Gamgee’s rink especially attracted the wealthy with its members-only rule. It has all changed a lot since then. Now ice rinks are a place
‘Skating is, for the more sadistic of you, a place to watch people lose all their dignity as they plummet to the ground.’
to giggle around with friends, wobble on with your date or, for the more sadistic of you, a place to watch people lose all their dignity as they plummet, legs splayed, to the ground. My long-standing personal favourite is the Somerset House ice rink. I well remember my excitement in the first year of King’s when the fountains were switched off and a team swooped in to build the rink piece by piece. I always feel particularly festive when its rink-side cafe and bar, Tom’s Skate Lounge, opens, as it means I can swap my pre-lecture coffee for a mulled wine. The best time to go is when it’s just getting dark and the giant Christmas tree is twinkling in the evening light. My recent experience there was at one of their Club Nights, where a DJ mixed some funky beats. I wasn’t quite brave enough to fully embrace the music and dance though. At £17 it is a somewhat pricey affair, but I would recommend it for those who fancy a good whiz around. Oh, and if you’re struggling with the skating, you can always nip into the Christ-
mas Arcade: snug knitwear galore and full to the brim with potential Christmas gifts. Skating on the Natural History Museum rink is a similarly historic experience, with its spectacular Romanesque symmetrical facade as the backdrop. If that’s not enough, there is also a fairground carousel and a rink-side cafe for sustenance. It can get pretty crowded here though, especially at the weekend. One of the newest rinks on the scene is wonderfully situated right next to the London Eye. The comically named Eyeskate is popular with tourists, but its location by the river means it can be a somewhat chilly experience. Wrap up warm and glide along (or stumble, if you’re me!) under the gently turning Eye. Many more ice rinks have sprung up across London, so do keep your eyes peeled. All that is left to say is grab a pal, a pair of gloves and woolly socks, and head off in search of a glistening and twinkling rink. Oh, and have the arnica at the ready for when you return home! •
YULETIDE CLASSICS
BY ALICIA HOOPER
T OW
H E G RIN C
H
ELF
S
O
T Jim Carrey exceeds all expectations playing the grumpy and grizzly Grinch. After being bullied as a young child, the Grinch hides up a hill and terrorises the Whos who mocked him. He finds the perfect way to ruin their happiness, deciding to ruin Christmas by stealing it from them in every way possible. Jim Carrey is his usual hyper and hilarious self, depicting the Grinch perfectly as a misunderstood being who simply wants to be loved. How the Grinch Stole Christmas is a fantastic film, filled with colourful characters and scenery to brighten any cold Christmas.
H
LE
CH R I S T M A S!
E AL O M N O
A new favourite in most households, Elf chronicles the hilarious adventures of a man who was adopted as a child by one of Santa’s elves in the North Pole. It follows his journey through New York attempting to find his biological father. The story may seem a little ridiculous, but that might be the best thing about it. The hilarious Will Ferrell doesn’t disappoint as Buddy the adopted elf. While searchingfor his father, Buddy spreads Christmas cheer to all of those he meets, raising a few eyebrows and causing a lot of trouble. A perfect family Christmas flick.
H
E
Every Christmas sees this film played on various channels, as it’s a brilliant slapstick comedy that makes both adults and children laugh every time. Kevin, played by a young Macaulay Culkin, is accidentally left behind when his parents go on a Christmas vacation to France. Although this is every parent’s nightmare, for Kevin it is an opportunity to have fun without rules. However, when two burglars decide to target his house, he has to use his imagination and wit to get rid of them. The acting is fantastic and this film is definitely one to watch at Christmas.
PPET CH U M RI E
TH
SA ’ T I
W ONDE
RF
L IF
S CAR O L
E
MA
No top Christmas film list could be complete without It’s a Wonderful Life, because, let’s be honest, it’s genuinely wonderful! James Stewart plays George Bailey, a selfless man who contemplates suicide after living his life for others rather than himself. He is given a second chance by a guardian angel, who shows George how he has affected others’ lives for the better and how their lives would have differed if George hadn’t been born. One of the greatest family films ever made, and perfect to watch with the fire lit on Christmas day.
UL
ST
In my opinion, the best Christmas film is The Muppet Christmas Carol. Once this starts being shown on TV, you know the festive season has begun. This remake of the Dickens classic is silly, funny, sad at times, but mostly just fun to watch. The songs get stuck in your head and you find yourself singing along each year. Narrated by Rizzo the Rat and the Great Gonzo, the Muppets tell the story of Scrooge (Michael Cain), a greedy money-lender who does not appreciate the spirit of Christmas; because of this, he’s visited by three ghosts who show him the error of his ways. The plot sticks to the original Dickensian story and is a great way of introducing children to the story. Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it, Christmas wouldn’t be the same without it!
CHRISTMAS SONGS BY JOE BROOKES
1. Wham! - Last Christmas Because there’s nothing quite like sitting by the cosy fire and reminiscing romances of Christmas past. Puts the miss in mistletoe! 2. The Pogues - Fairytale of New York Let’s face it, no matter how drunk dad gets, he won’t be able to capture what Shane MacGowan does on this track. An anthem, a gritty hymn, that point when VH1 Classic plays it and you know the whole world’s watching. 3. Mariah Carey - All I want for Christmas... A moment of genius on the part of the songwriting team backing Mariah. 4. The Waitresses - Christmas
Wrapping The loose vocal style on this evokes feelings of childish excitement, precisely what you need as you get on the train back home. 5. Paul McCartney - Wonderful Christmastime A genius synth line, while bell samples seem to capture the atmosphere of nighttime, when you thought you heard Santa’s sleigh scrape the roof tiles!
6. Shakin’ Stevens - Merry Christmas Everyone When the synth kicks in, it’s the moment of pause, frozen ecstasy in the lounge, as cracker crowns sway and wine is guzzled.
Another cheesy love song! And with one of the best voice overs in music. 9. The Darkness - Christmas Time For when you’re
7. John and Yoko - Merry Christmas (War is Over) Peace is the message of
rocking around the Christmas tree, of course!
Christmas after all! And I pray you get some choral singers at your door this year, but if not, this might suffice. 8. Mud - Lonely This Christmas
10. Coldplay - Christmas Lights Don’t hate me! But let’s be fair, “Got all kinds of poison in my blood / I took my feet to Oxford Street / Trying to right a wrong” was probably written for King’s students limping home from a Christmas party. Who knows?
CHRISTMAS WITH BRUCE WILLIS By Joshua Stupple
S
anta is for kids, the decorations are tacky, the adverts are tortuous; and the films, oh the films… Most Christmas movies are cliché-ridden, sentimental nonsense. Thankfully there are a few Yuletide films that buck the trend, exposing the dark side of the holiday. BRAZIL (1985) A family sit in their living room. A Christmas tree stands in the corner. The Marx Brothers are on TV. The mother reads A Christmas Carol to her daughter; father and son smile fondly at each other. Suddenly, men with guns pour into the living room. The father is taken away in a hooded straightjacket. The mother is forced by a bureaucrat to sign some documents and, in exchange for her husband, is given a receipt. So starts Terry Gilliam’s masterpiece, Brazil. The ultimate antidote to Christ- mas
schmaltz surreal, anti-consumerist, and dreadfully dark, with no happy ending in sight. DIE HARD (1988) Who needs the twelve days of Christmas when
RATHER THAN FORSYTH.
you can have Bruce Willis in his iconic white vest, fighting twelve machine-gun-wielding terrorists? For my Dad and me, Die Hard is the quintessential Christmas film (much to the chagrin of my Mum and grandparents). The comfort of the Christmas setting is upended by action that is almost non-stop until the credits roll. It is the definitive classic of the siege genre: b i g , dumb, ex-
plosive fun that even the most hardened intellectual will be beguiled by. The words ‘ho-ho-ho’ appear in this film, but they come written in blood. It is macho escapism of the highest order. EASTERN PROMISES (2007) What says Christmas like tattoo-covered gangsters fighting in a steam bath and cutting each other’s digits off? David Cronenberg’s Eastern Promises is the story of a British midwife and her interaction with the Russian Mafia during the course of the Christmas season. It is a deeply serious film, and one whose
depiction of the Russian Mafia is apparently very accurate. Eastern Promises makes frequent allusions to the nativity and other Christian stories, although this is anything but a morality tale. This movie is gut-wrenchingly realistic and violent. It is the perfect film to watch on Christmas Day - if you want Christmas dinner to settle as poorly as possible in your stomach. IN BRUGES (2008) “Bruges. It’s a fairytale fucking town, isn’t it?” In Bruges is set in the picturesque Belgian city of its title, a perfect place for a schmaltzy Christmas story. Instead, what’s offered is a film filled with accidental shootings, creative swearing and some of the most entertaining gangster d i a -
logue this side of Quentin Tarantino. It’s a tonguein-cheek meditation on guilt, murder and the mob. As frequently hilarious as it is grim, In Bruges strikes the perfect balance for a dark comedy, ideal for a holiday season that mires itself in such false sincerity. •
Bridget Jones: Mad About
the Boy
The Letters of John F. Kennedy
The Luminaries Eleanor Catton
Martin W. Sandler
Helen Fielding If you haven’t read this already, go out and buy it. If you have read it, go out and buy it for somebody else this Christmas. An easy read, but nonetheless seriously entertaining, as the now world-famous character of Bridget Jones is the protagonist of the latest in Fielding’s trilogy. She battles with the modern world in the most hilarious of ways, and as ever, makes us feel better about our own lives in comparisonW. This is not a book to be missed.
Whoever you buy this for, they are bound to thank you for it. This is the only book to exist that focuses solely on the letters written to and from JFK over his lifetime. They provide a fascinating insight into his personal life, interweaved with photographs and contextual information about the chaotic nature of the period.
Critically praised author Eleanor Catton, this year’s winner of the Man Booker Prize, was at age 28 the youngest ever to receive it. Walter Moody pursues a life amidst the prosperous New Zealand gold rush in 1866, but finds himself drawn into unsolved mysteries involving death, wealth, and women. A beautifully complex novel that weaves psychology and astrology into the narrative; a slightly longer, but easy read!
s d a e r p o t Our
A CHOUDHURY give ABBY DRAYCOTT and SNEH
mas
their top books for this Christ
Dear Life Alice Munro T h e winner of this year’s Nobel Prize for Literature, Munro brings us yet another collection of fourteen beautifully written The Secret History short stories, documenting the lives of normal people. The stories, although somewhat ordinary in their plots, have Donna Tartt unique and meaningful universal messages that any booklover will take great pleasure in reading. No matter whether you’re a serious or casual reader of literature, A murthis compilation will not be one der is admitted by you want to miss, and will unRichard Papen at the start doubtedly be going on my of the novel, who was then a new Christmas list. student from California, at Hampden College in Vermont. He becomes good friends with a group of tightly-knit classics students, who are a little more than average students; all academically exceptional, and socially mysterious. The novel is an inverted detective story tracking the sequence of events that led to the murder of a friend within the group. A truly thrilling novel that leaves an impression on the reader, classicist or non-classicist.
CHRISTMAS TV: DOWNTON AND THE DOCTOR
W
hether it’s eager children (and bigger kids) sitting down for the latest instalment of Doctor Who or Grandma snoring through the after-dinner special of EastEnders, there’s nothing like TV for bringing families together at Christmas. We present a sample of the best TV of this rapidly approaching festive period. SPOILERS AHEAD! After Dinner Drama: Last year, over 10 million viewers tuned in to the Christmas special of ITV’s Downton Abbey to watch Matthew Crawley, the unlucky heir, get run off the road. This year the series four finale attracted over 12 million viewers, and current plot mysteries will no doubt see that the 2013 Christmas Day special achieves similar figures, with the gorgeously sarcastic Maggie Smith rounding off an enjoyable ensemble cast that is sure to deliver festive fun and intrigue. Doctor Who has been a
Christmas stalwart since its incredibly successful re-launch in 2005, and this year is set to be another rollicking ride as Matt Smith’s Doctor says farewell and we catch the first glimpse of Peter Capaldi in the role. Whether you’ve loved or hated Smith (or are still too confused by the 50th Anniversary special to care), tune in to BBC One on Christmas Day to witness what happens next. Love it or hate it, Mrs Brown’s Boys is a phenomenon. Created in 1992 for radio, Mrs Brown’s Boys is now an award winning television show which has evolved into several massive arena tours. The BBC One series continues to be extremely popular with all ages, and with two specials slated for the Christmas period, no doubt this will be one of the funniest comedy offering on TV. Still Open All Hours is a long overdue special of the comedy classic Open All Hours, which ran from 1973-85. Despite the death of the legendary Ronnie Barker, the
BBC has commissioned this one-off special from the original creator, Roy Clarke. It is helmed by David Jason as a considerably older Granville who now runs the shop. There have been good things rumoured in the press about the show, so it’s worth giving this one a chance. Despite being cheesy, camp and presented by a Bruce Forsyth well past his best (in my opinion), I maintain that no festive line up is complete without the glitz and glamour that is Strictly Come Dancing’s Christmas Day Special. The dancing, diamonds and old Brucie messing up jokes are all made fabulous viewing by a little Christmas magic (or maybe that’s the alcohol talking?). Also, after eating so much Turkey that you can barely walk, watching a programme about dancing counts as exercise, right? •
CHRISTMAS.
EDITOR Megan Hector editor@roarnews.co.uk DEPUTY EDITOR (PRINT) Dulcie Lee DEPUTY EDITOR (ONLINE) Megan Hector DEPUTY EDITOR (OPERATIONS) Robbie Hirst DESIGN EDITOR Steph Fairbairn ROGUE EDITORS FASHION EDITOR Lauren Clark fashionlifestyle.rogue@gmail.com
ARTS & THEATRE EDITORS Jessica Moffatt-Owen Daisy Bartlett artstheatre.rogue@gmail.com
FILM & TV EDITORS Charlotte Woods Joshua Stupple filmtv.rogue@gmail.com
MUSIC EDITORS Joe Brookes Oscar Davies musicreviews.rogue@gmail.com
EDITOR Megan Hector editor@roarnews.co.uk DEPUTY EDITOR (PRINT) Dulcie Lee DEPUTY EDITOR (ONLINE) Megan Hector DEPUTY EDITOR (OPERATIONS)
THIS IS A ROAR! NEWS PRODUCTION