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“Please God; Let me wear high-heeled shoes!” Last year I suffered a very serious accident involving my back, and yet the most upsetting part of that, was that all I wanted was to wear my favourite shoes! Written By: Kerry-Louise Barnaby The two most covetable items in any woman‟s life: chocolates and stiletto shoes. A very wise Forest Gump once said: “Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you‟re gonna get”. Well let me just say that last October I was devastated when I had to swallow the worst chocolate I have ever tasted. And that chocolate changed my life forever. I have been an actress for as long as I can remember. My mum always said I could dance before I could walk, I could sing before I could talk and I never needed an excuse to be dramatic. So it seemed only natural that, at the age of 16, full of dreams, I left the warm, comfortable shelter of home and migrated to the big city that is London. My dream had come true and I was setting off to spend the next two years studying Musical Theatre at the BRIT School of Performing Arts. My life couldn‟t be better. For the next two years I spent my days singing, dancing and acting and spent my evenings doing pretty much the same. Those two years flew by and before you could say “Action” I was playing the lead in a professional production! Needless to say, I had the nicest box of chocolates I could have hoped for; and I never wanted the chocolates to run out. However, a box of chocolates can never last forever - especially when
they‟re your favourites. You‟re lucky if they last a week! Then, about a year ago, while doing some further training, in Physical Theatre at East15 Acting School in Essex, I suffered an injury to my back. Even now, I don‟t really know how it happened; all I know is that it changed the course of my life as I know it. Suddenly I was bed-ridden and facing the very high possibility of never being able to move fully again. No more dancing, no more performing, no more living! After all, what is the point in living if you can‟t be happy and live the life you want to live As a petit girl of just 4‟11”, I am a heel-a-holic! I can‟t get enough! Super high, platforms, kitten, stilettos, you name a type of heel and guaranteed, I will be wearing them! So you can imagine my despair when I realised that I could barely walk let alone walk in heels! And, on top of that, I didn‟t even own any pairs of flats, well, unless you count my jazz shoes, ballet shoes or trainers. I was devastated. What shoes was a going to wear? What outfits did I even own that would look
right without heels?! Though, I suppose initially this question just didn‟t matter… I spent two months, gradually strengthening my back, attending physiotherapy and going on 10 minute walks before I would have to lie down again. The rest of the time, I spent with my new best friends. Friends by the names of: Vogue, Elle, Cosmopolitan and Glamour. As days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months, and magazines began merging into one, I happened to flick past an advert in Glamour. “Ever wanted to work in Fashion, well we have the perfect course for you!” That was it! I could feel the heat from the light bulb flashing above my head: “Idea Idea,” it was saying. Why not?! Why not work in Fashion? Why not use my experiences to write about how fashion is more than just choosing the clothes that you are going to wear in any given season; they are an expression of yourself. You are a book and they are your cover. They help give the outside world a glimpse into who you are, what you stand for, and how you approach life. Isn‟t that what I had learned? That without my clothes I didn‟t feel like I could be myself? I had just lost everything. My chocolates had gone; I was a shoe whose heel had broken and been unceremoniously dumped. At that moment I felt like my life was over, I was finished- until I saw that article. Suddenly fashion seemed a very real possibility. And as the walks progressed from 10 minutes, to 20 minutes, to one hour, and I began to .
gradually heighten again, my heart began to beat harder than it had in so long. Colour returned to my cheeks and fashion took over my consciousness. I was a woman possessed. I understood that my physicality had been damaged indefinitely and I knew that that chapter of my life, that box of chocolates was finished and the line had been discontinued. It was time for me to find a new favourite. It was time for me to start living again. With that, I applied to study a BA (Hons) degree in Writing Fashion and Culture. I decided that writing about fashion was my new way to express myself. I decided that fashion was the thing that had brought me back to life and I owed it. It deserved for me to thank it properly and to repay it by realising and understanding my passion for shoes and clothes and identity and to make other people realise how important it is in their lives. We all go through times when we feel low, so low that we don‟t know how we are ever going to make it. Carrie Bradshaw once said: “Will I ever laugh again?” My answer to this question is yes, you will. When? When you realise that if life hands you a chocolate that you don‟t like, it is some greater chocolatier telling you that it is time to taste it, swallow it and reawaken your taste-buds. Because that chocolate doesn‟t taste bad, it tastes different and that chocolate could satisfy you in ways the old one never could
The Clothes Show Live – A right of passage! The week comes but once a year, when fashionista’s of all ages come together for a day of fabulous fashion, crystal cocktails and mesmerising make-up – The Clothes Show Live 2008! Written by Kerry-Louise Barnaby Happy Birthday There comes a time in every fashionable ladies life, when she must pass through that tunnel and emerge a fabulous, fashionista! The tunnel in question, is, you guessed it, the wonderful, the brilliant, Clothes Show Live - the biggest fashion event in the UK and ultimate pampering day. This year the Clothes Show Live, held at Birmingham‟s NEC, celebrates its 20th Anniversary! So, let me begin by saying: “HAPPY BIRTHDAY CLOTHES SHOW!!!” For the past two decades the Clothes Show has played host to designers, models and celebrities alike. There are many fashion events throughout the year, so what makes this one, so unique? The Clothes Show is the single fashion event in the country which brings together clothes, shoes, accessories, make-up, relaxation and the crème-dela-crème the Fashion Theatre. It is the one day in many women‟s lives when we can all forget about the monotony of our drib-drab lives and let loose, and do what women do best – SHOP TILL WE DROP! The Zones Whatever it is that you are looking for, you can be sure to find it here! For ease of shopping, the Show has, this year, been divided into colour coded zones. So ladies “My name is… and I‟m a shopaholic” – It‟s probably wise to start practicing this sentence for all those Shopaholic Anonymous
meetings we shall all no doubt be forced to attend, after the Clothes Show seduces us into parting with that money of ours! The Red Zone As someone who, unfortunately has to limit herself to a set budget for events like this, my first stop will be the Red Zone, very well-entitled, “Fast Fashions”. A heaven of edgy and eccentric bargains all waiting to be enjoyed. What are you waiting for, go ahead and do some utterly guilt-free shopping! After all, no-one can really call those prices shopping can they?! It‟s like Swishing; with money! The Blue Zone Next on my list is the Blue Zone - a boutique brimming with high-street chic and one-off vintage pieces. So again, we can hardly be told off for doing too much shopping can we, its just like a glorified, more up-market car-boot sale; a limousine-boot sale if you will! And believe me; I am more than ready to hunt through that boot to bag myself some hidden treasures. Join me in the rummage won‟t you?!
The Purple Zone “Urban Streetwear” the ghetto for all you streetwise senoritas to get your wardrobe brimming with goodies. The Clothes Show has described this section as: “a unique mix of styles inspired by sports, the streets and a hint of chic”. So if that sounds like
you then don‟t miss out on this unique chance to get all your top brands in one section all under one glorious roof!
The Black Label Zone For you lucky ladies who have either managed to undergo this “recession” unscathed or just you lucky ones who believe that if we must be poor, we must at least look like a million pounds, I have found the perfect zone for you: aptly named – The Designer Pavilion - The Selfridges of the Clothes Show. The place where you can grab hold of top designer wear at hugely reduced prices – the reason, women deserve to wear the best! You know we all deserve a little bit of heaven, a gift to ourselves, from ourselves, a treasured piece that will take the thrown in our wardrobes and the piece to which all our other, lowerclass pieces of clothing will bow down to, and aspire to become! Of course they can never reach the same hierarchal status, but teamed with the Queen, they can be tricked into believing that they are. So ladies, treat yourselves, you know you deserve it! The Pink Zone The pink zone is overflowing with make-up and the hottest cosmetic companies. If you are looking for the best “fake bake” then look no further. Have your beloved hair-straighteners reached retirement? There are plenty of stalls looking to help find you a young, fresh, pair! If you‟re feeling a little bored, then why not head down to the Toni & Guy stand where they will be doing haircuts and hair products for ridiculously reduced rates. Believe me, by the end of your visit the only thing you will be in need of is a make-
up bag the size of China – they may not have made them that big yet but we can dare to dream! The Wellbeing Zone Exhausted from all that shopping or is your purse the exhausted one? However you are feeling, don‟t forget to make a highly anticipated public appearance here! Be preened and pampered; be made to feel like the wonderful goddess that you are! Whether it‟s a make-over, massage, manicure or complete spray tan you can find everything here to make your body and mind glow. Not to mention, there will be expert advice on health, exercise and nutrition, so if you have any questions, don‟t be afraid to ask! Be Bold, Be Beautiful! The Fashion Theatre In one-word: Indescribable! This is a fashion show like no other. Full of models and dancers it is an exciting blend of fashion and dancing to tantalize the body and the mind. It is not just a wonderful sight to behold but it is guaranteed to wake you up and get you in the party mood. From mysterious, almost freaky scenes, to clubbing and partying, with a lovely visit to Wisteria Lane, it combines the latest designer wear with the latest designer dancing. Topped off with a special live performance from, “The Saturdays”! Go for the Theatre, stay for the Shopping. The Clothes Show live is a kaleidoscope of colours and music. It has, not just something, but an awful lot of something‟s for everyone and is guaranteed to re-awaken the little girl and the goddess inside!
Dr John Harvey: Professor, Author and Man in Black! Written by Kerry-Louise Barnaby Sipping a cappuccino at Emmanuel College Cambridge and scanning through “Men in Black” the little girl inside me couldn‟t help but imagine that, at any second, Tommy Lee Jones would come bursting through the door; time would stop and he‟d say – “Never Fear: The Men In Black are here!” Unfortunately, my girlish fantasy did not come to light. There was no Tommy Lee Jones, just a grey-haired, bearded man. Yes; in a blackish suit, but wearing a pink and purple shirt/tie combination. Time did not stop. If I didn‟t have his book, I would never have known that an, award-winning author had just entered the room. I am, of course, referring to Dr John Harvey, MA, PhD, Cambridge Professor and author. Whose books include: “Victorian Novelists and their Illustrators”, “Clothes”, three novels for which he has won awards and the book behind this interview, “Men In Black”. Maybe time didn‟t stop when he first walked in, but, it definitely did when he started talking. I was captivated! How did he decide that fashion was as important as the works of Blake, Dickens and Shakespeare? “I was working with an art historian friend. We were doing a study on Realism when I noticed that in every slide, the men were wearing nothing but black. This intrigued me. Why was it that while women seemed to wear lots of colour men were restricted
to this non-colour – it‟s not in the spectrum and it‟s not in the rainbow?” This man teaches English Literature at one of the world‟s most prestigious university‟s. Twenty, thirty years ago, fashion was not seen as a subject appropriate for an Academic. So I ask: “what spurred you on?” “You‟re definitely right. A few years ago it wasn‟t an appropriate subject. I think in the last few years, with the works of philosophers such as Freud, the study of fashion has undergone a huge turnaround. It used to be seen as vain and superficial, but in recent years, as people begin to believe that you can read someone‟s personality through their clothes, it has become a much wider study of, why people wear what they wear. From looking at the way someone is dressed, you can put them in to a social bracket, a class and even understand a bit about who they are.”
This answer is textbook Semiotics through clothing.
Barthes:
So, what does a man in black say to Society, semiotically speaking? “Black is very interesting. It is a paradox. It‟s not a colour. It can be highly conspicuous and yet highly inconspicuous. It‟s connotations throughout history are paradoxical. White has been associated with innocence and purity, while black has been seen, in Western culture, as a colour of bereavement, aggression, and authority. I start to wonder: “Dr Harvey, what colour would you choose to wear in an ideal world? Do you prefer the connotations attached to black, or white or bright pink?!” Dr Harvey‟s face lights up and a youthful giggle escapes his wise lips: “I‟m reminded of the 60s, when I bought a black bellbottom suit. Embarrassing to me now, I could never wear them. Even though it was black, the bellbottoms were too big a statement. I‟m too shy to wear an all black suit, just as I am to wear an all white suit. They are binary opposites and
Black has been associated with some of the worst „groups‟ in history - the Fascist Parties and the SS. However while it can be seen as strong and authoritative, it is also used today by people wanting to be invisible.” Does this mean that women wear colour to express their personalities, yellow for happy, red to stand out; while men are kept in the dark? Do women today wear the trousers? Or are the men in black the domineering and authoritative members of society? have such strong connotative meanings. I tend to favour what I am in today: charcoal suit, pink shirt and purple tie. Though, quite recently, advised by my wife and daughter I bought a very light, aluminium suit. It gives me a lift and improves my mood but is far too light for this time of year.” Just as I am about to leave I overhear Dr Harvey ordering himself a coffee, black or white I wonder. “Strong black of course”, he replies and I smile as I approach my immaculate white Clio.
What a “Swishing” Spree! By Kerry – Louise Barnaby Fashionista's will flock to Southampton‟s Orange rooms on 14th December for a Shopping Experience with a twist. Katie Taylor, a graduate of BA (Hons) Writing Fashion and Culture at Southampton Solent University, is collaborating with the Orange Rooms, Vernon Walk, to host the ultimate Swishing Spree. “Swishing” is defined in the dictionary as “to rustle, as silk” however, “swishing” has become the term for “clothes swapping parties”. “Swishing” is not a new concept; women have been swapping clothes for years, whether it is at jumble sales or on eBay. Now, in the climax of this current economic crisis, we can‟t afford to be spending, on average, £13,000 a year on clothes that are never worn. Therefore “swishing” has become the craze for shopaholics everywhere. Think of “Swishing” as cash-free shopping. “Swishing” first started in America, and shares the ideals of the Tupperware party. Women would meet at a chosen venue, usually a house, and would take their unwanted clothes and swap them between each other. “The concept is simple; people bring clean, unwanted items of clothing, jewellery, bags or shoes from by-gone eras to present day bargains. We then put them out on display; you forget about them, and you set about reinventing your style and your wardrobe. “Everyone brings at least one item and can leave with however many they want. There is no limit. You can‟t complain if you bring one and leave with 10 or bring 10 and leave with one as it is unwanted anyway,” explains Katie Taylor. Katie Taylor continued to say: “My main inspiration for hosting this event was the
infamous Twiggy, and her new BBC programme „Twiggy‟s Frock Exchange‟. I saw this programme and immediately thought, it was brilliant, and I had to introduce it to the local community” Katie Taylor said: “Swishing has been going on for a while now but unfortunately the main events are based only in London. There are none in the smaller cities. That is why I thought it would be a great idea to introduce to concept to Southampton. “My aim with this first „Frock Swap‟ is to make people aware of the concept and, more importantly, get Southampton locals excited about Fashion.” Katie Taylor continued: “I am in talks with a university student who is starting her own business, who will hopefully be there selling vintage clothes and another girl doing clothing alterations. So you will get the best of both worlds, even if you don‟t find anything to swap then you will still have the option to buy clothes from the stall”. Entry to this event is just as simple as the concept itself. Just go onto the Orange Rooms‟ website and register. Katie said: “The registration is available now. The event is free. All you have to do is register your details and the approximate number of items you will be bringing and you‟re done”. No fuss, no finance just one hell of a frenzy. Just a few words of wisdom from Katie Taylor: “Get there on time. Make the most of the half an hour you will get for browsing, know what you want and grab it. After all, it‟s free!”
Solent Students:
Saviours or Slackers??? The only way to get a true and honest answer? Take it to the people! Written by Kerry-Louise Barnaby Southampton is one of many cities throughout the UK which is becoming overthrown by students‟. Today, the local people spoke out about the impact the students‟ indulgent and carefree lifestyles are having on their beloved city. The general consensus was positive, and even the teenagers agreed: “They are fun and good role-models,” Sarah Brown a 16-year-old schoolgirl said. While in the midst of a Recession, the more mature generation, saw the students from an economical perspective. Arthur, 73 and Margaret Billington, 69, shared a positive view of the students. Arthur and Margaret are a couple who have lived in Southampton their entire lives and have seen Southampton undergo a huge transformation since the university started drawing more and more youth to the city. Arthur said: “They are good as they bring trade and business I think the students are a brilliant addition. They bring lots of trade and business which is good for the city‟s economy”. Mrs Tina Hutchins, a 40 year old university receptionist, thinks: “It is good for society to have some clever, motivated and determined people around – they are good role-models for
the children.” Tina is married with one child and has lived in Portswood, Southampton for 12 years. The “just-graduated” mid-20 culture, were unanimous: “We love the students. They bring life to the city” Tina Edwards a 26 year old recent graduate of Solent University said. “The university attracts people from all areas and makes it very multicultural and an exciting community to be a part of,” – Radha Patel, a 24year-old recent graduate. Miss Patel continued: “After returning to Southampton after living away for a few years, I was really happy to see it a much changed, more vibrant and energetic community in just a few short years.” The only people to strongly disagree with this opinion where the parents of young children. This section of the community agree that the “Students are noisy and litter” from Rachael Macmillan, a 35 year old female with 2 children. While: “They can be a worry when u have small children as they may get up to no good” was the view of Mr Adam Boyd-Brown, a 29 year old male with children, who lives in the Bedford Place area of Southampton. Mr Boyd-Brown continued to say: “Living in Bedford Place, which is a
very popular choice for students going on a night out, I see and hear the students in the streets, coming out of clubs at all hours. This is disruptive and keeps the children awake”. James, 38 and Sonya Killick 35, a married couple summed this view up perfectly. “I understand that they are young and enjoying themselves but the city does not revolve around them. They need to grow up, show some respect and stop being selfish.” Sonya said “It‟s very clear to me that the students have absolutely no respect for the community”.