Inside This Issue... 3 4 5 6 9 13 15 19 24 28 32 35 38 40 44 49 50
Editors Letter Get The Cover Look Contributors Love Is The Movement How To Be A... Diamond Duchess Rockin’ Bones In The Spotlight Hocus Focus LA Fashion Forward ALEX&RA Fancy Nancy The Review Gala Darling Best Of The British Ask Amy Credits
Editors Letter... I suppose it’s not really possible to count the amount of times I’ve said this; but this special August “Los Angeles” issue of Lipstick Royalty has to be my favourite yet. We’ve been lucky enough to work with some incredible people, for example Jon Sollee from Hocus Focus LA (page 24) who by complete coincidence, his photographic talent has captured almost the entire issue including the return of our Fashion Forward columnist, alternative model Loriel Andre’a (page 28) and American/ Italian designer MARIALIA on page 9. Another story that is close to our hearts, especially that of our Fashion Editor Amy Claire is “Love Is The Movement” on page 6. Amy Claire writes about the To Write Love On Her Arms anti-depression movement that has swept America, gaining celebrity supporters such as Paramore’s Hailey Williams and Evanescence’s Amy Lee, which is now hitting our shores. Also in this issue, apart from interviews with iCiNG blog royalty Gala Darling and couture cake creators Fancy Nancy, Lipstick Royalty welcomes two brand new columns; The Review and Diamond Duchess. The Review is the modern gal’s guide to life, tackling a different issue each week, written by the latest addition to our staff, Rhian Williams. Diamond Duchess is Lipstick Royalty’s first ever serial following the life of Diamond, the coolest fictional character you’ve ever met! I hope you enjoy the new look issue, and I’d love to hear your thoughts on both the issue and our brand new website!
Rachel xoxo
Get The Cover Look... Make-up artist Eva Woodby from Los Angeles, California is the make-up mastermind behind this months cover girl, Amor Hilton’s killer look. Eva joins us to tell you how you too can obtain peachy pink perfection! Eyes: This is a fun one. If you intend on rocking the pink eyebrows, no need to fear if your natural eyebrows are a little dark. With a little colouring, they can be pink enough. I recommend using a pink powder - be it eyeshadow or blush - and a good angle liner brush to fill them in. A good eyeshadow base (like Sorme Undershadow) is the next step. Use a concealing brush to apply to the eyelids from lashline to browbone. Next, use a pearlescent eyeshadow or pigment on the brow bown (MAC pigment in Vanilla is a good one). Next, apply a shimmery lavender eyeshadow (try Urban Decay's Asphyxia eyeshadow) on the lower lid and under the eye with a smudge brush as a liner as well. Then, blend in a violet eyeshadow on just the outer corner of the eye. Line the lashline with black liquid liner and finish off with mascara, and for added drama, any type of strip false eyelashes. Remove any excess eyeshadow powder from under the eye using a Qtip and moisturizer. Lips: Line first with a magenta lipliner, and then fill in with fuchsia lipstick (a fun brand to try is LaFemme.). Finish off with a little bit of gloss in either clear or pink. Skin/Cheeks: I recommend Revlon Colourstay with Skinflex as a great, full coverage foundation. (Amor is wearing the color Buff.)
Great tip: Apply foundation AFTER eye makeup. Also, use a foundation brush. It will give you smoother coverage, especially under the eye, and unlike sponges or fingers, brushes distribute, rather than absorb, your foundation. Dust on a soft pink blush and a very light transparent face powder (Ben Nye Colourless Powder is excellent) just on the tzone as a finish. Do not over-powder! If you over-powder, you will look chalky rather than fresh and glowing! Check out more of Eva’s killer make-up at evawoodby.smugmug.com!
ContribUtors... Eva Woodby Make-up artist and model Eva Woodby did the make-up for our cover girl and joins us on page 3 to tell us how you can recreate that stunning look! What's your favourite thing about the summer? - That you don't have to wear a big awkward coat over your sexy, going out dress! Photo: (Above) Sylvio, (Right) SCrude Photography
Gala Darling
Blog royalty Gala Darling joins us on page 40 to talk about iCiNG, her uber popular lifestyle blog. You may also have seen the killer photos she provided us with for our ad campaign... What’s your favourite thing about the summer? - The energy, the colour, warm nights full of promise, romance, fireflies and sleeping with the windows open! It's such a beautiful time of year, especially in New York. I have actually been shuttling back and forth between hemispheres avoiding winter for a long time now -- haven't experienced a full one since 2007!
Jon Sollee Jon Sollee is the divine talent behind Hocus Focus LA who shot our cover girl Amor Hilton as well as stopping by for a quick interview on page 24. He also shot all of the models for his girlfriend MARIALIA's clothing line on page 9.
What's your favourite thing about the summer? - My favourite thing about
summer is hanging out with friends doing absolutely nothing, just being ourselves and making the best out of the day and night! Waking up late and staying out until the sun comes up!
Love Is The Movement... by Amy Claire Thompson Being a Bridgend girl by birth, I had a pretty tough year of it in 2008. Most people in the UK will have, at some point, heard of the so-called Welsh “suicide town”, which, for years past has been a sleepy if pretty little town near the South Wales coast, where next to nothing has ever happened. Last year, though, it played witness to a tragedy: a spout of twenty-three suicides amongst those aged fifteen to thirty in less than a year. One of them – and I remember the exact moment that I heard about this – was just meters from the house where I lived until I was five, in Cefn Glas. Obviously, this was not an easy thing for me to have to deal with, despite the fact that I no longer live there. But, I found my way through it with the help of a few very good friends. I will never forget what they did for me, or how they alone were willing to try to understand; and I will also never forget how much good working for this magazine did me – I was able to find my escape, and to live a different life whilst I was writing.
Sadly, though, not everyone who goes through a rough patch has a
support network as good as the one that I did to lean back on, and that’s why I feel so privileged to be sitting here today writing about a truly wonderful organisation called “To Write Love On Her Arms” (TWLOHA for short), an American non-profit organisation “dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide. TWLOHA exists to encourage, inform, inspire and also to invest directly into treatment and recovery.” In the USA, where it was launched, TWLOHA has become somewhat a youth phenomenon, with young people from all walks of life joining together in support of a common cause; standing up to say that they care about the problems, and people, that governments often tend to neglect. For the people TWLOHA supports, their help, and their faith, is
With a motto like “Rescue Is Possible”, however, it has to be hard to always live up to expectations. Olivia tells me, however, that TWLOHA believes their slogan wholeheartedly, in every case. "Depression is very treatable; a very real hope exists in the face of these issues. We’ve met people who are getting the help they need, sitting across from a counsellor for the first time, stepping into treatment, or reaching out to a suicide hotline in a desperate moment. Being diagnosed with depression and having the need for counselling are difficult realisations, but once this is understood then the correct steps can be taken to ensure recovery. We b e l i e v e i n t h e w o r d 'community', that as humans we were not meant to do life alone, we need other people to listen, to understand us and to help us. We see community as a vital ingredient in the recipe for rescue."
TWLOHA’s Olivia, Photo: www.davidwillowphotography.co.uk
often a life-line through the blackest days of their lives. This is, in fact, how TWLOHA was launched, in Florida, in 2006. Founder Jamie Tworkowski dedicated five days of his life to showing one depressed woman how special she was; letting her know that there is someone who cares. It’s the kind of thing that we would all like to think that we’d do, but that most people would never have the guts to. When I asked Olivia, their UK representative, who it is that TWLOHA works with, she told me "we don’t work with a specific group of people, we work with everyone!", explaining that "we hear from people every day for all sorts of different reasons - people considering suicide, people who are worried that their friends or family are selfharming or suicidal, and also people who don't know much about self-harm, suicide, depression or addiction but would like to learn.”
It’s good for me, personally, to know that there are people out there who care what happens to the young people of my quiet little hometown. Olivia and Jamie in fact visited Bridgend last year, during the Cardiff stop on the Rocket Summer UK tour, which TWLOHA was a part of. “We just walked around, the streets were so quiet, and I remember walking down one small street and coming to a bridge over a river in the centre of the town - it was so pretty, all lit up and there was a beautiful church on the opposite side. I remember thinking how strange it was that I could be experiencing this feeling in a place that was filled with
sadness; that just a few miles away someone could be thinking about taking their life. I wished I could have taken the feeling of hopelessness from every one of those young people.” They left some information about TWLOHA behind them in Bridgend, “sowing a seed of hope in a field of sorrow. In Bridgend it may not be such a huge coincidence to meet someone who has been affected by the issues TWLOHA deals with, but one thing I have learnt since being involved with TWLOHA is that these issues affect so many more people than we realise.”
So, I guess that what I’m hoping to achieve for TWLOHA through writing this is a supportbase in the UK. I hope that everyone feels the way I do about this; that people need help, and that we’re here to offer it to them. TWLOHA may find most of its money from high-profile supporters such as Paramore’s Hayley Williams, Evanesence’s Amy Lee and bands like Forever Sickest Kids and The Rocket Sumer, but the people who really matter in this movement are the people out there who’re
willing to support a friend in need, and light their way through the night-time of their lives.
One of the best things that you can do to help TWLOHA is to buy one of their amazing t-shirts or hoodies; I warn you, people come up to you and go “hey, what’s that mean?”, but it’s a fantastic way to spread the word about them! Shirts are available at mamstore.co.uk/twloha or zambooie.com/twloha. Let us know if you buy one! Alternatively, extra information on how to spread the word and how you can get involved can be found at twloha.com.
So, remember; someone always cares, rescue is always possible, and “Love Is The Movement”…
How To Be A... Interview by Rachel Phipps Photos by Hocus Focus LA
Fashion Designer
Everyone’s heard of MARIALIA, the LA based clothing label. Created by part time alternative model and full time designer Marialia, the self styled designer tells Lipstick Royalty how her self titled label is set to take over the world.
So you started designing when you were just 16. How exactly did you start out? I have actually been designing and sewing since I was little. I would always sketch clothing and take apart my clothes and experiment for as long as I could remember. I finally decided to pursue it when I was 16. I have always wanted to be a fashion designer, but when I was 16 I finally decided "I'm going to be a fashion designer."
You never went to fashion school or anything. How did you learn to make clothes, or did you just work it out as you went along? I learned a lot from my mommy. She taught me how to sew at a young age and I guess it's just something I developed as I grew. I won't lie, it was very difficult as I started sewing more complicated things because I taught myself through trial and error. I would go through fabric like crazy but I am glad I am self taught and never had formal training, it just makes my story a little more interesting!
As you started out so young, did you find that people didn't take you seriously because of your age?
Marialia, modeling one of her own custom Tutus
Probably. I actually found that people were intimidated, especially people I knew and went to school with.
How do you feel growing up in both Italy and LA has influenced your designs? I think the way that growing up in both places has affected my designs is just a better understanding of other cultures and how fashion ties into it. Italian fashion is so daring and almost at times the most artistic, so that is something I
It's all very well being able to design kick ass clothes, but how about the business side of things? How do you like being your own boss... I know from experience running operations is not always rainbows and butterflies! I love it and hate it at the same time. Sometimes I just need that one person to push me and direct me, but at other times its nice because I know what I want, I know what I need to do, and I know that if something goes right or something goes wrong, it was all because of me. It does get overwhelming though, I will definitely need to take on help as I grow as a designer. Your dream is to have stores in LA, NYC, Rome and Tokyo. As LR is a UK based magazine we want to ask - what's wrong with London!?!
really respect and take into consideration.
Do you find that living in LA is an advantage as there is such a rich base of models, photographers and PR opportunities to work with in LaLa Land?
(Laughs) I think the interview you read that from was from two years ago. My opinions and ideas have drastically changed since then... I think right now more than ever I know exactly what I want to achieve as a designer and I am definitely much more humble about it. From age seventeen to twenty, I think my decisions and goals have matured a lot. But to answer your question, I would love to just focus on getting my first store in LA and then taking it from there. Baby steps.
Of course, it just makes it so much easier and more realistic.
You like to model as well as design. How did you get into that?
At first glance, bright, iconic images are things that anyone can associate with your brand. How important is colour in your work?
I kind of started doing both at the same time and it went hand in hand so I just kept doing it. When I can't get a model last minute or someone calls out its always great to know how to work in front of the camera!
Probably one of the most important factors. I am very choosy about the fabrics and prints I use because in the end, the print or colour or texture is what can either make or break your design.
Are there any photographers/models/MUA's/ Stylists you'd like to work with in the future? There are so many talented people out there and I
am incredibly picky about who I work with but there are quite a few people whose work I admire. I can't think of any off the top of my head but I would definitely love to start seeing my clothing on more "celebrities"!
What are the top five tips you'd give to aspiring designers? There is only one tip that matters in succeeding and that is the ever so cliche "Never give up." If designing is something that you truly love and put your entire heart and soul into it, keep running in its race no matter how many times you many trip. Thats all I can pretty much tell anyone. So what is next for Marialia, apart from taking over the world? I’m not sure. As long as I can keep doing what I love and other people are loving it, I think I will be perfectly content with that.
You can check out and buy MARIALIA’s latest collection, Candyland (based on the classic board game and shown in this article) at her website, WWW.MARIALIAXO.COM or visit her on Myspace: MYSPACE.COM/MARIALIA
Diamond Duchess picked up her hairbrush, starting to try and make herself look presentable. Ten minutes later, Diamond grabbed her bag and fumbled around for her phone, sunglasses, and for her front door keys. Finding the latter in an almost empty box of Fruit Loops on the kitchen counter, she rolled her eyes at her own forgetfulness as she locked the door behind her and started down the several flights of stairs. She set off, pushing her sunglasses up her nose and dropping the keys into her handbag.
Illustrations by Yasmine Taherbeigi
Diamond looked in the mirror and tugged on her long blond hair with an air of utter dissatisfaction. She hated the colour. She picked up an old copy of Lipstick Royalty magazine sprawled open on top of her dressing table and she compared the models long flowing pink locks with her own complexion, wondering if the colour would suit her. Or would it just make me look washed out? She turned a couple of pages and held up a picture of a girl with blue hair. Definitely not. She turned back to the pink page. Why not? I’ve got nothing else to do today. Her mind made up, Diamond shut the magazine and
She walked down the empty street and out onto the main road, taking a left and heading down to the sea front, which held all of her favourite shops, boutiques, cafe’s, salons and restaurants. The sun was shining even this early in the morning and Diamond could feel the heat penetrating the light cotton of her white tee shirt. Should I go for breakfast and then get my hair done, or should I do it the other way round? She reached the seafront and looked down the already busy colonnade. All the cafe’s looked rather full; she’d be lucky to get a table. Hair first then. She walked past all the cafés with their brightly coloured umbrellas and menus listing delicious delicacies in white chalk until she reached the great glass windowed salon where she usually had her hair done. Diamond pushed the door open and felt relief as the cool air of the air-conditioning surrounded her. She walked up to the desk and rang the bell, waiting. After a few minutes her stylist appeared. As always, she’d rimmed her eyes with heavy black kohl. Her hair, never the same colour any time Diamond saw her, was sky blue with white and yellow highlights. Staring at her, Diamond wondered how she managed to do that. “Diamond, how are you?” Stacy gushed, knowing she was about to take yet another load
of cash off of her favourite client. “What will it be today?” “I’m bored of begin blond,” Diamond told her decidedly. “What colour do you want to be then?” Stacy asked her, leading her over to a chair and draping her in black fabric as she spoke. “Pink.” “Pink? Interesting choice. What shade? Light? Dark? One colour? Highlighted...” Diamond made a split second decision as she looked up at her own bleached blond reflection in the salon’s mirrored and highly polished ceiling. “Cotton Candy.” Diamond walked out of the salon two and a half hours later beaming. She slipped her sunglasses back over her eyes as she walked down the promenade, peering at menus, deciding where she wanted to have breakfast, her glossy pale pink curls bouncing as she went. Outside the third cafe she knelt and pulled of her glasses to read the specials board. She looked up and realized that a tall, slim figure was towering over her where she was crouched on the ground.
A special thanks to everyone who entered our Diamond Duchess illustration competition on Mookychick.co.uk, but especially to out w i n n e r, Ya s m i n e Ta h e r b e i g i , w h o ’s illustrations will now be printed in Lipstick Royalty every month! Also a special mention to runner up Victoria Clarke!
Rockin’ Bones... Interview by Rachel Phipps Lipstick Royalty LOVE’s Rockin’ Bones entertainment with their killer photo shoots, drop dead prints and pouffy tutus so we caught up with husband and wife team Robert and Kendra; the brains behind the whole operation...
When, where and why was Rockin' Bones Entertainment founded? Robert: The roots date back to 2002, but Rockin' Bones Entertainment formed from a merge of two companies (Rockin' Bones Video and Peek-A-Boo Couture).
Kendra: I started designing clothing to make extra cash on the side when I was an undergrad, and it eventually consumed my life (in a good way) haha. Robert: We both have different reasons why we started the original companies, but we merged to become Rockin' Bones Entertainment because we enjoy working together, and around 2005 we started noticing that we shared a lot of customers between each business. Kendra: Once we were married, it seemed like it would be a lot of fun too. We're really in sync together whether it's designing clothing, doing a photo shoot, or shooting videos. We were together all of the time anyways and our independent businesses were also our artistic hobbies so combining the two was natural.
What came first; the fashion design or the video production? Robert: I started shooting videos for Rockin' Bones Video in late 2001 and it officially became a business in 2002. Kendra: I started Devil Bunnies about a year later (which become Peek-A-Boo Couture).
Where did the name Rockin' Bones come from?
Photo: Claude Pena, Model & MUA: Loriel Andre’a
Robert: It's one of my favorite songs. I recommend that everyone listen to both the Ronnie Dawson original and the cover version by The Cramps. I love the lyrics: "I want to leave a happy memory when I go/I want to leave something to let the whole world know/that the rock and roll daddy has-a-done passed on/but my bones will be rockin' long after I'm gone."
Photo: Illumination Forge, Model: D始Vil Monroe, MUA: Lisa G, Hair: Jordan Christine
Where does the inspiration for your designs come from? Kendra: All kinds of stuff from daily life. For example, one night a trip to our favorite sushi restaurant inspired a new screen print. The restaurant is located in the rock and roll music district of downtown, so the atmosphere with graffiti all over the inside walls of the restaurant reflects that. We were sitting around waiting for our food when Robert noticed that someone had drawn a dinosaur on the wall behind my head and he stopped and said "That's it! We need a T-Rex!" Of course, our TRex was a skullier version haha.
What type of person rocks the Rockin' Bones look? Robert: Everyone! Kendra: Our clothing is not intended for one particular demographic and our customer base reflects that ideal. A lot of our customers
Photo: Nathan Machain, Model: Lux Electrocutee
contact us on MySpace and email us pictures too. It's so cool because there are all types of people.
What is your favourite piece in the Rockin' Bones collection at the moment? Robert: I like these questions. My favourite men's shirt is the skull face logo one and my favourite women's piece is probably the Undead top. I'm really into the combo of red, white, and black. Kendra: All the booty shorts. I just really like how our shorts are so loud and busy. I know that's a simpler design but I just really like the concept. Before we made them, I was never able to find a fun enough pair. Â Have you always wanted to work in the fashion industry? Robert: It's pretty funny, but I was making
bloody punk rock t-shirts for myself back in the 90s, actually. I was kind of like a gonzo journalist when I was in high school, working on the paper so I could get in free to concerts to interview people like the Ramones. I guess that was the framework for interviewing bands for Rockin' Bones. When I started college, I was majoring in accounting but I decided to switch to film after I took a screenwriting class and documentary theory class as electives. After college I became a court deposition videographer and produced music videos on the side, but I really didn't enjoy it that much. Ultimately, I'm a full-time clothing designer now with my wife and dabble in PR/rock videos occasionally. I didn't see that coming, but I enjoy it more than anything.
What's next for both you and Rockin' Bones? Kendra: Lots of big changes will start popping up soon, especially early 2010. The designs are going to expand/evolve to include other avenues. I don't want to give too much information yet as there are a lot of different changes we are working on and they are long term projects that will take months to perfect. Robert: We're also going to release vintage horror DVDs that feature independent music videos in the special features section. We're going to give them away as gifts for our customers because we want to keep the memory of these classics alive and to introduce people to new, non-mainstream music as well.
What's your most memorable moment working on Rockin' Bones? Robert: It's fairly recent, but when Forgotten Saints in Hollywood placed a wholesale order with us, I think that we reached a new level.
Photo: Illumination Forge, Model: Michelle Kim, MUA: Lisa G, Hair: Jordan Christine
Are there any models/ photographers/MUA’s you’d like to collaborate with in the future? Kendra: We have a small list, but prefer to keep it low key. How about any artists you'd like to collaborate with? Robert: The Damned, David Bowie, Iggy Pop, New York Dolls, Michael Monroe, and Keith Richards, just to name a few. Kendra: I second David Bowie!
Find out more at ROCKINBONES.NET!
In The Spotlight... Magda Knight
Does she have nothing else to do? There must be a million girls like this out there. Someone should do a magazine for them." It was like a light bulb going on in my head. A 'eureka' moment. A moment where this really, really good idea came out of nowhere, and in the space of one lunchtime I realised that everything else in my life - the weird childhood, the parties, the reading comics, the writing stories no-one wanted to read - all these things were actually just compost to plant the seed of this really, really amazing idea which, like Jack's Beanstalk, grew so high it reached the heavens in a single night.
Interview by Amy Claire Thompson Magda Knight is the editor and joint-creator of the online world come alternative women’s Bible that goes by the name of Mookychick. She’s been an amazing inspiration to the LR team from the beginning - so who better to kick ‘In The Spotlight’ off with?!
What's your story? All good stories start with 'Once upon a time', don't they? So once upon a time I worked on a very mainstream website with a very mainstream forum. And my colleague said, "Check this out... for the last year, there's been this girl on the forum. She's given herself the name of an old-fashioned Victorian medical device, she's thirteen, she wears black and she sends the office a postcard every time she goes on holiday. Does this girl have no friends?
So on Monday I was an ant worker in a big publishing zaibatsu - and on Tuesday my cofounder Amanda and I were drinking coffee and smoking cigarettes with a pile of women's magazines around us, saying what was wrong, and what was right, and what Mookychick was going to be. And what it was going to be was a finishing school for alternative young ladies. A place where girls could go and learn more about life real life, alternative life, even if they were stuck in an Eskimo fishing village and they were the only Inuit girl in town who thought her Eskimo fur hood would look a bit better if it was customised.
At the time, we didn't realise that Mookychick was going to be not only an online magazine but a community where all these women could reach out to each other, and educate each other about the Dresden Dolls and first periods and motherhood and Victorian porn. We had no idea about that at all. That magic seed came later.
And, secretly, just between you and me, Mookychick happened because of books I read when I was younger - the tale of The Ordinary Princess, and 'Diamond Age', the tale of a little girl called Nell who with the aid of a magic book became the leader of a mouse army. All these books said that any little girl can do it. I'd always wanted to be that little girl. And now I am. Maybe. And now all the other little girls are doing it too.
fat. So I had a weird childhood. So I haven't got the balls to pick up the phone and sort out my phone bill. So what? I think of it as bread-andbutter zen. So what? It's just a really practical mantra that puts things in perspective. So what?
Mookychick is serious magic. It's one hell of a beanstalk.
Well, climbing the beanstalk with Mookychick is kind of cool. There's a lot of work to be done, still. My own personal ambition is to have my short stories collected and published - life is always a mix of success and ambition, answers followed by questions. Onward!
So what happens next?
We've had the website. We've had the community message-board. There are currently talks of a Mooky meet-up, both an official London meet and several hook-ups during festival season! But we're preaching to the converted, I feel, so there are some big plans afoot for this year and every Mookychick is going to be asked to do her bit. There's going to be a national competition, and a national award. I can't say anything more a b o u t i t f o r n o w, b u t e v e n t h o u g h Mookychick's climbed the beanstalk it has discovered the story doesn't end - there's a great big magic kingdom up there in those clouds, and unfortunately it's populated by all these bloody big clumsy giants who need sorting out. The story's just beginning.
What's the rule you try to live your life by?
Onward and forward. You know what the bus that the Merry Pranksters drove was called? It was called Further. That works for me. On another note... Everyone has dark days, 'what is the point' days. My mantra on those days is "So what?� So I had a fight. So I feel
Have you succeeded so far?
What's making you smile?
I've just made some delicious chilli garlic prawns and my friend brought me a little nut tree from their garden. And my boyfriend and I are trying to teach ourselves to play "Coin Operated Boy"
What's your favourite song? What never comes off my iPod? 'Angeline' by PJ Harvey. 'Bird Flu' by M.I.A. 'Fool's Gold' by the Stone Roses. 'Bittersweet Symphony' by the Verve. 'Lebanese Blonde' by the Thievery Corporation. Incidentally, you can use your iPod as an oracle. Just ask yourself some random questions, e.g. "How will I be remembered?" "Does he really like me?" then shuffle through to the next random song on your iPod and take that song's title as your answer. Et voila!
What's the biggest mistake you ever made...?
on the piano. That's a nice way to start a Monday.
But in terms of Mookychick, what makes me smile is that in spite of my (cough) great powers of domination and leadership and Queen Bee-ishness, what's actually happening is that I just dropped the pebble and now the ripples are spreading across the lake. One girl we gave advice to on becoming a surrogate mother sent us in a picture of her baby last week. I mean, we talked to this girl and now she's had a real-life baby. That's amazing. Another girl wrote in to say that Mookychick had saved her life. She didn't go into details, but whatever it was that saved her life, I'm glad something did. One girl who wrote for us landed a TV presenting deal a few months back through her Mookychick exposure - we are so glad to know our journalists get something out of their unpaid contributions. Oh, and Jane Goldman - the flame-haired wife of Jonathan Ross, and a long-time hero of ours - said publicly on Twitter that she'd been a fan of the site for quite a while now. There's a lot that makes me smile.
I don't know that you'd call it a mistake, but as a teenager I once went out dressed as a gothic Salome. Swathed in black lace, figure-hugging long dress, a jet-jewelled veil - the works, baby. The works. And I was in a kind of British backwater at the time, and someone yelled out "'Ere, look at her! Oi, look at that! She's one of them Muslims!" All mistakes lead to taking a different route. All mistakes are regrettable, all mistakes are necessary. Plus they've happened, so get over it.
How do you want to be remembered? With a giant pyramid, like Bender from Futurama. Nah. I don't know that I'd need to be remembered - I'll be dead, so does it really matter? I'd like to be remembered for my writing, perhaps. When I die, I'd like to be buried in a cloth under a tree sapling. You get them in England - Forests of the Dead. Eco-forests, where every tree is planted on top of someone who’s passed away, and who has become nourishment for the tree. Forests of the Dead. Isn't that marvellous? Who's your hero? Angela Carter got away with writing exactly how
she wanted to. Alan Moore (V for Vendetta, Watchmen) is one England's finest creators, and had the balls to give ALL his film profit away to the artists, keeping none for himself. That's a lot of money to give away for your principles. If I had to label my beliefs I'd go for 'humanist', someone who believes that putting humans first - all humans - may be selfish but is actually better for the planet and animals and humans and just about bloody everyone in the long run. Great humanists include Kurt Vonnegut and Terry Pratchett, so they're my heroes. What wise, lovely people. Tracy Emin's a hero because of her honesty and because she gives her life to art. That female nun who invented the martial art of Wingchun? I've got no idea who she is, but good on her.
love it all. If it's stopped wriggling and I can get it in my mouth, I'll eat it. Sadly I'm glutenintolerant. I love wheat, but wheat does not love me. We're currently engaged in amicable divorce proceedings.
What's your favourite food?
What’s your guilty pleasure?
My favourite food is... Food. In general. Junk food, chilli, chocolate, vegan, macrobiotic - I
It's rudey-pudey and bedroom walls have ears so I'm not going to tell you!
If there were an extra hour in every day, how would you spend it? My boyfriend would like to say that I would probably spend it sleeping! I, however, would like to say I'd spend it researching things I'd never known about before - how to go fossil hunting, or the best way to slice an egg. That's bollocks though. I'd probably spend it sleeping!
Tell us a secret! My grandfather was a black-hat judge. He really, really hated the aristocracy and would execute them in a fair trial whenever he got the chance. In this day and age, eh? Who'd have thought it?
find out more at www.mookychick.co.uk. There'll be a lot of people on the community messageboard waiting to find out who you are.
Thank you, and good night!
Where do you wish you were right now? At the bottom of the Mariana trench, exploring things no-one has seen before. Or potholing, doing the same. Or sitting on the steps of an Inca pyramid eating Mexican beans at six in the morning. Or playing backgammon on a beach in Thailand. Oh, God, please... I've been a reasonably good person, haven't I? Make these things happen... Oh, wait. You mean I have to make them happen myself? Honestly. As if I didn't have enough to do... Where can we find out more? How lovely of you to ask! You can, of course,
Your common or garden Mook
Photos: Simon Hunter and Mookychick
Hocus Focus LA... Providing us with our killer cover, as well as much of the photography for this issue is the super talented Jon Sollee who is the talent behind Hocus Focus LA... LR’s Arts Editor Lauren Merrall caught up with Jon for ten quick questions about his photos...
How old are you, where did you grow up, and when did you start your photography journey? My full name is Jonathan Lee Sollee. I am 23 years old and I lived in Santa Monica until I was 3 years old. Then I moved to El Segundo until I was 22, and now I am back in Santa Monica. I only starting shooting in July 2008.
through MySpace, and through referrals. So how did you get into photography? Actually my girlfriend (designer MARIALIA read her exclusive interview on page 9) got me into photography. She wanted a 'house photographer' for her fashion line, so I quickly learned the functions of a Digital SLR and started shooting. I have been on Photoshop since as far back as I can remember so that’s the easy, but tedious, part. Do you have any other influences like art movements etc?
What is your main style of photography, and have you dabbled in any others? Loud, colorful and expressive. I like darker photo styles and have also dabbled into more beauty and glamour shots, but they get boring!
Have you ever had anything really embarrassing happen to you or someone else whilst shooting? I have seen girls fall, have outrageous bursts of laughter, and I have even fallen down or tripped a couple of times! Where do you find models, other than Model Mayhem (for those of you who are not in the know, Model Mayhem is the most popular model, photographer and make up artist networking site online)? I find models through friends, occasionally
Model: The Sultry Once, MUA: Crystal- Reve Llamas
Model: Arra
no substance. So why live in such a place and not take advantage of its beauty?
Any dreams of achievements in mainstream photography? I would love my stuff to be in some of the big magazines and I’d love to shoot celebrities!
Where do you see yourself in five years time? HUGE! Haha, no. But pretty damn good at what I am doing! Yo u c a n c a t c h u p w i t h J o n a t MYSPACE.COM/HOCUSFOCUSPHOTOG o r a t M O D E L M AY H E M . C O M / HOCUSFOCUS Model: Jacquelyne Marie, Wardrobe: The Vintage Doctor
No real influences, just my drive to make something catch your eye.
W h i ch p h o to g ra phe r is your m ai n inspiration, or who do you think you’re most like? Well, I don’t like to be like anyone. But if I was to say a couple of photographers I would have to say Mojo Kiss and Zim Killgore (his stuff is very fantasy-like!)
Do you encourage others to be creative and artistic? Do you see yourself as someone who will represent photography as an art form, or is it all for fun with no "higher" moral goal? I always encourage others to be more creative. This society is a joke. Basically people are still close-minded, living their standard lives with
Lipstick Royalty’s Loriel Andre’a
Model: Anita K
Fashion Forward... In this month’s special, extra long Fashion Forward Loriel talks about her recent fashion show, and the design process for her brand new label, Toxic Couture...
Fashion has always been a big part of my life but over the last few years I have been very involved in designing for my clothing line Toxic Couture. I was just recently involved in a fashion show, which would make it the third fashion show I have designed a collection for. I have been going to college to get my degree in Fashion Design and Merchandising, and the class I had been looking forward to the most was the Collections class. This class was exciting because I finally was able to put all that I have learned over the semesters into making a collection for the college's fashion show put on by the fashion students. Unfortunately I have been going to college full time and have a lot of other classes that I have to work hard in - plus I definitely have a life outside of school that can get pretty stressful at times. Having a hectic schedule, it became a little overwhelming designing a collection and taking care of my other priorities all at once. I was not only in the Collections class where I would be designing my collection but I was also in the Promotions class that was putting on the fashion show, so I kind of got a heads up of what to expect from the show. I remember from day one there was drama in that class amongst the teacher and the students, due to a lot of big egos and so many ideas being tossed around. I knew this fashion show was going to get brutal - all in the name of FASHION! Most students pitched in and took part in something to get the fashion
Photo: Hocus Focus LA
show together. I took the responsibility of getting hair and makeup for the models since I have worked with many different makeup artists and hair stylists. My style is what most would call edgy, with a mix of rocker chic, yet also femininity. I am known for my use of bright colors and elaborate designs, and each collection that I create has many of these design elements incorporated into my designs. There’s a lot that a designer has to get done before the clothes can walk down the runway. I had to come up with a theme or design idea that I wanted to incorporate into my collection. I went about this by making a mood board with
different inspirations that I found from all over, then I sketched out my designs. Once I figured out what I was inspired by and had a better idea of what it was that I wanted to design, I had to go shopping for fabric and then I had to make my patterns. Once that was done I cut out the fabric from the patterns and sewed together the final garments. I added sequin, trims, and lace. I decided to call my collection "Toxic Future", which showcased my inspiration of all things futuristic. My collection resembled the futuristic world of the Jetsons with a touch of the femininity of Barbie. "Toxic Future" was all about constructed designs with lots of metallics along with vibrant neon colors and lots of bows, lace and architectural belts. Once my designs were close to being done I had to choose my models. There was a casting call for models but I only picked one girl out of a ton of girls that tried out. I am extremely picky when it comes to picking out models for my fashion shows because, being a model myself, I know what I am looking for, and I expect them to know what they are doing - plus coaching models is something I don’t have much time for (although I do occasionally coach models if I really like their look and they just need help on their walk). I already had a few models in mind, so I contacted them and fitted them into my garments - unfortunately a few models had to drop out last minute so I had to find replacements quickly. As the fashion show drew nearer I ended up with about seven different outfits. I chose accessories to go with my designs: I decided on studded bracelets and silver chains, and each outfit had a large bow for the model's hair. The most important part of pulling a collection together is choosing the music that best represents the whole mood I was going for in my designs. I wanted a song that was loud and edgy. I chose the song Ricochet by Shiny Toy Guns. I felt it was the perfect song to showcase my collection since it had a great beat for the models to walk to and a futuristic sound to it and, well, I just LOVE that song - the first time I heard it I just knew that I had to use it for my fashion
show. The night before the fashion show there was a dress rehearsal - I had to fit a few models last minute because I ended up having more garments then models so had to get some more at the last minute. Luckily the girls fit into my designs, but I still had a few more designs that I had to do before the fashion show the next day. There was a bit of drama that went on at the dress rehearsal between models (crying was involved), but when too many girls get together drama is bound to happen. Besides a little drama the dress rehearsal ran smoothly and everyone was anxious for the next day. The night before the fashion show I stayed up till about 5:30am finishing up designs and getting everything prepared. Unfortunately I got about one hour of sleep before I had to be at the fashion show by 7:00am to help set up everything and get my models ready with hair and makeup for the morning show. I was so exhausted and cranky that morning - I had people asking me if they could do interviews with me and take my picture, and I would be nice and say 'yes that’s fine' but really I wasn't quite awake and not in the mood for anything! BUT the day had to go on and I had to get my models' hair and makeup done. I brought in Paul Mitchell School to do hair and makeup for the show since I had a few friends that attended there. I also had a few of my personal MUAs and hair stylists come to the fashion show to help me out. Unfortunately there was way more hair stylists then makeup artists and since there were about 13+ designers that needed their models' hair and makeup done, I had to pitch in and do makeup. As if there wasn’t enough I had to take care of already, but I figured at least I could have things done my way. I did my models' makeup really bright and colorful… of course! The only problem with that is that earlier in the semester we had discussed hair and makeup and my teacher from my Fashion Promotion class wanted all the models to look alike - so all the models would have the same boring hair and makeup, at least that’s how I saw it. I just so happen to be one of those designers that has to have things my way and he was not
one bit happy about it since he wanted to be in charge of everything that went on. He made a few comments about how I needed to calm down the hair and makeup, but I wanted a Barbie Rocker look and that’s what was going down the runway if he liked it or not. Once all my models had their hair and makeup done they put on my designs. They looked fabulous, the whole look together was what I was going for so I was happy. All the designers lined up their models and the morning fashion show began. My models worked the runway and had a fun time showing off my collection. But the day had just begun; we still had the main night showing where there would be a very large audience. All the hair stylists, makeup artists, designers and fashion students got to take a little break before doing everything all over again. I and a few of my friends went out to Chipotle to get some lunch. I was hoping to go home and take a nap afterwards but we randomly decided to go to a tattoo shop and spent most of our time there. By the time I got back home I had to rush to get myself ready, time quickly passed and I was in my car driving back to the fashion show. Once I got back everything was really hectic. Models were missing and one of my models even got food poisoning! I was stressing out. Luckily my friend who showed up to do hair had the perfect measurements for my dress and had a great walk so I talked her into filling in for the missing model and I dropped one of my designs from the show so it ended up working out. But of course that was just the beginning of the madness. I remember sitting there doing makeup for a male model and my Fashion Promotion teacher came up to me and says he needed to talk to me (in his not so happy voice). I didn’t have time to talk, plus I was not in the mood to deal with any issues, so I went along with finishing up makeup. Then I was running around helping all the designers get ready and had to deal with a few other issues here and there. I felt like there wasn’t much time for me to take care of my priorities getting my models dressed and prepared to walk down the runway.
Some time passed and my teacher once again walked up to me and said “Seriously, I need to talk to you after the show!” He was definitely not in a good mood and it frustrated me - I had been working so hard and I put so much time and effort into helping everyone out, and instead of seeing all the good I was doing, he got mad because my models' hair and makeup was a bit too wild for his liking. Plus, if it wasn’t for me there would be no hair and makeup. It really bothered me and since I was running on no sleep I was basically exhausted and in a bad mood, so I got emotional and had a bit of a break down. My designer friends are amazing and they helped me pull myself together but it took a while before I could calm down. I typically don’t get emotional over anything but for some reason it just hit me. I had just been dealing with so much stress those last few months that I just hit the breaking point. Once that blew over I had to get my models dressed and ready to walk down the runway. A few of my models were modeling for different designers who were showcasing their collections before me, so I had to get them changed very fast into my designs thankfully I had a dresser to help me get my models ready. The designers' collections were going by very fast and we had to change my models at lightning speed since my collection was about to walk down the runway any minute. We were getting my last model ready when suddenly my runway song Ricochet came on and it was SHOWTIME! ! My model had to run to make it in time and she wasn’t even completely ready. I was really worried because I didn’t have time to check to make sure everything looked good at all before my models went out on the runway. At the end of my collection I walked out for the finale and everyone seemed pretty excited to see my designs so I felt good about it. It seems crazy to me how a designer works so hard on a collection for months at a time when it’s to showcase designs that are on the runway for just seconds, but it’s worth it when you hear that people love your designs. I was very proud of all the designers and my models; everyone pulled together well and overall I felt the show was a success even with all the drama and stress
we went through. One thing was for sure - we were all so excited for it to be finally over with. I received lots of compliments on my designs and the styling of my models. It made me happy to hear good feedback so that alone made it all worth it in the end. There was one more thing I had to face and that was my Fashion Promotion teacher who earlier was not so happy with me. Even though he told me he needed to talk to me after the show I decided to go my own way, so I helped clean up and left for home to get a well deserved night of beauty sleep. I knew that once I got back to school that next week I was in for some more drama. Then that Wednesday when I was back to school I heard that everyone got great feedback from the fashion show and it was nice to hear that the show looked good from the other side of the curtain. If only people knew the chaos that went on backstage. My first class ended and my Fashion Promotion class was about to start, I was dreading it. Once everyone arrived we discussed everything that went on at the fashion show. Most people had nice things to say but there of course are those people who only want to speak about negative things. Then the whole makeup and hair situation was brought up and my teacher just went off. Every word referred to me, about how it was messed up that we decided to change hair and makeup when it was supposed to all look the same, and since I was a designer in his class I should have known better BLAAA BLAAA BLAAA. I was about to stand up for myself but I knew at that point it was best to just back down since I had nothing nice to say - after all my semester grade was in his hands and I had to just keep it to myself, but it took everything inside me to not mouth off. Once the discussion was over with I was the first out the door and I was so glad for the semester to be over! All that really mattered to me was that the fashion show was a great success. As you can see, putting fashion shows together can be very stressful but at the same time its a learning experience
say I honestly learned a lot that I can take with me into planning my next fashion show. There will always be people that have big egos who want to create problems and step on your toes along the way, but you have to just go about doing what you love and stay dedicated to your work while respecting their views.
I love what I do as a designer, and even though fashion shows are crazy stressful they are a lot of fun at the same time and I enjoy being a part of them. I am planning out my next fashion show already and it’s going to be way fabulous!!! I’ll keep everyone updated. Add the Toxic Couture MySpace page to get updates about the latest news about the web page and fashion events. M Y S P A C E . C O M / TOXICCOUTURELOVESYOU
Thanks for reading,
XOLORIELXO
For an exclusive interview with Loriel with more about her line, as well as photos from the end of the runway at her show, download the Lipstick Royalty Magazine Online Shopping Guide 2009 from the archive on our brand new website, LIPSTICKROYALTY.COM!
ALEX&RA... Side tracking from our usual alternative theme we caught up with hot new designer ALEX&RA to talk about her line... Interview: Rachel Phipps Photos: ALEX&RA
When was ALEX&RA founded and why? ALEX&RA was founded in April of this year after many years of dreaming and planning! I had just moved back to San Francisco and felt like it was the perfect chance to finally start my line.
What did you do before ALEX&RA, and have you had any formal fashion education/ training? Before starting ALEX&RA I attended the University of California at Berkeley and earned degrees in Business Administration and Political Economy. After graduating I moved to Los Angeles where I got my first taste of the fashion industry, assisting in the production of Rebel Yell (a mid-range womenswear line). Working so closely with the designers, vendors, and contractors taught me a great deal about the industry and made me more confident to start my own line.
Where did the name come from? The name ALEX&RA is a mystery to most people, but I will let you in on the secret! It actually stands for my name, Alexandra (which makes my mother very happy!). If you
replace the "&" with "and", it spells my name exactly. I thought it was a clever name that expressed the identity of my line - making it a personal endeavor that is true to who I am. I like that it isn't an obvious name because it adds more mystery to my work.
What inspires your designs? I am endlessly inspired by the beautiful city of San Francisco. I find the neighbourhoods and architectural icons to be truly remarkable. It is such a great mix of culture and identity. I can be inspired by a large office building, the towering Golden Gate Bridge, a park down the street, a house around the corner... it is endless.
You're a California girl born and bred. Do you think that has some influence over your designs? I definitely think that my designs are strongly influenced by my upbringing in California. My aesthetic is happy, free, and non-conforming. My designs are suitable for a variety of different environments - the beaches of San Diego, the restaurants of Hollywood, the office in San Francisco, and the estates of Marin. I think the diversity of California has taught me to make my line versatile. The modern woman is on the go, and I've formed my line to follow her wherever she goes!
What is your favourite piece in the store at the moment? My favourite piece at the moment is the Black Pencil Dress with Ruffles. It is a fantastic fit with delicate ruffles at the shoulders and makes me feel so beautiful when I wear it. Black is always a flattering colour and the
length of dress makes me seem taller because of its lean silhouette and deep V-neck. It's important to look great when you go out, but this dress does it in a very subtle way. It's for the girl who wants to feel pretty but not look like she's trying too hard.
Who makes your designs and where? I make every piece in the line by hand in my apartment in San Francisco. It allows me to give the perfect fit to each customer and add the personal touch that I think most businesses are lacking. I design each piece and then make a sample that fits me first. This is what you see when you view my line in my shop. When customers order their own piece, I take their measurements and make a new skirt or dress just for them. I find my customers appreciate the special attention they get from me and feel more comfortable buying my designs.
Tell us about your low environmental impact fabrics... One thing that I learned from my experience in the fashion industry is that there is a lot of waste that gets overlooked. It is one thing to use organic fabrics, but what I do is two-fold. Living in this wonderful city gives me access to environmentally conscious fabric stores. The fabric I buy is acquired by clothing companies that end up with leftover fabric after production or fabric that they simple have no use for anymore. Instead of letting those fabrics go to waste, I turn them into beautiful clothes that you will never see again. After all, when the fabric runs out, that's the end of it! I emphasize originality in this line because in this world of carbon-copy fashion, a unique item is rare. I want my customers to stand out from the crowd!
What has been the most memorable moment of running ALEX&RA so far?
The most memorable moment of running ALEX&RA so far was that first moment when I decided to fully commit to starting the line. I have been talking about this for a long time and so it felt great to finally take my first step. It wasn't an easy decision. I heard a lot of people telling me to wait until the economy improved or consumer confidence increased, but I realized that I couldn't be happy unless I went forward with it. I feel very strongly that this is my chance, my time to succeed. I never forget that feeling because it was a moment that my life truly changed.
How did it feel, making your first sale? My first sale felt amazing! I actually received my first three sales all in the same day! It was incredible knowing that people who I had never met, who had never heard of me, who had never seen my line before, saw my designs and loved them so much that they just immediately decided to buy them. It was a huge compliment. In this world of skepticism and distrust, I was so flattered to see them purchasing! My first customers mean the world to me. They encouraged me so much and proved to me that I made the right decision.
Are there any models, photographers or make-up artists you'd love to work with? At this point, everything I do is in-house. My good friend does all my photography and I do all the modeling. It has given me a great chance to be hands-on with the brand and guide it through its development. I haven't thought about working with other people yet but definitely see that down the line. I love to hear other people's perspectives and learn from their experiences. It would be an honor to work with other artists!
What's next for ALEX&RA?
Now that my online shop has launched, I am now looking to take my line to boutiques. There are number of incredible stores in San Francisco that I am looking into working with and hope to work with them to bring more attention to the San Francisco fashion industry.
And finally, where do you see yourself in five years time? In five years time, I hope that ALEX&RA will have established itself as an up-and-coming brand out of San Francisco. I would like to see the line sold in high-end boutiques and department stores - in the US and worldwide! I would like to have a team of people to work with that will be able to learn and contribute their own ideas and talents to the line. I want to do this forever!
Check out Alexandra’s designs at WWW.ALEXANDRACIPPARONE.COM
Fancy Nancy... By Amy Claire Thompson
I have to confess to being a bit of a foodie. I know that it’s a terrible thing for a Fashion Editor to admit to, but Lipstick Royalty magazine is all about breaking the mould, and proving stereotypes wrong, so there it is. I admit it. I love food. Specifically, cake. So, when I came across Fancy Nancy’s boutique in
Juliet and Nancy outside their shop
Leigh-on-Sea, UK, I couldn’t resist the urge to beg for an interview. Recently, then, I was lucky enough to be able to speak to Juliet Sear, of Fancy Nancy, the most exciting boutique I have ever seen. When the word “boutique” pops into your head, I’m sure that most people think of clothes and haute-couture… but it is possible to make other items fantastically beautiful, and fashionable – and this is what Juliet and her Essex-based team have done to cakes. “After many years making cakes from home and supplying local cafes with patisserie cakes and celebration cakes, I eventually started work at a top UK cake company in London where for 18 months I leant all about making high end ‘couture cakes’ as they are now known! Once I felt that I was ready to start my own business, basically Fancy Nancy was born after lots of brainstorming with family and friends (it’s named after my sister who is now my partner in cake crime at our new Leigh-onSea boutique)”, Juliet told me.
If their cakes themselves weren’t enough to pull you in (they were for me; I spent a full fifteen minutes gawping in the window before I was (unwillingly) wrenched away…), the shop itself is beautifully designed and fascinatingly unique: “For our boutique we wanted an old school tea room vibe with lots of vintage china, handmade
‘upcycled’ furnishings that we have restored ourselves and almost a French patisserie feel too, like from the famous ‘Chocolat’ movie!” It is truly gorgeous; the wall-paper itself is artwork, and the wooden-framed, glass-panelled cabinets holding examples of their cakes are reminiscent of Grandparents’ houses. I kind of wanted to curl up on the chaise-longue in the corner and stay there forever more, I have to admit! The smells alone were enough to make me stay: “Our cakes are almost 100% organic and all our sponges are hand baked on site, we don’t outsource the baking to another company for our sponges, cookies or cupcakes etc. It really helps us actually as our customers are often lured in by the smell of chocolate cakes etc baking…..they can smell them from right down the street apparently!” There is no “apparently” about it; the smells and sights of Fancy Nancy are genuinely alluring. And, as I speak to Juliet, it becomes more and more apparent that the term “couture cakes” is
not by chance, either: “My inspirations,” Juliet tells me, “include lots of fashion, bridal dress designers, of course. I adore Jenny Packham, Vivienne Westwood, Candy Antony… Oh, loads of fabulous designers… flowers are also brilliantly inspiring, for the wedding cakes.” The most eye-catching design that they offer is their “unique button cake, inspired by a Jenny Packham beads and buttons dress” – this was the first thing to catch my eye when I walked down the sleepy main-street of Leigh; it was just so stunningly unconventional, and beautiful, simultaneously: a three-tiered wedding-style cake, coated entirely in black icing, with lots and lots of tiny little white icing “buttons”, and bows around the middle of each tier. It was truly breath-taking. They don’t only cater for weddings either, have no fear! “We do branded cookies and cakes for businesses to send out as gifts, and stuff for launch parties. We supported this year's Fashion Targets Breast Cancer launch party and made lots
and lots of little logo and button and bow monochrome cupcakes for their fashion show event at The Hospital. It was FAB!” But… how can you eat such beauty? And… more to the point, how can you get your hands on it? Well, at the moment, Fancy Nancy are only selling in their shop, on the High Street in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, however “hopefully our online store will be up and running soon, but there are a couple of exciting things in the pipeline re a range of cakes and cookies in other stores. We will post all the latest news on our blog, at www.fancynancy.info”. These cakes aren’t cheap; they will set you back £395 as a base rate, however that’s, I’m told, around par for a three tier wedding cake, and they are genuinely beautiful. Besides, when a business describe themselves as “busy, sugary, creative, scary, and exciting”, and base their cakes on the work of Vivienne Westwood, they surely have to be worth it.
The Review... Each month in her brand new column, Rihan Williams will address the issues facing the modern girl...
Infidelity is said to be one of the primary reasons that people break up, so are we going against nature expecting monogamy or is the lure of forbidden fruit too much of a thrill? “Oh no, don’t worry - I didn’t text him, just got his number,” she said. “I just like to feel like I can if I could, you know?” she questioned. Well no, I wasn’t sure what she meant but nodded and felt a bit miffed about the whole situation. After all, I’m sure that most women, having found out that their boyfriend was happily collecting phone numbers on a night out would happily boil his balls for such an offence. So where exactly does the cheating boundary lie? Is it checking out someone else in the street, starting a conversation with them, getting their number, looking at porn, or even adding someone you like the look of on Facebook? Thanks to the internet we now face the ease of unlimited porn, social networking sites and abundant dating web pages, even websites such as Adult Friend Finder, which does exactly what it says on the tin. This networking site claims to have over 20 million members and is said to be one of the top 60 most viewed web pages out there, and call me a cynic but it’s unlikely these 20 million people are all single. The web page gives you the option of meeting up or e-mailing other people you like the look of, specifically for those who want to indulge in some ‘how’s your father’… So, does the boundary start at joining this webpage, browsing or actually contacting people? For some you don’t
become unfaithful until you meet up with someone as a consequence. The line seems to be very hazy as soon as technology is involved. The equation of two people in one bed isn’t as clear cut when one is a machine, then the line becomes hazy. Over several bottles of wine, friends and I discussed the merits of what is considered cheating on the internet; “So, sex lines are okay as long as it’s a pre-recorded robot and not a person on the other end?” I ask, and get a resounding yes. The same goes for pornography; it wasn't considered cheating because of the lack of human interaction. If you’re watching a stranger with 32Es in LA, or listening to a robot called Luscious Linda with her glistening bed sheets, it's excusable. The key is accessibility: the more accessible they are, the less acceptable - why we can fancy Brad Pitt and why is it okay for them to fancy Angelina?
There seems to be a difference between emotional and sexual relationships. People have strong opinions about their boyfriend/ girlfriend and what they would do if they kissed or had sex with another person, but what would they do if they found out their partner had a crush, or was falling in love with someone else? For me, an emotional attachment is much more hurtful, but for lots of people it seems they’d rather their partner had feelings for someone else that they didn’t act on than have a holiday romp. Emotional relationships are the ones which are notoriously hard to judge; these tend to be the ones that go easily undiscovered - after all they’re not a picture on a computer screen or an encounter you either have to cover up or confess to. If your boyfriend’s business trips, weekend benders and private laptop are getting you suspicious, how far is it acceptable to go to find out if a partner is cheating? I know many couples who regularly check each other's phones, know passwords to every e-mail account they have, and some wouldn’t allow their partners to have friends of the opposite sex. This begs the question that, if you’re suspicious of your partner, how you find out if they are being unfaithful? You only have to search the subject of cheating on the interweb and there are so many pages discussing stories and preaching opinions about what is right and wrong and more significantly how to deal with it. More worryingly though, there are lots of web pages dedicated to surveillance equipment made to catch a cheating partner, especially Americanised downloads teaching you how hack e-mail accounts, undelete deleted text messages and put a tracker on your partners phone; excessive bordering on obsessive. Worryingly for the real world of dating, a webpage called Second Life has been reported to be taking over people's real relationships. Second Life is a webpage which allows members, for free, to create an avatar and live out an alternative life amongst the online c o m m u n i t y. O f t e n t h e a v a t a r s a r e
how people would like to look; they can be anything they like; skinnier, prettier, and funnier online. These avatars can have sexual relationships too, and the possibility of love is advertised before you even sign up. It seems the intent behind the actions is the element indicating if you’re cheating: an innocent chat in a pub is one thing, but online love is a very different one to deal with. Online companies, magazine articles (ahem) and talk show programmes are all cashing in on infidelity and our emotional muck-ups. It seems nowadays some of us would be happy to have our own lie detectors and leashes on our partners! Who knows, there must be a company out there catering for it. My advice, if you can’t resist mattress dancing, flirting or the thrill of the chase; stay young, free and single!
Next Month In Lipstick Royalty... Lime Crime Make Up | Lena Mar | Nat Von Photo | Hillywood | Tattoo Art | Fashion Forward
Gala Darling...
Interview by Catharine Banks
Firstly, who is Gala Darling? Please tell us a little bit about yourself! I'm a girl who loves to write, dress up, and make a scene... !
When/why did you first start blogging? I started iCiNG in December of 2006, but have been blogging since before it was called that. I have been keeping an online journal of one kind or another since 1997.
people to think or take action. The best thing is that I get to choose the direction of the site, so really anything that matches my mood for the day is what I most like to feature!
What inspires you to write? Everything. I am constantly writing! Even if not for a website, I'm writing email, Post It notes, text messages, letters, postcards, plans... It's hard for me to stop, it is essential for me, part of who I am.
What do you aim to do through blogging?
What kind of things do you most like to feature on the blog?
I really just love to inspire and express myself! There is no main goal.
Anything unusual or beautiful that inspires
What made you decide to pursue a career
vehicle, for the moment. Have you always been this passionate about fashion? Ever since I became aware of it, I suppose, which happened when I was about 13. Before that I just wore what my mother told me, BUT we did love to go shopping and make it into a real adventure. So I guess I have always loved fashion, but only started to think about my personal style when I became a teenager. I had to wear a school uniform so it developed in hyperdrive on the weekends! What do you like to do besides blogging and the things associated with that? I like to spend time with my boyfriend, known to my readers as "The Dish" (haha)... I love to read, shop, eat great meals, walk around, explore, travel, dance, sing, get dressed up, take photographs and spend time with my friends!
through blogging rather than a more 'mainstream' option? Do you have another job(s) besides blogging?
I always wanted to be a writer but was told at a young age that writers never make any money, miserable existence, etc. So it really put me off and I shoved those thoughts to the back of my mind. But then I saw people making money off their blogs, and I realised it was silly not to do something just based on someone else's opinion - that I should try it for myself. So I did and it has turned out very well for me. As for other jobs, it really depends on where you draw the line. A lot of the other work I do - speaking at conferences or MC'ing events - has come from my blog and my adventures in personal branding. It really all comes from the one place, though I consider myself a writer - the blog is just the
Where do you see the site going? Do you want to expand, are you launching any new features, etc? iCiNG's new design went live recently! It was a collaborative effort with my friends Nubby (nubbytwiglet.com) and Star (thisisstar.com), and I am so excited to have a new look for my site. I also launched Love Letter To The Universe (http://lovelettertotheuniverse.com) a little while ago, it's my return to personal blogging after a long hiatus. It's just strange because thousands of people read it already and I only started telling people about it a couple of weeks ago. I also just started working as the Fashion Curator (another way of saying Fashion Editor) for ChinaShop, a magazine launched by RedBull. And I'm writing a book too, a handbook to life really... I write a chapter (10,000 words) every month. Lots of fun, but I am very very busy! We can’t wait to read it! Finally, is there anything else you'd like to tell LR readers? Always do what makes you blissful, never
listen to people who tell you you can't do something, don't be afraid to love and... wear sparkles every day!
You can find more about Gala and read her iCiNG blog at GALADARLING.COM!
Best Of The British... by Amy Claire Thompson and Rachel Phipps
For twenty years, Clothes Show Live has been showcasing the very best of British design for the nation to ogle in awe; it began in London, and now it has returned, with style, in a threeday show billed as “Fashion’s Return to the Capital” in a city, unsurprisingly, voted Britain’s most fashionable city. We have both watched several "normal”
catwalk shows at colleges, on television and at Fashion Week, and we have both also watched many, many dance shows: the two were beautifully fused together in London this May as an absolutely stunning show, presented and hosted by Erin O’Connor and George Lamb.
We were lucky enough to be in the audience of the UK Beauty Awards, sponsored by handbag.com and presenting awards for the very best beauty products on the market at the moment. The most outstanding winners of the day were Calvin Klein “Eternity”, winner of best fragrance (a cheer goes up from Editor Rachel’s seat, she lives in “Eternity” and “Eternity Moment” perfumes) and Aussie Frizz Miracle Conditioner, winner of best hair-care product (a cheer goes up from Fashion Editor Amy’s seat as well as from the seats of a thousand other frizzyhaired women in the theatre.) There were also awards for Kylie Minogue (best celebrity fragrance) and YSL Touche Eclat (beauty product of the year, big surprise there), and L’Occitane (best new skincare product of the year).
predictable, but the prints for the girls’ bikinis and swimsuits were startlingly different; bright reds and navy blues with polka-dot patterns. This truly was a best-of-British themed show; British colours with prints and cuts from Britain’s golden era. The whole show was centred around a trip to the great British seaside complete with music, backdrop, sunbathing models and a vintage style swimwear beauty pageant! What followed only served to reinforce this image; the same colours recurred in dress styles and the prints for these were even more eyecatching; union jacks adorned just about everything, from tights to skirts to socks and blouses. There were ra-ra style fifties skirts and union jack parasols, and dresses with sweet-heart necklines in blue and red. The way it was performed was incredible. The next section was very Eighties! Bright colours, wild designs, and big jewellery. There was a prom-dress section, too, to ease the pain of all the girls in the audience who were still The show itself was a wonderful fusion of contemporary and traditional dance, and the clothes that we can expect to see people wearing - well, now; fashionista heaven on a stage. It kicked off with ballerinas on pointe: looks like tutus are in this summer, then! The choreography was stunning, and the stylists deserve medals; we were seriously impressed by the opening – even once the ballerinas had swept down the runway, models, also delicately dancing and swaying, glided onstage in beautiful, flowing, white-as-snow dresses. Purity, elegance, angelic beauty and poise: wonderful. This was in stark contrast to what was to come next; Katie Price’s (a.k.a. Jordan) catwalk debut. Dressed in her new range, KP Equestrian, Price sauntered on stage; a bit gaudy in contrast, but the crowd loved it. The show focused on spectacular summer styles; beginning with swim wear for both males and females. The guys’ stuff was kind of
struggling to find their dream dress; and this section was evidently very much inspired by the ball gowns of the waltzes on Strictly Come Dancing or the couture shows on the runways in Paris; stunning, flowing, floating, and sequinned, they were glamour personified. Tiaras at the ready… The climax of the show was a fake Miss Beach contest. Miss London won. (Yes. You guessed it. Katie Price.) Bizarrely for a runway show however, all of the models were dressed in more or less exactly the same white bikinis, which is probably what has lead many critics to claim that Clothes Show Live is now the fashion show of the masses – giving people a show that they will enjoy, but which is not necessarily representative of the styles of the moment. After the performance in the Fashion Theatre we hit up the show itself. There were too many cool designers and stands at the show to count but most notably we checked out Benefit Cosmetics, Too Busy To B Beautiful, Eyeko Beauty, Darimeya, Lazy Oaf, Rock ‘N’ Needle, and Limb Clothing. These guys really stood out. We dropped in at Brighton alternative fashion store Red Mutha and spoke to the owner Red about her experiences at the Clothes Show. Red’s been showing here at for over nine years, and said “it's really good for us to find new customers: they’re really up for it and they want something different from usual. A lot of people who come here from Manchester and stuff just want something different from their mates, so we’re exactly why they’re here!” We also asked her about what it was like, trying to run a business and if it was an inconvenience to be in a niche instead of catering to mainstream fashion tastes. “It's probably easier in some ways because you’ve just got your niche and it’s not for the high street and people who buy all that; that’s a different customer to mine. You know, people who are buying mine are here because they want something different and they want it knowing no
performance from Vice were quite something as well!
The show is a great day out for anyone into fashion with makeup demonstrations, great show prices, and as we could notice by the amount of tweens/teens all dolled up, the model scouts are out and about too!
Images c/o Idea Generation and Clothes Show London one else is going to have it.” We certainly spied masses of girls sporting the customised cassette tape necklaces Red was selling round the show!
Clothes Show did indeed have more “alternative” labels showing than we’d expected. There were some pretty sweet pin up and rockabilly dresses and overcoats over at Limb Clothing, where we also met the uber nice pin up, fetish and fashion model Aisling Grace as well as the beautiful corsets that were being displayed over at Corset Art by Romantic Images. Also there were lots of great people who weren't showing this year at the show; we bumped into Kate from Gobbolino, whom we mentioned in Lipstick Royalty sometime last year (and we’re going to be interviewing her in the coming months so watch out!). The style stage with expert advice throughout the day and the Fashion Beach exhibiting the latest swimwear from figleaves.com and featuring a guest
Ask Amy... Our Fashion Editor, Amy Claire Thompson answers all of your Fashion faux pas in her exclusive monthly column only in Lipstick Royalty Magazine! Got a question? Drop Amy an email at amy.lipstickroyalty@live.com - and make sure you give her your name!
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▪ Fashion seems to be the focus of almost every TV show and film coming out at the moment – which ones are accurate, and which do you recommend? Anonymous Big question, this one. If I say the wrong thing, I fear for my life. Therefore, I intend to cover all ground… ▪
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Bruno. Let’s not even go there. Mostly because I’m too young to be allowed in, but also because… well… I hear that he sabotaged Paris Fashion Week by throwing tampons onto the runways. Just… no. Also, highly inaccurate. I am awaiting Coco Before Chanel with high anticipation. Unlike most of the rest of the world, I happen to think that Audrey Tatou is a very good actress, and having read three thousand reviews of it, I’m sure it will be brilliant! It’s based on the true story of Chanel’s struggle to become who she eventually became, and the trailers make it look absolutely breath-taking. Well, I think that it is safe to say that Ugly Betty is very much unrealistic – however it is brilliantly funny, and I do so love it – mostly because I kind of see myself as a slightly less goofy version of Betty… Which is weird, and I can’t believe that I’m actually admitting this…
I abhor Britain’s/America’s Next Top Model – those shows are the epitome of everything Lipstick Royalty Magazine is against – the elitism, the thin people, the “beauty-above-all” and “cheek-bones-areessential” and “size-zero-only” attitudes actually make me feel a little bit sick. And although The Devil Wears Prada is old, I would still recommend it to just about everyone. The shoes, the shoes… It is also, apparently, on the money in the realism stakes – Meryl Streep’s character may not actually be called Anna Wintour, but she essentially is – and from what I’ve heard and seen about The September Issue, which tracks a year in the life of Ms Wintour in the form of a shiny shiny documentary-movie, Streep has Wintour down to a tee.
Image: ABC America
Credits/ With Thanks To... Editor In Chief - Rachel Phipps Fashion Editor - Amy Claire Thompson Music Editor - Catharine Banks Arts Editor - Lauren Merrall Fashion Forward Columnist - Loriel Andre’a The Review Columnist - Rhian Williams Head of PR - Eileen Ozegbe Beta Reader - Callie Johns
With Special Thanks To: Jenny Mak, Ashley Rieflin, Amor Hilton, Eva Woodby, Jon Sollee, Sylvo, SCrude Photography, Olivia, Marialia Pacitto, Anita K, Yasmine Taherbeigi, Robert, Kendra, Claude Pena, Illumination Forge, D’Vil Monroe, Lisa G, Jordan Christine, Nathan Machain, Lux Electracutee, Michelle Kim, Magda Knight, Simon Hunter, The Sultry One, Chystal-Reve Llamas, Arra, Jacquelyne Marie, The Vintage Doctor, Alexandra Cipparone, Juliet, Nancy, Doe Deere, Debbi Rotkowitz, Gasoline Glamour, Melissa Woodbury, Gala Darling, Idea Generation, Clothes Show London, Red Mutha, Womble and the Inspiration.