R IGHT H E RE , R IGHT N O W!
ISSUE 57 • FREE
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OPEN LATE DUE TO CHRISTMAS MAGIC See bullring.co.uk for more details
See the full cover shoot on page 60
See our top interior picks on page 112
Say Hello W
Our Picks Guerlain Shalimar Souffle de parfum 50ml, £74, Selfridges
Kupla Tall pink vase, £32, Oliver Bonas Marc Jacobs Beauty Leopard frost eye-conic eyeshadow palette, £39, Harvey Nichols
Zara Leather ankle boots, £69.99
Editor-in-Chief Andrew Riley andrew@stylebham.com Creative Director Mike Raven mike@stylebham.com Account Executive Jade Woodhouse jade@stylebham.com Designer Simon Konaszczuk simon@rileyraven.co.uk
Go back to the 80s on page 22
elcome to a brand new issue of Style Birmingham, where you’ll find the very best in fashion, beauty and lifestyle across the city. With party season fast approaching, we’re giving you the lowdown on the latest catwalk trends and the best ways to shop them right on your doorstep. In beauty news, we’ll be rounding up the best men’s moisturisers to keep you hydrated from morning until evening, and we also see what the fuss is about when it comes to HydraFacials. We also got the chance to sit down with Calum Best, who talks everything from healing crystals to GQ parties, as he chooses his favourite pieces from Bullring & Grand Central to ease him into the winter season. On page 54, we meet the young people fighting for a better future, and turn to page 74 to find out why we’re ditching mobile phones at live concerts. And if you’re updating you home, check out page 112, where we take a look at the iconic interiors pieces you should invest in for winter, from armchairs to side tables. There’s also plenty more for you to feast your eyes on, so enjoy!
Special thanks to: Chloe Perkins, Philip Ellis, Kirsty Bosley, Hollie Fox, Victoria Brown, Lisa Piddington, Calum Best, Chris and Emily at Harris Gibbs Hair, Ashleigh Hope, Jenna, Joe and Emma at Leni’s, Chrissie Trattos, Ludwika, Adrianne, Farhanah and Tijana at Bookings, Nancy Mae, Sophie Lloyd, Will Ashworth, Pippa Lawton, Maizie Hendrie
Style Birmingham is created by RileyRaven 21b Victoria Works, Graham Street, Birmingham, B1 3JR rileyraven.co.uk hello@rileyraven.co.uk 0121 769 2808
All information is correct at the time of going to press. Please note that prices for items are subject to change so may vary from those mentioned, contact individual stores for definitive pricing information. No part of this magazine may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, without prior permission. We make every effort to ensure that firms and organisations mentioned are reputable, however, we can give no guarantee that they will fulfil their obligations in all circumstances. Contributors’ opinions do not necessarily reflect those of the editor or of Style Birmingham Ltd. Any material submitted is done so at the owner’s risk, and the company can take no responsibility for the safe storage or return of such material.
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Contents FASHION 010 THE HOT LIST The pick-me-ups you need this winter 012 TREND UPDATE Make your wardrobe pop this party season 016 THE NEW BLACK Why brown is the most sought-after shade this winter 018 THE DRESS OF THE SEASON Comfy, casual and stylish - the midi dress is here to stay
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020 HOW TO WEAR: THE BLAZER The unsung fashion hero of AW18 022 ACCEPTABLE IN THE 80S Retro pieces with a modern twist at Harvey Nichols Birmingham 034 THE NEW CALUM We sat down for a chat with Calum Best, who chose his favourite pieces from Bullring & Grand Central Birmingham 044 OFF-DUTY ESSENTIALS Get playful with your layering at Next Bullring 060 SO EXTRA Don’t blend in, stand out from the crowd with Selfridges Birmingham 078 LAYER UP Take a look at our seasonal favourites from Harvey Nichols Birmingham
BEAUTY & GROOMING 087 BITESIZE BEAUTY The little bits we’re keeping in our handbags 088 HEAD SHOT Harris Gibbs Hair give us some major hairstyle inspo 094 THE SKINCARE TREATMENT EVERYONE’S TALKING ABOUT Are HydraFacials worth the hype? 097 FEED YOUR FACE The best men’s moisturisers on the market
FEATURES 033 WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT… Is your phone making you unhappy? 040 INDEPENDENT STATE OF MIND This is what it’s really like to run a Birmingham independent
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054 MEET THE ‘ENTITLED’ YOUNG PEOPLE These millennials want change, and here’s why 058 THE POWER OF PROTEST How the female voice has evolved over the past 100 years 074 LIFE’S PRECIOUS MOMENTS Why are we obsessed with reliving moments that have already happened? 098 A NEW TYPE OF LEADING MAN It’s time to redefine masculinity 102 THE PLACE TO BE You need to visit these Harborne hotspots 104 ESCAPE TO THE SLOPES Travel to these ski destinations straight from Birmingham Airport 107 MIND THE GENERATION GAP The road to adulthood has never been an easy one, and here’s why
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112 FOR THE HOME Refresh your living space with these top interior picks 120 GOIN’ UP, GOIN’ DOWN Everything we’re loving and loathing right now 9
Hotlist
90S VIBES
Reimagine old school 90s-era Adidas with the recent release, Yung-1, complete with a chunky sole, padded tongue and on-trend design with a retro twist. Adidas Yung-1 Trainers, £100, Size?
CONCEAL IMPERFECTIONS
Packed with 31% pure pigment and skincare actives, this not only covers and conceals but also hydrates and soothes the skin. The creamy formula is enriched with long-wearing polymers to give you waterresistant, transfer-free coverage, that’s suitable for all skin types. Huda Beauty The overachiever concealer £23, Selfridges
THE HOT LIST
These little pick-me-ups might be just what you need this winter
CLASSIC KHAKI
A classic knitted crew neck is a wardrobe essential which will transition you into your winter wardrobe. Wear this khaki number formally with trousers and a shirt, or dressed down with trainers and jeans - a men’s staple for any occasion. Arket Men’s khaki jumper, £79
BOLD AND BRITISH
H&M has collaborated with iconic interiors brand Morris & Co to bring a collection inspired by British heritage prints, perfect for your A/W wardrobe. Layer this maxi with a chunky knit, teddy coat and trainers to keep it casual but cosy for the cold weather. Morris & Co x H&M Floral dress, £34.99
TOUCH OF METALLIC
Keep your coins safe in one place and add a dash of metallic to your handbag with this fabulous orange pouch, perfect for party season! Oliver Bonas Orange metallic pouch, £16
THE FEMALE GAZE
A collection of essays curated by writer and activist Scarlett Curtis - all by women, for women about what the F word means to them. This is an honest and refreshing book celebrating what it means to be female with incredible pieces from the likes of Emma Watson, Zoe Sugg and Bridget Jones. Feminists Don’t Wear Pink £12.99, Waterstones 10
TIE IT BACK
Tie around your ponytail, across your forehead or on the neck to add some playful layering to a winter coat or jumper. New Look Leopard scarf £7.99
STATEMENT SHEEPSKIN For ultimate home comfort, sink your feet into a super soft rug. In a beautiful teal shade, it’s the perfect addition if you want to inject some colour into your living space. MADE.COM Helgar sheepskin, £59, Mailbox
SKIN DRINK
Put moisture back into the skin by including this ultra-rich Pixi cream in your skincare routine. The rose extract will help to reduce redness, whilst ceramide deeply moisturises and strengthens the skin’s natural barriers. Pixi Rose ceramide cream, £24, Harvey Nichols
INTERIOR LUXE
If you’re looking to refresh your home without making huge changes, small touches can make all the difference. We love this bold artistic home accessory by One Nine Five Eight, designed in a distinct paint brush stroke design. Heal’s Velvet dash cushion, £85, Mailbox
QUICK TIPPLE
CLASSIC GUCCI
Who said G&T was just for summer? Hendrick’s has taken a classic drink and added a modern twist with quinine, wormwood and blue lotus blossom to bring you a pleasantly bitter tipple. Hendrick’s Orbium gin, £47, Harvey Nichols
Upgrade your off-duty weekend look and travel in style with this small Gucci backpack with drawstring fastening to make your life that little bit easier when you’re on the go. Gucci Small logo-print leather backpack, £1,160, Harvey Nichols
CLOSE SHAVE
CHECKMATE
Add a whole new dimension to your formal look with this men’s houndstooth wool-blend coat. Pair with a rollneck or cable-knit jumper underneath to stay warm whilst looking good. Sandro Houndstooth-patterned woolbend coat, £529, Selfridges
Made with sandalwood and neroli blossom, this soothing serum will calm even the most sensitive skin after shaving to leave you with a soft, fresh-smelling face. Aesop Moroccan neroli shaving serum, £39, Liquor Store
SINK IN
Minimalist and modern, the Monte chair from BoConcept is a timeless addition to any home that will never go out of style. BoConcept, Monte chair, £1,888, Mailbox 11
Trends
Edrem JW Anderson
Edrem Mulberry
Think garish florals, exaggerated ruffles and statement sleeves the bigger the print, the better. Ditch the darker hues and break the rules in standout shades of mustard yellow, fuchsia pink and cobalt blue. This season, there’s nothing more stylish than a printed maxi paired with some heeled leather ankle boots, a bright crossbody bag and a tailored coat.
Edrem Temperley London
Mulberry
Temperley London
TREND UPDATE
Temperley London
When it comes to party season, we’ve got you covered 12
MAXI PRINTS
Ralph & Russo
Sies Marjan
Sies Marjan
Ralph & Russo
Ralph & Russo
WHATEVER THE PLEATHER
From tacky trench coats to pastel bags, PVC quite literally had its time to shine across AW18 catwalks. It may seem daunting, but that shouldn’t stop you from experimenting with new shapes, styles and colours. And if you’re not willing to sport shiny trousers anytime soon, clear accessories are an easy way to embrace the high-fashion trend without going OTT. 13
Trends
SATIN ALEXACHUNG
Provocative, glamorous but always elegant, satin is the perfect companion to any evening look. Keep it minimal in a black slip dress, barely-there heels and delicate accessories, go all out in a show-stopping two-piece or team with jeans and mules for a more casual feel. However you choose to wear it, this luxurious material should be a key feature of your party wardrobe.
Sies Marjan ALEXACHUNG JW Anderson
ALEXACHUNG
Sies Marjan
Sies Marjan
Mulberry
Sies Marjan
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THE CLASSICS. Reinvented by Tommy Hilfiger
TOMMY.COM
Shopping Topshop Super soft curve hem roll neck jumper, £36
MUST HAVE! H&M Leather skirt, £149.99
Zara Trousers with side stripe, £39.99
Whether you’re tapping into the trend with a tan leather bag or keeping it classic in a tailored camel coat, there are endless ways to master the colour brown this season. Easily accessible on the high street if you’re on a tighter budget, this unisex 70s-inspired shade can be combined with similarly neutral hues and pops of white for a luxurious vibe.
THE NEW
Michael Kors Whitney large acorn leather shoulder bag, £295, Daniel Footwear, Mailbox
New Look Camel piped pocket pyjama-style shirt, £19.99
Topshop Velvet scrunchie, £5
Mango Chunkyknit jumper, £39.99 New Look Camel ring zip flared heel ankle boots, £29.99 Topshop Madrid high ankle boots, £79
Ace and Tate Donna sunglasses, £98, Arket
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Zara Tan leather backpack, £129
India Hartford Davis
Topman Camel men’s oversized overcoat, £85
BLACK
Vans Anaheim factory classic 98 dx shoes, £68
Burrows and Hare Socks, £16, Mailbox
BACK TO BASICS
Fossil Explorist Gen 4 smartwatch, £249
Levi’s New duncan belt dark brown, £35
Sandro Striped men’s wool-and-cashmere blend jumper, £239, Selfridges
Reiss crew neck, £30
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Shopping From left: Kitri Liana floral-print crepe de chine wrap dress, £145,Selfridges; Warehouse Honey stripe dress, £56; Rixo Katie leopard-print silk-crepe dress, £295, Selfridges; Karen Millen Sequin print dress, £350; Gestuz Sille floral-print wrap dress, £225, Harvey Nichols; Alice + Olivia Abigail devoré silk-blend wrap dress, £505, Harvey Nichols; Whistles Gabrielle floral-print silk-satin wrap dress, £329, Selfridges
THE D RE
AS SEEN O N PAGE 30
SS O E TH
SEASON
18
F
If you’re on the hunt for an outfit that will transition you from morning into evening with ease, look no further than a statement midi dress, as seen on Mulberry, Erdem and Temperley London catwalks. Where comfort meets style, this flattering dress shape can be worn for just about any occasion, paired with white trainers if you’re dressing down or for a more formal look, simply add a heel.
New Look Brown resin earrings, £4.99
PRETTY UGLY
Valentino Garavani Vounce trainers, £655, Harvey Nichols
It’s time to face it, selfconfessed ugly footwear isn’t going anywhere any time soon. From Balenciaga sock trainers to chunky-sole Valentinos, ‘dad’ trainers have remained a key fashion feature for AW18.
Zara Multihoop earrings, £9.99
Balenciaga Speed red stretch-knit trainers, £495, Harvey Nichols
Oasis Resin oval earrings, £10
SPORTS LUXE FEEL
Stella McCartney Eclypse trainers, £455, Selfridges
THE ADDED TOUCH
They may be small, but the right earrings can pack a punch. Take your look to the next level with a pair of statement tortoiseshell earrings - they’re on trend, affordable and ideal for everyday wear.
Nike M2k Tekno trainers, £89.99, Office
Topshop Demi croc shoulder bag, £25
The Kooples Maxi blueberry crocodile emily bag, £478, Selfridges
Believe it or not, a small bag can take your look from plain to chic in a matter of seconds. Keep everything safe in one place with a bold croc bag, your new go-to accessory and one of our favourite seasonal staples.
Oasis Red animal bag, £28
SHINE ON
Coach Parker bag, £450
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ALEXACHUNG
Shopping
HOW TO WEAR:
THE BLAZER Mulberry Small Seaton smooth calf chevron handbag, £1,195, Selfridges
H&M Blazer, £34.99
Topshop Satin PJ style shirt, £29 H&M Straightcut blazer, £59.99
Karen Millen Mosaic pendant necklace, silver, £30
Kurt Geiger Stride mule, £139
Office Apricot square toe block boots, £90
Zara Straight fit jeans, £29.99
THE SAME BUT NEW Freshen up your look and breathe new life into your old basics by adding a bold blazer. Create whole looks with a reinvented twist using some of your old favourites that you might have forgotten about.
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Mango Pleated suit pants, £49.99
AUTUMN LAYERS
Warehouse Polo neck jumper, £29
For the practical yet modern woman, layer your blazer with a fitted roll neck, wide leg trousers and heeled boots. This powerful but playful look is great for work, but the best thing? You won’t have to compromise on comfort.
When it comes to buying new clothes, you want something that can be worn more than once. We’re all about investing in key pieces to work around, that’s why this season our unsung fashion hero is the blazer, which definitely deserves more credit than it’s due
All Saints Astrid check blazer, £258
Topshop Hammered circle earrings, £8.50
Arket Crew neck t-shirt, £12, Accessorize Hair slide set, £8
Topshop Crinkle velvet blazer, £49
Gucci RE(BELLE) small shoulder bag £1,330, Selfridges Emporio Armarni Croc print leather crossbody bag, £510
New Look Black patent strappy stiletto heel mules, £22.99 Topshop Horn button shirt dress, £39
EVENING GLAM An oversized checked blazer will bring an effortless off-duty feel to your look, best paired with subtle gold jewellery and monochrome. To brighten things up, add colourful soft leather accessories or a red lip and you’re good to go.
Topshop Crinkle velvet trousers, £39
SUIT UP
Alexander McQueen Runway leather trainers, £360, Harvey Nichols
Combine elegant silver accessories with a velvet suit co-ord for a more premium look. Forget what you thought you knew about suits being solely for formal occasions and bring it back to basics with a pair of trainers and a plain tee.
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Shopping
Club Monaco Blazer, ÂŁ275
22
ACCEPTABLE IN THE
80s Structured shoulders, standout sequins and maximumimpact hair. Add an 80s feel to your party look with Harvey Nichols, Birmingham this festive season
Photography: Mike Raven, Styling: Jade Woodhouse, Assistant: Simon Konaszczuk, Hair: Chris and Emily at Harris Gibbs Hair, Makeup: Ashleigh Hope using Marc Jacobs Beauty from Harvey Nichols Birmingham, Model: Jenna at Leni’s 23
Shopping
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Samsoe & Samsoe Shirt, £90 Keepsake Trousers, £110
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Shopping
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Alice + Olivia Trousers, £385 Pinko Top, £350
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Shopping
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Club Monaco Blazer, £275 Club Monaco Top, £80 Club Monaco Trousers, £195 Saint Laurent Heels, £605
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Shopping
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Alice + Olivia Dress, £505
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Everything you need to know about the city. From fashion and beauty to culture, food and drink.
@Mike_raven
We need to talk about...
Words: Mike Raven
HABITS VS HAPPINESS
B
efore this goes on sounding like a ‘woke’ awakening of a twenty-something, let me elaborate... How much time have you been spending on your phone recently? If you’re anything like me you’ll say “oh I don’t spend that much time on it” or “I only check social media occasionally”. Chances are that in actual fact you’re spending much more time than you ever imagined screen-gazing, and your denial is getting in the way of this realisation. I’m here to tell you that it might be suppressing your happiness. When was the last time you told yourself you were going to do that thing you used to love? Maybe you were going to start painting again or you were going to learn to play the saxophone; maybe you were finally going to try a local ceramics class, because you’ve always thought you’d be good at using one of those spinning pottery wheels (or maybe they just look really fun). And when did you actually not bother at all? Ending up laid on the sofa making your way through an entire ‘share’ bag of crisps, scrolling endlessly through Instagram whilst chuckling to yourself at various memes of famous z-list celebrities with ironic captions? I thought so. Have you ever done any of those things in the presence of others? Or had it done to you? This vexatious trait is now handily termed as ‘phubbing’, think of it as a distant cousin of the selfie. And you’ve guessed right, it’s a combination of ‘phone’ and ’snub’. Phubbing happens when you have company and they snub you by texting or tweeting or scrolling down their social feed, which insultingly seems to be much more interesting than you. Annoying, isn’t it? Of course there is a time and place for social media, but to put this in context, Ofcom recently reported that on average we now spend over one day a week on our phones, in fact it’s actually 34.3 hours! That’s over an entire day of missed
“These questions seem somewhat juvenile for the enlightened, but luckily I am now able to share the secret.”
opportunities, skills un-learnt, friends and lovers neglected every week. Not to mention over 24 hours of additional screen time, which has been proven to have links with insomnia and depression. Luckily there’s a solution to this epidemic and it’s closer than you may think. In actual fact the answer is so simple I nearly missed it myself. I was - and still often am, like you. I searched endlessly for apps to help me with my app problem (ironic, I know). ‘What app can I use to help me check what apps I use the most?’, ‘Is there an app which can help me stop using apps?!’. These questions seem somewhat juvenile for the enlightened, but luckily I am now able to share the secret, and it’s you. The secret is you. (Well actually it’s you and me, it’s us.) There is a degree of will power to this but it’s simple enough to understand. The next time you want to do something that brings you joy, something you’ve never actually managed to get around to doing, simply make time and do it. Leave your pesky phone in the bedroom, turn on ‘do not disturb’ and galvanise your soul! I can guarantee that you’ll love it and hopefully you’ll forget all about that dog from Instagram for at least an hour or so. Think about all the pots you could make on that enchanted pottery wheel of dreams, the songs you could learn on the saxophone or, all the paintings of your cat you’ve now managed to finish just in time to gift everyone for Christmas (you can thank me later). Luckily for those wavering in perseverance your, pocket sized foe now comes with some handy settings to give you pleasant reminders to back away from the digital world. It can even shut down specific apps entirely, restricting them from use. And at the end of every week you’ll get a summary of your average screen time to follow your progress towards your goal of phub-free personal progress and inner peace... Namaste.
Still not convinced? Tweet us @Stylebham and tell us your thoughts. Want more? Check out stylebham.com
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Calum Best
34
Photography: Mike Raven, Assistant: Simon Konaszczuk, Styling: Jade Woodhouse, Grooming: Chrissie Trattos
JOHN LEWIS Kin Trousers, £50, Kin Jumper, £29.50, Selected Homme Coat, £185
THE NEW
Words: Jade Woodhouse
CALUM
He’s come a long way since leaving a chilled beach lifestyle in Malibu for London nightlife, A-list parties and rumoured celebrity girlfriends. We caught up with Calum Best as he chose some of his favourite looks from Bullring & Grand Central Birmingham
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Calum Best
He’s moved on from the ‘party boy’ era that once consumed his lifestyle, but Calum Best is the first to admit he’ll always have a cheeky side, and this undeniably shines through the whole time I’m chatting to him. Now, aged 37, you’ll find him preaching positive quotes on Instagram, selling crystals and managing three businesses. So what changed? He’s friendly, polite and incredibly charming - speaking openly and honestly about the loss of his father, his interest in spirituality and the reasons behind his tattoos. After moving from LA to pursue a career in modelling, and shooting international campaigns with the likes of Mario Testino, Calum recalls being approached for Celebrity Love Island in 2003: “They told me I’d be going to an island in Fiji for up to six weeks. I was 23, and I knew some of the other people going on it, so it was basically a holiday that I got paid to go on - it was the dream! I really enjoyed it at the time and it went down so well that I went on again the year after and ended up winning it.” “It was a great experience. I think they’ve nailed it with the concept because people like to see other people’s struggling love lives, but you’re thrown in at the deep end. For anybody going on the show now I’d just advise them to stay humble. As hard as it is, you need to stay cool, calm and collected because nobody likes arrogance. If you’re grateful and appreciative, you’ll last longer.” He speaks from experience. After spending a childhood with his mother in LA, Calum remembers realising the height of his father’s fame after being thrust into the spotlight at a GQ party, where he was photographed with model Caprice: “When I was younger I’d been photographed with my father, but I just thought he was a football player - I never really put two and two together because here, everybody knew who my dad was, but in the US nobody did. When I was 19 I came over to the UK for a job and woke up to my face in the newspapers. I remember my agent telling me not to get caught up in partying, which is easier said than done when you’re young.” “I was pictured with girls and soon became known for drinking a lot, but because I had a famous father I got a lot of grief about what I was actually famous for, and at the time I didn’t even know myself. 36
“WHAT I KNEW I COULD DO WELL, THAT MY DAD ALSO DID WELL, WAS DRINK AND PARTY SO I JUST WENT WITH IT.”
SELFRIDGES Michael Kors Coat, £300, Michael Kors Jumper, £110, Boss Jeans, £119
BOSS Jacket, £449, Waistcoat, £169, Trousers, £199, Shirt, £99, Shoes, £319
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Calum Best
What I knew I could do well, that my dad also did well, was drink and party so I just went with it. Some of it was completely innocent, but it was documented by the press and it became engrained into people.” This is an image that has proven difficult to shake off, as Calum tells me he’s still tarnished by his past, but he’s making a conscious effort to change his life whilst using his own experiences to help others: “The past ten years have been all about growth. I reached a real low point and it just wasn’t for me anymore. Since then I’ve started training, eating better, educating myself with holistic approaches and just generally bettering myself through mindset changes. After losing my dad I grew up with a bit of a victim mindset, but I trained my brain and as soon as I realised it wasn’t ‘poor me’ everything changed.” “Back then it was non-stop partying, now it’s yoga retreats and selling crystals. I enjoy going to the gym and playing football, and I’m lucky enough to use my platform to support great causes doing things l love. I recently played a charity football match here at Birmingham City Football Club with Midlands Air Ambulance. The work they do is incredible - I got to meet some of the families who have suffered traumatic experiences and have been helped by the helicopters, it’s such an important cause.” Calum is no stranger to opening up about his mental health, having struggled in the past. Now, he’s got both his own successful crystal jewellery collection and a thriving journal business called BestMe Life, which focuses on finding productivity in each day, no matter how big or small. “I’ve managed to turn my life around and I wanted to give other people the tools I used to do so, which include gratitude, goal setting, visualisation, manifestation, meditation and exercise. It all depends on your personal circumstances, but I want to start a sentence for somebody and allow 38
HUGO Suit, £449, Jumper, £129, Trainers, £179
them to finish it. As soon as I opened up about my father and alcohol issues I soon realised that a lot of people could relate, and I want to help anybody who feels the same.” He tells me how he owes a lot of his lifestyle transformation to spirituality, something he admits he wouldn’t have felt comfortable expressing in previous years. “At one point it was pretty doom and gloom, but my life is
good - I’m blessed. That’s why I preach positivity on social media. If you don’t like it, don’t follow me but it’s only within the past year that I could openly say I believe in the power of crystals because I wouldn’t have known how to take the backlash. If something improves your life, why does it matter what anybody else thinks?” “I’m not a saint, but I used the struggles of losing my dad and almost turning to drink myself to
TOMMY HILFIGER Jumper, £125 Trousers, £115
help other people struggling with the same issues.” He’s also changed quite drastically physically over the past few years, having spent hours in the gym weekly whilst frequently adding to his ever-growing collection of tattoos which spans from his knuckles right down to his ankles. “I got my first tattoo when I was 13. My mum took me to get it because in Malibu you could be underage if you had permission; she assumed that if she took me, then I wouldn’t get any more, but that didn’t work. I’ve got an addictive personality so it’s hard to stop now and although some of them were hungover impulses, I love them all. I’ve travelled around the world to Italy, Brazil and LA to find the right artists, but my favourite is my dad’s initials with his date of birth on my back, it’s got a lot of meaning.” And when it comes to fashion, Calum confesses he’s usually in gym wear (comfort is key) but when he’s making an effort, it’s always a suit. “I like a smart Savile Row look, but we’re lucky enough to be able to shop such wearable trends on the high street in places like Hugo Boss, River Island and Zara. I got so much criticism when I went on Big Brother wearing a patterned suit, but I don’t care, I like to pick something unique.” But no matter how many lifestyle changes he makes, there’s always a ‘naughty boy’ beneath, and there always will be. “It’s still in me - I still enjoy a drink, I like flirting with a girl and I’m still going to get tattoos.” He may not be ready to retire to a quiet life just yet, but he’s successful, excited for the future and most importantly, he’s happy. All items featured are available from Bullring & Grand Central Birmingham. 39
Independents
DENTS • 1
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000 TRADE
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00 TRADES
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• INDEPE
JONATHAN TODD & JOHN STAPLETON 1000 Trades,16 Frederick St, B1 3HE
“1000 Trades opened in June 2016, and going into business has to be one of the most rewarding and distressing things a person can do. But I wouldn’t change it for the world. I’m in the bar every day,” says John. “The appetite to do something new in the Jewellery Quarter is huge, and we’ve been able to work with other businesses in the city to make that happen,” Jonathan adds. “We offer craft beers and natural wine, and our kitchen has seen residencies from businesses that have gone on to make a name for themselves and open their own restaurants.” “I know it sounds like a cliché, but it does feel great to be part of a community,” says John. “For a bar we do a lot of activities and events, but making sure we communicate everything that we’re doing effectively can be a challenge. There’s so much more to it than just pouring drinks. Seeking out and ordering beer is one of the best bits. Taking care of beer can be temperamental at times, but we’re very proud of what we serve. If a bar gets a reputation for serving bad pints, it’s hard to recover, so we have to take extra care with that.”
Words: Kirsty Bosley / @Bozzers
Birmingham’s independents separate our city from the rest. But what’s it like to run one in 2018? What are the biggest rewards and most difficult challenges?
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There’s something magical about introducing someone to one of Birmingham’s ‘hidden gems’. Tucked within the nooks and crannies of our thriving city are shops, restaurants, bars and more, each with their own personality, history and ethos. Spending our money with them brings a sense of satisfaction, knowing that our pounds will go back into the local economy. But there’s much more to it than that, as Independent Birmingham’s Joe Schuppler explains. “Behind each independent is someone who has poured their heart, and life, into a business. They’re real people who work hard to offer something you won’t find anywhere else.” Joe created the Independent Birmingham Membership card to champion them. Currently, 18,000 Brummies use it at more than 110 independents businesses.
“My hope for the future is that the council create special rates, and even dedicate certain areas, for independents,” says Joe. “With so much buzz around the city, and huge investment flooding in, independents are finding it difficult to set up in any decent, city-centre locations. “They’re pushed off the beaten path. While this is romantic and makes them destination venues, it needs addressing. The city needs to nurture its independent businesses. “The scene is rather wonderful right now, but it’s only there as long as people actually visit and spend money. That’s what it takes.” So who are the businesspeople that are making our independent scene so special? And what do we need to do to support them?
INDEPENDENT BIRMINGHAM • INDEPENDENTS • INDEPENDE
INDE PENDENT STATE OF MIND
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1000 TRAD
ALLISON SADLER
The People Shop, 50 Poplar Rd, B14 7AG
“My husband Christian and I have been in
THEbusiness PEOPLE SHOP • INDEPENDENTS • THE PEOPLE SHOP • INDEPENDENTS • THE PEOPLE SHOP • IN for 18 and a half years in Kings Heath, but we made and sold our clothes for ten years before that on the Birmingham Rag Market.” “We don’t have any employees, it’s just the two of us and our son Milo helping out – it’s a family thing.” “Being in business is tough going, especially for shops like ours, selling clothing, homeware, gifts and more. It’s hard to compete with the big boys and difficult to compete with the internet. We have to work twice as hard to get people through the door. We get really lovely customers though, and that’s one of the very best bits about it.” “Independent bars and restaurants are absolutely smashing it at the moment, but the same can’t be said about shops. We’re fewer and further between, so it’s hard to create a scene.” “If you come in the shop you can hear the sewing machine going as Christian makes our clothes right there. It’s quite old fashioned, a traditional way of doing business, and we love that – so do our customers, who have been coming for years, seeing our children grow up. We love our local community, and customers have become friends – you can’t get that online.”
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PENDENTS • THE BARBER HOUSE • INDEPENDENTS • THE BARBER HOUSE • INDEPENDENTS • THE BARBER HOUSE • INDEPENDENTS • THE BA
Independents
DALE SAMPEY
The Barber House, 102 Colmore Row, B3 3AG
“The Barber House has been on Colmore Row for four years, but I’ve been in the business for 23.” “Setting up in the city centre was intimidating – I worried we wouldn’t be good enough for the city centre, but we are.” “There are 11 of us now, from apprentice level to senior guys. It’s a great team – I couldn’t do it on my own, they’re my extended family” “We deliver a high end service, which we felt was missing in the city when we came here. We give an experience, hot towel close shaves, beard sculptures and more in a relaxing space. There’s somewhere for men to come now to get away from the stress of the day. We offer a shoe shine, a complimentary beer or whisky and some time being pampered and looked after.” “Pressure is on to keep a high standard. Social media can be your best friend or your worst enemy – anyone can write a review to say you’re not as good as you know you are, and that’s a challenge. There are more barber shops in the city now too, but we’re proud of the job we’re doing – we’re opening a new site next year.”
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CE • T SAU O H ’S PIP
NTS •
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IN
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DEPE
CE • IN T SAU O H P ’S
’S S • PIP DENT
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ith both interest and investment in Birmingham increasing, there’s a tremendous opportunity for our independent businesses to flourish. While Allison, Dale, Pip, Jonathan and John all gave an insight into just what it takes to create a successful business in the city – creativity, determination and heart being just three shared traits – the fact of the matter is that their success is far from guaranteed. And that’s something that’s out of their hands. The notion of quirky, creative and individual businesses contributing to Birmingham’s overall identity is a charming one to most of us, but it’s going to take more than good intentions to ensure that they prosper. It means more than just providing lip service – it means spending your money with them and telling a friend when you’ve had a positive experience. It means wearing a dress made at The People Shop, letting Dale shape your beard, drizzling Pip’s on your pizza and asking John to pour your next pint. Waiting for change – to shop rates or premises availability – simply won’t suffice when our independents need our support now. With investors showing faith in our city we need to do the same, before these fantastic examples of Birmingham’s ingenuity and spirit are lost forever.
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PIP BRADLEY
Pip’s Hot Sauce, pipshotsauce.co.uk
“I’ve been making hot sauce for five years with my partner Matt Speer, in the kitchen at the Hare and Hounds and now at home in Kings Heath.” “It all began when we were having lunch at The Plough in Harborne. There was no hot sauce, so I was moaning. I began making my own, giving away little jars as gifts and asking people for feedback.” “The next time I went to The Plough I took a bottle with me. The waiter spotted it, took it out the back and the next thing I know, the boss Adam was asking me for 128 bottles.” “Since then, we’ve won a number of awards, including our third Great Taste Award – our second two-star award. We’ve had the chance to go into supermarkets, but we want to make it ourselves in Birmingham. We’re proud of it.” “You can find Pip’s Hot Sauce in loads of independents across the city now and we ship to customers all over the world.” “There’s a worry that we may run into a problem with the import of chillies and peppers, but we just take it as it comes. Our biggest challenge at the moment is keeping up with demand – we make thousands of bottles a week.”
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Off-duty
Jumper, £24
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OFF-DUTY ESSENTIALS From vivid knitwear to leopard print midi dresses, get playful with bright layering at Next Bullring this season
Photography: Mike Raven, Styling: Jade Woodhouse, Assistant: Simon Konaszczuk, Model: Ludwika at Bookings, Hair: Nancy Mae at Benjamin Ryan Hair, Makeup: Sophie at Fenty Beauty, Harvey Nichols Birmingham
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Off-duty
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Leopard dress, £54, Bag, £25, Boots, £40
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Off-duty
Jumper, £34
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Jumper, £34, Trousers, £35, Coat, £75, Bag, £28
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Off-duty
Shirt, £26 Trousers, £38
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Dress, £55, Heels, £35
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Off-duty
Shirt, £26 Coat, £65
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Opinion
MEET THE
“ENTITLED” YOUNG PEOPLE
FIGHTING FOR A BETTER FUTURE
M Far from being apathetic, younger generations are more engaged in politics and activism than the stereotypes suggest Words: Philip Ellis / @Philip_Ellis
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illennials (those born between the early Eighties and late Nineties) and Generation Z (those born after) are often maligned as being “selfish,” “lazy” and “entitled.” Apparently the young people of today all expect a participation trophy. But do the facts support this? If young people today are getting trophies just for showing up, that’s down to their parents’ generation handing them out — boomers and Gen Xers who are so convinced of their own specialness that they ascribe all sorts of qualities onto their kids. Another criticism levelled against younger generations is that they’re overly sensitive snowflakes, but a counter-argument could be that they are simply more aware of social inequality than their parents or grandparents. They have, after all, inherited a post-crash economy where many workers struggle to earn a living wage. Each week brings with it a news story of women being harassed at work, of minorities being attacked. Is it any wonder that teenagers are angry that this is the world they have to live in? While in the past, teenagers could be accused of apathy when it comes to politics, today the
OR EF M I T NGE CHA
OR EF M I T NGE CHA
opposite is true, thanks in part to a tumultuous couple of years which have seen political issues become a part of everyday life. The EU Referendum and last US presidential election galvanised people who might not have been previously engaged in politics to get involved (on both sides). And it doesn’t end there. In the United States, teenage survivors of alarmingly frequent school shootings are mobilising to fight against the Second Amendment and introduce more secure gun control laws. In the Republic of Ireland, the historic recent Repeal the 8th campaign, which led to the country voting to legalise abortion, was driven in no small part by the passion and hard work of young women. Here in the United Kingdom, there are plenty of young activists working to drive social change. I spoke to a handful of them to find out what inspired them to get involved in the first place, and what they make of the notion that they are all special snowflakes. Noni Makuyana, 22, doesn’t consider herself as coming from a particularly political family. But when they moved to the UK from
Noni Makuyana
OR EF TIM NGE A CH
“A LOT OF ECONOMICS IS INCREDIBLY EXCLUSIVE, AND I WANT TO BREAK THOSE BARRIERS DOWN”
Zimbabwe when she was 10, she saw all of the ways in which her life was inherently political. “I realised that being a migrant, a woman, a black person, all of that meant I would be treated unfairly unless I stood up and said that’s not okay,” she says. She became involved in social justice at university, doing a lot of campaigning around racism, the payment gap, and consent on campuses — but found that there was still a degree of inequality and bias, even within “woke” circles: “At first I felt like lots of social justice wasn’t for me, because I didn’t feel included or represented in this middle class environment.” That changed when she got involved with Campaign Bootcamp, a social justice mentoring initiative. Noni now works with the monetary reform non-profit Positive Money, using what she has learned to help make the financial world work for everybody. “A lot of economics is incredibly exclusive, and I want to break those barriers down,” she says. “I’m working with financial institutions to ensure they are being mindful of how they involve people.” 55
70s Chic
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Join the discussion... Tweet us @stylebham and tell us your thoughts! 57
Robert Liow
Lili Barnes
“THE JOB OF AN ACTIVIST IS TO CONVINCE SOCIETY THAT CHANGE IS NECESSARY, POSITIVE, AND POSSIBLE”
Lili Barnes is a teen vlogger who, at just 14, has worked with her textiles teacher to make clothing to send to refugees in Syria and raised funds for refugees in Calais. A keen debater, she would like to pursue a career in politics. “I think that teenagers are wrongly portrayed as selfish and entitled,” she says, “as we have so much potential. If we were just given a chance, like being allowed to vote at 16 instead of 18, we could truly change our country for the better.” Every activist experiences pushback — if they don’t, they’re doing something wrong. But the resistance that young campaigners come up against is different; more senior people might not necessarily take them seriously, or even see their activism as a threat against their own privilege. “I get heckled quite a bit by white men,” says Noni. “I was working on a campaign to diversify the Bank of England, and one guy stood up and was so pissed off he had to be removed by security. Sometimes, when you criticise someone’s subjectivity, it hurts their ego and they respond by saying ‘that’s not true’ or ‘this isn’t important’. And I get a lot of people who say I don’t know what I’m talking about because I’m seen to be a young woman.” “In all the campaigns I’ve been involved in, the resistance I’ve faced has been different,” says Robert Liow, who has been involved in campaigning against racism and xenophobia since 2015 . “It could be from the kind of person who dislikes migrants, from someone who thinks education should not be free, or even from someone who faces genuine problems but is afraid of rocking the boat. All of this is a resistance to change. The job of an activist is to convince society that change is necessary, positive, and possible.” What I really learned from speaking with Lili, Noni and Robert is that it’s not entitled simply to point out that something is unfair. “We’re called entitled for saying we’re not happy with the situation we were born into,” says Noni. “I don’t like the word entitled; I think it really just means we are demanding change. People tend to think I’m entitled, like I want more than my share, or I just want things to work for me, when what I want is a system that works for everyone. I think we’re entitled to change that structure.” Ultimately, this is the next generation of leaders. Instead of writing them off as spoiled or naïve, maybe we should be thanking them for getting such a head start on making the world a better place.
Opinion
THE POWER OF
A brand new exhibition which celebrates the female voice has just landed at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, but how far have we actually come? Words: Hollie Fox / @hollievulpes
Left:Lucy Gunning, Climbing Around My Room, 1993, Video, 7:30 minutes. Courtesy the artist and Greene Naftali, New York Below:Four Figures, 1951. Barbara Hepworth © Bowness. Photo by Birmingham Museums Trust
I
n June 1914, Bertha Ryland walked into Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, approached a painting of John Bensley Thornhill, and slashed it with a meat cleaver. In June 1914, she was arrested and in November 2018, she’ll be commemorated with a plaque. The rights of women and the way we fight for them has evolved since the fight for suffrage 100 years ago. Whether it’s striking for equal pay, publishing a feminist magazine or starting a movement with a hashtag, every generation has had their ‘meatcleaver’ moment. Earlier this month, the world heard Dr Christine Blasey Ford’s testimony against Supreme Court Justice candidate, Brett Kavanaugh; where she described her alleged sexual assault by Kavanaugh when they were both in high school. In coming forward, 36 years later, Dr Ford evoked her own protest, with one simple message; people who abuse their power are dangerous and do not belong on the US Supreme Court. By speaking out against Kavanaugh, Ford received both waves of support and a formidable backlash. ‘Since her name became public, Dr. Ford has received a stunning amount of support from her community and from fellow citizens across our country. At the same time, however, her worst fears have materialized,’ the statement from Dr Ford’s lawyers explains, ‘She has been the target of vicious harassment and even death threats. As a result of these kind of threats, her family was forced to relocate out of their home.’ Despite Ford’s efforts, Brett Kavanaugh was voted into the Supreme Court, and received explicit offers of reparation and support from President Donald Trump.
L-R: Marion Coutts, For the Fallen (2001). Photo by Roger Sinek © Marion Coutts, Mary Kelly, Post-Partum Documen © the artist
While superficially this does not appear to be a positive outcome for Dr Ford, or for the progression of feminism and sexual assault victims, it has jumpstarted a conversation. For every person who doesn’t believe Christine Blasey Ford, there are ten that do, and ten more with stories exactly like hers. In an open letter to Dr Ford, founders of the Me Too Movement expressed their gratitude: ‘You showed a world of discounted people what courage looks like. You showed us that survival is ongoing and that the journey, while fraught, is also essential. You reminded us that we are neither powerless nor alone because we have the truth ― and we have each other.’ While picket fences and women’s marches may leave the greatest impact, it’s often the small victories that push forward change. Creating communities where women can share their stories about inequality and feel that their experiences are valid and heard is just as significant as slashing paintings. It’s in the way that we listen, as well as make our voices heard, that can make the biggest difference. For Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery’s ‘Birmingham Women: 100 years of change’ project, you can see Bertha Ryland’s plaque installed as part of their ‘Women Power Protest’ exhibition, along with inspiring works from Birmingham women over the last hundred years. Women Power Protest looks at the experiences of becoming and progressing as a woman amongst varying degrees of opportunity and oppression in relation to race, class, geography and sexuality. Every generation has it’s ‘meatcleaver’ moment, but we can’t wait a hundred years to start taking notice.
WANT MORE? Visit Women, Power, Protest for free at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery in the Gas Hall until 31 March 2019. 58
An Arts Council Collection National Partner Exhibition #ACCNationalPartners #WomenPowerProtest @BM_AG
@birmingham_mag
/birminghammuseumandartgallery
birminghammuseums.org.uk
Birmingham Museums is an Arts Council Collection National Partner. Arts Council Collection is managed by Southbank Centre on behalf of Arts Council England. Image: Angela Kelly, Untitled (Women’s Identity), 1975. Arts Council Collection, Southbank Centre, London Š Angela Kelly
Kitri Leather dress, ÂŁ145, Jimmy Choo Heels, ÂŁ1,295
Party season
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Shop in s at the lu tyle xurious Selfridg es p shoppin ersonal g suites
S O EX es textur t n a g ele urs at out in Go all ement faux f m at and st s Birmingha ge Selfrid
Photography: Mike Raven, Styl ing: Jade Woodhouse, Assistan t: Chloe Perkins, Models: Farh anah and Tijana at Bookings, Emma at Leni’s, Hair: Chris at Harris Gibbs, Makeup: Hud a Beauty and Charlotte Tilbury at Selfridges Birmingham
A R T
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Party season
Left to right: Emma wears: Self-portrait Dress, £325, Kurt Geiger Boots, £109. Farhanah wears: Self-portrait Top, £235, Kitri Trousers, £80. Tijana wears: Saint Laurent Top, £1295, Roland Mouret Trousers, £450, Kurt Geiger Heels, £109.
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Peter Pilotto Trousers, £625, Peter Pilotto Jacket, £1150, Carvella Black boot, £149
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Party season
Kitri Sequin dress, ÂŁ165, Kurt Geiger Platform snake boot, ÂŁ189
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Shrimps Coat, £425, Shrimps Top, £235, Kitri dress, £125
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Party season
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Left to right: Tijana wears: Kitri Sequin dress, £165. Emma wears: Peter Pilotto Trousers, £625, Peter Pilotto Jacket, £1150, necklace - available at Vashi. Farhanah wears: Kitri Silk dress, £235, Gucci Bag, £1690
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Kitri Silk dress, £235, Gucci Boots, £805
Party season
Self-portrait Dress, £325, Kurt Geiger Boots, £109, Shrimps Bag, £450
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Victoria Beckham Trousers, £750, Victoria Beckham Top, £395, Kurt Geiger Heels, £109
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Party season
Kitri Leather dress, £145, Jimmy Choo Knee high boots, £1,095
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Left to right: Tijana wears: Shrimps Coat, £375, Victoria Beckham Trousers, £750, Victoria Beckham Top, £395. Emma wears: Shrimps Coat, £425, Shrimps top, £235, Kitri dress, £125. Farhanah wears: Offwhite Faux fur coat, £1,860, Dianne von Furstenberg Jumpsuit, £545
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Party season
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Off-white Faux fur coat, £1,860, Dianne von Furstenberg Jumpsuit, £545, Jimmy Choo Heels, £1,295
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Opinion
LIFE’S PRECIOUS MOMENTS
Words: Will Ashworth @WillAshworth34
WHY THEY SHOULD BE SAVOURED AND NOT SAVED In this digital age, why are we obsessed with capturing the present through technology, in order to relive moments that have already happened?
What ever happened to YOLO? Surely you remember the phrase. Look it up online, scroll through the Urban Dictionary and there you will find several definitions. Some of them serious i.e. “An abbreviation for: you only live once” and some of them not so serious, but accurate nonetheless, i.e. “A term people should have stopped using last year”. Yes, it seems that this sage acronym has now fallen out of favour and will be forever consigned to a long list of youth expressions that tend to come and go quicker than any fashion in clothes or hair. Use the phrase in public now, and many will regard you as if you’ve just walked into the room sporting a mullet and a fluorescent shell suit. But there may be a reason, apart from general trends in language, for its disappearance – people never really meant it. In fact, when you really think about the concept of ‘you only live once’, it is actually completely at odds with how people now live their lives. I’m afraid the real truth is that people are not ‘only living once’ at all. Neither are they living in the
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moment, living as if today is their last, or dancing like no one is watching. Not to mention uttering a c’est la vie, carpe diem or que sera sera. So it looks like all of these well-meaning clichés could too become endangered. But what threatens them? I cast my mind back to this summer when I was in attendance at London’s All Points East festival where the inimitable Nick Cave was the Sunday headliner. As Cave entertained the crowd, his adoring fans hung on every word that the gothic indie god said. Though in-between songs of the hour-or-so set, like the true brooding artiste that he is, he said very little. Interestingly however, as people sort to capture a picture or video of their hero, he let out an authoritative baritone cry of “No phones!” Around me, would-be photographers sheepishly began to put away their devices and watch the gig with their actual eyes (shock horror). I can then report that after this phone embargo, the performance became much more enjoyable. I know I’m not the only one that is annoyed by people using phones at gigs. I somehow can’t help
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Opinion
being put off by a screen being held in my eye line during a performance – which is, of cause, infuriatingly paradoxical as I’m becoming distracted by someone else being distracted. But now, as the ubiquity of mobile phone use at live events spreads across the globe, it seems the performers themselves are growing weary of the phenomenon. Recently there has been a string of high profile acts either barring their use at shows or physically denying gig-goers access to their devices whilst inside the venue. On the extreme end of the scale, certain acts such as Chris Rock, Dave Chappelle, Jack White and Alicia Keys have all used a system of lockable pouches provided by a company called Yondr. Essentially this requires every attendee to place their phone into a pouch which is then locked by security staff. They can then keep it with them until it is able to be unlocked again after the show, or they can go to a ‘Yondr Phone Zone’ in the lobby or concourse. Before his recent tour, White issued a statement regarding the system saying: “We think you’ll enjoy looking up from your gadgets for a little while and experience music and our shared love of it IN PERSON” And implored fans to “enjoy a phone-free, 100% human experience.” Other acts have also imposed similar bans, but instead have given their fans (sometimes) polite notices to refrain from using their mobiles. Adele, Bjork, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Kevin Hart have all taken measures to discourage people, with varying degrees of success. At a recent gig, Yeah Yeah Yeahs put up not-sosubtle posters stating: “Please do not watch the show through a screen on your smart device/camera. Put that sh*t away as a courtesy to the person behind you and to Nick, Karen, and Brian. Much love and many thanks!” Kevin Hart’s approach is no less draconian. His UK shows were the subject of criticism recently when several fans got kicked out for as little as sending a text. There were even workers wearing bibs emblazoned with “cell phone security” to ensure that the rule was being enforced and to eject offenders. This seems very harsh, and does raise the question – do artists like Hart actually care about the enjoyment of the crowd? Or are they just concerned that mobile phones present a risk to their intellectual property? Ownership of digital media is where this topic gets even more complex. In pre-camera phone times, audience members would certainly not have been allowed to bring recording equipment into a show, so it’s understandable why artists may feel aggrieved. But in any case, I have never understood why someone would want to film for near an entirety of a performance when you know they are never going to watch it back, at least because the sound and vision quality will invariably be dire. 76
“I HAVE NEVER UNDERSTOOD WHY SOMEONE WOULD WANT TO FILM FOR NEAR AN ENTIRETY OF A PERFORMANCE WHEN YOU KNOW THEY ARE NEVER GOING TO WATCH IT BACK” Of course, most people are not concerned with owning footage for future posterity. These pictures and videos are immediately launched onto a sea of social media feeds to compete for attention with other user’s experiences, all lived vicariously through a mobile phone camera and the latest Instagram filter. Social media ‘story’ features are perhaps the culmination of this mind set, with media recorded, posted and then automatically deleted soon after. A fleeting record of a particular moment, purely for the consumption of those not present at the event. What does this leave anybody with? The true essence of that moment, lost to all parties. The trend towards mindfulness (the practice of slowing down and appreciating the world around you in that present moment) may act as an antidote to all of this. Although perhaps we should be trying to use it, not just when sat in a lotus position, humming with our eyes closed but at times when we are meant to be enjoying ourselves – whether that’s a gig, traveling or having a nice meal. It’s not that I’m completely opposed the odd photo or video when the times is right. I’m fully aware that this is how the world works now. It’s also probable that I’m facing a losing battle and the opinions I’ve expressed here will age about as well as YOLO did. But hey, why not dust off that old phrase next time you’re savouring a good time and living in the moment. Sure, people will laugh at you, but at least you’ll be safe in the knowledge that you actually mean it this time. 77
Shopping
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LAYER UP Keep it casual and embrace the great outdoors in style with the latest trends at Mailbox Birmingham
Photography – Mike Raven, Assistant – Simon Konaszczuk, Styling – Jade Woodhouse, Models – Adrianne at Bookings and Joe at Leni’s, Hair – Maizie at James Bushell Hair and Makeup, Pippa at Rodial, both at Harvey Nichols. Shot on location at Winterbourne House & Garden by RileyRaven.
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Shopping
He wears: Club Monaco Trousers, £175, J. Lindeberg Shirt, £115, Converse trainers, £70. All from Harvey Nichols. She wears: Gestuz Jumper, £150, Gestuz Coat, £330, Club Monaco Trousers, £210 all from Harvey Nichols. Abeel boots, £159, Daniel Footwear.
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Shopping
Gestuz Jumper, ÂŁ150, Club Monaco Trousers, ÂŁ210. All from Harvey Nichols. 82
He wears: Jumper, £500, trousers, £175. Both from Emporio Armani. She wears: Coat, £900, pink jumper, £240, azure jumper, £380, bag, £340. All from Emporio Armani.
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Shopping
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On the left: Coat, £250, cap, £30, jumper, £125, trousers, £125. All from Tommy Hilfiger Below: Top, £125, trousers, £125. Both available at Tommy Hilfiger.
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FOR THE PERFECT MANICURE
Apply this intensely nourishing cuticle oil at any time of the day to keep your nails in top condition. The perfect size for carrying in your handbag, it takes just a few seconds to rehydrate your nails with this on-the-go treatment. Huile Abricot, £22, Dior
FOR A DAILY GLOW
FOR SOFT LIPS
Whether you’re setting your makeup, prepping the skin before bed or creating a glam dewy look, this refreshing mist is an all-rounder. Use all year round for a natural and subtle glow that will transform your skin in just a few spritzes. Pixi Rose Glow Mist, £16, Harvey Nichols
Possibly one of the most high-end lip balms on the market, this luxurious multi-purpose product leaves the lips feeling gloriously soft all day long. Made with rose flower wax, shea butter and vitamin E, the rich formula nourishes the lips, making it the ideal winter investment. By Terry Baume de Rose, £39, Cult Beauty
India Hartford Davis for Flaunter.com
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FOR THE DREAMY SCENT
With notes of vanilla, pink pepper, jasmine and coffee, this floral but seductive scent is the pick-me-up every commuter needs after a busy day. It does exactly what it says on the tin, simply click the pen, apply to the neck and wrists and you’re good to go. Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium Click & Go, £29, Selfridges
COMBAT ED UNWANT E SHIN
FOR THE MATTE TOUCH-UP
Provide a gorgeous finish for your makeup with this travel-friendly loose setting powder by Too Faced. The lightweight powder can be used to target and control particularly oily areas of the face, or all over to add luminosity. Too Faced Born This Way Setting Powder Travel Size, £12, Selfridges
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Hair
HEAD Top tip: Keep it simple by styling with a comb and finish with a light layer of TIGI Copyright Maximum Hold Hairspray ÂŁ16.
Chop it Caesar
Keep it classic or switch it up, whatever you do with your hair, don’t be afraid to experiment with these alternative styles by Harris Gibbs Hair 88
Short back and sides just got grungier with this square frontdo for the guys. Inspired by the Roman Emperor Caesar, this sharp horizontal fringe is the ultimate low maintenance look.
All products used are TIGI Professionals Copyright Care www.tigi.com/copyright. Available exclusively at selected salons, including Harris Gibbs Hair Shop, Jewellery Quarter, Birminham. www.harrisgibbs.com
The Crop
A modern twist on the classic business in the front, party in the back, with a strictly cropped cut on top that returns with a striking sweep. Keep the look soft and wearable with light layers and a natural wisp for everyday.
Top tip: Use TIGI Copyright Volume Lift Styling Spray, ÂŁ18, layered in sections for instant volume.
SHOT
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Hair
Bobs and Bangs
A seriously beach-y bob. Balance textured choppy locks with a softly sitting fringe and curl hair loosely to achieve a slightly tousled wave - adding a chic, undone vibe to any look. Top tip: Always apply a workable hairspray, like Tigi Copyright Volume Finishing Spray, ÂŁ16, before using heat to add texture and hold.
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Top tip: Add some TIGI Copyright Shine Booster Treatment, ÂŁ16, to your conditioner, to achieve the ultimate glass-like hair.
Sleek Chic
A perfect parting and blunt bob will make a chic statement. For the smoothest shape, simply blow-dry thoroughly before straightening and taming with lightest drop of oil to tame.
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Hair
Top tip: Prepare your hair well for maximum volume and style support, using a TIGI Copyright Volume Shampoo & Conditioner, ÂŁ18.
The Bigger the Better
Brushed retro curls and a side-sweeping fringe are the combination for a full head of enviable hair. Whether you’re naturally straight or curly, swap silk for texture and allow the flyaways by embracing the mane.
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Get Gelly
Mix a duo of sleek, tight french braids into voluminous, pulled plaits and bring back the 90s gelled strands into perfect symmetry.
Top tip: Keep everything under control by applying a small amount of TIGI Copyright Colour Lustre Oil, ÂŁ18, to make baby hairs easier to work with and smooth down flyaways.
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Beauty Ella Baché
The skincare treatment that everyone’s talking about You’ve probably heard of HydraFacials, but what are they? And why are they so popular? 94
Words: Jade Woodhouse
T
he HydraFacial (also known as hydradermabrasion) is a relatively quick skincare treatment that involves a handheld ‘vacuum-like’ device which gently and painlessly removes impurities from the pores. As far as facials go, this is the full works. It does a little bit of everything, from deep cleansing to exfoliating, whilst generally improving the overall appearance of your skin. There are quite a few steps to the HydraFacial treatment, including detox, exfoliation, brightening, extraction, hydration and rejuvenation - all performed in around half an hour, and it’s worth pointing out that although it’s satisfying to watch as the impurities leave your skin, it isn’t conventionally relaxing. To find out what all the fuss was about, I booked in at Skin HQ in Jewellery Quarter, which offers a variety of different HydraFacial treatments targeted at different concerns, from acne scarring to anti-ageing. I opted for the express treatment, which is ideal if you’re somebody who’s always on the go, and I was in and out within the hour. I’ve never suffered from problematic skin, and apart from the odd hormonal breakout, I’ve always been lucky enough to have a clear complexion. However, I’m always willing to try something new, and the thought of removing a layer of dead skin cells to reveal brand new skin was just too appealing and left me feeling curious. All the facials I’ve had in the past have been relatively similar, all performed in candle-lit rooms
LIKE THE SOUND OF THIS? If you’re feeling experimental with facials, we’ve got a few more for you to try…
Oxygen facial, £70, Flint+Flint As well as flushing out harmful bacteria and reducing fine lines on the surface of the skin, the oxygen facial penetrates deep into the pores to stimulate collagen production, leaving you with naturally firmer, clear skin.
Active facial peel, £75, Malmaison This highly-effective facial peel will remove dead skin cells to give your face a whole new lease of life. And to finish it off in the most relaxing way, Rose Quartz Crystals will be applied to the face to calm skin and leave you feeling naturally refreshed.
Dermaroller, £109, Skin HQ One of the more harsh facial treatments to consider, the dermaroller is an effective method for the removal of acne scars and hyperpigmentation. Micro needles will be brushed over the skin to create tiny punctures, allowing it to reheal with a brand new layer that’s healthier and fresher.
Heaven by Deborah Mitchell ‘Bee Sting’ facial, £67, Harvey Nichols Birmingham This ultra relaxing facial has been specially created with a host of natural and organic ingredients – including the potent bee venom – and is designed to increase collagen and reduce sun damage and pigmentation. Combined with Deborah’s own massage techniques, it gives an instant anti-aging effect.
with relaxing music, but this was a completely different experience. Aside from the fact that the whole of Skin HQ is pristinely white and bright, the treatment itself was like nothing I’d ever experienced. The handheld ‘vortex’ device was gently pushed across my skin, working as a minivacuum to remove impurities whilst circulating vitamin-infused water back into the pores. It may sound rather clinical, but it’s completely painless, suitable for all skin types and can be specifically tailored to your own concerns. Each step has a different purpose, and my personal favourite was the blackhead extraction, which was targeted on the T-zone and nose area to reduce congestion and leave it smooth and flawless. After no time at all, the treatment was over and upon checking my skin in the mirror, I was pleasantly surprised to find glowing skin with visibly reduced blackheads. There’s no downtime required at all from this treatment, and aside from some slight redness that disappears in a few minutes, I was pleasantly surprised to find my whole complexion completely refreshed and noticeably brighter, not to mention it was soft to the touch. For best results, it’s recommended by Skin HQ that you book in for a course of six treatments. However, if you’re just looking for a quick pickme-up, it’s well worth trying out, and one facial will cost you £99. To find out more about the HydraFacial options at Skin HQ in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter, head to www.skinhq.co.uk
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D ELIVERING SARTOR I A L EXCELLEN CE
POST-SHAVE
Suitable for even the most sensitive skin, this hydrating lotion will calm any irritations caused by shaving, leaving your skin feeling soft and smelling like fresh neroli. Aesop Moroccan neroli post-shave lotion, £35, Liquor Store
THE EVERYDAY HERO
SKIN ! SAVIOUR
This Elemis cream is made with natural extracts to hydrate deep into the pores. It’s lightweight and not sticky, and can be applied any time of the day. Elemis Antifatigue day cream, £38.50, Harvey Nichols
FEED YOUR FACE MATTE ME UP
REWIND THE YEARS
Clinically proven to improve the appearance of skin over time, this small but powerful Neal’s Yard moisturiser promises to reduce fine lines, wrinkles and eye bags in just four weeks. Try if for yourself if you don’t believe us. Neal’s Yard Remedies Age defying moisturiser, £35, Bullring & Grand Central Birmingham
Summer may be over, but environmental factors in the colder months can also damage the skin; fight back with our full-proof moisturisers
Keep skin oil-free and refreshed all day with this cruelty-free moisturiser, enriched with green tea, lemon and organic aloe vera. The Body Shop, Green tea and lemon mattifying moisturiser, £12
WAKE UP
Apply this fuss-free moisturiser all over the face in the morning after cleansing to quickly boost complexion and combat dull, tired skin in one easy step - there’s no need to faff around. Kiehl’s Facial fuel, £21.50, Bullring & Grand Central Birmingham 97
Masculinity
W F E O N E A P Y T
G N I D A N E A L M
It’s 2018 — time for the entertainment industry to update its definition of masculinity Words: Phillip Ellis / @Philip_Ellis
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E
“MASCULINITY IS A CULT WHICH DAMAGES YOUNG MEN AND BOYS WHO INTERNALISE THE IDEA THAT THEY MUST NEVER SHOW WEAKNESS OR SHOW TOO MUCH EMOTION”
arlier this year, inspired by the women of the #MeToo movement telling their stories of workplace harassment, actor Terry Crews shared his own account of being groped by Hollywood executive Adam Venit — and in doing so, challenged many people’s preconceived ideas of what a “victim” looks like. Crews is, after all, an action movie star and popular comic actor, known for his roles as Hale Caesar in The Expendables and Sergeant Jeffords in Brooklyn Nine-Nine. However, in the aftermath of the allegations, he faced mockery from members of the public, and ended up dropping out of The Expendables 4 after facing pressure from producers to drop all accusations. The backlash Crews has received speaks volumes about the suppressive culture #MeToo is fighting against, but also the way that we are conditioned, as consumers of media, to see men as bastions of strength at all times. Why is it so unusual for a man to speak openly about being assaulted? Why can’t men be vulnerable? Crews has since said in interviews that “masculinity is a cult” which damages young men and boys who internalise the idea that they must never show weakness or show too much emotion. And he’s right. For generations, axioms like “be a man,” “man up” and “boys don’t cry” have been the background radiation of our lives, bolstered by typically manly role models in films and television shows, who demonstrate how to throw a punch but not necessarily how to healthily process emotions. The men in these movies shoot first and ask questions later, and none of those questions are ever “how does that make you feel?” The images we see in film, television and advertising all seep into our subconscious and shape what we think of as the norm when it comes to stereotypical gender roles — and so this media must be created with extreme care. Let’s look at the example that the movie industry is setting. Muscular leading men have become increasingly prevalent over the last two decades. While Hollywood has always placed unreasonable physical expectations on female stars, it is only really in the 21st Century that it has started applying the same scrutiny to male bodies. Bodybuilders like Arnold Schwarzenegger used to be the exception, but now every superhero franchise is populated by bulging, vascular physiques which somehow 99
Masculinity
“REDEFINING MASCULINITY IN POP CULTURE GOES BEYOND PHYSICALITY. IT’S ABOUT THE VALUES THAT MALE ARCHETYPES EMBODY.” manage to both fulfil a male power fantasy and make the average male viewer feel inadequate. It seems that some viewers, however, are no longer into this look. Earlier this year, the New York Times published an op-ed heralding the “age of the twink,” so named for the rise in popularity of slighter, slender male actors like Call Me By Your Name’s Timothée Chalamet. It was speculated that this waif-like aesthetic functioned as a counterpoint to the muscle-bound cohort of Chrises currently dominating the blockbuster landscape, and offered up a less threatening iteration of masculinity. Included in this pantheon of twinks is Spider-Man star Tom Holland. Onscreen, the 22 year old actor is the most likeable Spidey to date, but he has also garnered a great deal of goodwill for his guest appearance on Lip Sync Battle, in which he donned a wig and corset to re-enact Rihanna’s iconic ‘Umbrella’ video. There was not a single iota of embarrassment in his performance, nor did he play it for comedy as straight men in dresses have done since time immemorial. He committed fully to the number, lipstick and all, and online viewers couldn’t get enough. But redefining masculinity in pop culture goes beyond physicality. It’s about the values that male archetypes embody. We’re used to tough guys punching their way through obstacles, but less common and sorely needed is what I call the “Stanley Tucci type”. In The Devil Wears Prada, Easy A and 100
Breaking down the barrier, one tweet at a time
Noah Centineo “When I’m in work mode and need to be alone my friends support me. There’s no shaming for leaving early or not showing up at all.” @noahcent
Jonathan Van Ness “Omg I just realized the cure to this news cycle, turn on Dixie Chicks “not ready to make nice” and music video angry strong sing cry it at yourself in the mirror. Happy Monday” @jvn
Karamo Brown “It’s important to teach young boys that they don’t have to only look up to men... that it’s awesome if a woman is their hero too! I tell my sons this everyday. All of my heroes are women... from my granny to my mom, to my 10th grade math teach Ms. Silva to Michelle Obama!” @Karamo
Julie & Julia, Tucci plays kind and loving men in stories that centre the experiences of women; a pleasing reversal of the storytelling cliché that usually reduces women to two-dimensional supportive wife or mother characters. In romantic films, we are often asked to root for men who act in selfish and manipulative ways, then “earn” the forgiveness of their beloved (and the audience) with a public grand gesture. What this says is that men can resort to any means as long as they get the girl in the end. But these days, filmmakers and audiences alike yearn for a new kind of heartthrob. In hit Netflix rom-com To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before, Peter Kavinsky (played by Noah Centineo) models a softer kind of romantic hero, who never stops respecting the personal boundaries of his love interest while continually finding new ways to drop hints as to just how much he is into her. The slowly evolving new man of the big screen is not just changing the popular portrayal of how men should treat women, but also how men can be kinder to each other. Magic Mike XXL is, on the surface, a film about eye candy for straight women. But the male strippers in this movie are also an emotionally articulate and empathetic band of brothers who encourage and support each other in pursuing their respective dreams. The biggest television phenomenon of 2018, Queer Eye, makes this masculine empathy its mission statement; the Fab Five lift up their makeover recipients and empower them to live better lives, and this is driven more by talking and sharing than it is by a new wardrobe or haircut. What all of these pop culture moments have in common is a shirking of traditional toxic masculinity, and a willingness on the part of men to be vulnerable and open. As we continue to have increasingly nuanced conversations about gender in our everyday lives, I only hope that this refreshing sort of representation in media becomes less of an exception and more of a rule, inspiring the next generation of male viewers to “be a man” in the ways that really matter.
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The city
HARBORNE: The Place to Be Tuck into a hearty brunch, enjoy a craft ale and browse quirky independent shops. If you’re heading to Harborne, you’ll want to check out these gems 102
Tucked away just a short walk from the high street and offering a variety of functional but stylish homewares, Kin Home is a must-visit if you’re looking to refresh your living space with smaller accessories. The independent designled lifestyle store beautifully curates items from exclusive brands such as Ferm Living, Studio Arhoj, Laboratory perfumes and HAY, allowing you to discover pieces that you won’t find anywhere else in the city.
2. HEDGE
For personal gifts, quirky homewares and stunning floral displays, you’ll be well and truly spoilt for choice at Hedge. Opened by talented brother and sister duo Luke and Rachel, Hedge frequently opens its doors to the public, offering creative workshops and events, proving that anybody can get creative if they really want to.
Illustration: Victoria Brown
1. KIN HOME
OUR FAVOURITES 5. THE HARBORNE FOOD SCHOOL
Fancy yourself as quite the chef? Located in the gorgeous School Yard building at the heart of the high street, book in at Harborne Food School for hands-on cookery classes and chef demos to learn how to prepare, cook and serve just about anything from ramen to Mexican street food. With Christmas fast approaching, this a great gift idea for the foodie in your life.
6. HENRY WONG
If you’re looking to indulge in a dining experience on the more premium end of the price scale, Henry Wong is well worth trying out. With a menu jam-packed with a variety of carefullycurated and well-presented Cantonese favourites including Dim Sum Platters, Sizzling King Prawns in Satay Sauce, Crispy Fried Tofu and Aromatic Duck, this is the ideal spot if you’re celebrating a birthday or enjoying a romantic date night.
7. THE PAPER DUCK
3. RUSTIC TABLE
Creating freshly-made Mediterranean dishes from locally-sourced ingredients, Rustic Table is great if you want to bring a group of friends or family together for shared dining and drinks in relaxed surroundings.
4. HARBORNE KITCHEN
Think fine dining without the faff. With a Midlands Best Local Restaurant Award from Waitrose & Partners under its belt, this friendly dining venue is ‘a restaurant that prides itself on informal service that is met with passion’ and definitely one to watch out for. The menus change with the seasons, so you can visit every couple of months and feast your tastebuds on a whole new tantalising menu.
This cosy craft beer bar may be relatively new on the Harborne scene, but that doesn’t mean it hasn’t already made an impression for all the right reasons. With a drinks menu that’s regularly updated, you can sample the beers before you buy and the staff will be on hand to talk you through any ale-related queries. There may not be any food on the menu, but the staff here are more than happy for you to bring your own, with locals regularly tucking in to a Chinese takeaway whilst enjoying a craft ale (or two).
8. THE PLOUGH HARBORNE
Arguably one of the most popular hotspots in the whole city, The Plough has it all, from stone baked pizzas (which are 2-4-1 every Monday) to quiz nights and one of the best Sunday roasts in Birmingham. With a buzzing atmosphere every night of the week, the pub and restaurant has gone from strength to strength following recent refurbishments, and whether you’re heading in for a cosy drink during the colder months or tucking into a delicious brunch, there’s something for everyone to enjoy at any time of the day.
PLOUGH BURGERS, FROM £13, THE PLOUGH HARBORNE Keep it simple with the Classic Plough Burger, or switch it up with Buffalo Chicken, Smoked Streaky Bacon or Split Pea and Roast Veg - whatever your style, there’s a burger for you. All served with fries, dill pickle and a delicious homemade ‘slaw.
BEGINNER’S BREAD BAKING, £75, HARBORNE FOOD SCHOOL Learn a new skill by proofing, raising and baking your very own bread from scratch with guidance from the bakery experts. You won’t leave empty handed, and you’ll be able to keep all your handy work to snack on later - fun for all the family!
HAY LARGE FLOWERPOT WITH SAUCER, £19, KIN HOME Add a minimalist touch to your home with these practical, but stylish, plant pots which come in a huge variety of colours and sizes to suit every type of living space.
FLOWER BOUQUETS, HEDGE Whether you’re gifting a loved one or refreshing your home with some beautiful flowers, these carefullycrafted bouquets can be hand delivered right to your doorstep.
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Travel
St Anton
CERVINIA
ESCAPE TO THE SLOPES Whether you’re hitting the slopes hard, reclining with a glass of red in your chalet or enjoying an après-ski party, these ski locations can be travelled to with ease from Birmingham Airport
Morzine
Travel Essentials Clinique Moisture surge ultra hydration set, £79
MORZINE
Just over an hour’s drive from Geneva Airport, you’ll discover Morzine – the perfect place to ski for beginners and intermediates. This family-friendly village is a charming and picturesque place to spend a week on the slopes. And after a long day of skiing, you’ll be able to get cosy in traditional chalets to give you the ultimate Alpine experience. But the fun doesn’t stop there, and for the more adventurous travellers, the party continues far into the night at the popular après-ski bars. Travel to Morzine with Inghams.
CHAMONIX
One for the pro-skiers, Chamonix is an exceptionally stunning part of France with fantastic views and challenging heights. It hosted the first ever Winter Olympics back in 1924, and has a reputation for training experts, so if you fancy yourself as a bit of a thrill seeker and want to push yourself to new levels, this is the place to go. Travel to Chamonix with Crystal Ski Holidays. 104
Fly from Birmingham Airport to Turin with Jet2 super affordably, with prices starting from just £29 one way in January 2019. When you land in Turin, you’ll make the journey (which takes just over an hour and a half) to Cervinia, one of the highest resorts in The Alps. If you’re travelling on a tighter budget, this Italian resort is a great option. Alternatively, you can book the whole package fuss-free with Crystal Ski Holidays, and they’ll do all the hard work for you. Travel to Cervinia with Crystal Ski Holidays
COURCHEVEL
This world-renowned resort has a variety of amazing places to stay, dine and shop. Courchevel is made up of five villages, all linked by a free bus service and suitable for every type of skier, so if you’re jetting off in a large group this is worth considering. If you’re looking for something a little different, take a day off the slopes to relax at Aquamotion, Europe’s largest mountain-based waterpark where you can indulge in a massage, recharge your batteries in the hot pools or get adventurous with some water activities. Travel to Courchevel with Inghams.
ST ANTON
GoPro Hero 7, £349, Dixons Travel
Named as having ‘one of the best après scenes in Europe’, and regarded as one of the most popular ski destinations for UK holidaygoers, St Anton in Austria is another one for the more advanced skiers. You can pretty much always rely on this region to have ample snow, and there’s a huge range of chalet-style accommodation to choose from, whether you’re looking for a smaller group or the whole extended family. Travel to St Anton with Crystal Ski. Fly to all destinations from Birmingham Airport Chamonix
Garnier Ambre solaire 50+ UVSKI, Boots
GA P Words: Andrew Riley
MIND THE GENERATION In 1957 Prime Minister Harold Macmillan famously said that ‘we’ve never had it so good’ but did previous generations really have an easier journey than today’s youth? As Andrew Riley argues, whether you’re an ‘entitled snowflake’ or a socalled ‘gammon’ the road into adulthood has never been an easy one
Clockwise from top: Ex Prime Minister Harold Macmillan. Images from the Birmingham Pub Bombings of 1974
F
ollowing World War II and a planet ravaged by brutal conflicts, we saw couples really getting down to bedroom business to rejuvenate a beleaguered population and country. All hale the rise of the Baby Boomers. It was their parents - known as The Silent Generation - who had endured adversity the likes of which we can barely imagine. Despite having survived the horror of war, they instilled in the Boomers a drive to strive for a future better than their own. By the 1960s, this post-war generation saw the arrival of popular culture and witnessed the meteoric rise of pop music led by the likes of The Beatles, The Beach Boys and The Rolling Stones. For the first time fashion defined an era, from the beehive and the shortest of short miniskirts to Flower Power freedom. Baby Boomers focused on doing well for self and family, catapulting their kids away from the kind of hardships experienced previously. Next came the bold, brash and unashamedly confident 70s. Feeding off the momentum of the previous decade, we saw even more era-defining and outlandish fashion: flared jeans and platform boots stomped in as ABBA, Elton John, Queen, ELO and The Eagles emerged on the scene. Despite a devil-may-care attitude of many, the Seventies still suffered its own challenges. The 1978-79 Winter of Discontent brought widespread strikes amongst the public sector as a Labour-led country was held to ransom by the then-very-powerful trade unions. I remember silent nights sat with my grandmother by candlelight and streets lined with rivers of rubbish as the country literally came to a standstill. The troubles in Northern Ireland spilled over to the mainland and we experienced incidences of IRA terrorist attacks on a regular basis and, most significantly, the Birmingham pub bombing of 1974. The decades-long struggle to seek a peaceful solution wasn’t achieved until 1998 when terms of the Good Friday 107
Generation Gap
“I was born in the early 70s which means I’m from Generation X, the supposedly ‘forgotten generation’” Agreement were finally accepted. And whatever the books might tell you, it certainly wasn’t all LSD and a world viewed through rose tinted glasses in The Second City. I was born in the early 70s which means I’m from Generation X, the supposedly “forgotten generation”. I’m not absolutely sure why we were forgotten but perhaps it was because we grew up at a time when the world appeared to be spiralling out of control. Threats of global war were escalating, Russia - then a communist state - and America had absolute hatred for each other based on the two countries’ juxtaposed beliefs, the free world versus oppression. The unrest between the two super powers escalated and the USA seemed to be in constant fear (and sometimes paranoia) of a communist attack. Unrest began back in 1947 and President Truman’s dislike for Stalinist USSR is well documented. There was clearly no dialogue between the two nations, only powerful posturing via a constant sabre-rattling arms race, a frightening war of words and a proxy war in Afghanistan. America’s refusal to share their nuclear secrets resulted in Russia creating nuclear secrets of their own, fuelling The Cold War and the stockpiling of literally thousands of nuclear warheads on both sides, one of which could have easily levelled a city the size of Birmingham. We have more nukes than you, ours are more powerful than yours. You press your ignition and we press ours and nobody wins ... a fragile nuclear balancing act that still exists today (Trump and Putin recently tore up the treaty). 108
Above: Freddie Mercury and Morrisey, frontman of The Smiths
Right: 90s Acid House fashion. Below: Liam and Noel Gallagher from Oasis
By the Eighties, I was a young teenager exposed to TV programmes about the possible nuclear holocaust, seemingly preparing us for what at times felt like the inevitable. On top of this and closer to home, we were dealing with unemployment levels spiralling, the miners’ strike and the bombshell that was HIV and AIDs. I recall the death of Hollywood icon Rock Hudson which was followed by what seemed like an endless stream of famous deaths including the flamboyant Liberace and the brilliant showman Freddie Mercury. Out of much confusion and anger, the blame for this disease was pinned firmly on the gay community who were suddenly terrified to have sex or even admit their sexuality - for many, staying in was the new coming out: we all knew someone affected by or who had died from the disease. In the 80s music was the answer, hammering home powerful messages - UB40’s I Am A One In Ten related to the scale of unemployment specifically in the West Midlands. Frankie Goes to Hollywood’s War anthem and The Smiths, led by Morrisey’s captivating archetypical student band, delivered music to befit an angry nation. Then slowly things seemed to get sorted. US President Ronald Reagan and Russia’s Mikhail Gorbachev accepted an arms treaty, agreeing to a slow programme of denuclearisation and the reduction of nuclear stockpiles to much more sensible levels #sarcasm. Later in the decade we saw the economy take a massive upturn and
the Yuppy was born - these were the young city workers who took advantage of the rising stock market and made “loadsamoney” (credit to Harry Enfield). Unemployment started to decline and the country seemed to reach a much happier place. Hello the 90s - curly male bobs, hooded tops, smiley face badges and dungarees, acid house and raves had landed. Energised by a drug that made everyone party like nobody was watching, we loved everything and everyone in equal measures. Hands in the air like you just don’t care - we didn’t; this was what fun
ABBA are estimated to have sold over 385 million records worldwide
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Generation Gap
October 2018, Hurricane Michael was recorded measuring 96,211 square miles.
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felt like, this was literally ecstasy. Rave ran in alignment with Brit Pop Oasis, Blur, The Stone Roses and The Wonder Stuff. We had no mobile phones, instead our special moments were captured on the odd disposable camera: living in the moment was
right at the top of our bucket list. And then things started to change... at the turn of the century came the millennial bug, which was supposed to bring the whole world to a standstill (and thankfully never did) but it did bring a different type of digital virus that has now spread into every sinew of our lives. In the early 90s I was fortunate enough to be mentored by a marketing expert who was showing me the internet when it was first conceived “this is going to change the world Andrew,” he said. “Yeah, right,” I thought. But he was absolutely right,
its introduction changed everything from how we socialise and interact with each other to how we date, build, bank, travel and shop. The cheekily-named Noughties were really anything but. 9/11 changed the world forever and the repercussions of this most devastating event are still playing out to this very day. The second monumental incident, the financial crash which started 2007, has taken us over a decade to recover from and we are still challenged with its
Clockwise from top: Tim Berners Lee, creator of the internet, woman using mobile phone, 9/11 terrorist attack in New York
impact. The crash drove a much deeper divide between the rich and poor, resulting in global political unrest, the Brexit conundrum and a social media aggravating an angry and divisive country. Social media and the internet have positives and negatives in equal proportion, the likes of which are only now becoming obvious. Whether it’s Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, we have become obsessed with our own imperfections and filter ourselves to perfection. Face-to-face interactions are inhibited - a major contributing factor to escalating mental health issues - and we have been exposed to all of the world’s problems like never before, compounding the feeling that there’s so much wrong with the world that it becomes exasperating. The adage that too much of a good thing can be bad for you has never been more true. So where are we right here, right now? Although there is still work to be done, there’s greater acceptance of minority groups. Hashtags such as #MeToo for example, have helped raise awareness of mistreatment in the workplace. There have been countless advancements in medicine - cancer is more treatable than ever and as science continues to prove effects of climate change we have started to take responsibility for damage done to our planet over the last century. It’s true that Millennials get a hard time. As crash test dummies for the digital age they have been unfairly labelled as the “the snowflake generation” which has only bred contempt and disrespect of preceding generations. Through a general feeling of political disengagement, Brexit appeared to catch Millennials completely off guard. The vote was, in the main, decided by an older generation who felt isolated and left behind by a fast changing world. Right now it seems that the country is angry and on the odd occasion I trawl through my Facebook timeline, I see the Brexit thermometer is rising once again. Undoubtedly, this is the most pressing issue our country faces and we need to see it resolved quickly.
“Social media and the internet have positives and negatives in equal proportion, the likes of which are only now becoming obvious”
The fact is that the world has always had problems which ebb and flow, but sadly we seldom act on our knowledge and the cycle starts again. Globally temperatures are rising, freak weather and natural disasters are commonplace and more and more countries are becoming divided by populist politics which only seek to divide us even further. Taking the time to listen to both the preceding and proceeding generations is crucial - we need to look back in time to look forward. It is vital that we learn from the past and the mistakes that were made, look at the bigger picture and challenge the major issues: whether that’s national and global unrest, divided countries, melting ice caps, extinction of beautiful beasts, plastic pollution, deforestation, over-population, ageism and anger. Without a doubt, there is much that needs addressing and it is important to allow our teens and twenty-somethings to become empowered enough to believe that they have the right to control, challenge and change. So as for the future, it’s over to you Millennials. You’ve got this. 111
FOR THE Interiors
Whether you’re investing in an iconic piece of furniture or simply refreshing your kitchenware, these are the interior picks you need to know about
Kaledio Tray by HAY, from £13, Liquor Store Hay’s iconic Kaledio tray is a series of steel geometric trays that fit inside or interlock next to one another. Clara von Zweigbergk’s graphic design background is evident in this myriad of shapes, sizes and shades. Use separately as a burst of colour or create a masterpiece constellation.
HOME 112
Ferm Living Ripple Long Glass, ÂŁ49, Kin Home
These mouth blown glasses boast a sophisticated feel with their rippled effect and elongated shape. Watch an iridescent display of light appear when pouring a tipple in this beautiful companion to an evening drink.
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Interiors
Wanda chandelier, ÂŁ169, MADE.COM Inspired by the launch of the first satellite, Italian designer and pioneer of the mid-century modern design movement, Gino Sarfatti, created this extraordinary fixture. The Wanda is beautiful, practical and always multidirectional. MADE.COM revived this design through a straight, LED bulb.
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Imola Armchair, BoConcept, from ÂŁ1,889
Designed by Henrik Pedersen and with inspiration from a tennis ball, BoConcept’s Imola armchair is a true icon. The details of sweeping curves and striking legs makes a comfortable statement in the home.
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Interiors
The Platner Collection Side Table, £864, Heal’s
The work of architect and interior designer Warren Platner, who released this unique design back in 1966. A structure that has truly stood the test of time, the strong and curious shape serves as an iconic side table and fabulous ornament.
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Rattan Dining Chair, ÂŁ130, Habitat
Updating the 70s rattan trend in a contemporary style is the Feliz hand-woven chair by Habitat. Featuring metal legs and a simple scoop seat, this is a modern alternative to your average dining chair.
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Interiors
Ziggy sideboard ÂŁ629, Swoon Editions Leave your guests starstruck with this statement Ziggy sideboard, which oozes glamour, sopistication and just a little bit of fun.
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Vanity Mirror, ÂŁ289, Calligaris Softly rounded edges compliment sleek metallics on this statement wall hanging. Available in two sizes and metals, add a hit of instant cool when paired with pastel tones.
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Goin’ Up Goin Down
Mikala Lyons Alice Catherine prettiest star rectangle pendant, £135
no
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co
MIKAELA LYONS
The Birmingham-based jewellery designer, Mikaela Lyons, creates ethical pieces which are all personally designed, made and finished by hand before being individually hand-marked. From coin pendants to hoop earrings, these delicate items are the perfect way to refresh your look.
NO ISSUE
Up your present game and wrap to impress with some personalised tissue paper. Simply upload an image file of your logo or design on No Issue to create your very own custom wrapping paper in just a few clicks - you’ll soon be the envy of your household.
Topshop Faux fur zip up jacket, £69
BIG & BORG
Teddy coats are everywhere at the moment and we can’t get enough of the them - in all shapes, sizes and colours. From oversized pastels to cropped bright hues, they’re the perfect combination of comfort and warmth.
FOR THE FOODIES Topshop Borg coat, £65
GOIN’ UP GOIN’ DOWN
If you’re looking for something to brighten up your daily commute, check out Jessie Ware’s podcast Table Manners, where she cooks dinner for a famous guest with her mother Lennie. Having covered topics from curly blowdries with Cheryl Cole to medieval languages with Nigella Lawson, it’s a simple concept that’s incredibly entertaining which makes for easy listening.
Everything that’s heating up (and cooling down) for us this season, from foodie podcasts to Spice Girls OVERPRICED BEAUTY CALENDARS
More often than not, you’ll end up paying far too much for a handful of sample size testers - some of which you might not even use again. We’re all for trying new products, but not for a hefty price tag of over £100.
CHRISTMAS DRINKS
We’ll skip the sickly sweet Black Forest Hot Chocolate and Eggnog Latte this year. Thanks, but no thanks.
120
SPEND ALERT
SPICE GIRLS
The iconic girl band recently announced that they’ll be performing a comeback tour, but without Victoria Beckham. Looks like we won’t be spicing up our lives after all.
STAY IN STYLE... Luxury serviced apartments in the centre of Birmingham
Book online now at: WWW.8WATERLOOSTREET.CO.UK WATERLOO STREET APARTMENTS 8 WATERLOO STREET, BIRMINGHAM B2 5PG BOOKINGS@8WATERLOOSTREET.CO.UK | 0121 389 0784
Visit Mailbox this Christmas and discover exclusive fashion and exciting new independents, luxury furniture brands, stylish bars, restaurants, boutique hotels and more!
Only 5 minutes walk from New Street Station or park in our award winning 24/7 secure car park
Royal Mail Street, Birmingham, B1 1RD • 0121 632 1000
The Mailbox, Birmingham, B1 1RE
