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SUMMER 2010 FREE!
summerzine edit
The holiday dress ÂŁ34.99
Yes, it’s been a long wait, but summer’s finally here. Blue skies, daisies in the grass, sand between your toes... and the first issue of River Island Summerzine to help you style it your way 22 EXCLUSIVE! BE TRUE TO YOURSELF Kelis! Ashley Banjo! The A-listers model RI’s new Graduate Fashion Week pieces 5 SUMMER TRENDS Four River Island looks to help your style pop! 14 STYLE SNOOP From staycation to vacation, get your celebrity inspiration for holiday packing here 18 GREAT RIVERS OF THE WORLD What they’re wearing, from Moscow to Dubai!
20 DIARY OF A DESIGNER The story of a skirt, from sketch to store, by the girl who made it
30 COMING SOON A sneak preview of RI’s Autumn/ Winter 2010 looks. Get planning!
34 IT’S JUST OUR WAY OF SAYING “THANK YOU” Your chance to win a trip to NYC, a year’s worth of shoes and a whole lot more!
2 SUMMERZINE EDIT River Island’s top instant updates 13 DESIGNS FOR YOU Paloma Faith models seriously cool RI Design Forum pieces 16 FASHION EDITOR’S CHOICE The experts style their favourite RI piece from high summer to deep winter 19 SUMMER NOTES News, views and hot launches 28 MY LIFE IN STYLE From a mischievous mutt to a punk tee, find the fashion inspiration of RI insiders 33 I’M WITH THE BAND Chill out at in-store gigs with River Island Sessions
SHOP RIVER ISLAND ONLINE AT RIVERISLAND.COM. ALL PRICES CORRECT AT TIME OF GOING TO PRESS R IVE R I S LAN D S U M M E RZI N E
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summerzine edit
The festival shorts ÂŁ39.99
SUMMER TREND MODELS WEAR, FROM LEFT: JACKET, £34.99; DRESS, £39.99; BAG, £24.99; BOOTS, £29.99. TOP, £39.99; DRESS, £44.99; SU NG LASSES, £12.99; BOOTS, £64.99. SH I RT, £34.99; TOP, £29.99; SKI RT, £49.99; BAG, £64.99; SHOES, £64.99. B ELT AN D J EWELLERY, FROM A SELECTION
£16.99
£29.99
£14.99
Style note “Statement accessories, like this fringed bag, really finish off a grunge look” Sophie, River Island Style Insider
£34.99 £39.99
£29.99
£XX £39.99
£XX
£49.99, M ENSWEAR
Be a dirty pretty thing in love-worn khakis and chiffon dresses, perfect for the festival circuit. Uncombed hair optional
£64.99
£74.99
Style note “I like to toughen up a dress with loose-fit layers and boy boots” Charlotte, River Island £29.99 Style Insider
£39.99
£29.99
OWN TH E LOOK
* Wear a precious skirt or dress with worker boots - it’s all about the mix * Throw your boyfriend’s oversized parka over a party dress to work a laid-back evening look * Layering is king and also incredibly flattering, so don’t be afraid to experiment
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summerzine edit
The maxi dress ÂŁ44.99
SUMMER TREND
MODELS WEAR, FROM LEFT: DRESS, £39.99; SANDALS, £54.99. DRESS, £34.99; SANDALS, £34.99. TOP, £14.99; BUSTIER, £19.99; SHORTS, £24.99; SUNGLASSES, £14.99; SANDALS, £29.99. ALL JEWELLERY, FROM A SELECTION
£39.99 £39.99
£XX
Style note “Print dresses look perfect any time. Wear with gladiators and sunglasses by day, then throw on a pair of heels for night” Sophie, River Island Style Insider
From graffiti splashes to tribal graphics, turn heads with look-at-me prints
£74.99
£29.99
£5.99
Style note “I love this maxi dress. I can’t wait to wear it in Ibiza this summer” Kirsty, River Island Style Insider
£26.99
*
£34.99 £34.99
OWN TH E LOOK
Feeling bold? Experiment with mixing and matching prints for a cute daywear style Prints are perfect for updating a classic, muted outfit. Just add bright shoes and a clashing bag Keep the look contemporary with minimum accessories. The print says all you need
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*
£34.99
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summerzine edit
The new loafer ÂŁ39.99
£6.99
SUMMER TREND
£9.99
MODELS WEAR, FROM LEFT: MAC, £59.99; T-SHIRT, £9.99; SHORTS, £24.99; BAG, £19.99; SHOES, £39.99. B LAZER, £59.99; SHORTS, £24.99; SHIRT, £26.99; BOW TIE, £9.99; SHOES, £44.99. CARDIGAN, £24.99; SH I RT, £26.99; SHORTS, £24.99; SHOES, £39.99
£29.99
£12.99
Style note “Accessories are great for an instant nautical update. Try deck shoes or a striped holdall” Michael, River Island Style Insider
£19.99
Keep crisp and cool with stylish stripes, classic shades and simple cuts. Shipshape!
£24.99 £9.99
£14.99
£24.99 Style note “Don’t stick to navy and white – mix things up with printed shorts or coloured chinos” Michael, River Island Style Insider
£34.99
OWN TH E LOOK
* Elements of this look – striped tops, navy-blue shades – are classics that make perfect additions to any wardrobe * If you only buy one piece, make it a cotton blazer. Add a long cotton scarf for rock-star cool, or throw on over shorts to smarten up on a hot day * Ditch the trainers in favour of deck shoes or canvas Oxfords. It’s simple details that count R IVE R I S LAN D S U M M E RZI N E
£69.99
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summerzine edit
The rock-star jacket ÂŁ59.99
SUMMER TREND
£29.99 £14.99
MODELS WEAR, FROM LEFT: JACKET, £59.99; T- SH I RT, £6.99; J EANS, £34.99; BOOTS, £64.99. T- SH I RT, £16.99; J EANS, £44.99; SCARF, £7.99; ESPADRI LLES, £7.99. CARDIGAN, £34.99; T- SH I RT, £12.99; J EANS, £39.99. WRIST B EADS, £4.99
£44.99
£12.99
£59.99
Style note “A military jacket is a brilliant update to any outfit” Michael, River Island Style Insider
£XX
Relax off duty in army-inspired shapes. Think combat boots and tailored shirts with cool tees and pop-star jackets. Officer class
£12.99
£6.99 PER PAI R
OWN TH E LOOK
Style note “Take the smart edge off a blazer by wearing it with a rock-print tee” Michael, River Island Style Insider
£14.99
£59.99 £7.99
£29.99
£XX
* Look for details – buttoned pockets, epaulettes or tough prints – to subtly reference the trend * If you’re wearing a military-style piece on top, don’t wear one on your lower half too. Unless you’re going to a costume party... * Keep it modern with a crisp silhouette and a muted palette, plus a flash of red R IVE R I S LAN D S U M M E RZI N E
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summerzine edit
The statement shoe ÂŁ64.99
IN STORE AND ONLINE NOW
£49.99
Want to work an ultra-special look? Take a tip from singer Paloma Faith and try River Island Design Forum. But hurry – it’s strictly limited edition…
£34.99
PALOMA WEARS, FROM LEFT: TOP, £29.99; SHORTS, £34.99; HAT, £14.99; G LOVES, £14.99. JACKET, £34.99; TOP, £29.99; LEGG I NGS, £19.99; B U N NY EARS, £12.99; SAN DALS, £39.99. TOP, £29.99; SHORTS, £19.99; J EWELLERY, FROM A SELECTION
Charlotte Simpson’s op-art prints
£16.99
£14.99
hen Paloma Faith pitched up at River Island’s recent Design Forum shoot, she had no trouble choosing clothes from the burlesquethemed collection to express her kooky, vampish style. But then that’s precisely what Design Forum is about: providing extraspecial items that help you express your own individual look. “It’s a great platform for young designers,” says Paloma of the range. “I really like the navy-blue playsuit!” Launched earlier this year, Design Forum is a deluxe collection created by a host of exciting future fashion stars. With a new designer range in store every month, the initiative represents River Island’s ongoing commitment to discovering the most creative designs from the cream of new fashion talent. Don’t expect the usual fashion suspects – from new labels discovered on market stalls to fledgling print designers and limited-edition pieces (created in-house by members of the brand’s very own design team), River Island’s trend snoopers haven’t left a stone unturned when seeking out fashion’s next big things. The upshot is a roster of design talent, commissioned to create exclusive capsule collections for River Island. Head to the Design Forum page at styleinsider. riverisland.com/blog to check out the updated range. Look out for Graduate Fashion Week’s 2009 River Island Gold Award winner Myrto Stamou. Her exquisitely crafted silk jersey and leather body-con cocktail dresses are coming soon. And don’t miss last year’s Graduate Fashion Week Zandra Rhodes Textile Award winner Charlotte Simpson, whose playful printed leggings and sheath dresses (in store 7 June) look set to be a summer must. So what are you waiting for? See behind the scenes at the Paloma shoot on styleinsider. riverisland.com. Design Forum’s latest collection, modelled by Paloma Faith, is in store and online now. From £29.99 to £49.99
In store now
£49.99
£49.99
Myrto Stamou’s body-con chic R IVE R I S LAN D S U M M E RZI N E
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GET THE LOOK
Summerzine’s favourite trendsetters work the looks you’ll really need for high summer. Shop them in style at River Island
£29.99
£3.99
£34.99
AI SY LOWE
£3.99 £24.99
£29.99
£19.99
Having fun at the Coachella Festival, California. THE LOOK: rock’n’roll edge meets model pretty. THINK: denim-and-vest simplicity, rock-star jacket, bright battered plimsolls, pile-’em-on trinkets.
£14.99 £9.99
£5.99
£7.99
LEXA C H U N G
Out shopping in the sunbaked streets of Silverlake, California. THE LOOK: practical yet effortlessly cool. THINK: flat sandals, floaty dress, quirky sun hat, roomy bag (pack light!). 14
RIVER ISLAND SUMMERZINE
£24.99
£29.99
£5.99
£29.99
£24.99
£12.99
£16.99
ARAH HAR D I N G Covering up in the Caribbean. THE LOOK: sun-safe style. THINK: gladiators, glamour and scarves, scarves, scarves!
£12.99 £34.99 £24.99
I HAN NA
Loud and proud out clubbing in LA. THE LOOK: fierce chic. THINK: lucky dress, ladybling jewels and bag, sky-high stilettos.
£34.99 £14.99
PHOTOGRAPHS BIG PICTURES, PACIFIC COAST NEWS, SPLASH, WENN. *RIVER ISLAND COMPETITION RULES APPLY. SEE STYLEINSIDER.RIVERISLAND.COM/COMPETITIONS
£34.99 £5.99
£24.99
YOU COU LD WI N ALL TH IS! £34.99
£49.99
Who fancies winning everything on this page? Stupid question, of course – everyone does… For a chance to take home these crucial River Island summer looks, enter at styleinsider. riverisland.com/summerzinecomp by 21 June 2010. The winner’s name will be drawn after the closing date. You never know, these Style Snoop ensembles could be on their way to you soon. Good luck!* 15
EXPERT ADVICE
Want to learn savvy shopping? We invited four style experts to choose one River Island investment piece, then work it three ways from now through to winter
MY RIVER INVESTMENT PIECE: BODY-CON DRESS, £39.99 “The corsetry detail on this dress makes it ideal for working Spring/ Summer’s underwear-as-outerwear trend, while the super-chic neutral palette gives it a timeless quality that means I’ll wear it well into next season and beyond!”
SUMMER Wear with killer heels and a spray tan!
AUTUMN Layer with a simple tee and hi-top trainers for a casual look.
WINTER Add a black coatigan to accentuate the corset detailing.
MY RIVER INVESTMENT PIECE: FLORAL SHORTS, £29.99 “These shorts are incredibly versatile and will work as well with Spring/ Summer’s global urban traveller theme as they will Autumn/Winter’s new pretty-tough look, which Christopher Kane coined in his show. Bear in mind one simple rule: stick to one embellished or embroidered piece and keep the rest of the look clean.” SUMMER Accessorise with friendship bracelets, necklaces – and a parka! 16
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AUTUMN A satchel and collarless tailored shirt say boyish yet feminine.
WINTER Pair with awesomely high ankle boots and attitude.
MY RIVER INVESTMENT PIECE: BLACK MAC, £59.99 “The mac is a classic: it has a winter look with a lightweight feel; a mix of a trench with a hint of military. It can be thrown over jeans to run to the corner shop without looking like an overdressed trendy, or worn with a suit to look cool but smart. Probably best to buy two.”
SUMMER Wear the sleeves pushed up to the elbow.
AUTUMN Channel Doctor Who’s style with a long stripe scarf.
WINTER Note suit trousers tucked into hiking boots.
MY RIVER INVESTMENT PIECE: PRINTED TROUSERS, £29.99 “Investment pieces don’t have to be boring. These trousers are proof you can get your money’s worth out of more ‘fashiony’ pieces – you just have to style them well. These trousers work Spring/ Summer’s eclectic festival look to perfection, but will effortlessly move into Autumn/Winter’s deluxe hippie style. Faux fur and vintage lace at the ready!”
SUMMER Team with a slouchy blazer and multi-strap wedged shoe-boot.
AUTUMN Layer up with a stylish shearling gilet.
WINTER Add a tailored black velvet jacket and black chiffon blouse.
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INTERNATIONAL
Who’s wearing what in River Island’s top spots? We asked the sales assistants in six River stores worldwide to tell us what the locals are loving… ALICIA, 18 It’s denim-mania in Warsaw, says Alicia! Poles love their jeans dark indigo or goth grey, and shrinky-fit skinny (above) – does that make them bean Poles? Americana, plaid and denim-on-denim trends are fierce too. Skintight jeans, £39.99
SOFIA, 18 Russian girls love their dresses short, ruched and glamski! The dress that’s really rocking Red Square now is the two-tone nautical number with chains (left), which gives you a lot of style for your rouble, says Sofia. Vest dress, £39.99
CONCHITA, 22 Everything’s coming up roses, rather than tulips, in Amsterdam. Dutch girls are loving 1980s-meetspunk digi-print florals on this boxy blazer (above) in the coolest canalside cafes, says Conchita. Floral blazer, £34.99
INES, 18 Brit girls love a bit of glitz and glamour, reckons Ines. That’s why sequined blazers, blingtastic boleros and the lacy crop top (above) sell like hot cakes here. Ines likes to team hers with cut-off hot pants and ballet flats for modern summer chic. Crop top, £44.99 18
ANNETTE, 22 Dubai girls like to cover up against non-stop rays in lightweight kaftans (above) and cool summer fabrics like linen and cotton. Annette loves them in vibrant colours and prints. Kaftan, £39.99
JENNY, 19 Who needs a statement necklace when you can have a frock with one attached? Jenny says the Harajuku-style, 3D-effect dress (above) ticks all the boxes in downtown Singapore. Dress, £49.99
NEWS
ne to watch
All the River news and views you need to shake up your closet while the sun shines!
Style crush alert! Model Clara Paget, 21, has already shot for Dazed & Confused and Vogue and now she has modelled for River Island (right). She was also in St Trinian’s 2 and model agency Next tells us she even runs a club night with her bro’. Next stop, world domination! See Clara on the cover and in Summer Trends
tudent union!
£12.99
As well as bringing you the best clothes around, RI loves to nurture great designers (of course, the two things go hand in hand). Sponsoring Graduate Fashion Week (GFW) means RI gets first pick of graduates. Around 100 have passed through the brand’s doors during the collaboration, with 35 finding full-time jobs. These include accessories designer Farrah Godwin, (Kingston University, 2006); menswear accessories designer Russell Williams, (University of Derby, 2005) and shoe designer Sammy Goff (Kingston Uni, 2008). Check them out in store and online.
£14.99
bso-fashion-lutely!
Who better to advise you on the hottest picks from River Island than the fashion experts who actually work there? The Style Insiders’ mission? To help you express your fashion flair. Check out styleinsider.riverisland.com to see them road-test seasonal looks and put their insanely cool spin on crucial trends. See their style notes on Summer Trends too!
£??.99 £24.99 £54.99
£24.99
Sophie Robinson, Online Stylist
ittle River
Signature look: tie-dye and maxi lengths. Favourite thing about summer: Pimm’s o’clock!
For the fashionable little people in your life comes Boys and Girls, the new kidswear range from River Island that’s big on trends. Perfect for teeny trailblazers aged 3 to 10 years, this collection of wicked wardrobe essentials includes ra-ra skirts, drummer-boy jackets and hi-tops. In store ond online now. From £3.99 for vests to £24.99 for statement pieces
Charlotte Cavendish, Media Marketing Assistant
Signature look: body-con dress with a blazer – and heels, please! Autumn/Winter RI buy: aviator-style sheepskin jacket.
Michael Taylor, Assistant Buyer, Menswear
Signature look: being individual. RI Spring/Summer tip: two-tone deck shoes and short shorts!
Kirsty Senior, Marketing Assistant
Signature look: glamorous and girlie. A/W trend prediction: shearling on everything.
£19.99
Get ahead, get a panda! Katy Perry wears one (left). So does Marina and the Diamonds. Ellie Goulding has tweeted about hers and Tokyo kids can’t get enough. They even have their own Facebook page! Since RI launched the headgear with ears last autumn, panda hats have been selling at a rate of 687 a day. That’s 76 an hour! Here’s a peek at the fox version for A/W, price £12.99.
£14.99
£14.99 R IVE R I S LAN D S U M M E RZI N E
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BEHIND THE SCENES
Four hundred pins, 22 scrunched-up illustrations, 10 metres of blush-hued silk… and four weeks later a statement skirt hits the stores at River Island. Here’s how our designer Lucy Moller (below) did it 12 September 2009 I’ve been interested in vintage lingerie for ages and recently spotted a shoot in Vogue that incorporated lingerie as outerwear. And who could ignore the big body-con trend of the past 18 months? To help hone my ideas, I visit the archives at the National Museum of Ireland in Dublin and find some incredible photographs that date back to the 1920s. I am inspired by girdles with corset-style lacing and think it would be a nice design detail to use on a skirt. The foundation shades of blush and peach plus the use of silk and lace get me thinking about using this colour palette and super-soft fabrics. Armed with my research, I put together my moodboards for lingerie-inspired daywear to present to the Design Directors. They like them!
20 September I sketch my ideas and start to drape material on the stand. It is important that whatever I design has hanger appeal – it’s not good enough to create something that looks great on a mannequin but shapeless on a hanger – no one will buy it. It takes me at least a day of tinkering to create something that looks good both on and off the mannequin. 20
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29 September My sketches are finalised and become working drawings that are given to a pattern cutter to translate into a skirt pattern. Fabric is ordered and a cotton toile [test-piece] is made to iron out any potential problems. This is always a really exciting moment for me – seeing one of my designs made three-dimensional. Suddenly my idea really exists…
6 October The fabric arrives and we create the first sample. The usual process is that we hold on to it for a few weeks while we meet with our Design Director, who cherry-picks from a selection of skirts. This time, no sooner have I finished the sample than it’s whipped away to our press day (when River Island unveils its latest collection to key fashion editors and journalists). I’m nervous, nervous!
7 October Great, the press love it! The skirt is booked and is being put into production for summer to hit the stores in May 2010. It’s really thrilling when the press get excited, and even more so when I see someone walking down the street in one of my designs. I can’t wait to see how River Island customers style my skirt and make it their own. Look out for Lucy’s skirt in store and online now, price £39.99
Job: designer (skirts and tailoring) Training: fashion degree at Dublin’s National College of Art and Design Big break: winning a River Island prize of a three-month RI internship and bursary in 2006 Best moment: just two months into River Island, designing a yellow dress that was snapped up by the press and secured her a full-time job in RI’s design atelier! 21
EXCLUSIVE
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In a Summerzine exclusive, pop star Kelis and Diversity’s Ashley Banjo model River Island’s latest Graduate Fashion Week pieces– and tell us why they love to support new talent Photography Diana Gomez Styling Arieta Mujay OPPOSITE: KELIS WEARS TOP, £19.99; SHORTS, £29.99; JEWELLERY, WORN THROUGHOUT, FROM A SELECTION. THIS PAGE: ASHLEY WEARS JACKET, £39.99; HOODED T-SHIRT, £19.99; SCARF, £12.99
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elis is going through a style transformation. The singer is modelling River Island’s new Graduate Fashion Week Womenswear range – innovative pieces designed by GFW alumni, now part of the brand’s in-house design team. And speaking from the River Island shoot, she is certainly in the right place for experimentation. “I can feel a change coming,” Kelis says, looking herself up and down in the mirror. The former model and music pioneer stands tall and characteristically fierce in a body-sculpting PVC panelled dress at the New York studio. “I dress to suit the way I’m feeling at a particular time,” she smiles. “It’s emotional and situational.” The situation now for the 30-year-old New Yorker is that she is about to embark on a European tour for her critically lauded fifth album Flesh Tone. It’s been four years since her last one, during which time she’s become mum to nine-month-old baby Knight and trained as a Cordon Bleu chef. As she takes her place centre-stage once more, Kelis’s style is becoming less super-cook mum, more A-list star again. “These shorts are so cute!” she exclaims, slipping into a bling-fabulous get-up of lace shorts, printed top and killer jewels. “I love this collection,” she says with a twirl. “It’s really young and fun – the way it should be. It’s like me!” Aged just 14, Kelis was discovered by a model scout as she walked down a New York street – “I think it was because I was so tall!” she laughs – and at 17 she started making music. Here is a woman who knows all about supporting new talent. “It’s really important,” she says, between poses. “People need help and encouragement when they’re starting out. That’s why I think what River Island is doing with fashion graduates is so great.” 24
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“I dress to suit the way I’m feeling at a particular time: it’s emotional and situational” Taking a break to tend to baby Knight, who is being unbelievably patient – “he’s a good baby,” she beams proudly – the singer says she is always on the look-out for new designers to service her eclectic look. “It’s great to mix it up,” she says. “I like to seek out less well-known labels.” She flashes her lightning-bolt eyes at the camera. Click. “You’ve just got to be true to yourself.” When she’s not in the studio (as she has been for the past year with producers Will.i.am and David Guetta), being true to herself for Kelis means “getting out of town to go fishing and chilling at home watching movies and cooking.” A Kelis range of sauces could be in the pipeline (look out, Loyd Grossman!), and she even hopes to open her own restaurant one day. There’ll be no rest or restaurants for Kelis just now, however. With festival season upon us, she will be taking her new album – and, no doubt, her hot new look – to a stage near you soon. You saw it here first. Flesh Tone by Kelis is out now. For more on Kelis, visit iamkelis.com
OPPOSITE: KELIS WEARS JACKET, £39.99; BODY, £24.99; TIGHTS, £5.99; SHOE-BOOTS, £64.99. THIS PAGE: KELIS WEARS TOP, £19.99; JEANS, £49.99; SHOES £74.99 25
THIS PAGE: ASHLEY WEARS JACKET, £59.99; T-SHIRT, £6.99; CHINOS, £29.99; LOAFERS, £39.99. OPPOSITE: ASHLEY WEARS CARDIGAN, £24.99; T-SHIRT, £6.99; SHORTS, £24.99; LOAFERS, £39.99
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“I would never have thought to wear some of these styles before, but I love it all” shley Banjo has discovered a new talent – as a model. The Diversity dancer/choreographer, Britain’s Got Talent winner and recent judge on Sky 1’s Got to Dance is showcasing River Island’s new Graduate Fashion Week Menswear looks. It’s RI’s sixth year as title sponsors of GFW, and Banjo couldn’t look more at home in the clothes designed at River Island by some of its graduate team. From the preppy cardigans and dandy trilbies to ripped denims and workman boots, he dances from look to look with the laid-back cool he’s become loved for. Of course, Banjo is the perfect ambassador for the clothes: a bright new talent supporting other new discoveries – and finding looks he didn’t even think he could wear in the process. “Everything I wore today was designed by designers who came through Graduate Fashion Week, and it’s just amazing. I would never have thought to wear some of these styles before, but I love it all,” he says, twisting on the spot with a deft flick of his hat. Famous for toting the military look on stage, like his hero Michael Jackson, Banjo confides that he is usually a “standard” baggy jeans and trainers kind of guy off stage. Not any more… It’s a wonder River Island managed to catch Banjo for the shoot. Since BGT, life for the 11-strong dance troupe Diversity – three sets of brothers and four friends – has been a whirlwind of travelling, touring and TV, not to mention a performance at Number 10 and an audience with the Queen. Working an officer-in-scarlet look, Diversity stormed December’s Royal Variety Show. “You think, ‘Oh my God, I’m standing in front of the Queen.’ I asked her if she enjoyed it – she said she loved it!” Like River Island’s GFW designers, Diversity – who all met at Banjo’s parents’ dance school in Essex – are testament to the transformative power of talent. The boys’ 30-date spring
tour sold out in 24 hours, and they have another at Christmas. “Getting our own tour is the best moment so far,” explains Banjo, prior to dashing off to Cardiff to play to an arena of 6,500 fans. “It’s crazy: we’re going to venues where we previously performed in competitions, and now it’s our poster on the wall.” And all this while working towards a degree in Natural Sciences at Queen Mary University, albeit deferred for a year. “I guess I’ve been a bit busy!” he laughs. Diversity’s brand of street dance was declared “absolute perfection” by BGT judge Simon Cowell. So how does choreographer Banjo do it? Slipping into long chino shorts and donning a pair of preppy glasses to complete the final look on the shoot, he says, “I base routines on day-to-day stuff that people not involved in dance would like. You’ve got to be yourself but also be original.” For more from Ashley, visit diversityofficial.com. All items worn by Kelis and Ashley Banjo are available in River Island stores and online now. Visit styleinsider.riverisland.com to see behind-the-scenes footage from the Kelis and Ashley Banjo Summerzine shoots 27
INSPIRATION
FARIDA KAIKOBAD BRAND DIRECTOR, WOMENSWEAR I CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT Clarins Beauty Flash Balm. It lifts and brightens and tightens. Perfect! I LIVE WITH my husband Stephen and son Jack, 11, in Surrey. And I have a stepson, Tom, 24.
PATTI SMITH is my style icon. I also love Lou Reed and all things New York: rebels in scruffy, beautiful clothes.
MY FAVOURITE PIECE is my God Save the Queen T-shirt – with graphics by Jamie Reid – which I bought in Seditionaries, Malcolm McLaren and Vivienne Westwood’s shop. I didn’t know about fashion – music was my inspiration.
FOR OUR FIRST VALENTINE’S DAY, Stephen bought me a copy of Romeo and Juliet. He also bought me an engraved silver Persian box, a little nod to my heritage.
I HAVE ABOUT 40 TRILBIES. It was a hat that led to my first success at River Island. It was Boy George-style – this was the 1980s. No one thought it would work, but it became a best-seller.
CLASSIC FILM ACTRESSES inspire me – the attention to detail in how they looked. I love Ingrid Bergman as Joan of Arc and Grace Kelly in High Society.
I WAS ALWAYS ARTY, but I couldn’t draw. In my teens, I’d write and express myself through clothes – and I was in a lot of bands!
I GOT MY FIRST JOB at Chelsea Girl (as RI then was) from a job ad at an agency – I had to borrow the bus fare! A few months later I was off to Korea as a buyer. My motto is, “Work hard and you can get there!”
I LOVE THE PUNK spirit. When I was in sixth form, I bunked off a school concert – in which I was headlining – to go and see the Sex Pistols.
FOR A/W 2010 I’M THINKING OF a laid-back, thrift-store feel. Think Diane Keaton in Annie Hall.
THE PROPHET ZARATHUSTRA image is a link to my Parsi heritage. His mantra is “Good thoughts, good words, good deeds”, which I love to live by. I LOVE VINTAGE JEWELLERY. I like to really do something with it. Right now, it’s Deco rings with green nail varnish. 28
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I FIRST WORE CHANEL NO.5 in 1982. I’ve worn it every day since.
MY RI SUMMER TIP is a cotton floral dress with a retro vibe. I’m going to revive this vintage River Island number, which comes from the early 1990s.
I’M A JEANS AND T-SHIRT GIRL at heart. The jeans have always been skinny. I like to add eccentric shoes, like these from Prada.
Who designed your favourite River Island shoes or sourced that super-cool military jacket? And what was their inspiration? RI Summerzine checks the moodboards to find out… VANESSA ANDERSON, HEAD OF DESIGN, WOMENSWEAR
photographs asp, BLaCK & WhItE haIr WaX, DavID Magnus/rEX, ErWIn BLuMEnfELD nEW YorK, 1955/© thE EstatE of ErWIn BLuMEnfELD 2009 (Grace Kelly: Style Icon Is at thE v&a MusEuM untIL 26 sEptEMBEr 2010), EvErEtt CoLLECtIon/rEX, fIvE fILM/parIs fILMs, tErrY o’nEILL/rEX, unItED artIsts, vICtorIa & aLBErt MusEuM/thE BrIDgEMan art LIBrarY, WarnEr ChIna hg Corp, YasufuMI nIshI/Jnto. ChELsEa gIrL top, £9.99
MY JOB IS to set the womenswear accessories trends for the season. I scour the globe for inspiring pieces and check out street style, then I guide the designers from concept to product. I started the accessories team from scratch – it’s a real buzz.
MY PERSONAL STYLE is pared down with chic, classic pieces, and I always wear killer heels (I’m 5ft 2in). But I’m inspired by Victoriana and the 1920s. I also love oriental designs – like my vintage Japanese kimono – and kitsch, like my Thai mask.
I COULDN’T LIVE WITHOUT my eyebrow pencil and my black leather jacket from Tokyo (this one is by River Island). I wear mine with jeans, pretty dresses – you name it.
MY RIVER ISLAND A/W TIP is fabulous faux fur! Either on a coat, bag or boot; it’s bang on trend and glamorous. What more could you want?
end ing any old tr
er than follow
g that, rath lf and explorin
urse
ing true to yo
STYLE IS be
MY FASHION INSPIRATION is my mum in the 1960s. She got married at Kensington Register Office in a crocheted mini dress and a beehive hairdo. Very daring then.
MY FAVOURITE FILM FOR STYLE is The Painted Veil. I love that look of China in the 1920s.
MY WORST STYLE MOMENT was the bowl haircut my mum gave me when we lived in Tokyo. I have no eyebrows so it was a real shocker. Scarred me for life! MY FAVOURITE PIECE is a navy Victorian blouse I bought in Amsterdam when I was 16. It’s so neat and exquisite, with leg-o’-mutton sleeves, pewter buttons and a little rosebud print.
MY MOST TREASURED POSSESSIONS are my man, my family, my house – and my mum’s black Russian terrier, Mitzie.
MY FASHION ICON is Catherine Deneuve. She’s beautiful and classy, and there’s a dark undercurrent to her roles – like Belle de Jour, where she’s prim on the surface but has a subversive secret life.
ANDY GRANT, DESIGN CONTROLLER, MENSWEAR I WORK ON THE DIRECTION of the menswear ranges, from denim to suits, assisting the Design Director. I check out vintage markets and people from Tokyo to London, then filter the looks I see to inspire River Island’s designers.
MY RI SUMMER TIP IS a dandyish Napoleon-style jacket. Give it a rock’n’roll look with acid-wash jeans and a slouchy T-shirt.
MY WORST FASHION MOMENT was when I let my girlfriend put my hair in dreads – I was about 15. My hair wasn’t even long enough. And I’m ginger!
I’VE BEEN TO SOME GREAT PLACES with River Island. Tokyo is such a melting pot of ideas, which is refreshing given all the homogeneity around. I CAN’T DO WITHOUT hair product. It changes all the time but I always use it. HEDI SLIMANE at Dior Homme shook up menswear when he put subculture style onto the catwalk. It changed the way men dress.
I AM INSPIRED by British subcultures – like the mods, who wore dapper suits with attitude.
MY OWN STYLE is a bit geek chic. I like a jacket, skinny jeans, a good shirt with the top button done up, and brogues or white trainers.
I’D LOVE TO HAVE BEEN a Rolling Stone. Most people would like to be a rock star.
STYLE MEAN
S LOOKING
GOOD. Its no t about fashion
MY ALL-TIME FAVOURITE PIECE is my battered vintage briefcase. I use it every day for work.
STEVE McQUEEN and Paul Newman are icons I could take my style from, whereas I respect the way David Bowie changes his style – that chameleon process. He even looks good as a woman! 29
WOMENSWE AR PREVIE W DAY: THE NEW ACCESSORIES EDIT
DETAILS: warm-to-touch fabrics, tweed, worn-in leather, low-fi luxe
LADY H E R ITAG E
One loves the country, doesn’t one? Tip: think nostalgia… for the young Queen, for the New Romantics. Dress accordingly
DETAILS: moody florals and metallics vs wool and army surplus
DETAILS: vintage pieces, military accents, skinny jeans 30
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AR MY DR EAM E R
Deconstructed pretty Tip: let it clash, and book tickets for a winter festival
HOXTON ROCKS
Look what I found in a thrift shop… Tip: keep things cool not overt, and start a blog
Here’s your chance to get ahead in the style stakes with a sneak peek of River Island’s Autumn/Winter 2010 trends. Who will you be by day and by night?
NIGHT: THE NEW ACCESSORIES EDIT
DETAILS: 1980s pop-style, fierce accessories, black, scarlet
DIVA
It’s all about me Tip: as bold as you dare, and hit the dance floor
BAROQU E’N’ROLL
Divine decadence Tip: keep it fresh by using an ornate but muted colour palette. Make-up is neutral
DETAILS: velvet, brocade, texture, embellishment
I N WON DE R LAN D
Down the rabbit hole, find a party Tip: think weird and wonderful. Mix it up
DETAILS: lace, leather, costume jewellery, dusty pink 31
THE NEW ACCESSORIES EDIT
MENSWE AR PREVIE W
Feeling trad? Mad? Dangerous to know? River Island has something to suit every mood for Autumn/Winter 2010. Start planning your wardrobe now…
DETAILS: leather, denim, Navajo pattern, deer-hunter fur
AM E R I CANA
From the Rockies to rock’n’roll Tip: wear it all at once
B EATN I K
Updating the French new wave Tip: roll up your hems, rough up your cuffs
DETAILS: pea coats, collar up, graphic stripes, felted wool
DETAILS: cord, layers, navy, claret, tailoring, antique trims
H OXTO N G E NT
Edwardian sir goes clubbing Tip: mix trad with punk. Add attitude 32
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M I LITARY MAN
Sergeant Pepper meets Nirvana Tip: mix a army jacket with plimsolls and jeans
DETAILS: Tsarist Russia, army surplus, frogging, rucksacks
MUSIC
Eliza Doolittle AT H ER W1 RIVER SESSION, POPSTER DOOLITTLE SERENADED SHOPPERS WITH H ER H IT SI NG LE, SKI N NY G EN ES
Pop-up musical performances in favourite fashion locations? Must be River Island Sessions, the gotta-go-to music events coming to a River store near you
N
Mpho FORM ER M USIC TEACH ER M PHO TREATED TH E CROWD TO LIVE REN DITIONS OF H ER SI NG LES BOX N LOCKS AN D SEE M E NOW
ot satisfied with nurturing fledgling fashion talent (see pages 13 and 22), River Island has recently taken to supporting up-and-coming music acts, some of whom have already become household names (hello, Jason Derulo!). The new venture is called River Island Sessions, but you can think of them as white-label music gigs laid on exclusively to introduce you to some of the newest and most exciting artists around, as they preview tracks soon to be released into the UK charts. The first River Island Sessions live gig kicked off at the end of last year in RI’s London W1 showroom with US R&B star Derulo. He played several sets, including his US No.1 hit Whatcha Say, to a posse of smoothly decked-out River Island customers. Next up was Mpho Skeef, the South African-born south Londonraised former session singer, who stormed the stage with her radical electropop sounds, while pint-sized pop cutey Eliza Doolittle (working a River Island ticking-stripe dungaree playsuit) charmed the audience in the Oxford Circus store with the free-spirited vocals and sunny melodies of tracks such as Skinny Genes from her debut album. Look out for festival-circuit favourites You Me At Six and grime hero Tinie Tempah, who are set to perform soon. With plans to Livestream the Sessions on the Style Insider blog and roll out the gigs in River island stores nationwide, it’s never been so easy to keep your finger on the music pulse. To see exclusive interviews with River Island Sessions artists, hear live recordings and find diary dates for forthcoming gigs, visit styleinsider.riverisland.com and check out the River Island Sessions blog
Jason Derulo STOP PRESS! DERU LO IS SET TO DO ANOTH ER RIVER ISLAN D SESSION AT G RADUATE FASH ION WEEK I N J U N E
You Me At Six
TWICE NOM I NATED FOR TH E KERRANG! B EST B RITISH N EWCOM ER AWARD, TH E POPPU N K BAN D ARE PERFORM I NG A SESSION SOON R IVE R I S LAN D S U M M E RZI N E
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YOUR PAGE
READER EVENTS Coming to a store near you!
River Island doesn’t just want to dress you up… it wants to spoil you rotten
WIN
Star in a River Island shoot!
Manicures and makeovers, drinks, cupcakes and ice cream. You’ll find all these plus style advice and live DJ performances at River Island Style Events. RI is also on the lookout for the most stylish people out there! So make sure you look your best (RI Style Advisors will be on hand to help), then get your photo taken by an RI photographer. It will be uploaded to a voting gallery on Style Insider and whoever gets the most votes will win a year’s supply of shoes (a pair per month). One overall winner (chosen by River Island) will win an all-expenses paid trip to London to star in a River Island shoot to be posted on Style Insider. For more, visit styleinsider.riverisland.com.* Liverpool, Church Street, 27 May, 1-5pm; London, Westfield, 28 May, 3-7pm; Cardiff, 28 May, 1-5pm
a luxury trip to New York
Your chance to visit the birthplace of Sex and the City could be just a click away. Our trip to New York comprises return flights for two courtesy of Flight Centre, plus four nights’ accommodation in a luxurious Affinia hotel in Manhattan. You’ll also enjoy a dinner cruise along the East and Hudson Rivers with the World Yacht Company for breathtaking views of the iconic New York skyline. Oh, and don’t forget to hit the shops!* Enter at styleinsider.riverisland. com/newyork. Closing date, 21 June 2010. Visit flightcentre.co.uk/river-island for fashion-holiday offers for River Island customers
ongratulations!
Each year one lucky graduate gets to create the official Graduate Fashion Week T-shirt (worn by staff throughout the event) and GFW carrier bag (which goes into 40 River Island stores). This year it was Frankie Yung (Shun Wai) from Nottingham Trent University with cute animal designs including a koala (left). GFW 2010 runs from 6 to 10 June.
Student Shop-Ins Get 20% off everything!
Share your style with us Go upload a pic to RI’s Style Gallery. Each month the most-voted gets £250; second gets £150, third £100. At styleinsider. riverisland.com/ your_style.* Check out these entrants: 34
HAYLEY SMITH, 19, BIRMINGHAM “I love this outfit: florals plus ruffles equals pretty and feminine.”
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AMOE, 15, STOKEON-TRENT “I love that this outfit is really comfortable, fun... and a little bit cheeky.”
ARKADIUSZ SZCZUCHNIAK, 17, WEST MIDLANDS “What you wear expresses who you really are.”
AMY MARIE BOAL, 17, BRIDGEND “This River Island skirt from last year is bang on trend for this summer.”
Calling all students! Take a break from studying and get to an RI Student Shop-In. There’ll be all the goodies of the Style Events, plus 20 per cent off all purchases. For more details and to get a bag for life, visit styleinsider.riverisland.com. And don’t forget your student ID! Manchester, The Arndale Centre, 24 May, 6-10pm; Newcastle, Eldon Square, 25 May, 6-10pm
*RIVER ISLAND COMPETITION RULES APPLY. SEE STYLEINSIDER.RIVERISLAND.COM/COMPETITIONS. SUMMERZINE WAS PRODUCED BY JENNY & THE CAT LTD
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Style Events
summerzine edit
The summer shopper ÂŁ39.99
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