Vol. 1. Issue. 1. 27 September 2017
Music
Summer ’17 festival roundup A review of the different festivals our writers went to this Summer.
Electric Picnic in Stradbally
Co. Laois was yet again another success with a wide variety of acts taking to the many stages across the weekend. The festival had something for every music fan, including Chaka Kahn, A Tribe Called Quest, The Pretenders and even an appearance from late nineties pop sensations S Club Party and 5ive . Friday night saw English indie band The xx on the Main Stage. The band were met with a huge crowd of fans and played their much-loved hits including Intro, I Dare You and On Hold. Another crowd-pleasing act was Jenny Greene and The RTE Concert Orchestra who lifted the roof off Rankin’s Wood stage. Saturday brought with it rainy weather but this did not dampen people’s spirits as this day featured some of the best acts to perform over the weekend. 80s band Madness, hip-hop group A Tribe Called Quest and DJ Pete Tong performing Ibiza Classics with a live orchestra were just some of the acts to light up the Main Stage. DJ Mura Masa was the best act of the day, and arguably the whole weekend, performing hits from his debut selftitled album in the Electric Arena. Sunday featured yet another eclectic mix of music acts including the soulful Dublin Gospel Choir, critically acclaimed DJ Hannah Wants and up-and-coming singer Rag’N’Bone Man. Legendary 80s band Duran Duran closed the festival at the Main Stage on Sunday night, signalling the end of an amazing weekend.
Michelle Townsend
22
Life Festival, Ireland’s premier
underground electronic festival returned to Belvedere House and Gardens for its 9th year. It saw a host of acts, world renowned and unknown, international and homegrown. Fans flocked to the site for a three night celebration of all forms of electronic music. Each stage carried its own individual sound for whatever the attendee’s ears fancied, be it heavy trance at the Index Stage or some groovy tunes at the Toast Tent. While the headliners, such as Rudimental & Duke Dumont on the main stage and Alan Fitzpatrick & Nina Kraviz at District 8 were what pulled traction among most of the festivals goers, the real highlights of the weekend came from the homegrown talent. Dublin born Sunil Sharpe, a now internationally renowned name, performed an outstanding set at the District 8 Stage on the Saturday night and acts such as Maedbh O’Connor and Sarah Mooney, rocked the Index and District 8 stages respectively. One of the most talked about acts of the weekend was Boots & Kats, who kept the party going at the Toast Tent for those who made it to the 5am raves in the woods. They will be performing to a full capacity District 8 on November 3rd. The final highlight of the weekend was Versatile, whose day time performance on Sunday at the main stage provided a respite for those who needed a break from techno. Life is certainly a festival you should experience.
Aoife Horan
Longitude was hosted on an
amazingly sunny July weekend this Summer. Crowds flocked to Marley Park to see some of their favourite acts and to have a funfilled weekend. Despite the trouble caused on entry on Friday with festival goers being caught in a crush, everything went ahead as planned. G-Eazy, Dua Lipa, Stormzy and Picture This performed energetic sets that left the attendees buzzing for the rest of the weekend. Saturday hosted an array of well known acts such as Skepta, The Weekend, Mac Miller and Kaleo. The Head and the Heart, a mostly unheard of band, played an impressive set at the Whelan’s stage. Without a doubt the highlight of Saturday was Welsh rock bank Catfish and the Bottlemen, who completely packed out the Heineken tent and had everyone singing their hearts out to their meaningful yet energetic songs. Sunday was again a great success. JP Cooper who has that one hit that everybody knows (September Song) took the crowd by surprise with his other great songs. Jack Garratt fans were thrilled to see him give an outstanding performance in the Heineken tent. Other acts worth mentioning are Villagers, Milky Chance and Glass Animals. However there is only one act who could end the festival as well as they did; Mumford and Sons. Fans young and old gathered at the main stage to listen to their phenomenal performance. They even brought out Hozier to sing with them. Longitude has definitely redeemed itself after that amazing weekend.
Emer Handly
FIB festival is hosted in the small
town of Benicàssim in Spain. This summer we headed off to Spain with rucksacks on our backs and glitter in our hair. FIB has many options available in terms of accommodation whether it’s a campsite, an apartment, or a hotel. There were so many different and amazing acts at the festival, from famous acts such as the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, The Weekend and upcoming artists like Kaleo and Mura Masa. There were two stages in the main arena where Biffy Clyro, Stormzy and Dua Lipa performed amazing sets that had the crowd buzzing. There was also a separate area where EDM artists and DJs played. The festival doesn’t start until 7pm and it lasts straight into the early hours of the morning. There were constant activities for attendees to make the most of their time in Benicàssim. There are beautiful beaches located nearby to soak in the sunny beams and get a few hours sleep on the deck chairs before the madness of the music filled night. FIB is a festival not to be missed.
Niamh Dunne
Review: Picture This
Music
After much anticipation the Kildare pop duo ‘Picture This’ (aka Ryan Hennessy and Jimmy Rainsford) released their self-titled debut album.
I by
Ciara O’Loughlin
rish music fans and critics have been waiting for Picture This to release an actual album as the Athy natives soared to fame and even sold out a 3 Arena gig in just three minutes in late July even though they had only released a handful of songs. Yet, there is nothing surprising about this album. If you are familiar with their hit single ‘Take My Hand’ the rest of the album conforms to that style. The songs are quite predictable. It definitely hits the mark for genre expectation. The album is much like the music of popular Irish bands The Coronas and The Script. Like these bands every song on the album sounds quite similar. They know their audience, they know what they like and they use that to their advantage. Picture This do not stray away from your typical themes throughout the album - we hear the usual
tales of love and youth. Their lyrics are not overly impressive and there is nothing very unique about any of the songs. However, ‘95’ is the one song which is interesting and slightly differs from the rest. Here Hennessy sings about a girl who lives in 1995. In the chorus he sings “I held back her hair as she threw up everywhere”. It is certainly not romantic but it is quite quirky and ventures away from some very cheesy lyrics in their other songs. There may be some inspiration taken from Ed Sheeran in this song as he is known for his very quirky and ‘out there’ lyrics. The songs on the album can be perceived as moany and depressing, and some people’s first instinct may just be to switch it off. However, it cannot be denied that the pair work great together. Hennessy’s lead vocals are stunning and listening
As You Were, Liam
W
Aoife Horan hile these past few months have begrudgingly seen the return of artists such as Taylor Swift to our sound systems, no musical return this year has been anticipated as much as that of former Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher. Gallagher will be releasing his by
“The usual tales of love and youth” to this album, it is sometimes hard to remember that they are just a duo as the production is so good. The first self-titled album is definitely easy listening and die-
hard fans of the duo will certainly be thrilled with it. For those who were not captivated by the band’s fast success and popularity, Picture This falls short of anything impressive. No matter what your impression of their music is, their success and popularity, especially among young teen girls, proves that Picture This will be on the music scene for quite some time.
Liam Gallagher’s debut solo album looks promising.
debut solo album ‘As You Were’ on October 6th, his first release of music since Beady Eye’s ‘BE’ in 2013. The album has been causing a stir since he announced its tracklist one by one on Twitter in June. Gallagher worked with Greg Kurstin and Dan Grech-Marguerat as the producers on the album, both of which have massive traction in the
field, the former having worked with Adele and Beck and the latter with Radiohead and Mumford and Sons. He co-wrote the tracks on the album and during the release of the first track in an interview with BCC Radio 1 he said “I’d never be able to write a whole album [on my own], we’d be here all year. I’m not that prolific.”
“He’s back and the resurrection is on.” The first track ‘Wall of Glass’ released on May 30th is a different sound for those used to that of Oasis, although his distinct vocals remain intact. It’s a lyrically driven track complemented by strong guitars. The track is loaded with powerful lyrics and gets his message out loud and clear, he’s back and “the resurrection is on”. Its accompanying music video sees Gallagher returning his iconic parka and shades, however, stepping it up in a Saint Laurent hoodie in one scene, which he said made him
feel like a “modern day Elvis”. The track was well received by fans and media alike and generated much hype around his return to music. “Chinatown”, the second track released, has a stripped back melodic flow, with soft vocals and stripped back fingerpicking on the guitar. Despite its separate sound it flows with “Wall of Glass” as it provides social commentary and Gallagher’s own insights. The song speaks of the chaotic contradictory life in modern Britain with hints to Brexit with lines about Europeans. It’s a social critique with an unusual sound of hope, looking to find engaging people to spend time with in a place of meaning. His latest track ‘For What It’s Worth’ sees the return of the Gallagher known to us since ‘What’s the Story (Morning Glory)’ with a ballad that could stand its own beside ‘Don’t Look Back in Anger’ It is wthe last track we’ll get before the full release in October, but from the previews, ‘As You Were’ is shaping up to be one of 3 the standout albums of this year.
TV & Film
Game of Thrones season 7 by Ian
Mangan
S
eptember has arrived, marking the near end of another Summer and thus the end of Winter for Game of Thrones fans. The fantasy phenomenon came crashing onto screens yet again this year with what was arguably its most successful season yet. Game of Thrones managed to pull in an astonishing 16.5 million viewers for the season seven finale, which does not even account for the huge number of those watching illegally. However, there is no dispute that when a show meets new highs there has to be some lows and Game of Thrones is no different. The season opened with a bang, with Arya’s ruthless slaughtering of Walder Frey’s men which was admittedly way more satisfying than expected considering the red wedding happened three seasons ago. This was however followed by a rather awkward cameo from Ed Sheeran, the first and smallest issue with the season. Sheeran was not the first musician to appear in the show but there was just something offputting about the whole scene. One thing the writers were really pushing this year was progress and this season certainly moved faster than any other. We had more reunions than we were able to keep up with. Bran and Arya both finally returned to Winterfell and were reunited with eldest Stark sister Sansa. It was beautiful and insanely weird all at the same time. Others included a tense new relationship between Jamie and Cersei and an emotional reveal that Ser Jorah had been cured of his gray
4
What went down and what went wrong. scale by fan favourite Sam Tarley when he appeared at Dragonstone to meet his love Daenarys. There was also the introduction of new dynamics like Jon and Danaerys finally meeting and eventually taking that relationship way further which no-one seems to find weird, and the introduction of just how evil Euron Greyjoy could be. The scale of the show has been increased which is saying a lot for a show that has staged some amazing battle sequences. The show runners have to be commended for their lack of hesitation to spend money this season. There really were some breathtaking moments, including Daenarys’ attack on the Lannisters, both displaying the power of the Dothraki army and some amazing carnage filled sequences with the dragons, which every fan has been pining for since they were first introduced. Plus let’s not forget about just how terrifying the army of the dead has become. Watching them ambush Jon, the Hound and the rest of the “suicide squad” was just pulsating and their murder and reanimation of the dragon Viserion gave everyone chills. The show did a lot right this season but a glaring issue was just how rushed it was.
Unfortunately season seven was restricted to seven episodes and it certainly suffered as a result. It was filled with some strained conversations which was disappointing for a show that is praised for its well written dialogue.
“still champion of the silver screen” Sam’s time in the Citadel was also painful to say the least. Although we got a great performance from the amazing Jim Broadbent and there was the essential curing of Jorah’s grayscale, the whole story line dragged for far too long, especially when other characters like Gendry, who shared some great scenes with Jon Snow, were given little to no screen time. Another element that fell short was Jon and Theon’s reunion. There was so much to be explored in that scene but sadly the short run time restricted it to a very tiny exchange in which Theon seems to suddenly get his courage back. Even worse was the death of Littlefinger. Baelish was a superb
character and stole the show in every scene he was in. Although his demise was imminent, the twist that Arya and Sansa had planned it all along, despite his manipulation attempts, was unsatisfying and not a justified end to an amazingly complex character. Finally, it was blatantly obvious the writers had messed up the sand snakes storyline and wanted it over as soon as possible. Despite some mistakes the show has certainly upped its game and credit is due to the cast who gave exceptional performances; in particular Rory McCann (Clegane) and Lena Headey (Cersi). Game of Thrones is still champion of the silver screen and the hype is not likely to die down anytime soon. Show creators D.B. Weiss and David Benioff seem to be confident in how they will handle the ending, despite deviating dramatically from the books. The reports that multiple endings will be shot in order to prevent leaks have fans rejoicing. But with only six episodes left in the entire series it will be interesting to see if Game of Thrones will get the send off it deserves.
I
by
Was IT a hit?
Ailbhe Daly
t is uncommon that a horror movie lives up to the hype that surrounds it and can provide something more than a few jump scares and a story you won’t remember the next morning. The latest adaptation of Stephen King’s iconic 1200-page novel, It, is a movie that you will have difficulty forgetting. It was a big task for director Andy Muschietti who has really only directed one other movie (2013s Mama) but the direction that he took the movie was truly impressive. Much of the story is loyal to King’s novel but where the film really shines is the calibre of acting, the eminent score and the crafting of something that is genuinely terrifying. It is set in the small town of Derry, Maine. Every 27 years, a creature emerges to abduct children before returning to the sewers. While the first part of the original movie was set in the 1950s, this adaptation is set in the late 1980s, meaning that part two will be set relatively close to our time. In the opening scenes, young Georgie Denbrough (Jackson Robert Scott) is playing with a paper boat that his brother, Bill (Jaeden Lieberher), had made for him. Due to heavy rain, the boat ends up down a storm drain and we are introduced to Pennywise the Dancing Clown (Bill Skarsgard) who severs Georgie’s arm before pulling him down
TV & Film
The horror that has everyone hiding under their covers.
“genuinely terrifying”
The Ricklantis Mixup
S by
Orla Dwyer
eason 3 Episode 7 of Rick and Morty was a true surprise from beginning to end. It began as normal with Rick and Morty about to head off on a classic zany adventure that would inevitably lead to a lesson learned towards the end followed by a lewd, cynical joke from Rick. You can’t beat a classic, right? Turns out you can. This episode instead focuses on the Citadel, a city comprising entirely of Ricks and Mortys. They come in all shapes and sizes with deformations and ‘aw jeez’ aplenty. As expected, the Ricks generally hold all the power and the Mortys are reduced to sidekicks and petty criminals. When one police officer Morty breaks the mould and holds a more senior position, he’s discriminatory and calloused and inevitably gets taken down. It’s a bleak, capitalist society in which corruption and societal divides are just as prevalent as in the real world.
The divide between Ricks and Mortys was one of the most interesting facets of the episode. Even within the Rick community there were divisions between the superiors and inferiors. In the Simple Rick’s chocolate factory, the hardworking Rick is frustrated by Cool Rick receiving an unjust promotion and goes on a killing spree as a result. He then receives his comeuppance in a truly depressing way, showing the futility of uprising in a world controlled by the elite. It is a very cynical view that is not surprising from the famously dark show. Let us not forget that it provided us with the only quote to live your life by - “Nobody exists on purpose. Nobody belongs anywhere. Everybody’s gonna die. Now, come watch TV”. The bleak reality of the situation in the Citadel hits hard when you realise what could be viewed as a dystopia is not dissimilar from real life right now. Police brutality, discrimination towards the lower classes, high level corruption, societal divides,
into the sewer with him. This leaves older brother Bill with an unrelenting desire to find his brother’s body and to figure out what is happening in Derry. The movie centres on The Losers’ Club, a group of highschoolers who are social outcasts that have banded together due to being a bit different. The interactions and synergy between the kids is an element that really shines. You can see their fondness for each other throughout the movie and the only real let down is that there just isn’t enough screen time to properly delve into the intricacies of the characters. Bill’s best friend Richie (Finn Wolfhard of Stranger Things) nearly steals the show at some points and plays the loudmouth of the group incredibly well, coming across as hilarious yet insecure and needy at the same time. Skarsgard’s version of Pennywise is truly chilling and he truly brings the role to life. It preys upon the fears of others and in the scenes where he is trying to terrify the members of The Losers’ Club, he is genuinely frightening. It’s hard to not ruin all the best parts but It is certainly a movie that you should go and see. At points you’ll laugh until you cry and then cry because Pennywise is beyond creepy. You might want to bring someone to hide behind.
The latest episode outdid the out-doable. frustration with the monotony of blue collar work, a dangerous man as president of a powerful country, a strip club consisting entirely of creepy Mortys. The episode mirrored our real life.
“ The episode mirrored our real life.” In what could be considered the show’s darkest season, this episode slotted right in with the others. The totalitarian ending with evil Morty taking power was just the plot twist needed to bring back the Citadel after it was so epically destroyed at the beginning of season 3. It was the necessary shakeup to solidify the plot of this season after a few episodes with no solitary focus. While the laughs were indeed had, it’s time to crack down on destroying a corrupt society. Boy do those two love to have a good time.
5
Books
and Honey by Rupi Kaur by
Emer Handly
M
ilk and Honey is a stunning poetry book written by Rupi Kaur, a Canadian writer of Indian descent. In the beginning, she posted her work on Instagram along with simple drawings which are a key element of her unique modern style. She uses lowercase letters, like in the Gurmukhi Script, to honour her culture. Rupi gained a massive following and decided to add another platform to share her message – she published a book of her poetry. Milk and Honey was released in 2014 and had such a profound impact that it is still being talked about across the world today. When you open a poetry book, some expect tacky nonsense. Yet even for those of us who have more faith in the art of poetry this book was still a massive shock.
The Evolution of the Zelda
T by
The book is split into four sections; the hurting, the loving, the breaking and the healing. The hurting contains her more dark poems as she takes us through her experiences with rape, sexual assault and family issues. They are harrowing and deep. “sex takes the consent of two if one person is lying there not doing anything cause they are not ready or not in the mood or simply don’t want to yet the other is having sex with their body it’s not love it is rape” The loving lifts the mood of the book and we see Kaur’s positive side. The poems are sweet and romantic. This section gives the impression that she has found an amazing man who is the love she has been waiting for.
“he places his hands on my mind before reaching for my waist my hips or my lips he didn’t call me beautiful first he called me exquisite” The breaking returns to a darker time in Kaur’s life. Kaur and her great love are no longer together and she is unequivocally heartbroken. The poems are full of melancholy, hopelessness and loneliness. You get a sense that her world has just been destroyed, but at the same time, she knows this man was not good for her. “i had to leave i was tired of allowing you to make me feel anything less than whole”
The healing sends the most powerful message; that even though you can go through horrible things in your life, it will get better. You will get better. The poems are empowering, full of hope and urge women to embrace themselves no matter what. “accept that you deserve more than painful love life is moving the healthiest thing for your heart is to move with it”
Ailbhe Daly
he 19th addition to The Legend of Zelda franchise made its way to our grubby paws in March of this year and received impressively positive reviews across the board. The latest adventure took a daring step from the linear dungeon to dungeon structure seen in other Zelda titles and turned the world into a sprawling land full of endless adventure. More importantly, it lets the player 6 build their character the way they want, adding an
array of customisable clothing and weapons that impact your overall stats. It turned the game into a fully-fledged RPG, which is something that fans have been begging to get for years. Breath of the Wild and the Nintendo Switch were released on the same day, with very few other titles available. Despite this, the console has sold remarkably well since its release and is still difficult to actually find for sale which is testament to the
calibre of game that it is. It is safe to say that if you take off the nostalgia glasses, this is the best Legend of Zelda game that has been released. The ability to see a spot in the distance and get there, regardless of the location, is something that other RPGs often fall short on delivering. If you look at how the series has grown and expanded since the release of the inaugural title in 1987, it is easy to see just why it
has gathered such a loyal following and impacted the lives of so many fans. Since the beginning, a Zelda title has always been a landmark release for a new generation of consoles and arguably the most influential exclusive franchise that Nintendo have in their arsenal. Ocarina of Time played a part in the childhoods of so many and was the first real 3D adventure game that people could get their hands on.
Rupi Kaur’s ‘Milk and Honey’ is stunningly raw and one of a kind. It is dark, vulnerable, honest, pure, uplifting and more beautiful than words can describe. This book will take you on an emotional journey that you will never forget. “ you look at me and cry everything hurts i hold you and whisper but everything can heal” Rupi Kaur’s second poetry book “the sun and her flowers” will be released on 3 October 2017. Twilight Princess, while not as influential, also changed the series by taking it in a darker direction and bringing in incredibly dire situations faced by characters. While Skyward Sword (which served as the swansong for the Wii) received mixed reviews, it did a fantastic job of telling the story of the Zelda universe from the beginning as well as adding the ability to repair and buff items. The ability to keep a series growing and developing across different games on different consoles while still weaving a plot throughout is something that is truly impressive and it is easy to see just why the franchise is so popular. While Zelda developer Eiji Aonuma and Nintendo certainly have their work cut out for them in a follow-up, it is exciting to see just where The Legend of Zelda will go.
Theatre
ONE TO WATCH: by
Gillian Hogan
T
hese days, recognition for people that are not featured on a television show or do not have an extensive list of top ten hits is scarce. That is not to say that television stars and chart toppers do not deserve applause, they do and there is no doubt that it will continue decades from now. However, there is plenty of applause to go around so it might as well make a trip to some other contributors to the arts. Carrie Hope Fletcher should be on the list of visits to make. Anyone that was around during the 2000s, ie. anyone reading this, probably knew McFly and their lead singer Tom Fletcher. Tom is not the only talented Fletcher though, as his sister Carrie has been keeping herself very busy for the last few years. Over the summer, the bestselling author, musical theatre star and YouTuber took on Ireland for the first time. At only 24-years-old, Fletcher has starred in musical productions most can only dream of. Many of these include original UK productions, for example
CARRIE HOPE FLETCHER Chitty Chitty Bang Bang as Jemima Potts and Mary Poppins as Jane Banks. She may also be recognisable from her time playing Truly Scrumptious in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang which hit Dublin’s Bord Gáis Energy Theatre’s stage last summer. In 2014 she was awarded the “WhatsOnStage.com Award for Best Takeover In A Role” for her three year portrayal of Eponine in Les Miserables at the Queen’s Theatre, London This year she is currently bringing an iconic family to life by playing the distinctive role of Wednesday Addams in the UK’s first production of The Addams Family Musical. The show resided in the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre in Dublin from the 15th to 26th of August and will return to Irish soil to play Belfast audiences from the 3rd to the 7th of October this year. ‘Carrie Hope Fletcher displays a seriously powerful vocal talent as Wednesday,’ praised the Irish Mirror of Fletcher’s performance in the role. Ireland hasn’t been the only place singing Fletcher’s praises lately as she has received high praise from respected specialised theatre websites such as
Whatsonstage.com. ‘Carrie Hope Fletcher as Wednesday is superb and her duet “Crazier Than You” - sung with her boy Lucas (Oliver Ormson) - is one of the most enjoyable in the show,’ said the London based publication. As if being highly successful in the world of musical theatre wasn’t enough, Fletcher released her second novel and third book ‘All that she can see’ across the UK and Ireland on July 13th of this year.
up in their hundreds to get their copy signed and a photo snapped with their favourite quadruple threat. Fletcher showed her appreciation to her Irish fans by liking and retweeting Twitter and Instagram posts by people in attendance at the signing. A live story was also posted to her Instagram account, followed by 449,000, thanking fans for attending and for their thoughtful gifts. On the off chance that after reading this article you wouldn’t mind a chance at meeting your new favourite author, a second book signing for ‘All that she Falling into the same women’s can see’ will take place at fiction and magical realism Eason’s store in Donegall genres of her second novel Place, Belfast on Monday ‘On the other side’, the page 2nd October at 4pm. turning novel offers readers Youtubers cannot be a welcomed escape into a accused of receiving no world of personified feelings, recognition in today’s social romance and magically media world but Carrie Hope delicious baked goods. Fletcher is a diamond in One month after the the rough sea of makeup release of ‘All that she tutorials and monthly can see’, Irish fans had favourites. The channel the chance to get up close ‘ItsWayPastMyBedTime’ has and personal with Fletcher. 647,932 subscribers and Eason’s O’Connell Street counting and has already store hosted a book signing been active for over six on the wet, dreary morning years. The name, which is of August 20th. Despite the inspired by a line in Chitty gloomy weather fans showed Chitty Bang Bang, offers
“
a diamond in the rough sea of makeup tutorials and monthly favourites
“
a good indication of the content type to be expected. Along with plenty of footage of what she gets up to behind the scenes of whatever show she happens to be performing in; countless book suggestions, covers, original songs and random nonsense can be found to keep you entertained for way longer than college assignments want you to be. One recent video is entitled ‘In love with Dublin’ from her ongoing mini series ‘Watch me Wednesday’ in which she uploads weekly vlogs giving an inside look at her time playing Wednesday. This particularly Irish themed video shows what Fletcher got up to during her trip to Dublin. From getting on the plane, watching the Rock’n’Roll Dublin Half Marathon, eating in many food and drink establishments around the city (shoutout to O’Connell’s Bar), stopping outside a random Tesco, taking an open top bus tour to go to see ‘Once: The Musical’. There is a good chance you might actually spot yourself going about your daily duties. After all she’s clearly just like us, right? 7
Health & Beauty
Rihanna has taken the beauty world by storm this month with her new makeup collection launch, Fenty Beauty. We took a look at what makes it so revolutionary
M by
“
Michelle Townsend
akeup is there for you to play. It’s there for you to have fun with. It should never feel like pressure and it should never feel like a uniform. Feel free to take chances and take risks and dare to do something new or different”. This was the statement given by R’n’B superstar, as well as fashion and beauty icon, Rihanna ahead of the launch of her brand new makeup collection, Fenty Beauty. Exclusively available online and at Harvey Nichols, this new and exciting makeup brand is being hailed as “the new generation of beauty” by beauty experts and fans alike . The idea to launch this collection originated from Rihanna’s love of makeup, as well as her desire to create products which would cater for different women’s skin types from all over the world. The concept behind Fenty Beauty is simply that women with the palest or darkest of skin should be able to shop comfortably and hassle free, selecting products which match their skin seamlessly to create a faultless look. As it stands, Fenty Beauty is currently very much focused on makeup lovers achieving the “natural look”. As a result, the collection does not stock any eye 8 shadows, mascaras, brow
products or lipsticks. However, this is not likely to dissuade potential customers as there is still a wide range of products available, all of which are 100% cruelty-free. For creating the perfect base and ideal coverage, the Pro Filt’r Instant Retouch Primer and Soft Matte Longwear Foundation are currently the two most popular products on sale. The primer is oil free and lightweight, which gives that “barely there” feeling when it comes into contact with skin and protects the rest of your makeup from wearing off your face. The foundation, which is also oil free has been described as “boundary-breaking” as there are 40 shades available. This product is therefore being applauded worldwide as there is not one skin tone which has been excluded - an issue for which other popular makeup brands have come under fire. The lightweight texture of the foundation is also undetectable on skin, “so you always look like you”. The makeup artists who work at the Fenty Beauty stand in Harvey Nichols Dundrum are currently offering free
foundation testing to help beauty fans find the perfect shade for their skin tone. The Match Stix Trio has three aims - to conceal, contour and highlight. These
creamy skinsticks allow you to easily sculpt and highlight your cheekbones as well as hiding any blemishes. However, as Rihanna is encouraging creativity with this brand, the Shimmer Skinstick in particular is not being confined to highlighting. Beauty lovers from all around the world are using these products as a substitute for eye shadows and lipsticks. Searching the FENTYBEAUTYxHN and FENTYFACE hashtags on social media channels such as Instagram allows fans to showcase their creative
makeup skills using the products as well as interact with each other on how to achieve different and unique looks. The Killawatt Freestyle Highlighting Powder is one of Rihanna’s favourite products from this collection and it is easy to see why. The sparkling gold shade adds a pop of colour to anywhere users want to highlight. It looks particularly stunning on the cheekbones, collarbones and eyelids. The Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer, much like the foundation, has been met with praise from fans worldwide. It is the only lip product available in the collection and is only available in one shade. What is so interesting about this lip gloss is is that its glossy texture and rose gold pigments make it a shade that suits all skin types. Whether you are pale, tan or dark, this lip gloss is guaranteed to make your lips pop and look as good as they feel. Where would a craftsman be without his tools? Fenty Beauty also stocks brushes and sponges to apply your makeup. The range includes the Full-bodied Foundation Brush, Cheek-hugging
“ “
It should never feel like pressure, and it should never feel like a uniform Highlight Brush and Precision Makeup Sponge, as well as three portable brushes for contouring, concealing, and highlighting. The Invisimatte Blotting Powder and Paper allow you to touch up your makeup as you see fit during the day or night. Beauty trends and makeup skills are constantly evolving and being redefined in today’s society. Fenty Beauty has managed to represent such trends, which is a large part of the reason as to why it is so popular. A gorgeous range of products catering for makeup fans of all cultures and minorities which was designed by a creative and empowering global superstar - what’s not to love? With an increasing interest in the world of beauty these days, makeup is not hard to come by. And while there are a million makeup brands to choose from, there is currently nothing quite as unique or groundbreaking as Fenty Beauty.
Health & Beauty
Fitbit introduces the Ionic Smartwatch There is a new and improved FitBit on the market in the form of the new FitBit ionic which can not only track your whole workout but also be used for payment. by
F
itbit have announced the release of their first smartwatch, the Ionic, which focuses on the health and fitness of users. The Fitbit Ionic comes with multiple new and improved features, such as a heartrate monitor and integrated antenna for GPS. It can automatically recognise when you run and enter run-mode, as well as monitor resting heart rate and blood oxygen levels. There are two features of the Ionic that have particularly
Ellen Fitzpatrick
grabbed consumers’ attention, namely its four-day battery life and the fact that the watch is water resistant up to 50 metres. “Smartwatches are a platform for us to deliver the most powerful health tools the market has seen,” Fitbit CEO James Park said upon the launch of Fitbit’s newest smartwatch . The new health functions on the Fitbit Ionic allow for users’ health and fitness to be monitored easily and consistently. The Fitbit Ionic can now track obstructive sleep patterns, such as sleep apnea. In addition, it has a
feature to measure oxygen saturation simply by users wearing the watch as they go about their day to day lives. Among the many new features in the ‘personal coaching’ function. This generates personal workouts which play on
“
Smartwatches are a platform for us to deliver the most powerful health tools the market has seen
“ Get fit for free on
screen and guide users while exercising. The Fitbit coaching app creates a personal workout regime which is tailored for only you as it uses the information about your body functions that has been collected from your wrist. The Fitbit personal coaching app also provides a swim mode which calculates how many calories were burned, how many laps were done and plans future exercises in the pool. “Ionic builds on Fitbit’s health and fitness expertise with a new relative SpO2 sensor, making it possible to track deeper health insights like sleep apnea in the future, industry-leading GPS
tracking, on-device dynamic workouts, improved heart rate tracking, and water resistance up to 50 meters,” the company said in their press release for the product. Fitbit are now planning to release a walking and running audio coach app on the device to allow for further fitness to be carried out through the watch. As it is a smartwatch, the Ionic allows you to receive smartphone notifications on its scratchproof touchscreen, use contactless payment and store and play up to 300 songs. The Fitbit Ionic retails at €349 and is available to preorder now. It will be available in stores by October 2017.
A guide on how to get your ideal body using the power of the internet
W by
Katie Gallagher
hile it’s too late for those summer bodies, now is the time to get working out for winter, and thanks to YouTube, it’s easier and cheaper than ever. Say goodbye to scrimping and saving for the best personal trainer in the area or most expensive gym memberships. As long as you have an internet connection and YouTube, you can get fit virtually for free. To make it even easier to get started, this is a list of three of the most popular fitness accounts on YouTube.
1
2
3
FITNESSBLENDER:
BLOGILATES:
GRACEFIT_UK:
FitnessBlender have accumulated over 500 fitness videos on their channel. Their videos are all tailored to suit every level of fitness so there is definitely something for everyone, whether you are a beginner or advanced. The channel is run by a husband and wife, who have a degree in food and nutrition and have been in the fitness world for a long time so you can trust their regimes to help you achieve your fitness goal from the comfort of your own sitting room.
Whether you want to get leaner, lose weight or just get positively more energetic, this one is a treat for the body and soul. University can be stressful, especially this time of year when you are just getting settled back in so this channel is an escape to unwind, relax and also treat your body to a workout or even just a stretch while doing so. Cassey Ho, AKA Blogilates is a breath of fresh air aiming to inspire and spread positivity through her channel even while engaged in a full workout.
Grace is a 20-year-old university student who is currently on her own fitness journey while studying music in Oxford. Unlike the other accounts with tutorial-style videos, she takes you with her to the gym and throughout her day, vlogging and logging both her eating habits and her workout routines. Her channel shows a different insight into getting fit, as she tells the real truths of the process of cutting, bulking and calorie counting while being completely honest in
her own ongoing journey. It’s a relatable channel for students as Grace outlines how she balances both university and staying motivated and active.
REMEMBER TO STAY MOTIVATED: There are endless amounts of channels, YouTubers, websites and fitness plans and all you need is internet access and some moving space to get started. Save those precious pennies and workout for free when you want, wherever you want. 9
Food
Grub Guide: Casa Del Toro
DCU Student, Colm Seán Mansfield thoroughly reviewed Casa Del Toro, rating it in terms of food, atmosphere, price and location.
C by
Colm Mansfield
asa Del Toro is a small but equally lovely tapas restaurant across the road from the Creegan library on the St. Patrick’s campus in Drumcondra. With good food and a warm and friendly atmosphere, it is no wonder it has been nearly full every time I’ve been there. Having opened just over two years ago, it is clear to see why this place is still going strong.
Atmosphere
The atmosphere in Casa Del Toro is relaxed and friendly. On arrival, we were served a complementary glass of sangria. The staff were all helpful and polite to us and the other customers seemed to be enjoying themselves. Spanish music is a near constant in the background, but it is a pleasant undertone in the overall sound of this restaurant and is in no way too loud that one couldn’t have a polite conversation over it.
The Food
The food itself was delicious. Casa Del Toro boasts an impressive range of tapas from across the 10 10 various regions in Spain with both traditional and contemporary
options to choose from. I had the garlic and chilli prawns, albóndigas (spiced meatballs) and truffle fries. As with my other experiences here, the food was exceptional and I would happily pay for full size portions of any of these in a more traditional restaurant. Others I dined with had tempura cod, sea bass with chorizo and pato crujiente, a starter-type dish similar to a duck filled samosa. Vegetarian options are also featured prominently on the menu and looked as good as my own food tasted. They also usually have a few lovely specials up on the chalkboard on the wall aside
The cocktails are also a nice addition to a meal here, however as Casa Del Toro is also a wine bar and as I’m not a wine drinker myself, I had to rely on others to tell me it was very nice.
Service
The service in Casa Del Toro is excellent. The staff are always friendly and always very helpful. They also were keen to make sure everything was okay during the evening. You might even see some familiar faces as some of the staff are DCU students.
“Spanish music is a near constant in the background, but it is at most a pleasant undertone in the overall sound of this restaurant”
from the regular menu, which are on par with the rest of the fare. There is one place where I feel that Casa Del Toro falls down food-wise and that is in their desserts. Now I may be being overly critical here, but as this is a food review, I’m obliged to point it out. After the excellent quality of the tapas beforehand, the desserts afterwards were merely ok in comparison.
Value for Money
The pricing on the menu in Casa Del Toro is very reasonable. The food well deserves the price you pay for it. I had three different dishes for under €25, and with one or two drinks and a dessert, it was still coming in under €35. I wouldn’t say many could afford to go regularly
on a student budget but it would definitely serve as a nice treat during a break from all of the studying you’re doing. Unfortunately, the restaurant doesn’t offer an early bird option or a student discount and it stopped opening for lunch during the summer of 2016. This may act as a deterrent to many of you considering going there, but I encourage you to give it a try.
Location
The restaurant is located across the road from the library end entrance to the St. Patrick’s campus. It is an easy 10-minute walk from All Hallows and a slightly longer walk or a direct bus from the Glasnevin campus. Overall I can say that Casa Del Toro is one of the finest restaurants in the areas surrounding the DCU campuses. It is also one of the best restaurants I have been to in the whole of Dublin and would highly encourage anyone to try there at least once. For more information, Casa Del Toro can be found online at www.casadeltoro. ie and on their Facebook page Casa Del Toro Dublin.
How to find your wine
F by
Adam Daly
or a lot of students their experience with wine so far has been with a cheap supermarket bottle that was most likely consumed in under an hour. Downing a whole bottle of Sauvignon blanc might get you drunk but the hangover the next morning has a less desirable effect. Once I started having only an odd glass instead of a bottle, I began to appreciate the flavours that are definitely missed while swigging a Merlot on the 4 into town. If you’re a wine novice, then the best place to start is to have it with a food. The right wine paired with certain foods can enhance the flavour of both the wine and food. The starting point for a lot of people is white wine. If you’re really only starting to drink and find white wine too dry or bitter, then the best thing to do is to go with a
“The right wine paired with certain foods can enhance the flavour of both the wine and food.” light, easy drinking one. Sauvignon Blanc, probably one of the most popular white grapes, can vary in taste depending on the region and wine-making process. New Zealand Sauvignons are a go to for many wine lovers. Expect tropical fruit flavours with a dry citrus finish. At the moment there is a wine sale in O’Brien’s Wine, so there’s plenty of top quality wines on offer at very reasonable prices. The Brancott Estate Sauvignon Blanc is currently on offer for €8.95. Hints of passion fruit, rich fruit intensity and a citrus finish make the Brancott the perfect starter wine. If you’re willing to spend a mere euro more, Whistling Track Sauvignon Blanc is down
to €9.95. This Kiwi Sauvignon is dryer than the Brancott but more aromatic, expect lime and gooseberry on the palate. If you’re not keen on Sauvignons, then an Albarino is one to try that won’t disappoint. Predominantly grown in Spain, this grape is fast becoming one of the most sought after wines in the last year. With that popularity comes a higher price point. Luckily there is an Albarino down to €9.95 in the wine sale in O’Brien’s. Generally, it’s hard to find a good Albarino that isn’t €15 or more. The Xovial has the classic Albarino flavours of peach and apricot with underlying notes of apple. A Silver medal-winner at the International Wine Challenge 2016, the Xovial Albarino will set the bar high for any future white wine on your now distinguished palate. If you’re like me, your first taste of red was that sweet church wine. I’m not sure what grape variety doubled as the blood of Christ that day but I’ve been hooked ever since. If you’ve never had red wine or have and think they all taste like vinegar, that is the general consensus at first. It takes some time for your palate to develop before it starts to identify the rich fruit flavours that are usually bursting out of a good quality bottle. When you’re only starting out try to avoid overly oaky wines or reds high in tannins. A tannin is a textural element that makes wine taste dry, you generally feel it at the front part of your mouth. Reds heavy in tannins are definitely something that you need to acquire a taste for over time. Start off with fresh fruity light reds. Easier drinking styles of red mean
Food
Sometimes you don’t know where to begin when starting to drink wine, so this is a beginners guide to finding the perfect wine for you. flavours will be easier to identify and make for a great starting point on your red wine journey. A good starting wine is the Nero Oro Appassimento, again a great save in the O’Brien’s Wine Sale. Down to €9.50 from €18.95, a bright and fruit-driven modern Nero d’Avola, with buckets of vibrant dark cherry and plummy fruit. Made in the appassimento method, whereby some of the grapes are partially dried out before being added back in before fermentation, creating a layered flavour in this Italian
Nero d’Avola. Another red that will definitely convert you is the Ocho y Medio Malbec, one of the only Malbec from Spain. Coming from high altitude vineyards, ripe black-berries & dark plum fruit are prominent throughout thanks to the absence of oak. While this Malbec is not currently on offer, at full price it is still only €12.95, and definitely worth the ‘splurge’ if you’re looking to start out on a great red. Always drink responsibly.
11
Travel
F
The Travel Tales - J1 Experience in Canada
Ian Mangan spent the summer in Toronto on a J1. He gave tips on what to do and what not to do when planning, living and surviving a J1 in Canada.
or many students summer can be tricky to figure out. There’s a lot of pressure on us to make the most of it because our time is so limited. Everyone wants to travel these days and there’s so much to see in such little time. It requires planning and sacrifice so I’m going to tell you about my experience of living in Toronto in Canada for the Summer. This will hopefully help those of you thinking about heading across the Atlantic in the near future. I had my mind made up that I wanted to spend an entire Summer in another country way back in July 2016. Fortunately, I had a solid group of 6 friends who were on the same page. The J1 is a staple of student life and we knew there’d be a wealth of information out there for us to study. The first thing to mention about our decision to go to Canada is that there is no J1 visa process required, those pertain to the USA alone. If you
12
decide to go to Canada, you’ll need to apply for a 2 year working- holiday permit. At first it seems daunting, but the International Experience Canada system is rather straight forward as long as you follow the required steps carefully. Organisation is the key to a successful trip. You really have to be on the ball with your visa so that no issues arise later on. Looking for accommodation can be quite deflating but persist and you will succeed. I was lucky enough to live in a house with my other 6 friends for the Summer, paying only $480(€325) a month. Although, most others we met over there were paying around the $800(€543) mark. Kijiji, Craigslist and Airbnb are all very useful when looking for accommodation. Also, The University of Toronto allows students to rent out residence rooms every summer, if all else fails. Toronto is also full of some of the most amazing people you will meet
“It’s the most difficult, rewarding, scariest and most enjoyable experience you will ever have and you will not regret it.”
as it is one of the most culturally diverse North American cities. Not to mention the huge LGBTQ+ community who celebrate pride in June, which is host to some of the craziest street parties I have ever bared witness to. Toronto is also host to some seriously hot weather. This means rooftop patios are where you’ll spend most of your drinking time.
Toronto is full of jobs but perseverance is needed. It took all of my group of friends about 4 weeks until we were all working but truthfully, we all could have been trying a lot harder. Getting a job was the greatest aspect of the Summer for me. I managed to work with City Sightseeing Toronto (those big red buses you see driving around town). It was a fantastic opportunity and I got to know the city like the back of my hand. However, Toronto is not cheap at all. You will certainly need about €2000 heading over. You should be smart about how you spend your money during your first month. Luckily, minimum wage is set to be increased to $15 by next year so things won’t be as difficult. There’s really not much more for me to add other than do it. It’s the most difficult, rewarding, scariest and most enjoyable experience you will ever have and you will not regret it.
The Travel Tales - Camp life in the USA
Travel
Rachel Farrell explains how she spent her summer at a Camp in Indiana, telling some tales from her experience as a radio instructor and camp councillor.
T
he J1 visa programme has been a favourite among Irish students for decades. With so many options in both the USA and Canada, it can be difficult to decide on the right Summer trip for you. We look at two DCU students very different experiences working on a J1 visa. After spending Summer 2016 working at home in Dublin, I knew I had to get away the following year. One of my close friends had just got home from working at a Summer camp in Connecticut in America. At first I couldn’t even imagine heading to the States solo to work at a kids Summer camp. However, the more I thought about it, the more appealing the idea became. He recommended the company Camp Leaders Ireland to me so I started to do more research. The process started with an online application and a phone call, followed by an in-person meeting with a representative. After you’ve
been approved and have paid the first deposit, you create an online profile expressing your hobbies and interests. The profile is then visible for hundreds of camps across the US to see. If they like what they see, they put you ‘on review’. This means they can reach out for a Skype interview without another company snapping you up. About 4 Skype interviews later, I
and Christianity aspect. As someone with no religious beliefs, I was nervous that everyone else working there would have a different mindset to me. This wasn’t the case at all! There are so many different jobs available and so many different camps out there. My role was as a typical cabin counsellor. All counsellors taught an activity and because I’m a journalism student,
accepted an offer from a YMCA camp near Evansville in Southern Indiana. My friends and family questioned why I would choose a ‘random’ place like Indiana, but I wanted to try something different. I wanted to go somewhere I wouldn’t have necessarily thought of visiting. I was originally worried about the YMCA
I was chosen to teach radio. A typical day at the camp I worked for involved waking the kids up at 7am for breakfast, chapel and raising the American flag. We then had activities for 3 hours- this is when I taught radio. After lunch we had free swim in the lake and cabin activities. These ranged from
“It taught me about responsibility, patience and knowing when to let go and have fun.”
baking and crafts to paint wars and creek hikes. Dinner was followed by an evening programme (an all camp game of some sort). Lights out was between 9pm and 10pm. After camp, you have up to 30 days of travel before returning home to Ireland. I decided to stay for just 2 weeks, but I got to visit 5 different states in that amount of time. After spending 6 days in Chicago with my newfound camp friends, I flew to Connecticut to visit a friend. My trip ended in New York, a city I knew I had to visit before leaving the country! I honestly couldn’t recommend the camp experience enough. Working at a camp taught me about responsibility, patience and knowing when to let go and have fun. I also made so many new friends from all over America (and the world!). There really was an aura of positivity there all Summer, something the American counsellors called ‘camp magic’. 13
Fashion
D by
Amy Donohoe
How to dress for autumn
ressing for this season can be tough, between changing weather, changing trends and fashion weeks taking place it’s hard to know what’s on trend. Here’s some tips of how to get around these fashion hurdles. Autumn 2017’s fashions trends are similar each year. Trying to match the colours of the Autumn leaves, here are the runway and the street-style wardrobe essentials that facilitate the cold mornings and the warm afternoons. Plaid shirts are for those days when you can’t tell what the weather is
going to be like. They come in many colours and can be worn under a jumper if it’s too cold. Knitted jumpers are perfect for the cold days in Autumn. Penneys have a wide range of cosy jumpers and prices start at just €10! They can be worn with trousers or skirt and tights. Boots are essential for Autumn. Whether they have a small heel or they are military styled, they’re designed to keep your feet warm and stylish. Block heels are easy to walk in and can be worn throughout the day or on nights out. Knee-high boots are
a timeless investment, and they keep your legs warm. Public Desire is a reliable online shop with a wide range of low-priced shoes. Runners can be worn throughout the day, not just for exercising. They’re comfortable and they can be worn with leggings or jeans. Adidas Superstars or Gazelle runners come in many colours and are available in Footlocker. Denim has been in style for decades. Vintage-style is best for Autumn. Patches and holes in jeans are a popular design in
jeans recently. And don’t be afraid to wear double denim either! Slogan t-shirts have been popular in 2017. They make a statement and they can be found in shops like Forever 21. Be proud to wear your feelings and political views. Wide leg trousers come in many versions. They are loose and look professional. Cropped around the ankle
the styles to look for. Pink everything has been a popular trend throughout the year and it made headlines in the Spring runways. They’re no guidelines when styling this shade, just go for the colour that matches your skin tone. Khaki green pieces are a must-have every Autumn. Expect to see everything from oversized jackets to dresses and t-shirts to tailored trousers.
and a high waistline are
“Boots are essential for Autumn. Whether they have a small heel or they are military styled, they’re designed to keep your feet warm and stylish.”
Trend Focus - From runway to highstreet Florals were all over the runway and are going nowhere this autumn regardless of any previous connotation that they were refined to spring or summer.
W by
Amy Rohu
When you think of Autumn/Winter the last thing you think about are florals. This trend is usually reserved for Spring, however this year has been the exception with blooms being seen all over the catwalk. From Prada to Balenciaga, all the biggest names in fashion have been experimenting with this unusual trend. It is by no means girly and instead, packs a fashion punch. Teamed with tough faux leather and an attitude to match, this trend is easy to wear, day or night. When we think of this time of year we think of cosy wool, velvet and being wrapped up, not dainty florals and pretty prints. However, this year’s winter bouquet is far from dainty, think rich hues of burgundy and gold on a backdrop of inky navy or black.
Embroidery takes over when it comes to accessories and black bags are carefully embellished 14 with bright, contrasting flowers, complete with pearls and sequins.
The shoe of the season is a floral ankle boot with a low heel, and these make it simple to offer a subtle nod to the trend if you don’t want to go all out flower power (just make sure you don’t wear them out in the rain).
“When we think of this time of year we think of cosy wool, velvet and being wrapped up, not dainty florals and pretty prints” Isabel Marant (right) is a fabulous example of the trend on the catwalk, florals on black teamed with even more black, and somehow it just works. The model look effortlessly
stylish, comfy and on trend, this look ticks all the boxes when it comes to new season dressing. It can be seen all over the high-street in the likes of Marks and Spencer with their stunning dresses and boots and Pennys with their on point accessories (pictured). This trend is going to be huge this season and it is so simple to incorporate into your wardrobe, adding a floral bag will give any outfit an instant update. Even your floral pieces from the summer could work if teamed with the right outfit. Think cosy knits and winter boots paired with that cute summer dress, adding loads of layers and dark hues will ensure you nail the trend and don’t look like you’re in the wrong season. And it isn’t just dresses and bags, everything from jeans to jackets have been given a floral update. Make the trend work for you and wear it how you want, adding your own style and twist is what fashion is all about.
The power of the celebrity collaboration s the runways of New York Fashion Week flooded with the usual fashion houses like Chanel, Dior and Moschino, an unusual name was among the mix- the beloved grocery retailer Lidl. The low-priced German supermarket chain has collaborated with supermodel Heidi Klum to bring out a clothing collection
the lines of art and fashion and drew as much hate as it did love. Another example of a celebrity collaboration is the Jenner sisters for Topshop. This is the penultimate celebrity collaboration- two of the world’s most envied and famous young women selling a line in a store which is based on the modern, style-obsessed woman. Based on the idea of a ‘California girl’, the one thing that the Jenner line and the Koons collaboration had
aimed at any woman who wants to step out in style while on a budget. Clothing brands collaborating with celebrities is nothing new, although some often assume that there is little input from the celebrity themselves into the product and deliberate whether the whole campaign is merely a marketing scheme to roll in more profit. Marketing scheme or not, celebrity collaborations have been around for a long time, with pretty much every brand dipping their toes in the endorsement of a celebrity at least once. Earlier in 2017, we saw the American artist Jeff Koons work with Louis Vuitton on an extraordinary collection of handbags, where famous works from Leonardo Da Vinci and Vincent Van Gogh were used as bag designs. A delight for both handbag and art lovers alike, the collection blurred
in common is that they both reeled in profit for all parties involved. This begs the question- are celebrity collaborations just a brand new term for celebrity endorsement? While the collections may rake in quick and generous profit, it can be disheartening if designers who put blood, sweat and tears into their work season after season, do not get nearly as much recognition. It seems unfair that someone who may know very little about style or trends sell out a line overnight because they teamed with a global brand and someone who truly understands fashion and its trends, spends years hustling to make a living. For those that don’t work in the industry, the solution is simple- putting their name on a product equals profit. For those that have spent years trying to build a name for themselves, this is a slap
by
Gabija Gataveckaite
A
Fashion
in the face. What happens when both elements are combined? Slapping your name on a clothing line doesn’t make you a designer, especially when your creative input and the authenticity of ideas is questioned. That is until, you venture out on your own in to the storm, like Victoria Beckham did in 2008. As former WAG and Posh Spice, it took her years to be accepted by the fashion community as a true designer who took fashion as an art and not as an another way to get on the payroll. In a
“This begs the questionare celebrity collaborations just a brand new term for celebrity endorsement?”
collaboration with Skype in 2014, Beckham claimed, “I was a Spice Girl married to a footballer, I was trying to do something that no one had really done
before. I’ve always had to work hard for everything.” Today, the self-titled brand and the more affordable sister brand Victoria, have won the coveted Designer Brand of the Year award at the British Fashion Awards and are estimated to be worth millions of pounds. Luckily for Beckham, her hard work and unwavering dedication to her brand, has finally paid off. When it comes to collaborations within the fashion industry, there is one more side to explore- fashion houses working with big brands. Some examples are H&M launching lines with Balmain and Kenzo and Louis Vuitton releasing a line with Supreme. Those of us who don’t frequent Brown Thomas to snap up Balmain’s hottest pieces got the opportunity to invest in their H&M line. Collaborations like Koons x Vuitton or Supreme x Vuitton mean that only the filthy rich can afford to indulge in the coveted crosses between art and fashion. An interesting observation is that while some collaborations may mean that the majority of the public are able to go out and make purchases, others mean that the target audiences are even more restricted than ever before. The beauty world doesn’t sleep on celebrity endorsements either. In the States, every Instagram-famous makeup brand collaborates with social media influencers regularlyJaclyn Hill has released many palettes with Morphe Cosmetics and Jeffree Star has collaborated with close friend and Youtuber Manny Mua for several projects. Back home in Ireland, the Pippa O’Connor palette released by Blank Canvas Cosmetics remains to be their best-selling product of all time. Both the fashion and beauty worlds love celebrity collaborations as it’s not only a quick solution for generating profit, but a quick fix for advertising the brand also. The words ‘exclusive’ and ‘limited edition’ make mouths water and are usually 15 minutes of fame in the industry- but making a mark as a designer is a challenge little are brave to face.
15
EXPOSURE
Conduckting Business:You know those ducks in that lagoon right near Central Park South?
The Edge: A group of friends dangle their legs over the edge of The Cliffs of Moher.
Afternoon Haze: The summit of the Empire State Building disappears into the fog.
Dusk Dwelling: The world stands still for those unfortunate enough to be experiencing homelessness.
16
Cold Shoulder: A man takes a stroll through the shadows of Manhattan.
Image Credit:
Page 1: Screen Rant; Page 2: Electric Picnic; Page 3 Instagram, Spin1038; Page 4: HBO; Page 5: Entertainment.ie, Wired; Page 5:New York Times; Zelda; Page 6: Glee.co.uk, TenEightyMagazine; Page 7:Fenty beauty; Page 8: Fitbit, Youtube; Page 9: Colm Mansfield; Page 10: O’Brien’s; Page 11: Ian Mangan; Page 12: Rachel Farrell; Page 13: Catwalk image via Harpers Bazaar, right images Amy Rohu; Page 14: Evening Standard; Page 16: Mark Carroll