The Coveted FREE
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Supporting & Promoting The Scottish Fashion Industry
on the cover Illustration by Jen Collins www.hellojenuine.com info@thecovetedmag.com www.thecovetedmag.com
contents
3 Editor’s Letter 4 The Dark Side 7 What I Wore 8 Featured Illustrator - Jen Collins 11 Interview - Shop Pulse 13 Scottish Ballet 18 Don’t Lose your Sparkle 19 Between a rock & a hard place 24 Trend: Underwear as outerwear 25 Soapstar
ADVERTISE / SUBMIT / GET IN TOUCH VOLUNTEER / FEEDBACK / SPONSOR INFO@THECOVETEDMAG.COM Photo: Susan Castillo
Hellooooooo... How art thou? We have had a good couple of months here at The Coveted, from appearing on the radio, celebrating Christmas and the New Year, attempting a Wang Fishtail hairdo (and realising that we need longer hair) to organising our first internship and gifting free copies of the magazine for charity goody bags! I think this is our best issue yet, complete with a fashion spread featuring two gorgeous dancers from The Scottish Ballet! Remember and check oot our bloggage at www.thecovetedmag.com
Sarah Editor in Chief
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THE DARK SIDE Photography Louise Jauss Madsen Make Up Jaqueline Hunt Model Michelle MacDonald @ Superior
Images Copyright Louise Jauss Madsen. www.loujaussphoto.carbonmade.com
We caught up with one of the group’s most popular members, Jen Collins, otherwise known as Hello Jenuine, and asked her some vague, ambigious questions.
Who? My name is Jen, & I illustrate under the alias hellojenuine. By day I work in arts marketing, & by night/weekends I draw. I spend too much time on the internet & I drink too much tea. The Wardrobe Remix image you can see is from when I had a little shot of photographing my outfits for a week.
Fashion bloggers all over the world post images of themselves modeling their daily fashion choices and outfit combinations. Scan the comments of these blogs and there will be mostly positive praise for the blogger’s ‘real body’, ‘genuine toothy smiles’ and beauty. Unfortunately in the anonymous blogging world, some commentators take pleasure in pointing out ‘bad hair days’, cellulite and spots. Some of these commentators also believe that it is narcasistic to post images of yourself in a public forum ‘touting for an ego boost’. As there are fashion lovers, myself included, who do not feel comfortable offering up their face and more-horse-than-clothes-horse bodies for scrutiny there are pencils and paper! Sounds a bit retro in the age of Photoshop, Illustrator and other fancy pants design and arts computer software, doesn’t it?
What? I like to create outfits that express my personalpersonal ity, but I'm not a fan of spending a lot of money on clothes. I'm pretty strict about only buying things that, once I've seen them, I find myself thinking about them again, then I go back & hope it's still there! I love finding things that make me swoon on sale too; I think everything I'm wearing here, jewellery & tights excluded, was on sale when I found them. I don't like buying cheap high street jewellery. I tend to buy pieces online, mostly from Etsy, so I know that the money I'm paying for a beautiful one-of-akind necklace is going straight to the artist. The brooch I'm wearing is a leather/feather pin from Rackk and Ruin (rackkandruin.etsy.com), & the antler necklace is one of my favourites, from Forestbound (forestbound.etsy.com).
The Flickr group What I Wore Today: Drawings, and now a blog of the same name, is a treasure trove of fashion illustrations depicting their respecitve artists daily wear. A cynical person would wonder if the artist was making their thighs a little slimmer or drawing Gucci bags in place of Primark ones but judging by the groups pictures, these artists seem to be brutally honest about what they look like and wear. It’s something quite refreshing in the photoshop-loving fashion world!
Where? I love buying things on Etsy, so in September last year I set up my own Etsy shop; you can find me at hellojenuine.etsy.com. As for other places, my website (www.hellojenuine.com) acts as a hub to finding me everywhere else. In the real world, I'm most often found at my desk. Why? Since starting a proper grown-up full-time job, I've found that I'm much better at using my free time wisely. After over 7 hours a day at work however, I'm sometimes surprised I have the energy to do my own thing when I get home in the evenings. I don't know what I'd do with my free time if I didn't draw & make things though, but I know I'd get sad if I wasn't creating. When? It's the beginning of 2010, & I'm really excited about the year ahead. I have a big list of things to achieve, plus a few to-do lists floating around my head. It's also 11:30pm right now, & time for bed. Goodnight!
www.flickr.com/groups/whatiworetodaydrawings www.whatiworedrawings.blogspot.com 7
ILLUSTRATION Jen Collins www.hellojenuine.com
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INTERVIEW
Tell us a wee bit about yourself. In a few words- I'm Alice Ratcliffe, 21 years old, living in Aberdeen with my boyfriend and my pug Lola, 3rd year law student, love shopping and the personal trainer, Founder and Director of Shop Pulse, Blogger www.missfashionwhore.com ww Twitter @thefashionwhore and @shoppulse
What is your study/working background in fashion and otherwise? Before Shop Pulse I had no professional training or work experience in fashion. I'm just a girl who has a bad magazine habit and loves Mulberry a bit too much! At the moment I'm studying for my law LLB Honours degree at the University of Aberdeen but my heart lies in business and entrepreneurship. I've done loads of Business Gateway training courses ( business awareness and growth, bookkeeping...) which has been a massive boost with the Shop Pulse start-up. I started venturing into the fashion world with my blog Miss Fashion Whore about 7 months ago. I enjoyed sharing my purchases and finds with readers and I discovered there is such a huge online community of fashion lovers. So many of my blog followers thanked me for updating them about new products and trends that they wouldn't have had time to look for otherwise. This was my main progression from the blog to an online fashion destination.
What is Shop Pulse?
www.shoppulse.co.uk
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Shop Pulse is the ultimate online portal for fast-fashion. The site delivers live updates of the newest products to hit a huge range of designer and high street stores. Shop Pulse is a one-stop website for everything that's new in. Be the first to know what's just in and get it before it sells out. If you don't have much time for online shopping then you can get the 'Got to have it' pick of the five
hottest items to hit stores daily via RSS feed. You can keep up to date with your News Reader or on the go on your Blackberry. When and why did you come up with the idea? The idea of Shop Pulse came from my realisation that the online fashion industry is booming. Affiliate marketing partnerships are springing up everywhere and half the high street is on Twitter. Bloggers are winging their way into the front row at Fashion Week and all the hottest designers are blowing their budget on digital marketing. We are shopping online more than ever and we want to keep up with the newest and the hottest. I've always wasted a lot of time searching the websites of my favourite stores for new items and I noticed there are 'Just in' sections but I wanted to see everything in one place and I wanted notifications of how many new products were in each day. It might sound surprising but Shop Pulse regularly has over 600 new items a day and that's only from the 18 online stores we currently have on the site! Online fashion is so fast paced and I wanted to find a way to keep up with it. The idea for Shop Pulse came in September and my boyboy friend's web design agency James Deer Design invested and built the entire system in time for our launch in December. They did an amazing job. You live in Scotland.
What is your take on the Scottish Fashion Industry and what would you like to see happen in the future? I find the view that UK fashion only exists in London really sad. There are LOADS of fashionable people in the rest of the UK, and particularly in Scotland! I absolutely adore Queen Michelle and Queen Marie from Kingdom of Style. Living in Aberdeen I have really noticed the lack of fashion social events. As a blogger I was invited to countless press days, sample sales, parties and fashion shows but everything was based in London. The fashion industry
needs to pay a bit of attention to everyone North of London. I would definitely like to see more fashion events in Scotland in the future. I would also like to see more Scottish designers breaking through. Christopher Kane can do it, so can the rest of you!
Who are your three favourite Scottish designers, boutiques or brands?
new online SHOP PULSE The 21-year old entrepeneur, Alice Ratcliffe, talks business, fashion and the future of shopping.
I love my designer clothes so I'll have to say Christopher Kane, Jonothan Saunders, Cruise Boutiques (thank you Cruise for bringing designer shoes to Aberdeen!). But Schuh and Ultimo deserve recognition because they are home grown mega brands which I really admire. Michelle Mone is a hero of mine and a real inspiration.
Is there scope to include these smaller, independent designers/stores/brands within shop pulse alongside the high street stores and larger designer retailers? The problem with including smaller retailers and indepenindepen dents on Shop Pulse is the sheer volume of new products added daily. Big retailers like ASOS and Topshop can add over 200 new products on a quiet day! Small retailers release new items much less frequently and they would literally be swamped by the products added by the mainstream stores. We love supporting smaller stores and we are always trying to add new retailers to the site so it is definitely some thing we would look into adding to Shop Pulse as the site grows. There is already a fantastic fashion destination for indie stores called Store Society which I came across recently and I would recommend to anyone who hasn't seen it. It's jam packed with independent designers and small boutiques so make sure you check it out. If you have your own boutique you can even list it on their site.
What is the future for Shop
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Pulse and do you have any other irons on the fashion fire? The future for Shop Pulse is internet domination! I would love to add content to the site, maybe a style e-zine or a blog. I'm applying for a few Young Business grants and awards so hopefully I can focus on marketing and PR for Shop Pulse. At the moment the lack of capital and my lack of marketing skills is definitely holding the company back. The main goal for the next few months is to add menswear to the site. I also want to build more partnerships with womenswear brands and add to the number of retailers on the site. In the long run I would love Shop Pulse to be up there with sites like Fashion Confidential, Empora and Fashionair. Of course it would be nice to see some financial return too!
Photography Susan Castillo Styling Aelrid Turner Models Vassilissa Levtonova & Soon Ja Lee @ The Scottish Ballet Make Up Laura Wisinger
Is it any wonder that us girls love ballet?
It’s all about the cool shoes, dressing up, make-up & hairspray, dancing to great music, pretty girls, sexy guys and, of course, lots of drama. Sounds more like a night out on the town!
Dress, £790, Vidler & Nixon Bag, £10, Raw Vintage Tights, £12, American Apparel
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Celebrity style icons have always championed ballet:
from Marilyn Monroe’s tuille dress to Amy Winehouse’s blood stained ballet pumps.
Dress, £760, Vidler & Nixon Leather Jacket, £45, Mr Ben Beads, Stylist’s Own
The dancer’s closet Words: Emily Macintosh
You might not immediately make the association between
ballet and fashion, and if you do you are probably thinking of one thing; the tutu. Whilst the tutu is still an essential and iconic part of ballet, in terms of costumes and the relationship between the dancers and what they wear, it is just the beginning. The wardrobe departments in ballet companies throughout the world are integral to the critical success of the repertoire, and the finish of the costumes can make all of the difference. Here in Scotland we are lucky to have our very own national dance company, The Scottish Ballet. The dancers are incredibly talented and their enduring physical schedule is not to be understated, they are just as much athletes as they are
Artists. Whereas a model can wear something uncomfortable and the reality of the way the garment works can be construed via unseen pins and clips, or the final finish can be edited, there is no Photoshop option for the costumes the dancers wear on stage. The costumes must have the highest finish and yet the dancers must still be able to perform their demanding routines in them. This is all the more incredible when you feel the weight of some of the costumes the dancers wear. The finished detail and the craftsmanship is of haute-couture standard and the designs are just as imaginative and inspiring as anything you see on a fashion week catwalk.
Dress, £760, Vidler & Nixon Tailored Jacket, £20, Raw Vintage Brooch, Stylist’s Own
Talented ‘ateliers’ perform the technical craftsmanship in most of the garments and the designs are by the resident designers in each company. Antony McDonald is the creative force behind Scottish Ballet’s current winter production of The Nutcracker and in the past the company have collaborated with visiting fashion designers like Benjamin Cho and Jasper Conran. Yet, it is not just the clothes that are striking, the dancers themselves all resemble models due to their slim and slender physique. However, they possess an unintentional quality which comes from years of disciplined training, commitment and dedication; they hold themselves with a posture that looks effortless and natural, and they all have individual and
dynamic personalities which shine through both when they are on the stage and when they are relaxing. Combining well cut clothing which shows the designers awareness of the body’s form and function with model’s who not only understand their own bodies' limits, weaknesses, capabilities and intricacies but live by them, is an opportunity for us to reflect on clothing and how it relates to us as living, moving creatures. Clothing is art and it should be treated as such, but it is also art which evolves and which we apply our own meaning and function to as we live. What better way to illustrate this than by watching ballet dancers perform in their breathtaking costumes.
Dress, £760, Vidler & Nixon Leather Waistcoat, £12, Mr Ben Tights £12, American Apparel
Stockists American Apparel Stock Exchange House, Nelson Mandela Place Unit 3, Glasgow Mr Ben Retro Clothing 101 King Street, Glasgow Raw Vintage 3 Abbot Street, Glasgow Vidler and Nixon www.vidlerandnixon.com A huge thanks to The Scottish Ballet. The Scottish Ballet are performing The Nutcracker throughout Scotland this winter. Visit www.scottishballet.co.uk for details.
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Quiz Heart Chain Bracelet, £4.99 www.quizclothing.co.uk
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accessories DON’T LOSE YOUR SPARKLE The party season may be over, but there is nothing stopping you jazzing up a plain tee and skinny jeans with this season’s must have accessories.
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Photographer Rebecca O'Neil Stylist Coryn Dickson Model Holly Coltart @ Model Team Make Up Rhona McCluskey
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Images Copyright Rebecca O'Neil. www.mutepablo.wordpress.com
Dolce & Gabbana S/S 10 Dior S/S 10
bebaroque Roxy Heart Stockings, £60 www.boudiche.com
The Lake and Stars Teddy Pewter & Ink, £175 www.boudiche.com
Trend: undies as overies (not to be confused with undies as ovaries, which is an entirely different thing)
One has several people to blame for this particular
trend. Way back in the 1880s ye olde Lady Madonna wore that Gaultier pointy boobed basque. More recently the likes of Sienna et Daisy were seen sporting granny pants over tights and leopard print bodysuits sans skirts or dresses respectively. How we scoffed sco at their blatant exhibitionism and lack of regard for the weather. Then D&G, Dior, Marc Jacobs and Fendi go and include it in their Spring Summer 2010 shows. One thing is for sure, if you are going to partake in this trend, good fitting lingerie is a MUST! A whopping 80% of women in the UK wear the wrong sized bra which can result in boob-overflow, straps digging Little Sister Lucy in or riding up at the back Camisole, £42. French Knickers, £32 which is not a good look! www.littlesisterlucy.com Boudiche offer a free bra fitting service in both their Glasgow and Edinburgh stores
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Lilly Wiggler Polka Dot Underbust Girdle, £35. Bra, £25 www.lillywiggler.com
Soapstar
words: Eleanor Tucker
Buy local. Reduce your carbon footprint. Support Scottish industry. All sounds like a great idea, but not really the kind of chat anyone wants from a beauty feature. And besides, who would choose to wash their face using a heather soap with their clan crest on? I’m coming out in a rash just thinking about it. Fear not. The Scottish beauty industry is gathering strength, especially now that organic products from smaller suppliers are becoming more desirable. And there’s not a tartan ribbon in sight.
Purdie’s is a really friendly family-run company withshops in Glasgow, Dunoon and Inveraray. They specialise in bath and body products and pride themselves on formulations that don’t just smell nice and look pretty – they work, too. Finally, Carol McMillan (carolmcmillansoaps.co.uk) makes her soaps in the Borders using milk from her own goats. (Something I’m sure Nivea couldn’t claim.) Check out her ‘Balmpots’ too – hand-made aromatherapy balms for things like muscle aches and weary feet. With all this right on our doorstep, we never need bother L’Oreal again. Sorry, Cheryl…
OK, there might be one or two, but we’ll overlook them for now and concentrate on some of the best home-grown beauty ranges. So why get your shower gels from France and your hair conditioner from the States? Here are some ideas for supporting a few Scottish companies and enjoying some gorgeous formulations into the bargain. Pu Lochside is a perfect example of this new breed of Pure skincare brand. They have a sustainable and ethical ethos, and use entirely organic ingredients derived only from plants. And the good news is that their products are fabulous. The packaging looks great, they smell lush… no wonder they’re getting rave reviews all over the place, especially the Organic Orange Cleansing Oil (£26) and the Purifying Facial Spritz (£15). You can order online at www.purelochside.com Equally worth investigating is the Honey B range by Scottish Fine Soaps (www.scottishfinesoaps.com). They’ve been making beauty products for the last 35 years in Stirlingshire and it sounds like they know what they’re doing. The Honey B formulations contain a wealth of skin enhancing ingredients such as royal jelly, beeswax and vitamin E, ‘mingled seductively with a hint of musk and vanilla’. Try the Harmonising Body Polish (£6.36), the Ultra Moisturising Balm (£8.37) and the Honeyed Lip Balm (£3.19). If you can name one Scottish beauty brand it will probably be Arran Aromatics, as they’ve been around for a while. A more recent addition to their range is the After The Rain collection, inspired by musk and juniper scents in the woodlands of Arran. There are the usual candles, bath products and hand creams that make lovely gifts, but you’ll also find a Face Wash and Face Scrub (both £7.50), which are good value and smell delicious. Now for a few honourable mentions: companies who mainly offer soap and bath/body products, but they do it well – and there’s not a clan crest in sight. The Isle of Skye Soap Company has a cracking website (www.skye-soap.co.uk) and along with their chunky handmade soaps offer some excellent gifts like bath bombs and wheat and lavender wraps.
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